case studies

Synopsis - Seagrave, Leicestershire - 8 Zone Opus 500 system including the WCU600 touchscreen Keypads, cinema room solution and CCTV.

Case study 1

Pool House is a luxurious five bedroom property in Seagrave, Leicestershire. Set on three floors, the house is light and spacious. The developers, Merriman Ltd, approached Home IQ to provide an affordable whole-house entertainment solution which was in keeping with the feel of the property. The project features a dedicated home cinema room, HDMI DVD server/player with upscaling, projector and screen, 5.1 speaker set-up, and multiroom audio for over eight zones. The developers also required a Hardwood gated entrance with telephone intercom system. A CCTV system was also required to protect the property with the ability to view remotely, on the Tvs and touchscreens.

The brief
A number of key considerations factored in the selection of the multiroom system. It had to complement the standard and particular cosmetics of the property, provide high-quality audio, future-proof the home for audio/video distribution, and be competitively priced. After careful consideration, Home IQ decided to specify an Opus system which includes two Master Control Units (MCUs) and eight WCU600 touchscreen keypads. Home IQ settled on the Opus system because it met all of the above criteria, plus it was felt that the new WCU600 touchscreens added a high-end finish with a multitude of faceplate finishes.

Hardwood gated entrance with Videx Telephone intercom

Planning
Microsoft CAD and custom graphics were used to create wiring diagrams, layout schematics and patch drawings to plan the installation. As with any installation, planning was critical, especially in ensuring that the correct amount of cable was included within the first fix. Long runs can degrade signal quality, so optimum usage was essential. To this end, Home IQ gained access to the property at an early stage to ensure their cabling had priority and was not compromised by other installations that could have lengthened the cables.

Careful consideration was given to keypad placement so as to blend in with existing decor, and appropriate speakers and keypad faceplates were selected for the swimming pool/sauna complex to cope with differing degrees of humidity.

Swimming Pool zone

Installation
Opus runs a Certified Installer Programme to which Home IQ is signed up, and this training ensured that the Pool House project was undertaken to a professional standard, with the minimum of disruption.

The property required 8 main zones and 3 sub-zones of audio, so two Master Control Units (MCUs) were used, each capable of supporting up to 4 main zones and four sub-zones.

The building was a new build, so careful planning and consideration was undertaken with the building contractor to ensure that the multiroom entertainment system was sympathetically incorporated and not too intrusive. The AV hub was positioned on the ground floor in the centre of the building since this enabled us to cut down on any unnecessary long cable runs.

Kitchen Zone

The first task was to run Balanced Transmission Cable (BTC1-100) out of the AV hub and through the false ceilings to where the Opus DZM20 and DZM100 digital zone amplifiers were situated. Internal wiring to each keypad was then undertaken, as well as speaker cable and CAT5 to sub-zone keypads.

Once the Opus cabling was installed and tested, the rest of the home automation equipment could be installed, such as the CCTV and access systems, the home cinema room, and video distribution. Speakers, amplifiers and WCU600 touchscreen keypads were then fitted. A DF solutions Base 2 dvd/cd music server was also included to allow the client to watch DVDs in the cinema room whilst the children could listen to their favourite music via the second output. Then finally the WCU600 touchscreens were programmed too, the keypads allow the client to view CCTV and open the gates, navigate and watch Sky+, Sky HD, listen to FM radio and DAB radio.

All rooms with Tvs were cabled with the new Opus twin Cat6 cable allowing for the future upgrade to HD with minimal fuss, all rooms also feature GET screwless faceplates consisting of telephone and data outlets meeting all of the clients requirements.

Adata CCTV system, integrates with The Touchscreens and Ipad

Experience from the project
The project highlighted the importance of a wide range of magnetic interchangeable faceplates that can be used for different rooms and decor. It also demonstrated that integration with third party products is essential if seamless design and operation are required. Indeed Opus intends to increase the number of faceplates options and become compatible with even more third party products over time.

Conclusion
The property now has a bespoke multiroom entertainment system which controls all source equipment and third party automation solutions, from attractive wall-mounted keypads. The system is simple to use, requiring no technical know-how to operate, and at handover, the set-up is explained with the option of customising keypads by uploading personalised images and artwork. The system is also upgradeable thanks to USB and RS232 ports, ensuring that it is as attractive when the time comes to resell the property, as it is today.

Equipment list
Opus equipment
5 x DZM20 digital zone amplifiers.
3 x DZM100 digital zone amplifiers.
8 x WCU600 touchscreen keypads.
2 x WCU300 keypads.
20 pairs of OS165 in-ceiling speakers.
2 x MCU master control units.
2 x VSU500 video switching unit.
5 x BCT1-100 balanced cable runs.
Home cinema
Phillips TSU9600 Pronto remote control.
DF Solutions base 2 DVD/CD server
Pioneer AV receiver.
Epson EH-TW5500 projector
Kef Ci200.in wall flush speakers x3 (front left, front right, and centre speaker as part of a 5.1 cinema speaker set-up).
Kef subwoofer
Artcoustic Diablo rear speakers, these were used as the rear speakers because of limited space and the entrance door into the room

Other equipment
4 input Adata CCTV server and 4 x Sony dome cameras
Came Frog gate automation
Videx 4000 series telephone interface intercom system
Level one Network system
Kinetic Labs infra red distribution systems
Triax UHF and Freeview distribution system

More pictures available in the gallery area.

other projects

We will shortly update this page with details and images of numerous projects we currently have in process, these include:

The Lakehouse, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire - 4 Zone Opus 500 system including the WCU600 touchscreen keypads and a cinema room solution and CCTV.

Private residence, Harsthorne, Derbyshire - 6 Zone Opus 6 series system including the new WCU657 touchscreen Keypads, Opus vmx 610 high definition distribution and a cinema room solution using the fantastic Amina plaster in wall speakers.

Matthew Hoggard, Leicester cricket captain, Leicestershire - Freeview TV and Sky hd high definition distribution system to all rooms and two cinema room solutions, also added Wireless access points for whole house wifi roaming.

Mulberry Hall, Fenton, Newark - 8 zone Opus 500 system including wcu600 touchscreens, Rako lighting throughout, wholehouse telephone/data, cctv, automatic gates and a cinema room solution.

The Old Rectory, Great Casterton

As featured on 5's "Build a new life in the country"