ELK keypad connect?, CADDX antenna?

[MRL]

I will be ordering the ELK M1GSYS4 kit and the CADDX NX-448 wireless interface.
How does the ELK keypad connect to the system - wires or Ethernet cable? or which way is best? There are already wires running from my old system keypad in the foyer down to the system board in the basement. Should I pull Cat5 cable when I pull out the old wires?
Does the CADDX NX-448 come with an antenna? My old wireless system has an antenna mounted in the foyer closet connecting to the system in the basement.
Does the NX-448 need its own power connect or does it connect to the ELK board?

 

[Sandpiper]

I will be ordering the ELK M1GSYS4 kit and the CADDX NX-448 wireless interface.
How does the ELK keypad connect to the system - wires or Ethernet cable? or which way is best? There are already wires running from my old system keypad in the foyer down to the system board in the basement. Should I pull Cat5 cable when I pull out the old wires?
Does the CADDX NX-448 come with an antenna? My old wireless system has an antenna mounted in the foyer closet connecting to the system in the basement.
Does the NX-448 need its own power connect or does it connect to the ELK board?

The keypad needs a 4/C cable, so telephone cable will work. However, Cat 5 cable will also work and is recommended.

The NX-408 I bought came with an antenna, so I assume the 448 will also.

For connecting the 448 to the M1, you need to purchase a special short adapter cable made and sold by ELK products. The part number is ELK-W035A. This connects the power and data.

 

[MRL]

The keypad needs a 4/C cable, so telephone cable will work. However, Cat 5 cable will also work and is recommended.

I assume then that the keypad and the system board have RJ-45 8-pin standard Ethernet connect terminals. Do I need the M1 data bus hub in order to use Cat5 cable to connect the keypad?

 

[Spanky]

If you have 1 or 2 keypads the existing 4 conductor wire to the keypads will work OK. More than 2 keypads will require CAT5 wire to the extra keypads so that you can wire the data bus in a series fashion as explained in the installation manual.

The M1DBH data bus hub is a wiring convenience to keep the data bus hookup wiring simple. Optional.

The M1DBHR data bus hub for retrofit is for more than 2 keypads that already have 4 conductor wire that is not replacable with CAT5. The M1DBHR reproduces the data bus four times so that multiple four conductor wire runs will work on the RS-485 data bus. Optional.

 

[Steve]

If you are going to use the existing 4 conductor wiring for several keypads AND you will have other things on the bus such as serial expanders, then the data bus retrofit hub is a very nice convenience to have. The keypads and control boards do not have RJ45 jacks for the bus. If you want to use Cat5e cables for the keypads and other bus devices then I would recommend the regular (non retrofit) data bus hub (M1DBH). That hub has RJ45 jacks but the other end is still straight wire into the device connectors. You may wish to look at the manuals for both hubs and decide which way you want to go. If you want to KISS and leave existing wiring, then the M1DBHR makes it real easy.

 

[Chakara]

I assume then that the keypad and the system board have RJ-45 8-pin standard Ethernet connect terminals. Do I need the M1 data bus hub in order to use Cat5 cable to connect the keypad?

Without the expanders, neither the M1 nor the keypads have RJ45 jacks for this connection. Instead they have screw lugs. The expanders give you RJ45 at the panel, but still screw lugs at the keypad.

Now that I think about it, I know what I say about the panel is true, but I have slept since I installed a keypad. I know it was not hard to do, and I know it was not an RJ45, but I don't remember if it was screw lugs or something else.

Anyway, all the answers to wiring are in the documentation.

Enjoy your Elk. I think it is a great system......

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

If you have 1 or 2 keypads the existing 4 conductor wire to the keypads will work OK. More than 2 keypads will require CAT5 wire to the extra keypads so that you can wire the data bus in a series fashion as explained in the installation manual.

The M1DBH data bus hub is a wiring convenience to keep the data bus hookup wiring simple. Optional.

The M1DBHR data bus hub for retrofit is for more than 2 keypads that already have 4 conductor wire that is not replacable with CAT5. The M1DBHR reproduces the data bus four times so that multiple four conductor wire runs will work on the RS-485 data bus. Optional.

Is there any disadvantage going with the M1DBHR vs. the M1DBH? I used the "R" as I just ran four conductor wiring to the keypads in my friend's home. I could see no advantage running Cat5e to the keypads.

The "R" also lets me easily terminate the four conductor wire to its terminal strips. No RJ-45 crimp connections to worry about.

I ran Cat5e to the places that I want touch screens (in the future) so that argument is out.

Just asking as I'm just not seeing the light!

 

[Steve]

I have a DBHR with 4 conductor to my keypads. At my sisters place I am replacing the 4 conductor with Cat5 and using the DBH. I have had issues in the past with failed firmware updates because of bootware issues in some of the modules where you have to update the expander(s) direct from the control and not behind the DBHR. While these problems are most likely cleared up by now, it was a pain in the arse to rewire each time with the 4 conductor. So this time I am going to try the DBH and RJ45's. Yes, it may be a little extra work to do the crimps at install time, but it should give me alot of flexibility to easily move bus devices in/out of the system if I need to. At least then I'll have experience with both hubs and have a better idea. Just my perspective...