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Topic:
Elan g! Training
This thread has 33 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Friday February 24, 2012 at 21:42
goldenzrule
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I got home a short while ago from training this week for the Elan g! system. I have not worked with an automation system like this before and am looking forward to it. The class was taught by Larry Cramp of Elan who is a great guy. I wanted to say thank you to Larry. I was wondering how many are using the g! system and your thoughts on it.
Post 2 made on Friday February 24, 2012 at 22:08
Audiophiliac
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I want to hear YOUR thoughts on it. What do you do now that you can draw comparisons from? The company I just started with does mainly C4. But I think we will be looking at G! soon as an option. My previous company did a ton of Elan back in the day. Z and S systems. It was a little "clumsy" with the connections and programming, but when it was done, it worked. And there are a ton of systems out there still working without issues up to 9 years later.

I know G! is a completely different ball game. From what I can see, the closest comparison is C4. On screen GUI, common interface, etc. Elan has more choices when it comes to amplifiers and controllers though. It will be interesting to see if Elan updates their controllers soon since C4 updated theirs with faster processors, HDMI, etc.

I can say that by looking at the photos, I am not very keen on the G! handheld remote. Just as I am not very keen on the SR250. Meh.....I guess I just need to get a tablet and step into the TP era. :P
"When I eat, it is the food that is scared." - Ron Swanson
OP | Post 3 made on Friday February 24, 2012 at 22:19
goldenzrule
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I do not have the luxury of comparing it to any similar system at this point in time. I have not worked with any automation systems. I worked very briefly with the legacy stuff several years ago with the company I use to work for, and from what I can see, the g! is a completely different system. The hardware all looks and feels like quality equipment. The software I think will take some getting used to, but from what I hear it is a lot easier to program than some of the competition. While it is not as robust as Crestron, the programming is supposed to be far easier, and you have the ability to use a lot of third party hardware, which should make it easier to work with other trades to achieve a common goal. I am mainly looking to see what others think because of the fact I cannot make direct comparisons myself.
Post 4 made on Friday February 24, 2012 at 23:15
rocklouder
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We have been using the ELAN G System for about a year and a half now, and it is an awesome peice of control software at half the price of crestron and way more capbable than controll 4. It is very versitile, and sometimes will create a handfull of ulcers when doing the intial set up, but once you get the kinks out of the set up it is very user friendly and our clients love the fact that they can controll stuff from off site via their phones, ipads, PC's etc.
I went to some elan Training in Minnesota a couple of weeks ago put on at SLAMCO in Chanhassen, I cant remember the trainers name, ( he was from Pheonix) and did a great job.
OP | Post 5 made on Friday February 24, 2012 at 23:26
goldenzrule
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On February 24, 2012 at 23:15, rocklouder said...
We have been using the ELAN G System for about a year and a half now, and it is an awesome peice of control software at half the price of crestron and way more capbable than controll 4. It is very versitile, and sometimes will create a handfull of ulcers when doing the intial set up, but once you get the kinks out of the set up it is very user friendly and our clients love the fact that they can controll stuff from off site via their phones, ipads, PC's etc.
I went to some elan Training in Minnesota a couple of weeks ago put on at SLAMCO in Chanhassen, I cant remember the trainers name, ( he was from Pheonix) and did a great job.

That's good to hear. I really like the overall look of the GUI and will be playing with software a bit over the next week or so. Larry is from CT, so not the same guy.
Post 6 made on Saturday February 25, 2012 at 04:30
AZCS
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Brian Pflum is the trainer from Phoenix, great guy, have known him for years.

Since you are new to automation I would say that G! is a pretty good product to start out with. I love Elan equipment, once a system is deployed and debugged it is just rock solid. Like others have stated, we have had Z and S systems in the field for 10+ years and never had any major issues with any of them, they just work. As for the new Elan stuff (since they took on Home Logics and created G) we really only use their speakers, amps and their communications controller. However, I have helped other installers with several G! systems and I really do like the way it works. The interface is really nice and intuitive for the client.

I have only worked with Crestron and Elan so that is the only comparison I can make. Obviously the price point is different between the two manufacturers so limitations are to be expected. The programming is completely and utterly different between these two types of systems (as expected). Sure with Crestron there is a very steep learning curve in the programming but this affords you the ability to do virtually anything you want in a multitude of different ways. The programming for G! is a bit, rough, last I worked with it you had to do live programming, you had to be logged in to the homebrick to do anything and if you were offsite and couldn't connect you were dead in the water until you got on site. I am not sure if it is the same now with the HC controllers or whatever, it's been about 1.5 years since I have tried to program a new G! system.

Like any network based system, it is only as good as the network it is deployed in. If the networking equipment is junk (access points especially) then you will be in for a world of hurt.
Post 7 made on Saturday February 25, 2012 at 08:26
KVH
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Yeah, Larry is a good trainer. I've been to a few classes with him.

I like the idea of G! I just don't like the software. I think it's the week point of G! but that's just me.
All high's, all low's, it must be.......
Einstein @ URC Control Room forum
www.einsteinaudiosystems.com
Post 8 made on Saturday February 25, 2012 at 15:26
jrainey
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On February 24, 2012 at 22:08, Audiophiliac said...

