AMX

 

RICHARDSON, Texas – April 26, 2012 – AMX®, the leading provider of solutions that simplify the implementation, maintenance, and use of technology to create effective environments, today announced the immediate availability of the NetLinx® Clear Connect™ Gateway. With its release, the family of AMX Light Control by Lutron® is now available. Based on the industry-leading Clear Connect radio frequency (RF) technology from light control manufacturer Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., the NetLinx Clear Connect Gateway wirelessly connects NetLinx Controllers with Lutron Clear Connect, dimmers, switches, occupancy sensors, switching plug-in devices and keypads.

 

The AMX Light Control by Lutron system uses the existing electrical infrastructure, so no new wires need to be installed. The wireless solution gives installers a quick, cost-effective path to add light control and occupancy sensing to a smart-room automation solution with AV control including features like scheduled shutdowns and energy management. Additionally, by removing the limitations related to pulling new wires, light control can be offered in virtually any location. This makes the wireless solution ideal for retrofit installations.

 

In fact, every step of installing the wireless solution is designed to produce rapid results – even its programming. For example, included with the NetLinx Clear Connect Gateway is a Web interface that simplifies integration, configuration and programming of Clear Connect devices. "With the Web interface integration it is remarkably intuitive and quick," said AMX Chief Technology Officer Robert Noble. "Installers can add devices, create scenes and program the system, with no installed software tools. There's no other Web integration tool of its kind on the market."

 

And for racing through more encompassing control and automation deployments, installers can use AMX's new cloud-based Rapid Project Maker (RPM). RPM guides the installer through a step-by-step wizard-based configuration, start to finish, no programming required. With RPM an AMX control system can be configured in less than an hour.

 

"AMX's ability to add native network control and management capabilities to Lutron's Clear Connect Enabled devices offers a significant value to the dealer channel," said Ed Blair, Vice-President and General Manager of Lutron. "Dealers will greatly benefit from this solution as they can install a complete control system – lights, AV, HVAC, energy management and more – without pulling wires."

 

Lutron's patented Clear Connect RF technology uses a quiet band, essentially free of interference, ensuring communication between system devices is reliably delivered. Noble said, "Lutron's Clear Connect technology has set the bar for range and reliability in wireless lighting control and creates a seamless fit with AMX integrated building control."

 

The innovative AMX Light Control by Lutron solution even enables complete facility energy management. By adding RMS® Enterprise software from AMX, users can manage and monitor lighting, AV devices, HVAC and other building systems. The capabilities of RMS can produce substantial energy-savings and ROI that integrators can offer building owners. For instance, an energy management feature that can trigger events based on motion from personnel in the building – like turning everything off when no motion is detected for a scheduled number of minutes.