Help Identifying HA Products

[patterrr]

I've been reading this forum on and off for several years, but am brand new posting.  We are currently building our "forever house", so it's time for me to figure out what we're doing for our home automation system.  So I'll be posting much more now to pick the brains of all you experts.
 
Anyways, a few years ago we were touring new homes, and I saw one with some controls that I really liked for lighting, audio, and intercom.  I took pictures of them and am hoping that somebody here can identify the products so that I can look a bit more into them and see if they're the type of system that I'm looking for.  However, I can't seem to place pictures directly into this post, and as a new user I'm not yet allowed to post links to the pictures.  I contacted the admin a couple times to ask for an exception, but got no response.
 
Therefore, I have an usual request:
1) If there is a way to place pictures into the post, please tell me how. 
2) Otherwise, if somebody who has been here longer with the ability to post image links is willing to reply to this thread with the pictures linked, I would REALLY appreciate it!  If so, please message me and I'll send you the links.
 
Thanks for your help!
-Ryan

 

[Swancoat]

Not to sound overly simple, but if you liked the controls just from what you 'saw' (and not knowing too much else about them), then maybe a description would be enough for us to take a few stabs at it, which maybe you could verify with a quick search. The crux of the idea is that, at least on some level, the controls were visually distinctive.

 

[patterrr]

Sure, let's give this a shot!
 
1) Light control - It's a decora style switch, with 7 buttons.  The top five control different lights, the 6th down is all lights on, and the 7th down is all lights off.  Buttons are abotu 1" wide by 1/4" tall.
 
2) Audio - it has six button on the top, each maybe 3/16" tall by 1/2" wide.  In this application only one of the six buttons had text on it, "Patio", I believe was the audio destination.  Under those buttons are 7 horizontal dots where the number lit up indicate the volume.  Under that was a cirle of three buttons, a circular "source" button, and then an up and down button above and below it.  Bottom left is a power button.
 
3) Same as above, but instead of the six buttons at the top it has an LCD that describes the source and shows the volume level.
 
4) Intercom - It has an LCD on top that indicates where the page is going to, then a big round "Talk" button in the middle, then five buttons below with right, left, up, and down arrows and a "DND" button. 
 
All are in decora formats.  Do any of these sound famaliar?

 

[pete_c]

Here for in wall light control using UPB.  Recent updates to the SA switches have been multipaddle and dual load.  I am using the Leviton HAI OmniProII combination automation alarm panel.  It is integrated to automation software that I utilize called Homeseer.
 

 
For audio here utilize Russound zoned amps.  (12 zones) and have these everywhere.  Old design / old style very functional and never break. Connectivity is one catxx cable going to a patch panel adjacent to the Russound Amps.  All of my speakers are in wall and exterior mounted and wired to the amps (not into wireless speakers here).
 

 
 
The Leviton / HAI / Omnitouch screens hardware control these or the single box Russound hardware controllers control the amps.  Mixture 5.7 & 5.7e's everywhere.  The 5.7e can be an intercom with video.  These are the legacy Leviton / HAI touchscreens.  New one is Android OS based wide screen.
 

 
The 5.7e's you can tweak the 5.7e's using the HAI designer program.  These also control the audio stuff.
 
These are Openpeak capacitance tabletop touch tables (dual atom CPUs) that run Wintel, Android or Linux.  These are all over the house and do all sorts of things.  (~20).  Run Homeseer touch, Omnitouch Pro, Linux and Android stuff.  Music stuff.
These have microphones and can serve as intercoms today.  The phones pictured do JPG images and the table top devices have built in telephony (DECT) and a Zigbee chip. They were a bit ahead of their time. (also Gb NIC, Wireless, Bluetooth and provisioning for 3G connectivity (sim card slot).)
 

 
Homeseer software touchscreens:
 

 
 

 

[Swancoat]

Sure, let's give this a shot!
 
1) Light control - It's a decora style switch, with 7 buttons.  The top five control different lights, the 6th down is all lights on, and the 7th down is all lights off.  Buttons are abotu 1" wide by 1/4" tall.
 
2) Audio - it has six button on the top, each maybe 3/16" tall by 1/2" wide.  In this application only one of the six buttons had text on it, "Patio", I believe was the audio destination.  Under those buttons are 7 horizontal dots where the number lit up indicate the volume.  Under that was a cirle of three buttons, a circular "source" button, and then an up and down button above and below it.  Bottom left is a power button.
 
3) Same as above, but instead of the six buttons at the top it has an LCD that describes the source and shows the volume level.
 
