Systemline Goes Wireless

European Pioneers of Multiroom Entertainment Introduce the Wireless Commander

Armour Home has announced the introduction of the Systemline Wireless Touchscreen, the first wireless control product from the UK based manufacturer. The Systemline Wireless Touchscreen is the result of intensive research and development and a significant investment by Systemline, a company which has notched up over 20 years experience in producing quality innovative solutions for the multiroom market.

The wireless Touchscreen is made up of three components. The Touchscreen itself, which is battery operated, suitable for over 4 hours constant use, or days on standby. The device sits snugly in the hand and has a high quality feel to it, with materials on all surfaces being carefully chosen to provide the class look and stylish feel the product deserves. It is available in a gloss white, or a high-gloss black.

Hidden inside is the technology that allows it to communicate wirelessly with up 8 zone receivers in order to supply flexibility over which area is being controlled. The technology is based on a known platform, but some 'tweaks' have been made by the Systemline R&D team to fully exploit this technology for the multiroom market.

The Touchscreen comes supplied with charging base station with a matching finish to the screen and will look at home on any coffee table or sideboard, with or without the Touchscreen docked. The wireless Touchscreen 'pack' also comes supplied a Systemline wireless junction box. This device is connected directly to the zone cards in the S6 controller or the Modular speaker allowing communication from multiple wireless screens. These are also available separately should the installer wish to add more zones than controllers.

Systemnet, the control software behind Systemline, is located in the wireless Touchscreen so the device works in a very similar fashion to current in wall touchscreens, and is programmed in the same way. It will add a new room selector menu that allows control of more than one zone from the device, for example, the ability to select which 'zone' (in reality which wireless receiver), the touchpanel is communicating with at any given time, and therefore offer precise control of that zone. Pressing the 'R' room selection hard key at any time will show the user the room currently selected for control.

NAD AV Control

Being released at the same time as the wireless Touchscreen is the new version of Systemnet, version 12.0, which for the first time includes two way RS-232 control of AV products, starting with the NAD AV receiver range. Systemnet v12 will offer control of source selection, volume control, and built in tuners of the new NAD T Series receivers and the NAD VISO FIVE. This will also extend to control of the DAB module when connected to the NAD T series receiver. Feedback of the volume level and the source selection will come back to the touchscreen via RS-232 and the two way RF protocol. The integration between NAD Systemnet is a very important step in the development of Systemline as this allows seamless integration of the multiroom audio and AV systems in the home.

As part of the Systemnet integration plan this integration module a joint cooperation by both the NAD and Systemnet teams. It is also available on any colour Touchscreen, not just the wireless, and is a benefit available to all old Systemline S6 or Modular customers, assuming the cabling topology will allow for this.