Who's converting to iRule remote control?

Time to try something new...

My RTI T4 touch panel crapped out last night requiring a $125 battery. I have quite a bit of $$ into my RTI system... and it is only 1-way (no feedback support - e.g. volume level, input, surround mode, etc). Yes there is 2 way but not for the more esoteric components. So, rather than replacing it, I'm going to try something new in the interest of austerity that looks to completely meet my control needs. IRule. 2 Way is on the way and it is relatively simple to program after a short learning curve.

I've been following the iRule thread here at AVS sometime and am buddies with its founder who lives near me... So talk about support!

So, I'm going to put together a full iRule remote that mimics my RTI theater remote (30 macros, 40 pages of commands). I have 12 controllable sources (7 sources, Masking, Lighting, projector, plasma, etc). I have a very sophisticated system to control with many, many macros. Since the 9.7" screen size of the iPad (diagonal) is far greater than my 6.5" diagonal T4, I bet I can cut out 1/2 the pages.

Here's what I have:

1. 8 components are serial / RS-232 controlled (sources, PJ, masking)
2. 1 LAN controlled piece (ADA SSP*) that is currently RS-232 with RTI
3. The rest is IR controlled

*I will use LAN control with iRule (ethernet control) for the ADA Mach IV since it is already plugged into my home network. LAN is very slick as I can tweak it on my laptop from anywhere in the house. LAN control is certainly the future.

iRule will soon be a 2 way and I've used a beta version of it... all for $49.99 plus Global Caches for serial control and an IR control - available on the site (http://www.iruleathome.com/). So, pretty darn cheap. The goal is to see if I can have the very slick, professional interface with reliable control. Hopefully, a world beater relative to Crestron, RTI, etc... Unlike the aforementioned remotes, you do not need the very expensive boxes and high priced, private programming... though that is available.

I've got the iPad, and now, the need. So, since I am off of work most of the week, together with the founder, we're going to get started tomorrow by putting together a lay out, finding some slick skins and program a few macros. He has assured me that not only will this supersede my pricey RTI remote (XP-8, T4) but it will be far more capable.

As I go, I'll post some screenshots, limitations and pluses.

**One screen shot is my Family Room Directv page. You can flip channels with the channel buttons, icons, or swipe the page left or right to go up on channels or down. I added a couple of channel icons to the page show how they look. I'm controlling my 2 DirectV DVRs via IP. Very fast control.

It is really convenient. I have my ipad at my night stand and read the paper at night and flip channels with it. Very cool!

Anyone else trying it?

I hear you. I throw it on my center console. Right now I am focusing on mastering the ipad with iRule. That said, I like a lot of buttons on one page so I'm not scrolling to other pages to get to other commands. I use a touch panel now for that reason, I like it and that is what I am used to but certainly an ipod would be a very simple solution to implement and much more discrete.. I can put major macros on my iphone and control my whole theater with a few commands. I may try that. I'm going to see how this all works out.

I'll likely put 'Theater ON, theater OFF and sources on my iPhone so that if I'm out and about from home and my daughter or wife needs help, I can remotely get things going for her. Or if my daughter and friends forget to power it down, I can do it from bed or on the road if I see that the system was left on (when 2 way is implemented). Something impossible with my RTI.

For now, I'm going to leave my ipad in the family room to control the TV, Wii, Blu Ray and then pick it up for when I go into the theater. My other family room remote is still in use but I can see moving to ipods, ipads around the house (I can buy them with the money I'll get when selling my RTI system)!!.

Will do..I have my two caches (ir and serial) and a bunch of serial to Ethernet converters (less than $1 at Monoprice). I am in full control in my family room system. Also, since Directv receivers are centrally located I can walk into any room with a TV and flip channels. I'll need more IR caches to control the volume, power, etc in these other rooms.

One problem I have noticed is one DVR uses a wireless Ethernet wall wart (Apple Airport Express) as I have no hard-wired ethernet port there. iRule control is slower and can get sluggish due to this extra leg of wireless travel. Not fast and responsive like all other equipment. I'm going to add a hard wired ethernet port there to solve this.

In the theater I have control of my ADA which since it is LAN based, I skip the cache and plug directly into my router (along with my Directv DVRs). I am also controlling my Lutron Grafik Eye, Oppo BD, Denon BD along with small macros. I have tested all of my equipment and all is fully controllable. I just need to find the time to program. You can also easily upload your own buttons or photos for custom backgrounds on any page.

2-way is coming out this month (I believe). I have had a 2-way beta for my ADA and it works as advertised.

More to come...

Pin arrangements? They are stock RJ-45/serial converters.

For Lan components, yes (DirecTV DVRs and ADA SSP). Just copy IP address from your router into iRule. For serial control, just plug each component into the cache (with converter(s) shown below and iRule will find it and assign lift its own IP address. Cache is pictured as well.

BTW - I hate the mess I have made of my equipment room as I integrate. Wires everywhere!!

It's different not having hard buttons. It's new. I'm going to try it out in my theater for a few months. I already like the speed and ability to customize.

As for a hard-buttoned remote, if I need one, I can still use it. But I am finding myself using my ipad more and more and to have a remote built into it (and my iphone) is a nice convenience - especially because the feature set is open as proprietary, expensive serial system remote..

I'm sure they are. It is amazing how simple it all is. The iPad packs plenty of processing power. Don't need any more expensive processing units or $2000 touchpads.

Steve, I'm using the Seamlined templates. Simply awesome... And thanks for your contribution!