Properly Placing the Wireless Control Pad Coordinator/Repeater

A new addition to NuVo’s product lineup for 2009 is the Wireless Control Pad. The Wireless Control Pad provides customers the ability to control multiple zones from our Wireless Remote while they roam around their house. The Wireless Control Pad displays full metadata on its 1.6” OLED Screen and also allows for full source browsing (Artist, Album, Genre, and Playlist). The key to full performance and functionality is proper placement of the Coordinator. This paper will discuss multiple installation scenarios and the necessary steps needed to provide optimal range for the Wireless Control Pad.

Product Overview The Wireless Control Pad is sold in three different packages. The first package is called the Wireless Control Pad System (NV-WCPS), Fig. 1. It consists of a Wireless Control Pad, Charging Dock, and Coordinator. Every installation using the Wireless Control Pad will need this ordered at a minimum.

Fig. 1

You can add up to four additional Wireless Control Pads to any system, for a total of 5 Wireless Control Pads. There is an additional SKU for systems that will be using additional Wireless Control Pads. It is called the Wireless Control Pad Kit (NV-WCPK), and it consists of a Wireless Control Pad and Charging Dock, Fig. 2. It will sync with the homes existing coordinator.

Fig. 2

There is one additional product available for use with the Wireless Control Pads. It is a Repeater (NV-WCPR), Fig. 3, and it is designed to extend the range of the Wireless Control Pads in situations where it is necessary, like larger homes or when using outdoors. The Repeater comes with a power supply included, which allows for flexible placement anywhere near a power outlet.

Fig. 3

Placement of the Coordinator

Proper placement of the Coordinator is crucial to offering your customers the best range possible. Based on a very common and sophisticated wireless standard, our systems use the RF bandwidth to transmit signals through doors, walls, and windows. While this technology is very versatile, it is not capable of broadcasting signals through metal, steel, concrete, and a number of other surfaces. See Fig. 4 for an example of a typical installation.

Fig. 4

As you can see in this picture, the audio rack is located in the basement of the home. Since the Coordinator requires a CAT-5 connection to an open RJ45 Device Input on the EZ Port, Fig. 5, the installer chose to locate the Coordinator near the rack, making the installation quick and easy. This would be a typical scenario for an installation where the installer is going into the home after the system has been installed, and the home construction is complete, to add the Wireless Control Pad. The blue line resembles the range the Coordinator might be able to transmit. Notice the limited range. Since the Coordinator is located in the basement, there are presumably concrete floors and a concrete foundation wall. This effectively limits the range of the WCP to about 25% of its capability, since the signal is not capable of penetrating the concrete. In this scenario you might want to add a Repeater to the system, to expand out the range to cover the whole house.

Fig. 5

Adding a Repeater

In installations where the range is going to be a factor you may add up to two Repeaters to help expand the range. It is important to note that the Repeater has to be within the range of the Coordinator for it to function. Each Repeater needs to first be synced to the original Coordinator.

The proper way to sync multiple Repeaters would be as follows:

• Turn the switch dial on the bottom of the repeater from one to ‘R.’ • Place one Repeater next to the Coordinator, and plug it into the wall outlet with the provided power supply. • Press the Setup button on the Coordinator. • Press the Setup button on the Repeater.

When the green light goes out on the Repeater you have established a link connection. Unplug the Repeater from the wall outlet. Next, plug in the second Repeater and repeat the process. Proper placement of the Repeaters is crucial to the overall range of the system. For best performance a Coordinator should be placed in the center of the home, and, if using two Repeaters, a single Repeater should be placed on each side of the Coordinator. This configuration gives you 70% communication performance. See Fig. 6. If a Coordinator is placed on one side of the house, a Repeater in the middle, and a Repeater on the other side of the house you achieve a lesser communication performance of 49%. See Fig. 7

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Once the Repeaters are synced to the Coordinator you can place them anywhere in the home where you may need a boost in signal strength, as long as it is within range of the Coordinator. Plug the Repeater into the wall outlet and it will automatically establish a connection with the Coordinator. The Repeater setup is complete, and now the customer will notice increased range (Fig. 8).

Fig. 8

Pre-Wiring for a Coordinator

If you have the opportunity to prewire a home for a Wireless Control Pad System you can reduce the need for Repeaters. Even though the audio rack may still be in a basement, or in a location not central to the home, you can still run a CAT-5 cable from the rack’s EZ Port to a central location in the home. Remember the Coordinator draws its power from the EZ Port, so it is unnecessary to locate it near a power outlet. If you are able to place the Coordinator in a central location you will offer your customers the best range necessary to cover their home plus, if applicable, an outdoor zone. See Fig. 9.

Fig. 9

Troubleshooting

How do I know how good my signal range is?

By pressing the up and down arrows on the Wireless Control Pad, you can view signal information (See Fig. 10). The first indicator you will see appear is a letter in the top right section of the display. It will either say ‘C’ or ‘R’. This lets you know if the Wireless Control Pad is communicating through the Repeater or the Coordinator.

The second value is the LQI, or Link Quality Index.

The last value you see is the most important. It is the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) Value. In this image it says 90. Its range is from -100 to zero, with -100 being the best range. As you move further away from the Coordinator/Repeater, this value will drop. Once you get between -40 to –30, the Wireless Control Pad will start to lose functionality. You can walk around the home and test the range, if you notice certain rooms or locations are operating below -40 you may want to consider adding a Repeater.

Fig. 10

I am pre-wiring a new home, and would like to pre-wire for 2 Repeaters in addition to the Coordinator. Is this possible?

Yes. While the Repeaters come with a power supply, and allow for wireless communication with the Coordinator, you certainly can run additional CAT-5 cables in the home and power the Repeaters through the RJ45 connection instead of using the power supply plugged into the wall. Just make sure you have enough open RJ45 connections on your EZ Port.

I am using a Wireless iPod dock in a system, and would like to add the Wireless Control to it as well. Will there be any communication issues when using both of these wireless devices?

If using both of these devices, NuVo recommends the Coordinator be placed at least six feet away from the NV-RIPR (the device with the two antennas).

I was unable to pre-wire a home with a centrally placed Coordinator. Do I have any other options, or do I have to purchase a Repeater?

The Coordinator can be powered with an existing CAT-5 run that is connected to the EZ Port. One example would be a Master Bedroom wired Control Pad. Assuming you have access to the Master Bedroom from above, you can split the CAT-5 cable at the Control Pad with a standard RJ45 splitter. Plug the RJ45 splitter into the NuVoNet connection on

the back of the Control Pad. Take the original CAT-5 cable and plug it into one of the two RJ45 connections on the splitter. With the other connection you can run a CAT-5 cable to the Coordinator. Now you can place the Coordinator somewhere more central, like the home’s attic.