Niles Audio HT-MSU User Manual

I N S T A L L A T I O N G U I D E

H O ME THE AT E R M AI N SY S T EM U NI T

HT-MSU

CONGRATULATIONS!

Thank you for purchasing the HT-MSU Home Theater Main System Unit from Niles. With proper installation and operation, you should enjoy years of trouble-free use.

Niles manufactures the industry’s most complete line of custom installation components and accessories for audio/video systems. To see the complete Niles product assortment, visit us on the Internet at: www.nilesaudio.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 1

Features and Benefits 2

Contents 3

Parts Guide 4

System Design Considerations 5

Installation Considerations 11

Installation 14

Troubleshooting 17

Accessories 19

Specifications 21

Warranty 24

Warranty Registration Card 25

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the Niles HT-MSU Home Theater Main System Unit. The HT-MSU addresses an essential need of today’s consumers—the ability to easily control and manage the assortment of entertainment sources found in the home theater environment.

Home theater systems are often controlled entirely by the remote. The result is a big, bulky, remote control with small, complicated buttons or screens that only a “mad scientist” could ﬁgure out. The Niles Home Theater Main System Unit (HT-MSU) ends the confusion by placing power and control in an interface box and using the remote to “trigger” desired activities.

The Niles HT-MSU can be used with the Niles R-8 Handheld IR Remote Control or any learning IR remote control programmed with Niles single-touch activity keys. With the Niles HT-MSU, users gain levels of control that are simply not possible with traditional “universal” remotes. Infrared, RS232, voltage triggers, and contact closures make the HT-MSU a complete control and automation system for displays, surround receivers, cable boxes, satellite receivers, DVD players and more. In addition, the HT-MSU can automate functions like lighting control, TV lifts, draperies, and projection screens.

Home entertainment systems should be fun, not frustrating, and Niles has always recognized the need for simple-to-use, cost-effective solutions. The Niles HT-MSU Home Theater Main System Unit gives end users one-touch control of their home theater systems and reﬂects the high quality ﬁt and ﬁnish that meets the standards of today’s consumers.

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 305-238-4373

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

SIMPLE CONTROL OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS

The Niles HT-MSU Home Theater Main System Unit simpliﬁes entertainment by allowing one-touch control of home theater components. Ordinary home theater system controllers require users to turn on (and off) multiple components, resulting in a confusing situation of hunting down the fugitive component that is “off,” when it really should be “on.”

The HT-MSU eliminates the confusion by shifting control to an interface box. The remote initiates commands to the HT-MSU, so whether you’re playing a DVD or watching a program recorded on your DVR, the HT-MSU provides one-touch access to all your entertainment.

INTELLIGENT MAIN SYSTEM UNIT

The HT-MSU incorporates an infrared sensor port to control sources that use original remotes or “all-in-one” programmable universal remotes, even if the system is hidden from view. The HT-MSU has both video and 12 Volt sync inputs to manage the “power state” of your home theater system components. These synch ports, along with IR ﬂasher ports, RS232 control ports, and an expansion port, allow the HT-MSU to control up to 22 devices from your home theater system and even “share” sources with a house-wide distributed audio system. The HT-MSU also includes “dry contact closure” relays and 12V trigger outputs that can be used to control devices like projector lifts, screens, drapes or lighting. An ethernet expansion port is also included for system expansion, communication to Niles MultiZone Receivers, and future upgrades.

INSTALLATION FLEXIBILITY

With a low proﬁle design, easy-to-access connections, and rack-mount-hole wings, the HT-MSU can be wall-mounted behind theater components or attached to the back of metal professional racks.

QUICK AND EASY SET-UP WITH WIZARD-BASED NILES QUICKCONFIG™ PC CONFIGURATION SOFTWARE

An HT-MSU conﬁguration can be programmed, saved, and edited using the Niles QuickConﬁg PC Conﬁguration Software and Niles IR-CS Infrared Capture Station. The QuickConﬁg PC Conﬁguration Software is Wizard-based and guides the installer/programmer through basic and advanced system designs.

ASSIGNABLE RELAYS AND 12V OUTPUTS

Three dry contact closures and three 12V DC trigger outputs can be independently programmed to give installers greater control of mechanical devices or voltage-triggered power strips and dispersion controlled home theater loudspeakers.

