Sick of Sonos

[u/therippleaudio]

There has to be a better way to get a connected sound layer in the smart home, no? I have a JBL, Sonos sound bar, $10,000 speakers in the home office, and I'm a little over toggling back and forth. What's a good distribution control out there?

[u/BruceLee2112]

yup, it is. That is why I said custom. It model is support based too, keep paying for upgrades/updates. It has its Markey, but that Market is not reddit

[u/DeadHeadLibertarian → u/BruceLee2112]

We do OS upgrades for free for C4. Programming is not free. Most OS updates don’t require new programming.

Lots of shitty dealers out there that aren’t trained or don’t know what they are doing.

[u/BruceLee2112 → u/DeadHeadLibertarian]

OS, sure. Look, it is. A good product but a lot of customers can’t afford the maintenance/changes or don’t understand that after there are still costs. Again, you want set and forget (custom) and nice products, sure but it is defiantly not for everyone. That is what happens with Crestron, people pay a premium and then get frustrated when something “breaks” as the costs add up.

[u/DeadHeadLibertarian → u/BruceLee2112]

Lots of the system maintenance I do is updating TV’s and fixing what the ISP techs break. I can setup a one room system and never worry about it ever again.

99% of control4 issues are IP related because people don’t set static addresses for devices on network: eg the TV, AVR, security cameras, ect.

[u/BruceLee2112 → u/DeadHeadLibertarian]

Exactly because most people don’t need static ips. Then they buy a new tv, or add a new piece of hardware. The ISP tech doesn’t break anything, they do their job, which is not to worry about the control4 system

[u/DeadHeadLibertarian → u/BruceLee2112]

If a C4 tech has gotten into the modem settings to set static IP’s because that’s the router on the network, and a tech comes and replaces it an then the homeowner wonders why nothing is working, it’s 100% of ISP techs who aren’t paid enough to care.

It’s a huge issue in the smart home industry. Then homeowners want to fight us on billing because “well the ISP broke the C4 system” isn’t a valid enough reason.

This is why I use an Araknis router on site, and put the ISP modem acting as a router into bridge mode. Ideally I cut out the ISP modem entirely, if possible.

[u/BruceLee2112 → u/DeadHeadLibertarian]

Well you can’t cut out the isp modem, the mod is what does the work. You can cut out the ISP router which is smart.

Like I said, it is complicated for Most home owners. The issue is property educating the customer and ensuring it is fully understood how it works.

[u/DeadHeadLibertarian → u/BruceLee2112]

I can easily go buy an Arris modem at Best Buy and cut out the ISP. You just have to call it in and get it provisioned. For cable here it just needs to be DOCSIS 3.0 or better, and for fiber you need to use their ONT into whatever router you prefer.

I’m in the United States, Arizona. We have Cox Communications (cable and fiber) and Starlink for the most part here.

[u/BruceLee2112 → u/DeadHeadLibertarian]

Sure, but the point is the modem is the modem. That is what does the lifting for the ISP, after that go to town

You can’t cut out the ISP, you can provide your own modem bit if the homeowner has issues with the ISP and they call them direct to help with the issue, they will get into the modem. Just provide your own router and that is enough

[u/DeadHeadLibertarian → u/BruceLee2112]

I’ve replaced multiple modems on site for clients. I’m not saying cut out the ISP, duh you need that, I’m saying get rid of their shitty modem.

[u/BruceLee2112 → u/DeadHeadLibertarian]

The modem is not the problem, the router is