zipperman19 Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 How could I make a button on a keypad in the kitchen disable the TVs in kids bedrooms? My only idea right now is to make a variable that the keypad toggles, and while the variable is true, every 30 seconds, it emits an TV OFF function in the desired bedrooms. Is there an easier way to do this? I'm sure someone must have done something similar in that past. What's the best way to handle this situation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
read99 Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 It would be great if C4 had built in parental controls. For your specific situation, have you thought about using a wireless C4 outlet switch which could be easily programmed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
str1der Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 It would be great if C4 had built in parental controls. For your specific situation, have you thought about using a wireless C4 outlet switch which could be easily programmed.Except they can unplug the outlet or run it to another. :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slemay Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 BUT - you can have an email sent to you when they "DO" unplug it - and thus ground them!! We've done this with timers as well... "Child's TV is aloud to be on a total of 2 hours a day" - run variables that count it up - reset it at midnight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipperman19 Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 So the only way to do this is with a wireless outlet switch? Would sending the TV OFF command every minute be too much for the system? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsmout Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 This can be done with either a wireless switch or the video sense loop.I have a "magic hidden button" that changes a variable from true to false so when the kids are done with homework, they can watch the TV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slemay Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Video Loop as rsmout suggested would work if you have an output from the TV, that when the TV is OFF would actually stop sending a signal (most still send a tiny signal, thus why it fails most of the time). You "COULD" loop and send OFF every min. or so - but now you're really starting to go overboard, IMHO... as now you're starting to tax the system... not that I think you'll bog it down, but you'll have it checking for variables once every minute all day long... not the best idea, but it would work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bog Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I like the idea of parental controls. However, what about devices that use battery power (like laptops). How about a way to stop video feeds to the room?As for Internet access, there are many options to use a proxy server.MAC OS 10.5 (Leopard) has parental controls. Windows XP (and I'm assuming Vista) has account profile settings for what time a user can log in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slemay Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 You "COULD" do something in the programming that if a room requests a signal to shut off - or NOT send a feed to it - but it would be some programming... you'd have to experiment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takitezsdc Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 How could I make a button on a keypad in the kitchen disable the TVs in kids bedrooms? My only idea right now is to make a variable that the keypad toggles, and while the variable is true, every 30 seconds, it emits an TV OFF function in the desired bedrooms. Is there an easier way to do this? I'm sure someone must have done something similar in that past. What's the best way to handle this situation?OR you could just take the TV's out of there rooms!! /smile TV in a kids bedroom is bad idea /smile IMO!! Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slemay Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I'm with Scott! I'd NEVER put a computer, TV or a phone into a kids bedroom - my personal beliefs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanE Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 my kids have phones, but they're ancient, and have *dials* on them...good luck dialing with them...RyanE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henniae Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 my kids have phones, but they're ancient, and have *dials* on them...good luck dialing with them...RyanE<HUMOR ON>Dial phones. That is one way to stop the kids from making calls. I bet most kids don't even know how to use a dial phone. ;) Perhaps, rather than putting a kill switch on the TV you could just give them a TV with a dial and no remote. ;) <HUMOR OFF> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slemay Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Good thinking Alan! No remote control - I bet they'll never turn it on!!! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
