Lighting directly controllable from your URC remote control? You bet! Universal Remote Control Inc. has partnered with Lutron for a brand new RF lighting system that can be operated directly from URC's latest RF remotes.

The full press release is below:

UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL INTRODUCES LUTRON-BUILT HOME THEATER LIGHTING CONTROL PRODUCTS

Denver, CO - CEDIA EXPO 2008 - September 4 - 7, 2008 - Booth #324 - Universal Remote Control®, Inc. (URC), the pioneer in control technology, introduces Universal Remote Control Lighting by Lutron, a new line of easy-to-install single-room lighting control products that URC dealers can offer as compelling add-ons to their installations.

Lighting control is a natural extension of the home theater experience. It can set a mood, improve viewing conditions, and even help the viewer avoid injury when making a mid-movie snack run to the kitchen. URC expects its new lighting products, which are directly controlled by its numerous radio frequency (RF) remotes, will offer its dealers an easy way to offer this value-added home theater feature to their customers.

"As many custom dealers wrestle with decreasing price points and margins in some of their key product categories, gross revenues per project and the resulting profit dollars are harder to maintain as prices drop," says Mitchell Klein, director of market development and education at URC. "Universal Remote Control Lighting by Lutron will enable our dealers to diversify their offerings with a reliable, easy-to-install and easy-to-program add-on solution for single-room lighting control, with native control by URC remotes and backed by two of the most trusted brands in the business: URC and Lutron."

Although lighting control is gaining wider awareness and acceptance among dealers and consumers, low-voltage custom electronics dealers still face challenges with the technology. Most solutions are meant for whole-home installations, requiring costly interfaces that drive up the cost of a small, one-room system. URC's new lighting control products offer dealers and their customers a low-cost, high-quality opportunity to benefit from the joys and conveniences of lighting control without the high cost of entry. Universal Remote Control Lighting by Lutron provides an entry-level, high-value, extremely focused lighting control solution exclusively to custom installers.

The line, which consists of an RF dimmer, an RF switch and an RF lamp dimmer, provides an entry point for dealers to introduce lighting control to their customers. The products are easy to install, program and use in a home theater, master bedroom or outdoor zone, and are designed for full, native control by URC remotes, which will directly communicate with each dimmer or switch via RF. No costly black box or third-party devices are necessary for full functionality, no new wires are required to install a system, and the user doesn't need to interact with any device except the same remote control used for the home theater.

The dimmers and switches connect with existing wiring, making the system easy and cost-effective to retrofit into existing homes, where an installation will not significantly impact labor efficiency or installation times. The system is easy to specify into new construction, as well; no special instructions or wiring topologies are required. System programming is consistent with the dealer's experience in programming URC remotes. A significant feature of the system enables dealers to create and save lighting scenes that users can easily modify with no assistance required of the dealer, thus saving money for the dealer by minimizing truck rolls.

Universal Remote Control Lighting by Lutron products, built exclusively by Lutron for URC, are available in white, black and light almond, with custom colors available via special order.

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