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RTI Remote Control: A Brief Overview

Hottest Remote

rti-t1-bWith its slim look and elegant design, it’s no surprise that the T1-B+ is Custom Thunder AV’s top selling remote control. A powerful one-handed control remote, backlit keys a Tilt switch that can automatically turn on the backlight when picked up and an ergonomic design make it easy to use for all ages. With an assortment of keypad buttons for commonly used functions, the T1-B+ can run a sophisticated system for a budget price tag. Featuring dual RF using 433MHz and 2.4ghz/ZigBee.

With up to a 100Ft range (with an XP processer) use the remote without the need to point it at every source you want to use. We have 40 fully programmable buttons, with one button press cut on your receiver, TV, and satellite. Swap your inputs and go to your favorite channel, but were not limited to this we can put an unlimited number of steps on a single button. This remote can pretty much do it all. These are easy for new installs or retro fits, and will work just about any device that uses IR. They also allow us to integrate a control processor hiding all your equipment.

Using RF emitters, we can move your clunky wires and equipment into a neat closet or cabinet, out of site out of mind. 4-hours of continuous use or about 7 days of use with its rechargeable lithium-ion battery and docking station ensure you’re never scrambling for that box of AAA+ battery’s. it’s hard to beat the versatility of RTI and its remote controls. Quick programing times and an affordable price tag make this a time and money saver for you, Making this our bestselling remote control.

Award Winning Programming

RTI changed the game with its Award-winning software, Integration Designer is a powerful, easy-to-use, Windows based software package that allows the entire RTI control system to be programmed from any Certified integrators PC. It provides a wide variety of powerful tools to make the programming process quick and easy allowing for integrators to fully customize and program a customer’s remote with their specific preferences.

Each button having the ability to run huge macros or the simplest of commands, but that’s pushed even further with the time delays, setting up flags to active based on other events, one button power allowing all your devices to cut on or off simultaneously based on the wishes of the client. Supporting RS-232, Zig-Bee, RF. the product of over ten years of development, Integration Designer is a central part of the RTI Integration Control system, not an afterthought.

Great in-wall Touchpad

kx-in-wall-touch-padRTI’s KX 3.5 in-wall touch pad Coming with built-in control processor features and video intercom it shines as an affordable option. This hybrid device acts as both a touch panel and an advanced control processor. The results being an advanced automation device that delivers simplicity and output all in one. It’s featuring a 3.5” WVGA resolution (480w x 800h) TFT LCD to display custom buttons, text and graphics, another five hard buttons for convenience.

It works as a two-way mic and camera, plus a proximity sensor to active the backlit screen as you approach backed up by an ambient light sensor to help you see and save you money. POE 10/100 base-t integrated power plus 802.11 wireless Ethernet for viewing video security video over IP and remote programing. All this allows for seamless integration into a new or existing system.

Full automation over almost every aspect of your home/smart home devices at a reasonable price compared to some other brands. With the bonus of being wired and able to directly control your IR and RS-232 with an astronomical clock for time/date based events and the built in 2.4 GHz ZigBee antenna you even have connectivity to any other RTI remote you have. This has stood out to me since the first time I saw as an all in one without having to buy a separate control processor, it’s a lot lighter on the pocket book without compromising or losing power and performance.

Custom Thunder Audio Video brings you the best in residential and commercial entertainment installation in North Alabama and Southern Tennessee. We specialize in custom home theater installation, lighting control, structured wiring, satellite systems, flat panel TV installations, and outdoor audio/video systems. Check out our website or blog for more information.

Cedia 2016 Review

Cedia 2016 was all about thinking big, and seeing as it was held in the State of Texas it seems appropriate.  They were there to not only present big opportunities; but to share big challenges for the integrators, venders and distributers. This was a general call to action to the AV world.

Big Thinking

There are broad ranges of opportunities available to the AV community. A spectrum of different products, but the ones that reap the most are those that are ready for when a new product launches with all the knowledge and tools for the job. Being the first on the market to supply a service or product gives you a huge edge.

Big ou must be willing to work with others to succeed. Custom Thunder AV may know everything about the products we sell but without our network of distributers, builders, and audiophiles we wouldn’t have access to the products and knowledge we use to service you every day. We focus on cutting edge tech and solutions with timely order fulfillment and flawless customization.

