What are my options for Keypads for an Elk M1?

[Someguy]

I am installing a new ELK M1 system where my old GE Networx system was. i'm using all of the old wires. I want the keypad to look as modern as possible. is there a way to put a really nice keypad in place of my old dinosaurs.

there appear to be three supported keypads for the M1. the touchscreen is clearly the nicest looking.

1) can anyone vouch for that one being a good and nice option? i cannot find any videos of what it looks like installed in a home to look at it's profile.

2) does anyone have any better suggestions?

3) I see in the Elk catalog that the ELK-7TS supposedly works with the M1 but I'd like confirmation of that and to see what it looks like. and holy crap! it looks like it is over a thousand bucks?!?

(this is my first post here, I appreciate any help and comments.)

 

[Mark S.]

I went with 3 Navigator touchscreen keypads, simply because I liked the look. However, there are 2 issues that I had not anticipated:
1) The Navigator keypad is smaller than I imagined. So it is easy to fat-finger the keys, and the text is small. That is a little annoying. ELK is developing the newer and larger ELK-7TS touchscreen for the E27 panel, and it is supposedly compatible with the M1G panel, but I don't think it is available yet.
2) Also, the Navigator does not mount on the vertical single-gang box that I had used for my Caddx keypads. So I bought a double-gang plate - the ones from Leviton that snap together - modified it a bit, mounted the keypad to that - so now the keypad snaps on via the Leviton wall plate. I think it looks great and simply looks like a backing plate that was intended for the keypad. I like that it can be snapped off to get to the wires.

The other options are the hard-button keypads like the green-backlit M1KP (I have one next to my panel) and the blue ones. I just like green over blue, but otherwise, I think they all function identically. However, the Navigator has many more features, like access to home automation stuff, logs, etc. I rarely use that stuff, but nice to have.

All that said, I would still buy the touchscreen today over the traditional hard-button keypads simply because I like the look of a touchscreen much better. If I win Lotto, I will upgrade to the 7" touchscreens when they come out.

 

[sbwright]

Have 3 of the touch screens and am happy with them, need several more but I'm waiting on the new bigger model before purchasing anymore.

 

[Someguy]

@sbwright the new 7 inch isn’t available yet? Do we know what it’s going to cost?

 

[Mark S.]

I found a Canadian vendor that lists the ELK-7TS for $419 Canadian, and they seem to be taking pre-orders. So maybe that gives us an idea on cost.

 

[amos]

I used the KP2s with the inwall flush mount box and speaker in the box. It gives a clean look.
Its mainly a keypad to turn the alarm on and off. If I want to do something with the system I'll use ElkRP.

Heck, the KPAS will turn the alarm on and off and it fits in a 1gang box, but it doesn't have any display so if the system isn't ready you don't know what's violated. Was thinking of putting those in spots where I might enter the house just occasionally and need to turn off the alarm, but haven't had the need.

 

[sbwright]

I found a Canadian vendor that lists the ELK-7TS for $419 Canadian, and they seem to be taking pre-orders. So maybe that gives us an idea on cost.

This is interesting, it's actually cheaper than the smaller control pad. Guessing that price might be adjusted when they become available. After reading the limited description provided it's a bit lacking in what I was hoping for. May get one thou to test out, sounds like it becomes an ethernet device versus a bus device.

 

[sbwright]

@sbwright the new 7 inch isn’t available yet? Do we know what it’s going to cost?

Just saw today via Mark's post that they are taking pre-orders and the price.

 

[NormandyHA]

The new 7 inch looks promising! Waiting to see what features/customizability is possible with it being essentially a touchpad with Elk Connect installed in it.
Best part is that the same product is for both product lines, so keeps manufacturing costs lower than two separate SKU#s.

COMING SOON! 7" Touchscreen for E27 and M1 - ELK Products

Discover the new ELK-7TS 7” touchscreen, complementing the Alarm Engine and M1 Cross Platform Control. … COMING SOON! 7″ Touchscreen for E27 and M1 Read More »

www.elkproducts.com

Reminds me of the Touch Tuxedo that came out for the Residio Vista series of alarm panels.

 

[wmcneil]

I see that the ELK-7TS connects via WiFi. I wonder what the implications of that are when installing a new system. I have always used the traditional keypads to initially configure a M1 system, then added a M1XEP and used ElkRP2 for the rest of the configuration. With the 7TS, how would you do the initial configuration after powering on the M1 controller for the first time? Can you use a m1XEP starting immediately at first power on, or?

