I am not sure that several months without an answer to a valid question is shooting from the hip. At $200 + a pop it's quite a bit more than a visit to Starbucks. Just my sentiments.
I did install an ESS on a big plasma machine about three months ago for a person who engaged my services to finish a job that was abandoned by the prior "CNC Specialist." I got it working, but the critical issues getting the THC controller and the ESS to work correctly were answered by the maker of the THC, Randy Ray in Texas, not the ESS forum. I also posted a question on the Warp 9 forum, and never received a reply.
When the ESS first connects properly, after you get the TCP working, it asks if you want to use the default settings. I just click on yes, and it makes the connection. The pages of the ESS setup are pretty extensive, but I never messed with anything, except after I was assisted by Randy, that there is a Plasma check box in the setup that must be set. It seems to have a lot of check boxes for "future use" with no documentation that I have ever found. I also find that rather odd, for a business with as much exposure as the Mach3 forum provides. I also learned all the negatives after the purchase, and had begun installation.
I decided to use the ESS after so many praises on the Mach3 forum, and the comments that is is more "noise" tolerant than the USB version. Although I did not purchase the ESS, the person who owned the Plasma machine did, I am responsible for making the machine work if there are future problems. I am not pleased with the current state of affairs regarding support, but that is the way it is.
My next two CNC builds are NOT not including the ESS. I have decided to use the UC300-5LPT which is a USB connection to the computer, and it has 5 I/O ports plus an Analog I/O port. I am using the CNC4PC C-10 boards for I/O (simple, reliable, well proven), and will be using the Analog port for spindle motor control. It also has an extensive I/O set-up for buttons, relays, switches etc., and is very well documented. All programming of I/O is thru drop-down menus, that you scroll thru until you find the OEM you want. That is really slick.
CNC4PC is the US distributor. Last but not least, they answer all questions promptly, and they are not even located in the U.S. I have been very impressed with their approach to business. A question asked on their commercial website posts back an immediate response that they received your message, and will get back to you the next business day. They also publish their future enhancements that will be available in the near future.
One of the principal engineers of the company is also available on CNCZone.
In conclusion, the UC100, and 300 have totally automated setup for installing drivers and firmware, so there is no messing around with getting into Windows system. They have an option that you can have the computer log on to their website, to automatically check for the latest firmware, and install it automatically. I have one machine now running with the system for about 3 weeks, and it works flawlessly.
John