lebron2k21

Looking for an RF bridge either Bond Bridge or Matterlink. Will be used to open close a gate that has a RF receiver. 

If anyone has any setup of this that they want to get rid of, please PM me.

I have had an installer that IMO was good with the physical bits as in wiring, C4 screens, wall mounting TVs, lighting installations etc. But when it came to the actual programming I feel that its not complete. Right now I do not feel the system is working as it should. I have been trying to call the installer for a few months now without any luck. Can I get someone else to look at it or does this system now have a password/lock done by the existing installer? Can I get it finished by someone else and then if this installer ever comes back, I can give him access again to my setup?

On 11/3/2021 at 12:12 AM, DLite said:

In my experience, it's pretty similar except for video calls, where you may experience a tiny bit longer delay when a wifi screen is involved.

Is that delay to connect to the call or delay during the call or both?

Hi

Is there any major lag/speed on going wifi vs ethernet on these screens? 

Ideally don't want to pull cables but if there is a significant difference then I might consider doing it. 

OT: for a chipped (not cracked) screen. Any easy fix recommended? There is a small chip on the screen area of a T3 I have received. 

On the C4 Touchscreen data sheet it says the more screens you have the lesser quality when doing intercom anywhere. Is this correct? 

Can an app on a native Android TV be put as a shortcut? If not can it be set up as a shortcut under watch?

If for example the app I want to use is NBA League Pass. Then Pressing WATCH and then select the NBA app would turn on the TV and start the app?

I am quite sure that this would work for a dedicated android box like chromecast or nvidia shield, but not sure this would work on a Sony Android TV?

 

1 hour ago, Cyknight said:

Why? Really why would I use them less?

I mean, I get the argument you made, but you;ve seen numerous counter arguments on why native screens do have an advantage.

While I understand the pain of having to replace screens when system updates force you too - generally people seem to focus a LOT on that, whereas nobody seems to complain about having to get a new android/apple tablet or phone to get the latest updates, and at the end of it all, while a c4 screen is more expensive, you tend to replace it at least half as often or less than 'general' tablets.

 

I am thinking in terms of advancement in other technology such as smartphones and voice activated services.

If someone rings the door station and your sitting on the couch with your phone nearby, would you really get up to the living room screen to talk/unlock or just do it from the phone? So in that aspect already your dependency on the touchscreens are reduced. Same with a NEEO remote. 

15 minutes ago, RyanE said:

I have 15, which I admit is overkill, but being an employee does have it's perks.

I only have one 10", in the kitchen / family room common area.  I wouldn't upgrade the room touchpanels to 10".

I think if Control4 offered an 8", I'd probably go for that over a 7", but 10" is overkill, IMHO it's just too big for a bedroom / bathroom.

RyanE

Which they do now with 8inch T4s

1 minute ago, Cyknight said:

Mixed

Would you have all 10s if you got chance to change?

19 minutes ago, Amr said:

Screens are a must for Intercom, that is the main use case, I have 2 portables (Family room & Kitchen) and 2 fixed now (Master & Office) and will add 2 more (Gym and 2nd Floor), I used to have one in every room ended up with 15 around the house, moving to 3.2.2 it’s impossible and ridiculous to replicate that.

How come is it impossible? Because of cost  or infrastructure?

35 minutes ago, cshepard said:

The most we’ve put in one house is 18. We’ve done many systems with zero. When we do use them, 3-5 seems to be a common range. Our largest C4 system to date has four T4s, and we will be adding three more. So it really just depends on the scenario and your preferences.

If you have installed 18 screens then why is largest system to date 4 screens? Or am I missing something here? 

4 hours ago, Cyknight said:

Had to count - personally I'm running 7 t3/t4 screens. 3 are certainnly the most heavily used, but 6 og them are used very regularly (as in multiple times per day). The 7th currently in the laundry room as half a test and obviously doesn't get used unless there's laundry to be done, which isn't every single day.

I recommend having at least one per 'heavy traffic' area. So well placed locations, usually where there's a 'hub' of rooms or hallways.

Most used screen in my house is on the side of a closet, which is in view of the kitchen, dining and living room, where the hallway to 3 bedrooms start and the stairs are.... more 'touches' a day then I can begin to count.

Second and third (depends on time of year which) are the one at the patio doors from the kitchen to outside and the one at the basement landing (open to hallway to laundry and bedrooms hall, rec area, family room and office/games room). Well behind the first, but still couldn't tell you off hand how many times a day it is used because it's too much to bother to count.

How many or exactly where will depend on house layout, and also (harder to pin-point) how the locations are being used. They're faster, more responsive (no way the iPad app is more responsive) and....ALWAYS READY.

 

CAN you do without - sure. But it's just not as convenient no matter how you cut it. If it's worth it, well that is up to the individual to decide.

All 10 inch?

36 minutes ago, tmj4 said:

Would generally agree, but the framerate and UI smoothness is definitely better on our iPad than our 10" T4.

I thought T4 was the best choice hands down if price is not an issue? 

Update: Do not need any more T4 screens at the moment. So just looking for T3 at the moment. Any size/type/color is fine. 

Please send me a pm if you have any screens for sale. Prefer black but can consider white. 

Need a total of 8 screens. At least 2 of them will be the table top version. 

Anyone with experience from the Akuvox systems? 

