blub

Zigbee 3 module for all the goodies out there

More flexible GUI with HTML5 pages (floor pan etc)

Web based control for PC via Browser

Web based media management, like Emby or plex

Compatibility for European system 55 faceplates with matching KeyCaps - Noone buys the current line because it just doesn't blend in and it does not have options for 3 or 4 way gangs - it's just a little plastic piece come on!!

1 minute ago, poseidonsystems said:

So this past week, I had several clients call and tell me that their remotes are substantially dimm. I checked the units, settings and they all are where they're supposed to be.

So I called Control4 and obviously these are out of warranty (18 months old) and I have to charge the customer to replace them? This should be the most reliable component of a Control4 system, outside of the Controllers, and it is a complete disaster.

I have about 20 remotes I have to RMA (not really because I'm getting charged). I don't know about you, but other dealers probably have the same issue. 

Thing is the SR 250's out in the field all look good. I feel like the SR260 is a huge step backward and it's really a big disappointment for our clients.

I guess your are not the only one. Mine are dim too, and are older and way out of warranty. Best would be if anyone could find an LCD for a replacement.... so far I haven't found one...

6 hours ago, Köhler Medientechnik said:

It´s a C4 driver issue. The Hue bridge provides 2-way feedback.

Since i´m Germany based as well, i agree with your assessment of the C4 keypads not being a feasable solution.

I haven´t done a research about that yet (no requirements yet), but are there really no options for European System 55 and C4-compatible wireless keypads?
 

EDIT: A quick search gave me this Enocean Gateway that seems to have C4-drivers available. I haven´t done a deeper look but shouldn´t that solve your problem?

Hi

The thing is that control4's own lighting products are great and I just don't get it why there aren't any adapters for system 55 - it like Control4 doesn't want to sell anything here.

The en-ocean you mentioned was, by the time I checked it out, limited to certain dimmers and switches. The setup would have been to add a  keypad (no battery or wires needed) and then the actual dimmer behind inside the wallbox - the dim modules are about 45x45x35mm, so th Since I needed someone to program the enocean system and then Control4 the cost was adding up and I decided against it.

I currently use the MyOpus system based on Enocean. The physical footprint is a little smaller inside the wallbox so the installation should be possible in any location.
The setup was via Apple Homekit which meant there was no actual cost for it since a kid can do it - price to performance is good but it is not as good as Control4s own lineup as the MyOpus System has 1 or 2 bugs for the time being, maybe they'll fix them. But its hands down the only retrofit solution that is actually feasible and worht it at the moment for Germany.

On 8/10/2020 at 9:38 AM, Köhler Medientechnik said:

Cutting power via a mechanical switch is always a bad idea in a smart home.

According to Hue, the "intelligence" lies in the light bulb itself, so if you just cut power, it can´t send it´s status out anymore, hence it can´t be reflected in the system.

This is not a Control4-issue. Even the Hue app itself doesn´t get updated when just cutting power of bulbs.
The solution would be to provide permanent power to the bulbs and control them solely via the control system / Hue system.

Hi

I know this isn't a C4 issue. But the lack of 2-way feedback is a driver/Hue bridge issue.
As Gary said you can run it all via sensor but I agree with you that this is not what most people prefer. I also agree that with hard-wiring the lights to "always on" will solve this issue with the exception to changes made via iOS or Android apps.
However in this setup one would need keypads in the house with Control4, so "Friend of Hue" keypads which are available for a year I think are not working at my satisfaction and I am personally not going to get "Hello Alexa or Google into my house...".

So it all comes down to C4 compatible keypads and about 1,5 years ago the only solutions offered to me here in Germany was wired KNX Keypads and Control4 - re-wire a whole house with KNX cables was something I did not want, Control4 keypads were quoted at about 200€ + faceplate and keycaps - for the Control4 keypads one would need to be brain-dead to spend so much for a keypad that doesn't even blend in to a European design as neither color nor style matches anything over here as Control4 is not compatible with system 55 sets - same goes for the switches and dimmers.... - @Control4 how hard can it be to make a trim mechanism and keycaps to match the European system 55 design !? - I know from more than 4 Control4 dealers that the lighting system doesn't sell well due to design differences and the exceptional high price in relation to price/perfomance (no tft/oled option and no thermostat)

So for anyone located in Germany retrofitting a home with a Control4 compatible lighting solution was basically impossible - now that there is a solution with Enocean via Apple Homekit called "MyOpus" there is at least one option that might do a fairly decent job for "plug'n play" retrofit.

We have 18 Phillip Hue Bulbs and more than Happy 
We even use Hue Sensors - With regards to the two way feed back - How lights show on and off on the slider 
so not sure what people mean - Concerning Colour just use the Colour wheel on Driver Central Web Site 

I doubt the if that's helpful with the short bettry life - when you really start missing the remote it'll be empty..

