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A design question
This thread has 9 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Saturday December 8, 2018 at 20:33
Fins
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I’m trying to decide the best way for a system design and am curious to y’alls thoughts.

I have a golf resort project that’s been going on for about 4 years. It’s an old plantation with a bunch of separate buildings that include the original mansion, a 12 bedroom inn, the clubhouse, pro shop, cart barn, security, a couple admin offices, and some cottages. There is one DTV dish at the mansion serving all the buildings. DTV service and internet/network is distributed over fiber to all the buildings.

My concerns are the mansion, clubhouse, and inn where I have Elan controlling TVs, audio, and lights. In the inn we installed a TV and music in the lobby area and the gym. In all of these buildings there are three networks. The private network for club business, a guest network, and then a hidden network for the elan system. Because Elan can only have one system on a network, all three buildings function as one large control system (the master controller is in the mansion, the other buildings have controllers in extender mode). Now to add another factor, I also have wattboxes on each building, and they all show up under one client in my OVRC. There is also an OVRC hub on the system. I have also setup some OVRC Home options for the person that is head of maintenance so he can reboot directv receivers and other things remotely.

Here’s my issue. They just finished two new VIP cottages that are getting audio and control. So what I can’t decide on is if these cottages should also be part of the hidden elan network so the control is all part of one system, or if they should be completely independent. The cottages will have remotes and in-wall keypads for guests to be able to operate the TVs and audio.

The advantage of being part of the same system is I think it will be simpler for staff that is already used to the one system on the app, and the wattboxes will still be on the same account. The disadvantage is Guests won’t ever be able to download the elan app for more flexible control of music. (Although I don’t really see that happening anyway)

The advantage of making each of the cottages totally independent is that end users could use the app. Also, the cottages would still work if the controller in the mansion died. The downside is I expect more phone calls from staff that get lost trying to switch between systems on the app. And my maintenance could be a bit more complicated. And the multiple OVRC accounts would add some complexity for myself and I assume the head of mainetence. I don’t know if a customer can be granted access to multiple OVRC locations.

What’s your thoughts?
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 2 made on Saturday December 8, 2018 at 20:43
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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You're a good portion of the way to figuring it out.

List the things that will be advantages if you include the two new buildings on the master system. Note which ones, like "more flexible control of the music," that would be an advantage but is not likely to be used. Then list the disadvantages, such as whether someone in the cottages could somehow break the main system.

Okay, I don't know elan, but why would the new cottages work any differently? Surely you'll use the same graphics and organization of functions, so it should look the same out there to the existing staff.

I wonder how much the systems will be used if it's mainly for guests. When I stayed at a client's ranch, we were all together watching the movie until it was over, and then we retired to the Hotel. Nothing more than plain old TV was needed there. So think about what people will be doing in the cottages and be as sure as you can be that you're not worried about things that won't be necessary.
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
OP | Post 3 made on Saturday December 8, 2018 at 21:07
Fins
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while these will be rentals, they were really built for the owners. So they wanted music in the great room, pool table room, and the porch.

As for the issue with the staff and the control system, yes the graphics would be the same. But where I get concerned is they will have to switch between systems on the app. Not a huge deal, but in the past I’ve had people get confused when they have to switch between systems.
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 4 made on Saturday December 8, 2018 at 23:14
3PedalMINI
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Does Elan not have the ability to lock out other parts of the system? So even though it’s on one system, to the guests it looks like it’s only controlling the area they are in? I know this doesn’t do much in the way of an app but a wireless touch panel could be used.

Even though C4 isn’t great in commercial environments there are ways to lock the system out using the hospitality drivers/agents. It even allows for bell service, valet, etc to be called. I know C4 probably isn’t an option.

Does elan have a commercial guru you could contact?
The Bitterness of Poor Quality is Remembered Long after the Sweetness of Price is Forgotten! - Benjamin Franklin
Post 5 made on Saturday December 8, 2018 at 23:15
3PedalMINI
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To answer your question, personally, I think I would try and keep it on the same system IF you can lock out the rest of the areas.
The Bitterness of Poor Quality is Remembered Long after the Sweetness of Price is Forgotten! - Benjamin Franklin
OP | Post 6 made on Saturday December 8, 2018 at 23:21
Fins
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Yes, I can limit access. But for the most part, I have to first have the device the person wants to use connected to the system. Once it’s on, then I can set the limits. I can setup a default option, but only 1. So when new employees need access to everything, I would have to log in and add the other zones for them. And since there are 2 cottages, that still wouldn’t work

I’m thinking the best option is to not even let guests connect their own devices. Let them either use just the keypads or let the club provide a iPad in the cottage
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 7 made on Saturday December 8, 2018 at 23:36
Mac Burks (39)
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I think it depends on where the Elan system is right now. Are you going to have to work harder getting new equipment to work with the old system? Or is everything new enough to not make a difference?

We had a Phast project once where the clients sold the home. New customer wanted all new gear in the library (main tv watching area). Shades lights AV Surround etc. Rather than trying to rig the 10 year old Phast system we just sold a new independent Crestron system for the Library. Any repairs or upgrades became part of the new Crestron system and the Phast system got phased out.

If the current system is still current i would just add the new zones and be done with it. Having guests download an app IMO sounds like a bunch of weekend drunk texts/calls for support to me.
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OP | Post 8 made on Saturday December 8, 2018 at 23:52
Fins
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The system is all current. The work would be pretty much the same either way. I think I would still need a controller in each cottage for IR and com ports. Although, that may be incorrect. I’d need to go through my system to be sure, but I might could use a global cache for IR and everything else be network. Thanks, you may have saved the client some money.
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 9 made on Monday December 10, 2018 at 15:16
Ryan_SD_CA
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Can you just install a 7" touchscreen and leave the control for only that room and sources? Same control as an iPad and you don't need to worry about them installing the app and setting it up.
Post 10 made on Tuesday December 11, 2018 at 00:37
Mario
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Keep them separate.


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