How do you diagnose elk/security panel issues?

[IVB]

Having some weird problems with the Elk. Trying to determine commonality, random stuff like a zone on an M1XIN (thats disabled) showing as tampered, a failure to communicate, NextAlarm randomly texting me blank messages.
 
When this happens with a PC, I just swap parts out until the problem goes away. But with an Elk, thats a lot harder. I guess I could get a 2nd M1XEP, NextAlarm internet adapter, but my gut tells me that isn't it.
 
Any thoughts? Another M1G is $500 (but comes with a KP2 which I don't need), i'd prefer not to do that since it may not actually be the issue. Mine is around 10 years old, so it wouldn't shock me if its dead but it easily may not be.

 

[RAL]

Anything in the log that might give you a clue?
 
I would start by making sure all connections between the M1 and other components, like the M1XIN, are solid and haven't come loose.
 
One other thing that comes to mind is to check the CR2032 battery on the M1.  I've read of some strange problems happening when the battery is weak.
 
This sounds like one of those problems that can be really difficult to trouble shoot. If you are getting false problems multiple sources, besides just the M1XIN, then that would point more to the M1 itself.
 
Electronic components age.  Most are rated for 50,000 hours MTBF.  That's a bit less than 6 years.  So after 10 years of continuous use, it's not completely unexpected for problems to show up.
 
If you need to replace the M1, you can buy just the circuit board itself, as a M1GCB.  Lowest prices I've seen are around $320.

 

[mikefamig]

For the zone reporting violated when it is disabled I would try "receive all" from the panel to ElkRP to be sure that they are in sync.
 
Mike.

 

[Del91574]

Tampered would indicate a voltage issue on the zone, though disabled. Send/receive generally won't hurt.
 
FTC would depend on the monitoring method. Blank text messages would be the CS's deal, probably from garbage reports.
 
My panel is over 10 years old, no issue. usually not much to go wrong with hardware besides wear items.

 

[IVB]

Tried some troubleshooting today as I was at home. Got pissed off. Emailed  AutomatedOutlet, getting a board only overnighted to me.
 
If I had more time I'd work it but I don't, and 1 kid is home solo next week so I want this working. Here's hoping I didn't just piss away $400, but if I did, its not the last time I waste $$.

 

[mikefamig]

Tried some troubleshooting today as I was at home. Got pissed off. Emailed  AutomatedOutlet, getting a board only overnighted to me.
 
If I had more time I'd work it but I don't, and 1 kid is home solo next week so I want this working. Here's hoping I didn't just piss away $400, but if I did, its not the last time I waste $$.

 
Time is money and you may do well to spend $400 to avoid spending a lot of time and a lot of head-aches but I think that before doing that I would have hired a professional to look at it for an hour's worth of his labor.
 
AO is known for their excellent tech support and for the price will help you out if it doesn't work when you plug it in.
 
Good luck, Mike.

 

[IVB]

Time is money and you may do well to spend $400 to avoid spending a lot of time and a lot of head-aches but I think that before doing that I would have hired a professional to look at it for an hour's worth of his labor.
 
AO is known for their excellent tech support and for the price will help you out if it doesn't work when you plug it in.
 
Good luck, Mike.

 
Alas not a single installer here will even look at an Elk. I tried to get several to install a full system for 4 neighbors, each of which was willing to spend some $$ as they were remodeling their houses and were including all this type of work in their refinance, and everyone said no. 

 

[mikefamig]

Alas not a single installer here will even look at an Elk. I tried to get several to install a full system for 4 neighbors, each of which was willing to spend some $$ as they were remodeling their houses and were including all this type of work in their refinance, and everyone said no. 

 
I'm lucky to live near DELinstallations and may even be lucky enough to talk him into working here if I ever come to need help in the future (got that DEL?).
 
Mike.
 
EDIT
 
Maybe come and help my widow when all the beer and BBQ catch up with me!?

 

[IVB]

Tried some troubleshooting today as I was at home. Got pissed off. Emailed  AutomatedOutlet, getting a board only overnighted to me.
 
If I had more time I'd work it but I don't, and 1 kid is home solo next week so I want this working. Here's hoping I didn't just piss away $400, but if I did, its not the last time I waste $$.

 
To close the loop, I pissed away more than $400 finding a solution. Replaced the main board, replaced a few other things. Just installed a new NextAlarm broadband adapter today, that was it. This took a little while as my job, kid illness, etc, took up lots of free time. Plus NextAlarm was hassling me about buying a new adapter, wanted to do troubleshooting, despite me repeatedly volunteering to pay full price as I didn't have the time esp during EST business hours (and i'm on the west coast).
 
But, it looks like its all good know, so on to the next item on the to-do list.

 

[mikefamig]

To close the loop, I pissed away more than $400 finding a solution. Replaced the main board, replaced a few other things. Just installed a new NextAlarm broadband adapter today, that was it. This took a little while as my job, kid illness, etc, took up lots of free time. Plus NextAlarm was hassling me about buying a new adapter, wanted to do troubleshooting, despite me repeatedly volunteering to pay full price as I didn't have the time esp during EST business hours (and i'm on the west coast).
 
But, it looks like its all good know, so on to the next item on the to-do list.

 
If it was easy then everybody would do it themselves.

 

[IVB]

The hard bit about DIY is that you don't have a re-usable set of parts to swap in/out until you triangulate the issue. I know i'm saving money overall, but man this was an expensive lesson.

 

[mikefamig]

What you say is true but not having the parts to swap in and out forces you to learn things that you otherwise would not have learned. I call it the school of hard knocks.
 
As a kid I did it myself because I couldn't afford to pay anyone to do it for me and I loved learning new things. Now I do-it-myself because I get a lot of satisfaction from fixing things and I still love to learn. If you're doing a hobby and you get stuck or frustrated then walk away and come back later. It's a hobby and if you're not having fun then you're doing it wrong. If you are working on something that needs to get done and you are stuck or frustrated then I say call the guy and get er done.
 
Mike.

 

[mikefamig]

Maybe you can sell the old panel yo recover some loss?

 

[IVB]

What you say is true but not having the parts to swap in and out forces you to learn things that you otherwise would not have learned. I call it the school of hard knocks.
 
As a kid I did it myself because I couldn't afford to pay anyone to do it for me and I loved learning new things. Now I do-it-myself because I get a lot of satisfaction from fixing things and I still love to learn. If you're doing a hobby and you get stuck or frustrated then walk away and come back later. It's a hobby and if you're not having fun then you're doing it wrong. If you are working on something that needs to get done and you are stuck or frustrated then I say call the guy and get er done.
 
Mike.

 
Ditto, for me its the self education. But frustration was the reason I took a break from all things HA from 2008 until several months ago. I didn't just stop posting on cocoontech, I barely posted anywhere. Decided to play 4 games of soccer/week, learn how to do wood working, do stuff with kids instead. (I still play 4 games of soccer on top of the HA, which is why it took so long to get this fixed).
 

Maybe you can sell the old panel yo recover some loss?

 
I absolutely hate selling stuff esp on places like eBay, more hassle than its worth. I'll give it away free to a buddy most likely, and get him into this HA timesuck

 

[pete_c]

Good news IVB that all if now fixed.
 
Here have always tinkered with whatever relating to what I went to school for and other things since the 1950's.