Operating Instructions. Push Controls Room Remote · 2018. 11. 15. · Page 3 of 32 1. OVERVIEW AND PLANNING 1.1. ROOM REMOTES AND RF RECEIVERS OVERVIEW THE ROOM REMOTE The Room Remote

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Push Controls

Room Remote

Guide: Luke Bowers

Version 1.0

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© Copyright 2014 Push Controls Proprietary Limited

of 32 www.pushcontrols.com.au

CONTENTS 1. Overview and Planning ................................................................................................................................... 3

1.1. Room Remotes and RF Receivers Overview ......................................................................................... 3

The Room Remote ......................................................................................................................................... 3

The RF Receiver .............................................................................................................................................. 3

Compatibility – Controller ............................................................................................................................. 3

Compatibility – Software ............................................................................................................................... 4

Compatibility – Modules ................................................................................................................................ 4

1.2. Planning – RF Receiver Layout .............................................................................................................. 4

Rooms and Addresses .................................................................................................................................... 4

RF Range ......................................................................................................................................................... 5

Example 1 - Single Room (IR Devices Only) - Single Remote ........................................................................ 5

Example 2 - Single Room (With Two-Way Devices) - Single Remote ........................................................... 6

Example 3 - Multiple Rooms (No Two-Way Devices) - Multiple Remotes ................................................... 7

Example 4 - Multiple Rooms (With Two-Way Devices) - Multiple Remotes - Single Receiver .................... 8

1.3. GUI Binding Concepts ............................................................................................................................ 9

2. Programming ................................................................................................................................................ 12

2.1. Programming – Room Remote ............................................................................................................ 12

Before You Set Up A Room Remote ............................................................................................................ 12

Add a new Room Remote ............................................................................................................................ 12

Add a new RF Receiver ................................................................................................................................ 13

Assign Remote Properties ............................................................................................................................ 13

Assign System On/Off Macros ..................................................................................................................... 14

About Activities ............................................................................................................................................ 14

Activity Macros ............................................................................................................................................ 15

Button Programming – Individual ............................................................................................................... 15

Button Programming - Drag & Drop ............................................................................................................ 16

Button Programming - The Fast Way .......................................................................................................... 16

Command Tags - Remote Editor .................................................................................................................. 17

Command Tags - Project Tree ...................................................................................................................... 18

Volume Tip ................................................................................................................................................... 19

Testing .......................................................................................................................................................... 20

2.2. Programming – GUI Bindings .............................................................................................................. 21

GUI Binding .................................................................................................................................................. 21

Before You Set Up GUI Bindings .................................................................................................................. 21

Select an Activity .......................................................................................................................................... 21


Select a GUI Group ....................................................................................................................................... 22

Select Room Pages ....................................................................................................................................... 22

Select the Room Off Page ............................................................................................................................ 23

Select the Activity Page ............................................................................................................................... 23

Finishing Up .................................................................................................................................................. 23

3. Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................................................... 24

3.1. Using The Room Remote ..................................................................................................................... 24

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 24

Button Types ................................................................................................................................................ 25

Power Buttons.............................................................................................................................................. 26

Activity Buttons ............................................................................................................................................ 26

Back Lighting ................................................................................................................................................ 27

Batteries ....................................................................................................................................................... 27

Addressing .................................................................................................................................................... 27

3.2. RF Receiver Wiring .............................................................................................................................. 28

Connection Wiring ....................................................................................................................................... 28

3.3. Addressing a Room Remote ................................................................................................................ 29

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 29

Enter Addressing Mode ............................................................................................................................... 29

Enter The New Address ................................................................................................................................ 30

Store The New Address ................................................................................................................................ 30

3.4. Serial Port Settings – RF Receiver ........................................................................................................ 31

Settings ......................................................................................................................................................... 31

Wiring ........................................................................................................................................................... 31


1. OVERVIEW AND PLANNING

1.1. ROOM REMOTES AND RF RECEIVERS OVERVIEW

THE ROOM REMOTE

The Room Remote is a simple handheld RF

remote control designed to complement Push

Controls apps and hardware. It features LED

backlighting, an intuitive and familiar button

layout, and controls up to 8 activities. A Push

installation can contain up to 255 Room

Remotes. Be sure to plan ahead and select the

correct mix of controllers, Room Remotes, and

RF Receivers.

