Any Chance of a WIRELESS Elk Keypad?

[Madcodger]

We've sold the house and the Elk will be staying put. The new house (35 years old) has no security system, and I plan to reinstall another Elk. I think I can do all of it with Ademco 5800 wireless sensors, which will make things easy (although admittedly a bit more expensive). But then I thought about the need for keypads... Is there ANY way to connect a wireless keypad to the Elk? Would make things sooooo much simpler...

Thanks in advance for any ideas or help.

 

[Neurorad]

Convince your wife she wants to change the paint color, in rooms that happen to need new cables.

No attic or crawlspace? I usually don't need to do any drywall work in my house, when I add keypads (unless I want to move the location of the keypad a foot or 2). You can pull the baseboards, or crown molding, and run cables there pretty easily, not requiring drywall work (usually). I put a dent in some drywall last time I pulled a baseboard - it was really soft from remote water damage, and I was slightly careless because we're planning a renovation of that room soon anyway.

Congratulations on the new home!

 

[gatchel]

No way of doing a wireless keypad yet. It has been requested before.

 

[jaysonc]

I fear l may sound like the sham-wow guy on TV but....

How about an iTouch or iPad plus eKeyapd?

It's like a keypad, it's like a remote, it's like a remote keypad.
A wired keypad doesn't work without a wire, this works anywhere.
This is for the house
The Car
The Boat
The RV
eKeypad holds 20 times it's weight in usability, look at this, it just does the work.
Why do you want to work twice as hard? It doesn't crash, doesn't make a mess during install, just sit back and use it.
You should not wash it in the washing machine. Made in Texas, you know the texans always make good stuff.
You can cut it in half (*not recommended), use one as a paperweight,prop open a door with the other one, use one as a rock.
Olympic divers, they don't use it but look at that, they are all wet.
Put a seater roll it up it protects your iTouch from drops.
Here's some cola, wine, coffee, cola, pet stains.
Not only is your damage going to be on top, there's your mildew.
That is gonna smell, see that.
Now this has nothing to do with eKeypad but are you following me camera guy?
See what i'm telling ya eKeypad, you'll be rockin wireless M1 control all the time.

I can't live without it, i just love it!
Oh my gosh i don't even buy physical keypads any more.
If you're gonna control your M1 or any other M1, you'll be out of your mind not to own eKeypad.
All i can say is eKeypad! WOW!

You're gonna spend good money on a keypad anyway you're throwin away your money.
eKeypad can control everything, for everyday use.
This keypad goes with you, this physical keypad can't move at all, i don't know it sells itself.
The eKeypad M1 sells for 44.99 you get one for the house, one for the car, two for the kitchen and bathroom.
But if you call now, within the next twenty minutes cause we can't do this all day, we'll give you a second set for the same low price. So that's 5 eKeypads for 44.99.

eKeypad it is available in the app store today!

hehe. That was fun.

 

[forgets]

DID HE SAY 5 eKeypads? YEAH THAT'S RIGHT, apple lets you install the app free on up to 5 devices.. ! and what's that..? install it on an Iphone and you can do all this and more on 3G halfway across the country?

Hah, Jayson is right, since i got eKeypad, i haven't touched any of my wall mounted keypads anymore.. Ipod touch (or Iphone on with 3G) + home wifi + Ekeypad = a keypad that goes anywhere with you and lets you see the status of your zones, arm / disarm, control outputs / lights / temp and even view your DVR or IP cams based on which which eKeypad you get.

It may not be ideal, but maybe consider putting just one wired keypad in an area that's easy to wire as a failsafe in case the Wifi ever goes down, but other than that i'd say eKeypad will do what you're looking for.



oh man, i sound quite a bit like an advertisement myself.. but i'm just really happy with jayson's app.

 

[Digger]

The App price is well worth it especially since it is well maintained and growing all of the time. The hardware cost for an iTouch is in line or actually less than a dedicated wireless keypad, there are tons of accessories, it is multipurpose, and probably smaller than a security based wireless keypad.

I dont see the incentive for a wireless keypad by any mfg when you have the ipod touch and ipad available. What real advantage is there for an alarm mfg to sink money into its development? That money can be better spent on other product line expansion. I am speaking from the experience of working for an alarm mfg that has one in development for another system and I dont see why they are doing it when an app for several phone platforms would be cheaper, easier, and more profitable.

The ekeypad pro is the most expensive app I ever bought is probably worth 10 times more to me than any other app. Over the life of the iphone I will waste more money on useless apps that do not deliver what they promise where this app already exceeded what I wanted in the beginning.

 

[Photon]

My Elk system includes a Keyfob for each family member and guest. Although I installed several keypads, we rarely do anything with them beyond what we do with the wireless fobs. I conclude we really need just a single wired keypad which I have on my nightstand so I can read the display in the middle of the night if things get noisy. We really have little need for the keypads by the front and back doors since we use the fobs to arm and disarm the system from outside the house.

