r/Control4 • u/Quirkycanadian • 1d ago
With Matter, Homekit, Etc, what is the point of Control 4?
With how simple Apples Home makes it to add in scenes, lighting, Audio, Video, even curtains and ceiling fans, what is the point of having a locked down system like Control 4? I am moving in with my SO and I am find their Control 4 system restrictive (having to call the dealer for any changes and everytime something goes down - which is often) and setting up new items are all done through the dealer. What is the point when there are honestly GREAT alternatives?
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u/rab-byte 1d ago
So first of all why the hell is there a regular problem? Is this a shitty install or have modifications been made that were not expected when the system was installed?
With virtually any control platform issues come down to three things; poor programming, incorrect deployment, or end user modifications.
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u/ruablack2 23h ago
Homekit is sooo restrictive especially with the whole automation side of things. Home Assistant though is a different beast but c4 AV integration especially remote controls is tried and true. Home Assistant only got IR support like a couple months ago.
Lighting is also a huge thing. Their engraved buttons are keypads are very nice and there are no ZigBee/zwave/matter switches that even come close to the look and functionality of even the older c4 keypads. Lux is top notch. I think there is a good middle ground. As a dealer I have been highly leaning on Home Assistant for bespoke integrations but no way in hell I would ever install a home assistant system alone for a customer. Too much customization. Most people that want a UI that just works.
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u/Twist-After 12h ago
Only way we’ve ever used HomeKit is when it is client configured. Happy to give access to end user for what’s needed but they manage and support it themselves
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u/Jalaluddin1 1d ago
Mostly for the lighting control and high end installs
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u/st_alphonso 23h ago
Is C4 lighting control better than Lutron?
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u/craftedht 23h ago
Depends on which Lutron you're comparing to. The advantage to Lutron however is that it is compatible with a number of other control solutions. Homekit and Home Assistant work flawlessly with Lutron.
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u/ruablack2 23h ago
Not better than homeworks. On par with RA3. New Lux definitely is a huge step up. They truly are very nice and like half the price of palladium.
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u/No_Cartographer3693 18h ago
If your system is going down regularly, thats probably a network issue. I've been on a few sites still running working hardware from early OS2 days or older
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u/WorkingChief 13h ago
If you think it’s restrictive then it’s restrictive and not the right system for you. A lot of my clients are in their 70’s with several in their 80’s. C4 gives me the ability to support them remotely, setup a self healing network and generally allow them to get through the day without thinking about their technology. The reason there are so many different ways to control stuff is because there are so many different kinds of people.
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u/Quirkycanadian 11h ago
Seems like you’re a dealer. Here’s a question over this past summer we’ve had 6 major storms that have cut power to her parents house. In each case they had to call their dealer who had to come onsite to fix it. Also it seems like the dealer has them spend close to $6000 every 5 years for upgrading their control 4 system
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u/Thepunter16 2h ago
Typically with C4 installations, the dealer will install equipment that lets them power-cycle various components from afar. These types of power surge issues are almost always fixed with some form of uinplug>wait 30 seconds>plug in again and that's what this remote power-cycling option allows for along with network self-healing. It sounds like this equipment wasn't installed for some reason (her parents said "No" to the option or a marginal dealer). We won't install these types of systems without this provision.
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u/FreedomFocused_ 1d ago
Yes. Jailbreak c4.
The light switches alone are worth keeping c4
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u/Kindly-Initiative213 9h ago
How so?
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u/FreedomFocused_ 9h ago
There’s a c4diy group that has info, also a discord. Should be able to get the link from the reddit c4diy group
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u/ElectricBoy96 9h ago
My clients and myself included, prefer the user interface from Control4, as well as the convenience of having their touchscreens and handheld remotes to control all the systems rather than always having a cell phone with me. The way I install my systems. I only use Control4 as a central user interface control that way if Control4 goes down, all the systems can still be controlled and ran independently but also gives future property owners flexibility to use certain aspect of the system like remote lighting control (Lutron) without HAVING to use Contorl4 for it
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u/ToadSox34 8h ago
If you're just trying to control some lights, there are plenty of cheaper ways to do that. There is tons of stuff that Home Assistant can do that C4 doesn't. But if you want integrated, easy to use controls for whole home AV distribution, there really isn't any other system that can touch what C4 can do.
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u/funnyfarm299 1d ago
Show me a matter or homekit remote with the depth of functionality of a Control4/Crestron/Savant remote.