rf9000

Oh, and would then the music information be displayed on the touchscreens if doing it this way?

I should add, I haven't really explored the option of using Echo Flex back at the Matrix. Am I looking at the wrong thing when I see the Echo Flex is a plug in speaker? Would the Echo Flex be considered a source at the matrix then and the matrix would auto sense? MSGREEN mentioned that he does this with google and that normal commands, etc are replied to using the little speaker in the room (in my case the Echo), and then anything commanded as play music goes to the matrix using the paired device. I think this would be great, but can the Echos do this like the Goggle equipment?

Oh, then that would be a bit odd I think. I have a 24 zone and 8 zone for my audio matrix. Please tell me if I'm missing something here, but can't the 3.5mm from each Echo be ran back to the matrix? Where each one would be a source? But then I guess how would the matrix react when audio is detected? Geez, I can't believe it is this hard to achieve such a simple thing. Voice controlled audio seems like it would the first thing people would want to do when using Alexa in a smart home, using the audio system in place. I must say, I have never had Alexa or really even used it that much. So I'm trying to guess what my family would use it for ahead of time as we are currently installing all speakers, etc. Some on this forum think this feature would not be used much that I'm trying to achieve, but to me it seems like this would be the most used feature of all, at least for my family. And I suspect many other users too. I have been in homes where there is an Echo or something like that on the counter, and they use the play music all the time. All I want to do is the same thing but use my whole home audio. I have 32 zones of audio in which I have spent a ton of money on, so would kinda like to use it instead of having voice activated music just play on the little Echo speaker. I have an extra CAT6 cable ran to each Echo that I can use. Its insane that getting this to play over the whole home audio system is so complicated. Yes, I know JoshAI can easily do it, but to have this feature, I have to spend roughly $10,000 in my case? And by doing this, you actually lose some of the features that Alexa provides too. Crazy.

I don't think the energy cost is much of a factor to leave amps run. When you say RCA splitter at the amp, you mean audio matrix, right? So here is what I think I'm understanding about the setup. Run a 3.5mm to Cat6A cable from each Echo back to the Audio matrix. Then use a Cat6a to RCA cable there to go into the matrix as a source? Lets say the Dot in the kitchen was given the command, the programming would be defined as this is the kitchen Dot and the kitchen zone would be turned on? Do y'all ever run into problems with multiple dots picking up commands? For instance in a few areas if spoken loudly enough, it could be heard by another Dot. So if this happens, the music would play in each of those rooms? Lastly, any issues whatsoever about leaving the amps on all the time? I have all Triad amps for the whole home audio. Does it affect the amps, speakers, is there any hum?

Dang. $600 each for those little microphones that look like temperature sensors? Compared to a $22 Echo Dot 3, plus have to buy the $1500 Core. Hard to justify unless you are die hard on voice control. In my scenario, it would cost me $9300 (retail) to do this, plus a subscription, right? And then you lose the query capabilities of Alexa too. Even at half that price it would be a tough call.

In your opinion, would this be a better option than the other suggested option of leaving the amp on all the time, running a 3.5mm?Cat6 from each Echo back to the matrix as an input?

I do have an extra CAT6a do each location. I could do this but how flawlessly does it work? What is the sound quality like with music? Is it ok to leave the amp on all the time? Can you explain little more in depth? Wouldn't this need to plus into the audio matrix as a source, is that what you meant?

Oh, thought they did. Would be a nice solution though

Not criminal. But should be an option if one desires it. I would suspect that most people out there install ceiling speakers to listen to music, right? Hence the reason that having voice control over it would be handy. In my situation, I would be looking at $9000+ in order to do this. Kinda irritates me when I’ve dropped the kind of money I have on C4 assuming this would be a class 101 feature, and then find out I have to spend all this extra money to do it. Can’t the T4 screens with Alexa accept commands like this? For instance in the kitchen, if the touch screen in there is given the commend to play certain music in that room, this can’t be done? Just seems so odd to me that it can’t. I mean you are giving the command to a native C4 device, but this device can’t relay this to the C4 system?

I also looked into JoshAI. It’s just crazy to me the amount of money that has to be spent to achieve this simple task within Control4. I mean, isn’t C4 this big giant now in automation, but we still have to invest in something like JoshAI to achieve very basic voice control over music? What are the C4 company developers and programmers doing all day? Haha. One would think that it’s even a bit embarrassing having to buy third party hardware and software to get this to work. I don’t care about asking Alexa for cooking information or what the capital city is of Arizona, I just want voice control over music on the whole home audio. I also have 10 touchscreens all strategically placed. If the mic on the T3 would be able to pick up commends and process them for music, that would be awesome!

