Newbie Elk Terminology Question

[DIY]

All,
 
I have a very basic question hopefully someone can easily answer. I'm installing an Elk M1 alarm system in my home and was wondering if there is a definition for the term 'Area' in the GUI. When I initially started planning my system I thought an area could be the perimeter (like the doors & windows) and a separate area could be the interior (motion detectors, etc.). But then I ran into a small snag in this plan. It seems like my keypad(s) only manage one area so by that logic I need to collapse my entire home into one area. I did see in the M1 manual that you can somehow slave other areas to a keypad but I haven't found any information on how this would be done or how it would work.
 
So, should my home all be one area or am I missing something? Appreciate any guidance people can provide. I'm learning as I go and I haven't found a good reference for some of the high-level concepts such as this.
 
Thanks.

 

[electron]

Welcome to CT!
 
Check out this thread which has some good examples.

 

[apostolakisl]

The primary use of areas is to have one security system perform as though it were multiple systems.  For example, a pool house would be one area with its own keypad(s) and the main house would be an area.  To a user in one area, it is as though they have their own panel.

 

[DIY]

Thanks for the quick responses guys. That answers my question.

 

[drvnbysound]

Yeah, my understanding is that the best use for Areas in a residential system are when detached buildings are also included.

Commercially, a single Elk could manage multiple tennants within a strip mall...