Elk Reporting Help

[Travis4710]

Finally got my Elk sending emails, but all I get is "Alarm Notification".  What do I need to do to get the Elk to send details of the alarm or zone information?

 

[jpmargis]

I assume you have an M1XEP message that sends the "Alarm Notification" message.  You need to create other M1XEP messages for the details you want to receive and then write rules to send the message when the corresponding events occur.  Don't get too carried away.  You can only send sixteen different messages!

 

[Travis4710]

I assume you have an M1XEP message that sends the "Alarm Notification" message.  You need to create other M1XEP messages for the details you want to receive and then write rules to send the message when the corresponding events occur.  Don't get too carried away.  You can only send sixteen different messages!

So there isn't a way for the elk to to input the triggered zone into a message?

 

[Del91574]

You're limited to the amount of canned email responses in the XEP, though you can modify the exact message sent in those and via rules.

 

[yeti575]

I share your frustration!  I ran across a company SPAM which claims to have replacement firmware for the M1XEP which supports email notification with embedded reports.  They offer a demo version.... I'll let you know how it works.

 

[vc1234]

I share your frustration!  I ran across a company (SPAM) which claims to have replacement firmware for the M1XEP which supports email notification with embedded reports.  They offer a demo version.... I'll let you know how it works.

 
Very interesting.
 
It is not clear whether their replacement software can be enabled permanently, after paying for it. Lack of pricing info seems to indicate that they may offer a fully functioning version only if you buy their hardware XEP replacement.

 

[Del91574]

There's pricing info, $100 for the software. I'd be worried about support as the M1's firmware goes forward.

 

[vc1234]

There's pricing info, $100 for the software. I'd be worried about support as the M1's firmware goes forward.

 
You are right, I somehow managed not to notice the price.
 
Presumably, one can overwrite the alternative firmware with Elk's if need be. In any case, considering how, let's say, mediocre XEP's OEM firmware is, it may worth the risk to try the alternative. 
 
The alternative firmware also demonstrates that Elk might have produced a similar piece of firmware for the existing XEP without the need to make a new piece of hardware. Instead, they chose to rest on their laurels.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

I share your frustration!  I ran across a company (SPAM) which claims to have replacement firmware for the M1XEP which supports email notification with embedded reports.  They offer a demo version.... I'll let you know how it works.

One thing we do not put up with here on CocoonTech is deception.  I noticed your IP is in the same city as this company, and this is your first and only post here!

 

[Del91574]

I suspected a shill/troll but played along.
 
I'd be concerned if the replacement FW overwrote the OEM bootloader and modified it. XEP's aren't able to be rolled back once they've been upgraded.

 

[setechEngineer]

Good day to everyone!
 
I have been a lurker on these forums for some time using my personal account (bgreat). I have an Elk M1G installed at home (since 2006) and have felt the frustration voiced by others with the limitations of the Elk Ethernet interface. I've learned much by reading the exchanges on the forums to enable to make my system bend to my will!
 
I have created this new account (setechEngineer), to use in answering any technical questions I can within the limitations of the forum rules, regarding the SETECH ST-EG100-E Ethernet Gateway and SETECH ST-EG100-FW firmware upgrade for the Elk M1XEP. If a subject may be outside the scope of permissible activity within the forum, I may be contacted directly with specific technical questions. I did make a request to the forum support on 30-Dec-2013 to confirm there is no issue, but have only received an automated response as of today. Thought it would be best to at least answer the outstanding questions brought up in this discussion.
 

Response 1:

I suspected a shill/troll but played along.
 
I'd be concerned if the replacement FW overwrote the OEM bootloader and modified it. XEP's aren't able to be rolled back once they've been upgraded.

 

I did not make the original post regarding our hardware/firmware, but as far as I can tell there was no attempt at deception -- definitely not from a "shill/troll". I understand the concern from DELInstallations, but I can assure him that the the Elk M1XEP OEM bootloader is preserved along with all original user configuration settings from ElkRP2 when the SETECH ST-EG100-FW firmware is loaded. Only the application code is replaced and is easily rolled back to the current Elk application firmware, with the preserved original bootloader and configuration settings. I will talk to the SETECH website maintainer and make certain this is added to the knowledge base.
 

 

Response 2:

Very interesting.
 
It is not clear whether their replacement software can be enabled permanently, after paying for it. Lack of pricing info seems to indicate that they may offer a fully functioning version only if you buy their hardware XEP replacement.

The "free" ST-EG100-FW firmware is a fully functional package with an automatic 15 day evaluation license. The purchased firmware is identical to the "free" firmware, but has a permanent license issued at time of delivery. A permanent license can be installed at any time to convert "free" firmware to permanent firmware. A permanent license has no expiration time/date. The current generation firmware is functionally equivalent on both the Elk M1XEP and SETECH ST-EG100-E hardware.
 
 
Any additional questions, please ask.
 



Enjoy!
Bill
====
As a new user, I can not create an automatic signature, so I hope this is sufficient...
Full Disclosure:
William Greathouse
Systems Engineer
SETECH Security & Automation, LLC