RHowren

thanks guys! yes i am a DIY'er but IT stuff like this is still new to me. i can't just swing a hammer at this stuff to put it together like my other projects! so do y'all as remote dealers help me pick out or sell the proper equipment i need for each add-on to the system, then remotely set it up on the system after i plug everything in, or is it up to me to purchase everything on my own then hire a dealer to integrate it? looking at possibly a Denon-X3600H or X4500H AVR in the living to control the living TV, and Patio TV. i have conduit running from living to patio so i can hear patio TV through patio speakers. the only drawback to this one is i can't control all 4 zones of audio wired to the living room (living 5.1 surround sound, patio speakers, and 2 other room speakers). i also have prewiring for 10 cameras inside and out. would prefer both audio & video, but stuck on what system i need. not looking to spend $4100 i've already been quoted

so i'm building a new house, and one of the perks i got was a control4 EA3 controller, 260 remote, and 7" touch screen included. the only additions i made were an Araknis 8-port POE switch they said i needed at install which now i realize i might've overpaid for ($600) and an Araknis VPN Router they said i needed to put the C4 system on its own network so its more stable ($400). so they got me for at least $1000 LOL. i also prewired for multi room speakers and security cameras as the cost for the additional equipment was much higher than prices i found online to install it myself. Turns out i need a "dealer" or integrator to help me set up all the extras i want to add to my system? i was initially under the impression i could do it all myself if i wanted. i'm very new to Control4 so i don't know all the logistics yet on how this all works. are there any other dealers or integrators in the Houston area other than ConnectOne? i'm open to a remote dealer as well if i'm given the freedom of having more than one option for certain items like cameras and AVR equipment. we should be moved in by the end of September so hoping to find someone ahead of time.

yep as soon as i heard that, i was done with them. they can set up my controller and panel, but the rest i'll figure out on my own or with someone else. i'll head over to the need an integrator section now to find some help! thanks guys!

So it sounds like if I want to save $$$, let the local dealer do the initial install of the system I already get with the house and find a remote dealer to help out with the rest of the add ins I want to do myself? I suppose I still need to get the AVR equipment ahead of time because the c4 controller will be installed in the same location? also, the local dealer said I had to buy a fiber hdmi from them to stay within warranty. Are they blowing smoke at me or is this accurate? $200 for a 15ft cord is absurd

this is my first time posting here, been reading a lot of topics on security systems and whole home audio on the forum, but it all seems a bit foreign to me right now. We're in the middle of building our new house, and a basic Control4 system came standard with it. i ended up only paying extra to prewire for everything since most of the equipment appears cheaper if i buy and install it myself instead of doing everything through the builder. This will be my first truly integrated smart home on one system, i really only have experience with Alexas, Nest Thermostats, Arlo Cameras, and Smart Locks connected to our Security System; all ran from separate apps which was cumbersome. i really could use help on all the additional equipment i will need to get up and running. right now all i have that came with the house is surround sound in the living and media rooms, 3 zones with 2-channel audio all wired to the living room, an EA3 controller and 260 remote in living room, 7" touch screen by back door, prewiring to a control box for 2 WAP, 10 cameras, and 10 ethernet/cable media outlets throughout the house. speakers, internet, thermostats, light switches, are all easy enough i can figure those out on my own. where i'm lost really is how to control the multi room audio and building out a proper camera system to where i'm not paying the local dealer north of $5K for parts and install! for audio control i was considering a Denon multi-zone AVR to control the living room TV, 5.1 surround sound, and the other 3 rooms with audio, but open to suggestions on what you guys suggest. the 3 zones with just audio don't HAVE to be capable of playing different streams at once. one goes to the back patio which i'll want to be able to run our outdoor TV audio to, but the other 2 are purely for music and can be considered 1 zone. so i need an AVR to control at least 3 zones total if that all makes sense lol. for security cameras, i really want ones that record both audio and video, if possible. looking at Amcrest 8MP turret cameras vs Hikvision ColorVu 4MP turret cameras, but open to suggestions if there's anything better for $100-$200 per camera. the Amcrest ones are cheaper with apparently better video resolution, but they (Dahua) isn't on the list of supported brands by Control4 and from what i read i'd have to purchase a driver separately, right? does that void any warranty i get from the dealer that installs my control4 system? the whole software driver install thing is really new to me and unfortunately the system doesn't get installed until mid-September so i'm at a loss on what to buy ahead of time. for NVRs, i'm really don't know what i need and how to set it up with the cameras i select. do the cameras need to plug directly into the NVR or can i hook them up to a POE switch and place the NVR down in the living room so i can view the video stream on the TV? if you read this far, thank you in advance, i tried searching for the answer to all of this, i'm sure its been covered before, but i couldn't find it. just wish there was a book... Control4 for Dummies!