We recently carried out a days work in Portsmouth at the Anglican Cathedral where they had a large Dynalite installation done approximately 10 years ago.

The current staff were not fully trained on how the system worked, the documentation was incomplete and out-dated and there were a number of lights not working.

By connecting a laptop with our programming software into the system we were able to systematically identify and test each circuit and identify bulbs that needed replacing.

We created a complete lighting schedule from scratch which showed each circuit, the dimmer it was connected to, a logical description of the circuit (where it was in the building) and whether or not there were bulbs that needed replacing.

We tested the functions of the Dynalite keypads and touch-panel and made some adjustments to the lighting scenes.

At the end of the day we carried out a staff training session where we showed the current staff how to manually adjust lighting scenes through the touch panel interface.

Finally we produced a step-by-step guide with images to help refresh their memories and to aid them with training new staff in the future.

Customer Testimonial:

Portsmouth Cathedral is pleased to set on record how excellent in every way was the service provided recently by Couture Digital in response to a number of problems relating its lighting panel. Their swift response, Their knowledgeable and detailed analysis of the issues, the consequent repairs and redesign and preparation of detailed but simple instructions how to operate in the future, left us completely satisfied and we do not hesitate to to recommend them to future customers.

Michael Tristram (Revd Canon) on behalf of Portsmouth’s Anglican Cathedral.

If you require an Philips Dynalite engineer or programmer to diagnose, repair, upgrade or reprogram your system we will be happy to help. Call the office on 0800 195 4825 to speak to someone about your system.

We recently completed a project for a client in the West End of London who had a very messy and unreliable installation done by another company a number of years ago.

He asked Couture Digital to update the control system and amplification as well as tidy up the frankly DIY looking installation.

Our complimentary site survey was our first chance to inspect the original system and to get a feel for what the client wanted. In this case, he wanted the system to operate more or less the same way that it always did but with nice new remote controls and updated surround amplifiers enabling him to utilise his recent full HD and 3D TV’s and Blu-Ray players.

We replaced his old Philips Pronto controls with brand new URC MX-5000i remotes and a MRX1 control base station. Rather than using flaky Infra-red signals this control system works over a wireless network, allowing for more reliable, faster and more advanced control.

As I mentioned above, the original install was very poorly done. No equipment rack, no cable management, almost every cable in the system had been cut and extended with a combination of electrical tape, solder, or termination block. There were dozens of different audio and video converters being used many of which seemed completely unnecessary.

[See the BEFORE image gallery below]

Unpainted MDF Shelves, Messy Cables, Overheating stacked equipment

Some of the Audio & Video Converters

The network & telephony patch panel and satellite feeds

We started by pulling everything out completely. Removing all the shelves and grouping the cables together.

Many of the original cables were badly extended. We cleaned up any essential extensions using the correct connectors.

Next we built a professional 19″ metal rack and installed vented shelves and rack mounted power distribution units.

All cables and plugs are labelled for easy maintenance.

As the equipment was installed into the rack we secured each individual cable down to the shelf so that there is never any danger of a cable coming loose.

Cables fixed securely to the rack shelves

Next the equipment itself was secured using clamp bars. The bars are padded with foam to avoid damage to the casing of the devices.

Now even when someone decides to forcefull push a button on the front panel of a device, it wont move and the cables attached at the rear will not be bent or broken.

Eventually once all the kit was in place the main cables which run to the rooms of the flat were connected and routed carefully to the right areas of the rack. With this much cable it was important that we supported its weight by fixing it to the backs of the shelves and also by keeping it bunched tightly we allowed for more airflow to the devices (some of which can get quite hot)

Almost finished. The cables have been routed through the rack to the right devices.

We finished by tidying up that messy network patch panel.

Finished network and telephony patch panel and Satellite feeds.

The finished rack ready to be rolled back into it's cupboard

Overall this was a very successful project and we are happy with the result. The client has a system which is much less likely to fail and supports the latest technology. And best of all it works in the same way he was used to. This rack can be locked away in it’s closet and forgotten about, the client operates the entire system from his wireless touch panel remote controls.

If you have a poorly installed or faulty system and would like someone to come for a complimentary survey and give you a quote for repairing or upgrading it. Please contact our office on 0800 195 4825.

Unpluggd have run this short piece on Home Cinema Lighting. I have to say I completely disagree with them.

The picture they have used for the starlight ceiling is a particularly bad one. I think in the right kind of room it can look great, but whatever your thoughts on startlight ceilings, what is clear is the huge the difference in tastes between Europeans and our friends across the pond.

Really? bright blue illuminated oak moulding? Are you sure?

Click the image above to see the original piece.

With our custom lighting systems we can create lighting effects and mood settings which are tailor made for our clients. Call us on 0800 195 4825 to discuss your lighting ideas.

It’s easy to focus on the living room as the main centre of attention for your home technology but there are many other rooms in your house which can be greatly improved with a touch of tech. In this, the first part of a series of articles I will look at the kitchen.

