rf9000
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Posts posted by rf9000
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All,
so I’m looking to combine a Triad 24x24 audio matrix and a 8x8 audio matrix. What is the most proper way to do this? There is one EA5 controller. The initial thought is to run two outputs off the EA5 to each matrix and sort of keep them separate. The 24x24 for interior zones and the 8x8 for exterior zones. But if music is turned on in one of the interior zones, we would definitely want to be able to add any of the exterior zones to play the same thing at the same point in the song, just like if we were adding another interior zone. Do we need another controller? Please help
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4 hours ago, sonic30101 said:
Josh is configured to the roku as the playback device in this scenario, josh probably won't be able to turn the tv on natively but you could get a global cache ir device. Samsung and IP is flakey so from a reliability standpoint it could stop or inconsistently control the tv with or without c4.
In a c4 ecosystem josh is using that to control the tv
Roku is better than any tvs built in streaming menu for both consistency, speed, integration. You would be using it for all streaming and forget the samsung is anything more than a display and possibly the speakers if you don't have the audio output fed to the rack for distributed audio.
Ea1 is only needed if the wiring requires additional ir or serial ports, on screen and zigbee AP. I rarely ever use the hdmi out for audio purposes unless there is an avr and it is a destination room where a delay is not a problem. Even then I don't like it because I can't watch one thing and listen to another at the same time.
I think I understand this. So what actually turns the TV on with Josh? Do most people have audio from every tv in the house fed back to the rack?
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4 hours ago, eggzlot said:
Not sure what’s funny
you gave no basis for what you want to watch. So hook up the ea1 and enjoy the osd menu control with your voice
tried to help.
others can chime in
I know that the EA1 and Roku are different. I’m trying to figure out if the EA1 is really needed. I get conflicting answers. Someone else told me to have all TVs IR controlled and have the Rokus IP controlled. I don’t know what benefits this will bring. I want to be able to walk into a room that has Josh, and tell Josh to turn on TV to Netflix (even to a certain show) and have that work. In the rooms with AVR, this would mean turning on the preamp/receiver, etc.
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12 minutes ago, eggzlot said:
What did your dealer suggest?
you want to channel surf with voice control?
what do you watch? Cable tv channels? Streaming apps?
ea1 provides zero video content minus an OSD. A roku provides video content. Totally different animals. Not even sure how you are comparing them.
with a project and budget this size you are doing yourself a disservice but trying to DIY this design
Thanks, I have been told that before!! haha
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All,
I have 13 Samsung Smart TVs and looking for the best solution. I also have EA1s for most of these TVs, but now leaning towards not using that many EA1s. It was suggested in another thread to have a Roku Ultra at every TV. Forgive me, but I'm a little unclear on the benefits and features of these items and IP/IR. I'm also integrating JoshAI so want Josh to be able to control all the TVS or at least the TVs in the same rooms as Josh. I basically am doing Josh on all of the main level for now. Upper level may get it soon if I really like it. So, if Rokus are on each TV, the menu at startup will be a Roku menu? I have never had Roku. This menu would consist of all the apps that can be chosen from? So its basically the same thing as the Source menu on a Samsung smart TV where are the apps are displayed? Or is there something I'm missing. Are the Rokus a way that Josh can control the TV, or can Josh do this anyways if TVs are all simply IP controlled? Then if I added EA1s to a handful of the main TVs, do I use these in conjunction with the Rokus? Just trying to understand how this all works together
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5 minutes ago, ejn1 said:
yes, but with the one caveat I gave you before.... On the modules, they have boxes to check for compatibility. Araknis is not listed so I would email FS and just ask which version to get for compatibility with Araknis. For example, they may say get the Cisco module etc. Some mfg of switches have wide compatibility and some less so good to check imo.
But maybe router doesnt have an SFP port. Do you just used regular Cat6 cable from router to main switch? Router is the Araknis AN-310-RT-4L2W
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3 minutes ago, ejn1 said:
yes, but with the one caveat I gave you before.... On the modules, they have boxes to check for compatibility. Araknis is not listed so I would email FS and just ask which version to get for compatibility with Araknis. For example, they may say get the Cisco module etc. Some mfg of switches have wide compatibility and some less so good to check imo.