I can say that by looking at the photos, I am not very keen on the G! handheld remote. Just as I am not very keen on the SR250. Meh.....I guess I just need to get a tablet and step into the TP era. :P

Don't make a mistake of not picking up a programmed HR2 remote from Elan... This is a smoking fast remote that has a great feel in the hand... C4 remote is not in the same solar system...
Jack Rainey - Full disclosure...reformed integrator, now mid-Atlantic manufacturers rep for: Integra, Paradigm, Anthem, Parasound, Atlona, LG TV's and Metra Home Theater...among others
Post 9 made on Saturday February 25, 2012 at 16:29
Fins
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On February 25, 2012 at 15:26, jrainey said...
Don't make a mistake of not picking up a programmed HR2 remote from Elan... This is a smoking fast remote that has a great feel in the hand... C4 remote is not in the same solar system...

Agreed. The HR2 is down right revolutionary. Not only is it lightning fast, it is rock solid reliable. Something I think everyone doubted was ever able with a wifi remote. At least I did after using an mx5000. And the bonus is how easy they are to program. Actually, you don't program them. Once the rest of the system is working, you just add them to the system and pick which zone(s) they will control. Simplier than a wizzard remote with all the full capabilities of a fully programmable remote.
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

OP | Post 10 made on Saturday February 25, 2012 at 16:34
goldenzrule
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On February 25, 2012 at 16:29, Fins said...
Agreed. The HR2 is down right revolutionary. Not only is it lightning fast, it is rock solid reliable. Something I think everyone doubted was ever able with a wifi remote. At least I did after using an mx5000. And the bonus is how easy they are to program. Actually, you don't program them. Once the rest of the system is working, you just add them to the system and pick which zone(s) they will control. Simplier than a wizzard remote with all the full capabilities of a fully programmable remote.

The HR2 is indeed nice. I had the benefit of seeing it at a local distributor before I went to training. I think they claim the that the HR2 with it's "instant on" chip will take .8 seconds to connect to the network. So fast that you cannot notice any reconnection going on. Truly amazing.

Fins, I saw your name in the Elan Forum as was going to pm you and maybe a couple other names I recognized over there to see if you guys had any other thoughts, but realized its just better to get it on the forum.
Post 11 made on Saturday February 25, 2012 at 20:15
Fins
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On February 25, 2012 at 16:34, goldenzrule said...
The HR2 is indeed nice. I had the benefit of seeing it at a local distributor before I went to training. I think they claim the that the HR2 with it's "instant on" chip will take .8 seconds to connect to the network. So fast that you cannot notice any reconnection going on. Truly amazing.

Fins, I saw your name in the Elan Forum as was going to pm you and maybe a couple other names I recognized over there to see if you guys had any other thoughts, but realized its just better to get it on the forum.

If you need help with anything, don't hesitate to ask. I imagine that you probably have seen that my only complaints have been issues with music streaming and the pains with tech support that came from the relo. Tech support is much improved. Still waiting on the media player.
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 12 made on Sunday February 26, 2012 at 00:56
oprahthehutt.
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I dont understand the comment about the programming software. Its very straight forward. The integration notes make setup so simple, just follow it and you will be done with the entire house in less then a day. Thats including as many AV zones as you can possibly need, Security, HVAC, Cameras, DVR, etc.

The updated iPhone and iPad apps are great, the virtual panel on the PC is great, the HR2 is great.

I would like to see a remote with hard buttons only for secondary zones. But I want it to have the exact same layout as the HR2 except the touch screen. Just eight or so hard buttons RTI's T1B.
Post 13 made on Sunday February 26, 2012 at 00:59
fcwilt
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On February 26, 2012 at 00:56, oprahthehutt. said...
I would like to see a remote with hard buttons only for secondary zones. But I want it to have the exact same layout as the HR2 except the touch screen. Just eight or so hard buttons RTI's T1B.

Why?
Regards, Frederick C. Wilt
Post 14 made on Sunday February 26, 2012 at 01:44
SOUND.SD
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My problem with Elan, C4, and any other "automation in a box" systems is that when the keypads start looking dated or are not up to current client wants / needs, the entire system has to be replaced.

I have always found it more effective, flexible, and efficient to use a control system with various control locations paired with the necessary hardware. Be it AV matrix, cameras, amps, lighting, etc. It allows you to use the best of the crop for each component. Just a better approach. Problem is guys constantly under bid by bidding this stuff that seems as powerful on demo but simply doesnt have the staying power.
Bulldog AV - San Diego, CA
www.bulldog-av.com
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Post 15 made on Sunday February 26, 2012 at 07:52
Fins
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On February 26, 2012 at 01:44, SOUND.SD said...
My problem with Elan, C4, and any other "automation in a box" systems is that when the keypads start looking dated or are not up to current client wants / needs, the entire system has to be replaced.

I have always found it more effective, flexible, and efficient to use a control system with various control locations paired with the necessary hardware. Be it AV matrix, cameras, amps, lighting, etc. It allows you to use the best of the crop for each component. Just a better approach. Problem is guys constantly under bid by bidding this stuff that seems as powerful on demo but simply doesnt have the staying power.

What?
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

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