So I get a panicked call from a client Thursday night that the K4 that controls the entire bar has "frozen". I return the call immediately at 8pm on Thursday and ask the bar manager to reset the controller. He says he has done this and it is still functioning intermittently.

The next day the owner calls me and explains that I am causing his business a black eye because this looks bad to his patrons. I stop everything and go down there immediatley and change the power supply from a 12vdc to a 16vdc. Everything was ok when I was there and everything was even better when I left. I noticed that installing the 16vdc power supply seemed to fix a rolling bar on the video of the screen. I assumed that the problem was solved.

I get another panicked call that it froze again and the live music is starting @ 8pm.

I finish the job we are on and head south to the bar. Prime traffic. Took about 1 hour to travel 25 miles. Paid $20 to park.

I walk in and pull the protective cover off the screen (a custom cover they had made to protect the controller from beer) and the buttons start pressing as I was pulling the screen off. Turns out the screen protector had sticky beer residue on it which had thrown of the calibration and sensitivity.

Easy fix. Problem solved.

I am happy to fix these problems but I get really frustrated when clients quickly place blame on the product or our installation. Confidence from a client goes a long way. Without it, small issues get magnified and panic ensues.

End of story.

I feel ya, There's been a few clients that instead of trying to help me isolate the "issue" they lie about touching anything. I can clearly see someone has messed around with the rack or damaged something and try to pass the buck.

Luckily I havent had anyone try too deny it after I've pin pointed the problem and just charged for my time/materials

if you have to use a screen protector for the K4, this product is OK:

[Link: posr.us]

I bought one and it did not fit: gave the guy the correct dimensions and he remade them for me: great customer service [you can buy it through Amazon]

Your situation is a prime example for needing an RTI equivalent of Crestron's X-panel.Some of these bars and restaurants run a touchscreen for their Point-of-sale cash registers.How nice would it be to able to have this as a backup or primary application for the bar owner. RTI needs this now!

RTI demo'ed this very feature at CEDIA. hope it comes soon.

Steven

Happens to me every once in a while. This one instances stands out..

Client asks that we cut away all the old unused low voltage wire after we retro in an Audio Ease system. I get a call from my boss that the client was angry because i did such a sloppy job. I go back out and find my neatly tied bundles. I snip them all loose and get really anal with making everything perfect. This is inside a cabinet mind you in the top front corner where no one can see without sticking there head inside the cabinet. After i leave i get another call about the angry client and the mess i left.. again. I ask that the client meet me out there and point to the 'sloppy wiring'. When i show up he walks to the wrong cabinet and points to the old under cabinet lighting and the wires that were hanging after the new lighting was installed.

Umm.. call the freaking electrician and apologize to me :).

I heard. Just hope it comes out soon and is as fast as Xpanel.RTI should be thinking of web-based media partners now, if they arent already.

Did you bill him for your time, especially since this obviously wasn't warranty work?

No. It was early in my career with a new company and it was one of those things that was forgotten about as soon as the next project started.