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New Universal Ethernet A/V Gateway Controller promises massive flexibility and maximum control - with a minimal learning curve Hailing from Cornwall, south west England, David King Technologies (DKT) aims to break the multi-room A/V mould with its all-new FreeWay 'black box'. This Universal Ethernet A/V Gateway Controller replaces a plethora of interface boxes and enables the entire panoply of A/V and home automation kit to talk to each other. As its name suggests, it's a powerful and flexible tool for integrating and controlling equipment using the most common control interfaces. Although not the first such multi-standard interface to hit the smart homes market, what makes FreeWay stand out is the combination it offers of scriptable flexibility, open interface control, hardware independence, Ethernet-centric operation and a highly competitive price point. Put simply, FreeWay is a very smart and straightforward way to unite different control interfaces, without tying you in to any particular brand when it comes to completing the system. It provides the gateway for any browser running on PCs, Macs, PDAs, touch screens or the internet to control a complete home cinema, multi-room audio and home automation environment. With plenty of communications power on hand, it is aimed squarely at installers rather than end users. DKT has opted to use the power of its FreeScript scripting language and the flexibility of a web browser control interface to endow FreeWay with copious flexibility rather the outright simplicity (and inevitable limitations) that comes with the drag-and-drop style programming of other systems. However, this need not make it overly scary. The unit comes pre-loaded with script functions, and it will generally take an installer a matter of minutes to programme scripts to trigger more complex commands and control signal routings. All these functions are set out in the printed (also available on line) FreeScript Programming Reference Guide that accompanies the comprehensive 32 page user manual. "It's the perfect antidote to a pile of boxes and cables to achieve a relatively simple task" A CLOSER LOOK Housed in a black 1U rack mountable box, FreeWay has everything built in except its power supply - including a script compiler and web server, the latter two ensuring that, once onsite, installers have everything required to set up the unit at their fingertips. The front panel is blank save for a small arc of blue LED indicators and a single IR Learning receiver. The indicators, giving a hint of the flexibility within, are fully assignable to suit the system’s application. Three might, for example, be set to indicate IR Learning mode active, script activity in progress and IR transmit. Around the back is where the real activity goes on, with the unit's I/O ports filling most of the panel. From left to right are the six RS232 serial ports, using 9-pin male D-type connectors; an optional board providing four Infra-Red mini-jack ports and a 25-way female D-Type connector with six opto-isolated digital inputs and six digital outputs and 5V power; three RS-485 serial ports, one with 9V power; an optional EIB four-way terminal; and the RJ45 Ethernet port. Speaking in tongues: FreeWay's generous port provisions (6 RS232, 4 IR, D-Type digital I/O, 2 RS485, EIB and Ethernet) allow the unit to act as a multi-way interface for new and legacy equipment of all types. FreeWay's unique event matrix means all port messaging is exchanged between all ports and across multiple FreeWays on the same network or remotely across the internet. This comprehensive control allows all types of legacy equipment - TVs, audio, computers, lighting, video and more - to be accessed and controlled over one wired or wireless network. The IR ports form a four-way matrix which includes the IR 'decode and learn' function, allowing IR signals to be routed to any or all ports, which could be useful in a case where for example, multiple satellite receivers were required to be distributed around a house yet controlled independently. The IR Learning receiver is replicated here, too. 