Integration with Crestron

With home automation becoming ever more sophisticated, customers expectations and requirements may sometimes exceed the operation of MasterLink. For example, consumers may want their home security system to be integrated with their home entertainment. MasterLink distributes Audio, Video and control around the home but was never designed to offer complete home automation support. However there are systems, such as Lutron or Crestron, where Bang & Olufsen products can be integrated to meet the customers exact requirements.

People are now starting to ask if they can integrate Bang & Olufsen products into their Crestron home automation system. This is possible with the use of an interface module and here's a link to the Crestron website detailing the exact hardware required.

http://www.crestron.co.uk/products/view.aspx?id=1565

This module can be used in one of two different ways. It can either convert Bang & Olufsen infra-red commands to operate the Crestron system or convert Crestron commands to operate Bang & Olufsen products. The Crestron system will need to be programmed accordingly.

A module is required for each Bang & Olufsen IR-receiver, whether it is in a television, an Audio system or a link room product such as BeoLink Active.

Great to see more connectivity - it can only be a plus!

Lee

I'll take the lack of response as a "who cares?" then...

 

Lee my friend.
It's very easy to get a little bit disillusioned when you post something you find exciting, then get a resounding silence!
In my case, I read this earlier whilst not signed in, and thought it was great news.
Don't automatically assume that no response means no interest. Saturdays are notoriously quiet anyway.
Some of us are too knackered to post, having spent the whole day power cleaning a long overdue rooftop patio (weeds growing between the nicks) 
I think I may even have vibration white finger!

Andy T.

I was quite intrigued when I saw this topic. I have been curious about Crestron and B and O for years. It is something exciting and worth considering.

Lee,

Integration of Crestron, Lutron, Conson, others and to a lessor degree Lintronic are not really understood.

Pehaps we need an "Integrate with B&O" forum.

Beoaus.

Based on discussions with several dealers recently there appears to be quite a focus on selling "Crestron" as part of a B&O package.

beoaus:

Lee,

Integration of Crestron, Lutron, Conson, others and to a lessor degree Lintronic are not really understood.

Pehaps we need an "Integrate with B&O" forum.

Beoaus.

Who supports this suggestion?

Always open to new suggestions, and if a forum can 'hold its own' and get plenty of posts - we're happy to add it.  However, it needs to be used, regularly, otherwise it will be lined up against a wall and shot.. just like the Poll Archive and others before...

Lee

 

I didn't know that Crestron was used that much in the UK or Europe.  I've always found Crestron to be a bit clunky on the hardware side, but it's programming seems to be pretty robust.   Its pretty much the standard here in the US.  However, the software is highly protected and it seems almost impossible to implement without including a AV team that usually lacks a B&O style in design and execution.  

As for a forum I'd be very interested.  I miss the Lintronic forum but don't recall it being overtly successful despite the product's widespread use.  I'm also wondering why there isn't more activity on the BEO5 forum.  

The trick with the more complicated technical forums is keeping people from simply lurking in there and not participating as I shamelessly do quite often.  That doesn't seem to be as much of a problem with 'brain candy' subjects such as "B&O TV Why?" and "Beosound 5" in the General Forum.  I for one would enthusiastically agree to participate more if it would help.

One of the big issues with integration and B&O dealers is that the dealers make little or no money out of the transaction. It's often an unhappy marriage based on a particular requirement by the customer.

I am sure there are some large stores that do this often but lots are uninterested and very protective of anything the customer may wish to do themselves.

Maybe start the forum post some links, if it fails then create a FAQ so the detail is not lost...

beoaus.

Beoaus,

Whilst I agree that B&O dealers do not make any real margin out of Crestron sales, its more a matter of if they do not provide it with the B&O package, they may not get the B&O part of the sale either.

I am aware of at least one UK dealership who has lost a couple of very big B&O product sales because the customer also wanted to buy everything from one source, not just the B&O element.