Ordered My Elk M1 Gold and some accessories!
- Thread starter frijoli
- Start date
drvnbysound
Senior Member
Curious, do you realize that mixing UPB and Zwave isn't recommended? It's possible, but you have to be sure that the device IDs aren't the same.
Regarding the RS232 input, check out the XSP.
Regarding the RS232 input, check out the XSP.
Thanks for the response!
I understand the Zwave, UPB thing. I will be migrating to Zwave mostly if it works for me. I really like UPB but other than lights, there product line hasn't really progressed much. I have the XSP on order, but I couldn't tell if it was triggered only by the M1, or if it is continuously monitored by the M1.
KenN
Member
Really? Not that I plan to build up a UPB/Zwave hybrid system, but why is that? Isn't UPB exclusively powerline and Zwave exclusively RF?
Just curious - does it cause some sort of clash in the Elk or other controllers?
It's more about making sure your set up is correct, than it is technologies conflicting.
tmbrown97
Senior Member
The whole reason for avoiding mixing isn't about conflicting between the technologies; it's about the fact that the M1 has 256 lighting addresses going back to the X10 days and UPB and Z-Wave are overlayed over those spots via some translation. With 2 different technologies it's easier to end up with multiple devices landing on the same Elk Lighting address. It's very easy to renumber UPB devices, so set up the Z-Wave first then move the UPB devices out of the way.
The Elk will monitor events on the lighting side; you can trigger the elk to Arm based on seeing a link id if you really wanted to - or turn on a sprinkler, or just about anything else. It has trouble keeping updated status of switches that were activated via a link
Per the original OP's question, yes - the Elk can be set to receive a string via a serial port and do something - it can't parse the string or do anything dynamic, but you can set a rule that if it receives "xxxxxxxxxx" on Com2 then [execute rule/task]. And you can use dry contacts - any zone can be set to do just about anything upon the contacts opening or closing; either via rules or even a couple built-in functions (like keyswitch).
The Elk will monitor events on the lighting side; you can trigger the elk to Arm based on seeing a link id if you really wanted to - or turn on a sprinkler, or just about anything else. It has trouble keeping updated status of switches that were activated via a link
Per the original OP's question, yes - the Elk can be set to receive a string via a serial port and do something - it can't parse the string or do anything dynamic, but you can set a rule that if it receives "xxxxxxxxxx" on Com2 then [execute rule/task]. And you can use dry contacts - any zone can be set to do just about anything upon the contacts opening or closing; either via rules or even a couple built-in functions (like keyswitch).
ddennerline
Active Member
I checked the M1XSLZW manual and page 4 does indicate that hybrid/mixed lighting system is “not recommended.” I agree that technically it’s possible to get system working, but if problem does arise you may be asked by technical support to disable one technology in order to troubleshoot system. M1XSLZW was released this year with larger variety of Z-Wave devices supported (as compared to previous solution).
Cocoonut, this is Excellent. That means I can use my Universal Remote base station(MSC-400) with my handheld remote to control stuff!! Off hand do you know how many Serial ports the Elk M1g can handle?
EDIT: Nevermind, I finally found this in the manual. "up to 8 with expanders"<<<this is good because I use a lot of serial devices.
