News

Opus unlocks the door to the smart home with its SCU600 Serial Control and TXT600 Text Interface Units (27/6/2008)

Suggested retail price – SCU600 £375/TXT600 £175 excl VAT
Available July 2008

Opus Technologies, the UK’s leading multi-room entertainment company has introduced two new products to dramatically improve integration between the Opus 500 and other smart home systems. The SCU600 Serial Control Unit allows Opus to control 3rd party solutions such as lighting, video switching, heating and blinds. Opus’ in-house software team has worked tirelessly to ensure the SCU600 integrates with a wide range of third party smart home products enabling installers to add additional value and offer end-users simpler integrated systems. Developed simultaneously is the sophisticated TXT600 Text Interface Unit which allows Opus keypads to not only display playlist, album, artist, track and genre text but also interrogate files on a number of music servers.

Key SCU600 features:

• Enables the Opus 500 system to offer complete control of a wide range of third party solutions including lighting, video switching, heating and blinds through appropriate drivers
• Allows Opus 500 system to be controlled by a variety of third party control systems and remotes such as AMX, Crestron and Philips Pronto
• Can control two separate third party systems simultaneously
• Serial protocols already written making software and set-up a simple ‘tick-box’ exercise for installers
• Links to up to three Opus Master Control Units (MCUs) for use in installations of all sizes
• Fully backwards compatible with all Opus 500 systems and retro-fittable to replace existing SCU500
• Two RS232 ports
• Available in silver

Key TXT600 features:

• Enables playlist, track, album, artist and genre information to be displayed on Opus WCU500 and WCU600 keypads
• Media servers’ content can be interrogated on keypad screens
• Directly compatible via RS232 port with XiVA™ based media servers
• Simple automated software driver update procedure using online database on Opus’ extranet via USB and RS232 ports
• Fully backwards compatible with existing Opus 500 systems and retro-fittable to replace existing TXT500
• Connects to up to four MCU500s simultaneously
• Large capacity memory for future upgrading
• Available in silver

With the introduction of the SCU600 Serial Control Unit, the Opus 500 multi-room system can control and be controlled by a number of third party automation systems. Opus’ rapidly expanded software team has been working closely with these companies to create drivers to control their products including lighting, video switchers, media servers, third party controls and remotes, heating and blinds. For installers, this provides a time saving, cost effective integrated solution. Drivers are already available for Rako, Dynalite, Clipsal, Lutron, Mode, Polaron, iLight, Helvar and Niko lighting systems and video switching from Gefen, Neo Pro, Key Digital and Smart-e. Many more drivers will be released over the coming months.

Meanwhile, the TXT600 Text Interface Unit allows music servers from a number of manufacturers to display playlist, track, album, artist and genre information on Opus WCU500 and WCU600 keypads. Optimised cabling makes installation simpler while a large capacity memory ensures the unit can be upgraded in the future.

As with all new additions to the Opus range, full training is given as part of the Certified Installer Programme at the company’s London headquarters and supporting resources are available on the Opus extranet.

www.opus.eu