Help with Elk-M1XRF2G (wireless GE)

[paulrichjr]

I have had this unit almost since it was first released.  In the past I have had a GE wireless motion detector near the entrance of my driveway that would start different automations with lighting if the system was armed....
 
Anyway, my motion detector broke several months ago along with several other things and I have decided to clean up and get my system working right again.  I bought a new wireless outdoor motion detector (GE) and have tried to manually enroll but it doesn't appear to be able to enroll it.  I want to know if the wireless receiver is maybe bad....How can I find out?  I go to the enroll option under the wireless setup and when I hit option 3 to enroll the device I get "press transmitter button for zone 34", then I press the button on the back of the motion detector and get  "receiver program invalid enrollment at"  I also get stuff like "Level 12", "Level 13",  "Level 15" or "Level 14".  I have no directions for the GE outdoor wireless motion but it is just like my old one and I am fairly certain I pushed the black button on the back of it to enroll.   I'm not sure if it is the M1XRF2G or if it is the GE motion or if it is that I am just an idiot.... Any ideas?

 

[Big517]

Update firmware first. Try to enroll in elk rp with the utx code. I think thats what it was.... Look at wireless device 34 and you have the option of typing the code(s) found on the device. If that doest work then check batteries before to assume its the receiver.

 

[paulrichjr]

Update firmware first. Try to enroll in elk rp with the utx code. I think thats what it was.... Look at wireless device 34 and you have the option of typing the code(s) found on the device. If that doest work then check batteries before to assume its the receiver.

Ok so I tried to upgrade my firmware but couldn't.  I have an Elk M1xrf2g instead of the m1xrfeg.  Does anyone know if that uses the same firmware?  If so how do you get it to work because the latest firmware will not go on it...It doesn't see this firmware.  The lights on my unit blink orange about 1 or so per second and then after 10 seconds or so blink rapidly a couple of times and then start back the regular blinking.  Does this mean anything.  I couldn't find that blinking routine in the install guide....  The XRF2G does show up as enrolled but there is no mention of this unit on Elks site.

 

[paulrichjr]

OK so right now I really am starting to hate and I do mean hate Elk.  I called to ask if theM1XRFEG  firmware would work with the m1XRF2G and the person said it would not.  I then asked about the blinking going on and the answer I was given was "we can't help you with that..."  Really?!  You can't tell me about freaking blinking?  You can't tell me if my unit is bad so I can know if to order a new device or not?  I have spent an entire week off and on trying to get the unit to work and I have no idea if its the wireless receiver or if it is the motion detector (the company I bought it from says they tested it before they sent it out and it worked fine).  I was told..."there is firmware on the site for your receiver."  When I said there is not any on the site I was told well then I guess you just have to buy a new one. 
 
The book says blinking once every second is normal operation.  The book says rapid blinks means it needs a firmware update...stuck in boot or something....
 
Well mine does both (normal blinks for 10 seconds or so then a couple of rapid blinks then normal blinks again)  and Elk says we aren't allowed to tell you what that is.  I'm not asking for hours of tech support.  I just asked what blinking lights meant and where could I find firmware updates for the device so that I could know if I needed to buy a new one.  Sorry for the rant but Elk should at least offer the option of paying for tech support for people in rural areas.  In this situation they should at least say...You know I don't know what the lights mean but I will try to find out if I have some time today and email you what it means. Or even better maybe the firmware should be on the site and the link is messed up....I will check to see.  Instead... "not allowed to talk to you....no longer on website??? well then buy a new one."

 

[tmbrown97]

I would suggest posting in the Elk specific sub-forum; they try to monitor that the best they can - they probably won't see this post over here.  I think part of it is that all these HA companies get a lot of heat from professional installers for supporting DIY - and of course it can easily eat up a lot of their time.
 
Given that Elk has a pretty new GE receiver that has expanded functionality, it might not be the worst thing to upgrade; but I understand the unfortunate expense and not wanting to incur it...
 
Do you have any other wireless devices? Are they working?  The level 12/14 thing is telling you how many packets the wireless receiver is picking up - that tells me actually that it's working fine.  That said, most wireless devices only send 8 packets - but there's a note somewhere that states that that's all packets received from any device transmitting during that period - not just the device you're testing - so it's possible to get Level 16 if two devices send 8 packets each at the same time.  Also, a wireless outdoor device might automatically send out more - i'm not sure.
 
There may also be special settings required for that device - if you look closely at the (horribly outdated) list of compatible GE devices, many have special settings for correct function.  Of course you won't find the exact settings for your device, if you compare the approved to the manual for the one you have, you might find some similar settings worth trying.

 

[paulrichjr]

OK so thanks for the help.  When I went to the ELk site (on this board) that you linked I immediately went to the sticky links and at the end of one of them I read this...
 
July 9, 2012 - SUNSET of support for Caddx firmware version (M1 Firmware 4.6.8)

Announcing the Sunset (end of updates) of support for the M1 firmware 4.x.x versions. The 4.x.x range of firmware supported
the Caddx Networx "NX" branded wireless receiver. 4.6.8 was the last and final version of this firmware. Customers wishing
to benefit from any new features and/or fixes are encouraged to replace their Caddx branded wireless receiver with an ELK-
M1XRFEG Wireless Receiver (GE compatible). Doing this will enable the M1 control to be updated to firmware version 5.x.x
which will continue to be supported with future firmware updates.
 
 
 
My assumption is that since I have upgraded my firmware I am now unable to use the old wireless receiver....  It would have been very nice if that had been put somewhere on the board under the firmware stuff or if the people on tech support would have said "Can't help you but....read the section on the internet about your receiver no longer being supported."   Thanks