Temporary Equipment

Jul 23, 2001

$The parts for the XG-1100 are still not here. I'm beginning to wonder if they will ever arrive. The GE Imager 410 we are using in the mean time is working well though it could be brighter. I have been monitoring the temperature in the hush box and it seems to stabilize around 85 degrees F. So the ventilation system is doing its job. I'm planning to add a permanent temperature sensor to the box and connect it to my controller. Then if the temperature goes over 90 degrees or something, I can have it shut the projector down or raise an alarm or something. I also got the remaining light switches to complete the full complement of seven switches and one scene control switch. All the switches are Lightolier Compose in ivory. I wish they made black, but I suppose ivory will have to do. So far the switches have been 100% reliable when operated locally or remotely. I believe using these switches over something like a Lutron Grafik Eye was a good choice in my case. They were a fraction of the cost, offer all the same features, and integrate with the rest of my home automation equipment with no special programming or expensive add-on adapters. There is of course the risk of reduced reliability, but so far I haven't had a single problem. We are still using that old sofa, but with no slipcover. We decided that slipcovers are pretty worthless, so we didn't spend the money. The good news is that the theater seats are on order and should arrive anytime. We also ordered the cart for our popcorn machine since it doesn't really fit well on the bar. We installed a honeycomb shade over the window and added a cornice at the top. It looks good and does a good job of blocking out all the light. We also added another coat of paint to the bar and platform trim, and plan to add one more. Then I think we will seal it with a coat of polyurethane or something to protect the finish. The good news is that we have watched a few movies now and are still in the process of working out the kinks. The PC produces a nice picture with DVDs using WinDVD, but it can be tempermental. The sound is very nice. There is no substitute for having the center channel speaker behind the screen! Unfortunately our aging Panasonic A-310 DVD player is having some problems. I have to tell you, Panasonic products are not what they used to be. Once we have the furniture, I think we will be ready for the grand opening.$ shapeimage_2_link_0