ELK-M1XRFTWM — Two-Way Wireless Transceiver/Expander Installation Manual

Installation manual for the ELK-M1XRFTWM Two-Way Wireless Transceiver/Expander for Elk two-way wireless sensors, used with the ELK-M1G security/automation control.

Overview

The M1XRFTWM is both a transmitter and a receiver (a transceiver), making it "two-way" — as are the compatible Elk 6000 series wireless sensors, which makes them superior to traditional one-way wireless sensors. The "M" in the part number stands for "multiple receiver capable": this newer model is specifically designed to filter out duplicate transmissions and recover from memory issues that could occur with earlier models (M1XRFTW) when multiple receivers had overlapping coverage.

Each receiver connects to the M1 Control via the RS-485 4-wire Data Bus and becomes enrolled/integrated much like a hardwired expander. Because it's Data Bus attached, it may be remotely mounted virtually anywhere in the building. Serial numbers (TXID) for all wireless sensors are stored inside the control — replacing a wireless receiver doesn't require reprogramming sensor info, just a data bus enrollment.

Features

• Adds up to 144 individual wireless zones (sensors/points)
• Operates from the 4-wire RS-485 Data Bus
• Multiple transceivers may be connected to a single control
• Flash memory allows field updating of operating firmware
• Compatible with Elk's complete line of two-way wireless sensors

Specifications

• Operating frequency: 902 MHz to 928 MHz
• Transmission duration (active on-time): 50 ms
• Sensitivity: >105 dBm
• Operating temperature: 32°F to +120°F (0°C to 49°C)
• Operating voltage: 12 Volts DC
• Current draw: 25mA receiving, 85mA transmitting

Very Important: Bus Address Rules

The M1XRFTWM two-way transceiver must be enrolled as the first zone expander (Address #2) on the M1 Control Data Bus. No more than 3 additional M1XRFTWM transceivers may be connected for expanded coverage — the 2nd must be at address 3, the 3rd at address 4, and the 4th at address 5. No bus addresses other than 2, 3, 4, or 5 may be used for M1XRFTWM transceivers. Any existing expander already occupying one of these addresses must be relocated to a higher address.

In retrofit installations mixing various Elk M1XRFx wireless expander models, extreme caution is needed: each sensor can only communicate with its matching wireless expander brand/model. Elk recommends the ELK-M1G Control run application firmware v5.3.10 or higher.

Installation

1. Mounting: Use two #6 x 1/2" screws (not provided) on each side of the housing. Never mount inside a metal enclosure or on a metalized surface. Keep at least 4–6 feet from electrical noise sources, including the M1 Control. For best radio coverage, mount 7–8 feet high, as close as possible to the center of the building, and 4+ feet away from the M1 Control.
2. Wiring: Turn off power to the control panel before wiring. Connect terminals +12V, A, B, and NEG from the transceiver to the M1's Keypad Data Bus (terminals +VKP, Data A, Data B, & NEG). Minimum wire gauge 24 AWG; 18–22 AWG recommended for long distances. Refer to the M1 Installation Manual for proper data bus wiring with multiple homerun cables.
3. Antenna: Uses a single on-board ceramic antenna — no external antenna required.

Installation must comply with Chapter 2 of the National Fire Alarm Code (ANSI/NFPA 72), the National Electrical Code (ANSI/NFPA 70), UL 1641, and local Authority Having Jurisdiction requirements.

Diagnostic LED Indicators

• STATUS (Data Bus Status): OFF = no power; Solid ON = power good but not yet enrolled (or microprocessor not functioning); Slow blink (1/sec) = Normal Operating mode; Two blips with brief off = Bootloader mode (needs firmware flashed via ElkRP).
• LEARNED RF: Indicates a valid transmitter sent a signal packet back to the M1 Control.
• ALL RF: Blinks whenever any transmission is detected on the same frequency.
• DATA BUS ACTIVE: Blinks near-continuously, indicating M1 Data Bus activity.

Data Bus Address & Wireless Zone Assignment

Every device on the M1 Data Bus needs a valid address within its device type (Type 1 = Keypads, Type 2 = Hardwire/Wireless Input expanders, Type 3 = Output expanders, Type 5 = Serial expanders). Non-keypad devices use a bank of 4 DIP switches (values 1, 2, 4, 8) — the sum of "ON" switches determines the address.

A single hardwired zone expander adds 16 zones at a time; a single wireless transceiver/zone expander can add up to 144 wireless zones. The primary transceiver at data bus address 2 always starts at Zone 17; the maximum wireless zone is 160 (no wireless zones may exist beyond Zone 160). Avoid mixing hardwired expanders into the address range reserved for wireless zones (addresses 2–10, zones 17–160) — every hardwired 16-zone expander placed in that range costs an entire group of 16 wireless zones.

Data Bus Address / Zone Table (Wireless)

Elk strongly recommends assigning all wireless zones consecutively, with no hardwired expanders interspersed between them.

Data Bus Enrollment

Once the address is set to "2" and the transceiver is powered up, manually enroll it via keypad or ElkRP software:

1. Press ELK, then 9 (Installation Programming), then the RIGHT arrow.
2. Enter the Installer Program Code (default: 172839).
3. The first menu shown is "Bus Module Enrollment" — press RIGHT arrow to select. "Enrolling Bus Modules" displays.
4. The control transmits an enrollment message to all bus devices, then shows the total enrolled Bus Modules. Press RIGHT arrow next to "Edit" to view enrolled devices.
5. Press * or Exit to leave Installer Programming.

Key considerations: a single M1XRFTWM supports up to 144 wireless zones, allocated in groups of 16 (not all 16 need to be used, but no hardwired zones can exist at those locations). Zone 160 is the highest wireless zone allowed — wireless zones cannot exist in the range 161–208.

