Elk M1Gold PLC and M1XSP

[TurboSam]

I'm ready to take the plunge into an ELK system, and I've spent hours (actually days) reviewing the threads and related materials here and on the ELK, CQC, and other websites. My thanks to all of you who have provided so much information, and although my head is spinning, things are becoming marginally clearer.

Much of that reading has been about lighting systems (and the fervor with which everyone has an opinion), and at this point, I think I am only going to dip a toe in the lighting water and initially experiment with (on a trial basis) UPB and Z-wave. I already have some X-10 devices in my home.

I know the M1Gold has the PLC connection that I can use with a PSC05 for X-10 control. I also know that if I want to use UPB (or any other lighting control) I will need the Elk M1XSP.

Here are my questions:

1. Can I use both the PLC on the M1Gold and a M1XSP together or does the M1XSP somehow disable or conflict with the PLC connector and thus the possibility of using both controls simultaneously? I know that I will need the proper UPB firmware on the M1XSP.

2. I assume if I change horses midstream and decide, for example, to go from UPB to RadioRA, I can flash over the UPB firmware on the M1XSP with the proper RadioRA firmware and go forward with the new protocol (abandoning the old one).

3 The ELK manual cautions about having the correct firmware for the lighting control, but how do I, as a DIYer, get the firmware or even know about updates to my chosen protocol? The ELK site limits firmware downloads to dealers...

Thanks in advance....

 

[Spanky]

You will have to register on the m1dealer.elkproducts.com site using the serial number from your M1 control. Then you can download software updates.

You can use X10 and the M1XSP at the same time or multiple M1XSPs.

 

[WayneW]

To expand on Spanky's answers...
1) Yes, you can mix lighting protocols. Many of us do. The one issue that you must be aware of is that the 256 device address space is shared. Therefore, lighting device 17, is B2 in X-10 lingo and device 17 in UPB (or whatever lingo), etc. This can be a curse or a benefit, depending upon how you plan or don't plan, your layout B) When the M1 turns lighting device 17 "on", it does it for ALL protocols.

2) Yes. You can change the XSP firmware to whatever device you choose, lighting, thermostat, whatever.

3) Elk allows individuals to register on their web site and get full access and support as if they were a dealer. Elk is DIY friendly, but I assume they have to keep this a little subtle as to avoid offending their pro installers.

Welcome to CT & Elk!

 

[TurboSam]

Spanky and WayneW, thank you both for the information....

WayneW, I saw the device mapping/addressing table in the XSP manual, but it's hard to conceptualize without the hardward and your comment put a little more meat on the conceptual bones!