Our good friend Rob Sample from Paradigm

Click on the link to see an interview with Rob Sample from Paradigm. Foss-AVI highly recommends Paradigm loudspeakers for your A/V projects. And coming this fall is a new updated line of speaker offerings. You can see them here at the Paradigm booth at CEDIA.

September 14, 2009

News From Foss Communications & Security

The University of South Dakota in Vermillion began construction of their new Beacom School of Business in early 2008. It is a three story, 69,000sq ft building with latest technology and classroom amenities available to students and staff alike. When the progress of the construction allowed our technicians to start pulling cable the deadline was already quickly approaching. Basically, we were facing a nine week deadline to pull 40 miles of Cat6, terminate, and test a total of 1400 individual cables …no easy task.

The majority of our cables were terminated in wall plates much like you see every day in offices and homes. Over 300 data ports were integrated in student seating to ensure every student has connectivity to the internet and the schools internal network. The other portion of the cables (roughly 200) were spread out in cubical style furniture, floor boxes, and wireless access points throughout the building leaving no area of the building without access to the “outside world.”

All of the cables we pulled were routed to one of three data rooms in the facility. Each room has a number of equipment racks where all of the interconnecting takes place which allows the IT Department at the school to make each port in the building “live” with either a voice or data connection. To connect each of these rooms we pulled 12 strands of fiber optic cable and either a 25 pair or a 50 pair copper cable to extend the phone lines. We managed to do all of this work in less than nine weeks and met the deadline with time to spare which is quite remarkable and is a testament to the quality of technicians we employ at Foss Communications. Shown are just two photos from the project which will give you some sense of the neatness and attention to detail that is a standard of our work.

2009 Parade of Homes a huge success

Over 1,600 people toured the Feature Home during the recent Spring Parade of Homes event presented by the Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire. The 5 bedroom, 7 bathroom rustic elegant home raised $4,194.11 for the Sioux Empire Home Builders Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the HBASE.

The 11,500 sq. ft. home built by Deffenbaugh Homes is located just west of Hartford. Valued at over $2 million, this home showcases a 36-ft high ceiling in the great room and tiled deck with a fireplace and a large screen television overlooking a small lake out back. Other amazing features seen by those who recently toured the home were the home theatre, designed and installed by Audio Video Integrations, knotty alder millwork, walk-in kitchen pantry and an impressive water feature above the fireplace in the great room.

Here are two photos showing just one area of the entire A/V installation in this home.

2009 Spring Parade of Homes

Foss-AVI is a featured contractor in this years Featured Home on the 2009 Parade of Homes going on from May 2nd through May 5th, 2009. This spectacular home is a product of Deffenbaugh Homes and comes fully loaded with all the best in custom Audio/Video/Automation and Security equipment. If your planning a visit to the Parade of Homes this year don't miss this one. There is even a special chartered bus to take you there and back. Be sure and look for the advertisements in the Argus Leader and on the Home Builders Association Web Site.

Bigger & Better for 2009

February 23, 2009

Here we are two months into 2009.

The first big event of the year for us and maybe you too will be the 50th Annual Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire's Home Show held at the Sioux Falls Convention Center, March 6th, 7th and 8th.

This year will be bigger and better than ever for us. FOSS-AVI is partnering with New Interiors Design. Hjellming Construction and Lipetzky's Landscaping to present one enormous and integrated booth for your viewing and listening pleasure. You'll be able to do it all from the ground up. Select one of the best custom builders in Sioux Falls, decide on your interior decorating needs, explore your landscaping and irrigation options and last but not least outfit your new custom home with the latest in Audio/Video technology. Be sure and come see us in Both D-2 for a home show experience you won't soon forget.

Crestron Introduces Green Light Occupancy Sensors

This article is excerpted from CEPro Magazine written by Steve Crowe.

01.26.2009 — Crestron has added seven models of occupancy sensors to its line of Green Light controls.

