Ricky,
Via is part of a Z630 system with 2 Z100/150 keypads for zones 2 and 3 (Via is zone 1) , controlling a Sony STR-DE975 receiver, 2 Sony SAT-B55 sat receivers, Sony SLV-N71 VCR, Sony 400CD changer, Sony 360(?) DVD player, and a Sony plasma. I don't have the paperwork in front of me, but as I recall, I am using the system IR port of the Via for everything except the 975 receiver, and one of the sat receivers, which are on the local IR port of the Via.
The VCR is controlling most of the video sources through it's line inputs, to display on Via and plasma. I am using ViaTools 2.0 (previous install used 1.2.2--everything worked okay).
I'm pretty sure the Via has flash 17, I havn't checked for newer yet.
I'll get more details, as I am at home now without paperwork or program, etc.
Thanks
Mark

Well, we've decided to ditch the Via for Crestron. ViaTools is just to quirky to trust. I wanted the "Off" button to jump to an "Off" page, where the client could then choose from several "Off" modes (Zone off, All off, etc.). Everytime the "Off" button was pressed, the "Off" page would just show for a moment, then jump back to the previous source page I was last on. I called tech support 3 times about this, they had no answer and would get back to me...They finally said to upgrade to ViaTools 2.0, that should fix the problem.
Before I upgraded, just for the heck of it, I assigned a "dummy" IR command to the "Off" button (it was a TV "Input"shot, etc.). Now my "Off" button sent me to the "Off" page and stayed!! The moral is, you can't have the "Off" button assigned with only a page flip...it needs an IR command on it too!!
I then upgraded to ViaTools 2.0, and having the same IR problems mentioned in the other posts!
Anyway, we'll stick with Pronto and move to Crestron.

A home without Elan? I think so!

Nothing but problems with them. The only products we use are the amps and fans. Via's suck and are unstable, not easy to program, and if there so custom, how come I can't create and use my own bitmaps? Tech support sucks too, rude and arrogant.

Wow,
I have had nothing but raves from my customers. Yes there were some software issues with the first couple of versions of VIA tools. What other programs do you use that dont have any quirks, every software has bugs lets be honest. Yes Crestron is a great product, a little steeper in price but you will also need patience with simpl windows and vision tools pro e. I have done dozens of installs from HD-Z-stand alone VIA system and by the time I walk out the door everything is working like a charm. I never depend on the IR data bases provided by the software I am working in. Every piece of new gear I come across every button on its remote goes into my personal IR collection. Who do you want to depend on? Who does the customer depend on ?
I have found that in my years of programming that patience and persistance and attention to detail sets apart the basic programmer from the novice programmer.
May the Gremlins not be with you in your programming expereinces no matter which control system you decide to go with.

You can have em.

J magic. I have a hose with what I believe to be the 1st eight VIA!'s off the line.. I had them on order months ahead of time and was very patient with the release. I did much of the program with 1.11.. Tech support isn't at all familiar with this version. and it all went great .. (as well as a new product and install can go) I recently went to the house with the 2.0 software to make some additional changes the customer wanted and it literally screwed up each panel to the point that they may have to be 100% dumped and relearned.. This has been the idea of the guy who wrote the elan program.. At another house where we were trying to program with a new XP laptop.. We had similar results and again they elan software guru had to physically make changes to our laptop in his hands.. These situations are not at all welcome and we were not at ANY fault. I have been through Elan training over the Years as with other companies, and I. Hope to see a day when I don't have a VIA or HD IR Z problem.. Some do go very well, other's are not so fortunate. I hate to roll the die a little with each installation, but I really do like the via product.. I like the size and I like the way it looks and I love what it can do. The price is almost secondary in many cases.. But it's a fact that the software has more than it's fair share of problems.. Are they offer? better for sure, but not at an end.. I have yet to see really good Elan software, but Like an uncle you love.. You learn to work with it. You can't say that a seasoned programer has the leg up when the errors are not even close to being programmer errors. This should never happen, and it has cost us plenty. It's not our only solution, and I won't even go into what a waste the 10 VIA! Distr. panel is. I am always looking for the bright side. You have to be able to do this work and not loose it. And our customers ALSO rave about the product, but they do not see the frustration behind the scenes that go on.. We can't show them that.. Our job is to make it easy for them.. I have learned a lot from Elan, but most of it... I could have lived my life without having to know.. I will not turn my back on a product with such great potential, that is ignorant, but I do not like being a test subject over and over and over again.

You should not have to worry what position an RJ-45 jack is in when it's plugged in.. You should not be subject to years of poor misinformation in manuals as to what order to hook up wires in.. and flip them one product to another. You should not have to deal with a tech department that rivals the worst in the industry.. These are very talented designers.. And programmers at ELAN.. I just want a product that I can feel is solid.. That is little to ask.. I know there will always be some bugs, I'm not asking for perfection, but come on already..

