Here’s a good one.
Client has a DCS cinema - Christie projectors and LED TV, Atmos and Marantz receiver acting as preamp and switcher on the HDMI side. All run by an RTI processor and remote from a projection room.

Client wants to walk in room, pickup AppleTV remote and be able to turn on system to TV and ATV. No RTI remote.

Question is:
To accomplish this, could you put in an IR input on the TV, learn a new remote on the Apple TV, and use that signal to trigger a Macro on the processor that controls power, input switching, and volume?

Could you actually use an AppleTV as the only remote in a complex, HDMI-CEC complex setup?

WWYD?

WWYD?

This reminded me of 'just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should'.

+Infinity

WWYD? You’ve got a new takeover client with multiple homes and offices who likes his automation systems just fine but has a preference for the AppleTV remote design and operation for casual, single source viewing in certain areas.

The question is not whether the AppleTV remote SHOULD be used as a secondary control...it’s whether it CAN be integrated to technically work in a reliable way.

If I can provide that limited function to the client...not with an App or other companion remote, but with the remote he likes, it unlocks additional work for upgrades and changes to the rest of the system.

This could be accomplished with Extron gear, but again I wouldn’t want that headache.

How about you just add an occupancy sensor to the room, when system is off- senses occupancy- automate everything to get to ATV. When occupancy is lost- start a timer for say 30 minutes- restart the timer with every sense- when timer expires turn the room off.

You could use the VPS-1 from RTI. That is, if you can find one.

I have used Apple remote in similar setups, but different gear. Can’t speak to the effectiveness of CEC in that scenario.

I’ve done something similar with URC total control and a light sensor on an Xbox to trigger everything to turn on when customer grabs Xbox remote and turns on the Xbox. Certainly doable here and probably in a number of different ways.

Takeover is your first warning.... Was the first guy really that bad or is the client the issue?

I've found that clients have a lot more respect for me when I tell them its not a good idea to do something. There are much better remotes out there to control that scenario.

If someone is going to go to war over an appleTV remote.. they are definitely NOT my customer.

I'm shaking my head...

1st let me say that I don't care for voice remotes myself. But that is just my personal opinion.

With that being said, a LOT of people love their voice remote. Whether it be Apple, Roku, Dish, Firestick, Xfinity, etc...

And in this day & age, if you can't supply them a system with a voice remote, it is in fact YOU that looks like the person that doesn't know what they are doing. Or is a hack. Or some person other than a professional.
It REALLY sucks because most all the control system manufacture, either lack the talent or have their heads way to far up their rears to understand the grave they are digging themselves by not keeping up with this trend of voice control.

A lot of customers "DEMAND" a voice remote these days. Which a lot of times now ends up being a no sell with control systems, without using the OEM remote.

With all the different platforms you mentioned using voice remote, I am sure you know that our aftermarket remote companies can’t just magically have the remotes become RF remotes and talk to five different formats.

I still do a reasonable number of URC remotes and tell clients, if you still need someone to talk to late in the evening, keep your Xfinity remote along side it…

Not sure blaming the control systems is fair, when there's no API to interface to any of the voice remote products.

I cannot disagree with this sentiment more.

If someone really wants to use the voice remote for a specific device, I most certainly will accommodate them...

You want to control your entire system with your $12 Comcast remote or AppleTV Siri Remote? Sorry. I'm not your guy.

There are plenty of clients out there still that dont care about voice control and want solid, high performance systems, and are willing to pay a premium for that and my expertise and support.

You want a DIY IoT system? have fun with that. I will not disparage or insult that desire. Thats just not what I do.

And yet CAAVO did it.... several years ago. I never did order one of their systems to test out, maybe it really sucks at it. But that is their sales pitch, how they can use the voice control for all those platforms.
https://caavo.com/

There was someone else that also had voice integration working with multi-devices as well. But I can't remember who.


Rob, there is actually API's available. I'm not a programmer like that, so I have no idea where or how to get them. And who is offering it. But the info is out there to those manufacturing control systems for voice.

We are mixing it up to much here.

Even with a control system behind it, we both know you are not going to be able to control a complex, multi-source system with an OEM voice remote. We both agree on that.
I said it 'sucks' because most of the control system manufacture (for our industry) don't offer an interface that has a universal voice control option for us to sell.
And THAT is what a lot of people want these days. It is not acceptable to them, that their $12 OEM remote can do more for them than the thousands you expect them to pay for a universal control system (in their eyes - forget all the extra stuff the processor is doing in the background).

But if a device with a voice remote is the only source, then there is no reason it couldn't control a home theater setup - especially with a processor behind it.

I cant imagine someones whos systems only source is an appleTV would be my client. If someone thinks their appleTV can do as much as a Control4 System, I'm going to do my best to educate them and if they dont want to hear it, Or dont care about the benefits, I'm totally OK with moving on to the next project.