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What would you do with this?
This thread has 30 replies. Displaying posts 16 through 30.
Post 16 made on Friday August 18, 2017 at 18:30
Audiophiliac
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Do not think of it as a mess fixing job. Think of it as 2 jobs. Job 1 is to remove everything existing. I could have that closet empty in less than 3 hours. Job 2 is starting at zero with a clean slate. Does not seem so daunting anymore. I wish I could sustain a living wage by traveling the country doing "hack job system demolition".
"When I eat, it is the food that is scared." - Ron Swanson
Post 17 made on Friday August 18, 2017 at 18:50
rguy1
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I agree about simply removing everything and starting from a clean slate. It all has to come out anyway, why waste any time trying to make sense of whats there, in its current state of chaos?
Make a list of equipment and make recommendations to make it all correct and move on from there. Then you just start over. Seems pretty simple that way.
Post 18 made on Friday August 18, 2017 at 20:34
Richie Rich
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If it is in San Diego and you don't want to touch it, send it my way.

Un-trainwrecking systems like that has become kind of a a thing for me. It would be T&M but nothing in there looks insurmountable.
I am a trained professional..... Do not attempt this stunt at home.
Post 19 made on Friday August 18, 2017 at 20:52
Trunk-Slammer -Supreme
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I'm just fascinated by this.

Makes you wonder how the original installer got anything to work initially, doesn't it?

I mean, by the time you managed to successfully make that last connection, how the hell would you extricate yourself without catching a hand, or foot, and pulling several things loose?
Post 20 made on Saturday August 19, 2017 at 08:05
highfigh
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On August 18, 2017 at 13:45, Brad Humphrey said...
Where do you see URC?
I did see an old RTI processor in there.

I couldn't read the top, I just saw the plugs and a row of holes on the top for setting the level.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 21 made on Saturday August 19, 2017 at 08:05
highfigh
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On August 18, 2017 at 20:52, Trunk-Slammer -Supreme said...
I mean, by the time you managed to successfully make that last connection, how the hell would you extricate yourself without catching a hand, or foot, and pulling several things loose?

Cat-like reflexes.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 22 made on Saturday August 19, 2017 at 08:14
highfigh
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On August 18, 2017 at 12:47, Ernie Gilman said...
Next, check the URC programming to get a sense of if and how it's organized. If the programming is crazy or disorganized, abandon it. You might want to just abandon it anyway, rather than, for instance, analyze every damn macro to see what details might be a problem. Chances are a system physically organized this way will have programming that's equally difficult to cope with.

It could have been programmed by someone else, but if anyone let this goof work by himself and not inspect their work, they shouldn't be in this industry. By the looks of the blue and yellow bundle at the ceiling (where all of the other cabling was sloppily hung), the original installation was well-organized. I suspect this was added to and changed over several years, not the by product of one bad installer.

And yes, there's no way to estimate how much this will cost. I'd go out on a limb and tell them you ESTIMATE that after four days' labor (two guys for two days each), you'd be able to give them an equipment estimate and a very rough installation estimate. Remote programming would be separate, too.


Two days for two people? If it's all being torn out, that's a half day for one person, without breaking a sweat.


By the way, that slide show, that starts by itself and has no obvious commands to stop it, is a pretty rude thing to spring on someone. I hope you don't provide information to your client this way! Now that I've played with it some, I see how to work it, but I'd still rather have several photographs that I can scroll through without them starting up on their own.

Didn't see the pause button in the lower left corner, eh?
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 23 made on Saturday August 19, 2017 at 09:04
Trunk-Slammer -Supreme
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On August 19, 2017 at 08:14, highfigh said...

Two days for two people? If it's all being torn out, that's a half day for one person, without breaking a sweat.

We are talking about labeling everything, and tracking down what goes where. Not just ripping it all apart.


Didn't see the pause button in the lower left corner, eh?

Apparently that was a tough one...LOL
Post 24 made on Saturday August 19, 2017 at 09:16
rmalbers
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The phone system seems to be behind some newer wiring, I would bet the phone system was there first, and might actually work. I would love to hear the story behind this also, I can't believe a homeowner would let this happen, unless maybe they were gone? I sure hope they didn't pay someone to do this!
Post 25 made on Saturday August 19, 2017 at 11:28
highfigh
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On August 19, 2017 at 09:04, Trunk-Slammer -Supreme said...
We are talking about labeling everything, and tracking down what goes where. Not just ripping it all apart.

