Home automation

[silver12]

I'm after some help with my choice for multiroom audio, as well as some other guidance.

I want to have audio placed into four zones.
Video distribution is via HDMI and currently the controller is a DMA2200 which I'm also looking to replace.

I have two tvs, fed via separate HDMIs from a HDMI matrix switch.

I currently have a Pronto 9400 but will probably buy a 9600/9800 also.

All lighting will be Rako controlled, with RS232+ to interface from the Pronto to all the lighting.

I've found a speaker switch that is IR controllable, so wondered if I could just output from a media server and use the pronto to select which zone I wish the audio to be sent to?

My music is currently stored in WAV, and ideally I'd like to be able to leave it in this format - this is my main gripe with the DMA2200.

I want to eventually have all the video and audio stored on a NAS/low power pc or server located in the loft.

Also, all my heating will be electric underfloor - has anyone found anything that can be controlled via a pronto?

I welcome your advice and suggestions as to the best route to go down.

[hornydragon]

YOu are probably better off building a basic MPC and soting music there using pronto to control it, You will need to amplifier the speakers so look at an amplifier that has switching capability built in.

AS for the heating control you can eithe rinstall a pronto integrated HVAC system or you probably going to have to write a script and finding a heating controller with required intelligence and connections (most are quite dumb devices) won't be easy

[Member 383084]

Have a look at honeywell for the heating they have got pronto script already done with full 2 way feed back and its not hard to install

[silver12]

Firstly, thanks for the replies so far.

Is anyone able to recommend a good amp that will link to an MPC and has switching built in, or perhaps know the best place to buy from?
I've built many PCs over the years, but wonder if it's better to buy an MPC or build my own? I've always used ebuyer for parts in the past.

Am I correct in assuming that the pronto has inbuilt control over media centre in Vista? Would it be simply a case of selecting the music on the pronto and that's all that would be needed?

[neilball]

If you want info on controlling electric underfloor heating (or any other kind of heating) with control from Pronto TSU9600/9800 then give Sensible Heat a call, they are the UK distributor for the Honeywell Hometronic system that now has a driver for pronto as others have mentioned. Not cheap but it will work very effectively.

[hornydragon]

Originally Posted by silver12

Am I correct in assuming that the pronto has inbuilt control over media centre in Vista? Would it be simply a case of selecting the music on the pronto and that's all that would be needed?

Bit more to it than that you need to set an activity called listen to music which will turn on AMP set to correct input then control MPC to deliver music output to amp (volume controlled in amp normally) There is a Media driver pre set in pronto edit for you to use download pronto edit and have a look at whats there

[DJMALLZ]

hey bud
let us know how your project going

regards

[Liam @ Prog AV]

Your design currently only allows for listening to the same track in one or more rooms, it isn't giving you the ability to have different audio feeds to different zones. May be a consideration to then go with a more purpose built audio server (Escient, iMerge, ReQuest) and perhaps a matrix switch multi-room amplifier (Xantech do an excellent one) so that you can also integrate say a DAB/FM Tuner with 2-way ProntoScript (Arcam T32) and any other audio feeds into the switching amp (sat box, PC, jukebox). All works as a great solution with pronto. Personally I tend to stick with 9400s throughout, I think they are the nicer controller to hold and use so long as you have decent enough eyesight to read the music server feed!!!!

[DJMALLZ]

Originally Posted by Liam @ Prog AV

Your design currently only allows for listening to the same track in one or more rooms, it isn't giving you the ability to have different audio feeds to different zones. May be a consideration to then go with a more purpose built audio server (Escient, iMerge, ReQuest) and perhaps a matrix switch multi-room amplifier (Xantech do an excellent one) so that you can also integrate say a DAB/FM Tuner with 2-way ProntoScript (Arcam T32) and any other audio feeds into the switching amp (sat box, PC, jukebox).!!!!

hey bud

I did think so too.. may Iask.. would it be a cheaper solution for him to have a media server not htpc but custombuilt media server.. can they be used as a source for multiroom? i always wondered..

[silver12]

Sorry for the delay in responding.

I've been playing around with various scripts for using the Pronto to control Media Player/Media center, and I have to say I'm not really taken with it.

I'm going to look into the suggestions you've made and see if any of those will be more suitable. If I use something like Escient Fireball do I need to output the music to a display to select it? Is it possible to see the music folders and art on the Pronto and select direct from there, without having a tv/mini display switched on?
All my equipment will be located out of sight so I won't be able to see any displays on the units themselves.

[DJMALLZ]

Originally Posted by silver12

Sorry for the delay in responding.
Is it possible to see the music folders and art on the Pronto and select direct from there, without having a tv/mini display switched on?
All my equipment will be located out of sight so I won't be able to see any displays on the units themselves.

hey buddy
cehck this out

http://www.escient.com/support/suppo...ntegration.pdf

and also for pronto go on Welcome to Remote Central: Universal Remote Control Reviews & More! LOADS help there too..

there's a bud who was developping an app for pronto 9600 which allows you to display your songs from your htpc or media server on your remote without screens on so you can skip songs whilst in the bath tub :D

[silver12]

The problem is I already have a 9400 which I want to keep, and I'm still not sure whether to add a 9600/9800 or another 9400.

I have played around with those scripts that are from Remote Central, but I'm not terribly impressed. Two of them use Squeezecenter which I'm not keen on, and the Padone server for Windows Media Player I can't get working. Hopefully next week I'll have the time to sit down and play around with it until it works, and then find out which script, if any, will do the job I want.

I know there must be a product out there that does what I want, but I'm damned if I can find it!

[hornydragon]

The imerge script is pretty nice but you do need to buy an imerge...

[silver12]

I finally had time yesterday to get my Pronto working as it should do!

It now controls my Rako lighting, and I have managed to get all three music server scripts working - two for Squeezecenter and one for Windows Media Player.

After playing around with all three, I have decided that Slimpronto is the best option for computer control, and am considering staying with this solution.

I'm going to look into buying an Imerge, but first I need to speak to someone who knows a lot about them to see if it will get me any benefit. The one drawback to using the Slimpronto script is that it is fairly slow to respond, but then again I do have a fairly large music library for it to search through; if Imerge was fast and responsive regardless of database size then I think it would be worth the money.

[FullSpectrum]

I would go for an Escient if I were you. More reliable than Imerge, very simple to install, they also have an iPod dock that works seamlessly.