What are the costs of the Nanos and the Core? Can multiple Nanos be connected to a single Core?

Powershades. And yes they do have network control, hence the reason we selected Powershades. One CAT6A (in our case) and all done.

What do you mean by this? I could use the Echo Dots as microphones? How would this work?

I’m saying there are many systems that can be activated by Alexa and play music seamlessly. I just wanted to incorporate Alexa into C4 with the one function that I think I would use the most. Voice activated control on the whole home audio

We actually custom made the mounts. They are a fake dummy 6.5” speaker, with a mount hidden inside so plenty of flexibility to swap them out. We have two CAT6A wires to each, one for power and one for any communication

But it’s one CAT6A cable. Does the cable go from network switch into middpan then to blind?

Thanks, but many of the replies always say to use these general items but no model numbers are given. What about something like the Luxul AMS-44-24P? A couple of those? Nobody really said anything about Luxul, is Luxul not recommended?

But don’t the Powershades need to be on the network?

All, In a new build, I will have 12-14 in ceiling concealed Echo Dot 3 devices. I would really like them to perform the simplest of functions, but I have been told in the past this is not doable. I would simply like to be able to sit in my kitchen for example, and say “Alexa, play Maroon 5”, whereas Alexa would notify the C4 system, kitchen zone turns on, and Maroon 5 plays. I want to listen to music on the whole home audio, not the tiny little Dot speakers. This seems to me like the most basic function that one could want. A simple integration of Alexa into C4, but I have been told it really can’t be done? I mean isnt this why we spend the huge amounts of money on C4? There are other solutions out now or coming out that can easily do this, but the super expensive C4 system can’t perform this simple function?

All, I’m looking to purchase a network switch(es) and was looking to get your input on brand and model. This is a residential install. For POE, there are about 30 motorized blinds that are all POE and need to be part of the network, 10 touch screens, 9 security cameras, 5-6 access points, 14 in ceiling echo Dot 3 devices that will be powered over POE, etc. I think that is pretty much it but could be a few other things. So I need a lot of POE ports. Of course the blinds would never be activated all at once so if I used a switch or switches that had shard power between ports where it was needed, that would work. Also, the Dots, really don’t need to be on the network so those could have just a stand alone POE power source. I have been recommended to use Luxul but don’t know what model or models I would need. I’m open to any suggestions. Please help

Hey all, I have a couple chandeliers that have 108 three watt led G4 bulbs each. The manufacturer tells me that a Triac dimmer should be used. Does the APD qualify as a Triac dimmer?

So could it be programmed as such?: alarm not armed: triggers light alarm armed in stay: triggers light alarm armed in away: triggers alarm

All, I'm working on installing LED lighting to some cabinets in a fully custom closet. In this closet there is a keypad dimmer. When I add up the total of all the lengths needed, it is like 600ft. If I use some bright less and a 24V transformer, they require 8.8watts per foot. So 8.8watts per foot x 600ft = 5280 watts? The plan was to have these programmed to come on at like 5:00pm, turn off at say 1AM, then have them come on in the mornings again at say 6am until 9am. But at 5280 watts, that just seems crazy so we thought about having them motion activated. There is a motion sensor in this room at the entry already for security purposes. Can we use this as a dual function motion? So when alarm is not activated (house is occupied) it will turn on the lights and when alarm is activated (house is not occupied), it will serve for security purposes? But what about when alarm is activated in stay mode at night when occupied? This means that the motion will be deactivated for security when in stay mode, but then can it still be used to turn on the closet lights? Lastly, what are your general thoughts on this idea? Will it become annoying and i should just add them as a button on the keypad dimmer? Or do you think it will be a great feature?

All, I posted this before and I didnt get a response so I'm trying again. Can some get me or order me a backplate for a THERM thermostat? Its just the small back plate that gets attached to the wall that the THERM plugs into. Please help. Thanks

Guys, I also notice on the combo unit I mentioned earlier, they make the DSC BV-501GB.This is the motion/glass combo that has a tamper switch too. The DSC BV-500GB has no tamper switch. Do I want this? I only have the typical 22-4 x 2 ran to these locations, one for the glass and one for the motion, does the tamper switch require extra wiring?