Category: technical-news

Hey, Smart Home Pros! Oh, February. Love is in the air. Heart-shaped chocolates and the same three colors of roses overflow from every public market and street corner. Dating apps are in full swing. If you aren’t braving crowds by going out for Valentine’s Day, maybe you’re using your high-speed network to watch a movie or set your dinner scene with some music and vibrant lighting. Or maybe, it’s just an ordinary day of bingeing the newest Netflix series, playing video games, and swiping on Tinder. Regardless of your Valentine’s disposition, we just wanna say we love you a whole watt. You’re our everything bagel; we donut know what we’d do without you. So in the spirit of cheesy Valentine’s traditions, please accept this less-than-brie-lliant poem. Control4 is red, OvrC is blue, Stay tuned to see new product features, Smart Skills, KB articles, tips tricks and more! It’s our gift to you. Happy Valentine’s Day!  Your Not-So-Secret Admirer,  Holly Bechtler Technical Writing Operations Specialist

Did You Fall From Heaven? I Found Your Halo Cue the hallelujah chorus! The Control4 Halo Remote is available for preorder! Preorders for the Halo Touch will be available late Q1 to early Q2. So what makes the Halo family so heavenly? Capable of media browsing, device control, and scene selection for AV, lighting, comfort, and security New UI design language is more user-friendly and customizable Backlit buttons are easy to use in the dark Wi-Fi strength increased 3–5× over Neeo and supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands New Voice button dynamically functions as a Siri Remote for Apple TV or Xfinity Voice Remote for Xfinity boxes Ultra-low power processor for extended battery life If asleep, a button press wakes Halo and executes the command Includes a “Find remote” function that can be accessed from a Control4 Touchscreen, the Control4 App, or voice command Provides at-a-glance troubleshooting information Your customers can take advantage of the “First Time User Experience” via their smartphone to install their Halo and Halo Touch in minutes OvrC gives you access to battery-charging data and Wi-Fi connectivity statistics, providing valuable insights on use so you can optimize the customer experience Note: Halo remotes require OS 3.3.2 Read More About Halo and Halo Touch in The Tech Community

I Can’t Imagine a Life Without You, OS 3.3.2 Control4 OS 3.3.2 holds the key to my heart. By heart, I mean successful integration with new products! This release includes a new Daylight feature that automates Vibrant tunable white LEDs to warm, cool, brighten, and dim throughout the day to match the progression of natural sunshine. The update also adds the fully featured Voice Coordinator Agent and provides drivers for Luma x20 IP cameras and NVRs, as well as drivers for Halo and Halo Touch.   Halo:  Deep Sleep Timeout period to extend battery life (Halo and Halo Touch) Digital Labels and programming for the Custom Buttons (Halo only) Note: Like Neeo, these drivers cannot be found in the Online Database nor the My Drivers tab, because the drivers auto-add through the Halo Setup Wizard (FTUE). Luma X20 IP Cameras: Using a Control4 touchscreen or the Control4 App (for iPhone or iPad, Android phone, or tablet), customers can try out these new features and controls to: View live video from grid view  Rearrange cameras through the UI with the new button at the top right Set camera settings and configurations (including trip lines, motion zones, and PTZ controls) can be set from the camera’s individual Live View page. Are you Wi-Fi? Because I’m totally feeling a connection.

We’re Meant to Be, Luma X20 The air may be buzzing with romance, but it’s also buzzing with excitement! The new generation of Luma surveillance is born. The Luma X20 IP family provides an all-new end-to-end solution with IP cameras, NVRs, OvrC integration, and end-customer app and OvrC experiences.   New and improved end customer app: No plugins needed for desktop/web viewing with Luma View!  Faster setup: OvrC integration for full camera configuration.  Good things come in small packages: up to 30%smaller form factor for more discreet installs (vs. Luma X10 models). Intelligent analytics = smarter events: AI power inside every IP camera, and advanced event support in NVRs. Includes advanced human, vehicle, and non-motor vehicle detection; as well as AI-filtered events that reduce false notifications and enables fast filtering in the all-new Luma View app. Higher video quality: Up to 8MP cameras, and NVRs that can record 8MP on all channels simultaneously. Available options for IR, Starlight and Color at Night: Luma X20 IP cameras offer a variety of options for low-light viewing, including new Color at Night offerings that show full color in nighttime settings. Color at Night cameras produce a clearer scene from the most minimal sources of ambient light. Deeper integration: with Control4, get live thumbnails, automatic resolution detection, advanced event triggering; plus all products are ONVIF conformant and NDAA compliant Check out Luma X20 technical documentation and Smart Skills in the Tech Community! Are you Siri? Because you autocomplete me.

We’re Swiping Right on This Luma X20 Quick Start Guide We know how important it is to use your time in the field efficiently. We also know that you need product documentation at your fingertips during an install. Thanks to the QR code and swipe format of the Luma Quick Start Guide, you’ll find everything you need in an instant! Simply scan the QR code on the product box for setup, mounting instructions, information on OvrC integration, Tech Community resources, and more! Your eyes are like IKEA. I’m totally lost in them.

Meet Your Technical Support Agent! You may have spoken to Robert Gibbons if you’ve contacted Control4 Technical Support. Robert is a Level-2 Tech Support agent based in Orange, CA. He supports our Partners through the Control4 and Control4 Tier 2 queues. Robert recently won the TRUE GRIT award for Snap One Technical Support, which recognizes our Tech Support agents for offering top-notch support to our Partners! His teammates characterize him by his passion for helping our Partners and fellow team members. He often trains new hires and supports questions outside of his shift. When he isn’t offering top-notch support, he enjoys playing video games and discussing game theory and music. His top three favorite games are World Of Warcraft, the Mass Effect Trilogy, and Heroes of Might and Magic 3. (Robert even met his wife playing World of Warcraft “many moons ago”!) Are you a fan of Nintendo? I think Wii would go well together.

There’s So Mush-Room in My Heart… I Mean in OvrC If you use OvrC on sites with multiple rooms and lots of devices, you have probably experienced the challenge of finding specific devices or groups of devices. We’re excited to say that we can help! OvrC has made several improvements to the Device list and introduced the Rooms feature to help you organize your device list for more efficient navigation when you need it. You can now create rooms for different floors, business departments, or other spaces on site. Device list improvements include: Bulk actions Filters Grouping by room Sorting Resize and reorder columns  Add or remove columns Search Quick links to access the local user interface (UI) or go directly to the room in which a device is located Learn how to create rooms and use the device list improvements in the Tech Community! Are you Times New Roman? Because you’re totally my type.

Knowledgebase New or updated articles: How to Add Users to Your Snap One Account (new) OvrC Network Health (new) OvrC Rooms & Device List (new) Halo Remote Articles, Videos, and Documentation (new) Resetting the Halo Remote to the First-Time User Experience (new) Luma x20 Articles, Videos, and Documentation (new) WattBox Best Practices + Troubleshooting + More

Snap One Webinars We have new webinars coming your way! See the full training calendar here, or check out the links below. Luma X20 Technical Training Simi Valley, CA- February 7th San Diego, CA- February 7th Van Nuys, CA- February 9th Riverside, CA- February 9th Elk Grove Village, IL- February 21st Las Vegas, NV- February 21st Edina, MN- February 23rd Scottsdale, AZ- February 23rd Kirkland, WA- February 28th Beaverton, OR- March 2nd  San Jose, CA- March 7th Norwalk,CT- March 7th Sacramento, CA- March 9th Plainview, NY- March 9th Intro to ClareOne (Recurring Webinar Series) Clare FusionPro (Recurring Webinar Series) ClareVision (Recurring Webinar Series) Your smile is more refreshing than my F5 key.

Smart Skills Check out these new or updated Smart Skills that are now in our Tech Community: Configuring Intrusion with Human and Vehicle Detection on Luma X20 Cameras in OvrC (new) Configuring Line Crossing on Luma X20 Cameras in OvrC (new) Adding Unassigned Cameras to an X20 NVR in OvrC (new) Configuring a Luma Camera SD Card for 24/7 and Event Recording in OvrC (new)

New or Updated Drivers: Samsung TU7000 Series- Black Friday Models LG Projector- HU915QB-GL\QE-GL See More Drivers Here

Tips and Tricks For Watt It’s Worth Whether you’re rehearsing pick-up lines for your Valentine’s date or improving your efficiency on the job, the same rule applies: practice makes perfect! We can’t promise the pick-up lines will work, but we can promise you’ll be a more successful installer if you follow this WattBox Best Practices guide.  Contents include: Best Practices: Power Load Best Practices: Installation Configuring Backup Power WattBox Troubleshooting Overcurrent Protection Mode WattBox Installation/Checklist UPS Battery Duration Worksheet Load Calculation Worksheet Do you like raisins? No? How about a date?