INTELLIGENT INTEGRATION WITH MULTI-ZONE SYSTEMS

The HT-MSU includes control ports that allow it to “share” sources with whole-house distributed audio systems. The power state of these “shared” sources can be completely managed so that sources are always powered-on when they need to be and powered-off when both whole-house and home theater systems are turned off.

PROGRAM MEMORY PROTECTION

The entire system proﬁle is stored in non-volatile memory within the HT-MSU. This safeguards against accidental loss of the conﬁguration programming.

CONTENTS

Check that your HT-MSU Home Theater Main System Unit contains the following:

• Home Theater Main System Unit (HT-MSU)

• HT-MSU Power Supply

• RF Antenna

• 10 ft. Antenna Extension Cable

• Antenna Wall Bracket

• System Conﬁguration Worksheet

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 305-238-4373

PARTS GUIDE

THE HOME THEATER MAIN SYSTEM UNIT (HT-MSU)

Figure 1. HT-MSU Top View

1) IR Outputs

- SRC1 – SRC6, TV/7, RCV/8 are eight dedicated 3.5mm jacks that output IR

data speciﬁcally for that source

2) RS232 Outputs

- SRC1 – SRC6, TV/7 and RCV/8 are eight dedicated 3.5mm jacks that

output RS232 data speciﬁcally for that source

3) Assignable 12V Outputs

- Three 3.5mm jacks, output 12V DC 150mA

when activated:

a. 12V outputs 1 & 2 are independent of each other and are programmable

to output 12V momentarily or constantly when activated.

4) Assignable Relays

12V output 3 is assignable and outputs 12V constantly when active.

- There are three, 3-position removable quick-connect plugs labeled 1, 2 and 3 for connecting either NO (normally open) or NC (normally closed) contact closure devices to the HT-MSU.

5) IR Input

- A 4-position removable quick-connect plug for connecting an IR sensor to the HT-MSU. This connection allows IR control of the HT-MSU and/or IR pass-through for connected sources

6) Global IR Output - A 3.5mm jack provides all IR codes that the HT-MSU generates

and all IR codes that come in through the IR Input connection and can be conﬁgured via Niles QuickConﬁg Software for Normal or High output. Normal output is designed for a Niles MF1 IR MicroFlasher®; high output is designed for a Niles IRB1 High-Output IR Flasher

7) RF Antenna Socket - The BNC connector accommodates the supplied antenna. The antenna must be installed perpendicular to the ground for best results. A 10 ft. (3 meter) antenna extension cable and mounting bracket are included if remote installation of the antenna is necessary. The antenna is used when the HT-MSU is being controlled via a Niles compatible RF Remote

8) Status 12V or Video - Six video and voltage-sensing RCA synch inputs for sources 1 through 6 detect when a source is on/off for reliable system activation

9) Status 12V - Two voltage-sensing 3.5mm jacks for sources TV/7 and RCV/8 detect when those sources are on/off for reliable system activation

10) Power 12V DC - A barrel connection for the provided 12V DC power supply

11) Diagnostic - A USB A connection for Niles Service Center

12) PC Connection/Expansion - A RJ45 connection used to plug in a computer for

system conﬁguration programming or expanding the system design out to future Niles multizone receivers. Niles QuickConﬁg PC Conﬁguration Software is used for system conﬁguration

13) RF Test - A 3.5mm jack used to connect the optional Niles IR/RF tester for testing RF reception

SYSTEM DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

The Niles HT-MSU Home Theater Main System Unit is a highly ﬂexible tool that allows system designers to create home theater systems that will delight their customers. The following section explains just some of the system design features of the Niles HT-MSU Home Theater Main System Unit. To fully understand the system conﬁgurations, it’s important to understand the basic control sections of the HT-MSU.

IR INPUT PORT

This connection is used to control the HT-MSU and all of the home theater sources connected to it. Each of the system conﬁgurations that follow must include an Infrared Sensor connected to this port and a learning remote programmed with the Niles HT-MSU codes or the Niles R-8 Remote control. This port also allows for IR pass-through of IR codes from the original remotes of the connected sources. (Refer to the Accessories section on page 19 for more information on Niles IR sensors.)

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 305-238-4373

IR OUTPUT PORTS

IR (Infrared) codes are stored in the HT-MSU during conﬁguration programming. The labels of the IR Outputs identify what source number these ports are designed to operate. SRC1 means source

1. The outputs are labeled SRC1 through SRC6, TV/7 and RCV/8. If the TV is to be controlled via IR codes, then the IR Output TV/7 port should be used. However, if the TV will be controlled via RS232, then the TV/7 IR output can be used to control an alternate IR source. These IR outputs are dedicated and routed, meaning IR codes stored for source number 3 (i.e., a DVD player) can only be emitted from the IR output port labeled SRC3. RCV/8 can be used either for the receiver in the home theater or a source number 8.