I doubt the if that's helpful with the short bettry life - when you really start missing the remote it'll be empty..

Oh dam there I was thinking that Somfy was ***the*** best integration into c4


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Then won't be available in South Africa. Gotta try find what they use here then to do the Somfy to c4 intergration


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Not available in EU.

LG OLED or if in EU Panasonic oled, the latter has better software capabilities

2 hours ago, ChrisM said:

@blub

Quote

 

Hue:

No 2way communication - this is a really a drawback

What would you recommend instead?
I'm generally really happy with the Hue hardware ecosystem - colored bulbs look great and there are many options. 
I would prefer to avoid the Hue Hub if I could, and would love something with 2-way communication. 
 
There is a 2way hub from  a German company but there isn't a C4 driver available (Phoscon Gateway) - the regular hue Bridge driver we have doesnt work with it.

Honestly I would go with any lighting system that has 2-way control.

I'm new to Control 4. Have there been any updates on controlling hue bulbs with C4? Any advice on drivers (even third party) would be much appreciated. I just started setting up my controller and my hue bulbs are next to tackle. Thanks!

I use Kodi for 7 years now with PVR/DVR and movie. It has proven to be reliable - I tried Linux ans windows, however Windows turned out to be more reliable in the end.
My movie backend is Emby. It has served me well, is stable and works flawless in Kodi.
Alans Kodi driver works perfectly with Kodi.
Since Kodi can now do HDR I see no reason to look anywhere else...

Ask your Control4 dealer. Someone with training should know all that

Thanks for pointing me in the direction of Janus.  I had my dealer download their driver and I must say that it is extremely impressive! My general thoughts on their driver:
1. It emphasizes the need for a new Touchscreen with better processing power.
2. I would love to see it include V1 thermostats and not just V2 (although one can program around that).
3. It now includes power monitoring (on one platform) but it would be nice to extend this beyond one monitoring system.  In my case, I would like to see eGauge supported or generic support that allows one to tie Control4 variables in for monitoring (graphing purposes).
4. It now includes water usage monitoring (on one platform) but it would be nice to extend this beyond one monitoring system.  In my case, I would like to see Flo by Moen supported or generic support that allows one to tie Control4 variables in for monitoring (graphing purposes).
This is, arguably, the most extensive use of the web interface that I have seen any driver make use of but this does highlight the challenge in terms of 1 above.  I have reached out to the developers and made the above (and a few other) comments (not point 1 as this is a Control4 issue and after 5 years we must be due a new Touchscreen!). It will be interesting to see how responsive the developers are...

So let me ask a specific question:
I´ve got system with an AVR. I can control audio volume, select different inputs by selecting the according source player.
But just as an example, is it possible to display the selected surround mode on the remote? As an example, i´ve seen in the driver for a Trinnov audio processor that the driver provides feedback for that and i can react upon it with programming. But is it possible to display the status on the remote / touchpanel?

For anyone that does not want to spend a ton of money on Crestron, Control4 is a perfect compromise besides RTI. Control4 does have disadvantages in Germany, but that's more about lighting integration and not AV

It is a strong and a weak point of contro4.
On one side it'll always look the same.

On the other side you cannot have flooe plans showing open windows, lights, custom stuff like water levels solar and so on....

Panasonic works well too but uses 15w if standby power when WOL is on. So I disabled it and use an IR command to turn it on

Hello,

I ran out of plungers for the Axxess in line dimmers after fitting new lamps. Also I would like to finally add some other dimmers still have from NA.

Can anyone source me the plungers for European cables type B and D?

I would take 10 each.

Thx

I have a lot of C4 dimmers/switches in my house but I have a few areas with old switches that were hard to replace so I use Hue bulbs in those locations and tie them into C4 keypads.  Not ideal but it works pretty well and doesn't cost a fortune.
One other potential option, especially as you may not be at your house for too long, is to buy some used, older C4 dimmers.  Occasionally people are selling them on this forum.  That would bring your cost per light down to closer to Hue, or maybe even lower when you have multiple lights per load.
Speaking of Hue - does anyone else think that colored bulbs are a gimmick?  I have mainly Hue colored bulbs but I almost never change the color away from white.

Hue works perfectly fine, especially white bulbs, in a C4 system.  Correct, Hue switches don't work, but you just program keypads to do the same as the Hue switches.
Color Hue is a PITA.  Can't do scenes, grouping bulbs changes them all to same color.  So if you have a bunch of bulbs doing different colors, lots of programming heading your way.
Hue motion is available through a 3rd party driver as well.

Multiroom I would go Control4 amps if you have hard wired speakers in the rooms, TV Samsung LG or Sony, if you are located in the EU Panasonic is also very good,

Easiest way is to find a dealer who is willing to sell the hardware, you do all the physical installing, cabling rack etc...
The dealer then does the Control4 setup what you cannot do and then you can do the programming with Composer He yourself
Should save a couple of thousand if you can do the installation