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Sorry this is a long one :-)
After several years of thinking about buying Control4 I engaged with a dealer and set about designing my install. However, after a few emails and a bit more research I started to feel that Control4 is not the answer, you may ask why and its simple really, I though it had a large amount of drivers that could easily work network connected kit like TV, Amps, the truth seems to be lots of drivers are rs232 or IR so functionality is limited. The forums are also saying they are unable to program the kit so every change has to go through the dealer. I have also seen posts suggesting that customers have spent tens of thousands on Control4 and where looking to bin the system as it did not deliver to the customers expectations. The common theme is you need to get the right installer and if you don’t and it doesn't work Control4 themselves don't seem to want to help. My Control4 contact is great and even if I don't buy control4 off him I will continue to buy my AV, CCTV kit from him. Finally i-Coders seem to be the only Cytech drivers for Control4 and is a rs232 connection with limited functionality.
Why was I looking at Control4 and that is also simple the user interface looks great for all functions, and is a one stop shop for home automation.
Having decided Control4 is not for me right now (guess it could work for the right customer) I would like to put it out there to see what people think I should do next. I may need to break this down on the Cytech forum as different projects I will take admins advise on that but for now:
I would like jump to all automation functions on a great app also I would like to pull the app up on my TV similar to the Control4 solution. Most of what I am going to describe I can think of way to achieve the project, but I need to jump in and out of different apps which is not ideal.
In no particular order
Project 1
I have never got my CCTV cameras working in the Comfort app, beyond that I would like to access my NVR (QNAP) on the app and review recordings.
Also I would like to at the touch a button fire up my CCTV cameras on my TV’s and preferably have access to the NVR on the.
Project 2
Somfy RTS blinds - I want to be able to control bedroom blinds based on alarm status e.g Night Mode - Blinds closed and Vacation / Away mode open / close blinds deepening on time of day / day of week. I don’t want to use IR if possible so are there any plans to make a Somfy (or equivalent) UCM’s
Project 3
AV Control to reduce the number of remote controls each item below has one (plus) remotes. The plan is to have TV’s in all bedrooms but for now I have:
Â
Lounge TV Sony KD-65x8509c
Kitchen,Master and Guest bedrooms Samsung TV’s
Yamaha RX3020 great amp great app, it has a 2 port HDMi matrix switch HDMi1 feeds the lounge and HDMi2 feeds the kitchen/master bed so I can watch the tivo in the lounge and play on the xbox in the kitchen or master bed. It also has 4 audio zones 1,lounge 2, kitchen, 3 conservatory, 4, outside.
On the RX3020 HDMI inputsÂ
1 Virgin Media TIVO1
2 Virgin Media TIVO2
3 Apple TV gen2
4 Xbox
5 Sony BluRay
6 M8 android media player mainly used for Kodi
7 Available
I would like to open up the comfort app or use a scene switch / remote to select a room chose a source turn on the TV set the volume level set the mood lighting etc. then without having the go into another app select another channel. Control4 does this well and has all the channel icons in the app, not sure about TV guides.
I could program this but it will take hours capturing all the remote IR codes which I will do if I have to, however my Samsung TV’s which are very different models one 5 years only the other a month old work with either remotes / IR commands, therefore could Comfort add pre-configured IR codes? or could a UCM be created to manage network connected TV’s AMP’s etc?
Project 5
Heatmiser interface - covered by UCM
Project 6
Aircon control - again IR code which I can teach the system to learn but without a slick looking app the best I will achieve is a PIR trigger or a scene switch which really is not worth it may as well stick with the remote.
Project 7
Use a SIP connection to make calls rather than the traditional phone network. We get loads of value from the system when a delivery man contacts us through the door station, but this costs us £10 - £25 a month on the home phone bill calling mobiles.
I believe Comfort is capable of doing 75%+ of the above, but it might be worth understanding the road map so if I look to buy a bigger HDMi matrix switch to replace my amp to feed more TV’s for example I buy something that comfort can control out the box. Please do’t take the wrong way but I would like to suggest Cytech share a road map of touch screens and scene buttons, I think the cosmetic look of these types of items is moving constantly in the market. I not seen one in the flesh but the cytech touch screens and switches look a bit dated.
As I am not going for Control4 I want to develop a personal solution that ticks as many of my boxes possible. Which looks great and works well and with everyone support I am sure this is very achievable.
I will be contacting cytech support with a list of kit I am going to buy for my Comfort system to get some of these projects off the ground, but I think the AV / CCTV opportunities are limited at present.
Finally I would love people to share what they have done with comfort systems and if anyone has looked at doing some of the projects I am considering and have any constructive advice please let me know.
Best Wishes
Lee
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