This is an extension of my thread about a Speakercraft MZC66 Party Mode Volume control. Was looking for suggestions for any other system that has basic single gang keypads with an all zone on/off feature as well as having all zone volume up and down capabilities. The clients old Niles system died and we are looking for a replacement whose keypads will work with 4 conductors and has the above mentioned features. He just wants really basic and simple. He is not interested in LCD keypads, metadata or anything fancy.

Nuvo?

Does Nuvo do systemwide volume control? Wasn't aware that it did. I had checked with someone more familiar with Nuvo than myself and asked if the keypads can run on 4 conductors and they said it could not. Is that not the case?

What about Crestron Prodigy? It uses 4 wire bus for keypads. Are you controlling the DA with keypads only? No remote controls?

This guy wants really simple. He does not even want to control sources. He wants to turn it on, turn it off, and have volume control, thats it. I explained the benefits of having a system with more control, but he doesn't want it. I am not a Crestron Dealer, so looking for something I get through one of my current disty's if possible. Still open to all suggestions though.

NuVo does need all eight conductors.

I did a couple of systems using Xantech stepping remotely controlled VCs. They are clunky and big, basically multi-relay switches, but work like a charm. They have volume on, volume off, volume up, volume down, and commands direct to each volume level. This can go to one VC or as many as you like -- it's a matter of routing.

The amount of wires depends on what you use to get different IR commands to the central switching location. Three wires would get you IR sensing. Xantech Keypads would work, too, as, I think, would Niles.

Based on this info all you need is a stereo receiver and RTI keypads.

Aren't 3 of the conductors for local IR receivers? The pinout only has 7 conductors of the 8 used and it looks like 3 of them are for IR, 2 for power +/- and serial keypad buss for the other 2.

Sorry, I should have said that he wants to have the ability to play different sources simultaneously in different zones as well. I should have specified that originally.

+1

OK, how about a Russound MCA-C3 with no keypads, but any iPad app. Is there anything that will give local control with ony four wires?

Prodigy with keypads is very simple, or did you mean cheap?

Once again, client wants basic keypads only. No LCD keypads, no iPad apps, no remotes with two way feedback. He was very clear he wants basic single gang keypads, to replace what he has now. Most likely will have to be decora style keypads to boot.

Sorry, do you have 4 conductors only or 4 pair, i.e. a CAT5/6? If the latter, an Aton DA with their in-wall electronic VC's is about as simple as it gets and available via distribution. Is there no direct replacement for the Niles unit he currently has?

4 Conductor, not 4 pair unfortunately. There is no direct replacement for his old unit. I don't have the model number on me. It is 10+ years old. The Aton piece is an interesting choice. I will take a look. Thanks.

Re NuVo:


I based my answer on two things: All eight are connected in normal use, and NuVo said that all eight need to be connected. My client lacked sufficient CAT5s for all locations, and we gave up internet in order to have all the keypads they wanted. After I asked NuVo.

I'm a bit curious as to why you're questioning the answer with pinout details. If you're that advanced, then you're ready to test your idea, and you should do that. Then you would not need to post, wait for an answer, disagree with it, and wait for the reply to that.

As I said, I've not analyzed the thing. But three conductors for local IR receivers? In addition to power plus and minus? Doesn't make sense to me.