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Inside URC’s Control the Universe Tour
URC trains dealers on RF lighting control, networking fundamentals, programming basics for its flagship MX-6000 remote and the PSX-2 iPod dock.
Glenn Gentilin (right), national training manager for URC, explains the CCP programming software during a Control the Universe training session in Woburn, Mass.
A lot can be done in a day.
Just ask Universal Remote Control (URC), whose Control the Universe Tour is racing across the country.
Glenn Gentilin, URC national training manager, covers a lot in the one-day classes, tackling everything from the company's Lutron-manufactured RF lighting control solutions to its new two-way MX-6000 top-of-the-line remote.
A large portion of the training sessions are also devoted to familiarizing installers with the Complete Control Program (CCP) software, which URC says will consolidate its programming packages.
"[The CCP program] will cover every remote we develop from here on out," says Gentilin, during the recent training session in Woburn, Mass.
Gentilin opens the class by discussing URC's partnership with Lutron. He emphasizes that URC is happy working with Lutron, but that it is also important for installers to remember that these are URC products.
"These are not Lutron products. They are URC products manufactured for us by Lutron," Gentilin says. "You cannot get this stuff from Lutron. They put their name on the equipment and that's good because they are so well known for lighting."
Gentilin stresses that lighting control is a simple line item that can be added to a bid, which may provide a significant revenue boost to a job.
"In economic downturns in order to survive, what you got to do is go deeper into existing jobs," says Gentilin. "You already know the check clears, so why not add lighting control. [It adds] about $1,000 dollars on average for a single job, and it's not just for home theater, add it to a master bedroom and kitchen."
Gentilin, recalling his days as an installer, points out that networking is today's equivalent to refitting a home's RG59 coax cabling with RG6 back when cable TV was gaining acceptance.
"Back in early days, we learned how to own the cable network, replacing RG59 with RG6, [replacing cheap cable company hardware with] good compression fittings and [subsequently] we learned how to make real money doing it," asserts Gentilin. "We are kind of at the same point with the home network because we are responsible for it."
He also quickly touches upon the differences between the various wireless networking technologies that are available:
The class concludes with an an in-depth look at the CCP software and programming of the MX-6000 remote, which Gentilin says will eventually replace the MX-3000 as the top remote choice for many installers.
"The software covers the MX-6000, MRF-350, MSC-400 and 260 and 880, 980," Gentilin says. "Later 900 will be added. The MX-3000 won't be included in the CCP software because many [future remote] sales the company believes will migrate to the slightly more expensive 6000."
Gentilin says the MX-6000 remote can help installers differentiate themselves from mainstream retailers by offering users:
Just ask Universal Remote Control (URC), whose Control the Universe Tour is racing across the country.
Glenn Gentilin, URC national training manager, covers a lot in the one-day classes, tackling everything from the company's Lutron-manufactured RF lighting control solutions to its new two-way MX-6000 top-of-the-line remote.
A large portion of the training sessions are also devoted to familiarizing installers with the Complete Control Program (CCP) software, which URC says will consolidate its programming packages.
"[The CCP program] will cover every remote we develop from here on out," says Gentilin, during the recent training session in Woburn, Mass.
URC Diversifies with Lighting
Gentilin opens the class by discussing URC's partnership with Lutron. He emphasizes that URC is happy working with Lutron, but that it is also important for installers to remember that these are URC products.
"These are not Lutron products. They are URC products manufactured for us by Lutron," Gentilin says. "You cannot get this stuff from Lutron. They put their name on the equipment and that's good because they are so well known for lighting."
Gentilin stresses that lighting control is a simple line item that can be added to a bid, which may provide a significant revenue boost to a job.
"In economic downturns in order to survive, what you got to do is go deeper into existing jobs," says Gentilin. "You already know the check clears, so why not add lighting control. [It adds] about $1,000 dollars on average for a single job, and it's not just for home theater, add it to a master bedroom and kitchen."
Networking is the Future
Gentilin, recalling his days as an installer, points out that networking is today's equivalent to refitting a home's RG59 coax cabling with RG6 back when cable TV was gaining acceptance.
"Back in early days, we learned how to own the cable network, replacing RG59 with RG6, [replacing cheap cable company hardware with] good compression fittings and [subsequently] we learned how to make real money doing it," asserts Gentilin. "We are kind of at the same point with the home network because we are responsible for it."
He also quickly touches upon the differences between the various wireless networking technologies that are available:
- IP addresses
- VPN technologies
- Wireless network security options
Finishing up with CCP
The class concludes with an an in-depth look at the CCP software and programming of the MX-6000 remote, which Gentilin says will eventually replace the MX-3000 as the top remote choice for many installers.
"The software covers the MX-6000, MRF-350, MSC-400 and 260 and 880, 980," Gentilin says. "Later 900 will be added. The MX-3000 won't be included in the CCP software because many [future remote] sales the company believes will migrate to the slightly more expensive 6000."
Gentilin says the MX-6000 remote can help installers differentiate themselves from mainstream retailers by offering users:
- RSS feeds for news, weather, sports
- Metadata feedback from a variety of servers
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Article Topics
News · Events · Training · Lighting · Universal Remotes · Universal Remote ·About the Author
Robert Archer, Senior Editor, CE Pro
Bob is an audio enthusiast who has written about consumer electronics for various publications within Massachusetts before joining the staff of CE Pro in 2000. Bob is THX Level I certified, and he's also taken classes from the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) and Home Acoustics Alliance (HAA). In addition, he's studied guitar and music theory at Sarrin Music Studios in Wakefield, Mass.
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