Will do and thank you. Hey, do you also recommend a cable like this to run from the router to the main switch?
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Just now, ejn1 said:
yes its the cable. Those are fiber modules so just trying to making it easy for you on which cable to get.
Ok thanks. So in my scenario, with three switches, I would get four of the below modules?:
https://www.fs.com/products/36901.html
And two of the below cables?:
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Just now, ejn1 said:
Which specs are you referring to?
The specs for interconnect cable that was suggested
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On 3/11/2021 at 12:08 PM, ejn1 said:
@rf9000 This is the fiber cable that you would need to connect the modules... at the length you need. It's more bend insensitive also but I still would not bend too much.
https://www.fs.com/products/41730.html
Or wait, is the just the cable that would plug into the modules? below?:
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On 3/11/2021 at 12:08 PM, ejn1 said:
@rf9000 This is the fiber cable that you would need to connect the modules... at the length you need. It's more bend insensitive also but I still would not bend too much.
https://www.fs.com/products/41730.html
The specs say "ideal for connecting 10G SR, 10G LRM, SFP+ transceivers etc. for 10G/40G/100G Ethernet connections and is the preferred fiber specification for 10G Ethernet connections."
But the Araknis switches are only 1G and not SFP+, so would these not be what I need or will these work?
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On 3/11/2021 at 12:08 PM, ejn1 said:
@rf9000 This is the fiber cable that you would need to connect the modules... at the length you need. It's more bend insensitive also but I still would not bend too much.
https://www.fs.com/products/41730.html
And these would plug directly into the Araknis SFP ports and be perfectly compatible?
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9 hours ago, amblinfan said:
Think I’d worry more about a better main processor for horsepower than an EA1 all over the place. Zig bee I/O and a mix of EA1 if needed or IO extender.
I'm using an EA5 for the main processor
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18 hours ago, msgreenf said:
Should be using IP TVs!
Its confusing. I was told the Samsung Smart TVs are buggy over IP?
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Just now, rf9000 said:
IF we skipped the EA1s in every room, what would the IOX in the rack get you? IR control over all the TVS?
We will already have an IOX in the rack. I have discrete motion sensors placed throughout to trigger lighting events. They will be hardwired to the EA5 and/or the IOX. I could use the EA5 and IO combo then for IR control of all the TVS if this is what you meant. Do you find Samsung Tvs are "buggy" with control over IP?
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2 hours ago, BraydonH said:
I would personally skip on the EA1s in every room and maybe do an IOX in the rack. OSD really isn't the greatest anymore and im sure if you planned on having 10+ controllers in your project that you have incorporated enough lighting to make a very strong zigbee mesh without additional controllers.
The other thing I worry about is in how many years will C4 say the EA1 isn't supported anymore then you would have to replace 10 controllers which was already a fairly large investment. The EA1 isn't exactly a brand new product so who knows how much longer its lifespan will be. I know the EA5 will likely be supported for a very long time to come, but I can't be so certain about EA1's.
IF we skipped the EA1s in every room, what would the IOX in the rack get you? IR control over all the TVS?
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1 minute ago, eggzlot said:
Can help w zigbee
can help with I/O control
can help with osd
can help with local audio streams
did you ask your dealer why it was designed that way?
I'm designing it. And I'm always the more is better type person....hahah. I'm trying to make everything universal. So the C4 menu is the same on all TVs, not just a few. But now kinda second guessing that like in the kids' bedrooms, etc.
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I get the onscreen notifications and strengthening the Zigbee network, but lets say I have this this scenario. In the media room I have a local AVR location with cabling such as HDMI, CAT6, etc ran to the TV. If I use a EA1 here, what cabling is needed? Does each EA1 connect directly to the network via CAt6? So I would need to use 10 more ports on the switch for the EA1s? Also, do they bog down the network? I also have Josh AI being incorporated, so I suppose they add some functionality there when asking Josh to watch Netflix. But then its limited, because he can turn on your TV, take you to Netflix, but then you still have to use a remote to select what you want to watch, right?
