Systemline Modular Hidden Pleasure

Writen by Matt Hodkinson

Systemline Modular is a great product for accessing and enjoying your audio-visual entertainment throughout the home, and integrates well with Home Automation systems. More than this, Systemline Modular will blend into its environment by doing away with all those unsightly cables and boxes, hiding everything away from view, allowing you to enjoy your beautiful home. Here, I provide insights into my own experience of the system; from installation to the best part of all ... annoying the neighbours!

Cabling

Plan your run first Before you get started with cabling your home, allow me to teach you a lesson for free; one which I wish I had learned before I began. Plan your cable runs! I cannot emphasise enough, the importance of this step. By this point, you should have decided where you want your speakers and other outputs. The next thing to do is draw out a plan of your home, and add each cable you will need. Systemline Modular provide some great documentation on how to do this, and their support staff are very helpful in answering your questions.

Include all components

Be sure to include all your components in your plan. It sounds like a no-brainer, but dependant on the property type and size, there are varying degrees of simplicity. It can be easy to forget where that last cable ran to, so mark everything with tags (at both ends) and document everything you do for future reference.

Include 2-way runs where needed

Some components may need 2 runs from the same direction. Make sure that you have a run for each communication required. e.g. from speaker to hub and from keypad to speaker.

Cat5/6

The wiring of choice for Systemline Modular is CAT5 (or more recently CAT6). There are a few things to consider here:

New build

If your property is a new build, you're one of the lucky ones! The amount of work required is minimal, and I would encourage anyone to have a go. Whilst CAT5 and CAT6 do carry power to components, they are perfectly safe until hooked up to the mains.

1st fix wiring

Channeling through stud walls, ceilings and floors is a great way to understand the workings of the system, as well as preparing you for any maintenance later.

2nd fix

Adding faceplates and components happens at the 2nd fix stage. This is fairly easy with the supplied instructions and the right tools, but if you have any doubts (or just want the job done right, first time) get a registered installer in.

Retro-fit

Retro-fit installations can be a nightmare. As well as disrupting the decor of the happy home, CAT5 cables will sometimes need to be channeled through places that simply weren't designed for them. Do your research, and again, if in any doubt, get a man (or woman) in to do the job right. CAT5 cable doesn't like being bent double. If your run is difficult, take it slowly, and ensure you cause no kinks in the cable. Any breakage in the internal wires will make for poor or no sound when it's all plugged in.

Keep away from mains power

You want the very best audio and video quality when the install is complete, so keep your runs away from mains cable. Getting too close (as much as a few inches) to the mains wiring can cause interference for audio and video transmissions later.

Loop enough cable Make sure you loop enough cable for your components. A couple of feet extra will allow for an easier 2nd fix, and allow for any mishaps.

The Hub

The Systemline hub is the business end of the product. Here, your inputs and outputs are married up and managed from a single point. The hub also receives and acts upon all your IR and other control commands.

Inputs

You can use any of your audio-visual inputs with the Modular system. CD and DVD players, Media servers, all get plugged into the hub and played out to your output components.

Outputs

In-ceiling speakers compliment the system perfectly by blending into their surroundings. Simple to fit, just put a hole in the ceiling space (give adequate room, centred between joists), and hook up to the CAT5 or CAT6 cable. A number of "feet" drop into the void when a screw is turned, and are tightened against the ceiling board until secure. These speakers look great in any room. As well as sitting flush against the ceiling, the fascia and even the IR receiver, give a discreet but contemporary look. The Systemline "ZAM" is a zone amplifier, which can be used to implement third party speakers, or your own existing speaker products. It is slim enough to fit inside a cavity wall or ceiling space.

Local Inputs

As well as your main inputs, hidden away with your hub, you can implement local inputs to plug your favourite portable or other items into. The SIM module comprises a faceplate, which hooks up to your cable, and allows you to plug in any device via a jack input. Switch the speaker to local mode, and plug in your mp3 player or personal audio device, to play through your ceiling speakers or ZAM.

iPod Docking Station

Systemline Modular offer an iPod docking station, which sits flush in the wall, and can power your iPod whilst it plays your music. A great device, and discreet to boot!

Control

Control of the system couldn't be simpler. The Systemline remote controls are funky in their design, and interact with the ceiling speakers (or via the wall mounted keypads) to send signals to the hub. No additional items are required. Keypads can be mounted on the wall, and used to control the system in the absence of, or in addition to, a remote controller. As with all Systemline Modular components, they seem to blend into their surroundings, and do their job well. You don't need a keypad, if you prefer to use the remote alone. Other, 3rd party remotes can be used with Systemline Modular. One such product, which compliments the system well, is the Nevo SL remote. It's a substantial, touch screen, programmable remote control; with all the bells and whistles you could possible need.

Conclusion

I have had hours of fun, both installing, and using my Systemline Modular system. The addition of music to a room really does change the ambience, and make it a more welcoming place to be. The fact that every component is either hidden or blended in to the decor makes it perfect for even the fussiest homeowner.