We Value Your Feedback in the Tech Community! The best part about a community is that it holds space for us to share knowledge and to work toward common goals. If you read a KB article or watched a Smart Skill, let us know if and how it helped, and/or how we can improve!  1. On the top right hand corner of the article page, click the thumbs up or thumbs down icon to let us know if you recommend the article. 2. Select an option from the Choose a general reason list to let us know how the resource could have been more helpful. 3. Enter any additional feedback in the Description field.  4. Click Submit. We Care About Your Discussions! Every time you engage in the Discussions page in the Tech Community, you improve our search engine. More participation = better answers! Discussions contain helpful tips that are just as searchable as Knowledgebase articles. Every piece of information builds the Tech Community into the central location for technical information. I love you from my head to-ma-toes. Time to Share Your Tips and Tricks! We want to hear more from you (yes, you!). We’d love to keep this section going, so if you have a cool idea, whether it’s easy or advanced, send it our way! We’d love to highlight you and share your ideas with our awesome community of technicians!  Sharing Is Caring: Submit Your Tip Here

Hey, Smart Home Pros! Congratulations! We made it to 2023 with an entire new year of possibilities! One of my favorite parts is witnessing societal tendencies to challenge the definition of what it means to be our best selves. If the concept of new year’s resolutions isn’t for you, don’t worry. You can use the following exercise at any time! Visualize something you’d like to achieve, no matter how big or small (personal, professional, or both). Write down the first step you might take toward achieving that goal in a single sentence. Now pat yourself on the back! You just made progress toward your goal. Numerous studies show that goal setting is a crucial step to success. P.S. If your goal was related to Snap One Education, you’re in luck! We have plenty of new product features, Smart Skills, KB articles, tips, tricks, and more! If you visualized grabbing your favorite lunch, we support that too. We’ll still be here with the brain food when you’re ready. Happy New Year!  Holly Bechtler Technical Writing Operations Specialist

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work If you use terminal access to troubleshoot your customer’s Control4 automation system, this collaboration opportunity is for you! Our teams are working hard to increase the safety and security of our platforms and your customer’s systems by replacing terminal access with a more elegant, powerful, and intuitive tool. And since the best way to meet your needs is to ask for your input, we’d like you to complete the Partner Tools Survey to let us know how you use the existing terminal feature so we can plan and develop properly. See more details in the Tech Community.

New Year, New AP! Following the recent release of the Araknis Networks Wi-Fi 6 820 Indoor Access Point, we welcome the Araknis Networks Wi-Fi 6 520 Indoor Access Point! Key features include: Up to 2.5 Gbps LAN port connection: Support multi-gig jobs. Enhanced SSID customization: Customize fast roaming and band steering per SSID. Wi-Fi Management via OvrC: Simple setup for multiple-AP jobs including guest network configuration. 2×2 antenna: More powerful connection for more devices with greater throughput so you don’t have to sacrifice network speed for size. Compared to the 4×4 antenna offered by the 820 AP, the 520 is a perfect fit for smaller deployments. DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) channel support to increase the number of Wi-Fi channels when available. Wi-Fi 6: Supports the new standard for increased speed, coverage, and capacity. Can extend the battery life of Wi-Fi 6 connected devices. Supports OFDMA, MU-MIMO, 1024 QAM, and BSS Coloring to optimize bandwidth efficiency, thus increasing throughput while decreasing power consumption. Note: Mixing Araknis Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 Series Access Points on the same job will impact performance and is not recommended. Fast roaming between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 devices is not supported.  Read More

Watt a Treat! Many of our WattBox IP power conditioners and faceplates are now available internationally! All IP WattBox products provide three lines of defense: self-healing auto reboot, OvrC remote management to fix problems quickly, and an OvrC client-facing app. The international SKUs include: WB-800I-IPVM-6 WB-800ICH1U-IPVM-8 WB-800IVPS-IPVM-12 WB-800I-FP Note: The WB-800I-FP is only compatible with 800I series IP WattBox Products, but is not compatible with the WB-800ICH1U-IPVM-8. Some astronauts wanted to have a New Year’s party on the moon, but they didn’t planet in time.

Meet Your Technical Support Agent! You may have spoken to Kevin Wojtaszek if you’ve contacted Technical Support. Kevin is a Level-2 Tech Support agent based in Conover, NC. He supports our Partners through various queues, including Infrastructure, Premier Infrastructure, Clare, Visualint, and Control4. Kevin recently won the TRUE GRIT award for Snap One Technical Support, which recognizes our Tech Support agents for offering top-notch support to our Partners! His teammates characterize him by his positive attitude, willingness to jump in and help out on tough calls, and resourcefulness to diagnose the root cause of the issue. He enjoys console gaming, NHL hockey (especially the Detroit Red Wings), craft beer, and Transformers when he isn’t supporting our Partners.

New Firmware, Who Dis? Last month we released Araknis router firmware v1.2.23 to address connectivity issues related to short WAN lease times seen with ISPs in some areas. This firmware is now available through OvrC and the following product pages for the affected routers: AN-110-RT-2L1W AN-110-RT-2L1W-WIFI AN-310-RT-4L2W This new firmware improves the router’s ability to accommodate short WAN lease times provided by the ISP. There is, however, a prevalent known issue. If there is a space in the WAN name, it can impact NSD failover events. The solution: through OvrC or local UI, remove any spaces in, before, or after the WAN name. Read more on the known issue here. Read the firmware release notes here.

Give the Gift of Support to Your Technicians This Year! Supporting our Partners is a tenet we take seriously at Snap One. We aim to offer the best Technical Support possible when you need assistance in the field. We are working hard to create more online courses, technical documentation, and an even more robust Tech Community platform to make finding information easy. For technicians to benefit from the many support resources we offer, the primary contact on your account must add the technician as a contact to your dealership’s online web portal account. See how to add them here.   My New Year’s resolution is to prepare my orange juice Carpe Diem style-so I can really squeeze the day.

Knowledgebase New or updated articles: Vibrant Lighting Documentation, Videos, and Help Resources (new) KNX Control4 Drivers (updated) Factory restore of DS2 doorstation after driver v246 resets HTTP API credentials to default (updated) Araknis 520 and 820 Access Point Articles, Videos, and Documents (new) How does the OvrC Speed Test Work? (new) Password Best Practices (new) Connect Your Visualint VI-7000 to a Luma x10 NVR (new) Activating Luma Cameras Connected to a Luma NVR (updated to include password limitations) Blanks Solution for Contemporary Wall Plates (new) How to add Intercom to the Custom Home Screen on the Infinity Edge Touch Screen in OS 2 (updated)

Center of Attention Snap One’s Education Center in York, UK, worked hard in 2022. In total, they taught Automation Programmer to 265 technicians! Check out this interview from CEDIA’s Home Tech Pro Magazine with our very own Technical Training Manager Paul Dunbar that discusses how this facility is growing the industry’s workforce. Pictured: Technical Training Manager Paul Dunbar and Technical Instructor Nicolas Jones teaching Automation Programmer in York, UK.

Snap One Webinars We have new webinars coming your way! See the full training calendar here, or check out the links below. Luma X20 Technical TrainingIrvine, CA- January 31st Cerritos, CA- February 2nd Simi Valley, CA- February 7th San Diego, CA- February 7th Van Nuys, CA- February 9th Riverside, CA- February 9th Intro to ClareOne (Recurring Webinar Series)  Clare FusionPro (Recurring Webinar Series) ClareVision (Recurring Webinar Series) 2022 was such a blur. I should have set a higher resolution.

Smart Skills Check out these new or updated Smart Skills that are now in our Tech Community: Installing Contemporary Lighting Devices Correctly (new) Connecting a Lighting Scene to a Keypad Button (new) Configuring Static and Wi-Fi Network Addresses in System Manager (new) Generating a Project System Report in Composer (new) Configuring a Luma Camera SD Card for 24/7 and Event Recording in OvrC (new)

Roku TV Driver Secrets Ever had trouble getting a Roku TV to work with Control4? If so, read on… In addition to supporting Roku Media Players, Control4 has a specific driver for Roku TVs (smart televisions that use Roku as their operating system). You can find this driver by typing Roku TV in the Search tab in Composer Pro. When you read the Support section on the driver’s Documentation tab in Composer Pro, you will find this paragraph under the heading “Troubleshooting”: “Most issues found are related to the Roku devices powering down when not in use. Many Roku players do not maintain a network connection when powered off and so cannot be controlled or woken up over IP. Make sure that all players are set to remain powered on at all times.” So, how do you make sure the Roku TV is “set to remain powered on at all times”? It’s actually pretty simple—although a little hard to find. After you have configured the Roku TV driver in Composer Pro, grab the original remote that came with the TV and follow these steps: 1. Power on the Roku TV. 2. On the Roku TV’s menu, navigate to Settings > System > Power > Fast TV start. 3. Select the Enable ‘Fast TV start’ checkbox. That’s it! Now the TV should work beautifully with Control4. We’ve tested this solution with TCL and Hisense brand Roku TVs using an Ethernet or Wi-Fi network connection. Note: The name of the ‘Fast TV start’ feature may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and brand of Roku TV. If this feature is not listed on the Roku TV’s menu, then chances are that model of TV does not support ‘Fast TV start’ and cannot be powered on by a command sent over the IP network.

