Hardware Required

THe following components make up the Landmark system.

Required AMX Hardware:

• PLB-CF10 or PLB-CF2 Cardframe - The cardframe is the primary piece of equipment in the system.  It houses the master control card and any other cards that are required to perform home automation functions.
• PLB-CF10 - Holds up to 10 cards and has a built in Phastlink hub that enables communication with other Landmark devices.  This is a standard 17 inch wide component and about 3U tall.  It is typically placed in a rack (e.g., Middle Atlantic) or is stacked in an equipment room.  This has a fan-based power supply and does generate noise, so it is not typically placed in a home theater or bedroom.  This is the typical unit installed as the primary control system for a Landmark implementation.
• PLB-CF2 - Holds up to 2 cards and has two Phastlink ports that effectively allow daisy chaining.  This unit can be used in two ways.
• Master - For small systems that only require a master control card and one other card (e.g., RS-232 or IR), this is perfect.  It has no fan and is a good option for home theaters or bedrooms.  Or, if you need up to four cards, you can connect two of these together without having to bump up to a CF10 with fan.
• Slave - For situations where you have a master already and want to control a remote room or location with just a couple of cards (e.g., RS-232 or IR).  You can connect this to the master via a Phastlink port and extend control to any room.
• Note:  This unit is not small, and is hard to place especially in today's environments where TVs are typically mounted on the wall.  This will fit mounted behind a flat panel TV if you use the right mount.... though it only makes sense if you need to do more than just change the channel (i.e., change lights, etc.)

• AMX PLC-MCU2 or PLC-MCU4 Master Control Card - This is the brain of the entire system.
• MCU4 - is the card with 4MB of memory - for larger systems
• MCU2 - is the card with 2MB of memory - for typical systems

• AMX PLC-IROUT IR Output Card - This card provides IR control of up to 4 devices with four standard IR wired controls.  This works very much like any IR system.  Attach the plug end of an emitter to the card, and the other end to the IR window on the device (e.g., DVD player, CD player, Tivo).

• AMC PLC-SER Serial Card - This card provides two RS-232 / 422 / 485 communications ports for bi-directional communications to other equipment that can be controlled serially.  Note that most consumer big-box components do not have serial ports.  You will need to find equipment that is higher end and used in custom home theaters.  Brands that typically have a serial port include:
• Anthem
• Audio Control
• Audio Design Associcates
• Autonomic Media Control System
• Denon CI (Custom Integration) series
• Escient
• Krell
• Lexicon
• Marantz
• Mark Levinson
• Oppo
• Parasound
• Proceed
• Theta

• IRIS IR Capture Device - This device is required in order to capture IR signals from a remote control and associate to a device in Landmark.  If you want to support IR control, you need this.  It is one of the few items from the Landmark era that are still produced and available from AMX.  It does appear on eBay, though not often. 

Optional Hardware:

• AMX PLB-AS8 or PLB-AS16 Audio Switches - This is the heart of any whole house audio system based on Landmark.  These components allow you to distribute line level audio to any "zone".  These units will route any input to any output and can be used to route music, intercom or other audio.  If you want the ability to control volume, source, bass, treble, muting, loudness, then you
• PLB-AS8 - has 8 input pairs and 8 output pairs (8 zones)
• PLB-AS16 - has 16 input pairs and 16 output pairs (8 zones)

• AMX PLB-AMP8 Amplifier - This amplifier provides the ability to amplify 4 zones.  Though this amplifier is fully integrated with Landmark, that integration provides little benefit that I can see.  Within Landmark you can control volume and muting... but this is already covered with the audio switch and is redundant as far as I can tell.  The amp does match the color and styling of the rest of the components which is nice, and can be found at pretty reasonable prices on eBay.  However, the amplifier is optional, and you can easily use any multizone amplifier instead of the AMP8.  Recommended amplifiers include:
• Audio Control
• Audio Design Associates
• Russound
• Niles
• Speakercraft

Optional Cards:

• PLC-AMX Emulation Card - This card is required if you plan to use any of the G3 touch panels.  Landmark supports integration natively.  the most popular touch panel is the AMX AXD-CV6 six inch wall mount touch screen.  This card also supports the integration of any other AMX Axlink devices as well... most of which are duplicative of the Landmark cards and hardware.
• PLC-DTMF Telephone Interface Card - This card was a big selling point in the past.  It allows for caller ID to be displayed on panels or keypads, supports a voicemail box, and provides the ability to dial the home and enter codes to control the system to perform common tasks like turn on the lights, open the garage.  The Caller ID is probably the most useful feature.  Most people have VM on their cellphones now, and calling your home to perform tasks is not often used.
• PLC-IRIN IR Card - Allows the Landmark system to receive IR signals from IR sensors in other rooms... typically for Television control.  In my experience, you are better off using a Viewpoint touchpanel and providing more functionality.
• PLC-IN7 Contact Card - Allows for the Landmark system to monitor contact switch devices that are typically used for home security and monitoring.  This is pretty powerful as you can do much more than your standard ADT system can.
• PLC-RL8 Relay Card - Allows for the Landmark system to act as a source for devices that need contact switch triggers.  This may include standard audio components that have 12v triggers, or other equipment such as automated blinds, etc.

Required Wire:

• Landmark Wiring - The standard communication wire for Landmark connections is standard Ethernet Cat-5 or Cat-6 wire.  Though this is the same wiring used for whole home internet wiring, the protocol that is used by Landmark is different and not compatible.  You will need to run separate ethernet runs between the components in a Landmark system and you cannot connect to any of the internet switches or hubs.  This wiring is referred to as Phastlink.  It uses standard wire and standard RJ-45 connectors but must remain separate from other wiring.  All wiring runs are straight between the Phastlink Hub (on the master or hub box) and the destination unit.  Typical needs for runs include:
• Phast Keypads - several keypads can be used and all require an ethernet run.  Note that these runs can be daisy-chained and every keypad will support two ports... one input and one output.  This reduces the need to run a wire from the master to every device... though for future compatibility with other systems, I highly recommend running dedicated wires for every keypad.
• Remote PLB-CF2 Units - you can extend control to other rooms via a CF2.

• Axlink Wiring - All AMX Axlink components communicate over a 4 conductor wire.  You can use standard telephone wire or ethernet Cat-5 or Cat-6.  Like Landmark wiring, this wire is run separately and must not be integrated with the ethernet wiring used for Internet.  I recommend running home runs from the unit to the master.  Typical needs for runs include:
• Remote Touch Panels - Any of the in-wall (AXD) or table top (AXT) touch panels require a run of wire.
• Remote Axlink devices - Any of the remote AMX devices.

• RG6 Coax Cable - Any of the touchpanels that support video inputs will require a coax cable.  The most popular example would be the CV6 or CV10 touchpanels.  This will allow the panel to display video information such as security camera images or tv images.

Software Required

The AMX Landmark system does not provide home automation capability out of the box.  It has to be programmed.  It is the equivalent of purchasing a Computer that only has DOS - Landmark is the equivalent of DOS.  You need to configure everything else including the user interfaces on the panels. 

Note:  Phast was the original company that developed the Landmark software and associated hardware.  This was later acquired by AMX.  You will find references to Phast in both the software and associated literature. 

First thing you need to get started is the right software.  Here is what you need to program an AMX Landmark system:

1.  Landmark v4.1 Build 3 - This is the last version of the Landmark software that was distributed in 2004.  It is available for free to AMX developers on the AMX website.  This software provides the ability to program the AMX system components from a single GUI development environment.  It generates files that are downloaded to a single PLC-MCU master control card that controls the entire system.

Note:  When installing, do not change the default installation directory.  There is a bug in the code that requires that this is installed to the Program Files\Landmark directory.  Any other directory location will prevent you from transmitting the files to the MCU.

2.  TPDesign v3.16 Build 200 - This is the last version of the TPDesign software for touchpanels that are compatible with Landmark systems - labelled G3 touchpanels.  It is available for free to AMX developers on the AMX website.  This software provides the ability to program the touchpanels using a GUI environment that specifies the pages, navigation, and buttons.  It generates a file that is downloaded to an individual panel.  In order to get to Build 200, you need two installs:

     a. TPDesign 3.16
     b. TPDesign patch to Build 200

Note:  TPDesign4 is the currently available panel software that AMX supports.  This will not work with G3 panels that support Landmark systems.  TPDesign4 is targeted only for G4 panels.  You need the older TPDesign3 software.

3.  Windows XP SP3 - The Landmark and TPDesign software are targeted to run on Windows XP.  You need a computer with a fresh install of Windows XP.

