Panamax/Furman’s BlueBOLT Offers IP System Control

BlueBOLT technology, which allows CE pros to remotely monitor and adjust compatible Panamax and Furman products, will be demoed at CEDIA Expo 2009.

The goal of BlueBOLT is to allow CE pros to monitor multiple installations across multiple locations. It's a "game-changing" technology, according to Dave Keller, VP of sales and marketing for Panamax-Furman.

From the press release:

There are no static IP addresses to obtain, port numbers to remember, or new ISP accounts to configure. Unlike traditional IP systems that require a dedicated IT professional or programmer to set up, BlueBOLT offers true plug-and-play operation. Users simply connect any Panamax or Furman product equipped with a BlueBOLT IP communications card to the Internet, and the unit will find its home server and be ready to use with minimal configuration.

Better System Service

Keller is enthusiastic about BlueBOLT helping CE pros provide better system service, even addressing problems before clients are aware of them. He brings up an example of vacation homes. A CE pro might have designed a system for a local client's second home and remote monitoring can save a very significant truck roll.

"With battery backup they can reset a control system or reset a DVR or make changes so they can ensure maximum performance," Keller says.

Technicians can power-cycle outlets or outlet banks from any Web browser or Web-enabled mobile device using BlueBOLT, according to the company. It adds:


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For Internet routers, outlets can be assigned to power cycle automatically if an Internet connection is lost. As BlueBOLT-compatible products provide a wide range of remotely controlled features, BlueBOLT's modular nature allows multiple products and feature sets to be controlled using a single access point and interface. With BlueBOLT, voltage and current consumption can be monitored in real time or tracked over a time period.

E-mail notifications are sent when power anomalies are detected, allowing installers and end users to take immediate action in the event of a catastrophic surge, brownout, blackout, or other power event. BlueBOLT also provides a simple and convenient way to manage energy consumption by cutting off all current to select components, thereby eliminating wasteful stand-by power in an A/V system.

BlueBOLT technology will be available via an add-on card compatible with select Panamax and Furman products. BlueBOLT technology is slated for Q4 2009. What will be demonstrated at CEDIA Expo 2009 will be very close to the final technology "minus a few tweaks to the GUI."