New or Updated Drivers: Samsung TU7000 Series (Black Friday Models) Sony Line Array Speakers See More Drivers Here

Tips and Tricks How to Migrate a Project to a New Controller As a Control4 installer, we know that you will need to migrate a project from an older controller to a new one at some point. We also know that because controllers handle numerous functions, it isn’t as simple as backing up an existing project and loading it on a new controller. That’s why we created the Controller Migration Wizard! Here is a quick overview of how it works: 1. Add the new controller to the existing project.  2. Update the project to the latest OS version.  3. Use the Controller Migration Wizard to move the project Check out this Smart Skill for more important details around this process! Managing OvrC Wi-Fi Management Since the new Wi-Fi 6 Araknis Access Points release, now is the perfect time to refresh your knowledge of the Wi-Fi Management feature in OvrC for Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 APs! This feature offers a central location for quick configuration of multiple access points, which saves time during setup and troubleshooting. Read more   I decided to make breakfast at 11:59 p.m. on December 31st. I wanted a New Year’s toast.

We Value Your Feedback in the Tech Community! The best part about a community is that it holds space for us to share knowledge and to work toward common goals. If you read a KB article or watched a Smart Skill, let us know if and how it helped, and/or how we can improve!  1. On the top right hand corner of the article page, click the thumbs up or thumbs down icon to let us know if you recommend the article. 2. Select an option from the Choose a general reason list to let us know how the resource could have been more helpful. 3. Enter any additional feedback in the Description field.  4. Click Submit.

We Care About Your Discussions! Every time you engage in the Discussions page in the Tech Community, you improve our search engine. More participation = better answers! Discussions contain helpful tips that are just as searchable as Knowledgebase articles. Every piece of information builds the Tech Community into the central location for technical information. Time to Share Your Tips and Tricks! We want to hear more from you (yes, you!). We’d love to keep this section going, so if you have a cool idea, whether it’s easy or advanced, send it our way! We’d love to highlight you and share your ideas with our awesome community of technicians!  Sharing Is Caring: Submit Your Tip Here

Hey, Smart Home Pros! December… what a Claus for celebration! On December 21st, we will experience the final Solstice of the year. Those in the Northern Hemisphere experience the Winter Solstice, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences the Summer Solstice. Around the world, we celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas, followed by New Year’s Eve and Omisoka. Before we wrap our presents and shift our focus to end-of-year traditions, let’s take a moment to be present. You snow the drill–let’s get this gingerbread and digest a round of new product features, Smart Skills, KB articles, tips, tricks, and more! P.S.: I may not be as well-versed as a professional wrapper, but I gave it my best elf-fort. Happy Holidays!  Holly Bechtler Technical Writing Operations Specialist

I’m a Sap Fir a Vibrant Glow Up We are delighted about the transformational Vibrant Linear Lighting line. Vibrant pairs color, temperature, and brightness with LED tape, aluminum extrusions, and easy Control4 system integration. And no electricians or subcontractors are required for this low-voltage lighting option. We know the excitement of any new product carries the need for additional resources and education. Along with cut sheets, Quick Start Guides, and Install Guides, we’ve created several other resources to guide your success. Oh, and if you didn’t get the memo, all Vibrant Linear Lighting products can be ordered worldwide! It’s lit.

This OvrC Pro 7.1.0 Update Is Sprucing Things Up The new OvrC Pro update has branched out to add third-party support for select Sony projectors and select Denon and Marantz receivers! Key support features for each brand include: Sony:  Device information: Model, serial number, temperature, and filter status Firmware version and update  Power status and control for all zones   Currently selected input status  Advanced diagnostics like errors, warnings, and timers  For more advanced configuration, access the local web UI of the device remotely using OvrC WebConnect. Read More Denon:  Restart the network connection Power all zones on Set all zones to standby Power zones on or off discretely Power sub-units on or off discretely  Read More Marantz:  Restart the network connection Power all zones on Set all zones to standby Power zones on or off discretely Power sub-units on or off discretely Read More  Why are Christmas trees so bad at sewing? They always drop their needles..

Meet Your Technical Support Agent! You may have spoken to Jonathan Rakes if you’ve contacted Control4 Technical Support. Jonathan is a Level-1 Tech Support agent based in Mt. Holly, NC. He supports our North American, European, and Australian Control4 Partners. Jonathan frequently receives feedback from Partners stating that he demonstrates patience and excellence. His teammates characterize him by his genuine passion for helping others and his passion for learning. When he isn’t supporting our Partners, he enjoys live music, working on his car, and spending time outdoors with his family and friends

Sleigh Araknis DNS Resolution Issues If you’ve experienced DNS resolution issues with the Araknis 310 Router, update to the latest firmware v1.2.16. If the issue persists after the firmware update, check out these additional troubleshooting steps.

Yule Be Able to Migrate That Z-Wave Mesh in Snow Time Here is a quick overview on how to migrate an existing Z-Wave Mesh to a new CORE Controller, AND add and identify legacy Z-Wave drivers: Step 1: Disconnect the devices from the project and old Z-Wave mesh.  Step 2: Disable the old Z-Wave network and enable the new Z-Wave network. Step 3: Re-identify the Z-Wave devices to the new Z-Wave Network. Check out this Smart Skill to view a demonstration!  I think Santa is stocking me. I can feel his presents everywhere.

Knowledgebase   New or updated articles: OvrC Pro v7.1.0 adds support for select Denon receivers (new)  OvrC Pro v7.1.0 adds support for select Marantz receivers (new)  Control4 Music Services—Minimum OS Versions, Compatible Controllers, and Limitations (updated)  Overcurrent Protection Mode (OCP) on WattBox (updated)  OvrC Pro support for select Sony devices (updated with more supported devices)

Ready, Set, Glow! If you missed last month’s newsletter, we highlighted the release of the Control4 Vibrant Linear Lighting Micro-Certification. Now that Vibrant can be ordered worldwide, there is no thyme like the present to tree-t yo’elf to the gift of education! If you’ve already sleighed this one, check out these Colorized Lighting Smart Skills to add some extra stuffing to the knowledge stocking. But Wait, There’s Myrrh! Our PCNA course got a facelift just in time for holiday networking! PCNA 3.1 updates include: Added Course Navigation Help at the top of each course menu to remind you how to use the player navigation controls Updated to replace OvrC Home with OvrC Connect The Pakedge P2E power distribution unit has been replaced by the international WattBox 250 for international PCNA Haven’t taken PCNA yet? Enroll here if you’re international, here if you’re domestic. If athletes get tennis elbow and soldiers get trenchfoot, what do astronauts get? Missile toe!

Snap One Webinars  We have new webinars coming your way! See the full training calendar here, or check out the links below. Intro to ClareOne (Recurring Webinar Series)  Clare FusionPro (Recurring Webinar Series) ClareVision (Recurring Webinar Series) What’s the difference between the Christmas alphabet and the ordinary alphabet? The Christmas alphabet has Noel.

Smart Skills Check out these new or updated Smart Skills that are now in our Tech Community (with subtitles): Using Device Status as a Troubleshooting Tool in OvrC (new)  Adding and Configuring the Fireplace Experience Driver (new) Setting Lighting Device LEDs or Backlights Quickly Using the LED Wizard Driver (new) Leveraging OvrC Groups and Permission to Ensure Customer Privacy (new) Configuring your WattBox Outlets With OvrC (new) Setting the Navigator Wallpaper for your Customer in Composer (new) Documenting Location and Device Notes Using OvrC (new) Creating Notifications When Motion is Not Sensed Using the Timer Agent

A Gift With Your Name On It Back by Popular Demand… the Christmas Tree Experience Button Driver! Once again we are sending each of you a holiday gift from us—the Christmas Tree Experience Button driver. Use this driver freely to add a little holiday fun for your clients. The Christmas Tree Experience Button driver makes it possible to control Christmas tree lights, or other holiday lights, from the Navigator on a TV and/or touchscreen. This driver is only available to Smart Home Pro Tech Newsletter readers (it’s not available in the Composer Pro driver database). We’ve recently updated it to take advantage of the new features that have been added to the experience button driver template, e.g., setting LED colors for keypad buttons connected to the driver, etc. Download the driver here. Adding the Christmas Tree Experience Button to a Client’s Project 1. Download the driver to your computer. 2. Open a client’s project in Composer Pro. 3. In the Driver menu, click Add or Update Driver or Agent. 4. Navigate to the christmas_tree.c4z file on your computer and select it. 5. Click Open. 6. In System Design, select the room in the project tree where you want to add the driver. 7. Click the Search tab in the Items pane, verify that the Local check box is selected. 8. Type Christmas Tree in the search box, and press Enter. 9. Double-click Christmas Tree in the driver list to add it to the room. 10. Click the driver, labeled Scenario, in the project tree. 11. Click the Documentation tab in the Properties pane and follow the instructions to program the experience button driver behavior. After you download the driver and add it in Composer Pro the first time, it is available for you to add to any client’s project. You can search for it in the Search tab as long as the Local checkbox is selected. If you have used previous versions of the Christmas Tree Experience Button driver, following the above instructions updates the driver for controllers with a previous version of the driver installed. NOTE: This driver requires one of the following Zigbee devices to control Christmas lights:Control4® Wireless Plug-In Outlet Switch Control4® Outdoor Plug-In Outlet Switch Control4® Receptacle Outlet Switch We’d love to see how you integrate this driver in your clients’ projects! If you take pictures or video of an implementation of the driver, please share them with us by emailing education@snapone.com. Happy Holidays! We work closely with device manufacturers to provide product drivers that interoperate seamlessly with the Control4 platform.  New or Updated Drivers: Samsung Rotating Mount Accessory Samsung New Model 98QN100BFXZA Sony Sound BarsHT-A9  HT-A7000  HT-A5000 Marantz: CINEMA 70S  CINEMA 60  CINEMA 60 DAB  CINEMA 5 See More Drivers Here

