Podcast #424: Home Automation - Control4

Lately we have become big fans of home automation. While not exactly home theater, home automation is like a first cousin. Home automation is routinely used to control home theaters. After all who wouldn't want to press one button on a controller and have the lights dim, audio system turn on, and have the projector playing the latest movie off your video server?

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Listen to the show

Today's Show:

News:

• New, Tougher HDTV Energy Star Standard Takes Effect
• 1 in 8 say they will cut back on cable bills -- but probably won't
• Dish Plans 'TV Everywhere' Web Site This Year
• ABC expands 'Lost' finale by extra half-hour!
• Roku teases revamped Netflix Channel user interface on video, coming in June

Other:

• Visit FaveBot.com, a continuous search engine/topic tracker to help you keep up with whatever you're into
• Australian FTA 9 network will be broadcasting rugby league football live in 3D
• SpectraCal nationwide Enthusiast Video Calibration Bootcamp (class outline)
• The 20 Most Common Mistakes in the Home Cinema
• HDTV By the Numbers

Home Automation - Control4

Even if you don't have a dedicated home theater you can benefit from home automation. Ara built out a sophisticated system with DIY components that monitor his home, automate lights and even let him know if the garage door has been left open for more than 15 minutes. We both use Insteon products (full disclosure, The HT Guys are Smarthome affiliates) but there are other solutions as well. Over the coming weeks we will be featuring different systems on our podcast, today its Control4.

Control4

(From the Control4 website) Control4 manufactures a complete line of affordable wired and wireless automation products, making safety, convenience, comfort and economy available to virtually anyone. Control4 wireless products can be installed in any residence in just a few hours, without the need for extensive or expensive remodeling. Not only can users easily customize their Control4 system to meet their unique lifestyles, but the modular nature of the products also enables customers to start small and add to their systems over time. Control4 products deliver a complete solution by integrating the control of lighting, audio, video, landscape and climate into a single easy-to-use system.

Control4 offers lighting control, Audio/Video systems, touch screens, keypads and controllers. In the Control4 system the controller is the central point for everything. Music, video, lights, HVAC and so on are coordinated through the controller via Ethernet, IR, RF, and even RS-232. Control4 features support for Apple's iPod, Sony's Blu Ray Disc Changer as well as other devices from well known manufacturers. They also have their own media players, multi-zone amps and switches. Essentially you can route any source to any room in the house. There is full support for lighting and climate control via their switches, dimmers, and thermostats. You can see how this can get insane very quickly!

Control of the system is done through remotes, touch screens, or the iPod or iPad. These can be hand held, in wall, or table top devices and they are quite expensive. By the way, the iPad app is free to download but you need to contact your dealer to purchase a license. The consensus online seems to be about $100 for the license. 

The system is extremely powerful and sexy! The power comes at a cost however. This is not something you can install on your own. It requires that you hire an installer who will design a system specifically for you. The nice thing about using an experienced installer is that he has designed many systems and will suggest things that you never would have thought about. The drawback is that you are paying for this service in addition to the cost of the equipment so it can become expensive quickly.

Pros:

• Third Party Support - SONY, Denon, Pioneer, Yamaha, Samsung, Integra, and Others
• Standard Communication - Ethernet, Wireless
• App Store - Facebook, Twitter, First-Aid, and more. Apps not free.
• Mobile Device Support - iPad/Phone/Pod Touch, Blackberry, Droid
• Easily upgradeable

Cons:

• Expensive - A fully equipped home can easily reach $30K or more.
• No DIY option - need to go through an installer which adds to the cost.

Download Episode #424

Comments

[Tom in Sebring]

Hey Ara, if you really want to new TV, buy one of these first and plug whatever TV you want to replace into it, then slowly decrease the voltage going to it. The Presto, you get to buy a new TV.

http://www.amazon.com/MLCS-9410-20-Amp-Router-Control/dp/B001NIK6PC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1273234228&sr=8-2

[Aaron]

Just something you might consider for these home automation systems reviews...... have all these companies come out and give you a quote for their system and compare it to your diy system price wise (use the same type of components that you currently have in your house and price the cost of all those mac mini's, ipads, software, etc). I believe you have done this for your system in the past so bring that information back up and compare it to these new systems.

Reason being is I think it would be a good idea see the actual cost difference between these systems. It is not like your mac mini system was free to purchase so the actual price difference might not be that great.

I am actually starting to think about a system like this and control 4 has been one that has always been on my radar because how much "more" it can do than a standard system (was leaning towards media center + mcontrol). I am starting to think a system like control 4 will be better in the long run though.

[YT]

Howdy Guys,

I have a few questions on the second 10 Most Common Mistakes in Home Cinema. I realize you didn't produce the list, but I'd appreciate your further comments:

17) Converting the Video Signal
(excerpt) don’t use playback devices to tailor the video to the display device. This should only happen later in the chain, at the point where it becomes impossible to avoid. In general, avoid unnecessary conversions.

"avoid unnecessary conversions" is what caught my eye. I have a couple of Sony DVD jukeboxes with no HDMI outs, so I hope their video gets converted in the receiver. However, my Blu-ray player (Sony BDP-S350) is connected via HDMI
Does that mean that DVDs played in the Blu-ray player are upconverted by the player? (does HDMI carry only HD video?)
If so, does that mean that no further video enhancement occurs in the receiver?
If so, is there anything you'd recommend to bring the receiver into play for video upconversion?

20) Having no general ‘Off’ switch

Don't some A/V devices depend on standby power to retain some settings? I know my jukeboxes do; every time there's a power outage, they forget where I left off viewing. Anyway, the chart of standby power usage was informative; player + receiver + TV draw Peanuts. Not having the willpower for 'cast TV, my only higher-draw component is a subwoofer; I can probably remember to turn that off separately.
Would an UPS provide everything that a power conditioner could?

[Rex]

Regarding needing standby power to retain settings:
I think you could easily just use flash memory instead - it has become so cheap these days.

[Leif Hurst]

Interesting topic on the automation front... I'd like to hear more on the different brands in regards to what you're getting for the price you're throwing out. Is it a single room solution or a whole house solution? I'm currently in the middle of a DIY Crestron install for my HT room only and I'm trying to keep it under 2-3k (used equipment off of ebay). I'm halfway through programming now but should have full control of lighting, HVAC, and all HT devices over RS232 or IR (velodyne subs, xbox) and then using an iphone and ipad for control. I do want to caution folks though... learning Crestron is a pretty steep learning curve and getting the software is about as easy as finding the lost city of atlantis. As time goes on I may add control for whole house audio and a few more lighting zones.

To me the biggest feature was that I had to have 2 way control. I had to be able to control a device and it offer some real feedback via polling to what the status of that device is.

[Al]

I just purchased an insteon starter kit with the indigo pro software. I tend to prefer the DIY route so I figured this would be the best option for me.

I have only had the insteon components for a day but I have already setup my theater room with various scene controls based on conditionals such as which lights are already on and what activity the theater room is using (using the harmony one). And having so much control over these conditionals and little details like ramp speed and delays give the room a new luxury feel. Especially compared to the circus that use to be me turning on 5 different lights manually.

I need to get a few more modules to complete the room but I can already see the power and potential of the insteon setup if you use the pc/mac software to enhance how "smart" everything is.