MainLobby & HS

[Dean Roddey]

Can CQC do the same thing that HS, MainLobby and MusicLobby can do or would I have to purcahse add-ons to CQC? I just want to be sure that I am going the most cost efficient way with software. By the way, I will be using z-wave modules.

Look in the Gallery tab of the web site, and you can see some existing systems. CQC is a full back end to front end system, so it really includes the kind of functionality of both HS and ML in one package.

You will need an automatable software media player (if you want to play content off of the disc.) Currently most of our users use Zoom Player, since it has a strong automation interface. TheaterTek has now added such an interface and we'll add support for that soon also.

 

[IVB]

off-topic, but what did you select for motion sensors? Did you go with Optex?

Was that question for me or the OP? I have Bosch blueline motion.

 

[jls944]

Dean, IVB is using J Rivers Media, do you recommend Zoom over this?

Also, what do I use to control my a/v equipment? I understand you can use either either ir or serial? What are the differences? Will both work with remotes?

 

[IVB]

ACtually, I use both, in the currently recommended config: JRMC for it's repository and to cut the XML, and Zoomplayer to render it.

For a/v control: You can use either IR or serial, but I vastly prefer and recommend serial. With serial, you can get bidirectional communication so that you can paint the current on/off, source input, volume settings on the screen. For me, that was actually the reason i bought CQC in the first place - I moved all the equipment to a media closet, but got sick of trying to determine why there was no sound coming out of the speakers. Also, sometimes it would come out blasting cuz I forgot it up too high. Now I can visually see what it all is.

Also, if you use a regular remote instead of CQC to change volume/etc, CQC will immediately update the screen with the new setting.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Will a PocketPC be able to display MainLobby as it appears on my computer? (i.e. if I design a floorplan layout to show which light is on in each room of the house, does PocketPC have the capabilities to show this?

jls944;

This may not fully answer your question but look at THIS thread.

I basically created a 240 x 240 pixel rectangle on a native 1024 x 768 display for a MainLobby scene and populate it with the MainLobby info/graphics I want displayed on my pocket PC.

Then I use LogMeIn.com and to to the top left of the screen after logging in. Then those scenes just fill the display and it looks like it was made native to a PPC environment.

LogMeIn.com also has a cool feature to scale your display, so when I want to use my floor plan (to large for 240 x 240) I just set the scale to 50% with two clicks.

 

[Mike]

off-topic, but what did you select for motion sensors? Did you go with Optex?

Was that question for me or the OP? I have Bosch blueline motion.

Sorry that was for you, and thank you. I noticed once again your motion screens in CQC and it made me think of it. I'm on some window sensors now, but will be getting to motion detectors soon which is why I asked.

 

[IVB]

Watch out - they're dang nice looking. I was going to re-use the 2-3 old crappy looking ADT that I had, but after putting 5-6 of these around the house, I decided to upgrade all of them.

Wife initially wasn't wild about the blue glow in the dark, but now likes it.

 

[jls944]

IVB, what are you using for an ir blaster?

 

[IVB]

I have a USB-UIRT, but I haven't used it in months as I got off the whole IR thing.

That said, I know Ken Woodrow and a bunch of other CQC'ers are using the USB-UIRT just fine.