Benefits of M1

[LightenUP]

If i was to only control lighting in the home with maybe other automated features like thermostat, some IP compatibility, and other contact closing devices, is the M1 the way to go?

I've never used it before and wondered if touch screens are easy to program and install or if the screens need cat5 etc.

I usually use Timed Event Controllers for my limited installations. I do want to broaden my knowledge and possibly installs.

 

[Steve]

Well, the M1 is really an alarm panel first, then an automation controller. So if you don't want a security system I'm not sure if the M1 is the best choice (overkill) although it will certainly work. It's the 'maybe other' statement that can go just around anywhere. And the touchscreens are the same way, it all depends on what you want. You can get the Elk-TS07 for example with ElkRM software and use a single Cat5 with POE and have a complete working TS with no effort. Or, you can go the software route with something like CQC or ML and use any TS. That of course is a much tougher road. You have the TS hardware which can be anything, then the software to learn and configure, but it gives you infinitely more capability. There are also serial based TS's like Xantech and RDI that talk to other devices serially. So you really have alot of options and depends what path you want to take.

 

[LightenUP]

Well, the M1 is really an alarm panel first, then an automation controller. So if you don't want a security system I'm not sure if the M1 is the best choice (overkill) although it will certainly work. It's the 'maybe other' statement that can go just around anywhere. And the touchscreens are the same way, it all depends on what you want. You can get the Elk-TS07 for example with ElkRM software and use a single Cat5 with POE and have a complete working TS with no effort. Or, you can go the software route with something like CQC or ML and use any TS. That of course is a much tougher road. You have the TS hardware which can be anything, then the software to learn and configure, but it gives you infinitely more capability. There are also serial based TS's like Xantech and RDI that talk to other devices serially. So you really have alot of options and depends what path you want to take.

I should have more specific with the technology I'm used to. I am working with UPB, I have also gone down the Z-Wave path but not impressed with mesh-networks.

I really only want to incorporate TS into the designs and wonder if there are any retro-fit screens that are RF or UPB or do they all need to be hardwired. If they do need to be hardwired how do you interface into UPB.

 

[Steve]

But what do you want to do with the touch screen? Just have a display of all the UPB lights and ability to control them? You can probably use something from Xantech or RTI like I mentioned, but you will have to program all of the serial controls. All TS's have to run some O/S or software to do anything. There are either TS's like the Elk TS07 which run Windows CE and can connect via 1 cat5 or you can run a TabletPC or some other TS that either runs some flavor of Windows, Linux or RDP. Most of those will have a VGA and USB or Serial connection to the host PC.

I'm sorry but I'm still confused as to exactly what you want to do with a touch screen and interface to UPB. The only 'integration' between a TS and UPB would be using the TS as a means to control UPB devices. Sorry if I'm not getting it. If you want just a plain TS to control UPB, look at the RTI stuff and check out this thread.

 

[hucker]

But what do you want to do with the touch screen? Just have a display of all the UPB lights and ability to control them?

I'm not an Elk guy so I can't give you an direct comparison. I'm running an HomeVision Pro system and it is great as a controller. It is NOT a security system though they can be directly connected in various ways (direct support for CADDX and arbitrary support for RS232). The base pro has direct support for UPB (was working on it last night), 8 relays, 16 digital input/ouputs, IR input and output, 64 digital temp sensors, X10, 4 analog inputs, video overlays.

It does not have a proprietary touch screen solution but would work with a touch screen that could drive a browser. I'm not one to like proprietary touch screens or anything mounted in the wall. I'm trying to figure this problem out right now but am partial to something like a Harmony remote or wifi based PDA's.