The Room Remote is especially easy to use.

THE RF RECEIVER

The RF Receiver connects to a compatible Push controller

via RS232. The RF Receiver is powered from the Push

controller's +12VDC terminal.

Multiple RF Receivers can be installed in a project, but only

one per serial port.

For wiring/connection info, see RF Receiver Wiring.

See Serial Port Settings - RF Receiver for information

about setting up a serial port for use with an RF Receiver.

COMPATIBILITY – CONTROLLER

The Room Remote and RF Receiver are compatible with all current generation Push controllers. This includes

all PC1, PC2, and PC4 (Gen 2) controllers.

Controller PC4 (Gen 1) PC4 (Gen 2) PC2 PC1

Max RF Receivers

Per Controller NA 1 2 4

Room Remotes per RF Receiver

NA 1 Up to 255 (combined project

maximum)

Up to 255 (combined project

maximum) Activities Per Room

Remote NA 8 8 8


COMPATIBILITY – SOFTWARE

Room Remote GUI Binding is supported in Push 1.9.9 or higher for iOS and Android. Project Editor support was

introduced with 1.9.60, but installers should always use the latest available versions of Project Editor and

associated controller firmware.

COMPATIBILITY – MODULES

In general, any device or module that is supported by controller macros can be controlled by the Room

Remote. If you are unsure of a modules support for macros, please email through to support:

[email protected]

1.2. PLANNING – RF RECEIVER LAYOUT

ROOMS AND ADDRESSES

A single Room Remote is not intended to act as a whole-house controller. Each room in an installation should

have its own Room Remote. Each remote will be assigned a unique address so that it will only control its

intended room's activities. The number of RF Receivers that is required will depend on the system layout.

FIGURE 1 - ONE ROOM REMOTE PER ROOM

mailto:[email protected]


RF RANGE

The effective RF range of a Room Remote will depend on a number of factors, including building construction,

interference from other devices, etc. Typically, users can expect up to 30' of RF range between the Room

Remote and the RF Receiver in most residential installations.

Since large houses may contain multiple Push controllers and Room Remotes, multiple RF Receivers may be

required. Since each controller is connected to the local network, Room Remotes can trigger actions on

controllers and devices in locations outside the RF range of the Room Remote.

FIGURE 2 - RECEIVER LAYOUT AND RANGE

EXAMPLE 1 - SINGLE ROOM (IR DEVICES ONLY) - SINGLE REMOTE The simplest configuration would include a single Room Remote controlling one room. If the system includes

no two-way devices, you would need:

1 X RF Receiver

1 X PC4 (Gen 2) controller (or PC2/PC1 depending on number of devices to be controlled)

1 X Room Remote

FIGURE 3 - HIGHLIGHTING SINGLE REMOTE PER RECEIVER ON PC4S


EXAMPLE 2 - SINGLE ROOM (WITH TWO-WAY DEVICES) - SINGLE REMOTE

Since PC4 controllers cannot control two-way devices if the serial port is being used for an RF Receiver, you

would use a PC2 or PC1 controller. In this configuration you would need:

1 X RF Receiver

1 X PC2 OR PC1 controller (depending on number of devices to be controlled)

1 X Room Remote

FIGURE 4 - SINGLE ROOM REMOTE CONTROLLING DEVICES OVER ALTERNATIVE METHODS


EXAMPLE 3 - MULTIPLE ROOMS (NO TWO-WAY DEVICES) - MULTIPLE REMOTES

This example illustrates an installation that contains multiple rooms, but each room contains a small, IR-only

system. In this configuration you would need:

