How about by next Cedia show? Lighting Please. I saw Monster made a remote with Lighting switches and I just know that URC will be next. It's only a matter of time. and oh yeah...money!

BNC

They work lighting fine now, I can control every light in my home with my URC remote. Besides being named and able to turn on or off in the display each light is also numbered and the toggle can be used after that number is pushed to dim (toggle left), brighten (toggle right), turn on (toggle up) or turn off (toggle down).

The lighting system I use is Insteon from SmartHome www.smarthome.com

Yeah,

I've never been a big fan of lighting control built into the remotes. The problem is that they only support 1 particular brand. So if you use Z-wave, or Lutron, or whatever solution the remote control company chooses to implement you are good to go, otherwise you have to go another route. I wish that the CE industry could standardize an RF protocol for lighting similar to IR so that any RF device could be controlled by any RF capable remote. Unfortunately with all the diferent operating frequency's the chances are slim (though garage door manufacturers are currently doing it).

Russell

It has nothing to do with RF, it has to do with licensing fees from the FCC, in order to function on different frequencies. It is an expensive proposition. What many manufacturers do is offer some form of IR input as a solution. Lutron makes them, X-10 makes them and I'm sure many other companies make them.

I don't know how HomeLink is doing it, unless they are somehow paying FCC licensing fees or found a way around them. They could have also taken a blanket license of some kind, paid tons of money for a certain range, and build those fees into the car. I honestly don't know. However they are doing it, it is unlikely that remote control manufacturers will do the same thing, if they want to offer reasonably priced remotes.



Thank you,
Damon DG
= = = = =
http://www.ProRemotes.com - Authorized Dealer & Remote Programming Services

I'm frequently able to interface RS232 to lighting systems. The MSC400 does pretty well with that.

That's exactly what Z-Wave and Zigbee are trying to accomplish. I know a bit more about Z-Wave so let me speak to that. Any Z-Wave controller can control any Z-Wave device which includes lighting, thermostats, security systems, whole house audio and satellite radio systems, interfaces to all of the leading Home Automation software and more. Logitech, Monster and Universal Electronics have already implemented Z-Wave technology into some of their products.

Only real issue that I have with the Z-wave alliance is the absolute "cheap" feel to it. I looked long and hard at Spring EHX and every product involved was so flimsy, lame and "cheap" that I split. I think there is promise in the idea. I just wish manufacturers would put a little more into fit and finish.