MAVROMATIC

Russound RNET to Sonos Bridge

Here’s a sneak peak at my latest project — the RNET to Sonos Bridge. All coded using an Arduino and Ethernet Shield. What this little device allows you to do is control a Sonos device using any Russound whole house audio system that supports RNET sources. It allows next, previous, play, pause and I’m working on playlist access and support. Current track metadata gets sent to these keypads as a multi-field message.

I’m pretty much code complete but I’m running into a few memory issues… The Arduino only has <2K of available RAM that I can work with. I have an Arduino Mega (which offers 8K) on order to see if that solves things. I think I can still optimize my code to make it work with the 328.

I’ll post more when I get it 100% stable.

Update: Got it working! With about 500bytes left of RAM on the 328 chipset… this was a fun little project. Below is a video:

Also running on E6 Color Keypads:

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Russound Sphere KLK-E6 Color Keypads

Russound has been my go to whole house audio solution for many years. They offer solutions at many different price points and options. They also integrate nicely with home automation systems like (Crestron, HAI, AMX, and Control4). Recently, MAVROMEDIA became an Authorized Russound Sphere dealer and have just installed the latest E-Series system with the new KLK-E6 color click wheel keypads. I’m throughly impressed — it’s like having an iPod in every room! The E6 keypads bring a full color display that makes it easier to read across the room.

The main E-Series controller is a very beefy unit coming in at 4u high and is packed with options from doorbell chimes to paging to the ability to expand the system to 48 zones. It also supports up to 12 sources which can be dedicated to specific rooms. For example, you have an iBridge dock (iPod dock) in a bedroom. You can reserve and display that iPod as a source for just that room.

If you are in the market for a whole house audio system that “brings an iPod to every room” then check out the Russound Sphere series!

Somfy ILT Control via HAI OmniPro II (wiring diagram)

HAI recently announced native control for Somfy ILT motors with the 3.4 firmware. This means you no longer need to use RTS or Z-WAVE to control shades via the OmniPro II controller. Last night I connected up and tested my friends system (also using Myro) and I’m happy to announce that HAI has hit another home run! You get “real-time” feedback as well as the ability to set to a specific “light level”, like 50% (which is part way).

I have included a wiring diagram on connecting the HAI to the Somfy RS-485 ILT tap (also known as the Somfy SDN). Then you just need to get the Motor/Group code and enter that into PC Access. What I thought would be a difficult process of trial and error actually turned out to work on the first try!

Apple iPad Review

I’ve had my iPad for a few days and compiled a Pro’s and Con’s list as part of my review. I’ll try to be subjective but keep in mind that this device has been hyped a lot and may come across more critical than normal.

PROS

- Sexy, slick device — Apple is great at that. They always have been. They, again, have nailed it!

- Fast! — the iPad is very fast and responsive. I would say it feels faster than my 3GS.

- Screen is crisp, bright and vibrant — while the screen is not great for reading books, it is excellent for watching videos and playing games! The pixel density of the screen is probably the best I have seen to date — as is the viewing angle.

- Bluetooth keyboard support — Apple is finally allowing you to pair a bluetooth keyboard with the iPad. This alone makes it easier to write emails and surf the web than the iPhone.

- Loud Speakers — the speaker on the iPad is LOUD!

- Multitouch Screen — the screen is very accurate and responds well to the touch.

- Amazing Battery Life — this is one of the most impressive aspects of the iPad. The battery life lives up to what’s advertised!

- Love Native Apps — I find myself using services (Twitter/ABC) more because they offer native iPad apps versus hitting their website via the Safari browser. I’ll take a nicely designed iPad app over a web page version any day. However, there are some services that lose functionality in their native app. This is bad, but not the fault of Apple.

CONS

- Device is too BIG — too big to take with you all the time. I would have liked a small notepad (7″) sized iPad.

