Smart Home Blog

Russound Collage is a media system which uses powerline to transmit media content. It’ll be a good choice in case of an embedded multiroom music system for retrofit house. The system includes two components – a Collage Media Manager and Amplified Keypad. The Collage Media Manager is connected to the LAN via Ethernet port to get media content from the network shares and online services. Its power cord provides both power to the unit, as well as a connection to Powerline Carrier network.

The Amplified Keypad sports color LCD display and navigation buttons. Additionally it has built-in FM tuner. So, you’ll able to listen you favourite FM stations as well. Thanks to built-in amplifier the keypad can be directly connected with speakers. Also using built-in microphone two or more keypads can be used as intercoms. The navigation looks very similar to iPod. But it isn’t bad.

Installation of Collage is simple and DIY oriented. But the price is higher then ordinary DIY system. The Collage Media Manager is $549.99 and the Amplified Keypad – $849.00. Russound is planning to produce iPod dock and Source Bridge which will allow to connect external media source such CD changer or CCTV video cameras. In that case the Amplified Keypad will be also used for video monitoring.

Belkin claims that its new Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit adapters can outpace the current 200Mbps standard speed of most other powerline devices by five fold! Sure you’ll able to get 1000Mbps under ideal settings only. But even half of gigabit will be nice. Especially that the price of pair of Belkin’s Gigabit Powerline Adapters is just $150 in US. The European version will be released at the begining of August and it isn’t priced yet.

[via Engadget]

Chinese company EKON produced its own automation system to control home or office. It uses proprietary Power Line protocol (not X10 as I understand) to send data between controller and execution units. The EKON controllers are embeded into touchscreen control panels. The consumer can choose between wall-mounted, table-mounted and wireless ones.

Together with managing of electrical stuff in your home of office EKON system allows to make security and CCTV using Alarm&CCTV Controller add-on. Using the touch panels consumer can see the alarm signals and watch video from the security cams.

The EKON system is a ready-made software and hardware solution. From one hand it’s good because the system contains only tested and working parts. But the its big disadvantage is proprietary technology and devices. It’s impossible to use switches or dimmers produced by other manufacturers. Another aspect which can be very important is integration EKON with other systems to have, for example, multi-room control. Have no idea how easy or hard to do that. In any case it’s good to have alternatives. Especially in the area of DIY home control systems.

Using powerline devices you can avoid additional wires to connect two devices in the different rooms. For example, it’s so popular powerline adapters to organize home LAN. You may know that whole-house music system needs additional wiring. But Russound – well-known producer Hi-End A/V distribution systems, offers another way to bring music in all rooms of your home. Its new system Avenue distributes high-quality music to multiple rooms using HomePlug technology. The system contains two pieces: the Avenue Hub and Avenue Points. The Hub is placed in the equipment room with Russound’s CAV 6.6 music distribution system. Each line output from the CAV plugs into a port on the Hub, which plugs into a standard AC outlet. The Avenue supports up to six different zones. The powerline also provides a return path for control signals from the keypads, touchscreens or any other interface that uses Russound’s RNET protocol.

Each music zone is supplied by its Avenue Point that plugs into the powerline to communicate with the Hub and delivers music to the speakers (thanks to built-in amp) and RNET control signals to and from the keypad or touchscreen.

The price of Avenue is not finalized but it might cont about $4000 including one hub with three points of audio.

[via CePro]

Netgear and DS2’s announced a 200Mbps Powerline HD solution. This amazing speed is caused by rapid growth of HD TV. More and more home entertaiment devices support it and it time to broadcast HD content through a building’s existing electrical wiring omitting cables.

The new HD ethernet adapter (HDX101) and networking kit (HDXB101) are selling for $129.99 and $249.99 respectively.

via Engaget]