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OUT AND ABOUT
Listed under: Comments
Published: Friday, November 28, 2008
I'm back on-site now, after a lot of travelling this month.
I know I have written a lot about my trips in my articles, but I love to get out and about checking out the sites, and it brings me back down to earth with a bump!
We have a couple of big jobs running at the moment, one of which is an extensive lighting, multi room and cinema install, for a client we were introduced to via the CEDIA website. Sadly, we have been struggling with the builder, as he is not making money out of us – at every turn he is trying to make us look like fools. WHY? I wish I knew.
We have worked hard on this contract and the client loves us, but the builder has a MASSIVE attitude problem. I can never understand why we cannot work together. In my mind it is so simple – the client is the boss and we should all strive to make him happy. The work is in progress, but I have enclosed some pictures as I would like to share this job with fellow CI installers. We always pride ourselves at DSE with providing perfection and it always hurts me when contractors don’t play ball. The only loser when this happens is the client.
take the biscuit...
I love the winter months. Why? It’s cold so you can control the temperature in your house, you can set your mood lighting to make the house look cosy and you can play your chill-out music selection to relax yourself. This is why I still love custom install – offering all of the above to your client is going to make him/her smile. I must tell you a story that made me smile. It was a Monday morning; I had typed the job sheets out for the lads and sent them on their way.
One guy I sent to upgrade a TV system – we had worked for the client in question, a posh, well-to-do older lady, in the past. My installer arrived, did what was on his job sheet and emailed me from his PDA to say JOB COMPLETE! He did not sound his usual chirpy self, but I did not think anything of it, and it was not until Tuesday that I sussed what had happened... The client rang the office to apologise to me, saying that she had misplaced her glasses. I was still in the dark, of course, but went along with her. She said, “Would you apologise to your installer...” And, to cut a long story short, it appears that she had served him a plate of what she thought was chocolate Hob Nobs, but, as she later realised, was actually the black puddings she had prepared earlier! I did have a laugh about it, and this is the first time Phil our installer has declined chocolate biscuits!
Sky's the limit
Next up, I was off to CEDIA's AGM and Business Forum. This was held in Kent this year – a long drive for me at about five hours, but well worth it. The day started with an HDMI forum group. CEDIA were expecting a small collection of installers, but the venue was crammed to the rafters with installers, members of the press and distributors – 60 of us in total. WOW! I do find the HDMI subject interesting; we have had endless problems in our company, ones that frustrate me, as we should not have to put up with this sub standard connection. Only this month we had to go back to an install we did a year ago.
We had installed two Sky HD boxes on this contract, both of which were being distributed around the house and controlled via AMX and a matrix switcher. We chose a component switcher, as HDMI was flaky to say the least. After our client rang us, saying one of the Sky boxes had stopped working, we contacted Rupert Murdoch’s joyous company, Sky, requesting a new box and telling them that we required the PACE box with component out connections. Guess what? Yes, you guessed right – they have phased out this box and can only supply HDMI ones. OOPS. This is going to give us some problems, as the whole house uses component cables. The guy on the phone came back with the most stupid suggestion: “What about using a Scart lead?” he said, like that will work. After getting the customer involved in ringing Sky, we eventually got them to bring out a new component connection Sky box, thank God. BUT what happens when they run out of these?
forum fun
One of the things I find interesting is the buzz of watching your TV programmes over an Internet connection and streaming your content over a CAT5 cable – this system has worked for years in your office, streaming data to your computers. Letting the plasma do the conversion of the signal this makes sense. After the HDMI forum we were onto smart meters for the home and saving energy. I find this interesting, although most of our installs, with plasma screens in every room and masses of electronics in a kit cupboard, waste shed loads of energy. Still, I know our lighting schemes and intelligent lighting dimmer racks save energy, and that storing energy in your home from intelligent boilers a great way of making more profit. Onto Gaming in the Home – the last forum. Now, we have used games consoles in our cinema rooms before, but this topic died a death in the forum conversation as it seemed that nobody had any interest in this subject. At the end of the day, the CEDIA AGM took place with facts and figures of the last year. It was an interesting meeting with a lot of positive talk.
After networking in the bar, my bed was calling me, especially since I had an early start the next day. With my ever increasing work load, I could only spend half a day at the Business Forum, so I chose the Terms and Conditions course. I found this a really interesting topic, with loads of new ideas, and the presenter whom CEDIA had booked for the forum was really switched on to the CI industry. Unfortunately, I had run out of time and needed to be back up the country to visit one of our sites, so I left without doing the Health and Safety and Employment Contracts courses. We have in place a comprehensive Health and Safety policy, as we employ 16 people – at times it is like having a big family and we need them to be safe and secure. Employment Law is another subject which can be a minefield, and it would have been interesting to attend this course.
Altogether though, this was a productive couple of days. Sharing knowledge can be a great thing and CEDIA does this well.
new arrivals
Back in the cosy cinema demo rooms of DSE, I am trying out some new kit – we have just taken delivery of the new Marantz processor (AV8003) and amp (MM 8003) which I was so impressed with at the CEDIA US EXPO. We have both hooked up, and the Dolby TRUE HD sound is incredibly focused. It was really impressive as I played the opening scene of Iron Man, even though this is in 5.1 rather than 7.1 – there were bullets firing from every speaker!