str1der Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Makes me think of the Scene in Star Trek IV. Scotty talking into the mouse "Hello computer" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punkrock Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 just need some programming that will only allow the history channel or nova. you could even use a variable here too... ) when on the history channel set to trueif its false change the channel to...then set the variable on a schedule...oh you all are giving me evil ideas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ideliver Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 I have done this in a crude fashion. I have a variable "Disallow Bedroom TV" that is controlled by a custom button (True or False). Then in programming, whenever control 4 gets a user command for that Bedroom to turn the TV on (either check the room event variable "When Bedroom power_ state variable changes" to on or, in my case, since my TVs are all controlled by IR flashers from the MC or HTC, I check the TV event "When Bedroom TV is turned on") and the Disallow variable is true, I will turn the room off either immediatly or after a minute delay to let the TV at least come on for a minute. The kids now know that it is fruitless to continue to turn the tv on anymore as it will turn off everytime they try untill I reset that Disallow variable. (The custom button that controls the Disallow variable is only found in the Master bedroom and is labeled something unrelated to TVs as to hide its function from my smarter kids that might try to figure it out) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henniae Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 I have done this in a crude fashion. I have a variable "Disallow Bedroom TV" that is controlled by a custom button (True or False). Then in programming, whenever control 4 gets a user command for that Bedroom to turn the TV on (either check the room event variable "When Bedroom power_ state variable changes" to on or, in my case, since my TVs are all controlled by IR flashers from the MC or HTC, I check the TV event "When Bedroom TV is turned on") and the Disallow variable is true, I will turn the room off either immediatly or after a minute delay to let the TV at least come on for a minute. The kids now know that it is fruitless to continue to turn the tv on anymore as it will turn off everytime they try untill I reset that Disallow variable. (The custom button that controls the Disallow variable is only found in the Master bedroom and is labeled something unrelated to TVs as to hide its function from my smarter kids that might try to figure it out)This is an interesting solution. I have an idea for an enhancement. If the disallow TV variable is set you could prevent the system from even sending the command to turn on the TV. You could also flash the lights if they try to turn on the TV. Sort of put the fear into them. So the kids haven't figured out how to operate the TV the old fashioned way? With the power button and channel up/down yet. If they save up all there allowance they can buy a cheap universal remote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipperman19 Posted February 9, 2008 Author Share Posted February 9, 2008 How could you prevent the system from sending the command? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ideliver Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 This is an interesting solution. I have an idea for an enhancement. If the disallow TV variable is set you could prevent the system from even sending the command to turn on the TV. You could also flash the lights if they try to turn on the TV. Sort of put the fear into them. So the kids haven't figured out how to operate the TV the old fashioned way? With the power button and channel up/down yet. If they save up all there allowance they can buy a cheap universal remote. I have not found a way to stop the system from sending the command to turn the TV on.If the kids turned on the TV the old fashion way they would have no sound as the sound in each room is through in ceiling speakers controlled by Control 4. There is no sound (only video) to the TV itself.I don't give them any allowance:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwhitaker@revit Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 one of you guys is onto something, and i will try it! put a relay on the incoming signal to the tv, maybe on tht ir emmiter it self, or on the incoming composite signal. put it somewhere on the touch where they'll never look, somewhere where only the owner will find it. it will disable the tv, make it useless. i think i will try this on phones in kids bedrooms where i use elan, the phone only works for intercom, put the relay one the ring wire in the wall box!!!!! dude you guys are really onto something here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwhitaker@revit Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 i posted that while i was thinking, if you are using elan com2 you can run the kids phone through the relay on the com2 or a controller so it only comes on when the intercom turns on, also you can run the tv's ir, the center of a composite cable, or the negative of a speaker wire through a relay on a controller to act as a kill switch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpugh Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 If you assign them thier own rf distribution panel and use a relay to switch that on and off, then nothing will get through and you wont be risking reducing the rf signal strength. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsanf3 Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 How about using an Outlet Switch to control the power to a RF Modulator connected to the kids TV. The second run of coax cable I have wired around the house is a feed off a modulator connected to my Rotel's Zone 2 video/audio output, without the modulator and the Rotel's Zone2 being on you can't get any stations, power on/off and change channels all you want.Byron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpugh Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I have programmed a 6 button switch for a hotel so that once they have chosen the lighting scene and adjusted the volume, the user presses and holds button 6 which locks down the keypad so that none of the keys perform any function and changes the colours of all the keys to black so that it doesn't look exciting to children in the restaurant. If the lighting needs adjusting, the user simply presses and holds 6 again which restores all the buttons to their relevant colours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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