Elk M1 Gold: Arming/Disarming via RS232

[GraysonPeddie]

Hi. I have developed a very simple prototype of what the keypad will look like in a Windows Mobile device:





(Note that menus 1 through 5 are shown in the "Elk" menu. As for the others, I'd strongly recommend using a "real" keypad for changing code, programming the security system, etc.

Okay, now I have a question: Can I communicate with Elk M1 Gold to arm, disarm, enable/disable chime, bypass zones, etc. through RS232 communication? What I am thinking is that enforcing a PIN entry could alleviate security concerns, as I don't want outside intruders to get into my security system and change some things when it comes to remotely accessing Elk M1 Gold from the Internet. Since the Windows Mobile device application is considered a "client," I could create a server application that prompts a strong, 16-character password before the security code that is prompted by Elk M1 Gold, so that the server application knows who they say they are. Of course, I do have DynDNS, which is no big deal, but only when I assign a port to it...

So, will this work if I create a keypad application? This will be for private-use only.

I don't have Elk M1 Gold, but will be getting one pretty soon for my rental apartment but it's only going to be used for temporary installations only and will plan to use wireless zones only. I'm sure there are others with component-based alarm systems who use it for their apartments over at http://forum.homesecuritystore.com/.

 

[IVB]

Absolutely you can arm/disarm & bypass via RS232. There's a lot more, if you see this link, you'll see what CQC supports which it does over RS232. Obviously you're rolling your own and so CQC isn't needed, but if CQC can do it so can you.

I do this now via my cellphone, works fine.

 

[Spanky]

Here is the M1 ASCII Protocol. You can also download the Length and Checksum generator program from the same site to test any command strings. There is a free program called M1SDK.exe that also builds strings and displays the output from the M1 which is available from ELK.

ELKRM, CQC, HomeSeer, PowerHome, Mainlobby, Crestron, AMX, and others use the same protocol to control the M1 in many different ways.

To arm or disarm the M1, you must provide a valid user code in the ASCII command string.

Have fun!

 

[GraysonPeddie]

Ah...wish I could've done a search...heh...

Elk's one of my favorite security system/automation over Honeywell Vista 20P and other security systems! This will make a server become a home automation/home security server! I've done a lot of research in the Internet before I come to realize that Elk is the only one that satisfies all my needs, from being an "alarm clock," "remote doorbell receiver" (I'll be modding my battery-operated Heath Zenith Wireless Doorbell to connect to an analog zone and check for voltage over 1.2 volts every 3 seconds and perform tasks based on arming modes), and...wow! There's so many possibilities I can think of...

Anyway, enough emphesiasm... Heh heh...

Thanks!

 

[123]

If you need examples, you can look at the code used in the following Elk M1 drivers:

my.elk.2.3 by Dan (Electron) for Homeseer (VBscript)
Elk M1 by Richard Naninck for Housebot (VBscript; you need a free account to get access to the files)
ElkM1::Control by James Russo for no particular Home Automation program (Perl; the "How-To" was created by Yours Truly)

I'm currently writing an Elk M1 Device Driver for Premise Home Control. Here's the first chunk of code you'll need:

' Calculate checksum
function CalcChecksum(sData)
Dim i, CS
	CS = 0
	for i = 1 to len(sData)
		CS = CS + asc(mid(sData, i, 1))
	next
	CalcChecksum = hex(((not CS) + 1) and 255)
end function

Of course, that'll look a little different in C# ...

Come to think of it, you might find Premise interesting. Premise offers a web-interface for Pocket PCs. You program Premise using its extensive library of objects and its native VBscript IDE. Alternately, you can write custom .NET apps that access Premise's objects via "Minibroker" (a COM object with a .NET wrapper). Download it and give it a shot (it is free).

If you're interested in my Elk M1 Device Driver, you can follow its development progress here.

 

[crumbolt]

Here is the M1 ASCII Protocol. You can also download the Length and Checksum generator program from the same site to test any command strings. There is a free program called M1SDK.exe that also builds strings and displays the output from the M1 which is available from ELK.

ELKRM, CQC, HomeSeer, PowerHome, Mainlobby, Crestron, AMX, and others use the same protocol to control the M1 in many different ways.

To arm or disarm the M1, you must provide a valid user code in the ASCII command string.

Have fun!

Hey,

Been reading these forum's for a while and is one of the reasons I decided to get an M1G. Now that I have one, I have to say great product, I had a test setup (couple keypads, door contacts, motion) up and running in a few hours. The rules engine is easy to use and flexible enough to do almost anything (then you are probably limited by imagination), so good job.

Anyway, a question for Spanky. I have searched the elk main site, the m1dealer site as well as google and cannot find the "M1SDK.exe" program. Could you post a link or say exactly where it is located. I have already downloaded the crc calculator and rs-232 protocol.

Thanks,

Chuck

 

[Spanky]

Send me a PM with your email and I will send the M1SDK to you.

 

[crumbolt]

Send me a PM with your email and I will send the M1SDK to you.

Got it, Thanks.

 

[taskman]

Send me a PM with your email and I will send the M1SDK to you.

Hi Spanky,


Can you send me a copy of the M1SDK?

Thanks

Marc

 

[cgpsp]

Anybody trying to use an RFID reader at the front door that would unlock the door and possibly disarm? Perhaps the system could send an RS232 code to an M1?