 

[Madcodger]

Well, son of a gun... I guess I hadn't really thought about using an Ipad / Itouch as a replacement for a physical keypad, even though I use eKeypad and HSTouch (both of which I really like, btw). My wife and I each have an iPhone and iPad, so that might work. I still like the idea of a physical keypad in a spot or two, but this does open up some additional ideas. Thanks, all.

As for running wires behind baseboards, etc., that's also a good point. The alarm will be on the basement level, though, and the MBR is on the second story, so that complicates it a bit. The keyfob idea is something I need to add as well.

Thanks, folks. Appreciate the replies.

 

[heffneil]

My Elk system includes a Keyfob for each family member and guest. Although I installed several keypads, we rarely do anything with them beyond what we do with the wireless fobs. I conclude we really need just a single wired keypad which I have on my nightstand so I can read the display in the middle of the night if things get noisy. We really have little need for the keypads by the front and back doors since we use the fobs to arm and disarm the system from outside the house.

Doesnt this defeat the purpose of security? I mean someone gets your keys and can enter your house and disarm the alarm with the remote? I don't like that idea from a security perspective at all. Also I guess you have to run upstairs if the batteries die?

Neil

 

[Kevin L]

I agree with Neil. I don't see the point of keyfob readers without any code to be entered. To me, it's the same as someone finding your keys when you don't have a security system. At the very least, I'd make sure all my id, registration, insurance card, etc go to a PO Box so there's nothing in a car or purse with the home address.

Kevin

 

[Photon]

OK, the keypads near the doors will be handy when the fob batteries die. I hadn't thought of that one.

My fob is not on the same ring as the house keys. I suppose my wife keeps the fob, the house key and items with our address in her purse. She hasn't lost her purse in all the years I've known her. If she does, I will take the chance that I will disable her fob before someone has a chance to use it.

The keyfobs have multiple buttons that can be pressed in several combinations. I think the possibility of someone guessing the right combinaion on the first try is worth the risk in exchange for the convenience. If I had found a fob with a 10-key pad on it, I'd have used it so the user would enter a more secure code. I didn't find one, so I have 4-button fobs.

I agree the keyfobs are not as secure as the keypads, but I decided the risk is acceptable.

 

[Digger]

I use a keyless lock ever since my teenage son became a latchkey kid. He loses everything and the lock was about $100 so well worth it. A keyless lock and a keyfob might be better than a fob on a keyring. There are exterior type keypads and biometric readers as well but they are pricey. I can get a free one from work (I can be a beta tester for anything at work but I choose not to since its enough working 10 or more hours a day I dont want to see it at home) but the hassle to install it now that the walls are closed are not worth the effort since I have a keypad inside the door.

eKeypad is a very reasonable solution if you have an iPhone. If you dont there are other similar products out or coming out.

Depending on where you live you have to have a keypad by your door to meet the "intent" of ANSI/SIA CP-01 Standard for False Alarm Reduction. I personally think that a bedroom keypad is always a wise choice so if something happens in the middle of the night (or even a forced entry in the daytime) you can get to a keypad fairly quickly and if necessary hit a panic as well. At least with the ELK keypads you can easily adjust the brightness and volume on the keypad.

 

[Kevin L]

OK, the keypads near the doors will be handy when the fob batteries die. I hadn't thought of that one.

My fob is not on the same ring as the house keys. I suppose my wife keeps the fob, the house key and items with our address in her purse. She hasn't lost her purse in all the years I've known her. If she does, I will take the chance that I will disable her fob before someone has a chance to use it.

The keyfobs have multiple buttons that can be pressed in several combinations. I think the possibility of someone guessing the right combinaion on the first try is worth the risk in exchange for the convenience. If I had found a fob with a 10-key pad on it, I'd have used it so the user would enter a more secure code. I didn't find one, so I have 4-button fobs.

I agree the keyfobs are not as secure as the keypads, but I decided the risk is acceptable.

I didn't realize the fobs had buttons on them and that you put in a code for them to work. I was thinking of the readers where you just swipe the card or wave the fob over the reader and it opens the door. Having to enter a code certainly adds a layer of security and makes this much better. I can understand the convenience.

My wife and I don't carry house keys. No need. We generally enter the home through the garage. In the car, we have the openers. If we're out for a walk or bike ride, we have a keypad for the garage door opener, and the opener has battery backup. Or, if we were out on the boat, the back door has a Schlage keypad deadbolt. I don't have the garage overhead door alarmed, but the side door into the garage is. Plus, I have a security camera in the garage that emails me if it detects motion. The door from the garage into the house isn't locked, but it is alarmed. An important element of all this is nothing in our wallets, purses, cars, boat, etc. has our home address on it. We use a UPS Store for our address, and everything has that address on it. I suppose someone could look up our names in the county records and figure out our home address if they really wanted. Then I'll just rely on all the security cameras, lighting, my Elk, and my Glock.

Kevin

 

[rwarshawski]

This is a great idea!
I need another keypad in the garage. I was thinking of buying ELK's wireless keypad- I believe they still make them- but this seems more versatile. I can see this mounted to the inside wall.
Does anyone see a problem with having the charger plugged in constantly?

bob