I also now see there is a new Elk controller, E27. I will have to read up on that. Since I use a Universal Devices EISY hub for all my non-security automation, not yet clear if I should stay with M1 for a new security system install, or move to the E27. Lots to catch up on.

 

[NormandyHA]

I see that the ELK-7TS connects via WiFi. I wonder what the implications of that are when installing a new system. I have always used the traditional keypads to initially configure a M1 system, then added a M1XEP and used ElkRP2 for the rest of the configuration. With the 7TS, how would you do the initial configuration after powering on the M1 controller for the first time? Can you use a m1XEP starting immediately at first power on, or?

I also now see there is a new Elk controller, E27. I will have to read up on that. Since I use a Universal Devices EISY hub for all my non-security automation, not yet clear if I should stay with M1 for a new security system install, or move to the E27. Lots to catch up on.

Elk Products does not have the E27 available for the DIY market and has repeatedly stated it's not a replacement for the M1 series.

Yes, it's confusing. If you are having the system installed by a Elk Products professional, then the E27 is compelling. That licensed dealer is the only one that can activate an account for you. If you intend to self-install and wish ongoing DIY support from Elk Products, then you would select the M1 at this time.

 

[Mark S.]

Well, my curiosity got the better of me and I bough a 7TS. It was $300 from Home Controls.

Setup was relatively easy. However, it was a little glitchy, particularly when entering login credentials - had to do it several times. Also, it did not seem to find my lights and relay outputs at first, and locked up while I tried to get it to do so. After a restart, it finally seems to work.

The larger size is nice - much easier to see and use than the tiny Navigator touchscreen. However, they didn't do a great job at using the available real estate on the screen, There is lots of blank space. They could have moved the menu icons to a vertical position on the left which would allow the keypad section to be centered and even larger.

I was surprised that it does not enroll as a keypad, rather it apparently uses the settings of one of your existing keypads - you have to pick one to emulate. So I'm not sure how these could replace all your existing keypads. The 7TS is simply a network device that communicates via connection to the M1XEP. There is a limit of 4 7TS's connecting to an XEP. Firmware updates are easy and done through an Installer screen.

I am disappointed in the response of the touchscreen. It feels a little "weak", low sensitivity, or perhaps slow, sometimes requiring me to touch a key again. I also got into one menu that I could not exit from, so it still needs work. It is new, so hopefully firmware updates will improve the glitches.

I don't think I'll run out and buy 2 more to replace my Navigators. Not yet anyway.

 

[Ira]

Trying to understand how to wall mount a 7TS when using the ELK-POE47TS POE adapter. My plan was to mount the 7TS to a single gang electrical box (which the instruction manual says is possible) that has a conduit going up into the attic so I can pull a cat6 cable from a POE LAN switch to the electrical box. The POE adapter looks too big to put it in the box, and the "output cable" on it is only 15" long, meaning the POE adapter can't be very far from the 7TS. Elk doesn't show the availability of an extension cable.

Does Elk expect the customer to not mount the 7TS to an electrical box when using the POE adapter, and just let the adapter "hang" by the cat6 cable in the wall cavity?

 

[Mark S.]

I have no answer for you. There is a lot about this device that doesn't seem to be well thought-out. I haven't even mounted mine because it loses connection almost daily. It will not save my user/password so reconnecting is too much trouble. I kept seeing more and more firmware bugs and crashes. So it is pretty useless to me.

I am really disappointed in ELK. To me, it seems like their existing products are getting long-in-the-tooth and obsolete, and their new products like this keypad are a day late and a dollar short. Even their new E27 looks like it has less features than the M1 - what sense does that make? Where are the updated technology options for lighting and thermostat integration? Nope - they claim integrations that are no longer commercially available. They are certainly not keeping up, and are actually giving up ground - can't do that and survive in today's world of rapidly-advancing technology.

 

[Ira]

I agree with the M1 having a hard time keeping up with a lot of the new technologies. My plan is to use the M1 for security and fire (which I think are two areas I think they still excel in) and use the Hubitat Elevation hub(s) for everything else (mostly lighting control and a few other things). The Hubitat can communicate with the M1 via ethernet, so I can do a few useful things between the two.

I posted on Elk's customer support forum about my original question. I will post the reply if/when I get it.

I won't be using the 7TS for several months. Hopefully they will have a lot of the firmware/software issues fixed by then. I plan on only having one 7TS. I will have other "traditional" keypads at several locations around the house, so I won't be terribly dependent on the 7TS if it hiccups every now and then.