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1 minute ago, sonic30101 said:
Do you have distributed video or plan to use on screen in all rooms. Depending on cabling to control displays and local items you may not need them at every display but they do broadcast zigbee so you have to be strategic on which ones you opt out
No, I do not have distributed video. I guess I'm confused on the benefit of the EA1, other then getting on screen notifications
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I guess what I mean is are they cumbersome? Like in a normal scenario, you pop on a TV, hit Netflix and its all done. Easy. But with the EA1s, is it more navigating required, etc.?
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All,
I currently have 10 EA1s that will be used in my system. I started second guessing myself in the value of these as most of these rooms will also have touchscreens and SR260 remotes. What benefit do the EA1s add, are they highly suggested on all TVs and would you all recommend them?
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Just now, rf9000 said:
Can you provide me with links to the items you mentioned? I have switched around the setup a bit and I'm now using a Araknis 210 48 port POE as my main switch. Then want to uplink a Araknis 310 24 port POE and a Araknis 210 24 port POE. Someone suggested to just use the SFP connectors with a CAT6a cable. What are your thoughts?
Are you referring to these? And are they a good brand? So I'm guessing in the scenario above I would need four of them?
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10 hours ago, mindedc1 said:
Uh yeah. according to the stats the 8 port is a 20G backplane, the 16 and 24 ports are 32r and 56g respectively... They actually list Head of Line Blocking as a feature, that's an indicator of poor performance in fan-in scenarios which is what you're creating with a 1G uplink....I wouldn't brag about that. If the switch supported VOQ that would be something to brag about... For similar price you get a 4xSFP+ uplink in an enterprise switch (and I don't mean ubiquiti, thats not enterprise, similar pricing for the "pro" series though)..... not good value for the money IMHO. 10G ports shouldn't be unusual or expensive in 2021....anything with an SFP port should be 10G. We're moving to 25G for IDF usage thanks to backpressure from APs with Multirate (2.5/5G) uplinks.... time moves on.
Can you provide me with links to the items you mentioned? I have switched around the setup a bit and I'm now using a Araknis 210 48 port POE as my main switch. Then want to uplink a Araknis 310 24 port POE and a Araknis 210 24 port POE. Someone suggested to just use the SFP connectors with a CAT6a cable. What are your thoughts?
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All,
Bare with the details on this post. So in my ever growing C4 system, I have decided to pull the trigger on Josh AI for the main level of the home. If all goes well, I will add other areas, eventually getting to about 9 installed Josh AI micros. Yes I know these can run off WIFI with only the first Micro physically wired to the network, but if I have the option to have them all physically connected to POE and the network, I assume this is the best route?
For my network, I have (1) Araknis 310 (24 port), (1) Araknis 210 (24 port), and (1) Araknis 210 (16 port). Other than Josh AI, I will have 32 POE motorixed blinds, 11 POE T4 screens, 5 Ruckus APs, one Dahua NVR (cameras will be connected to this NVR), (12) Samsung Smart TVs, (1) Thermasol steam shower interface, (4) AVR locations, (1) DSC NEO Alarm panel, (1-2) wired ethernet internet connections. I hope I'm not forgetting anything. Man those ports really add up fast. That right there totals 69 ports needed. I know I currently have only 64 ports, so may have to swap out the 210 (16 port) for a 24 port.
For the Josh AI (9 micros), I have an extra Araknis 300 switch (24 port POE), that I was thinking about using. But I would use this only for the Josh AI micros. I really want no network lag and want everything to be very fast. So, I had planned on making the 310 switch the main switch. Then fiber uplinking the 210 switches to the main switch. Then, linking the 300 switch to the 310 switch via regular ethernet port. What do you all think of this? Will I have any congestion or decrease in performance? Is there a better way?
I had thought about swapping one of the 210s (16 port) out with a 210 (48 port), then I would not even need the extra 300 switch, but the reason I dont have a 48 port is because Araknis doesnt make them with rear port jacks and I was trying to rack mount all the switches. Not a big deal if not. So I guess I could mount that 48 port to the wall and have the rest mounted in the rack if that is a better option, just not as clean looking. Is three switches better than four linked together? Or will there really be no noticeable difference?
Proper way to integrate 24 zone and 8 zone audio
in General Control4 Discussion
Posted
Yup, but then at same time everyone then recommended the sound quality of the Triads over the Video Storm