Elk-M1 Interface for insteon PLM ??

[davefred99]

I read in this forum a little while back that ELK was working on a new interface for Insteon using the Newer Insteon PLM instead of the now obsolete PLC interface. I am assuming that this will require an update to the M1-XSP firmware.

Spanky or anyone else who might be in the Know, do you have any idea on the time line for this. I am having some issues with my old PLC interface where I have to reset it periodically because it will hang up. I don't want to mess with a replacement until the PLM interface is available. I would even be interested in a beta version if one exists.
Dave F.

 

[wuench]

I read in this forum a little while back that ELK was working on a new interface for Insteon using the Newer Insteon PLM instead of the now obsolete PLC interface. I am assuming that this will require an update to the M1-XSP firmware.

Spanky or anyone else who might be in the Know, do you have any idea on the time line for this. I am having some issues with my old PLC interface where I have to reset it periodically because it will hang up. I don't want to mess with a replacement until the PLM interface is available. I would even be interested in a beta version if one exists.
Dave F.

If you go with the ISY, you can save yourself an M1XSP as it is all done over ethernet. And you get a controller that can do all of you Insteon setup/programming too. (Still not an even push money-wise though).

 

[davefred99]

I read in this forum a little while back that ELK was working on a new interface for Insteon using the Newer Insteon PLM instead of the now obsolete PLC interface. I am assuming that this will require an update to the M1-XSP firmware.

Spanky or anyone else who might be in the Know, do you have any idea on the time line for this. I am having some issues with my old PLC interface where I have to reset it periodically because it will hang up. I don't want to mess with a replacement until the PLM interface is available. I would even be interested in a beta version if one exists.
Dave F.

If you go with the ISY, you can save yourself an M1XSP as it is all done over ethernet. And you get a controller that can do all of you Insteon setup/programming too. (Still not an even push money-wise though).

I am working in that direction but currently already have the m1-xsp/plc setup for the ELK and I also have Powerhome2 setup with a PLM. The ELK is then connected via a serial connection to tie it all together. I am considering the move to the ISY-99 and eliminating Powerhome but to do that I would need to get an MI-XEP Ethernet interface. I would like to do it in steps so I can spread out the cost as things are tight. In the mean time I could move the PLM from Powerhome2 to the ELK if there was a firmware upgrade for my existing M1-xsp and I could hook the old PLC up to Powerhome2. Most all of my critical HA stuff is handled by the ELK controller anyways and I only Use PH for monitoring and occasional device set up.

 

[Spanky]

M1XSP Software driver for the newer Insteon PLM is done. I thought it has been released, but I will have to check.

 

[davefred99]

M1XSP Software driver for the newer Insteon PLM is done. I thought it has been released, but I will have to check.

That is great news, I eagerly await a link to the New M1XSP/PLM firmware. I checked the dealer site and the latest there is June 06 2008.

One last question now that the cat is out of the bag. Does the PH insteon device loader app work with the PLM the same as the PLC. I would hate to have to manually load all my devices.
Dave F.

 

[Spanky]

I found out today that the PLM software had not been released to the website, so I lit a fire under it.

Since the Insteon Lighting ID's are stored in the PLM/M1XSP modules and they are both new or have new software, I would expect a reload is necessary.

 

[davefred99]

I found out today that the PLM software had not been released to the website, so I lit a fire under it.

Since the Insteon Lighting ID's are stored in the PLM/M1XSP modules and they are both new or have new software, I would expect a reload is necessary.

Thanks Spanky,
I called tech support today and talked to Don Lamb. We had a nice chat and he sent me the bin file/firmware update for the PLM set up.
I have set it up and its working so far. I just used the PH up loader to after upgrading the Insteon addresses and Elk RM to upgrade the M1-XSP firmware and set the XSP S7 jumper to O for PLM and bingo it worked fine. I am having some issues with resetting links,on levels and Ramp rates but that is and Insteon issue. I used to use my PLM hooked to Powerhome and send that stuff that way but when I try the same thing with my old PLC connected to PH as a second controller its kinda flaky. I guess that is why the are dumping the old PLC in the first place.
One benefit I see already is that I never could get accurate live device status/tracking with the PLC but the PLM seems to do a better job of it.
I would recommend anyone starting fresh with ELK/Insteon to just get the PLM and be done with it.
Dave F.

 

[dtreyes]

Does this require a newer version of PLM firmware. I bought my PLM a while back and I believe I have version 52 firmware ??? I now that firmware is not upgradeable on PLM.

 

[davefred99]

Does this require a newer version of PLM firmware. I bought my PLM a while back and I believe I have version 52 firmware ??? I now that firmware is not upgradeable on PLM.

I do not think so because mine is about 6 mos. old and works fine. When I talked to Don at ELK he did not mention that it required any special version. I am not even sure how to tell the firmware version on my plm ?

 

[dtreyes]

Does this require a newer version of PLM firmware. I bought my PLM a while back and I believe I have version 52 firmware ??? I now that firmware is not upgradeable on PLM.

I do not think so because mine is about 6 mos. old and works fine. When I talked to Don at ELK he did not mention that it required any special version. I am not even sure how to tell the firmware version on my plm ?

My PLM is right now controlled by Homeseer and everytime I restart Homeseer, the plugin shows the PLM firmware version on the log