Big Future

The opportunities are coming in the next few years. Our tech world is growing at an astronomical rate and it doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. We will be staying up-to-date with new products and training to fulfill all your tech needs.

We as integrators are looking for ways to expand our business at a rate that’s never been faster. Emerging trends and opportunities are just around the corner with smart home businesses being shaped and defined in conjunction with our ability to deliver you a customized integrated work space that fulfills all of your needs.

Big Products

UBP-X1000ES 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
bluray
We got our first look at Sony’s 4k UHD Blue-ray player, this coming months after Samsung and Philips dove into the market. Sony’s new blue-ray releases alongside brand new projector, both aimed at upper-tier videophilia’s. Sony’s UBP-X1000ES standard 4K Ultra HD player not only handles disc playback, but streams 4K content along with HDR for richer colors and deeper contrast that 4K has on its own. As well as upscaling for 1080p content to bring it to near 4K resolution.

VPL-VW675ES 4K Projector
4k-projector-copy
Sony’s enters the world of High-End projector. This model will be a first to support HyLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma). A new standard developed for HDR broadcasting with an update set to for soon after release via firmware. Sporting 2 HDMI inputs, both supporting HDMI 2.0a and HDCP 2.2. the lamp is rated to last 6,000 hours in low mode, and claims an impressive 1,800 lumens. With a dynamic contrast ratio of 350,00:1.

LG 77” OLED
lg-77-oled
OLED hasn’t been out long, but LG has already thrown its hand into the market pushing the technology further. First they gave us a 55”, then a 65”, now there throwing it all in on a 77-inch model. While many companies are brightness and bigger nit counts, LG strives for overall contrast. OLED has one distinct advantage the ability to turn a pixel completely off making them capable of true black. Now other than size there isn’t much here we haven’t seen before. With both HDR10 and Dolby vison being supported in addition to 4K Resolution. No word on if they have fixed the burn in issues surrounding the OLED products but I would recommend waiting until they do to go in on this one.

BIG WINNER

The big winner of Cedia 2016 is DC Power Distribution getting two industry awards and Cedia’s best in show award. It is the industry’s first centralized DC power solution that solves the growing complexities integrators are facing in residential AV applications. Available as 45W DC compact and 125W DC 1RU systems, allowing it to fit anywhere. The number of devices going into many jobs now can be over whelming on the power of the site this allows a balance for power demands with the space constraints

We at Custom Thunder AV are looking forward to next year to see what new products we get to bring you.

Lutron Technology

Lutron Lighting Control

Lutron Electronics designs and manufactures energy-saving lighting controls, automated window treatments, temperature controls, and appliance modules for both residential and commercial applications throughout the world. The company’s solutions, which easily integrate with other third-party systems, such as security systems, make any space more versatile, while enhancing ambiance and comfort. You can conveniently control Lutron solutions via keypads and wireless remotes, as well as from your smart device.

All this culminates into savings for you, with advancements in LED and halogen lighting combined with dimming technology’s lighting has become super energy efficient. Some systems even come with ambient light sensors to set your lights to pre-programed sets maximizing the light and savings. My favorite setting is the path of light. The lights turn on as you enter the room and off as you exit, eliminating the need to search for switches in the dark.

The functionality of Lutron and the customization of the switches them self’s. one button can control many of the lights, even setting up a movie mode the lights go full bright and as your projector cuts on the lights slowly dim until they cut off. This gives you plenty of time to get in your seat and comfy. Joel Spira’s first invention – a simple rotary dimmer that can still be found on many dining-room walls today revolutionized the way we think of lighting control.

Workplace Productivity & Efficiency
Proper lighting control can translate to an increase in productivity. Though typical lighting is fine for paperwork, it is usually 2 to 3 times brighter than is ideal for computer work. The solution?
Optimizing daylight and electric light saves energy and creates a productive, comfortable environment. Dimming increases lamp life and reduces maintenance costs, which can significantly affect your bottom line. Light controls can reduce the cost to reconfigure space, whether for different events, new tenants, or new layouts. Light control systems, such as Quantum, can also report on energy usage and savings to manage costs down. Lutron has a variety of solutions to improve the quality and efficiency of your work environment.

Commercial spaces can reduce overhead costs by controlling the lighting. For example, when The New York Times Company wanted to create an “energizing work environment” and reduce its energy consumption, it chose Lutron light control strategies. With light level tuning, daylight harvesting and occupancy sensing, the company saved nearly 70% of its lighting energy each year.