Elk Two-Way vs. One-Way Wireless Technology

• Every signal from an Elk two-way sensor gets a positive acknowledgment from the transceiver (one-way systems are "fire and pray").
• Two-way sensors send one signal at a time; one-way sensors blindly send multiple signals hoping one is received.
• Longer battery life — two-way sensors only retransmit if they get no response.
• Longer range via 900 MHz frequency with automatic frequency hopping (one-way systems use a fixed lower frequency).
• A two-color LED on the sensor gives feedback: Green blink = transmission acknowledged; Red blink = the sensor could not get an acknowledgment.
• Elk 6000 series sensors artificially limit RF power to 50% for the first 10 minutes after battery installation as an installation "stress test" — a near-instant Green blink during this window indicates a reliable mounting location; delays suggest relocating or reorienting the sensor.

Note: The Green Acknowledge LED does not operate for sensor restoral transmissions.

Battery Replacement in Wireless Sensors

A Low Battery trouble is sent to the control well before the battery dies completely. When replacing a low battery: remove the old battery and wait at least 20 seconds (to let sensor circuitry fully shut down and erase low-battery memory) before installing the new battery, then trip the sensor a couple of times to send an "all good" signal clearing the trouble.

Elk 6000 Series Wireless Sensors — Enrollment Loop Settings

'Quick Step' Enrollment (M1 Keypad)

1. From Installer Programming, go to Menu 14-Wireless Setup.
2. Press right arrow, scroll to Sub-Menu 3: Learn Sel Prgr Wireless Transmtr.
3. Press right arrow (WZone) and find the first available zone showing "TransmitrToLrn".
4. Press right arrow to Lrn (Enroll) the sensor into that location.
5. The keypad displays "Push Transmitter Button" and the M1G announces the zone number. Insert the sensor's battery (or remove/wait 5 sec/reinsert if already installed). On success, the keypad chimes and briefly shows the 6-digit TXID; Rapid-Enroll auto-advances to the next available zone.
6. Press the ELK key twice to exit enrollment once all sensors are enrolled.
7. Set the Loop # per the sensor chart above (critical for many sensors).
8. Program the Zone Definition via Menu 5.

Sensors with multiple zone inputs (e.g., Elk6022) must be enrolled once per zone input, in sequence, with the same TXID each time but a different Loop # — remove/wait 5 sec/reinsert the battery for each additional zone.

Keychain remotes: press and hold button 1 or 2 while the M1 displays "Push Transmitter Button" to enroll.

Enrolling via ElkRP Software

1. Launch ElkRP and open the customer account file.
2. If no wireless zones exist yet, right-click Zones (Inputs) → New Wireless Zones → select Group 2 (first wireless zone is always Zone 17, tied to data bus address 2).
3. Program Zone Definition, Name, Type, and options for each zone under the new Wireless Group.
4. Under Wireless Setup → Transmitters tab, double-click a zone: check Enabled, set Supervision type (0=Non-Supervised/Keyfobs, 1=Normal "Burg" Supervision, 2=Fire Supervision), enter the sensor's TXID, set the Loop #, and Save. Repeat for each sensor.

M1 Keypad Wireless Setup Menus (Menu 14)

• 1: Receiver Options — Regular Supervision timeout (RO3, default 24 hrs, range 1–255), Fire Supervision timeout (RO4, default 4 hrs), and UL Wireless-Jam detection (RO5) — should be enabled for UL-listed installations.
• 2: Transmitter Options — Enable/disable a transmitter, set Supervision Type (0=non-supervised for keyfobs/sensors leaving the building, 1=Normal, 3=Fire; default 1), sensor-specific Options 1/2, Keyfob User ID (001–255, shown in the M1 event log), and PIR Auto Restore (not currently used).
• 3: Transmitter Enroll — manually enroll/re-enroll transmitters and set the Loop #. Deleting a sensor: set option "WZnxxx 01" to "No", or set Loop to 0.
• 4: Keyfob Event Definitions — assign one of several operations to each keyfob button via a 4-digit event code (0000–0030). Factory defaults: Key1=Lock (Arm), Key2=Unlock (Disarm), Key3=Status Inquiry (momentary) or programmable Key3 event (4-sec hold), Key4=unprogrammed (commonly set to Police Panic, 2-sec hold). Double-press top 2 keys together (~3 sec) for Key7 event; bottom 2 keys for Key8 event. Keys 1-4 can be swapped to 5-8 via Option 1 in Transmitter Opt, allowing two remotes/people to trigger different events.

Multiple / Redundant Transceivers

Up to 3 additional M1XRFTWM transceivers may be installed (4 total max) at data bus addresses 3, 4, and 5 for extended coverage in large buildings. This does NOT increase the total number of wireless zones — only coverage/range. Place multiple transceivers as far apart as possible to maximize coverage and minimize overlap (overlap can cause processor memory issues). Redundant transceivers are not UL-evaluated.

Regulatory (FCC/IC)

This device complies with FCC Part 15 rules (Class B digital device) and Industry Canada license-exempt RSS standards. FCC ID: TMA ELK-M1XRFTWM; IC: 4353A-M1XRFTWM. Complies with FCC RF radiation exposure limits for an uncontrolled environment when installed/operated with a minimum 20cm separation from the body. Must not be co-located with any other antenna or transmitter. Unauthorized modifications could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

Warranty

The ELK-M1XRFTWM is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for 2 years from date of manufacture. Batteries used with wireless devices are not warranted. See Elk's website for the full warranty statement.

Contact: Elk Products, Inc., PO Box 100, 3266 US Hwy 70 West, Hildebran, NC 28637. Phone (828) 397-4200, fax (828) 397-4415, www.elkproducts.com.