It’s one of the confusions I get asked about most often.
I’m resetting the Crestron because I’m not seeing the Blu-ray player…  That magic reset switch it off and then on again and it resolves everything! Until it breaks!
Under the pressure of having the guest onboard and finding a quick solution, one can understand that this power cycle seems like an easy fix, but so often it is not. So, I would like to explain how all the pieces sit together, so that you can understand what to look at when it comes to fix something.
I’ll sit on the phone with the engineer, and the first thing I try and do is separate out the issues and clarify if it is a control issue or an AV device issue. In the plans I have drawn up with the vessel, simplifying that AutoCAD drawing into something that is clear to a non-tech, I always draw 4 parts to the system. And it does not matter if it is Audio & Video, HVAC system or lighting, they all follow the same principles.
First you have your location, destination, zone or area… It does not matter what you wish to call it, but it is what the final device is that will show you the result.
Then you have the source, the item you want to send to the destination. And then you have a switch, matrix or some device in the middle that takes the source signal and gives it to the destination item.
Example.
Your destination is that TV on the wall in the Lounge (Video) and the speakers in the ceiling (Audio). Your source is the AppleTV in the AV cabinet. The switching thing is the Denon Audio Video Receiver/Amplifier (AVR).
Without the Control4, Crestron, RTI, Elan or any other control system you would grab the old-fashioned remotes… 3 of them (at least). One for the TV, to switch it on and switch it to the HDMI input. One for the AppleTV to switch it on and select the thing you want to watch and the third for the AVR to switch it on and then select the AppleTV to watch on the TV (and route the audio to the speakers).
So here is the fourth element, the control system, the Control4, Crestron, RTI, Elan or any other control system that you have. What is does is replace the need for 4 clumsy handheld remotes and places them all on an iPad programmed with a pretty design to make the user feel more comfortable.
Without the control system your video and sound system should operate just fine, using the old-fashioned remote control. So, my question is, does the AVR switch to AppleTV when you do it with the old remote? Does the TV switch on with its old remote and do you see the AppleTV? No… well then its not the control system, but possible a cable that has fallen out, or an AV device not switching on because of power issues… etc. But if the answer is yes, well then let’s look at the control system.
It’s a practical approach, but one you need to draw a clear picture of for yourself to be able to get to the reason fast. Then we can talk about how to fix it, something you can easily do yourself, or better get someone onboard to do it in the 3rd of the time that you would need to do it.
All these AV systems are simple blocks that are glued together. It’s that glue that is the complicated bit in how it works, but the principles remain simple.
This article was written by Tim Gorter, Virtual AVIT ETO, www.teletechnics.com.
I provide a Virtual AV/IT ETO support, and I am looking out to helping you in any technical requirements, to make sure you get the best out of the AV & IT system onboard. I want to make sure you understand how it works, and that it works as advertised. Call for an AV & IT health check, more on teletechnics.com
by Tim Gorter, AV/IT/Wi-Fi Virtual AVIT ETO