Stocking Up on Tips and Tricks It’s a Simple Case of Claus and Effect  The most meaningful impact you can have on jobsite organization can occur in the planning that happens offsite or before the install begins. Thankfully, OvrC makes it easy to visualize the install in any phase. Check out these OvrC Best Practices to ensure you and your team get the most from this robust tool!  S’mitten by the Quality of High Resolution Music   One of the best parts of the holidays is listening to festive music! To get the most from your sources this season, check out this article on Understanding the Bitrate for High Resolution Music.   If you’re struggling to think of what to get someone for Christmas: get them a fridge and watch their face light up when they open it. We Carol Lot About Your Discussions! Every time you engage in the Discussions page in the Tech Community, you improve our search engine. More participation = better answers! Discussions contain helpful tips that are just as searchable as Knowledgebase articles. Every piece of information builds the Tech Community to be the central location for technical information.  Icy what you did there. That’s a Wrap! Time to Share Your Tips and Tricks! We want to hear more from YOU! (Yes, you.) We’d love to keep this section going, so if you have a cool idea, whether it’s easy or advanced, send it our way! We’d love to highlight you and share your ideas with our awesome community of technicians!  Sharing Is Caring: Submit Your Tip Here

Hey, Smart Home Pros! I can’t believe it’s November already! For those in the United States, it’s time to talk turkey and join in on the nationwide Black Friday chaos… if you’re brave and determined. More importantly, Thanksgiving reminds us to slow down and reflect on what we are thankful for. I won’t bore you with my entire gratitude list, but I will share one. Thank YOU for reading this newsletter! If you made time in your busy day to read this, you are the reason why we continue to cook up the monthly Tech Newsletter. Now that we’ve covered the “thanks,” let’s move on to “giving.” It’s time for beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes, ham, lamb, new product features, Smart Skills, KB articles, tips, tricks, and more!  P.S. I’d like to add a shout-out to the internet for allowing me to avoid the crowds and score deals from the comfort of my home. We all can’t be determined and brave.  Happy Thanksgiving!  Holly Bechtler Technical Writing Operations Specialist

Winner Winner Turkey Dinner Our Professional Certified Network Administrator training won the CEDIA award for “Best Training Programme in APAC” (Asia Pacific)! It’s no secret that a reliable network leads to a reliable, high performing system and happy customers… which means fewer truck rolls for you. Read more on how to sharpen your networking skills here.

All You Scan Eat, Doc The last dinner roll isn’t the only thing we’ll be swiping this season! We know your time in the field is precious, so we created this mobile-friendly document to help you install a CORE Controller in no time! It’s as easy as pie: Scan the QR code to get started on your phone. Swipe through the animated pages to understand the important points around your CORE controller install. Click through to the Tech Community for full documentation.

Not Your Average Pumpkin Patch  Our high speed Wirepath Cat6 ethernet patch cables just got more convenient for you in the field!  The 25 count bulk pack is now packaged in a Wirepath Cat6 Ethernet Patch Cables box. This durable box features a large opening for accessibility, and a handle for easy carrying. It even comes with a cable use chart for tracking inventory if you need it. Choose between one, three, five, or seven feet.

What role do green beans have in Thanksgiving dinner? The casserole.

Meat Your Technical Support Agent! You may have spoken to Rachel Johnson if you’ve contacted Technical Support. Rachel is one of our Level-3 Tech Support agents based in Eagle Mountain, Utah. She supports technicians through the Network, Network Tier 2, and Network Premier queues along with After Hours and Chat Transfer. She also trains new hires and answers questions for the team. Her extensive knowledge and background with Pakedge makes her a vital resource for internal teams and Partners. When she isn’t supporting our Partners and her team, she enjoys reading, woodworking, and other crafts.

An A-Maize-ing New Micro-Certification Is Here! If you are preparing to dive into the low-voltage lighting market, take advantage of the Control4 Vibrant Linear Lighting Micro-Certification. Sign your team up for the new Vibrant Linear Lighting Solution Certification Course so they can learn about the many low-voltage applications and best installation practices.    Module 1: Basics Module 2: Design Module 3: Plan and Bill of Materials Module 4: Installation Module 5: Integration   Enroll Now

Butter Check Out This Wi-Fi Compatibility List This Tech Community article lists reported Wi-Fi compatibility issues collected by our support and engineering staff, and suggests configuration based resolutions to help you work around them. The topics range from WPA3 Mixed Encryption, DFS Channels, 5GHz Channel, and Fast Roaming.  Why didn’t the chef add any spices to her Thanksgiving roast? She didn’t have the thyme.

Knowledgebase   New or updated articles: Composer 2.10.6 Download – Supported Legacy Versions (new) Pulse-Eight Video Matrix IR Emitter Compatibility (new) Wi-Fi Compatibilities (updated) Understanding Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) & Best Practices. Updated with a verification step and links to reformatted switch setup guides: Araknis 210/310 series Pakedge MS series Pakedge 24 port SX series Pakedge 8 port SX series Pakedge S3 and S3L series

Thank You for Joining Us at CEDIA The Snap One Education team taught 16 total classes at CEDIA—that’s a whopping 1,125 technicians attended. Thank you for choosing to learn with us!

Snap One Webinars  We have new webinars coming your way! See the full training calendar here, or check out the links below. Intro to ClareOne (Recurring Webinar Series)  Clare FusionPro (Recurring Webinar Series) ClareVision (Recurring Webinar Series)

In-Person Josh.ai Training at Snap One Partner Stores Don’t miss our Josh.ai Technical & Sales Training Events at select Snap One Partner Stores. See the list of upcoming events below:   SCOTTSDALE. AZ – NOV 15: A.M. ROCKVILLE, MD – NOV 17: A.M. / P.M. SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOV 17: A.M. What do turkeys eat for dessert? Peach Gobbler.

Smart Skills Check out these new or updated Smart Skills that are now in our Tech Community (with subtitles): Turning on Zigbee in Composer Express (new) Identifying Zigbee Devices to a Project Using Composer Express (new) Adding the Composer Express App to Build Control4 Projects (new) Adding Rooms and Drivers to a Project Using Composer Express (new) Making Room Endpoint Connections Using Composer Express (new) Making Device Connections Using Composer Express (new) Using the Timer Agent to Control Multiple Devices (new) Adding, Identifying, and Connecting Z-Wave Devices using Z-Wave Common Drivers (new) Migrating an Existing Z-Wave Mesh to a New CORE Controller (new) Updating a Controller’s Operating System (OS) Using Composer Express (new) Setting the Audio Endpoint in Composer Pro (new) Creating an Auto Locking Routine to Increase Customer Security (new)

We work closely with device manufacturers to provide product drivers that interoperate seamlessly with the Control4 platform.  New or Updated Drivers: Sinope Zigbee Thermostat – updated driver Epson Additional Projectors FX Luminaire – Updated driver with color and light temperature support See More Drivers Here

Tips and Tricks Get Ahead of the Carve on OvrC and Pakedge Compatibility  If you want to add your Pakedge devices to OvrC, check out these compatibility charts regarding Pakedge routers, switches, wireless devices, and power products. Your Post-Feast Refresher   Here is a brief overview on how to make Room Endpoint Connections in Composer Express: Step 1: Navigate to the Room Endpoint connection screen. Step 2: Select the Endpoint and the intended destination device. Step 3: Verify the connection destination and make the connection. Check out this Smart Skill to view a demonstration!    Q. How many tales can a tall turkey tell if a tall turkey told tall tales? A. A tall turkey can tell many tall tales if the tales are more tasteful than the turkey… Your Discussions Matter!  Every time you engage in the Discussions page in the Tech Community, you improve our search engine. More participation = better answers! Discussions contain helpful tips that are just as searchable as Knowledgebase articles. Every piece of information builds the Tech Community to be the central location for technical information.  Time to Share Your Tips and Tricks! We want to hear more from YOU! (Yes, you.) We’d love to keep this section going, so if you have a cool idea, whether it’s easy or advanced, send it our way! We’d love to highlight you and share your ideas with our awesome community of technicians!  Sharing Is Scaring: Submit Your Tip Here

Hey, Smart Home Ghosts! Trick or Treat! Please proceed! Here is something good to read!  It’s that time of year again. ‘Tis the season of creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky… or pumpkins, spice, and everything nice. You know which type you are. (If you’re like me, you’re both as long as candy is involved.) It’s also time to gain your monthly knowledge BOOst from our freshly brewed new product features, Smart Skills, KB articles, tips, tricks, and more! Grab a treat and carve out a whittle time to squash your goal of being the most well-rounded pumpkin in the patch. P.S. Thanks for bearing with me through that intro. I considered sticking with a simple skeleton joke but didn’t think you all would find it very humerus. Witching You a Gourd Halloween! Holly Bechtler Technical Writing Operations Specialist

What Do You Get When You Mix Araknis Networks, Wi-Fi 6, and OvrC? You get a powerful potion for a successful wireless network! The world’s first Wi-Fi 6 access point powered by OvrC has risen from the laboratory! Meet the all-new Araknis Networks Wi-Fi 6 820 Indoor Access Point.

