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Topic:
netstreams digilink system
This thread has 47 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 13:59
rivers76
Long Time Member
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58
has anyone worked with this system before? so far i don't like it. i have certain rooms that shut off for know reason in the middle of the night. i have run the debug and watched the sytem and sent the results off to thier support. i just wonder what other people's thoughts were on this system. thanks
please tip your installer
Post 2 made on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 14:04
QQQ
Super Member
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Do a search. Lots of threads on it, other than one guy here named JBJ who rags on it every chance he gets (and I say that because he'll probably show up here with a guy named Alan on his heels) feedback from people who have installed one always seems positive.
Post 3 made on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 14:33
BeyondAudio
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91
We've had a system in the showroom over a year ago and sent all the stuff back. Not because it didnt work, but because we didnt think it would fit into our product lineup. It seems that our lower end control systems are inching up in capability, while at the same time the higher end stuff is coming down in scalability - essentially squeezing out the window that we were going to position the Netstreams product.


But as Q said, I'm sure there's lots more info in the search function.
OP | Post 4 made on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 15:05
rivers76
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yeah, i did, and i saw QQQ out there. thanks
please tip your installer
Post 5 made on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 15:55
Nick-ISI
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We have installed two Digilinx systems and a demo system in the office.

One system seems to have continuing problems with rooms dropping off or disappearing from the system, as well as the request cd server getting locked up from time to time. The other has worked without problem, and of course the demo system in the office has not had any problems.

I have to agree slightly with BeyondAudio in that it is a difficult product to fit in the lineup. I would still rather install Crestron based systems, and I can do this for not a lot more money than a Digilinx system over a six room + system. Its main advantage is that it is scalable and can be installed in one or two rooms at reasonable cost, yet be scaled to accomodate any number of additional rooms when the client gets round to it, and all you need is a network point and a power supply.

I find the setup program temperamental and time consuming for something that should be (is) a wizard based program.

Internet radio would be a nice addition.

Meanwhile I still have to mentally search for a justifiable reason to specify Digilinx over a more basic music system, whereas the reasons for specifying Crestron are always obvious.

Nick
What do you mean you wanted it on the other wall - couldn't you have mentioned this when we prewired?
Post 6 made on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 18:28
kettleone
Long Time Member
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67
Wow, I Have had a different experience. Show me another system that includes intercom and whole house paging for free, does up to 6 streams of music from a music server and provides me with the ability to get recurring revenues from my customers with free firmware updates that I get from NetStreams. This system is more competitive than Crestron if you remember all of these things that NetStreams provides with the system.

I must admit my first install was a bit confusing but I've done 3 additional once since and haven't had any major issues.
Hans

the older i get, the less i know...
Post 7 made on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 20:43
ejfiii
Select Member
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2,021
On April 26, 2007 at 18:28, kettleone said...
provides me with the ability to get recurring revenues
from my customers with free firmware updates that I get
from NetStreams.

You charge a service fee for firmware updates?
Post 8 made on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 21:55
JBJ SYSTEMS
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On April 26, 2007 at 14:04, QQQ said...
Do a search. Lots of threads on it, other than one guy
here named JBJ who rags on it every chance he gets (and
I say that because he'll probably show up here with a
guy named Alan on his heels) feedback from people who
have installed one always seems positive.

HERE I AM :)

Ya. It's JUNK! And FOR SURE...I am not the only one with issues. Take a look at the threads again. Almost everybody who has used it reports some TIME EATING/WASTING/CONSUMING issue...and the "QUICK" programming is their KEY selling point!!! Their Musica product is junk too...similar issues. They both sound terrible. The system is extremely expensive considering what you REALLY get. It's just a giant waste of time/money. I would never stake my reputation on such a product. Once bitten twice shy I suppose. Taught me a valuable lesson though...used proven equipment. One cannot afford to experiment when one's business is based on referrals.

That being said...I have a complete demo kit for sale :) I also have a bunch of the wall ports too.

(WILL SELL CHEAP!)
Tact is for people who aren't witty enough to be sarcastic!
Post 9 made on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 21:59
JBJ SYSTEMS
Advanced Member
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859
On April 26, 2007 at 20:43, ejfiii said...
You charge a service fee for firmware updates?

You MUST do so! Everytime you do an update, which is frequently as they are constantly de-bugging their experimental system, a new issue arises. Updates take A LOT of time - you MUST bill for your time...you'll be spending plenty of it #ucking around with the junk! You then have to spend time on the phone with RUDE Texan tech support who'd rather you tear apart your entire system than acknowledge a real issue.
Tact is for people who aren't witty enough to be sarcastic!
Post 10 made on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 22:10
QQQ
Super Member
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4,806
On April 26, 2007 at 15:55, Nick-ISI said...
I have to agree slightly with BeyondAudio in that it is
a difficult product to fit in the lineup. I would still
rather install Crestron based systems...