Apparently that was a tough one...LOL

I quoted Ernie, who wrote "after four days' labor (two guys for two days each), you'd be able to give them an equipment estimate and a very rough installation estimate."- that wouldn't have been finished, only ready for an estimate.

Tough one, indeed. I would have thought his name at the top and my quoting him in bold type would help, but.....
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 26 made on Saturday August 19, 2017 at 15:54
Ernie Gilman
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On August 19, 2017 at 11:28, highfigh said...
I quoted Ernie, who wrote "after four days' labor (two guys for two days each), you'd be able to give them an equipment estimate and a very rough installation estimate."- that wouldn't have been finished, only ready for an estimate.

Yeah, if I took the approach that I started out with -- labeling everything and getting all the details of the bad installation. You guys have pointed out that that's a wasteful approach. Rip it out. Look at what ya got. Figure out a new system. That's MUCH quicker than documenting something that doesn't work!

Tough one, indeed. I would have thought his name at the top and my quoting him in bold type would help, but.....

How would you putting my name in bold, well after I write a post, change my thoughts at the time I wrote the post?

I wasn't there to figure out how to work the slide show. I was there to look at the pictures, so that's what I focused on.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 27 made on Saturday August 19, 2017 at 20:01
Malcolm013
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I deal with shit like this all of the time. I just quote them on a complete tear down and redo. If they don't want to spend the extra money to make it right then it's not worth my time.
"Was it for this my life I sought? Maybe so, Maybe not...
Post 28 made on Saturday August 19, 2017 at 23:15
highfigh
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On August 19, 2017 at 15:54, Ernie Gilman said...
Yeah, if I took the approach that I started out with -- labeling everything and getting all the details of the bad installation. You guys have pointed out that that's a wasteful approach. Rip it out. Look at what ya got. Figure out a new system. That's MUCH quicker than documenting something that doesn't work!

How would you putting my name in bold, well after I write a post, change my thoughts at the time I wrote the post?

I wasn't there to figure out how to work the slide show. I was there to look at the pictures, so that's what I focused on.

The second part you replied to wasn't written to you.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
OP | Post 29 made on Sunday August 20, 2017 at 12:01
PSS
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Thanks for all the input, it's been a great help in what to actually say when I talk to the homeowners.
You guys brought a few things to my attention that I didn't think about, which may have cost me.
As far as some of the questions you guys had or were guessing:
I saw only RTI processors, they were only using iPads for control. No hand held remotes, even for the TV's. I personally believe in having a hand held for TV viewing.
They had the house built from the ground up 3-4 years ago, the "installation" company did all wiring (do you like all the wires squeezing out of the drywall!! Why they didn't use a panel of some type is beyond me). They also have Radio Ra2, I hope. I didn't think to check if it was one. I wouldn't put it past this company if they had parts laying around.
Again, thanks for the input/ responses!!
Post 30 made on Sunday August 20, 2017 at 15:06
highfigh
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On August 20, 2017 at 12:01, PSS said...
Thanks for all the input, it's been a great help in what to actually say when I talk to the homeowners.
You guys brought a few things to my attention that I didn't think about, which may have cost me.
As far as some of the questions you guys had or were guessing:
I saw only RTI processors, they were only using iPads for control. No hand held remotes, even for the TV's. I personally believe in having a hand held for TV viewing.
They had the house built from the ground up 3-4 years ago, the "installation" company did all wiring (do you like all the wires squeezing out of the drywall!! Why they didn't use a panel of some type is beyond me). They also have Radio Ra2, I hope. I didn't think to check if it was one. I wouldn't put it past this company if they had parts laying around.
Again, thanks for the input/ responses!!

If the cables come out from an attic, I would guess they came in after the drywall was up and dropped everything into the walls from above. Why they didn't cut a round hole and use a grommet or plate, is anyone's guess. The rat's nest is another issue- maybe they lost installers and the FNG was sent out to finish.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
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