Key features include: 2.5 Gbps LAN port-in: Offers support for multi-gig jobs Enhanced SSID customization: Customize fast roaming and band steering per SSID Complete Wi-Fi Management via OvrC: Simple setup for multiple-AP jobs including guest network configuration  4×4 antenna: More powerful connection for more devices with greater throughput so you don’t have to sacrifice network speed for size DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) channel support to increase the number of Wi-Fi channels when available Wi-Fi 6: Supports the new standard for increased speed, coverage and capacityCan extend the battery life of Wi-Fi 6 connected devices Supports OFDMA, MU-MIMO, 1024 QAM, and BSS Coloring to optimize bandwidth efficiency, thus increasing throughput while decreasing power consumption Read More

No Need to Fear, OS 3.3.1 is Here! This updated OS will enchant your system with: Recently Played agent and UI CORE 3 and 5 Z-Wave antennas turned on Z-Wave Common Drivers for Lights, Sensors and Relays Lights page UI redesign  Voice Coordinator agent Read the Release Notes here. My wife told me to take the spider out instead of killing him. Went out. Had a few drinks. Real nice guy. He’s a web designer.

These OvrC Improvements Will Come in Candy We’ve sweetened your OvrC experience with the release of OvrC Pro App Version 7.0 and OvrC Cloud App Version 2.37.0! These updates improve the process of adding new locations and enhance third-party product management. OvrC Pro App Version 7.0 Now, when select models of Sony AVRs, sound bars, and line array speakers are paired with an OvrC Pro agent host device (Araknis/Pakedge routers, Control4 controllers, or the OvrC Pro Hub), you will see information for advanced troubleshooting. New capabilities for these Sony products include: Power status and control for all zones Currently selected input status for all zones Volume level status for all zones, plus mute/unmute control Firmware version status and update Improvements made to identifying Sony Bravia TVs that are wirelessly connected to the network so that the existing third-party integration on supported models show up properly in OvrC as Sony devices For more advanced configuration, the local web UI of the device can be accessed remotely using the OvrC WebConnect feature. Read More

OvrC Cloud App Version 2.37.0 Now allows automatic transfer of third-party devices to the location where they were most recently scanned by an OvrC Pro agent.  Note: OvrC-enabled devices (a WattBox, e.g.) still require a manual transfer from one project to another. If the locations are within the same Partner account, this can be done directly within your OvrC account. If the original and new customer locations are tied to different OvrC accounts, then they must be transferred using the Take Over process. “Add Location” Add a new location for an existing customer by clicking the “traffic light” menu on the right-side of the customer row. From there, you can edit customer information, edit location information, or add another new location.

Address Line 2 has been added as a field (without impacting the Google verified address or how the pin appears on the map in OvrC). When the address is selected, it’s broken out into separate fields for address 1, address 2, city, state or province, and postal code instead of a single line of text containing all fields.

If the Broom Fits, Fly It Remember to check on your existing clients’ Control4 OS versions! Keeping your systems updated provides the most integration and interoperability options and presents the latest in functionality, integrations, and reliability. While the current OS 3 release version is recommended for systems that support it, systems that cannot update due to legacy, unsupported hardware can still be updated to the final build of its OS generation. Like a witch’s broom during the witching hour, we know time flies when you’re hard at work. Luckily, we have it all spelled out for you in the Recommended and Supported Versions of Control4 OS and Composer Pro. What’s the problem with twin witches? You never know which witch is which.

Knowledgebase   New or updated articles: Understanding Spanning Tree & Best Practices (new) Binary MoIP Articles, Videos, and Documentation (updated and reorganized) Pulse-Eight Documentation, Videos and Help Resources  Networking Best Practices for Binary MoIP (Media Over IP) Getting Started with OvrC Wi-Fi Management Pakedge MS Series Switches Sonos Spanning Tree (STP) Configuration Alexa Articles, Videos, and Documentation Network-Reported Issues w/ 3rd Party Devices Device Image Updater v2 (OS 2.9.0+) Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) Configuration for the SX-8P/SX-8-EP OvrC Compatibility with Pakedge Products Updating a Managed Wireless Network to OvrC using the NK-1 Understanding Bitrate for High Resolution Music Equalizer Basics Improvements Made to OvrC and OvrC Pro Elk M1 Security Drivers no longer in the Driver Database Wi-Fi Compatibilities

Center of Attention Happy Birthday to our Control4 Authorized Education Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina! Delta Smart has been operating for just over one year.

Snap One Webinars  We have new webinars coming your way! See the full training calendar here, or check out the links below.

FX Luminaire Webinar: New SRP PBGW Lighting and LinkingWednesday, Oct. 12: 6 a.m. PST | 9 a.m. PST Intro to ClareOne (Recurring Webinar Series) Clare FusionPro (Recurring Webinar Series) ClareVision (Recurring Webinar Series)

Smart Skills In Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month: Did you know that Snap One Education has added Spanish subtitles to over 175 Smart Skills? Most of these also include Portuguese, French, German, Russian, and Simplified Chinese subtitles. While we still have plenty of work to do in this area, we’d like to thank you for learning with us in your language!  Check out these new or updated Smart Skills that are now in our Tech Community (with subtitles): Turning Off All Lights and AV from a Keypad Button (new) Creating a Flashing Lighting Scene (new) Connecting Amazon Alexa to a Control4 Smart Home (new) Managing SSIDs from Multiple Access Points Using Wi-Fi Management in OvrC Pro (new) Programming Push Notifications in a Control4 Project (new) Toggling Smart Lighting Color and Color Temperature Presets (new) Installing the Control4 POE Chime Video Doorbell  Wiring and Configuring a Relay and 1-2 Contacts into a Z2IO Creating a VLAN Specific SSID in Access Networks Wiring and Configuring up to 4 Contacts into a Z2IO  Hiding an SSID in Access Networks Wiring and Configuring 1-2 Relays into a Z2I0

We work closely with device manufacturers to provide product drivers that interoperate seamlessly with the Control4 platform.  New or Updated Drivers: Samsung 2022 TV New Zealand Models Sony 2022 TV additional models (Aug) Coretronic Optoma Projector Sony Projector See More Drivers Here

Tips and Tricks Creepin’ It Real: Reported Network Issues with Third Party Devices This list was compiled by Tech Support based on findings while diagnosing network issues with Snap One or other related products and services. Please note that this is not a “Do Not Use” list, but a reference as you design projects or encounter issues in the field.  Conjuring Camera UI Popup  Here is a refresher on how to use the Navigation agent to enable the Camera UI Popup on EA Controllers and T3 Series Touch Panels.    How do you pay a necromancer for their services? Crypt-o-currency. Your Discussions Matter!  Every time you engage in the Discussions page in the Tech Community, you improve our search engine. More participation = better answers! Discussions contain helpful tips that are just as searchable as Knowledgebase articles. Every piece of information builds the Tech Community to be the central location for technical information.  Time to Share Your Tips and Tricks! We want to hear more from YOU! (Yes, you.) We’d love to keep this section going, so if you have a cool idea, whether it’s easy or advanced, send it our way! We’d love to highlight you and share your ideas with our awesome community of technicians!  Sharing Is Scaring: Submit Your Tip Here

 

Hey, Smart Home Pros! In many areas of the United States, August kicks off the back-to-school season. Here at Snap One, we believe there is no such thing as being too cool for school, especially in our industry. Technology and education go together better than the PB&J you carried in your lunch sack. We may not be able to provide a sandwich through this message, but we do have a spread of new product features, smart skills, KB articles, tips, tricks, and more to offer! P.S. If PB&J is still a staple lunch item for you, you’ll find no judgment here. You can’t beat classic and efficient. The real questions are: Crunchy or creamy? Strawberry or grape? White or wheat? Offering you a mental image of your perfect PB&J,  Holly Bechtler Technical Writing Operations Specialist

Have You Explored the Redesigned OvrC Location Dashboard?

In case you missed it, the OvrC Location Dashboard received a functional makeover! Key improvements to streamline your workflow include: Breadcrumbs to help with navigation Call or email customers, or get directions to their property, with just a click  Automated ISP recognition for Pro locations when performing a speed test A linked Resources section to house your online project-related documents  Visual consistency between projects Read more here.  What’s that? You’d like to contribute to OvrC product evolution and improvement by submitting your feedback, you say? We know just the place! Click the Support tab in OvrC!

It’s the Final Countdown… of Compatible OS Versions for the HC-800 Controller and USB Installer OS 3.3.0 will be the final compatible OS version for the legacy HC-800 controller. This means that any HC-800 will need to be removed from projects before any system updates to OS 3.3.1 or beyond. Additionally, the USB Installer will not be updated to support the CORE Series controllers or OS 3.3.0. This product was built for scenarios where the internet was unavailable for an OS update. However, the need for this tool has decreased as connectivity options have become more abundant. The USB installer can still be used to update systems with HC and EA Controllers up to OS 3.2.4. Read the official announcement here.  How do you set your digital location to Skyrim? You use NordVPN.