# X RF Receivers

# X PC4 (Gen 2) controllers (or PC2/PC1 depending on number of devices to be controlled)

# X Room Remotes

(where # equals the number of rooms)

FIGURE 5 - MULTIPLE ROOMS CONTROLLING DEVICES ACROSS ALL CONTROLLERS


EXAMPLE 4 - MULTIPLE ROOMS (WITH TWO-WAY DEVICES) - MULTIPLE REMOTES - SINGLE RECEIVER

This example illustrates a combined system where one RF Receiver connected to a PC2 controller receives

commands from multiple Room Remotes. The PC2 controller communicates with other controllers in the

installation via the network, which allows Room Remotes to control devices connected to any controller in the

installation.

FIGURE 6 - MULTIPLE REMOTES CONTROLLING DEVICES ACROSS MULTIPLE CONTROLLERS THROUGH ONE RF RECEIVER

Using multiple Room Remotes with a single RF Receiver is only recommended when each room is within

reliable RF range of the single RF Receiver.

Note that RF receivers connected to PC4 (Gen 2) controllers can only be used with a single Room Remote.


1.3. GUI BINDING CONCEPTS

WHAT IS GUI BINDING?

GUI Binding allows the 'state' of a given room to be shared across multiple user interfaces. This means that

when you select a new activity (such as "Watch BluRay") on a remote, tablet, or phone, all of the other devices

assigned to that room automatically know which devices to control and which GUI page to display without the

need to re-select the current activity. This gives users faster and easier access to control of the current activity.

USAGE EXAMPLE 1

A user selects the "Movie" activity icon on the Room Remote. The "Watch BluRay" activity macro is triggered,

and the remote is now controlling the BluRay player and AV Receiver.

If a user opens up the Push App, instead of starting off on the Home Page, it detects that the current activity

has changed and automatically navigates to the "Watch BluRay" page.

FIGURE 7 - DEMONSTRATING THE GUI SYNCHING WITH THE ROOM REMOTE ACTION


USAGE EXAMPLE 2

Now the user is controlling the "Watch BluRay" activity on their iPad. Let's say they use the iPad to switch to

the "Watch TV" activity. If they put down the iPad and pick up the Room Remote, the system already knows

that we switched activities. The user does not have to re-select the "Watch TV" activity on the remote as it's

already in the correct mode.

FIGURE 8 - SYNCHING CURRENT REMOTE ACTIVITY WHEN BEING SELECTED FROM A ROOM DEVICE


USAGE EXAMPLE 3

GUI Binding even works across multiple GUI devices. Any phones or tablets that belong to the same room as

the Room Remote will stay synchronized whenever the current activity for that room changes.

FIGURE 9 - SYNCHING ALL DEVICES TO THE CURRENT ROOM ACTIVITY

MAKING IT WORK

See the GUI Binding Programming lesson to learn how to successfully implement this powerful feature.


2. PROGRAMMING

2.1. PROGRAMMING – ROOM REMOTE

BEFORE YOU SET UP A ROOM REMOTE

You should program and test all of your devices, macros, and GUI Groups before setting up any Room

Remotes.

Read Room Remotes & RF Receivers Overview if you haven't already done so

ADD A NEW ROOM REMOTE

Right-click the REMOTES node in the Project Tree, and select "Add Room Remote"

FIGURE 10 - ADDING A ROOM REMOTE TO A PROJECT


ADD A NEW RF RECEIVER

If the project contains no RF Receivers, you will be prompted to add one. The RF Receivers tab is used to add,

remove, rename, and assign serial ports to RF Receivers in the project.

1. Click the RF Receivers tab.

2. Click Add.

3. Rename the RF Receiver (optional)

4. Select which serial port the RF Receiver is connected to

FIGURE 11 - HIGHLIGHTING THE AREAS OF THE REMOTE PROPERTIES CORRESPONDING TO THE RF RECEIVER STEPS

ASSIGN REMOTE PROPERTIES

Each Room Remote has a few properties that must be assigned.

