![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="350px" width="390px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Home Automation, Inc. (HAI) is finally shipping the new OmniTouch labeled as the OmniTouch 5.7. For those of you unfamiliar to OmniTouch, it allows you to control lights and small appliances, security and temperature settings, pool and spa temperatures, ventilation, decorative lighting, Whole Home Audio Systems, surveillance video, and other items linked to an HAI Home Control system. In addition it features a larger 5.7 inch LCD display using TFT technology for rich colors and improved viewing angles. It displays video full screen (Touchscreen Hub and Encoder necessary for video), has a speaker instead of a beeper, and has a built-in USB drive connector to allow easy firmware updates.
The OmniTouch 5.7 (HAI part number 53A00-1) is compatible with all HAI controllers, including the Omni LT, Omni IIe, OmniPro II, Lumina and Lumina Pro. It comes in White, with color change kits available in Almond, Light Almond, Black, Ivory, and Silver. Contact your HAI dealer for pricing and to place an order.
View Comments (4)
This will be a great unit for the money- after they get the bugs out of the video sub-system!
From my experience the usable cable lengths quoted are quite optimistic- video drive appears to be cable length limited, perhaps to only about 75% of the recommended maximum length.
The video encoder hub is really fussy- some cameras, including the same model and brands simply will not be recognized by the hub. Not sure whether it's a video level or sync timing problem.
The frame rate is quite slow- perhaps no more than about 5 frames per second and the resolution can't be more than QCIF, as well as highly pixelized.
My guess is that these problems can be fixed in firmware and probably will be- at some time in the future.
This will be a great unit for the money- after they get the bugs out of the video sub-system!
From my experience the usable cable lengths quoted are quite optimistic- video drive appears to be cable length limited, perhaps to only about 75% of the recommended maximum length.
The video encoder hub is really fussy- some cameras, including the same model and brands simply will not be recognized by the hub. Not sure whether it's a video level or sync timing problem.
The frame rate is quite slow- perhaps no more than about 5 frames per second and the resolution can't be more than QCIF, as well as highly pixelized.
My guess is that these problems can be fixed in firmware and probably will be- at some time in the future.
Following up on my previous comments, HAI has now admitted they are aware that this unit is not meeting the published distance specification for this device. According to their published manuals, 26 gauge solid CAT-5 should be good for 398 feet. Mine doesn't make it a modest 90 feet, which is a very minimum figure for a home of any size.
Their technical support department claims they are working on the problem and are opening trouble tickets for those with this problem in order to be able to contact users with a problem.
They also claim to have no knowledge of video camera incompatibility. Some of mine- same make and model- work perfectly, others do not, even using the same port and cable. The cameras that don't work with the HAI encoder do work perfectly through a conventional monitor. HAI's position is that it can't be a problem with their system if some cameras work; I say their systems is only working within a certain range of video level or synchronization that other products may be more tolerant of.
Following up on my previous comments, HAI has now admitted they are aware that this unit is not meeting the published distance specification for this device. According to their published manuals, 26 gauge solid CAT-5 should be good for 398 feet. Mine doesn't make it a modest 90 feet, which is a very minimum figure for a home of any size.
Their technical support department claims they are working on the problem and are opening trouble tickets for those with this problem in order to be able to contact users with a problem.
They also claim to have no knowledge of video camera incompatibility. Some of mine- same make and model- work perfectly, others do not, even using the same port and cable. The cameras that don't work with the HAI encoder do work perfectly through a conventional monitor. HAI's position is that it can't be a problem with their system if some cameras work; I say their systems is only working within a certain range of video level or synchronization that other products may be more tolerant of.