Each occupancy sensor has a different coverage range and built-in microprocessors and photocells that "continually" analyze and adjust to changing conditions. Climate and device control can be integrated into the models, which all include wall and ceiling mounts. The sensors feature dual-technology (ultrasonic and passive IR) to reduce false triggering, like electrical noise, air currents, and temperature changes. Passive IR-only models of the occupancy sensors are also available. Each sensor enters "Walk-through" mode when triggered, staying active for 2.5-minute intervals and turning the lights off when a person enters and exits a room. If the room is still occupied after that 2.5 minutes, the sensor enters "occupied" mode. There's also "delayed off" mode that turns lights off after no motion is detected after a specific time. Crestron says the sensors learn occupancy patterns and "delayed off time will change as the sensor intelligently adapts to environmental conditions." Sensor behavior can be customized via the Crestron control system.

If your a reader of this blog you already know that Foss-AVI in Sioux Falls, SD is an authorized Crestron Dealer. As soon as we know of the availability dates of these exciting new products we'll test them and make them available to our customers. Home Automation is already unbelievably great with Crestron products. These occupancy sensors will be icing on the cake.

Best Product of CES 2009 - From Universal Remote Control

01.10.2009 Excerpted from CEPro Magazine, article by Julie Jacobson

Best Product of CES 2009: URC’s Magical iPod Server
With URC's PSX2, you can do unbelievable things with the iPod, like add songs to a playlist on the fly, or shuffle the kids' music at the press of a single button. You’ve never seen a remote-controllable iPod solution like the PSX2 from Universal Remote Control (URC). It waspreviewed at CES 2009, but it debuts for real at the Electronic House Expo Spring, March 11-14, Orlando, Fla.
The product lets you use any universal remote to navigate anywhere on an iPod with the press of a single button – even places on the iPod that you never knew existed.
“Favorites” menu? One button press is all it takes. All albums that start with the letter “J”? Just press a single button. Shuffle the “Kids’ Playlist” with one touch.
Normally, says URC VP of technology Eric Johnson, “You have to press the button a million times.”
To accomplish these PSX2 feats, URC created 250 discrete IR codes for virtually any iPod function imaginable – not just the functions that iPod gives you, but ones that you always (or never) dreamed of.
Then URC built a smart docking station that connects to the TV for on-screen navigation.
What makes the dock smart are the “hooks” (as Johnson calls them) that enable users to do the unthinkable: like add the current song to a playlist – on the fly. Try doing that with an iPod.
Getting Creative with the PSX2
So, exactly what can you do with this thing?
Here’s one example Johnson gives: Let’s say a client really likes Miles Davis. An installer can create a macro that goes to “Search,” types in “Miles Davis,” and hits “Return.” What the heck, throw in a “Jazz EQ” setting on the iPod when Miles Davis is played.
“The iPod has 24 different EQ settings, but no one bothers,” says Johnson. “We’ve put in discrete commands for every EQ. These are things that people would like to do with an iPod but don’t.”
What if you like a now-playing song, and would like to hear more of the same artist or genre? You can do that.
URC even created discrete codes for every number and every letter of the alphabet. Johnson demonstrated a “page” on an LCD remote that lets users select from letters A-E, F-J, etc.
Which Remote to Use?
You can use any remote that can learn IR codes. But you’d be much better off using one of URC’s own remotes.
That's because URC has written "planograms" for a huge number of LCD pages on one of the company's myriad IR and RF remotes (just add hub!).
For example, there's a "planogram" for creating a page that lets users shuffle any of their playlists with the press of a button.
The templates will be available only to authorized URC dealers through the company's URC Control room, when the product officially is unveiled on February 1.
Indeed, this is a custom-only product. "It gives custom installers the best iPod dock ever," says Johnson. "We really need a product that custom installers can take to their customers and say, 'Does your iPod frustrate you? Do you have to press the button a million times … ?'"
The verdict is in: This is the best new product at CES 2009.

And as you've come to expect if you read this Blog, Foss-AVI is an authorized Universal Remote Control Dealer and will have access to all of these custom programming features.

