CE Pro Community

Need help programming Somfy Motors

2009-07-03T22:05:06-06:00

I’m not a Pro, but a consumer hoping to get a little help. I purchased an automated shade set-up from an installer who went bankrupt before my job was complete. I’m fortunate that most of the work was done, but there was still some programming that needs to be complete. I’ve been working on this myself based on the instructions on the Somfy website, but things are not lining up quite like I would expect.

All of the motors are Somfy Sonesse 30s and all of my wall panels are the DecoFlex WireFree multi-channel panels. I’m having problems in multiple rooms, but the living room is most illustrative so I’ll use that as an example. The living room as a total of seven different shades, three of them are on one set of windows facing west and there are two each on a pair of windows facing north. Right now all of the each set of shades (west, north 1, north 2) are controlled with channels 1,2,3 respectively. I would like to change it so that channel 1 controls ALL the shades and 2,3,4 control the individual groups.

So I set about attempting to program the western set of three shades to respond to channel 4. This seems like a simple task of adding a new channel to those shades, but here is what happens. When I put the panel into program mode only two of the three shades ‘jog’ to acknowledge the programming command. I can successfully add channel #4 and get those to shades to respond to commands from channel 4, but never the third shades. All three shades continue to respond to channel 1.

Is there any reason the shade wouldn’t respond to being programmed? It is obviously functional.

The same issue is occurring on all the other sets of shades - one shade responds to the programming command, the other ignores it.

I’d be grateful for any help I could get.

Classic rookie mistakes?

2009-06-24T09:30:49-06:00

I’m doing a story for our consumer magazine, Electronic House, on typical mistakes that DIYers make on their home tech projects.

Can we start a list here?

If you have any great photos of these mistakes, please email to me at jjacobson at ehpub dot com.

Thank you!

Have You Done Any DTV Upgrades?

2009-02-18T08:09:07-06:00

Now that the (original) DTV transition deadline has come and gone, I’m wondering if you actually had any customers call you up to have a converter box installed or to see if they needed any upgrade.

Did you do any DTV upgrades?

“Analog Sunset”

2009-06-12T16:54:38-06:00

As Blu-ray.com reports, the AACS licensing authority has released the “Final Adopter Agreement” it plans to enforce against consumer electronics companies that make BluRay players (and any other AACS devices that come along). Buried inside that 188 page document is a plan to eliminate analog video… forever. BluRay device makers will have to restrict analog outputs to low resolution first:

2.2.2.1 Analog Sunset – 2010. With the exception of Existing Models,
any Licensed Player manufactured after December 31, 2010 shall
limit analog video outputs for Decrypted AACS Content to SD
Interlace Modes [composite video, s-video, 480i component video and 576i video] only.

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/06/hollywood-drives-us-

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2849

Need help with warehouse wiring

2009-06-11T16:38:27-06:00

Hello All,

We’re going to be wiring a warehouse and the client needs cat 5 dropped to a couple locations throughout a huge, empty warehouse. The drops will not be close to any support columns and the floor needs to be clear for fork lifts.

I need a way of safely and securely dropping cat 5 from the ceiling (30 ft by the way) down to floor level and have it supported.

Does anyone have ideas?

IR problems with Scientific Atlanta Cable box

2009-02-22T10:07:39-06:00

I cannoty get my IR transmitter to process commands to my hub and emitters, for a scientic atlanta explorer 8300 HDC cable box. My Blue ray player works great with the equipment ; but no response with the cable box. Any Suggestions? One miffed integrator!!!!! Allan APK Audio

ASCAP Issues for commercial installs - Pandora?

2009-05-07T19:35:30-06:00

Can I install a device in a commercial installation that receives Pandora music? (i.e. the Samsung 1600 Blu Ray player or something similar)

Are there issues with ASCAP licensing with a device like this?

Thanks a lot everyone.

Home Security

2008-11-03T21:38:50-06:00

We opened two years ago as a two-person, part-time CE installer. We have been successful in the home audio and home theater markets and have also done a limited amount of CCTV. Because we have targeted middle income housing and have not pushed the high-end market, we have not done any home security systems. We realize there is a lot of opportunity with home security and we are starting to get interest from builders of high-end homes. We want to start slow and cover our bases before doing an installation. Are there any resources that anyone would recommend for learning more about home security?

Thanks

Ceiling speakers

2009-04-14T20:35:57-06:00

I have always found it best to cut a piece of fish tape to the size of a speaker template and poke a very small hole in the ceiling and poke around before cutting any holes.

I know it isn’t that fancey but it works great when someone else has done the pre-wire.

Installation (and Business) Trade Tips

2008-06-26T08:54:04-06:00

Have you ever been struggling to complete an installation until you finally figured something out and suddenly it was no longer a struggle? You know, those “Now, I’ve got it!” moments.

Let other integrators benefit from your experience/expertise.

Please post your best, unique installation tips.

While you’re at it, please also post your best business tips.

Shared knowledge can only be good for the custom integration industry.