1. Click the Remote Properties tab.

2. Rename the Remote (optional)

3. Select which RF Receiver should respond to commands from this Room Remote.

4. Choose a Room Number for this Room Remote. This number will correlate directly to the remote

address assigned to a remote.

FIGURE 12 - HIGHLIGHTING THE AREAS OF THE REMOTE PROPERTIES CORRESPONDING TO THE REMOTE PROPERTIES STEPS


ASSIGN SYSTEM ON/OFF MACROS

The Power On and Power Off buttons (1) on the Room Remote are primarily used to turn the entire system in

a given room on or off, regardless of which activity is currently selected.

As such, you must select the appropriate macros for these actions. Any macros you have created will appear in

the Room Off and Room On macro select lists (2).

ABOUT ACTIVITIES

Each Room Remote can control up to 8 activities in a given room. Each activity consists of an Activity Macro

(which would be programmed to switch all AV components to the correct input/mode) and all of the

associated button programming.

There are four activity buttons on a Room Remote. Each one provides access to a primary and secondary

activity. In use, the primary activity is accessed by a normal press/release of the activity button. The secondary

activity is accessed by holding the activity button down for longer than two-seconds.

You can choose which activity you want to edit by selecting an activity button (1) or via the Selected Activity

list (2). You can toggle back and forth between an activity button's primary and secondary programming by

clicking the same activity button, or via the Selected Activity list.

FIGURE 13 - HIGHLIGHTING STEPS TO ASSIGN SYSTEM ON/OFF MACROS

FIGURE 14 - DEMONSTRATING ACTIVITY SELECTION


ACTIVITY MACROS

Use the Activity Macro list (1) to choose which system macro should be executed when the current activity is

selected.

FIGURE 15 - HIGHLIGHTING THE ACTIVITY MACRO SELECTION FOR THE CURRENTLY SELECTED ACTIVTY

BUTTON PROGRAMMING – INDIVIDUAL

There are a number of ways to program Room Remote button actions. You can edit programming on an

individual basis by selecting a button (1) on the Room Remote or Button list (2).

Individual button programming works the same way as GUI Button programming in the GUI Editor's Button

Properties window. You simply use the action selection lists (3) to choose the action you want the selected

button to perform.

FIGURE 17 - PROGRAMMING INDIVIDUAL BUTTONS ON THE ROOM REMOTE

FIGURE 16 - HIGHLIGHTING INDIVIDUAL BUTTON PROGRAMMING


BUTTON PROGRAMMING - DRAG & DROP

You can also drag individual commands from the Project Tree onto the Room Remote button you want to

program.

BUTTON PROGRAMMING - THE FAST WAY

The fastest way to program a Room Remote is by using the same command tag functionality that speeds up

GUI programming. Each button has a known 'tag' that defines what type of command should be programmed

onto it. You can leverage command tags by dragging an entire device from the Project Tree onto the Room

Remote background. You can even program activities in the Project Tree alone, without opening the Room

Remote properties window.

FIGURE 18 - ASSIGNING COMMANDS USING DRAG AND DROP


COMMAND TAGS - REMOTE EDITOR

Drag an IR Device node (1) from the Project Tree onto the Room Remote background.

The Device Drop window (2) will appear.

Select which command types should be programmed onto the currently selected activity and click OK.

Each button that has a corresponding action in the IR Device will be programmed automatically.

FIGURE 19 - DEVICE DRAG AND DROP WITH COMMAND TAGS

2


COMMAND TAGS - PROJECT TREE

You can even program Room Remote activities without opening up the Room Remote Editor.

Here's how you can quickly program an activity using just the Project Tree.

1. Drag an IR Device (1) onto the corresponding Activity in the Room Remote (2).

2. The Device Drop window will appear. Choose which command types you want to program and

click OK.

3. Now drag the appropriate activity macro (3) onto the Room Remote activity.

You can repeat this process for each activity.