New from Crestron - 17 inch widescreen Touchpanel

TPS-17G-QM
Isys® G-Series 17" Tilt Touchpanel w/QuickMedia® Transport Technology
Available January, 2009

Crestron Isys G-Series touchpanels deliver a higher level of performance with dual-window video, RGB, and HDTV display to meet the demands of today's sophisticated control and automation applications. Incorporating modern styling in a versatile tiltcase design, the Isys TPS-17G-QM features a spectacular 17" WXGA widescreen display offering an extra wide viewing angle with exceptional brightness and contrast for stunning control graphics, high-resolution images, and full-motion HD video.
Crestron touchpanels offer an ideal user-interface for multimedia presentation, videoconferencing, home automation, and much more, providing a wide-open canvas for the creation of custom control screens tailored to the needs of the end-user. Touchpanels do away with piles of remote controls, cryptic control panels and cluttered wall switches, simultaneously expanding and simplifying control over a broad range of complex devices and systems.
Isys®
Isys power and beauty are infused throughout the entire Crestron touchpanel lineup. Under the hood, the TPS-17G-QM offers vibrant 24-bit color depth with 8-bit alpha channel transparency to produce incredible 3D graphics using DNav dynamic menu objects, dynamic graphics and text, animations, multimode objects, and PNG translucency - all with astonishing speed.
Synapse™
The Crestron exclusive Synapse Image Rendering Algorithm enables system programmers to produce amazing graphics - faster and easier. Advanced antialiasing delivers crisper, sharper objects and text. Enhanced 3D effects add new depth and style. And because Synapse is native to the touchpanel, memory requirements and upload time are substantially reduced.
Windows® SideShow™ Enabled
New support for Windows® SideShow™ gives the TPS-17G-QM access to all kinds of PC and Web-based content such as news feeds, sports scores, stock tickers, weather alerts, media guides, email messages, and appointment notifications all through a simple network connection to a Windows Vista™ computer.
Dual-Window HD Video and RGB*
The TPS-17G-QM can simultaneously display two fully-scalable, full-motion video windows, each supporting standard video, HDTV, and high-resolution RGB signals from external AV and computer sources. Discrete video scalers with motion adaptive deinterlacing bring out the highest detail, minimizing visible scan lines and motion artifacts for a truly remarkable picture. Advanced gamma correction and built-in time base correction ensure accurate color reproduction and a jitter-free image.
Touch-the-PC
 Crestron exclusive "Touch-the-PC" technology allows real-time touchpanel navigation of any Windows PC through a direct high-speed serial connection.
Interactive Annotation
Built-in annotation capability allows presenters to write or draw over live computer and video images right on the touchscreen using a finger, stylus, or mouse. Moving images can also be frozen onscreen to allow annotation over a still picture. Brush sizes and colors are selectable on the fly. Remote annotation capability allows multiple touchpanel users to draw over the same image, supporting interactive annotation between several participants in a courtroom, classroom, or similar environment. The image can also be output to a video display for live audience presentation.
High-Quality Audio*
The high-powered biamplified speaker system provides amplification for external AV sources, and supports intercom functionality in combination with the integrated microphone. Customized WAV files can be loaded on the touchpanel to add dimension to the touchscreen graphics with personalized sounds, button feedback, and voice prompts.
QuickMedia®
All audio and video connections are facilitated using our revolutionary QuickMedia transport, providing a flexible yet remarkably simple wiring solution. Through QuickMedia (QM), the TPS-17G-QM interfaces directly with other QM-based products using inexpensive CAT5e type cable.
The two QM Input ports each support non-interlaced RGB up to 1600 X 1200 pixels, as well as composite, S-Video, and component video signals. QM Input #1 includes software-adjustable compensation for cable runs up to 450 feet; Input #2 allows up to 300 feet for video and HDTV, and shorter distances for RGB computer signals. Both QM Inputs receive audio signals from external microphone and stereo line level sources.
The QM Output port allows RGB output of the touchpanel screen image to feed a display device for audience presentation. A 24-bit digital audio signal is also present for distribution of the internal microphone signal.
High-Speed Connectivity
Both Cresnet and high-speed Ethernet are standard on the TPS-17G-QM, providing for easy network integration and seamless communications with Crestron control systems. USB connectivity is also included for connection of an external mouse, touchscreen, or similar pointing device†.
Functional Tiltcase Design
The stylish tiltcase housing allows smooth tilt adjustment from 45 to 90 degrees, and features an integral cable strain relief system and rear cover to secure and hide the connections at the back of the touchpanel. Five backlit pushbuttons are also provided, allowing for quick access to commonly used functions.
Visit the Foss-AVI Design Center in Sioux Falls for a hands on demonstration of Crestron Technology for your home or business.