I can name a bunch of products that we all use and love that has caused a few gray's that how this web site came to be.. THANK YOU DANIEL! I do not wish to slam any company that is sincerely trying to put out a great product, (except Bose.. I will always have reasons to slam them as will any educated electronics lover.. Bose.. Are you listening??) If we didn't voice our concerns thing would never improve and we would be throwing you electronics in the river to see it was evil.. If it sank it would be proven innocent if it floated it would be evil. what good would that do? Stand up and let the changes be made. OK.. I'll stop with the incessant babble..

I am new to this site and am happy to see you guys here. I too have had some serious problems with downloads, with commands jumping around. I am not using version 2.0, because I programmed many panels with 1.2.1 and when the update to that came along, I had all sorts of problems. That led me to go back to the old software which has its own set of bugs, but less serious ones for me. So what is the consensus on 2.0? The version right before this, I could not get to download without constant "error" messages.

Has anyone here ran the SC-4 yet?

Well, until Elan makes uploading from a panel, and the ability to import and use your own bitmaps a reality, I won't be using them.

Even the Pronto line of remotes can do what I have described above. And they are a hell of a lot cheaper!

Come on Elan, get with the "PROGRAM" ! Pun intended.

Dave

The secret my company has found actually has to do with the computer used for the downloads. We have tried all of our new laptops in our office and found that a 5 yr. old IBM Thinkpad running Windows 98 works best with no errors. I have several Via!s in all sorts of installs that have performed beautifully once installed. I'm sorry I can't comment on the wandering IR commands as that has not happened to me yet. I'm not a computer expert but we have compared new laptops with Windows 98 on them sitting side by side with the 5 yr. old IBM Thinkpad (both configured exactly the same) and still the IBM always outpeforms the new ones with no error codes on the download. Must have to do with the serial port baud rate, etc. between the variou brands. As far as importing icons, i agree with you, the best i can do for now is import my own channel icon bmps but not any wild shapes of buttons or anything.

Brad Griffin

There have been some significant improvements recently released in the VIA! Tools 2.1 according to ELAN Tech Support, and in particular their engineers have upgraded the "ELANCOM" download communications routine to make it compatible with more pc hardware variations.

I have used it and have not had any other troubles, any comments from anyone on the new rev?

I have been installing Elan systems for about 5 years now, and the Via! panels are by far the best thing that Elan has came out with. As one of their Elite dealers, we took delivery of some of the first panels that were released with the Beta firmware/software. Granted there were problems, but what can you expect from a company that released something as fast as they did. A little patience and you have one of the most affordable, feature friendly touchpanels in the industry. If you can't completely program a panel correctly within about 15 minutes start to finish, maybe you need to go through the training again! Customer satisfaction speaks for itself, and of the 50 or so panels that we've installed, other than the overlay problems, there have been no problems. Except that we didn't wire enough rooms in the house to upgrade from keypads to touchpanels. The new version 2.1 software has corrected most if not all the bugs that we've ran across, and is very easy to navigate. Taking your time and checking all your connections twice usually cuts down on those calls to tech support. The only reason those guys may be rude is because half the calls they get are from idiots that don't think they need to install by the manual. Keep selling/installing the Via! panels, it only gets better. Up to 3 more revisions will be added this summer, more IR/RS232 codes, etc.

Try rebooting a via music after the memory test, hold control down , you will get a windows choice boot screen .
Problem ? yes. it has WINDOWS underwear .
(this is providid you have the via music keyboard)



This message was edited by kabster on 05/03/02 13:51.19.

Bryhester:

I apologize for my ignorance, but exactly how is it that you fully program a via panel correctly in 15 minutes?

Setting up 1 custom favorites page takes at least that long.

How do you deal with new equipment? Do you use the templates that elan supplies?

Have you seen the RS232 codes for litetouch? I think those will take me at least an hour to set up correctly for each room.

Elan (Hector) expressed the same sentiments you did but if you could explain further, I would appreciate it.

Mickdawg

ps my rep admitted some of their tech support staff ain't quite up to snuff, if you know what I mean, and I think you do.

Mickdawg: Obviously the first few Via! Panels took a little longer than 15 minutes to program. The point I should of made though, was to try and sell "cookie-cutter" systems. Not necessarily the same models, but the same brand for each component. Once you do this, save the template for that component complete with IR codes.

An example: Parasound TDQ-150 Tuner w/ 9 presets
(labeled according to customer preference, so they know exactly which station they're choosing), ViaMusic source with no other needed programming, RCA Satellite Receiver with Direct Access Page, Menu/Cursor Page, and 3 favorites pages, VCR & TV (same source for VHS or TV tuner), and DVD (use for movies and playing a single CD without having to add it to the ViaMusic system)

Once the IR codes for these components are learned and assigned to each button, save that template as Parasound Tuner,etc. Sell like components in most of the jobs and the Via!s can actually be programmed and downloaded in 10 minutes!

You may still run into problems every now and then, but the "cookie-cutter" systems are definitely the way to go. And as a side note, you should always program IR codes for new components into ViaTools as
soon as they come in. Don't wait until you're at your customers home to try and learn/test these commands, you'll save yourself a lot of headaches!

Other than some of the new products/revisions, I know Elan better than some of their tech guys (I've even taught some of the classes for AVEC/Z/HD), so don't hesitate to ask me if you have any problems.