• Install Windows XP
• Download the Service Packs from Microsoft and get it upgraded to Service Pack 3.  You won't be able to use Windows Update as it is no longer compatible with IE6 - the browser that is installed with SP1 and SP2.
• Once SP 3 is installed you should be able to install the latest browser and run Windows Update to get everything up to speed.  As of January, 2013, I have not found that any of the updates conflicts with either Landmark or TPDesign.
• Network Setup - The Landmark software communicates to the PLC-MCU over Netbios, not over IP. Open Network Connections and select your Local Area Network Connection.  If you don't see the NWLink protocols in the list do the following:
  - Click Install
  - Select Protocol and click ADD
  - Select NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS and click OK
  - The following will appear in the list and must be checked...
  - NWLink NetBIOS + NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS
  - Just to be safe I clicked the TCP/IP protocal, clicked the Advanced button, went to the WINS tab and set the NetBIOS option to Default
  - Click OK, OK, Then reboot
• Firewall Setup - To enable communications between the PC and the MCU, you need to make sure that the Firewall does not interfere. In Control Panel, open Windows Firewall, and click Add Program to add Landmark Designer to the Exceptions list. Then Reboot again. Windows doesn't force this, but I found that a reboot made the difference.
• Network Setup - You need the PLC-MCU card connected to a network via an ethernet cable. Plug the ethernet cable into the 10 Base T jack on the PLC-MCU card, and the other end into an ethernet switch. If you don't have a switch, a hub might work. I tried plugging into my Apple Extreme router without luck... I think you need a good old fashioned switch. I was successful with both my Netgear FS105 10/100 switch and my Leviton 10/100 4 port internet gateway which includes a router so that Windows believed it was connected to something. Plug your PC into it as well.
• PC With Windows XP - Ethernet cable plugged into the switch
• Landmark card frame with PLC-MCU card - Ethernet cable plugged into the switch
• Reboot the switch so that all communications start from scratch
• Start up Landmark Designer and click Design > Equipment and see if you are getting send AND receive packets on the MCU card.
• If not, the ethernet chipsets in newer desktops and laptops may be the issue, I purchased a Belkin 10/100 USB Ethernet adapter model F5D5050 (You can find these on eBay). This is about as generic of an ethernet adapter as you will find and it just plugs into an open USB port. Plug it into your laptop and let Windows search Windows Update to find a driver, and it will install quickly. Use this to connect to the switch, and I was in business.

Why Landmark?

This platform is now over 10 years old.  Why continue to maintain and develop on it when AMX has long abandoned it in favor of the NetLinx product line?

1.  Cost Effectiveness - Using Landmark you can implement a home automation system at a much lower cost point than Netlinx.  The hardware is only available on the secondary market, primarily eBay, and can be purchased reasonably.  You can get a fully loaded card frame for $100 + shipping.  The software is free.  Panels are available at under $100 each.  You can reasonably fit a system for under $1000.

2.  Flexibility - Using Landmark, you can utlize both Phast and AMX AxLinx devices + anything that can be controlled by IR or RS-232.  This covers a large number of devices.

3.  Scalability - You can easily support very large homes with this platform.  Setting up a 20 zone home is as simple as configuring it in Landmark and adding the equipment. Oh, and running all the wires.

4.  No Programming - You can implement Landmark with no programming skill.  For a long time, this was required with Netlinx.  Now AMX is developing GUI platforms that finally provide capability similar to what Landmark always delivered (e.g., Visual Architect).  But for basic implementation, Landmark is very easy to get going and then build on top of.

Limitations:

1.  IP Communications - Many devices now can only be controlled over IP (e.g., Sonos, Autonomic, iTunes).  The Phast and Axlink devices do not support this like Netlinx can.  The only option is to use an RS-232 to IP gateway which adds cost and complexity.

2.  HDMI CEC - Contolling devices that can be controlled by CEC (e.g., your average flat screen TV) will require that you utilize an RS-232 to CEC gateway (e.g., Rainshadow) that adds cost and complexity.

3.  IR Capture - Only AMX IR files can be used that are captured using the hard to find IR capture device called the IRIS.  Without this device, you will not be able to use IR unless you have access to the AMX site to download pre-configured IR files... which exist for many devices, but not all.

Welcome!

Hi all. Thanks for visiting this blog on installing and maintaining a Landmark home automation system. I have dedicated this site to one of the most flexible home automation systems - that your average homeowner can maintain with some technical expertise. If you are here, then you probably have a system, inherited a system, or are looking for something inexpensive to automate your home! As Landmark is now over 10 years old, there are few places to go and get information, so I am hoping that this will help.  Even after all these years, I find that it is a cheap and effective approach for typical home automation tasks!  Hopefully, you will find what you are looking for here.  Feel free to post questions, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.  If you want a private reply, just leave your email in the post as Blogger does not provide that to me.