What's coming up for me

So my company prides/prided itself on how they weren't "married" to any one line of products (other than GE Security). Personally, I think that's a big mistake in the AV & control categories. They have a couple Russound systems out there, a few Elan, even two ZON systems (eww!). They started using RTI then migrated to URC, now they want to go back to RTI. So when a job comes up and I have to design it, which direction do I go? Makes the design take twice as long.

Now I've gotten them on board with some new manufacturers and vendors, like Marantz, Sherbourn, Velodyne, Sim2, Zektor, Audio Authority, NeoPro, and probably some others I'm forgetting. They were always CRAVE dealers, which I had never been before, and now we're joining a low-voltage buying group and we have to watch our numbers and make sure we meet all our minimums and all that good stuff. So... looks like suddenly I need to become familiar with Denon CI, Panamax, Escient, and have to push 99% of our speaker sales to Klipsch (although I believe we can purchase Jamo and Mirage through them as well). And I'm keeping with RTI for the time being.

So speakers, amps, projectors, video switching, control, music servers - those are covered. What are the two big gaping holes in that list?

1 - Whole House Audio
2 - Whole House Control

I was an Elan dealer for about 5 years. I've been through HomeLogic training twice, and even won a full demo "kiosk" from them. I've known our rep and the regional manager for years; he even sent me to Tech Week for free. So, does the company want to push Elan? Hmm. We might. [that would be a solid "Maybe"] OK. So they pay to send me to the latest HL certification class. Do they want to push HL? Hmm. We might.

Alllllrighty then. Well. Umm. Now what? For now I'm still spec'ing Elan into jobs because that's what I'm familiar with. Actually, right now I'm using Elan multi-zone controllers and RTI controls, but that's beside the point.

So it turns out the new buying group includes Control4. Well, here we go. Looks like this might be the only way I get them to actually commit to a whole house audio/control system. So now I'm waiting on a price sheet. I really wanted to go with HomeLogic, but the more I look into C4 the more interesting I find it.

With HL, there is NO entry level interface. You either get a 7" or 8.4" in-wall, or an 8.4" wireless touch panel. Other options are the PC and iPod interface. The PC interface is absolutely identical to what you get on the touchpanels. The iPod interface is super-slick and super-fast. Very cool. But no handheld control. You would have to use an RTI/URC handheld and control the actual subsystem through it. So you would have, say, a T2-C and a processor to interface with your AV system, lighting controller, and maybe HVAC. Then the HL "brick" would also have to be tied into the AV system and the lighting system and the HVAC system. You don't actually control the HL system from a 3rd party controller. (Admittedly there is a way to map IR triggers into the HL system, but it's kinda clunky. I've never actually done it, so maybe it's not as bad as it seemed in training) Seems way redundant to me.

I have yet to see a recent C4 price sheet, but as I understand it, for the price of an entry level remote & processor you get at least the possibility of a small automated system with an on-TV graphical interface. I have customers that will like that. Fixed user interface? Meh. Not my cup of tea, BUT... one less thing I have to worry about. I'd prefer to hone my wiring and trim-out skills instead of trying to get the entire job done plus design a UI. Don't get me wrong, on paper I would rather do custom everything for everyone. But, not every job warrants it. Half the customers probably wouldn't know if it was custom or not anyway. I'd rather get more systems in at a lower entry price and build up from there. We don't have Crestron/AMX level customers and we don't do Crestron/AMX level integration, so while it is a goal of mine to get on board with one of the two, it would be pointless right now. I'll take my lumps with a "lesser" system (according to the ridiculous thread over at RC right now) and keep on learning, keep on having satisfied customers, keep on getting paid, keep on enjoying my job.