'Pass Through' functions permit an IR distribution network to be set up, while IR Decode allows full compatibility with 'intelligent' macro-learning remote controls. The Telnet ports allow up to four FreeWays to operate over a network; and with the addition of UDP this upper limit is removed. PROGRAMMING As I've already mentioned, one of FreeWay's claims to fame is its open interface standard. As well as being controllable by any browser on a network, its facilities can also be accessed using Macromedia Flash, HTML or even hyperlinks in a Microsoft Word document. I found this made it easy to integrate it with elegant new technologies like Microsoft®'s Media Centre specification - FreeWay, effectively, providing the external adaptor that Microsoft does not. The unit is designed to be simple to set up by an installer without the need for specialist training - anyone capable of programming a Pronto, for example, will have no problem setting up a FreeWay. In any event, the dedicated FreeScript manual took me through the scripting steps in a clear and concise fashion without the need to get my hands too dirty with coding. You have a choice of writing your interface in either standard HTML, Macromedia Flash or even a simple Word document. The obvious advantage of these graphical interfaces is that you can provide user-friendly feedback to even the most technophobic. Depending on how 'sexy' you prefer your user interface, the browser can be set up with buttons that change appearance according to status. Its scripting system is web-based, using an integral server and compiler. Once switched on, you are taken direct to the first web page which allows scripts to be viewed and compiled and an error log to be viewed if necessary. Also here are the general settings (firmware IP and so on), real-time date and time and an event scheduler. The IR Leaning function is armed from this page, confirmed by one of the aforementioned blue LEDs on the unit's front panel. As soon as the chosen IR device is pointed at the IR Learning receiver, the emitted code is displayed in the browser window and is ready to be cut and pasted directly into the relevant script. Simple interface: FreeWay's easy to use web-based interface allows remote control from touch screens, PCs, PDAs and many more devices - providing great freedom of choice. The browser window also provides a function test panel. There is a dedicated Telnet port for debugging purposes and the facility to change factory system settings. "Its open interface makes integrating new technologies like Microsoft’s Media Centre easy" The scripting option allows the installer to modify existing scripts onsite, while the next onscreen button allows script uploading and compiling with debugging - a process taking less than 10 seconds to complete. The script file's built-in (factory supplied) functions - each of which is in reality a separate URL - include Delays (for sequencing control commands to avoid clogging the system with multiple simultaneous commands); Debugging; Digital In; Date & Time; Send IR; Serial Get/Receive/Send; and many more. Some are called automatically by the unit while others can optionally be set by the installer. IN CONCLUSION DKT's smart new box offers a great deal of problem-solving ability, space saving functionality, operational simplicity and, when its hardware-brand independence is factored in, potentially excellent system margins as well. The ability for any type of control protocol and port to talk to any other is literally at the heart of DKT's concept and many will find simple touches like the ability to control audio volume using EIB data from any switch a real bonus. Similarly, being able to control every function relating to home cinema operation, from projector on/off to contact closure switching, from one command has the potential to simplify a system greatly. Being able to do it all from a PDA or laptop yet having the multiplicity of I/Os that FreeWay's back panel offers really does provide a high degree of freedom. Smart homes, schools, corporate boardrooms and many more multi-room environments are typical of the installations that FreeWay is designed to simplify. If your business involves integrating new and legacy equipment over a single wired or wireless network and it needs to be done with maximum flexibility and minimum cost, FreeWay clearly offers an innovative and value for money solution that will appeal for a wide range of applications. DKT are members of Cedia. For further information contact sales on 0870 201 1512 or visit their website at www.dktgroup.com/freeway SETTING UP: HOW WE CONNECTED OUR TEST RIG  The hardware hook-up is as easy as you’d expect. Our test rig consisted of a Nuvo six-zone multi-room audio controller, a Linn CMS CD player, Silent Gliss curtain Track, a Powersense module and a Infra-Red emitter device. The Nuvo was connected using a basic RS232 comms link, with Rx, Tx and Ground. The laptop was connected to the FreeWay's Ethernet port directly using a crossover cable (but you could equally use a standard hub, wireless access point or broadband connection to achieve the same). The Silent Gliss curtain controller was connected via a power relay to two of the digital ports on the FreeWay for Open/Close functions; and the Powersense module was connected to one of the FreeWay's digital input sensors. For the purposes of this test rig the CMS was actually controlled via Infra-Red from one of the FreeWay's RS232 ports, as the FreeWay can be adapted to use Linn's 7bit serial protocol.