I Can OvrC This ClareVision So Clare-ly Now With the new firmware release, ClareVision NVRs now natively support OvrC! You can officially add your client’s Clare NVRs to your OvrC account to manage the product remotely. The new firmware also enables Control4 SDDP support and is further supported by a newly released combined camera and NVR driver. Check out the details from Clare’s official announcement.

Resolved: OS 3.3.0 Directory Not Found for Announcement Agent  Last month we highlighted a workaround for a bug in OS 3.3.0 that does not allow you to add an audio file to the Announcement Agent. We now have a resolution for this bug with Composer Pro version 3.3.0631355-res. Read more on the resolution here.

Hand Me the RMA Tool, Please! While the shovel may be revered as a ground-breaking invention, we like to think our new Online RMA tool measures up to the demand for a speedy return process. The benefits of using the online tool include: Ability to quickly return most items without troubleshooting No need to talk with a support agent Fast service You can check it out for yourself at:  Snap One Portal> My Account> Returns Control4 Dealer Portal> Account> Online RMA Legends say that the king of all tools is the ruler.

Knowledgebase New or updated articles: Video not Displaying on Intercom Call (new) How to use the Set EA Resolution driver to resolve EDID problems that keep OSD from loading (new) How to Use Luma Devices with Ring Alarm Pro Base Stations (new) Troubleshooting IP Controls on Sunbrite Veranda, Signature, and Pro 2 TVs (new) Upgrading 1.7.4 Projects: Step by Step (updated) Setting Up Email Alerts in a Luma Recorder (updated) Clare Controls Course, Articles, and Help Center (updated to include Clare’s support number for password resets)

The MDU Learning Path Debut Not only did our Education team create seven new Smart Skills for Control4 MDU setups, but they also made an official learning path for the series! When you enroll (yes, you have the power) in the Control4 MDU (Multiple Dwelling Units) learning path, you will automatically be enrolled in all seven modules. It is now live in the Education portal. Happy learning!  Check out more Communication Server Information in the Tech Community.

Snap One Webinars We have new webinars coming your way soon! You can access the full training calendar here. Service Plans and Recurring Revenue Learn from experienced integrators how to develop a service department that runs efficiently and effectively so your customers are happier, more likely to provide repeat business, and offer more referrals. This is a roundtable webinar and Q&A. Two sessions are available, please select a time to register. Wednesday, August 17, 20229 a.m. EST  | 12 p.m. EST We hope nothing lessons your enthusiasm for learning.

Smart Skills Check out these new or updated Smart Skills that are now in our Tech Community (with subtitles): Using the Room Control Driver to Cycle Between Preset Sources (new) Programming Lighting Scenes to Enhance Home Security (new) Integrating Spotify Personalized Playlists in a C4 System (new) Programming the SR260 Custom Buttons to Display a Video Source (new) Configuring the MDU Residence Controller (new) Configuring the MDU Residence WR-1 Router (new) Configuring the MDU DS2 Door Station (new) Configuring the MDU EA5 Communication Server (new) Configuring the MDU EA5 Network (new) Configuring the MDU Networking Switch (new) Configuring the MDU Concierge RK-1 Router (new) Determining the On-Screen Device Endpoint (new) Configuring a Keypad Button to Play Music and Activate a Lighting Scene (new) Creating Perfect Demo Lighting Devices Using Floating Button Bases (new)

We work closely with device manufacturers to provide product drivers that interoperate seamlessly with the Control4 platform.  New or Updated Drivers: SunBriteTV Veranda2 – updated driver documentation Alexa voice scenes v117 – voice scenes rename or add wasn’t resetting discovery payload Alexa Voice Scenes v116 – add channel support to cable/satellite device discovery Sunbrite Veranda 2 – updated model metadata for search Alexa v115 – send Alexa Turn On commands to rooms with distributed AV devices, resolve failed discovery RSP Amp v30 – Improved command queueing during announcements Peloton UI button Chime VDB – move Communication Agent requirement to top of document and emphasize Lutron RadioRA2 Repeater – documentation improvement Microphone UI button Alexa voice scenes v113 – resolve specific issues with discovery SunBrite Veranda 3 v49 – documentation update EA controller HDMI setter Triad AMS (v1) – v128 update drivers to remove socket Lutron – LEAP Motor control driver Lutron – LEAP Occupancy Driver for QSX Lutron – LEAP CCO driver Nintendo Switch LG 2022 Bug Fixes Samsung 2022 Bug Fix Sony 2022 TV additional models Yale Real Living End-of-Life Sony 2022 TVs Linn DS and Kustom updated drivers Control4 V7 Driver for ClareVision Cameras and NVR’s See More Drivers Here

Tips and Tricks Did you know that you can quickly filter and search for drivers on the Snap One portal? Check it out here. Carbon Mount Resources If you’re speccing a new Strong Carbon series mount for your next install, don’t forget to check out the Strong Carbon Wall Mount Flow Guide, Strong Carbon Ceiling Mount Flow Guide, and the Strong Carbon Mounts Calculator (if using Chrome, right-click the link and Save As to download).    Modern supercars are mostly made of carbon… including the driver. Time to Share Your Tips and Tricks! We want to hear more from YOU! (Yes, you.) We’d love to keep this section going, so if you have a cool idea, whether it’s easy or advanced, send it our way! We’d love to highlight you and share your ideas with our awesome community of technicians!  Sharing Is Caring: Submit Your Tip Here

Hey, Smart Home Pros! When I think of July in the U.S., I dream of fireworks, grilling, and Independence Day. Did you know that aside from Independence Day, July also marks other historical events and some exciting anniversaries? Zip codes were introduced nationwide in 1963, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson, and Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969. July is also National Ice Cream Month, National Hot Dog Month, and National Anti-Boredom Month. To honor the spirit of Anti-Boredom … I digress. Treat yourself to an ice cream cone and dive into our new product features, Smart Skills, KB articles, tips, tricks, and more!   With the power of knowledge, anything is popsicle. Happy July!  Holly Bechtler Technical Writing Operations Specialist

Have You Seen This Label? If you’ve purchased any of the new CORE Series Controllers, you should have noticed something new! Since time on the job is precious, we’ve included a quick response code to help you locate information swiftly. This QR code now links you to the CORE Controllers Quick Start so you can access quick start guides, mounting instructions, information on OvrC integration, Tech Community resources, and more! Q… R… soooo beautiful… to me.

WattBox 800 Series Gets a Facelift!  The WattBox 800 product line now has its very own faceplate! The WattBox Rack-Mountable Faceplate Display is more than just a pretty face, however. We know that sometimes you need important information and power… like, yesterday. This faceplate knows and says it all:Displays voltage and current readings (individual and global)Indicates whether it is properly groundedIndicates if your WattBox is connected to the internetContains two USB charging ports and an additional outlet on the front to conveniently charge tools and offer a quick power resourceContains two additional USB charging ports on the backYou can also connect up to three power distribution units to the faceplate and use OvrC to view which PDUs are connected. Check out the Quick Start Guide for more info on features and setup.  Important Note: WB-800-FP is only compatible with 800 Series IP WattBox Products, but is not compatible with the WB-800CH1U-IPVM-8.

Dropping Knowledge on MoIP Audio Dropouts  Are you experiencing audio dropouts on your Binary MoIP system when using Pakedge MS switches? You can avoid this on new installations and fix your existing systems by creating an Access Control List for each MS switch with a connected MoIP device. Read the full article to see how to configure an ACL rule for new and existing MoIP installations.  Because we want to arm all of our MoIP installers with the best secret weapon known to the human race (knowledge, am I right?), here is a quick knowledge drop around networking best practices for MoIP. You can access more Binary MoIP Articles, Videos, and Documentation here.  Need for Speed Heads up! There is a faster remote connection for the Control4 app. At the end of July, customers will see an End User License Agreement (EULA) pop up on their Control4 app. They must accept the terms in the EULA to keep using the app. Read more about it in the Tech Community.

