Finish Strong with Quality Programming

Don’t let all your hard work go to waste.

Leave a Comment
Finish Strong with Quality Programming

The last 10% of any project is the most critical. That’s when the rubber meets the road and your programming and/or commissioning team verifies that the system works and meets user expectations.

To finish strong and successfully utilize your programming and commissioning resources, consider the following factors:

  • Complexity of the system and design
  • Onsite programming
  • Timeline
  • Number of programmers involved

When a system is designed correctly and programmed properly, the multiple technologies will work seamlessly to make way for a smooth and successful project. The more complex the system, the more difficult the commissioning becomes, and the more at risk your project is. Room combining, controlling a DSP, multiple displays, multiple touch panels, multiple processors, and multiple user levels must be taken into account when defining the “complexity” of a system and considering who will program your system.

It sounds pretty basic, but having a good understanding of how a control system works is not a skill all AV techs possess. If the on-site technicians do not know how to set IP IDs, Cresnet IDs, Axlink IDs, IP tables, or set up the control ports or network ports on the other devices being controlled, this process can become very tedious and time consuming. It can cause deadlines to slip and may require sending your programmer to the site to ensure your system is up and running.

Scheduling enough time for your programmer to go on site or remote-in multiple times with the commissioning tech, is imperative. Just because your programmer is limited on time or juggling multiple projects, don’t make the mistake of cutting this time short. Determine whether a room or rooms can be commissioned as they’re completed or whether you must wait until the programmer comes on site to commission all rooms at once. Making sure your programmer has the time need to properly program and commission the project will ensure the system is functioning properly for the customer.

Multiple programmers can also throw the proverbial, “cog in the wheel.” For example, is the DSP being programmed by someone other than the control system programmer? Since both systems will need to communicate with each other, the two programmers need to schedule time to work together. It’s always much easier to commission a system when one programmer can be responsible for the entire project.

Finishing your AV project with a professional programmer that can work with commissioning techs or be available on site will make your project a success and make your installation finish on a high note!

If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!