Still loving my Napster account with the Sonus music system. As an exercise, I typed in 'Stairway to Heaven'. What came back in the results box was the Rolf Harris version of the song, so I queued it up and played it loud over my B&W speakers – the didgeridoo sounded great! I shouted out from the demo room, “Can you recognise it yet?” This is a great piece of kit and has just had an update over the Internet connection. This has added a feature called Last.fm, which allows you to customise your very own radio station, plus all-important iPhone compatibility! I love the update feature as it feels like you are getting a new bit of the latest technology without having to eBay your old kit and buy new.
no Spain, no gain
As usual, my pace of business life seems to get even more manic. On a visit to one of our interior designers, I asked the question “ARE YOU BUSY?” He said, “I am off to Barcelona with 14 other designers.” As a witty comment, I came back with, “What happened to my ticket? Did it get lost in the post?” Thinking nothing of it, I went off to a site. About an hour later, I got a call saying there was a cancellation and, “I know it is short notice but would you like to come?” Given the fact that I was on-site, freezing cold with part sleet and rain hitting my forehead, it didn’t take me long to say, “Yes!”
The business trip was great; we visited Porcelanosa, a manufacturer of bathrooms and tiles who we deal with on our development side of the business. The factory was located in Valencia and was very impressive – it was as clean as a hospital operating theatre and so large that the employees got around it on small pedal bikes; this certainly looked funny but cut down on time wastage. The guys working there seemed to have a higher respect for quality, although there was abundant automation, with computer-controlled robots doing much of the work.
Trips like this always give me great inspiration and ideas to bring back. As a custom installer, I work day to day with elite interior designers, so it was brilliant to get five days living their life and getting a fresh approach on the integration of technology and design. After two days looking at all the new products it was off to Barcelona for a free day. I do feel lucky in my job as I get to travel the whole world.
So, to finish up, what should we do in all this doom and gloom? Well my choice would be to buy Iron Man on DVD or Blu-ray and lock yourself away in your home cinema. It is great fun and will make you smile. Check that first scene – it sounds great with a massive amount of effects coming from all seven of my speakers, and might even make you forget the credit crunch for two-and-a-half hours, which cannot be bad – TRY IT!
Dave Slater is MD of DSE GROUP incorporating DSE DIGITAL.
His article was submitted on 10/11/08
For further information contact: +44 (0)191 491 4141 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) http://www.dsegroup.co.uk
We have a couple of big jobs running at the moment, one of which is an extensive lighting, multi room and cinema install, for a client we were introduced to via the CEDIA website. Sadly, we have been struggling with the builder, as he is not making money out of us – at every turn he is trying to make us look like fools. WHY? I wish I knew.
We have worked hard on this contract and the client loves us, but the builder has a MASSIVE attitude problem. I can never understand why we cannot work together. In my mind it is so simple – the client is the boss and we should all strive to make him happy. The work is in progress, but I have enclosed some pictures as I would like to share this job with fellow CI installers. We always pride ourselves at DSE with providing perfection and it always hurts me when contractors don’t play ball. The only loser when this happens is the client.
take the biscuit...
I love the winter months. Why? It’s cold so you can control the temperature in your house, you can set your mood lighting to make the house look cosy and you can play your chill-out music selection to relax yourself. This is why I still love custom install – offering all of the above to your client is going to make him/her smile. I must tell you a story that made me smile. It was a Monday morning; I had typed the job sheets out for the lads and sent them on their way.
One guy I sent to upgrade a TV system – we had worked for the client in question, a posh, well-to-do older lady, in the past. My installer arrived, did what was on his job sheet and emailed me from his PDA to say JOB COMPLETE! He did not sound his usual chirpy self, but I did not think anything of it, and it was not until Tuesday that I sussed what had happened... The client rang the office to apologise to me, saying that she had misplaced her glasses. I was still in the dark, of course, but went along with her. She said, “Would you apologise to your installer...” And, to cut a long story short, it appears that she had served him a plate of what she thought was chocolate Hob Nobs, but, as she later realised, was actually the black puddings she had prepared earlier! I did have a laugh about it, and this is the first time Phil our installer has declined chocolate biscuits!
Sky's the limit
Next up, I was off to CEDIA's AGM and Business Forum. This was held in Kent this year – a long drive for me at about five hours, but well worth it. The day started with an HDMI forum group. CEDIA were expecting a small collection of installers, but the venue was crammed to the rafters with installers, members of the press and distributors – 60 of us in total. WOW! I do find the HDMI subject interesting; we have had endless problems in our company, ones that frustrate me, as we should not have to put up with this sub standard connection. Only this month we had to go back to an install we did a year ago.
