My dilema: How to control whole-house audio using Android Tablets?


My Equipment:

Denon AVR-3313CI
Philips Serial Extender RFX-9600
Marantz Multi-Zone Control Amplifier ZS5300 (3 zones per unit x 3 units = 9 zones)
Niles Volume Control Knobs (potentiometers) in each room/zone
TEAC AM/FM Stereo Tuner T-R670
Sony CD/DVD Player DVP-CX-777ES (400 disc changer)(*)
Sony Blu-Ray Disc/DVD Player BDP-S550
Netgear Wifi Router (WPN824 v3) and two extender units

(*) - Sony disc changer (carousel) originally installed along with the Philips Pronto Fireball (MX-311). The original install also included two Philips Pronto TSU-9600 wifi remote controls. This setup failed to provide a seamless A/V experience for the family and was constantly plagued with "command failed" issues even while standing next to the wifi extenders or in front of the wifi router! These components have been removed from the system altogether.


Vizio Tablet (Android)
Acer Inconia Tab A100 (Android)

All A/V equipment is installed in the "head-end" room, which is also the home theater rack system.

The Denon AVR-3313CI is installed and intended to drive the home theater projector and speackers, but has the capability of managing up to three zones (home theater being zone 1).

Android Apps downloaded and installed so far include:
- The Denon Remote App
- The AVR App


My intended audio sources for the whole-house audio will be:
1 - TEAC AM/FM tuner (dedicated eventhough the Denon also has a tuner)
2 - Sony 400-disc CD/DVD Carousel (will use "Y" connector on audio out to share with the Denon in the theater)
3 - Music media server (have three NAS units on the home network, two have music streaming capabilities - (1) Synology DS410 NAS, (2) Netgear ReadyNAS Duo)


My understanding is that the Serial Extender can either blast or relay IR discrete codes for up to 4 audio devices. These audio components would have their audio out signal wired into the inputs on the Marantz amplifiers. The question is, how to "communicate" with the serial extender from the wifi Android tablets? (serial extender is hard-wired to the home network/LAN).


I would be willing to pay someone to help "program" the Android apps, if necessary -- it really has come down to this. We have been in the house for five years now and never has the Philips Pronto system worked as advertised. Meanwhile, any advice and help for this DIY'er would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thank you!

It can be done using your android tablets/phone.  You will need some kind of control system installed.  You can PM me for more info.

No control system is probably why you had a disappointing experience.

A control system is nothing more than a reasonable PC (200-300 dollars) as long as you do not want it to be a media player, plus some interface gear to allow the PC to handle IR and RS232.

My Theater is designed that way, almost never fails (maybe once a month, but I am too lazy to track it down right now but do intend to). The PC is controlled by a Pronto TSU 9800 or an iPad although I really prefer the Pronto as I can deal with it without looking at the screen for the most part. The system uses no Philips RFX devices and all communications is remote (iPad/Pronto) to the PC over WiFi/LAN. Everything in the Theater is controlled by the PC including HVAC, Lighting, and window blackout shades (I made my own from scratch), by either dealing with the component directly or with the PC that runs Home Automation for me.

Every room of my home has in wall iPads. They will talk to the PC and a music server to do whole house music (the PC controls a Sirius radio tuner) and the music system is Logitechs "SqueezeServer" but I am not sure of the name. If I am using the Squeeze system control is using an iPad app called Squeezepad. The iPads also talk to the Home Automation system for the obvious.

In the very near future Axium will have control system that will do that.

It is the Axium R4. I am currently helping with beta testing.

Axium.co.nz

The R4 tht currently shows on their website is the old model.

iOS is not far away.

D.

The Axium control is looking very good im doing Beta testing too :)