Looking into adding Akuvox R29 or X915 as a entry system instead of DS2. Anyone have any experience with this? The Intercom Anywhere functionality should be the same. 

Thank you for all the answers. Some follow up questions:

- does this need to be installed by a C4 dealer or is this something I can do as an end user myself?

- What device should I use for 1080p and 4k sources? Just the single input encoders?

- If you know of any good MOCA adapters, please let me know if you have some that you recommend. Although I think using the coax that is already there and pull Cat6a would be a better choice?

- Would there be any lag in running 1 input to say 3 different screens at the same time? Or will they be in sync fully?

- I see there is an audio delay license, is this a must have?

Thank you for this. That explains it a lot better.

How does it work on the Sony Android TVs? Does it work seamlessly when you want to switch sources? Does it take a long time? As the bitrate is around 20mbps, it should in theory work wirelessly too? Have you tried that?

Also it should be possible to buy a 4k multiple input decoder? I think about 500usd for a single hdmi encoder seems a bit steep and would rather get a 4 input or 8input if I would be doing it.

Is there any lag/performance issues by going 4x single encoders vs one 4x multi encoder?

All this works seamless in control4? Sorry I am just trying to see up the pros/cons of going for a solution like this.

In todays technical climate I do not see as big of a need for this as most tv channels and providers have apps to show the content.  

1 hour ago, eggzlot said:

what is above pretty much nails it on the head.

You need a Netplay Manager to run it - think of it as a local hub: https://www.video-storm.com/proddetail.php?prod=nvmm - the Netplay Manager runs software called Virtual Matrix Manager that is accessible via a computer browser when you go to the local IP address of the device once its plugged into your network.  that is where you add all the licenses, name the products and set up and configure the system.

For any source you want to share (streaming boxes, cable boxes, Blu Ray players, etc) you need one of these: https://www.video-storm.com/proddetail.php?prod=netplayready

Then at each TV you need a decoder - I am personally using a mix of Sony TV's with Android OS (so its just an ethernet cable into the TV for IP control of the TV and getting audio/video from the netplay system) as well as Shields with IRUSBs at older TVs without IP Control: https://www.video-storm.com/proddetail.php?prod=netplayhomedecoder

With the Sony TV - you just download the Netplay TV app from the Android store on the TV, buy the proper licenses, and Video Storm's website has instructions on how to identify the TV into the project.  Would be the same process using the Shield TV - buy a license, then ID it to your virtual matrix manager which sits in your Netplay Manager device.

I consider myself fairly adept at IT/Computers but this is one thing that has been bugging me for a while. I cannot seem to find enough information of a how a setup would work with VideoStorm Netplay. Could someone please point me in the right direction?

Currently as I understand it, there is a software that you can use? Or do you use the Netplay manager? This will give you a scalable solution that will work? So you would only need third party encoders and decoders? 

The questions I have are:

- Is there any downside to this vs the Control4 Leaf encoder, other than that it will be more time consuming to set up the VideoStorm solution. My current need would be 4 in 4 out. But would/could be scaled to 4in 8out. 

- I dont see enough information around, it says that it can work on Sony Android TV. But is there any link to this? How this would be set up?

Would an EA-5 be sufficient enough for the house or do people recommend getting the CA-10?

Also a few follow up questions (thought to just ask them in the same thread instead of starting a new one):

- Can the Control4 chime be configured so that it will show up on an EA-1 that is hooked onto a TV? And if so will this work seamless? I am thinking a scenario where I am watching Netflix natively on the TV app (android) and then if someone rings the doorbell, the EA-1 will send HDMI signal to the TV and show who is at the door?

- Is it possible to "lock" rooms so they cannot be controlled by someone else? I am thinking bedrooms where someone might be sleeping and someone in living room is turning on the lights in the bedroom.

- I feel the EA controllers are a bit "old" since they have been out in the market for 5 years now.. I wonder what the lifespan of them will be as things are changing quite quickly in terms of technology... I do not want to spend a significant amount of money setting everything up and then find out that there needs to be another investment on top of this again to maybe bring in the CA-10 or any other newer controller that comes

3 minutes ago, Cyknight said:

A lot of this list will depend on specific models.

This isn't to scare you away by any means, but when incorporating a lot of 'existing' third party gear it can be tricky to make the mix work well, and it may take more product to make it work (such as additional bridges, wireless relays to incorporate gates and garage doors)

Note that it's a lot of 'may' here - it's entirely possible all of it takes no more than some drivers and be good to go.

 

 

Just to head back to your OP - the pro is what you listed yourself, the ability to make it all act as a single system. The con is going to be what it'll take (and thus cost) to make all the existing stuff work.

I have already come to terms with that a lot of things will be changed.

I am open to taking out the doorbell, lock and alarm and add products that are compatible with control4. Control4 chime for example.

6 minutes ago, Cyknight said:

You're info is a bit limited (you don't mentioned what is there currently for the ceiling speakers, locks cameras etc) so it's hard to judge how well or easy Control4 can be put overtop.

As per Ryan, my main thought for potential issues in 'fluidity' of the C4 system would be the Sonos setup, especially ensuring it works with ceiling speakers on another amplification product in sync and for transparent use.

Sorry. Speakers are just wired normally through an old amp. 

Alarm system is on its own system. With keypad and sensors in house.

Door gateway system with camera that you can unlock the door from the livingroom. (old school intercom with picture).

Garage doors on its own system with its own remote.