istreich

Here is the link. Let me know if you have questions. I’ve changed the magnet system to look better and switched to spray on suede (flocking). Looks better now.
 

+1 on the sticky idea. I made a similar suggestion a couple of days ago. Helping new Control4 owners navigate their new system is a no brainer. It would be good for everyone (Control4, installers, users and of course new owner!). I am sure it will be controversial but maybe reference a few (vetted) online programmers who would commit to a one-time fixed fee to transfer ownership of the system and offer basic training. Most people, when they buy a house with a Control4 system, have zero clue what to expect (features, cost, programing....). Having a place where you can get access to a few honest and reliable pros who can help them start could be priceless. That first impression with Control4 stays with you for a long time. 
Now, for the negative comments about Control4, nothing is perfect. But some people will use their time to make constructive comments to improve things and help other. Others will use it to be negative without offering constructive solutions. I keep on going back to this forum as most members and visitors are in the former category - help (each other) make things better and have a great experience. I am grateful for all the advice I have received and allowed me to go from a skeptic to a happy user who constantly improves my family experience

+1 on the sticky idea. I made a similar suggestion a couple of days ago. Helping new Control4 owners navigate their new system is a no brainer. It would be good for everyone (Control4, installers, users and of course new owner!). I am sure it will be controversial but maybe reference a few (vetted) online programmers who would commit to a one-time fixed fee to transfer ownership of the system and offer basic training. Most people, when they buy a house with a Control4 system, have zero clue what to expect (features, cost, programing....). Having a place where you can get access to a few honest and reliable pros who can help them start could be priceless. That first impression with Control4 stays with you for a long time. 
Now, for the negative comments about Control4, nothing is perfect. But some people will use their time to make constructive comments to improve things and help other. Others will use it to be negative without offering constructive solutions. I keep on going back to this forum as most members and visitors are in the former category - help (each other) make things better and have a great experience. I am grateful for all the advice I have received and allowed me to go from a skeptic to a happy user who constantly improves my family experience

i think all end users on this site want the platform to "open up" more.  I wouldn't be shocked if some dealers would be happier if a customer could enter their own new TV and swap it from an older TV.  I cannot believe there is much margin in that work for dealers (hence the online dealer but that is another story) even if they get to sell the TV and then do the C4 binding/install.
But when you hijack every thread about opening up the platform and the HDMI cartel....you become Wap
again I think most of this could easily be solved by some sticky's here on the forum.  Have an entire one dedicated to ideas about opening up the platform. stickys for new users, stickys for people moving into a home with c4 and what are their options, etc.  there could even been a static first post in that sticky that the admins keep relevant as new hardware is released, older stuff has to be removed, etc.  its a little work but I think would keep things way more civilized 
cheers

Usually a forum for a specific product is mostly filled with enthusiasts as most people like to chat about things they like - not hate.  So yes - "groupthink" for a forum based on a product will tend to like the product - duh.
No one is saying Control4 is 100% perfect.  On this forum I've complained about the DS1, issues with the current lighting equipment and backlighting and a few other odds and ends.  I do not own a Neeo but given the cost/features I wouldn't even consider a used one.  Though OS3 is an improvement it is not as nice as Savant.
So I don't think people here have blinders.  Some people may have an ego and trying to rationalize their investment in the platform but for others, with warts and all, we see it as the best solution "for us".  For someone recently who posted asking if C4 was right for them, most of the forum replied no, go with Home Assistant.  That was fairly unbiased, no?
I think what it boils down to is recently there are a lot of "new people" who complain and/or ask for advice then never come back.  Maybe they are real, maybe they are fake, who knows, and most importantly, who cares.  I think there should be a sticky in these forums and there should be a newbie sticky, a I moved into a Home with C4 sticky and a How do I get rid of C4 sticky - but that is just my two cents.

Coookie, as you can see, there are some incredible members on this forum, especially honest and knowledgeable dealers that will make you do things with your system you never suspected and at very affordable costs. 
By the way, (and I don't want to start another endless discussion about the dealer/install model), there is no doubt that having local dealers asking $600 to set an account for someone not familiar with Control4 is what leads to bad rep, systems pulled... Dealers have to make a living and best ones are priceless! But is it really good for anyone when a new Control4 user (typically house buyer) has that first experience with the system? How many of them decide to ditch their system? 
Shouldn't Control4 reach out directly to all users to share some best practices when selling a house for example including connecting buyer to an installer with a set one-time transfer fee that would include basic training? 
End users typically have a learning curve on the system and c4forums is an incredible resource. Maybe we can go one step further and create a sticky for new Control4 user who have inherited a new system. A step by step approach to taking ownership of their system and maybe some programmers on the site offering an "orientation package". I am sure it would lead to some long term productive and economically viable relationships... 
By the way, as my signature indicates, I am not a dealer but end user.

