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Review: Russound TCH1 RNET Touchpoint System
Touchpoint system wirelessly controls RNET multiroom audio systems via iPhone or iPod touch.
Disclaimer: Fred Harding works for Capitol Sales, a reseller of Russound products. His review, nevertheless, provides a useful analysis for CE pros.
Russound recently released its RNET TCH1 Touchpoint, a new device that controls RNET-equipped whole-house audio systems via iPhone or iPod touch. (Slideshow: 10 Russound RNET Products)
The TCH1 is quite a cool application.
Users can access their audio system by pressing the Russound R logo on their iPhone or iPod touch. They can then select what zone to control and what source inside that zone. Once the source has been selected, the TCH1 will present metadata for any of the RNET supported devices.
The user can, depending on what devices are attached, can see info from the following:
Installation is done by placing the Russound TCH1 controller on the home's local network. You'll want to locate this device in proximity to the audio system.
It's best to use a hard wired connection between the router and this device, but if that's physically impossible, a Wi-Fi connection can be made. A supplied USB-to-serial adapter cable connects to the RS-232 port. A power supply plugs in to the mains.
Once the physical connection has been made, the installer programs the system using IP, Subnet and Mac addresses. Installers can then label rooms to corresponding devices and zones. The final step is to create a button on the home page of the iPhone or iPod touch.
I like the system's ability to offer a single remote point of contact to the whole house. In the past, installers could achieve that only through external control systems that were more powerful, more complex and more expensive, like the Pronto TSU-9600 remote control.
I didn't have the opportunity to find out how well this would work in concert with other control systems. So let me know how it works.
MSRP: $599
Russound RNET Touchpoint's interface
Russound recently released its RNET TCH1 Touchpoint, a new device that controls RNET-equipped whole-house audio systems via iPhone or iPod touch. (Slideshow: 10 Russound RNET Products)
The TCH1 is quite a cool application.
How it Works
Users can access their audio system by pressing the Russound R logo on their iPhone or iPod touch. They can then select what zone to control and what source inside that zone. Once the source has been selected, the TCH1 will present metadata for any of the RNET supported devices.
The user can, depending on what devices are attached, can see info from the following:
- FM, AM, XM, Sirius Satellite Radio
- iPods
- Mac Minis
- Russound SMS3 Smart Media Server
Installation
Installation is done by placing the Russound TCH1 controller on the home's local network. You'll want to locate this device in proximity to the audio system.
It's best to use a hard wired connection between the router and this device, but if that's physically impossible, a Wi-Fi connection can be made. A supplied USB-to-serial adapter cable connects to the RS-232 port. A power supply plugs in to the mains.
Once the physical connection has been made, the installer programs the system using IP, Subnet and Mac addresses. Installers can then label rooms to corresponding devices and zones. The final step is to create a button on the home page of the iPhone or iPod touch.
Easily Controllable
I like the system's ability to offer a single remote point of contact to the whole house. In the past, installers could achieve that only through external control systems that were more powerful, more complex and more expensive, like the Pronto TSU-9600 remote control.
I didn't have the opportunity to find out how well this would work in concert with other control systems. So let me know how it works.
MSRP: $599
Russound RNET Touchpoint's interface
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About the Author
Fred Harding is in sales and technical support at Capitol Sales, a full service distributor of electronic installation hardware.
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