Analog inputs have either three or five outputs, which can be connected to various actions from alarms to contact closures. Building temperature could be set to start an additional air conditioner at a specific temperature, and if the temperature continued to rise, start an exhaust fan and call and/or e-mail an alarm.

Systems can be grouped together so that when you dial in and enter the appropriate code, Relio will read out each parameter for that system. You can also set a macro command to perform a function within that group. Each command is also available by individual DTMF command.

Views

View Designer is the section of Script Easy, that defines what the user control panels will look like. There are several styles of meters with customizable color schemes. Legends can be different for on and off states. About the only thing you can't do with an LED is make it blink. Function buttons are fully sizable with legends inside the button. Colors are not customizable, but the buttons do change color when activated.

Master View is the operating environment. There are two levels of access: administrator and guest. Administrators have full control of the system, while guests are only allowed to view the system. Administrators and guests can be logged in at the same time.

Script Easy and Master View are Windows applications. Relio itself runs a Linux operating system. Upgrades to Relio firmware are via USB drive. Audemat cautions that you must record all user-defined parameters and save your script to an outside device before upgrading. So when upgrading the firmware, make sure you have all network parameters, call out lists, mail settings, passwords, etc., copied off the unit before starting the upgrade. Once the unit is upgraded, everything can be re-entered via the built-in Web interface, or by local KVM attached directly to Relio.

Audemat has been very responsive in supporting the Relio and to suggestions for improvements to system programming. They even added a few words to the built in dictionary (you can add your own also). Relio is so intuitive that the lack of detail in the documentation isn't a real problem. Overall, I am very pleased with the Audemat Relio remote control. It isn't washing the dishes yet, but I'm working on that.

Urban is chief operator of KUT Radio of the University of Texas at Austin.