The Niles IC2 Home Theater Automation System is an affordable, versatile and powerful product that can automate a variety of modern home theater components, sources and devices and provide true one-touch operation of the most complicated home theater systems. It consists of a “Main System Unit” (MSU) and “Big Button Remote” (BBR) that can synchronize, control and automate up to 16 devices. The system can also be used with multizone systems, such as Niles’ IntelliControl® ICS, to integrate whole house audio sources into a home theater with a single unified remote control and reliable one-button operation.
Representing the next generation in technology, design and ergonomics, the IC2 replaces the popular IntelliControl system, considered by many AV enthusiasts to be a true triumph of system design and engineering. IC2 takes the idea behind IntelliControl to the next level and features upgrades that reflect today’s changing home theater dynamic, incorporating several new sources, including DVRs, cable boxes, media servers, lighting, drapes, DVD players and Media Center PCs. Other upgrades include the ability to control up to eight home theater devices via RS-232. Eight additional sources can be controlled via traditional IR. There is also more flexibility over relays and 12V trigger outputs and the MSU features an Ethernet port for outside communication and future upgrades.
The remote has eight Master Keys which can power on/off all of the connected home theater products. Each Master Key can be programmed with a sequence (macro) of up to 10 steps to automate complex functions with a single button press. Communication between the Big Button Remote and Main System Unit travels on a reliable wireless Zigbee® network where a single button press is transmitted from the remote to the main system unit which then issues the commands or macros to automate the system. Line of sight control (as with an IR remote) is not required.
IC2 will be released to the market in September 2007.