Where are the lines drawn???

[mwarchut]

As a senior software engineer I like to tinker a lot. I hear that as of 2.0 there is a point where the controller is locked for dealer access only. So my question is if I buy one of these from my local dealer "Magnolia" what can I do with it and what requires a dealer house call and the spending of more money?

Thanks

Mike

[thecodeman]

Its always been dealer only from an installation and configuration standpoint. You can purhase composer home edition to program what's been installed to your hearts content. Any hardware adds, removes, changes must be done by a dealer.

[mwarchut]

The composer must be the software that the local dealer told me they include in the initial setup. They said they would give me software. When you say hardware adds/removes do you mean like dimmers, switches, plugs or something else?

[dogdvr]

ALL hardware addons must be done by a dealer, this includes new dvd players, new tv's new switches etc.

After it is installed you are free to program as you want. It is the most versatile software from dealer installed companies.

Some people still want to be 100% DIY.

I am answering your question, I am not starting a fight.

Brent

[tebery]

Once you are installed a (ANY) dealer can add devices remotely. Check around locally and here on this forum.

[xc420]

You might want to make "SSL Connectios Only' isn't checked for project properties

there' a composer home edition and composerpro. Composerpro allows you to create projects, do all the bindings, add equipment etc.

[crazybuppie]

dogdvr is correct. The dealer will be required to add any hardware to your system.

Beyond that, ComposerHE is very powerful and will let you program till your heart's content.

When X happens, do Y.

When X button is pressed, do X Y and Z.

Just a couple simple examples

[mwarchut]

I'd never accuse you of starting a fight.. lol. I'm curious if I head down this path how much it's going to cost me. I'm the type that replaces my HT equipment frequently and likes to buy new toys quite frequently. Now if the dealer can make changes remotely and isn't looking to empty my wallet when I need a change I am quite interested in this product. I may have to go back over to the local dealers and look at the demo again. Although I stayed at the Aria in August and that was a nice demo right there.

Mike

[RyanE]

You might want to make "SSL Connectios Only' isn't checked for project properties

Just for clarification:

Enabling "SSL Connections Only" doesn't do anything to keep end users from using ComposerHE or ComposerME to program / setup those parts of their systems.

It *does* keep older clients (Mini-touch, 10" touchpanels, Ethernet LCD Keypads, etc.) and 3rd-party apps (like the music control app some have mentioned here previously) from connecting to the controller.

If you don't have older client devices and don't use a 3rd-party app (music, etc.), there's no downside to enabling "SSL Connections Only".

RyanE

[mwarchut]

so if I decide to go forward with this do I like make a list of all of the stuff in my house that might be controllable and give it to the dealer so he can configure the controller. And then as I add stuff like say thermostats I call him to add that as well. So I should add a bunch of stuff and make a call so he can add all of it at once? Does the dealer design the layout of the interface too or is that something I can do?

[RyanE]

The User interface is created by the Flash UI 'Navigator' application that runs on the touchpanels and on-screen display. The UI is based on the devices and media that are available to the room you're currently navigating on the touchscreen.

It is not designed by the dealer, but the items the dealer installs make up the interface.

It is *somewhat* configurable, but not *designable*. There really isn't much way to make totally custom setups, as per Crestron or AMX.

The advantage of this is a lower-cost install, as the dealer doesn't *have* to design the interface. It just happens.

The downside of this is that you can't have a completely custom UI. It will always be based on the Control4 UI. You can change backgrounds, etc., and add 4Store apps, as well as create a custom home page that has icons of your choosing, but you can't make it just do whatever you want.

RyanE

[mwarchut]

Thanks. This is very informative. So I take it that there are ways to extend it out of the primary room for the AV stuff? I have 2 home theater rooms and might want to control some of the devices in that room. Is there a way to extend the IR blaster functionality?

Mike

[xc420]

I'm controlling my whole house off of a single HC300 (4 different rooms). I had to double up on a couple of IR ports but I'm controlling lights, 4x4 av switcher, 400-disc dvd changer, 2 a/v receivers, another dvd player, 4 TV's, HTPC, house audio. You can control multiple a/v equipment off a single ir port.