RS232 OUTPUT PORTS

RS232 is a serial device control protocol that allows sources to be controlled via a transmit-receive cable. (See the Installation section for wiring information.) RS232 codes are stored in the HT-MSU as string codes during conﬁguration programming. The labels of the RS232 Outputs identify what source number they are designed to operate. SRC1 means source 1. The outputs are labeled SRC1 through SRC6, TV/7 and RCV/8. If the TV is to be controlled via RS232 codes, then the RS232 TV/7 port should be used. However, if the TV will be controlled via IR, then the RS232 TV/7 port can be used to control an alternate RS232 source. These RS232 outputs are dedicated and routed, meaning RS232 codes stored for source number 3 (i.e., a DVD player) can only be emitted from| the RS232 output port labeled SRC3. RCV/8 can be used either for the receiver in the home theater or a source number 8.

SOURCE POWER STATUS CONNECTIONS

To properly automate home theater sources, the HT-MSU needs to “know” when the source is powered On or Off. There are three ways that sources are powered on:

1. Toggle Power: A source via its remote control has one button for turning that source On and Off. When trying to automate such a device, you must provide the HT-MSU the “Power Status” as feedback using the Status connection on the HT-MSU’s top edge (detailed below).

2. Separate On and Off Power: A source via its remote control has one button to turn the source On and a different button to turn the source Off. When trying to automate such an IR device, you should provide the HT-MSU the “Power Status” as feedback so the IC2 System will act faster using the Status connection on the HT-MSU. If a source is to be controlled via RS232 and it has separate On and Off codes, you do not need to

provide the HT-MSU feedback.

3. Latching Power: Latching power is an industry term that means the source has no power command/s on its remote control. A latching power source may have a “hard” power button on the front panel. To determine if a source is latching power, push its “hard” power button in, take its power cord and plug it into a live AC power outlet. If it turns on when plugged into the outlet and turns off when unplugged from the outlet, it is a latching power source. Latching power sources do not need a Power Status

connection, but you will want to do one of two things:

a. Plug it into the switched outlet of the receiver, or

b. Use a Niles AC-3 Voltage Triggered Power Strip connected to one of the assignable 12V outputs on the HT-MSU. Use the QuickConfig PC Configuration Software to program the assigned 12V output to turn on when that source is selected. (See QuickConfig manual for more details on programming 12V outputs.)

Along the top edge of the HT-MSU are the source-specific status connections labeled

SRC1 through SRC6. These RCA jacks are designed to sense either 12 Volts or video so the HT-MSU “knows” when the source is On or Off. You must use these connections if the source you are trying to automate is IR controlled and uses toggle power (see 1.Toggle Power above).

If the source has a video out jack, connect the video output to the corresponding SRC

Status RCA jack on the HT-MSU. If the source has no video output jack, you may use one of the Niles external-sensing devices that provides 12V output (i.e., the CS12V Current

Sensor or the LS-1 Light Sensor) connected to the RCA Status jack.

ASSIGNABLE 12 VOLT OUTPUTS

These three ports are completely assignable and can be used to trigger out-board automation devices such as:

• 12V Triggered AC Power strips like the Niles AC-3

• 12V Triggered subwoofers like the Niles SW300, SW12, SW10, and Pro15SW

• 12V Triggered Dipole/Bipole rear effects speakers like the StageFront IW650FX

• Motorized drapery systems and projection screens

12V Output #1 has a default setting to output 12V DC whenever the home theater receiver is turned on by the HT-MSU Master Key activity setting.

12V Output #2 has a default setting to output 12V DC whenever the HT-MSU Master Key activity setting turns on the TV.

12V Output #3 has no default and is completely assignable.

The three assignable 12V outputs can be conﬁgured (programmed) using the Niles QuickConﬁg PC Conﬁguration Software.

ASSIGNABLE RELAYS

There are three independently assignable dry contact closures/relays. These connections can be used to trigger lights, curtains, screen lifts, and other devices. Use the Normally Open or Normally

Closed side of the contact closure to complete the circuit to control the device.

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 305-238-4373

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