4) Intercom - It has an LCD on top that indicates where the page is going to, then a big round "Talk" button in the middle, then five buttons below with right, left, up, and down arrows and a "DND" button. 
 
All are in decora formats.  Do any of these sound famaliar?

Lights sound like RadioRA2 to me.

 

[Del91574]

Light could also be Vantage.

 

[patterrr]

Wow, you guys are good!  The audio is definitely Russound, and the lighting looks extremely similar to the Lutron RadioRA2, just slightly different.  I'm guessing it's just an older model.  The only one left is the intercom, but maybe it's a Russound product also.  I'm just starting to research the Russound.
 
Thanks for your help, this gives me some food for thought.  Pete_C, how did you put the pictures in your post?  I'm guessing it's an option that opens up once you post enough?  Just want to make sure I'm not missing something.  Sorry for being such a newbie, but would like to post a picture of the intercom if possible.  Thanks!

 

[pete_c]

Welcome to Cocoontech patterrr.
 
The option to upload pictures will open up once you post some more stuff.
 
Here is a picture of the Russound Intercom system called Compoint.
 

 

[patterrr]

Thank you pete_c.  I've passively watched these forums for a few years, but excited to become more active now that I'm starting my own project.
 
You're spot on, it was a Russound Compoint.  Now I'm off to search the forum for posts on Compoint to see what others think of it.  Thanks al for your help!

 

[pete_c]

Personally I do not utilize the Russound Compoint system.  I do like the simplicity and footprint and transport using one catxx for it.
 
The last intercom system in a home here was in the 1970's installed by the contractor that built the home.  Thinking it was a Nutone system.  I did install an intercom system in the home of the 1980's; then disconnected it all.
 
The main "box" had analog audio inputs plus AM/FM radio which was utilized much for the other intercom stations which were inside and outside of the home.
 

 
A neighbour locally here did install a modern intercom system in their home during construction in the early 2000's.  It broke about 5 years after installation.  I repaired it for them a couple of years ago.  Thinking I just replaced the power supply to it.  It broke again maybe 6 months after I repaired it.  I suggested a new motherboard or removing it and replacing the whole system.  Its is not a Nutone.  Difficult to get spare parts for these days.  They are not  using it today.

 

[drvnbysound]

The Broadcast and Selective Call systems from Legrand also offer a single Cat wire for their room units; the main console on the broadcast system uses 2.
 
http://www.legrand.us/intercoms-and-door-entry.aspx

 

[patterrr]

Thanks for the pointer to the Legrand system.  Both it and the Compoint system look like they do what I want, so I need to figure out costs for each as that'll likely be the differentiator.
 
pete_c, I feel like there's an underlying tone to your last post.  Are you hinting that I will likely not be using the intercom in the long run?  I've never had one before... and if it ends up being a novely that I don't use probably not worth the cost.  Heck I don't even personally know anybody who has had one, so would like to draw on yoru experience.  For background, the house we're building is 5200 square feet living space, five bedroom, kids in three of the bedrooms.  Anybody else have input on the value of an intercom (sorry, I've gone on a tangent from the original post, maybe I should start a new thread for this)?

 

[pete_c]

are you hinting that I will likely not be using the intercom in the long run?  I've never had one before... and if it ends up being a novel that I don't use probably not worth the cost.  Heck I don't even personally know anybody who has had one, so would like to draw on your experience.

 
Just really from past experience.  Home in the 70's intercom system was used for music primarily and never much for anything else.  No kids at the time and a bit large for 2 folks.  (~8-9k).  In the 80's I would venture off to the detached garage / basement work room to work on hobbies and shut it off after continuous use which annoyed me.  I did install zoned audio back then but used three set ups; one for the second floor, main floor and finished basement using exteriorly mounted on the wall speakers at the time.  That said I have seen the video doorbell utilized more in recent years (front door or gated driveway stuff).

 

[Neurorad]

Many pro installers use Panasonic Pro or NEC telephones for intercoms. More expensive than in-wall intercoms, but easier to replace in 10 years.

 

[BaduFamily]

I installed an OnQ intercom when we rebuilt this house. One of the faceplates is at the front door and works as a doorbell.
We have a long skinny 2 floor house, and between the three of us use it daily. It's better than hollering.
 
The lighting may be Vantage - have you looked up that company, Patterrrr? ( http://www.vantagecontrols.com/products/user-interfaces/easytouch2.aspx ) One can have them engraved with labels.