[CFUG]

Secure a dealer and he can answer all your Qs. Don't feel like on the defense if you have a rated dealer on your side. The whole idea is to have fun with your investment. Dealer will work on a whole project at first and then work piece-meal as you feel the urge. No worries. Just refer back to the fact that C4 is a dealer-centric (?) product.

[georgenikols]

Hi Mike,

You can certainly extend the system by adding another HC200, HC300 or IO box to another room. All these devices are linked via the ethernet backbone so the whole system acts as one.

you would require a registered C4 integrator ro install these units and create the project and bindings.

As mentioned previously in this thread, Composer MEdition is quite powerful as well. it gives you plenty of freedom to make changes.

[CFUG]

Let's just say that there are many on this forum with $50K plus systems. I think it's safe to say that expansion is what is expected. Start reading the sage of $20M install of Control4.

[mwarchut]

Yeah.. I think it's time to go back over to Best Buy and talk to them again. Are there any other dealers in the Napa,Ca area?

[wappinghigh]

Mike. You are asking some great questions. This is just how I felt when I started out my system.

My approach was to start with my home theatre. I found a dealer to integrate that at first. Just to make sure I liked the way C4 worked (before I launched into a bigger spend with other rooms). I had an overall "plan" in my head at first, but I wanted to start out small first. Of course I got hooked and the rest is history

Actually I have never had a problem getting the dealer back to add things etc. It frees my time up for other hobbies and pursuits (like annoying everyone on this forum )

[xc420]

Go to the Control4 website and find a dealer in Napa, CA.

[CFUG]

Most of us here posting are on your end of the stck. Do as xc420 sez but also verify the pick somehow. With all due respect gerogenikols, this is the end-user side of life you are on. The least you can do is quote the proper Composer sofware OP should be asking for. Media won't get him jack.

[RyanE]

It frees my time up for other hobbies and pursuits (like annoying everyone on this forum )

It's always nice to see a man who is good at his hobbies. J/K

RyanE

[RyanE]

The least you can do is quote the proper Composer sofware OP should be asking for. Media won't get him jack.

Cut him some slack. Probably talks about ME and HE all day long, and it's easy to say (or type) the wrong thing.

Just to clarify, Media Edition (ME) comes *free* with Control4, and allows you to manage your media on the system (MP3 music, DVDs, Movies on NAS drive, etc.). Home Edition (HE) is a purchased, licensed software that allows you to do everything ME does, plus add drag-and-drop programming to your system.

HE lets you do *most* of the things a dealer can do with ComposerPro. The things HE can not do include:

* Adding Devices

* Establishing Bindings (Connections) between devices

* Creating Drivers

* Programming loops in the drag-and-drop programming system

Pretty much anything else that ComposerPro can do, HE can also do.

RyanE

[mwarchut]

So I went back tonight and I felt the sales guy was feeding me a bit of a line so maybe someone can clarify for me. He told me that the control4 can operate my TivoHD and read the inventory that is on it. Is that true or is he feeding me a line? He claimed that it has serial on the back and that it can read the inventory via that. I don't recall the HD having serial in it. He also said my Yamaha receiver has a serial connection and can control it and my Ipod dock. Are these also true? I am thinking about going back and pulling the trigger tomorrow. :>)

Mike

[tigrzeye]

C4 does not create a new menu/interface system that controls your device, it just uses IR commands, in my case, to control the internal menu of the device. So if you can do something with your original remote and view it onscreen you can do the same with the C4 remote.

[ILoveC4]

So I went back tonight and I felt the sales guy was feeding me a bit of a line so maybe someone can clarify for me. He told me that the control4 can operate my TivoHD and read the inventory that is on it. Is that true or is he feeding me a line? He claimed that it has serial on the back and that it can read the inventory via that. I don't recall the HD having serial in it. He also said my Yamaha receiver has a serial connection and can control it and my Ipod dock. Are these also true? I am thinking about going back and pulling the trigger tomorrow. :>)

Mike

It can't read the inventory on your Tivo. It CAN control your receiver over serial if a divert is properly written.

You'll love the system.