Meanwhile I still have to mentally search for a justifiable
reason to specify Digilinx over a more basic music system,
whereas the reasons for specifying Crestron are always
obvious.

Nick,

You beautifully sum up my own thoughts. I've thought the technology was super cool ever since it was released and I know Buzz will say "if you really break it down it will be 25% less than Crestron" (that number is from recollection, it may be off) or something like that, and he may be right. But the problem for me is that once you are playing in the price range of the DigiLinx it would probably take a brain dead salesman not to be able to sell them Crestron, and with Crestron you open up a new universe of possibilties. So I just can't find a way for DigiLinx to complement what I offer. Maybe that will change at some point.
Post 11 made on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 22:27
JBJ SYSTEMS
Advanced Member
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859
On April 26, 2007 at 22:10, QQQ said...
Nick,

You beautifully sum up my own thoughts. I've thought
the technology was super cool ever since it was released
and I know Buzz will say "if you really break it down
it will be 25% less than Crestron" (that number is from
recollection, it may be off) or something like that, and
he may be right. But the problem for me is that once
you are playing in the price range of the DigiLinx it
would probably take a brain dead salesman not to be able
to sell them Crestron, and with Crestron you open up a
new universe of possibilties. So I just can't find a
way for DigiLinx to complement what I offer. Maybe that
will change at some point.

FWIW...Crestron becomes WAY cheaper once you get over 4 zones of DigiLinX.
Tact is for people who aren't witty enough to be sarcastic!
Post 12 made on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 22:45
Buzz Goddard
Long Time Member
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395
Nah, I'll tell you to sell whatever you can that keeps you profitable.
Sadly, few dealers I know have a very good grip on what their true costs are. They tend to add up product costs and add some overhead WAG and think they know what they are doing.

We have a lot of happy, profitable dealers who are quietly doing lots of $10k-$100k jobs and doing quite well at it. True, they have to do more jobs then they used to, (non-existent video margins have seen to that) but the point is they are able to physically do more jobs, and they are making more money in the process.
Like anything else, if you don't know what you are doing (networking is new to some A/V guys) then there is a learning curve. And learning curves can be painful. But it really isn't that steep of a curve. And you will have to learn it sooner or later...
As more and more of our entertainment is not based on physical media, even the doubters will eventually see why DigiLinX is such a compelling solution.

If you are making money the old way and you like CD changers, tons of cable etc... stick with analog and matrix switchers. If you have moved into servers, and your media is already networkable, then analog is a step backwards (in cost, functionality and fidelity). Take a long view of where our industry is headed, look carefully at where the sources, the future of entertainment are heading, and you will look more carefully at networking entertainment systems.
Post 13 made on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 23:07
QQQ
Super Member
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January 2002
4,806
Buzz,

I don't need convincing in that regard. One of the reasons I'm so attracted to NetStreams is that matrix switchers are just so 20th century :-)! But that's only one part of the equation.

As an example, I just sold a customer a Crestron system. It started out as a replacement of an AudioEase system. As the customer has gotten excited it has grown and is now asking me what else we can add/do. And because I have a Crestron system in place the answer is a lot. We've got in-wall touchscreens, we've got handheld remotes, now we've added more wireless TPMC-8X touchscreens. And next comes lighting and climate. Now I know you now have integration with SOME of those things but with Crestron we can paint the canvas however we please. And contrary to what is sometimes suggested that does NOT mean we have to completely reinvent the wheel on every job or be programming for 4 weeks.

If I had sold NetStreams on this project it might have started out as an adequate solution but I'm just not sure where I'd have taken the Client as they got excited and kept wanting to upgrade.

Anyhow, all your points ARE valid, but for now I'll stick with my dinosaur ways ;-).
Post 14 made on Friday April 27, 2007 at 12:25
Buzz Goddard
Long Time Member
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Posts:
August 2004
395
If your ways are working for you then you should stick with them. But the marketplace is changing. Look at what has heppened to sources and displays, look where content is going. Don't be a dinosaur for too long or you'll join 'em!

BTW, interesting examples you gave. You could do everything you cited, charged the same and your cost (in both labor and materials would have been considerably less). You could make more money.
But bottom line, if you are making money, good on ya! May you keep doing so.
Post 15 made on Friday April 27, 2007 at 15:09
JBJ SYSTEMS
Advanced Member
Joined:
Posts:
January 2004
859
I just want to know why Netstreams uses car audio amps???
Tact is for people who aren't witty enough to be sarcastic!
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