Do generic keypads exist?

[beelzerob]

I'm finishing up the house wiring, and so far I've run a cat5e and a 22/4 wherever I thought I might someday want a keypad of some kind. In the bedrooms, it would probably take the form of an in-room audio controller, since each room has a speaker. At the doors to the house, it'd probably take the form of some kind of security keypad, with number buttons at a minimum.

So the first question is....is a Cat5e and 22/4 enough to cover most likely solutions?

Second is....do security keypads only come with security panels, and do audio control keypads only come with distributed audio packages? Since I've got CQC, I could do all the controlling myself if I could just get a keypad that simply transmitted its keypresses out an RS232 port...maybe 2-way which allowed for me to send a message to an LCD screen, or change colors behind certain keys. Seems like it'd be useful to me, but I haven't seen anything like that on the sites I normally prowl.

 

[TonyNo]

I was thinking about this the other day. Ethernet would be cool.

I do know of this company that makes serial terminals, and this model is fairly inexpensive.

 

[ver0776]

A generic keypad would be anyone that operates relays. Instead of wiring the relay to the door strike, etc, just wire it to an input sensor and now you can use it to control your alarm system.

Smarthome sells one for $79 or so, (I have dealer account, so not sure the retail)

Vaughn

 

[beelzerob]

I was thinking about this the other day. Ethernet would be cool.

I do know of this company that makes serial terminals, and this model is fairly inexpensive.

Hey, those are pretty neat. You can turn the backlight on and off, make it sound off, clear the display....that fits my description pretty well. When you say fairly inexpensive, where are you getting a price from? I can't find one on the site.

 

[pkoslow]

Most security & audio keypads come with the system and are proprietary so don't work with other manufacturer's controllers. RTI makdes some nice in-wall controllers (simple buttons to touch screens) that are universal and can be programmed to contal almost anything with IR or RS-232.

Scroll down to "In-Wall Controls" in link below:
http://www.rticorp.com/products/default.html

 

[TonyNo]

I found out that the terminal I linked to is not available to individuals. If my company resold them, they would be about $350.

Man! Another cool product from Eden Prairie. What do they put in the water there?

Any ideas on price points for the RTI products? They seem very cool.

 

[ph0n33z]

Most security & audio keypads come with the system and are proprietary so don't work with other manufacturer's controllers. RTI makdes some nice in-wall controllers (simple buttons to touch screens) that are universal and can be programmed to contal almost anything with IR or RS-232.

Scroll down to "In-Wall Controls" in link below:
http://www.rticorp.com/products/default.html

are the RTI products available for non-dealers? The keypads and touchscreens are very interesting, but it says the designer software is only available to dealers.

 

[beelzerob]

Most security & audio keypads come with the system and are proprietary so don't work with other manufacturer's controllers. RTI makdes some nice in-wall controllers (simple buttons to touch screens) that are universal and can be programmed to contal almost anything with IR or RS-232.

Scroll down to "In-Wall Controls" in link below:
http://www.rticorp.com/products/default.html

Some of those are darn spiffy, especially the audio controllers.

What appeals is that, if they were suitably affordable, I could still use those even if I get an audio distribution system separately later, say for instance the Nuvo Grand Concerto, because the CQC drivers will let me convert any keypresses on the keypad to a GC command...so I wouldn't have to get their proprietary keypads. I like the look of these better.

But again....if they were suitably affordable.

 

[Steve]

Last I looked at RTI at Ehx I could not get an available guy to talk about them, but it seemed that they were somewhat expensive and very proprietary. Seems like you needed their design software and their serial hardware module to communicate to stuff. I keep looking at it because the screens really are kinda nice. As this was a year ago, it could have changed a bit, but that was my initial impression.I think Xantech also makes a screen like RTI but it is also very proprietary. IMHO I think it would be alot of work and more $ than you think to use these kinds of keypads as say a Nuvo keypad.

 

[beelzerob]

IMHO I think it would be alot of work and more $ than you think ...

Hehe...I don't think I've ever heard such a concise and correct description of home automation.....

Well, I forsee getting a security system of some kind (probably an Elk just because I'm more interested in the automation aspects than the security) and an audio distribution system of some kind....if there were cheap communicating keypads, then I could implement those now without having to wait until I can afford the whole shebang.

Oh well, it's too bad....those standalone keypads look awful cool.

 

[TonyNo]

I almost forgot about these...

http://www.crystalfontz.com/cgi-bin/pricing.pl?product=633

 

[ph0n33z]

I almost forgot about these...

http://www.crystalfontz.com/cgi-bin/pricing.pl?product=633

Those look awesome! With RS-232 support, you should be able to use CQC/Girder/Powerhome to do anything. And with the LCD module it might open up a lot of applications assuming it can be supported. Also, it supports 1-wire temperature sensors! Talk about a great device.

EDIT: Woah, read what these babies can display with the free software!

Winamp track information/times!!!

Talk about a great device for my current whole house audio setup.

Once, again..........go Tony!

 

[Fletch]

I almost forgot about these...

http://www.crystalfontz.com/cgi-bin/pricing.pl?product=633

Those look awesome! With RS-232 support, you should be able to use CQC/Girder/Powerhome to do anything. And with the LCD module it might open up a lot of applications assuming it can be supported. Also, it supports 1-wire temperature sensors! Talk about a great device.

EDIT: Woah, read what these babies can display with the free software!

Winamp track information/times!!!

Talk about a great device for my current whole house audio setup.

Once, again..........go Tony!

Here's an article about actually interfacing with the LCD and keypad using VB.NET.
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms973283.aspx

I have one of these, but I haven't done anything with it yet.

 

[ph0n33z]

I have one of these, but I haven't done anything with it yet.

Sounds like 3/4 of the stuff I have ordered.....

 

[TonyNo]

Those would be made even nicer (for me) by the addition of a 232/Bluetooth adapter since I can't run wire to most places I would want to use them.