Coookie, as you can see, there are some incredible members on this forum, especially honest and knowledgeable dealers that will make you do things with your system you never suspected and at very affordable costs. 
By the way, (and I don't want to start another endless discussion about the dealer/install model), there is no doubt that having local dealers asking $600 to set an account for someone not familiar with Control4 is what leads to bad rep, systems pulled... Dealers have to make a living and best ones are priceless! But is it really good for anyone when a new Control4 user (typically house buyer) has that first experience with the system? How many of them decide to ditch their system? 
Shouldn't Control4 reach out directly to all users to share some best practices when selling a house for example including connecting buyer to an installer with a set one-time transfer fee that would include basic training? 
End users typically have a learning curve on the system and c4forums is an incredible resource. Maybe we can go one step further and create a sticky for new Control4 user who have inherited a new system. A step by step approach to taking ownership of their system and maybe some programmers on the site offering an "orientation package". I am sure it would lead to some long term productive and economically viable relationships... 
By the way, as my signature indicates, I am not a dealer but end user.

Coookie, as you can see, there are some incredible members on this forum, especially honest and knowledgeable dealers that will make you do things with your system you never suspected and at very affordable costs. 
By the way, (and I don't want to start another endless discussion about the dealer/install model), there is no doubt that having local dealers asking $600 to set an account for someone not familiar with Control4 is what leads to bad rep, systems pulled... Dealers have to make a living and best ones are priceless! But is it really good for anyone when a new Control4 user (typically house buyer) has that first experience with the system? How many of them decide to ditch their system? 
Shouldn't Control4 reach out directly to all users to share some best practices when selling a house for example including connecting buyer to an installer with a set one-time transfer fee that would include basic training? 
End users typically have a learning curve on the system and c4forums is an incredible resource. Maybe we can go one step further and create a sticky for new Control4 user who have inherited a new system. A step by step approach to taking ownership of their system and maybe some programmers on the site offering an "orientation package". I am sure it would lead to some long term productive and economically viable relationships... 
By the way, as my signature indicates, I am not a dealer but end user.

VideoStorm also provides direct access to the colored buttons, plus the ability to add commands for direct app access in case there is an app that doesn't have a Universal Mini Driver. 

It's an official free driver

I definitely don't have a serious use case for video distribution other than the fact that my house is wired for it and everyone seems to do it with home automation.  I've been squarely in the DIY camp for a long time and want to get into the higher end/more reliable Control4 world (and not have to deal with it myself).  I think video distribution was huge when everyone at the high end had $1,000 bluray players and cable boxes were like 15x15 hunks of metal--so you were saving money on those devices and getting a cleaner look by using video distribution, rather than just using it to synchronize your viewing across devices.   Now, cable boxes are 4" boxes that you can stick to the back of a TV, every TV has every major streaming service built-in (or a Roku stick is tiny and can be hidden).  The major use case for residential video distribution seems to be dwindling.  But the reason to get it for me is to have everything work seamlessly with Control4 because if I'm investing it it, I want to go 100% in.  But it sounds like there are other ways of doing that that are worth exploring too.  Video distribution is certainly not cheap...

As somebody mentioned before, central distribution made a lot of sense when devices were bulky and expensive. Is it always necessary? A Roku device that costs a maximum $99 (often way less) that can offer access to pretty much any TV service needed, including core channels, live sports (using for ex YoutubeTV, Sling,...) and obviously all movies and TV series streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, Apple TV, HBO Max,...) with minimal limitations of concurrent streams. They are tiny and perfectly controlled by Control4. Most users don't play DVDs anymore and don't need access to a Satellite or Cable receiver thanks to services above. 
One caveat is audio and it will depend on each situation. But again, there may be very elegant and cost effective solutions to have high quality audio for those TVs, well managed by Control4 without the need to deploy a complex and expensive HDMI matrix...
I am not advocating against that approach but a strong internet connection, solid WiFi coverage, a few Roku devices, possibly an Audio Matrix and most importantly a great Control4 programer/installer may be a great way to save a lot of money, minimize complexity (and ongoing support costs) and offer an excellent user experience. 

