Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems IR to RS232 converter? Direct soundfield access...

What you're asking for is doable, I guess, but hard. For example, sure, Meridian can give you, say, IR files for the Pronto, but then what about people with other devices that need to LEARN an I/R code (like the Sony programmable remote I used to use)? Meridian, of course, doesn't want to force you to use only one type of remote (especially not theirs), or people here would be really upset! So, if Meridian were to do what you'd ask:

• A new soundfield comes out (say PLII).
• Meridian adds that to RS-232 (done).
• Meridian wants to add that to I/R. Whoops, no I/R controller space left. Hardware change! Or, if there is still enough space in the I/R controller:
• Meridian needs to create a new remote that has that button for the soundfield so that folks with programmable remotes can learn that new code.
• People don't want to buy the new remote (more money), so Meridian needs to make that I/R code available in bunches of formats for bunches of remotes. And lots of programmable remotes still can't work that way (they ONLY learn).

As you can see, it's messy to do this with I/R. I don't work for Meridian, and I'm not privey to their internal development meetings. But I suspect that they don't think of your request very seriously for the above reasons ...


Yup, it is. BUT: If the system is controlling LOTS of stuff, then the cost is spread over lots of different gear. I have my system controlling gear in 5 different rooms, with a total of (roughly) 23 devices (TVs, source devices, projector, interpoaltor, etc). On top of that, it controls lighting, drapes, etc, all in an integrated way. For example, when I hit DVD in the theatre room:

• Drapes close
• Lights dim and then turn off
• House alarm armed if currently unarmed
• Projector turns on, all white mode turns off
• Meridian 861 selected to DVD input
• Meridian 800 turned on if needed
• Snell & Wilcox interpolator set to DVD input (SDI digital video), anamorphic 16x9

Then the remote is page flipped to a page specific for the Meridian 800, where you can control it to your heart's content.

Lots of stuff to do, but my wife (or I) just press "DVD", and all that happens. It's similar in other rooms, too, although the sequence of steps are entirely different.

I, too, felt that automation systems were absurdly expensive (and I still do). But my wife was actually the one to convince me of it. Her comment (I think I mentioned this before): "If you spend tens of thousands of dollars on very expensive gear, why are you so hesitant to spend a few thousand to make it all easy to operate." And, in retrospect, she had a good point ...

[This message has been edited by Jeff Coffler (edited 04-16-2001).]