Find out more about Systemline, and arrange a quote, with http://www.stylishautomation.com

Digital Projector Give A Bigger Picture

Writen by NamSing Then

Digital projectors are those video projectors which are used in conferences for presentations. The digital projectors receive video signals from, usually, desktop computers and display images on large screens which can be easily comprehended by all in the gathering.

Two Types of Digital Projectors To begin with, there are two technologies used by digital projectors, the older one being the LCD, liquid crystal display with independent transparent panels of LCD for each constituent primary color (red, blue and green.) The image transmission depends on the signal received by the projector from PC which redirects the light signals through these LCD panels and lens onto a screen. The LCD projectors look pretty similar to older slide projectors and are simple in construction and thus cost less in comparison to their successors DLP projectors. The LCD can be thought of as slides placed at the focal length of the lens making it complete. Clarity of picture in LCD projectors depends on the number of pixels it is set for. (Pixels are smallest area of data or picture holders)

DLP Projectors: The Latest of the Digital Projectors Digital Light Processing or DLP is a technology developed by Texas Instruments in 1987. DLP projectors bring in a paradigm difference in technology in image projection to board rooms. Unlike their predecessors, DLP projectors make use of tiny mirrors or micro mirrors to reflect light images to pass through the projector lens and onto a screen. Each mirror can be thought of as representing a pixel. The mirrors reflect primary colors in rapidly rotating succession as actuated by a rotating color filter wheel. The image of rapidly changing colors 'constructs' images for human eye perception. The micro mirrors are collectively called as DMD or 'digital micromirror device'.

For the sake of enhancing picture clarity, the rotating wheel is provided with a plain patch which allows plain white light. This type of DMD projectors are also known as single chip projectors. The three chip projectors are a bit complicated but offer better clarity. Here a prism splits the light from lamp into primary colors which are redirected to DMD which recombines them before projecting through the lens.

Where Is the Difference DLP projectors are lighter and give far better pictures. Single chip resolves 16.7 colors while the three chip model does a, hold your breath, 35 trillion colors.

Commercial Models Texas Instruments is the pioneer who owns the patent for DLP technology. Fraunhofer Institute of Dresden of Germany developed the same technology simultaneously and markets it as Spatial Light Modulators. HP, Samsung are other market leaders in both LCD and DLP technologies.

NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Digital Video Camera, Lcd Tv Monitor and One Stop Information

Digital Television Why The Uk Is Sleep Walking To The Digital Switchover

Writen by Keith Longmire

Not many people seem to know this… By the end of 2012 the UK will have been the only country in the world to have totally made the switchover to all digital television. The digital switchover starts in 2008 – less than 2 short years away.

A recent Which Report (Which is the major consumer champion in the UK) shows that in many areas the awareness of the digital switchover is less than 2 %. Even in the Borders Television region – the first to make the change – only about a third of the people surveyed knew what was going to happen.

It really does seem that the UK is sleepwalking in to the Digital Switchover.

Not surprisingly, the whole switchover programme is being watched with keen interest by other nations around the World. The benefits of digital television for broadcasters, manufacturers and programme makers are pretty clear. The new media is already changing programme making – Planet Earth, currently showing on the BBC - is a prime example of what can be achieved. And of course the manufacturers are positively drooling at the thought of all the new televisions, video recorders and set-top boxes they expect to sell.

Consumers are set to benefit too - better pictures and sound, high definition television, interactivity, movies on demand… The list goes on. Governments have a keen commercial interest too. They own the air waves. And digital television takes up much less band width than conventional analogue signals. So the move to digital frees up precious broadcasting capacity that Governments are keen to sell to the highest bidders. The sale of the mobile telephone spectrum for 3G providers raised over £20 billion. Who would bet that the sale of the television spectrum won't raise significantly more?

The move to digital television benefits us all. So why do so few people know what is happening?

Simply being able to receive digital television is only part of the issue. Just about every television bought more than 12 months ago, and a good percentage of those being sold now, are effectively obsolete. All of them will need a separate satellite receiver or set top decoder box to receive digital signals. Every video recorder will also need an additional decoder.

The UK Government puts the average cost per household to upgrade to digital television at £132 ($210). I feel the real figure is likely to be 4 or times this level. Most homes in the UK have upwards of 4 televisions – each and every one will need significant investment to receive digital television signals.

In the UK 68% of homes already receive digital television in some form- satellite (which means BSkyB – the only UK satellite television provider), cable or terrestrial freeview. In almost all cases digital television is only watched on the main television in the house. The other sets are still restricted to the main analogue, terrestrial stations. From 2008 this has all got to change.

It's time to wake up. We are at the threshold of the biggest change in the television experience since it was first invented.

Start planning your own digital switchover now.

Keith Longmire is a great believer in the switchover to digital television. His web site, http://www.thedigitalswitchover.co.uk, is full of information, tips and guidance on planning your digital switchover.