For any integrator, repeat business from a client speaks volumes to the level of service provided and the quality of technologies utilized. For Custom LA, Inc., one example of such a feat began with an RTI control system installed in a family's California vacation home. The client was so pleased with their system that they came back to Custom LA last October to install another one in their new 6,500-square-foot Rancho Santa Fe home.

"In the previous installation, we had utilized RTI touchpanel handheld and in-wall controllers throughout the family's vacation home. For the main residence, however, the client wanted the simplicity of control via iPads^®," said Mark Schafer, president of Custom LA. "Once again relying on RTI, we were able to provide this simplicity with the company's RTiPanel app for powerful control over the home's complex network of electronic systems, while utilizing SURFiR companion remotes for the operation of TVs and Blu-ray players."

The Rancho Santa Fe home's control system is powered by RTI's XP-8 and XP-6 control processors, which combine to offer an abundance of advanced control interface options, including two-way RS-232, relay, routable IR, and Ethernet control. To facilitate integration of third-party devices into one seamless and cohesive system, the processors utilize powerful two-way drivers that provide users with instant feedback on their control devices. To spread control throughout the main house and guest house, Custom LA utilized three RM-433 RF receivers, 10 ECB-5 IR emitter connecting blocks, and 32 vIRsa Mouse IR emitters.

The family interacts with the control system using RTI's RTiPanel app with a completely customized user interface on five iPads: four in the main house and one in the guest house. The iPads display two-way feedback from a variety of home systems, including a Marantz SR7007 home theater A/V receiver; RTI AD-8 distributed audio system; Lutron^® Homeworks^® and RadioRA^® 2 lighting systems; Pentair pool and spa systems; and more. This allows the client to easily monitor and control every aspect of the home locally from anywhere in the house, or remotely from anywhere in the world with WiFi access. For convenient inductive charging, all iPads are equipped with Sonance LaunchPort sleeves.

"One aspect of the home that was especially important to the client was simple control over audio streaming. The house audio system uses an Apple^® AirPort Express^® to feed all speaker zones. When a family member or guest wants to stream music, they simply use an iPad to turn on the amps for the zone(s) they want and instantly have control over the music at their fingertips. In addition to the AirPort Express, they can also select satellite music as a source or play CDs on the Blu-ray players."

The home also features 10 displays and five Samsung Blu-ray players; the family has IR control over each for everyday TV and Blu-ray playback with an RTI SURFiR companion remote. Designed for use with the iPads running the RTiPanel app, the SURFiR allows the client to incorporate these devices as the graphical user interface for their control system, while adding the convenience of “instant on,” tactile control with hard buttons, and eliminating the numerous screen swipes needed for control tasks that require frequent interaction, such as changing channels and adjusting the volume.

"RTI came through for us again on this installation; the client absolutely loves their new system. Not only does it meet their need for simplicity and powerful control, but it also provides the reliability we require. The client lives three hours from our offices, which could make timely servicing an issue. For the family to be completely satisfied with their control system and our service, reliability was essential."