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Topic:
Control of multiple televisions form a PC
This thread has 18 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Friday October 11, 2019 at 11:20
emazeg
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I have a project that I need to control seven separate televisions from a control room. These TV's are going to have Amino STB's supplied from the cable company and I need to control channels and power or basically anything you would from an actual remote. The control room will have two redundant PC's controlling any of the 7 tv's independently as well as controlling many other items such as cameras, intercoms, doors, etc.. I am lost here and have absolutely no idea how to control these TV's or what equipment I will need. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Post 2 made on Friday October 11, 2019 at 11:32
Impaqt
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On October 11, 2019 at 11:20, emazeg said...
I have a project that I need to control seven separate televisions from a control room. These TV's are going to have Amino STB's supplied from the cable company and I need to control channels and power or basically anything you would from an actual remote. The control room will have two redundant PC's controlling any of the 7 tv's independently as well as controlling many other items such as cameras, intercoms, doors, etc.. I am lost here and have absolutely no idea how to control these TV's or what equipment I will need. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Really? Are you an AV Integrator? End user? What are your qualifications to take on a project like this?
OP | Post 3 made on Friday October 11, 2019 at 11:40
emazeg
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I am a controls integrator for jail controls and systems and the Architect put this in our scope of work because they had no where else to put it. I have no experience with A/V systems other than CCTV or jail intercom systems.
Post 4 made on Friday October 11, 2019 at 11:41
Mac Burks (39)
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The TVs will need to have discrete power and input commands. This means the TV has an ON and an OFF instead of the typical POWER command and you have INPUT 1, INPUT 2 etc instead of the typical INPUT command. Luckily most name brand TVs have this capability but obviously you should check before buying. You can do that by posting here with "Does the Samsung Model X have discrete commands?" and someone here will probably know.

The Cable boxes are usually a crap shoot. Some will have discrete power commands some wont. I normally just leave them powered on if they dont have an OFF command.

"as well as controlling many other items such as cameras, intercoms, doors, etc.."

Your post title talks about TVs and then you mention cable boxes...which i assumed was a given with the TVs but now you are talking about other items. Do you already have a plan for these other items and you just need an audio video control solution? Or should your post title be "I need a PC based control system for multiple items like TVs cable boxes cameras intercoms etc"?

If you are looking to control all those things and you are "lost here" i would strongly suggest you just hire someone who can do this for you.
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Post 5 made on Friday October 11, 2019 at 11:47
Mac Burks (39)
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On October 11, 2019 at 11:40, emazeg said...
I am a controls integrator for jail controls and systems and the Architect put this in our scope of work because they had no where else to put it. I have no experience with A/V systems other than CCTV or jail intercom systems.

I posted before you wrote that. So now it sounds like you know how to handle everything but the AV (TVs and cable boxes) part.

I would go with Crestron. You have multiple control options including PC/iPad/iPhone and handheld remotes and wired and wireless touchpanels. You can complete customize the user interface. Examples below.

Cable TV Control



Floorplan view for status and control

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OP | Post 6 made on Friday October 11, 2019 at 11:48
emazeg
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I only need assistance with controlling of the televisions/STB's, All other items were just listed showing what else the control room PC's were slated to do. Hiring someone for the A/V portion is an option if I can find someone in the OKC area.
OP | Post 7 made on Friday October 11, 2019 at 12:04
emazeg
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Thanks for the direction, I have called Crestron
Post 8 made on Friday October 11, 2019 at 12:44
Impaqt
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this can easily be done with many control manufacturers. Control4, Savant, Elan, all have PC Aps or an Android ap that can be run in android emulator on a PC.
Post 9 made on Friday October 11, 2019 at 12:58
Mac Burks (39)
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On October 11, 2019 at 11:48, emazeg said...
I only need assistance with controlling of the televisions/STB's, All other items were just listed showing what else the control room PC's were slated to do. Hiring someone for the A/V portion is an option if I can find someone in the OKC area.

Commercial Crestron Dealers in your area:

https://www.skccom.com/

[Link: videoreality.com]

https://corysaudiovisual.com/
Avid Stamp Collector - I really love 39 Cent Stamps
Post 10 made on Friday October 11, 2019 at 21:16
buzz
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On October 11, 2019 at 11:48, emazeg said...
I only need assistance with controlling of the televisions/STB's, All other items were just listed showing what else the control room PC's were slated to do. Hiring someone for the A/V portion is an option if I can find someone in the OKC area.

Crestron might be appropriate, but it is a BIG job tool that is usually the only control system on the project.

It sounds like you have your own control solution and just need an interface to control the TV's and cable boxes.

One possibility is Global Caché. They have devices that can send IR and RS-232 commands using wired or wireless LAN connections. They have a range of products, not just the products shown in the link.
Post 11 made on Saturday October 12, 2019 at 08:02
3PedalMINI
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IMO crestron is wayyyyy overkill for this project. If all he wants is TV/Cable box control then just do C4 or even RTI (cringe)

Does it have to be controlled from a PC or could a touchscreen in the wall be adequate?
The Bitterness of Poor Quality is Remembered Long after the Sweetness of Price is Forgotten! - Benjamin Franklin
Post 12 made on Saturday October 12, 2019 at 10:33
ichbinbose
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On October 12, 2019 at 08:02, 3PedalMINI said...
IMO crestron is wayyyyy overkill for this project. If all he wants is TV/Cable box control then just do C4 or even RTI (cringe)

Does it have to be controlled from a PC or could a touchscreen in the wall be adequate?

I would say just the opposite.
Crestron is definitely going to be the most capable product and by no means overkill.
C4 while it could work, is definitely not the right product for this application.
RTI, i would never trust it.
Elan, would be better suited than either C4 or rti and I’m not positive I’d want to go that way either.
Honestly, crestron is most likely the best solution in this case as everything else even mentioned is really intended for residential and not commercial like this application is.
Post 13 made on Saturday October 12, 2019 at 13:42
Fins
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On October 12, 2019 at 10:33, ichbinbose said...
I would say just the opposite.
Crestron is definitely going to be the most capable product and by no means overkill.
C4 while it could work, is definitely not the right product for this application.
RTI, i would never trust it.
Elan, would be better suited than either C4 or rti and I’m not positive I’d want to go that way either.
Honestly, crestron is most likely the best solution in this case as everything else even mentioned is really intended for residential and not commercial like this application is.

Only thing is that with elan having a built in cable channel lineup and a live channel guide, I would almost say they could handle this better than crestron. Especially if using a tv provider that has two way feed back with their receivers.
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 14 made on Saturday October 12, 2019 at 19:16
Archibald "Harry" Tuttle
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Who's gonna put Crestron in the jailhouse budget?
I came into this game for the action, the excitement. Go anywhere, travel light, get in, get out, wherever there's AV trouble, a man alone.
Post 15 made on Sunday October 13, 2019 at 15:48
Fins
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On October 12, 2019 at 19:16, Archibald "Harry" Tuttle said...
Who's gonna put Crestron in the jailhouse budget?

From what I’ve seen, jails usually get big budgets
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

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