As somebody mentioned before, central distribution made a lot of sense when devices were bulky and expensive. Is it always necessary? A Roku device that costs a maximum $99 (often way less) that can offer access to pretty much any TV service needed, including core channels, live sports (using for ex YoutubeTV, Sling,...) and obviously all movies and TV series streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, Apple TV, HBO Max,...) with minimal limitations of concurrent streams. They are tiny and perfectly controlled by Control4. Most users don't play DVDs anymore and don't need access to a Satellite or Cable receiver thanks to services above. 
One caveat is audio and it will depend on each situation. But again, there may be very elegant and cost effective solutions to have high quality audio for those TVs, well managed by Control4 without the need to deploy a complex and expensive HDMI matrix...
I am not advocating against that approach but a strong internet connection, solid WiFi coverage, a few Roku devices, possibly an Audio Matrix and most importantly a great Control4 programer/installer may be a great way to save a lot of money, minimize complexity (and ongoing support costs) and offer an excellent user experience. 

Have you looked at the Monoprice HDMI switches? Cheap and in my experience, have always worked well. I know they have 5x1 HDCP 2.2 models. 
https://www.monoprice.com/category/adapters,-switches,-&-splitters/audio-video-distribution/audio-video-switches
A good installer will program your Control4 quickly to enable full control via IR. 

Interested too Matt. 

Actually our Kodi driver only has the following
IR control of any external device Fast and responsive IP control for menu navigation / all button support in any app SMS Style Text Entry Kodi App launching We decided to not implement mini app launching into Kodi as the driver is bloated enough already.
Our own IRUSB driver however does have mini apps (along with IR control, fast control, SMS style text entry).  With the method we used to develop the driver adding new mini apps does not involve updating the IRUSB driver.  We just create a new mini app driver with the new parameters entered into the driver's properties.  In fact no lua modification is required.  Anyone can create their own mini app using our architecture.  Just replace the default in the property and change the name and icon to suit and you're done.
If however you don't want to make your own we do have a version you can use as a favourite (just a star as an icon).  You can add as many instances of these as you want and just change the property.  It will persist across reboots.

Neil helped me again recently and as always, was great to work with. His knowledge is incredible and he truly cares about what he does and his customers‘ satisfaction. So great to be able to rely on him. He is the man!

You can also use a Roku and create a shortcut to YouTube TV

Hope you are ok Neil. Will be thinking of you! 

Thanks Drake. 

Just wanted to give some Kudos to Neil. He was very responsive with helping get a starter EA1 setup at our vacation house that is lacking a good selection of local C4 dealers. I was up and going in about 2 hours total. 
 

Just wanted to give a shout out to Neil who helped me put a great starter system together based around an EA-3, EA-1, SR-260 and wall mounted iPad Mini.  We worked in real-time over the phone today and knocked everything out in 2-3 hours.  This included integrating my Sony XBR TV, Sony sound bar, TiVo, Sonos, Lutron Radio RA2 lights and shades, and more.  Even my gas fireplace and pool are controlled perfectly.  Everything is controlled by either IP or serial, so no ugly emitters or unreliable control.
Still have some tweaking I might want to do, but my copy of Composer HE takes a day to get fully licensed, so hopefully in a day or so I can download and make some programming changes to better suite my daily usage.
Thanks again Neil for the great experience and very fair pricing!  I'll be adding Control4 integration to my basement theater in the near futrure, and will be sure to call upon Neil again when the time comes.
-Dino

Switched to Neil to help me get Alexa actually running my C4 setup. (Hint: Have him install the 3rd party Alexa driver for instant response to commands). He pretty much knows everything about programing for C4, but his ability to integrate Alexa to take my house to the next level was awesome. Even my wife, who hates gadgets, is loving having someone else to boss around besides me.
I suspected my original dealer was a novice at this stuff, but now I know what a real C4 programmer can do.

Another big plug for Neil who upgraded my install to 2.10 with zero pain while helping retire my HC300 and replace it with a new Z2IO that actually is great! It is always a pleasure to work with Neil - not only he is incredibly talented and professional but he is also such a gentleman! I wish I had met him years ago for my initial install. Now I know him, he is my absolutely go to person and I trust him 100%. Who thought upgrading or troubleshooting an installation could be fun and painless rather than a chore and a fight with you dealer. 
Thanks Neil for being here and supporting so many of us!

More Kudos for Neil. Once again, he updated my system and did a few changes. It was fast, efficient and great outcome. If only everyone could be as professional and nice as Neil! What a pleasure to be able to always count on Neil...