FIGURE 20 - PROGRAMMING WITH COMMAND TAGS

1

3

2


VOLUME TIP

It is very common to want the volume buttons on a Room Remote to always control the AV Receiver,

regardless of which activity is currently selected. You can accomplish this very easily.

1. Program each activity's buttons and macros using one of the previous methods.

2. Drag the AV Receiver IR Device (1) onto the main Room Remote node (2) in the Project Tree.

3. When the Device Drop window appears, select only the Volume command group (3), and click OK.

Now the volume and mute buttons in every activity have been programmed to control the AV Receiver.

1

2

3

FIGURE 21 - APPLYING VOLUME ACROSS THE WHOLE REMOTE


TESTING

Click OK when you are finished making changes to the Room Remote configuration. Upload each controller in

the project before testing the remote.

FIGURE 22 - SAVING REMOTE PROGRAMMING


2.2. PROGRAMMING – GUI BINDINGS

GUI BINDING

GUI Binding is a powerful feature that enables you to make sure a given room's activity selection always stays

in sync across all user interfaces, including Room Remotes, phones, and tablets. Setting up GUI Bindings will

typically be the last step in a Push Controls project.

BEFORE YOU SET UP GUI BINDINGS

You should program and test all of your devices, macros, and GUI Groups before setting up any GUI

Bindings.

Read GUI Binding Concepts if you haven't already done so

SELECT AN ACTIVITY

Each Activity in a Room Remote can be associated with a GUI page in one or more GUI Groups. Each GUI Group

in a project may have its own set of GUI Bindings for a given Room Remote/Activity.

Select an Activity (1) in the Room Remote editor.

FIGURE 23 - SELECT ROOM ACTIVITY

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SELECT A GUI GROUP

1. Select the GUI Binding Tab.

2. Select the GUI Group you want to work with.

SELECT ROOM PAGES

The Push Touch app will only navigate to a new activity page based on a Room Remote activity change if the

app's current page is a member of the same room.

Many installations have multi-room GUI configurations. When GUI page room memberships are properly

defined, a user controlling one room via Push Touch will not experience unexpected GUI navigation caused by

an activity change in a different room.

Use the checkboxes (1) to bind or unbind a given GUI page to the current Room Remote.

If the GUI Group you are working with only controls a single zone (such as the Home Theatre, or Living Room),

you will most likely Select All(2) pages in the group.

If you do not want any pages in a group to navigate to a new page when the current Room Remote changes

activities, click Clear All (3).

FIGURE 24 - SELECT GUI GROUP TO WORK WITH

FIGURE 25 - SELECTING ROOM GUI PAGES


SELECT THE ROOM OFF PAGE

If the GUI Group you are working on has a "Home Page" that should be navigated to when the current room's

system is turned off, select it in the Room Off page list (1).

SELECT THE ACTIVITY PAGE

If the GUI Group should navigate to a specific page when the current Room Remote switches to the currently

selected activity (1), select it via the activity page list(2).

FINISHING UP

Continue setting up GUI Bindings for each GUI Group.

Once all changes are made, be sure to upload each controller and GUI Group in the project.

FIGURE 26 - SPECIFIYING THE HOME PAGE TO REVERT TO WHEN THE SYSTEM IS SHUTDOWN

FIGURE 27 - SPECIFY THE PAGE TO NAVIGATE TO WHEN THE CURRENT ACTIVITY IS SELECTED ON THE REMOTE


3. MISCELLANEOUS

3.1. USING THE ROOM REMOTE

INTRODUCTION

From the end-user's perspective, the Room Remote looks and works much like any other handheld remote

control. It has an intuitive design and button layout that should be familiar to anyone who has used a common

set-top box or TV remote. However, there are a number of advanced features that allow the Room Remote to

rival or surpass the capabilities of other remotes that cost three times as much.

Reliable RF communications allow the Room Remote to communicate with Push controller hardware

tucked away in equipment cabinets, or even in another room.

GUI Binding allows room activity selection to stay synchronized across Room Remotes and GUI

devices.