- Device doesn’t feel right in the hands — while it’s solid and looks good, it’s slippery and weird to hold. The nook is the right size and the arched rubberized back feels soft and “warm” to the hand. The iPad feels cold and fragile. Which, I believe, if you drop, will do a lot of damage to the iPad, as well as mar…

TorZo Petrified/Infused Polymer Surfaces

My wife’s blog, frillas, typically covers home decor products, but TorZo’s surfaces has caught my attention. It’s manufactured in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon) using renewable materials ranging from wheat, wood chips, sugar cane stalk, sunflower seed, and fibers. I particularly like the look of the Tiikeri line (pictured above) which is composed of 50% sugar cane stalk and the remaining 50% consists of an inert non-hazardous acrylic polymer.

Check out their complete product line here and if you are looking for some cool surfaces made from renewable materials TorZo’s product line should definitely be considered! I’m trying to figure out how we can incorporate this product in our home…

- TorZo Surfaces

Powerbuilt Digital Torque Adaptor – My Favorite Tools – March 2010

When I’m changing my brakes I just tighten to what I think is “tight enough” — not always a good thing. All automotive bolts and parts have a recommended torque amount that should be followed. Sure, you can get yourself an analog torque wrench, but why would you when you can get the Powerbuilt Digital Torque Adaptor that turns any 1/2″ rachet into a digital one?

This little gadget not only can be used to calibrate analog torque wrenches (which you’d pay about the same as the adapter if taken to someone to calibrate) but you can use it in situations where you need precise torque pressure using a standard rachet wrench. The feature I really like is that you set the torque amount you want to achieve and then as you tighten you get both visual (LED light & LCD torque amount) and audible indication.

The Powerbuilt Digital Torque Adaptor is Mavromatic’s, “My favorite tools”, for March 2010. It runs about $50.

- AMAZON.com – Powerbuilt Digital Torque Adaptor

Did you pre-order an iPad today?

Just pressed submit and placed an order for a 16gb iPad… it’s been a pain developing applications via the simulator so I can’t wait to get this device in my grubby hands. Did you guys order an iPad today? Why or why not? How do you plan on using it? I’d love to hear — lurkers, now’s your time to post a comment…

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

- Apple — Pre-Order iPad

Final Cut Blade – Blade that sands while it rips

The Final Cut Blade is one of those products that make you go, “Why didn’t I think of that!?”. It’s genius! It really is… a blade that sands while it rips! The way it works it very simple — you attach a self-adhesive sand paper which is designed to fit most blades and comes in sizes ranging from 10″ to 12″ — as the blade cuts, it also gives a nice sanding. You get perfect edges that are ready for glue or staining.

Watch the video above to view how the system works. Blades and sand paper is available directly from the Final Cut Blade Store.

- Final Cut Blade – All in one step… Just cut, the sanding is a bonus

Wolf Cinema — Digital Cinema Projector

I was flipping through next months (March 2010) Home Theater Magazine and saw the two-page spread on this projector by Wolf Cinema. Just by looking at it you know this it isn’t just any kind of projector, no, this projector does constant-height projection from 1.85:1 all the way to 2.7:1 (gives you “true widescreen”). The projector uses a high brightness Xenon lamp which allows it to project onto screens 15′ wide. All this comes at a hefty price too — starting at $65,000 and go up to $135,000.

- Wolf Cinema

Garmin ecoRoute HD bluetooth wireless dongle

The Garmin ecoRoute HD is a bluetooth wireless dongle which plugs into your vehicles ODB port allowing you to monitor sensors such as intake air temperature, coolant temperature, throttle position and engine load, intake manifold pressure, battery and charging system information, mass airflow rate, timing advance and emissions — you can even check and clear engine trouble codes without visiting the car dealership.

The ecoRoute works with newer Garmin Nuvi GPS units that feature ecoRoute firmware, but since this is bluetooth… A) is it hackable? B) will an iPhone App be released from Garmin to pair with the device?

At $149 (retail) the Garmin ecoRoute HD is a great feature to add to your Garmin Nuvi GPS. It’s available for pre-order now from Amazon.com.