new alarm?

[pete_c]

Personally here went with the OmniPro 2 related mostly to footprint and defaults integration. 
 
I continue to utilize X10, Z-Wave and UPB.  Other users here on the forum utilize Zigbee. 
 
Relative to my use of automation software and integration to my OmniPro 2 I consider the OPII a controller on steroids and if not utilized with software then just a functional combination security automation panel.  
 
IE: I can integrate the Amazon Echo control of the HAI controller widgets via Homeseer.
 
What the two panels can do typically will satisfy basic automation needs and long time established security methodologies. 
 
The lights, thermostat, audio will work just fine on a schedule or via simple zone triggers. 
 
The additional use of software addendums provides the added eye/audio candy for those in the want or need but really it doesn't change the basic functionality of both panels.
 
Personally here the stall (procrastinating) related to the time when I could do this.  I did turn each piece in to an individual project of sorts whatever it was.  Well like pulling one wire (catxx) post install from the basement to the attic across the attic then down to the second floor.  By the time this was done; I was done for the time allotted.  The next piece didn't occur for a week or more.  That was just terminating the ends and testing them.  1 (one) PIR installation was the same.  So was one pair of speakers in one room with a control pad.  I did prioritize what I wanted the soonest.  I added a surge protector to the outside AC compressor.  Disconnected the electric first.  This endeavor had me removing all of the electric, adding more wires and then redoing the electric. It was mostly easy.  Most difficult here was related to the gauge of the electric wires.  Thinking I started at 0700c and was finished by 0900c. 
 
The mention of a bathroom audio installation.  Here just put in two in wall speakers in the master bathroom and a control pad and an AB switch.  Initially it was connected to the local AVR; then later the zoned audio.  I wanted it fast so it was prioritized and done within just a couple of weeks.  All of the LV wires came from the attic down. 

 

[picta]

Two of the most important take-aways.  I keep hoping my procrastinating on implementing this will allow something better to evolve.  I get why there's a lot of 'stick with what works' but you'd think at least some progress would have been made.  
 
Of the two 'stone age tools' I'd be more likely to choose the Elk, mainly because of the variety of integration options. 

Newer does not necessarily means better. I think Elk and HAI are still the best platforms on the market today for security and HA combination. I have both in 2 different places. It depends on what you want to integrate with. If I recall correctly, you have RadioRA for lights. It works with both systems, but HAI has one feature that the Elk does not: button press event. If I had RadioRA, I would choose HAI for this point alone, as using button presses provides a whole lot of integration options.

 

[Del91574]

The big fact, not pointing a positive or negative on either, is Elk is a security panel that does some automation and has robust programming options, where HAI is more of an automation platform that does security. Think of the ordering of those statements and determine which is more important, followed by the budgetary concerns.
 
Keep in mind, Elk, even the basic EZ8 is a very capable product at a lower price point, and barring a few features, can be expanded the same as the M1. The HAI product is going to be locked in to the hardware itself....if you need X amount of serial ports now, but maybe a couple in the future, you may be stuck buying the flagship HAI just to have the capabilities you might never utilize just so you're not locked into a hardware bound panel.