Residential
Whether you are leaving for the evening or on an extended vacation, Lutron provides a variety of solutions that can enhance the safety and security of your home. With Casét Wireless, turn lights on and off from the safety of your car with just the touch of a button—no more fumbling for the light switch as you try to unlock the door. Dimmers installed by the stairs and in hallways can illuminate a path of light in key areas of your house, making it easier to navigate from one room to the other during the night.

RadioRA 2 and HomeWorks QS enhance security with advanced functionality, including timeclocks and remote monitoring capabilities. You can even integrate these systems directly to your security system to visually enhance the system’s functions and save energy without effecting the security system’s performance.

Custom Thunder Audio Video brings you the best in residential and commercial entertainment installation in North Alabama and Southern Tennessee. We specialize in custom home theater installation, lighting control, structured wiring, satellite systems, flat panel TV installations, and outdoor audio/video systems. Check out our website or blog for more information.

How Much Does it Cost?

In the world of home entertainment there are so many variables, so many configurations, and so many choices.  But for most customers, “How much does it cost?” is the biggest concern.

Here’s a basic answer to remember: You Get What You Pay For.

So we’ll start with what you need.

I as an integrator / Programmer, have to understand the entire system! I need to know what the clients interests are, what components will be involved, and what services they prefer, as well as have recommendations and answers for questions about these different services. By services, I mean DirecTV vs. Dish vs. Cable, or Sirius vs. Pandora or Netflix vs. Amazon. Questions like these help determine what you need: does the client like movies or sports or both? Do they have an I-pod, or would they rather stream music from the internet, or do they like a favorite FM channel? How does the client want to control all of the different aspects of the system? It’s my job to understand how it all works and to know what components are needed and what cable or wire is needed to make sure the proper wiring configuration is in place to make it all happen.

Then incorporate what you want.

There are so many cost variables and just like anything else, there are high quality and low quality products. We as custom integrators use these products daily and we strive to make sure the products we offer have good warranties and have a great track record with us. If we test and use a product and we see a design flaw or have a persistent issue with a particular, we will find another solid solution. Don’t get me wrong, all electronic equipment is subject to failure. We just try to minimize those failures. We always recommend using surge / lightning protection and power conditioning products to help minimize these issues, I can’t make the customer purchase these products but ALWAYS recommend them.

So how much it cost depends on the quality of the products, how many products are needed to make the system work properly and how easily you want to be able to control it as well as how much time it will take to design, install, and program the system…

The good news…….Estimates are always FREE!!!!

Keep it Simple

Simple? That’s the request we hear the most from our clients.

What does Simple mean in the Audio Video/ Home Automation world?

Well, it means controlling everything, on one handheld system controller, with just the press of a button. Want to watch a movie or show on satellite or cable? Simple! With one button you can turn on a projector, drop the screen, close the blinds, turn on the satellite or cable box, turn on the home theater receiver, set the system to the correct settings, and dim the lights. Plus, many other commands customized to your system. (Sorry, you’ll have to grab the popcorn!) Even Blue-Ray or NETFLIX can be controlled with another button on the same controller!

Choosing the correct system controller depends on your system and budget.

Even the smallest budgets can incorporate an inexpensive hard button remote control for a TV, surround receiver, cable or satellite box, and a Blu-ray player. But, for ultimate customization, an LCD touch screen remote is the best solution. An LCD remote has almost unlimited button capacity, so we can configure your system controller to control as many components as you could possibly incorporate into a single home system!

Want to make sure everything looks Simple?

A Radio Frequency (RF) Processor will allow you to control your components thru walls or cabinet doors. So you can hide all the clutter and wires of the system out of sight in a cabinet or media closet.

How about the simplest solution for total home automation?

A two-way processor is a highly sophisticated processor that allows for two-way communication. These allow you to control your thermostat, lighting, music system, alarm system, surveillance cameras, and even more. With an internet connection, you can get current weather, know what lights are on or off, check what station the radio is on, set the DVR, or view your surveillance cameras from anywhere with your I-pad, I-phone, Droid, or handheld system controller.

Can it really be that simple?

For the end user, it should be this simple. For simplicity, I always recommend a customized system control!

-Brian Moses, Owner – Custom Thunder Audio Video, Inc.