Knowledgebase New or updated articles: Activating Luma Cameras Connected to a Luma NVR (new) Cannot Control Sony TVs with Control4 (new) Device Image Updater v2 (OS 2.9.0+) (updated to include CORE controllers) Binary MoIP Articles, Videos, and Documentation (new) How to Configure Motion Detection for Chime Video Doorbells (updated for clarity) Creating OvrC Connect Users (formerly an OvrC Home article) Creating OvrC Connect Commands (formerly an OvrC Home article) Configuring OvrC Connect Network Controls (formerly an OvrC Home article) Setting Up LumaLink & Remote Access for Luma Recorders (revised for OvrC Connect) Veranda 3: Find the Wi-Fi and Wired MAC Addresses (new) Set up Demo Mode on a Veranda 3 Television (new) Find the ST Code on a Veranda 3 (new) Add Business Partners to Your OvrC Account (new) Cannot Use OvrC Webconnect on AT&T’s Cellular Service (new) DS2 Door Station Driver Update (updated for v259) Sonos Grouping Setup Guide (updated) How to Fix Choppy Bluetooth Audio on TVs (new)

Connected Home Security: It’s More than just Cameras Between July 25th and the end of August, Snap One Education is offering a three-hour, in-person course at select locations across the United States! The session will model and provide hands-on experience using advanced Control4 Programming to maximize home security. From learning to program house-mode variables to utilizing Clare security panels and other types of contacts and sensors, the course will focus on moving a home security package from passive and reactive to powerful and proactive. Registration links will be available soon! Control4 dealers will also be emailed, but you can contact your local Snap One store for more information. Snap One Webinars We have new webinars coming your way soon! You can access the full training calendar here, but we’ve also conveniently linked a few just for you. (Two sessions available per webinar. Select a time to register.) SunBrite Veranda 3: Our First Full-Shade Smart TV July 13, 2022 9 a.m. ET / 12 p.m. ET Triad PDX: New Architectural Speakers with Push Lock July 20, 2022 9 a.m. ET / 12 p.m. ET

Smart Skills Check out these new or updated Smart Skills that are now in our Tech Community (with subtitles): Converting Color Spaces Setting Up Smart Bulbs in a Control4 System Getting Customer Specified Light Brightness and Light Color for Lighting Scenes Configuring Brightness Presets for Button Connections Configuring Warm Dimming in the New Lighting Driver Property Interface Setting Light and Color Temperature Using the Color Agent to Create and Utilize Presets Programming with Color Incorporating Color into Lighting Scenes

We work closely with device manufacturers to provide product drivers that interoperate seamlessly with the Control4 platform. New or Updated Drivers: Roku TV v145 – added power mode variable Lutron Radio RA 3 Voice Scene v112 – updated light discovery for pre-OS 3.3.0 systems KNX Color v11 – fix for driver turning off the light on director restart Pandora – updated API usage per Pandora changes Customer Help – Sample webview driver Customer Help – Partner ‘Contact Dealer’ webview driver Customer Help – Partner ‘Help Page’ webview driver Customer Help – Partner ‘Helpful Videos’ webview driver Customer Help – “Contact Dealer – Scenario” driver Customer Help – “Reset Power – Scenario” driver Customer Help – “Troubleshoot” webview driver Customer Help – “How Do I” webview driver Color Agent – official release Essential plugin outlet dimmer v5500 – long ramp times in ALS ButtonTimer v4 – updated device mapping Apple Bridge v45 – support CORE-x controllers Alexa Voice Scenes v111 – OS 3.3.0 and color/tunable white lighting functionality Lutron LEAP Ketra (with color)Snapshot – update to support color lighting KNX Color v10 – New driver (with color and light temperature support) FX Luminaire – New driver with color and light temperature support Philips Hue – New driver (with color and light temperature support) LG AU810- SDDP correctedGJD updated driver LG 2022 TVs Pulse-Eight – Audio pathing, Source vs. Sync Mode Govee (Chowmain) FutureNow (P5 Automation) Philips Hue Bridge and Philips Hue Light (OS 3.3.0+) FX Luminaire Episode 2.1 Soundbar – IR driver2n_ip_intercom.c4z: driver version 8 (adds variables for last authenticated user) Lutron Leap Switch v6 – update to support RA3 MultiDisplay Manager Agent v311 – resolves the problem with agent creating presets Heatmiser UH1 v804 – allows the default schedule entry to be deleted Samsung 2022 TVs for US Samsung 2022 TVs for AU Samsung 2022 TVs for UK Samsung 2022 TVs for Canada See More Drivers Here

Tips and Tricks Let Me Chime in with Some Helpful Motion Configuration Tips …  Did you know? When configuring motion detection in Chime doorbells, misconfiguration of the item size and global motion sensitivity rules can lead to failed video calls and programming events. Read the entire article for a detailed description of configuring both settings and achieving the best customer experience! Workaround: Directory Not Found for Announcement Agent While we investigate a bug that does not allow you to add an audio file to the Announcement Agent, we recommend using a VPN or local connection as a workaround. Read more here. Here comes the Sun … Brite TV Tips ’Tis the season for the outdoors! We know that also means you’re probably working more with SunBrite TVs. Here are some secret weapons to help you connect the Veranda 3 to Wi-Fi and view which SunBrite accessories are compatible at a quick glance. Time to Share Your Tips and Tricks! We want to hear more from YOU! (Yes, you.) We’d love to keep this section going, so if you have a cool idea, whether it’s easy or advanced, send it our way! We’d love to highlight you and share your ideas with our awesome community of technicians!  Sharing Is Caring: Submit Your Tip Here

Hey, Smart Home Pros!

Did you know that the official first day of summer in the northern hemisphere (this year) occurs on June 21st? Coined “summer solstice,” this event is marked by the longest day of the year and the shortest night. The sun will be at the highest point in the sky while the moon is at its lowest. At the same time, the southern hemisphere will experience its winter solstice, which marks its shortest day and longest night of the year. Whether you’re sweating or shivering this month, we’re bringing the heat with a wave of new product features, smart skills, KB articles, tips, tricks, and more!

If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?

Happy Solstice!
Holly Bechtler
Technical Writing Operations Specialist 

Release the Kraken… I Mean CORE Controllers & OS 3.3.0! 

The CORE Controllers are a direct upgrade for the EA series controllers and offer a variety of new and improved capabilities. Some of the enhancements include a new processor, more audio outputs (seven, yep seven, on the CORE 5), HDMI 2.0 output with 4K @ 60Hz, installer-friendly rack- and wall-mounting options, and lots more! OS 3.3.0 supports the release of the new CORE Series Controllers, adds colorized lighting support for our partners and homeowners, and levels up Composer Pro with new time-saving features. There is now a native color wheel with end-user options for color controls, saving presets, and full-color scenes. The Lighting Defaults tab contains an Apply To option to push colors and styles to multiple devices at once. Remote connection to a job is even easier with the enhanced Remote Connections tab that displays recent accounts you have visited and also saves your favorite ones. New hotkeys for Composer Pro allow you to quickly manage and navigate projects with shortcuts to collapse rooms, collapse devices, and expand all. Learn More in the Tech Community
 
Also, read the full OS 3.3.0 Release Notes or download the latest version of Composer Pro.

OvrC Connect: The New Customer App for OvrC

The OvrC Home app has received a makeover just in time for summer! Meet OvrC Connect: the all-new app with a refreshed user interface and redesigned architecture. The new app is more user-friendly for customers, giving you the ability to empower your customers and their abilityto solve common problems. It offers additional features like discrete on or off commands for individual WattBox outlets and PoE ports. The existing OvrC Home app will receive an update to provide an easy transition to OvrC Connect. Click here to read more and download the app yourself.

You know who was into the Internet before it was cool? Httpsters.

DS2 Good to Be True!

We’re excited to announce that the DS2 driver update v259 is now available! This is the third update in a series aimed at improving the stability, use, and setup experience of the DS2 Door Station. The latest update provides several bug fixes, documentation updates, directory paths for OS 3.3.X support, and the latest DS2 firmware (2.33.5.42.15). More than half of the deployed DS2s in the field have not been updated to the previous version (v258), which significantly increases the risk of a poor customer experience. Update your projects, like now, to the v259 driver update for all Control4 customers on both OS2.x and 3.x. Find out more on the latest and how to update here. Your future self will be happy that you did. 

Knock knock. Who’s there and why didn’t you use the DS2 button? 

Have You “Meshed” With Eero Yet? 

Eero’s unique “TrueMesh” mesh technology system is a network solution that uses multiple devices to harmoniously send your Wi-Fi connection in every direction–especially to rooms that are sometimes out of Wi-Fi’s reach under other networking solutions. Whether you’re an existing or new eero installer, check out these eero tips documents, articles and help resources to make your next install a success!

Reading while you sunbathe makes you well red.

Check Out The New Ecobee Thermo… STAT! 

The new ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium and the Smart Thermostat Enhanced offer some pretty “cool” and unique features. Both have everything needed for a quick and easy installation, including screws, drywall plugs, backplate, PEK, wiring diagrams, and a quick start guide. For both models, a power extender kit is included for hardwired installations without a C-wire – that means these models don’t require charging or other power sources! More importantly, they easily integrate with Control4 and many other popular smart home platforms. Easy & breezy where it counts!

The key to a successful relationship – find someone who likes the same thermostat setting you do.

Knowledgebase

New or updated articles:
Control4 Music Services—Minimum OS Versions, Compatible Controllers, and Limitations (updated with new Pandora information)
Josh.ai Articles, Videos, and Documentation (updated to include territory rep contacts)
Compatibility of Luma Cameras with Luma Recorders (updated for clarification)
Setting Up LumaLink & Remote Access for Luma Recorders (updated for clarification)
Supported Z-Wave devices(updated)
OS 3.3.0 Announcement Information (new)
CORE Controllers Information, Documentation, and Videos (new)
Learn about Colorized Lighting Smart Skills (new)
Configuring Colorized Lighting in Composer Pro Smart Skills (new)
eero Documents, Articles, and Help Resources (new)
How to Reset a Luma NVR/DVR Password and Security Questions (updated to include a Pro Tip on creating strong passwords)
Control4 Centralized Lighting Articles, Videos, and Documentation (updated to include Decora Wired Keypad documentation)
Pulse-Eight Documentation, Videos, and Help Resources (new)
How Many Streams Do Service Providers Allow? (new)
3rd Party Color Control Drivers
IP Control for Sony TVs
DS2 Door Station Driver Update
OS 3.3.0 Announcement Information
Color Control Drivers: Available at OS 3.3.0 Launch

Around the World in Education

Recently in London, England, Snap One Technical Training Manager Paul Dunbar and a local Snap One partner held two educational events to show young people the highlights of working in the connected home industry. Fascinating demonstrations, accented with hands-on activities, made the events incredibly successful. Paul intends these experiences and training to be a springboard for youth who want to enter the industry. 

