Tablet (Ipad) mounted on wall questions

jmed999

jmed999

Active Member
I have an Elk M1 Gold and an ISY HA controller.  I've been thinking about trying to replace the Elk keypad with a tablet mounted on the wall.  I'm guessing an Ipad could be used.
 
-What apps would I need on the table to replace a keypad?
 
-What apps would I need to use for the ISY to control devices/scenes?
 
-How could I power the tablet long term?
 
 
My goal is to make this look as good as possible.  I would love to use just one app that would do everything running all the time so it would appear to just be a large screen controller instead of an Ipad.
 
Thanks!
 
I may just go with an ipod touch on the wall but those ipod touch wall plates are crazy expensive!  They are more expensive than the ipod touch themselves.  Anyone have a cheap way to mount to ipod touch to a wall?
 
Thanks!
 
Those mounts aren't cheap, but they're specialized for the device you're installing, and they generally do provide power as well.  Hopefully you looked at the link in #3 with the whole database of mounts.
 
Personally I think the Mini is the perfect size/cost balance.  Of course I wish there was a $199 10" Android tablet that could be used instead, but the android devices just change too much too often for someone to make good accessories.
 
Only one consideration I'll throw out there - when you make this purchase you kinda have to figure it's a dedicated permanent item that you need to get up and running and let go for years; if/when the device fails, your wall mount becomes kinda obsolete too.  Where this may be a concern - I've had eKeypad since the first version came out - and at the time, I had an iPod touch 1st gen - great, the app works great, but over the years, that version iPod stopped getting iOS updates, and the eKeypad app kept evolving.  So - today, that device does still work, but it's frozen in time for where eKeypad was like 2 years ago.  This will happen with any tablet/device you use though unless you were to do something Windows based, and arguably then the same scenario would exist at some point.
 
I'm not sure what apps there are for the ISY, but for the Elk, eKeypad is pretty slick - and has a BluePrint feature that I've yet to try out, but has seen a ton of development and looks pretty slick.  It's what Elk would recommend you use.
 
And lastly, keep in mind you should always keep a keypad accessible; the moment you go to these tablets, now your network comes into play for accessing/disarming your alarm; during an extended power outage, the Elk's standby time will be measured in days, whereas your wifi and iPad charger will be down to hours at best. 
 
Nook HD and HD+ are on sale for really cheap.  Order a custom cut picture frame using the same materials vidabox uses and mount it in there w/ charging cable.  Put recessed outlet box behind it or POE charger.
 
If I wanted to wall mount an iPad... I'd be looking at the LaunchPort WallStation (www.launchport.com)
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkSfIJ5ZGSw
 
Yes, it's a bit pricy, but I really like they design and concept.
 
As mentioned above, I'd use eKeypad to get full keypad functionality (I actually use this now on my phone and iPad). I haven't bothered with the Blueprint module yet either. I have a DVR which is supported by eKeypad, so I can control my Elk and view my CCTV cameras via a single app... which I really like.
 
Good suggestions.  Seems like they could take a blank wall plate and cut it such that it would mount an ipod touch.  Then you could run power behind the wall.  It would all be hidden and very cheap.  You can get an ipod touch for 100 bucks fairly easy.  If someone would come up with an inexpensive wall plate they could be used for various purposes. 
 
Agree with all of the comments Work2play made. Moving to an tablet for essential security services like arming/disarming for all the above reasons IMHO is introducing a fair bit of risk
 
On a similar note, i have been looking at adding an ipad mini in a high traffic area to supplement the keypads running something like HS touch or the ekeypad blueprint module but am not sure if something like is rock solid especially with multiple family members
 
I think the launchport is what I would do too; it's a fairly safe bet that they'll keep making mounts for the newer model iPads as they come out, and if they're smart, they'll make the investment in their bases last as long as humanly possible as things evolve.
 
I also have thought about this and how I'd use touchscreens - I personally like the idea of the keypads around the perimeter of the home and in the master bedroom so they provide clear audio via the SP12's dispersed, and give me something really easy I can hit as I'm running in/out the door - the place I'd put that launchport is at the base of my stairs - a point that's extremely central to my house (where the downstairs tstat is) where I could see the status of the house at a glance, adjust temps upstairs and down, kill lights in certain areas, and basically control anything I need to in the house and see what the status is.  For me, that's a "nice to have" that'll never replace my basic keypads.
 
Pretty soon, as the 3D printer market expands just a little bit more, I'm sure you'll be able to just print a dock or find someone nearby that can do it;  I was just talking to someone who was giving one to his son for his 11th birthday, so they're obviously getting more and more accessible.
 
drvnbysound said:
If I wanted to wall mount an iPad... I'd be looking at the LaunchPort WallStation (www.launchport.com)
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkSfIJ5ZGSw
 
Yes, it's a bit pricy, but I really like they design and concept.
 
As mentioned above, I'd use eKeypad to get full keypad functionality (I actually use this now on my phone and iPad). I haven't bothered with the Blueprint module yet either. I have a DVR which is supported by eKeypad, so I can control my Elk and view my CCTV cameras via a single app... which I really like.
Click to expand...
 
Man, I really wish they had something like this for the Nexus 7.  I much prefer Android, since I can set a custom app as the launcher and then confine the user experience to my own control app...
 
When Android devices standardize size, connector location, etc. then I think companies will start spending more time engineering solutions like this for those devices. Unfortunately, that will probably never happen...
 
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