Help with Control Basics Please

[Budgie]

New to this forum and wishing very much I had found it before I built the house!

I am posting a request for some basic help with av system control which will adopt HDMI over IP as the means of video signal distribution. I am comfortable with the concept of layer-2 or multilayer managed gigabit switch and Vlans to build the switching matrix.

I also understand there are several proprietary software offerings to facilitate the switching operations if I do not want to write my own code.

There are several areas where I need help. The first is to understand how the transmitting devices and receivers themselves are turned off. If for example I am using an Epson Projector which will be relatively inaccessible once installed (unless a step ladder is used,) I can switch the signal to a receiver (eg Just Add Power device) which will feed the HDMI to the projector but how do I turn on or shut down the Epson Projector itself?

At the signal source end, if I have a Blu-Ray player transmitting on one channel through a device connected to the lan, how should I control the player. Similarly how do I power on and change channel to control a sky+ or freeview HD box. I guess there may be several options and would appreciate recommendations please.

The second question concerns the interface with switch matrix. I want to use an iPad or similar notepad as the "remote" control with wifi connection to lan. Is there proprietary or open software which can be used to do the matrix switching and other control functions.

Finally there are related question with regard to sound system control especially if I want surround sound.

Grateful for any help offered and links to suitable reading reference material/literature if available.

Regards,
Budgie

[Budgie]

Wrong Forum it appears.
Sorry my question was OT.
Budgie

[Guest]

What HDMI over IP equipment are you going to use? as most of the ones I've seen have IR built in therefore the ability to switch on/off could be done over IR.

Regards the iPhone/iPad control wouldn't that really be dependent on the equipment your using as per above?

I currently have a non-IP based 4x2 HDMI matrix which I use where all my equipment is in an AV rack and I use remote RF to an IR blaster in the A/V rack if its of any interest

[TimH]

Not sure why you think it was OT except, perhaps, the lack of replies?
Anyway, a few thoughts…

The simplest way to control the projector (on/off) would be an X10 module. These can be plug-in units (http://www.letsautomate.com/10014.cfm?) or hardwired (http://www.letsautomate.com/10001.cfm?) into your electrics. You can control X10 from a number of systems including hand-held remotes and plug-in interface “boxes”. You can also control it from the Comfort alarm system, a Homevision box, a PC, etc.

Any of the other mainstream home automation systems could do this on/off switching too, e.g. CBus, Idratek, Z-Wave, and others.

Relatively simple infrared distribution systems are available (e.g. http http://www.wordpress-1219309-4387497...ight=hide-away) or you could use something from Xantech or Keene to control the projector (if needed) as well as the source equipment.

On the basis that you’ll use the HDMI-over-IP AV system, you’ll need something to issue control codes to the transmitter box to change vlans / sources. The simplest but not “greenest” solution would be to use an always-on PC for this. You can then use this same PC to control your sky box via one of these http://www.dusky-control.com).

Perhaps you’d then use your iPad to control everything else via webpages served-up from the “master” PC. IIRC there’s also an app for iPads that allows you to send control signals via WiFi and have these converted to IR or whatever once back in the physical world (e.g. http://www.wordpress-1219309-4387497...e-or-iPad.html and http://www.globalcache.com). Also see here for one Automated Home reader’s experience with the Global Cache unit: http://www.wordpress-1219309-4387497...che-Setup.html

The audio interfaces will depend on what kit you have and what you want to do. Can you give any more details?

HTH,

Tim.

[philippe.landry]

Hi,

I tried to check if EPSON projector generally supports HDMI-CEC, but I was not able to find an answer to this question so far.
Nevertheless, would it be HDMI-CEC capable, you could use this build-in capacity of control to switch it off (and actually much more).

In case, you don't know what is CEC, which is unfortunately a very common case, you can find some additional information in this post.
To make a long story short, the Consumer Electronic Commands are a set of messages exchanged between devices to communicate and synchronize.

HTH

Regards,
Philippe