Official Audio Authority AVAtrix Q&A Thread (AVX-661 and AVX-561) - Page 5

Hi Trent,

Could you please give me an update on the issue I mentioned in my previous posts concerning the problem with the component to DVI converter producing a jagged picture.

FYI, I have attached alternative component sources and all seem to demonstrate the same problem.

Thanks

Jonathan

I tried the splitter and attaching one end to the xantech 789-44 and that didn't work. I also tried splitting the IR out and putting a stereo to mono adapter on the end I wanted to connect an emitter to and that didn't work either. Iam not sure what else to try. I was thinking about trying a Channel Vision IR-1200 on one end to see if that will be able to pass the IR out. Boy, they are sure making it difficult on me to create a global zone. Hopefully someone has done this before and is willing to share how to accomplish this.

Does anyone use the AVAtrix with a Harmony remote? I have an 880 which I am trying to get setup. All of these 'activities' on the remote is a bit confusing.

RxMan1, I have a Harmony 670 that I did the intial setup for the AVAtrix on. I was surprised to find that Harmony had the IR codes available for the AVAtrix -- I figured I was going to have to learn them from the AVAtrix remote.

I am embarrased to admit, but I haven't actually got my AVAtrix up in production yet. I have it hooked up to one source near my office computer that I have just used for testing. I was able to get the Harmony 670 to send the basic controls to the AVAtrix. My wife is going to be out of town for about a week starting this weekend, so I hope to find the time to get the AVAtrix setup in my AV closet and hook it up to all it's sources and wall plates so I can test all my theories about how my IR setup is supposed to work.

What type of problems are you having with your 880? I am by no means an expert on the Harmony's, but if I can, I will be glad to try to help out.

Murray

I have the codes for the AVAtrix in the remote and I have the AVAtrix listed as a device. What I have to do now is select it as a device and then hit the number 1,2,3,4 etc for which source I want. What I would like to do is have an activity that is "watch dvd". When I hit that activity it then sends the #3 button press automatically to the avatrix to switch the source and then has my dvd player commands available. The difference is, right now I select the AVAtrix, change the source, then select the dvd player. Basically, I don't know how to do an advanced marco on this remote.

I got it figured out. It was wanting to use the letters, but I got the inputs assigned to the numbers now. All is good.

Trent:

I am a relatively new and happy user of the Avatrix. We spoke about 6 weeks ago as I was installing. I still need your help to get a Media center PC routed thru the Avatrix. You suggested calling you but I was not able to get you.

As a follow up question, I am wanting to control local AV equipment in one of the wall plate rooms, as well as the remote AV equipment via the Avatrix. So this is really an IR and remote control question: All the main sources are in the home theater connected via the Avatrix, in the room at the wallplate I have the TV, and in a closet i have a receiver to drive the audio in the room, as well as a local CD/DVD player. I would like to use a universal remote. The "by the book" method would be to put in a Xantech IR receiver connected to the wall plate, AND another one of the same to a connecting block with flashers to drive the hidden local DVD and Receiver.

My question: Could I do this with one IR receiver using mini-stereo Y cable, and if so, what about the 12V power? As an alternative, if I bought a Harmony 890, and set its RF receiver in the closet to drive the local components, could I take one of its mini-stereo jacks meant for a flasher and drive the IR input into the wallplate of the Avatrix. It seems a waste to take the remote signal from RF, convert in the harmony receiver to IR then convert the IR back to your wall plate

Ok, I think I know kind of why this won't work now. In order to connect a Xantech connection block to the back of 1156/1666, you need a 3.5m mono patch cable. The 1108 IR router uses a 3.5m stereo patch cable. A short seems to occur when you split the output and plug a stereo in one end and a mono in the other.

Does anyone have any user feedback or programmer feedback using Rs232 control instead of IR? I have this going in for my client in roughly about 1 month-2months and can't stand the feeling of going in blind. Typically, we have used much more expensive solutions for this type of product (amx/extron etc) and i'm a bit worried as to the "bulletproofness" of the programming on this device

Take a look at this post . I am using MainLobby to control my AVAtrix and in my testing, it is working 100% giving me control and two-way feedback. Post #40 in the link above, mentions being able to do this with CQC also. I am not sure what type of automation software you are using, but I would guess that anything that has RS-232 control would work well.

Good luck!
Murray

that is good feedback, thanks for the reply
I am going to be using a URC MSC400 to control this thing via RS232 so it should work good

thanks again

Any chance for an AVAtrix powerbuy in the near future?

Trent,
Can you tell me what the difference is in the 1170 and the 1176? They appear to do the same thing but the 1170 is less expensive. The AVAtrix manual states both of these units can be stacked. My setup will most likely involve purchasing one of these expansion units.
Thanks,
Cam

This should be the difference.

1170 - All wallplates play the same source as the main output on the 1156/1166.
1176 - Each wallplate can select a different source than the main output.

The 1176 turns a 1156/1166 into a matrix switch.

it was originally intended for July release right?

^ +1

I'm holding out for the single gang wall plate but time is ticking so I might have to find another solution instead of an AA one

Thanks for the update Trent

I am very interested in using the Avatrix product. Several questions:

1. Is there a bandwidth issue with regards to 1080p signals through cat 5e?
2. With Blu-Ray, a high spectrum color can be encoded and delivered on disc - will the Avatrix be able to handle that? Granted this is more of an HDMI 1.3a spec.
3. What about supporting new TV's with 120Hz frame rates?

Thanks!

Trent,

I've done a lot lot net research and the AVAtrix stacks up very well against the competition, but my biggest issue is that whilst I can add more output zones (I need 11-12), I really need more inputs. I presume there's no way to add more right now? Can you run 2x AVAtrix (thought this means 2 lots of wall plates)?

I'm tempted by the Sony cav-cvs12es when it arrives since it's got tonnes of inputs and outputs, but no audio which is annoying and means I need an audio solution. None of the audio solutions do seem to do both pre-out and amplified to the same zone (which is what I'd like). I'm thinking in-wall amps would solve this.

I'm in Australia and fortunately it looks like some resellers of AVAtrix ship to Australia.

Thanks

Byron

Thanks Trent, I was heading down the path of using something like the 1172. The Avatrix could provide me 12 zones of pre-amp level audio/video and using something like the 1172 with an amp means I could also send some zones as audio only to speakers in the room. This would solve the input limitation.

All I need now is to move to the new house and get approval from the boss.

Thanks

Byron

Hi i have just installed my first avatrix system for a customer.

I need to order 4 ir xantech receivers, you mention the 291 series but as all the plasma's and lcd's will be wall mounted i would like a more discrete install.

can i hide the 291's behind the tv's or should i use the 480 or 490 series and will i be able to hide these behind the tv's.

also the price of xantech products in the uk are expensive, can you recommend a usa supplier that will ship.

cheers simon