Copyright © 2005 Heathkit Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved Automating and Integrating Residential Systems Presentation 4 – Control of Entertainment Equipment

2 Objectives At the end of this exercise, you will be able to:

3 Explain the limitations of infrared (IR) remote controls and discuss some of the ways to overcome them. Show how a single universal remote can be used to replace multiple IR remotes. Select and setup equipment that will allow you to control entertainment devices from any remote point in the house.

4 About This Presentation In home automation, lights are a major item for controlling. Besides this, audio and video systems are another. This presentation will focus on the control of entertainment equipment, both audio and video systems.

5 Audio Design - The Speakers Choose speakers that sound good to you. Get the best speakers that you can afford.

6 So buy the speakers first.

7 If you buy by specs: “Way” refers to the number of bands into which the audio spectrum is divided. Woofers, midrange, and tweeters.

8 4-way speakers vs 2-way speakers. Other factors:

9 Frequency Response – Determines how much and how well a speaker can reproduce sound. Humans can hear 20 Hz to 20 kHz. As a rule, look for a wider frequency range.

10 Tolerance -- The “dB” number at the end of the specification. Look for a lower dB number.

11 Power or Watts – Watts indicates power. A larger wattage number means you can turn the amplifier up louder.

12 Impedance – is the speaker’s resistance to current flowing from the amplifier. Speakers are typically 4 ohms, 8 ohms, or 16 ohms. Be sure your speakers match the impedance of the amplifier.

13 Sensitivity – Loudness per 2.83 volts input. Low sensitivity – You need a more powerful amplifier. High sensitivity – You don’t need such a powerful amp.

14 Signal-to-noise Ratio – indicates the ratio of the speaker’s pure signal to the static, or noise, in the signal. A higher ratio is better.

15 Physical Placement – Important to sound quality. Hard surfaces decrease sound quality.

16 Adding Speakers – This will decrease the total system volume. This is because the speakers have to share the same audio signal. With each pair of speakers you add, the signal strength is reduced by one half.

17 Impedance-Matching Volume Controls – For adjusting speaker volumes up and down. Impedance-matching volume controls present a constant load to the audio amplifier.

18 These keep the amplifier from being overloaded and damaged.

19 Video Components Audio is very low frequencies, but video is millions of cycles per second. You can have a distribution system where each TV displays the same channel. Or, each TV selects its own channel.

20 Distance – Is important when dealing with video signals. Video signals tend to attenuate (get smaller) if they go very far. For longer video cable runs, use a video amplifier.

21 Distribution System – Makes a video system simple. There are one or more inputs, some amplifiers, and some video outputs. Then route the cables to where you want the video to go.

22 Modulators – Usually only operate on channels 3 and 4. They combine two or more TV signals.

23 TV tuner demodulates (selects) the channel you want to watch.

24 Low-pass Filter – To modulate a channel onto a cable, select a channel that does not already have a signal on it. Cannot find an open channel? Then install a low-pass filter. Filter keeps new signal from traveling to neighbors.

25 Splitters and combiners – Let you send TV Signal to multiple locations. Amplified splitters make the signal larger.

26 Turn a splitter around.

27 Attenuator Pads – These reduce the power of a signal.

28 Attenuators reduce signal power.

29 Antenna Switch –You can switch from one antenna to another.

30 A/V Cabinet – Keep the electronics cool. Need ventilation; keep it cool. Heat destroys electronic devices.

31 Control Devices IR (infrared) devices RF devices

32 IR (infrared) transmitters produce a narrow control beam. IR is “line of sight.”

33 IR can be extended, however. By the IR extender.

34 IR can also be extended using RF

35 RF transmitters transmit in all directions. RF is NOT “line of sight.”

Copyright © 2005 Heathkit Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved Automating and Integrating Residential Systems End