Attractive LED back lighting makes buttons easy to see in dark rooms.

Since Push controllers are networked, Room Remotes in one room can even control devices

connected to other controllers beyond the RF range of the remote.

Even though the Room Remote is part of an extremely powerful (and potentially complex) control system, it

couldn't be easier to use.


BUTTON TYPES

There are three different types of buttons on a Push Controls Room Remote.

1. Power Buttons

2. Activity Buttons

3. Normal Buttons

FIGURE 28 - HIGHLIGHTING THE BUTTON GROUPS


POWER BUTTONS

The main Off and On buttons are primarily used to control the power state of an entire room.

These buttons also perform a secondary function when held down for two seconds. For example, sending

power commands to an individual component. The secondary functions can be different for each activity, but

the primary function is always the main Room Off and Room On macros.

ACTIVITY BUTTONS

Each Room Remote can control 8 different activities. The four Activity buttons are used to select the current

activity. Each Activity button has a primary and secondary activity associated with it.

When an activity is selected, the appropriate activity macro is executed, and the remote will control the

devices associated with the new activity. If GUI Bindings are set up, the other user interface devices in the

room will automatically navigate to the page associated with the new Activity.

Each Activity button's secondary activity can be accessed by holding the button down for approximately two

seconds.

FIGURE 29 - THE REMOTE POWER ON AND OFF BUTTONS

FIGURE 30 - THE ROOM REMOTE ACTIVITY BUTTONS


BACK LIGHTING

The Room Remote features an attractive white LED back light, which makes buttons easy to see in a dark

room. The back lighting will stay active for approximately 3 seconds after a button is pressed.

BATTERIES

The Room Remote requires 2 AAA batteries, which are accessible via a removable cover on the underside of

the remote. The batteries should last 6 to 12 weeks depending on use.

ADDRESSING

In order for a Room Remote to communicate with a Push installation, it must be properly addressed.

FIGURE 31 - ROOM REMOTE BACKLIGHTING


3.2. RF RECEIVER WIRING

CONNECTION WIRING

Connect the wiring as follows:

Black - GND

White - RXD

RED - +12DC

FIGURE 32 - WIRING FOR THE RF RECEIVER


3.3. ADDRESSING A ROOM REMOTE

INTRODUCTION

Each Room Remote must be assigned a unique address. This prevents Room Remotes in different rooms (or

neighbouring installations) from controlling unintended activities.

See Room Remote Concepts for more information regarding rooms and addresses.

ENTER ADDRESSING MODE

Hold the OK and B buttons simultaneously until the red status LED comes on solid (approximately 3 seconds)

FIGURE 33 - ENTERING ADDRESS MODE ON THE ROOM REMOTE


ENTER THE NEW ADDRESS

Enter a new three digit address. Valid addresses range from 001 - 255.

STORE THE NEW ADDRESS

Press OK to store the new address. The red status LED will flash twice if successful. The led will flash five

times if an invalid address was entered or if the procedure times out.

FIGURE 34 - ENTERING ADDRESS FOR THE REMOTE

FIGURE 35 - STORING THE ROOM REMOTE ADDRESS


3.4. SERIAL PORT SETTINGS – RF RECEIVER

SETTINGS

In order to use an RF receiver with a Push Controller, you must apply the correct serial port settings.

1. In the Project Tree, right-click the Serial Port you will be connecting the RF Receiver to.

2. When the Serial Port properties window appears, select RF Receiver mode and click OK.

WIRING

See RF Receiver Wiring for information on connecting an RF Receiver to a controller's serial port.

FIGURE 36 - SERIAL PORT SETTINGS FOR THE RF RECEIVER

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Documents

Operating Instructions. Push Controls Room Remote · 2018. 11. 15. · Page 3 of 32 1. OVERVIEW AND PLANNING 1.1. ROOM REMOTES AND RF RECEIVERS OVERVIEW THE ROOM REMOTE The Room Remote