Lighting

Kitchens are probably the most heavily used area of a family home. They are used throughout the day and night and often used for tasks as diverse as making breakfast to doing homework to huddling and chatting at a party. Obviously these three tasks do not have the same requirements for lighting but in a standard kitchen this is exactly what you get. ON or OFF. A well designed and programmed lighting system can give you dozens of different “scenes” which allow you to quickly and simply switch your kitchen from “homework mode” (perhaps a setting which has the area of the table or breakfast bar at 100% brightness) to a relaxing mood setting for enjoying a glass of wine after the kids are in bed. Lighting scenes like this can really make a difference to a kitchens ambiance and can help make the most multi-purpose of rooms even more useful. Consider a lighting scene for some of the other uses that we list below…

Entry

Sometimes it can be a quite an inconvenience to get from the kitchen to the front door, especially when you have hands soaked in dish-water or a pan which is about to boil over! An entry system can allow you to see who is at the door, speak to them and then release the lock on the door if you wish to let them in. Our integrated systems can even be programmed to pause Sky+ or mute the music you are listening to when the doorbell rings so that you don’t miss a visitor or delivery man because you were too busy dancing around the island to the latest Gaga track to notice!

Intercom

Sick of walking to the foot of the stairs to scream “dinners ready!!” ? Why not install an intercom system or DECT phone system which will allow you to speak to people in other rooms without losing your voice.

Music

Multi Room audio is one of our most requested technologies, kitchens make a great place to control which album or playlist you want to listen to and perhaps set the volume level for the kitchen and adjoining dining area. There’s nothing like waking up in the morning to your favorite mp3 playlist and being able to switch on and pick up where you left it when you get downstairs for breakfast.

TV/Video

Having a TV in the kitchen is a very popular option, whether it is for following Delia or Jamie’s recipes, watching the news or keeping the kids entertained while you cook dinner. We install TV’s in most kitchens now and unsurprisingly they are the most heavily used screens in the house.

Web

On a number of occasions we have been asked for web access on the TV in the kitchen. This is a feature that we think more and more people will want in the future. Example uses have been for simple web browsing, looking up recipes, family photo slide shows, iTunes control, and management of a digital family schedule.

Automation

Kitchens generally make a lot of heat and therefor don’t always need the same level of heat from the central heating system be it underfloor heating or traditional radiators, and intelligent, integrated system can monitor the temperature of the room and turn off the central heating if it is not needed.

Careful and thoughtful design can also add other energy saving benefits. Some of our systems can monitor the amount of power being used by seperate appliances allowing you to see which items use the most juice and switch them off when you don’t need them, we can also program our systems to constantly watch for movement and if nobody is around we can turn off the lights, the TV, the music even the oven or hob (if you wish) Our sensors can also measure the natural light coming in during daylight hours and reduce the brightness of the lighting to save energy.

Where automation is concerned really the possibilities are endless. If you can dream it up, we can make it happen. Want to be able to pre-heat the oven as you leave the supermarket car park? Why not ask us to design you an SMS system or iPhone app which allows you to turn the oven on from your phone as you slam the boot of the car?

These are just a few of the ways that we can help make you kitchen a more fun, more useful, and more efficient place. Give us a call on 0800 195 4825 to discuss your ideas.

I just found this interesting concept for a universal remote control.

The Toggle multimode touch remote concept uses an innovative application of existing technology to deliver a rich, intuitive experience at an extremely affordable cost. Though originally conceived for use with media, the Toggle platform can be applied across a wide variety of multimode remote applications.

Providing the perfect meeting room equipped with projectors, audio visual equipment, HVAC, blinds and lighting features highly in the ‘must haves’ of any professional meeting room environment. Phil Main, Global Product Marketing Manager, Philips Dynalite, reviews the best ways to manage these elements.

The key to this offering is the user interface. The control of equipment and facilities provided in a modern meeting room can be daunting to the visitor who is unfamiliar with the system setup. The choice of interfaces available can itself be intimidating, ranging from a basic remote control, through to touchscreen panel or tablet PC. The options on the interface should be intuitive, self-explanatory and give the expected result when operated. The ideal user interface will have clearly labelled ‘buttons’ on one device that will enable a visitor to operate the facilities quickly and easily without having to locate the air conditioning, blinds, or projector controls individually.

For more experienced users of the room, the decision to use advanced options to access specific settings should be equally as straightforward. Incorporating the user interface into networked management services will facilitate optimal room usage. Communication between the facilities manager and presenter via a graphical user interface can be advantageous to both parties. For the facilities manager, notification to the occupant of services such as meal delivery can be conveyed, and at the conclusion of the meeting, rooms can be taken to an energy efficient state and cleaning services requested. Conversely, should the presenter require assistance, the user interface can be a useful tool to contact the facilities manager. Scheduling calendar software can further aid energy management by coordinating meeting room bookings and availability of resources. If the room is booked, the facilities can be automatically set to ‘meeting’ status, and conversely turned off at a preset time after the conclusion of the booking.

Occupancy sensors can be programmed to override this feature if the meeting runs overtime. Should the room be required on an ad hoc basis, communication with facilities management via the user interface can activate the room. Lighting control systems for meeting rooms will need to consider the position of the speaker, the use of audio visual equipment, the location and seating arrangements of the guests.

Alternative preset compositions for lighting, blinds. HVAC and equipment, based on the room’s configuration reduces the complexity for the presenter to establish presentation conditions. Communication is the key to a successful and professional meeting. Intuitive user interfaces allow the presenter to optimise the meeting room environment at the touch of a button, while ‘behind the curtain’, facility managers coordinate services and equipment to maximise room usage and energy savings.

Source: Hiddenwires