Connecting computer to M1G

[ktm250rider]

Its been quit awhile and Im getting back into programing my M1. I have the EKLRP software and an M1Gold. Its all hooked up and Im ready to start fine tuning. I have had my computer hooked up to the M1 panel but for the life of me, I cant remember how I did it.
Second issue would be can I hook up the M1 panel using my computer in my office? I have Cat5 cable from the office to the panel

 

[ktm250rider]

Its been quit awhile and Im getting back into programing my M1. I have the EKLRM software and an M1Gold. Its all hooked up and Im ready to start fine tuning. I have had my computer hooked up to the M1 panel but for the life of me, I cant remember how I did it.
Second issue would be can I hook up the M1 panel using my computer in my office? I have Cat5 cable from the office to the panel

Ok, its all coming back to me. I found my rs232 cable. So scratch the first question.

So, can I run the programming software through my home network if I connect my old computer in the basement (using the rs232 connected to the M1) and run the software on my office computer?

 

[wuench]

Its been quit awhile and Im getting back into programing my M1. I have the EKLRM software and an M1Gold. Its all hooked up and Im ready to start fine tuning. I have had my computer hooked up to the M1 panel but for the life of me, I cant remember how I did it.
Second issue would be can I hook up the M1 panel using my computer in my office? I have Cat5 cable from the office to the panel

Ok, its all coming back to me. I found my rs232 cable. So scratch the first question.

So, can I run the programming software through my home network if I connect my old computer in the basement (using the rs232 connected to the M1) and run the software on my office computer?

If you use something like remote desktop or VNC. ElkRP needs to be running on the PC that has the serial port connect to the Elk.

Of course the ultimate solution is an M1XEP ethernet interface. Then you can connect using ElkRP from anywhere on the network.

 

[123]

Is your goal to program the M1 from a remote location (i.e. from office to home) or to control it? If you simply want to control it, there are several Home Automation programs with ELK M1 drivers that provide remote access (via web-browser or Windows client). The price of suitable HA software ranges from free to several hundred dollars ... it all depends on what you want to accomplish.

Alternately, as mentioned, you can buy an ELK M1XEP that provides Ethernet access as well as a Java-based virtual keypad that lets you control the M1 (i.e. arm/disarm, activate outputs and lights, run tasks, etc).

 

[wuench]

Is your goal to program the M1 from a remote location

Sorry, somehow I read ElkRP vs. RM. I don't have the RM software, except what is included on the M1XEP, as mentioned above.

 

[ktm250rider]

Is your goal to program the M1 from a remote location (i.e. from office to home) or to control it? If you simply want to control it, there are several Home Automation programs with ELK M1 drivers that provide remote access (via web-browser or Windows client). The price of suitable HA software ranges from free to several hundred dollars ... it all depends on what you want to accomplish.

Alternately, as mentioned, you can buy an ELK M1XEP that provides Ethernet access as well as a Java-based virtual keypad that lets you control the M1 (i.e. arm/disarm, activate outputs and lights, run tasks, etc).

I want to use my home office computer and the ElkRM software to program the M1 panel. Id like to do it without having to purchase the M1XEP. I could connect my old computer to it but I dont have a second monitor. I guess, I could carry this monitor downstairs, but Im way to lazy for that.

 

[123]

...I want to use my home office computer and the ElkRM software to program the M1 panel.

I've never used RM so I don't have first-hand knowledge of its capabilities. However, I thought it was used exclusively for interacting with an M1 (i.e. controlling it) and not for programming it (like you can with RP ... defining areas, zones, etc).

 

[electron]

Correct, the ElkRM software is the software designed for use with touchscreens. ElkRP is the software used to configure the M1 panel. If you want to do this remotely, I suggest you either look into a LogMeIn.com type solution to control a PC that is on the same network as the M1, or buy a router which supports VPN's.

It's a bad idea to directly expose the M1 to the internet (IMO), so I wouldn't consider port forwarding.

 

[tmbrown97]

Ktm,

By far, the quickest and easiest way would be to plug the computer into it down in the basement and also load ElkRP onto that computer - then using Remote Desktop or VNC connect to that computers desktop and use elkrp that way. ElkRP wouldn't be running directly on the office computer.

Otherwise you could pull some tricks that let you map the virtual serial port but that's a lot more work to set up.

 

[mdavis]

Pretty much related to this, I've been thinking about getting the M1XEP but then I saw the IP232. I don't really want the built in web browser based stuff, just to be able to connect to the Elk via ethernet instead of serial. Will the IP232 allow me to do this?

Mick

 

[GraysonPeddie]

Hmm... Maybe there's a virtual serial port software that converts serial port communication to RJ-45? I'm not sure...

 

[tmbrown97]

Hmm... Maybe there's a virtual serial port software that converts serial port communication to RJ-45? I'm not sure...

you're not going to find software that converts it - but you can make your own serial cable that runs over Cat5... knowing how the pinout works, you could make your own baluns pretty easily...

Or, you can use something like the IP232 or any other device that creates a virtual serial port over TCP/IP.

And, you can always share/map a virtual serial port from one computer to another - I've done this in the past... there's software on the internet you can find with a search.

 

[gatchel]

If the run is shorter than 100' you can just direct wire the PC to the Panel. Most of the time RS232 is good to 100', depending on the run. Keep the wire from running parallel to any high voltage sources. This would probably be the cheapest but not easiest solution.

 

[AceCannon]

I did a search for "rj45 to db9" and got a lot of hits. Here is one.

EDIT: Monoprice has this stuff even cheaper. See here. 50cents or so.

 

[GraysonPeddie]

50 cents is not that bad!!! I bought a couple of HDMI 1.3a cables for about $5 each. Man, they're cheap!!!

Thanks to Monoprice!