Smart Skills

Check out these new or updated Smart Skills that are now in our Tech Community (with subtitles):
Ventilating a Room with the Extract Fan Timer Driver (new)
Setting up the Control4 App to Use Intercom Anywhere on an iPhone (new)
Setting up and Caring for the Sunbrite Veranda 3 Outdoor TV (new) 
Connecting the Sunbrite Veranda 3 TV to Wi-Fi with Pro Tips (new)
Enabling Sunbrite Veranda 3 TV IP Control in a C4 System
Pairing the Sunbrite Veranda 3 TV Remote and Other Bluetooth Devices (new)
Setting Up the Sunbrite Veranda 3 TV for Outdoor Viewing (new)
Setting Up the Veranda 3 TV Demo Mode for Showrooms (new)
Changing Lighting Styles on Lighting Devices in a Project (new)
Mastering the Composer Remote-Connection Tabs (new)
Configuring the ZAP Coordinator and ZServer on the Same Controller (new)
Migrating a Project to a New Controller (new)

Drivers

We work closely with device manufacturers to provide product drivers that interoperate seamlessly with the Control4 platform.

New or Updated Drivers:

This month we are also highlighting third-party drivers that work with OS 3.3.0 and the new Color Lighting capabilities. Enjoy! Read more about color control drivers here.
Chowmain:
Generic Lighting (update)
LIFX (update)
Shelly (update)
TP-Link (update)
Yeelight (update)

P5:
P5 Drivers
FNIP-RGB/010
FNIP-12xPWM

Hosted by Driver Central:
Prolux DMX (Cindev)
Enhanced Lighting Interface (Janus Technologies)  
Converging Systems (Converging Systems)
DMX (Domaudeo)

Released by Control4:
DS2 Doorstation v259 (update)
Luma Navigation v36 (remove unsupported view commands)
Sunbrite Veranda 3 TVs (SB-V3-55-4KHDR-BL, SB-V3-65-4KHDR-BL, SB-V3-75-4KHDR-BL) (new)
Google Assistant v121 – OS 3.3.0 discovery changes
Garage/Door/Gate/Window/Screen/Lift relay drivers v11 (added “didn’t open/close” events)
Lutron LEAP switch v5 (resolve UI compatibility issue)
Lutron Leap Shade v6 (maintenance)
KNX Universal Thermostat v146 (temperature range fix)
Pandora Premium (Minor enhancements)
Chime VDB v67 (fix to export system log)
SiriusXM – driver maintenance update
Dynalite – maintenance release
August Driver Update
Loewe TVs- New and updated drivers
Yale Driver- update
Universal mini driver – Apple Music
Universal mini driver – RTL+
Universal mini driver – OQEE
Universal mini driver – update Crave for Samsung
Universal mini driver (ertflix)
Universal mini driver (EON)
Universal mini driver (update F1 for NVIDIA SHIELD)
Universal mini driver (update Pathe Thuis for LG)
Universal mini driver (add Samsung to Viaplay)
Universal Mini Driver – v23 (including Sunbrite Veranda3)
Universal mini driver – IMDB
Universal mini driver – update ITV Hub and Hotstar for Sony TVs
Universal mini driver – STARZPLAY
Universal mini driver – Samsung Business TV
Universal mini driver – add LG to Cosmote
Universal mini driver – add LG to Peacock
Universal mini driver – Teleboy
Universal mini driver – Swisscom Blue TV
Universal mini driver – LES MILLS+
Universal mini driver – HomeStreamTV
Universal mini driver – Paramount+ (International)
Universal mini driver – update New Zealand apps for Samsung TVs
Universal mini driver – Xiber TV
Universal mini driver – Jellyfin
See More Drivers Here

Tips and Tricks

“A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it.” —Robert Orben

We know that days like these are far and few between, so we’ve collected some helpful tips and tricks so you don’t have to spend precious time looking for them! 

Composer Pro Tip: When in “System Design”, if you click the “Summary” tab and select a device or room, you can see any programming tied to it without having to navigate to the Detective Suite.Password, Please!We have all fallen victim to a forgotten password. Thankfully, the Luma NVR and DVR systems contain a “Forgot Password” link that presents security questions that were created during the initial installation. Click here to see more on password resets, creation, and how to change passwords and security questions. 

Computer: Choose a password.
Me: Hi-hat.
Computer: Password cannot contain symbols. 

Giveaway!
“Hi swag, I’m Dad.” Can you find the Dad Joke thread in the Tech Community? If you comment with your best joke, you might just win a Snap One merch surprise! Upvote your favorite jokes in the comment section. The joke with the most votes wins!

When does a joke become a Dad joke? When it becomes apparent.

Time to Share Your Tips and Tricks!

We want to hear more from YOU! (Yes, you.) We’d love to keep this section going, so if you have a cool idea, whether it’s easy or advanced, send it our way! We’d love to highlight you and share your ideas with our awesome community of technicians! 

Sharing Is Caring: Submit Your Tip Here

Hey, Smart Home Pros! April showers bring May flowers, but what do May flowers bring? A. Allergies B. A new edition of Smart Home Pro Tech Newsletter C. Both A & B Fun Fact: During the month of May, people from all over the world observe an informal holiday called Star Wars Day. If you’re a fan, you probably braced yourself for the surplus of “May the 4th Be With You” greetings a few days ago. We may not be able to defeat your seasonal allergies, but we have summoned the Snap One force(s) to provide helpful tips and tricks, updated Smart Skills, KB articles, and more. Check it out! Snap One with The Force, Holly Bechtler Technical Writing Operations Specialist   Snap One Receives 17 Awards from CE PRO Quest For Quality Thanks for your votes! Check it out here if you missed the announcement in March.  Patch Me Through To Cat6a, Please! The universal fit of the Wirepath Rack Mount RJ45 Cat6a Patch Panel offers a professional finish and installer-friendly features for your Strong rack. This patch panel is completely compatible with all TIA/EIA 568-A or -B wiring standards, and features color-coded 110 terminals. We know that proper cable termination takes time, so this product features pointed peaks at each punch-down location to “split” the pairs easily – helping you maintain the twists as you guide them into each slot. Choose between 24 or 48 ports. Learn More Reminder! Internet Explorer 11 Desktop ApplicationIs Retiring    Here is your reminder that the Internet Explorer 11 Desktop Application is retiring June 15th, 2022. If you have Luma Surveillance systems in the field, you need to use Microsoft Edge to access the product’s web interface. Here are more Microsoft Resources on the subject. In case you missed it last month, here is our KB article on Running Internet Explorer in Microsoft Edge.  Knowledgebase New or updated articles: Episode Hybrid Amp Articles, Videos, and Smart Skills (new) How to Add a Chime Video Doorbell to a Luma NVR (updated)

New Training Facility in the “May”-king!
The Snap One Education Team has been working diligently to prepare a larger Automation Training Facility in Charlotte, NC. This facility will replace the existing Charlotte location that some of you may already know (and hopefully love). More details to come!

Smart Skills

Check out these new or updated Smart Skills that are now in our Tech Community (with subtitles):
Positioning Lighting Devices to Align in a Wall Box (new)
Creating a MoIP Video Wall (new)
Diagnosing Zigbee Issues Using the Zigbee Health Tool(new)
Adding Snapshots from the Chime Video Doorbell to Control4 Push Notifications (new)
Setting Up and Using the Spotify Connect DriverWorking with Spotify Presets


Drivers

We work closely with device manufacturers to provide product drivers that interoperate seamlessly with the Control4 platform.

New or updated drivers:
Softcomplex Garadget

See More Drivers Here
 

Tips and Tricks

Not all math puns are awful. Just sum.

Are you looking to add more bright ideas to your home automation equation?

We’ve outlined 78 Home Automation Ideas +5 Bonus Voice Control Ideas.  

When you factor in the tips in each category outlined below, you are sure to calculate plenty of smart solutions for any average problem!
Smart Lighting
Smart Music
Entertaining Automation
Video/Home Theater Automation
Smart Security
Everyday Alerts and Notifications Luxurious Automation for Daily Life
Climate ControlEnergy-Friendly AutomationVoice Control

Bad puns may make you numb, but math puns make you number.
 
“For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned.”
—Benjamin Franklin 

We all know that every job site has its unique quirks. Important information can quickly disappear as your customer base grows if communication and organization isn’t streamlined. You can improve your team’s communication efficiency when it comes to critical info about each job site. Check out how you can use OvrC notes to keep critical information handy. 


Time to Share Your Tips and Tricks!

We want to hear more from YOU! (Yes, you.) We’d love to keep this section going, so if you have a cool idea, whether it’s easy or advanced, send it our way! We’d love to highlight you and share your ideas with our awesome community of technicians! 

Sharing Is Caring: Submit Your Tip Here!