We had installed two Sky HD boxes on this contract, both of which were being distributed around the house and controlled via AMX and a matrix switcher. We chose a component switcher, as HDMI was flaky to say the least. After our client rang us, saying one of the Sky boxes had stopped working, we contacted Rupert Murdoch’s joyous company, Sky, requesting a new box and telling them that we required the PACE box with component out connections. Guess what? Yes, you guessed right – they have phased out this box and can only supply HDMI ones. OOPS. This is going to give us some problems, as the whole house uses component cables. The guy on the phone came back with the most stupid suggestion: “What about using a Scart lead?” he said, like that will work. After getting the customer involved in ringing Sky, we eventually got them to bring out a new component connection Sky box, thank God. BUT what happens when they run out of these?
forum fun
One of the things I find interesting is the buzz of watching your TV programmes over an Internet connection and streaming your content over a CAT5 cable – this system has worked for years in your office, streaming data to your computers. Letting the plasma do the conversion of the signal this makes sense. After the HDMI forum we were onto smart meters for the home and saving energy. I find this interesting, although most of our installs, with plasma screens in every room and masses of electronics in a kit cupboard, waste shed loads of energy. Still, I know our lighting schemes and intelligent lighting dimmer racks save energy, and that storing energy in your home from intelligent boilers a great way of making more profit. Onto Gaming in the Home – the last forum. Now, we have used games consoles in our cinema rooms before, but this topic died a death in the forum conversation as it seemed that nobody had any interest in this subject. At the end of the day, the CEDIA AGM took place with facts and figures of the last year. It was an interesting meeting with a lot of positive talk.
After networking in the bar, my bed was calling me, especially since I had an early start the next day. With my ever increasing work load, I could only spend half a day at the Business Forum, so I chose the Terms and Conditions course. I found this a really interesting topic, with loads of new ideas, and the presenter whom CEDIA had booked for the forum was really switched on to the CI industry. Unfortunately, I had run out of time and needed to be back up the country to visit one of our sites, so I left without doing the Health and Safety and Employment Contracts courses. We have in place a comprehensive Health and Safety policy, as we employ 16 people – at times it is like having a big family and we need them to be safe and secure. Employment Law is another subject which can be a minefield, and it would have been interesting to attend this course.
Altogether though, this was a productive couple of days. Sharing knowledge can be a great thing and CEDIA does this well.
new arrivals
Back in the cosy cinema demo rooms of DSE, I am trying out some new kit – we have just taken delivery of the new Marantz processor (AV8003) and amp (MM 8003) which I was so impressed with at the CEDIA US EXPO. We have both hooked up, and the Dolby TRUE HD sound is incredibly focused. It was really impressive as I played the opening scene of Iron Man, even though this is in 5.1 rather than 7.1 – there were bullets firing from every speaker!
Still loving my Napster account with the Sonus music system. As an exercise, I typed in 'Stairway to Heaven'. What came back in the results box was the Rolf Harris version of the song, so I queued it up and played it loud over my B&W speakers – the didgeridoo sounded great! I shouted out from the demo room, “Can you recognise it yet?” This is a great piece of kit and has just had an update over the Internet connection. This has added a feature called Last.fm, which allows you to customise your very own radio station, plus all-important iPhone compatibility! I love the update feature as it feels like you are getting a new bit of the latest technology without having to eBay your old kit and buy new.
no Spain, no gain
As usual, my pace of business life seems to get even more manic. On a visit to one of our interior designers, I asked the question “ARE YOU BUSY?” He said, “I am off to Barcelona with 14 other designers.” As a witty comment, I came back with, “What happened to my ticket? Did it get lost in the post?” Thinking nothing of it, I went off to a site. About an hour later, I got a call saying there was a cancellation and, “I know it is short notice but would you like to come?” Given the fact that I was on-site, freezing cold with part sleet and rain hitting my forehead, it didn’t take me long to say, “Yes!”
The business trip was great; we visited Porcelanosa, a manufacturer of bathrooms and tiles who we deal with on our development side of the business. The factory was located in Valencia and was very impressive – it was as clean as a hospital operating theatre and so large that the employees got around it on small pedal bikes; this certainly looked funny but cut down on time wastage. The guys working there seemed to have a higher respect for quality, although there was abundant automation, with computer-controlled robots doing much of the work.
Trips like this always give me great inspiration and ideas to bring back. As a custom installer, I work day to day with elite interior designers, so it was brilliant to get five days living their life and getting a fresh approach on the integration of technology and design. After two days looking at all the new products it was off to Barcelona for a free day. I do feel lucky in my job as I get to travel the whole world.
So, to finish up, what should we do in all this doom and gloom? Well my choice would be to buy Iron Man on DVD or Blu-ray and lock yourself away in your home cinema. It is great fun and will make you smile. Check that first scene – it sounds great with a massive amount of effects coming from all seven of my speakers, and might even make you forget the credit crunch for two-and-a-half hours, which cannot be bad – TRY IT!
Dave Slater is MD of DSE GROUP incorporating DSE DIGITAL.
His article was submitted on 10/11/08
For further information contact: +44 (0)191 491 4141 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) http://www.dsegroup.co.uk
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