BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
I attended the ISC 2006 Security Expo held at the Sand's Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV on April 5. During that time I visited many booths and spoke with a variety of technical and sales people. This information was quickly taken down and will be (hopefully) correctly presented in these review postings. Please be aware that there may be inaccuracies in some details including pricing information. So please, take all this information as a "quick first look" only!
Elk Technologies
I visited the Elk Technologies Booth and spoke mainly with our fellow Cocooner David Steele, Elk's Chief Engineer. This was the first opportunity I had to personally meet David!
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Booth at ISC 2006 West
David started by discussing the new touch pad (shown below). Future features that will be included in the touch pad are station to station intercom (between touch pads), IP camera support, and whole house audio interface to common systems such as Nuvo and Russound.
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Touch Screen
They have a few technical challenges to iron out, mainly with the Java interface in a CE environment.
The new smaller keypads were also on display. I must say, I really like the way it looks and the sharp blue background on the LCD display.
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk New Keypad
They have a "flush" mount and a "recessed" mount as shown below.
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Recessed Mount
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Flush Mount
Next was looking at their "arming station" which fits inside of a single gang electrical box. On the top sits LED's of different colors that match the security keypad so you will know if the station is faulted or armed (status). You can also disarm the panel from it as well!
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Remote Arming Panel (to the right of the rocker switch)
I also saw a proximity card reader that can arm and disarm the panel when a security fob is placed in front of it.
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Proximity Unit
In the "hey that's kind of cool" category, David showed me some custom Elk Keypad Skins that an outside vendor can generate. The pics don't do these keypads justice as they look a lot better in person (note the custom images on some of the buttons).
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Red Custom Keypad
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Blue Custom Keypad
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Black Custom Keypad
Future design ideas that are brewing in David's mind are:
Interface the Elk M1 with the Dallas "One-Wire" devices. This will be done by developing an interface box to the RS-485 "Keypad" bus.
Interfacing RFID capability (using Wiegand chip devices) with the same interface box design concept.
Interface thermostats to the Elk Touch Screen.
It was a pleasure chatting with David and the Elk Technologies staff. The future is looking very bright for this company!
Elk Technologies
I visited the Elk Technologies Booth and spoke mainly with our fellow Cocooner David Steele, Elk's Chief Engineer. This was the first opportunity I had to personally meet David!
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Booth at ISC 2006 West
David started by discussing the new touch pad (shown below). Future features that will be included in the touch pad are station to station intercom (between touch pads), IP camera support, and whole house audio interface to common systems such as Nuvo and Russound.
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Touch Screen
They have a few technical challenges to iron out, mainly with the Java interface in a CE environment.
The new smaller keypads were also on display. I must say, I really like the way it looks and the sharp blue background on the LCD display.
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk New Keypad
They have a "flush" mount and a "recessed" mount as shown below.
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Recessed Mount
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Flush Mount
Next was looking at their "arming station" which fits inside of a single gang electrical box. On the top sits LED's of different colors that match the security keypad so you will know if the station is faulted or armed (status). You can also disarm the panel from it as well!
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Remote Arming Panel (to the right of the rocker switch)
I also saw a proximity card reader that can arm and disarm the panel when a security fob is placed in front of it.
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Proximity Unit
In the "hey that's kind of cool" category, David showed me some custom Elk Keypad Skins that an outside vendor can generate. The pics don't do these keypads justice as they look a lot better in person (note the custom images on some of the buttons).
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Red Custom Keypad
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Blue Custom Keypad
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Elk Black Custom Keypad
Future design ideas that are brewing in David's mind are:
Interface the Elk M1 with the Dallas "One-Wire" devices. This will be done by developing an interface box to the RS-485 "Keypad" bus.
Interfacing RFID capability (using Wiegand chip devices) with the same interface box design concept.
Interface thermostats to the Elk Touch Screen.
It was a pleasure chatting with David and the Elk Technologies staff. The future is looking very bright for this company!