Which Alarm Panel has best Homeseer integration

[anthonybuchanan]

I want to buy a Hometroller after first installing an alarm panel.

Can anyone help me decide which alarm panel integrates best with the Hometroller.

Ideally, every single function that happens with the alarm panel can be transmiited over to the Hometroller and then acted on if desired.

[completelyhis]

Most people go with the ELk if they can afford it. I bought a house w/ DSC, so I went with that and have not been too horribly dissapointed. the availability of a good plugin for DSC seems to be most people's complaint.

Ian

[Pete]

I purchased and installed an HAI Omni Pro II about 5-6 years ago. I had some issues with the "power stealing" part of the thermostat connections and have since fixed those issues. Its been working well for me. I have it controlling the lights and run some basic programs on it. It is connected to my HS setup and I use it for numerous events and devices on HS. There are some communications problems with HS but to date HS has not triggered any alarms with the panel. I am currently (along with a few others) waiting on an update which will take advantage of the HAI newest firmware revisions. I'm partially biased to HAI but as above many HS folks utilize both Elk and HAI integration. I believe these two companies were in it from the beginning. (multipurpose HW for security, HVAC, speech and powerline).

[gearyt]

I have the DSC 1832 and own both plug-ins
each one has it's benefits and both are almost done
but no further work has been done to polish them up

[bubbagoesha]

I called homeseer directly and was told to go with DSC over Elk. I would call them directly and ask, especially since the particulars of your implementation may indicate a direction.

I am curious though-- when I look at the list of available plugins, I only see a DSC plugin. I can find an Elk plugin on the message board, but it does not seem to be complete yet, but rathe still in development, and even then, it is being developed by an "interested individual"-- which is great, but has t raise some questions about future support, etc.
Can anyone clear this up for me? Are these impressions correct?
Thanks!

[bdhall]

There is also a paid plugin for the Elk M1G called UltraM1G from Ultrajones. I have used it, it works well and the support has been great.

Brian

[kaldoon]

Elk Products builds solid alarm systems - you have a couple of systems to look at the ELK-M1EZ8 or the ELK-M1GOLD. The UltraM1G is is a great piece of software and easy to use - support has been great.

[TeleFragger]

...the ELK-M1GOLD.

if I was to build a house.. that would soooo be in the budget!!!!!

[henrythomas]

Hi ,

I'm using an Elk M1 with my lite touch system and I'd highly recommend it. Elk doesn't support lite touch, but I have a serial expander card connected to my lite touch controller (5000) and have rules to turn lights on and off based on conditions. The main reason I got the M1 is so I can "flash" lights during an alarm condition because my wife is hard of hearing. I have it set up such that when you open outside doors at nights, it turns the outside lights on, etc.

[macromark]

I called homeseer directly and was told to go with DSC over Elk

To Clarify: The DSC panels are for security only. If that's what you are looking for, they offer a more economical solution than the Elk. If you're looking for more than that, Elk is a fine product and Randy's plug-in (Ultra-MG1) is well maintained.

[Cino]

Wireless panel

not to piggyback on this thread but i didn't feel it would be good to start a new one. I'm also looking for an alarm system that can integrate into Homeseer with ease and alot of options. My biggest problem is that it has to be all wireless if possible. I just bought a house 3 months ago and really don't have an option to run cables to everything... I thought it would be nice not to have basement, I'm regretting that now but couldn't past up on the house since it needed no work and the price was right... Well other then my geeky things

[nightwalker]

All major brands of security do wireless nicely if you need to go that route. DSC, HAI, and the Elk all have very nice wireless modules you can add.

[gearyt]

DSC has a new completely wireless unit " Alexor "
simple to install and almost self programming
( or so they say )

but it looks like only TCPiP no RS-232

[TeleFragger]

All major brands of security do wireless nicely if you need to go that route. DSC, HAI, and the Elk all have very nice wireless modules you can add.

to add... that is why i went with my concord 4.... I had ALL wireless including keypads in my house... and ADT told me the concord 4 would accept all wireless except for the keypads.... (they have one that looks like a remote... no alpha numeric )

[Cino]

All major brands of security do wireless nicely if you need to go that route. DSC, HAI, and the Elk all have very nice wireless modules you can add.

Which brand has a good plugin to work with HomeSeer.. I want to setup rules if the alarm is arm or disarm. And also the other way around.. If a rule matches in homeseer, it will arm/disarm the alarm..