7 Reasons Why Home Automation is Made FOR the Technically Challenged

As home automation specialists working to educate the public on the benefits of new technologies, we are often told, “I am too technically challenged to use a home automation system.” To be honest, we love to reveal why this statement is one of the biggest myths of the 21st century.
The truth is that home automation systems have the power to simplify everything within your home and life. For example, homeowners often struggle with technologies that don’t work together. They hate the numerous remote controls cluttering coffee tables, and the wires tangled throughout rooms, but they don't know they have any other options. Today’s home automation technologies eliminate the confusion. Completely.

In fact, home automation is made especially for the technologically frustrated. Here are a handful of reasons why:

1. Home automation systems, such as Control4, give homeowners the power to fuse together their entertainment, lighting, temperature control, and security into a single console. One way to manage everything, not lots of ways to manage lots of things.

2. A home automation system can be controlled via a remote and/or with home computers, iPads, iPhones, and smart phones. It can’t get any easier.

3. Picture this. The kids are playing their PS3 in the theater room and Mom and Dad want to start family movie night. Without changing sources or input cables, and with just one remote control, the room can be primed for movie watching by a simple press of a button. The lighting dims, the shades close, and the TV powers on via Control4.

4. Perhaps Mom and Dad are listening to their favorite Jazz station on Rhapsody in the kitchen as they cook. The children are in their respective rooms listening to their own choices of music. Mom presses the “DINNER” button on the Control4 keypad next to the stove and it automatically shuts off the music in their rooms and announces dinner time.

5. The technically challenged can even be at ease while on the road. Let’s assume you take a trip to Paris and leave your home in the care of a house sitter. You don’t have to fret about unlocked doors, the garage door being left open, lights being left on, and more. All you need is your iPad to see which doors are locked or unlocked, which lights need to be turned off or on, and whether or not you need to shut the garage door. You have the power to control them all via a touch screen.

6. Another convenience that home automation provides is the ability to remotely access and adjust your temperature settings. Most people don’t use the programming options on their thermostats, whether because it takes too long or their heating and cooling habits are inconsistent. Home automation provides you the ability to log in from your mobile device or PC and change the temperature to your desired setting. This is especially important while on vacation. Setting your home temperature back to a comfortable setting right from the airport allows you to come home to a comfortable, warm house.

7. One of the biggest concerns for the technically challenged is system setup and maintenance. This makes our team smile for a couple of reasons. Because each household has its own unique needs, we help to customize individualized solutions to meet those needs, and we ensure that all technologies are installed and working properly. If for any reason there is a problem, we are a phone call away and can fix most issues remotely.

In short, home automation systems are a complete relief for the technologically challenged. We dare you to visit a showroom for a demo and see for yourself! 

Why God made the AV Integrator

Introducing the Sonos PLAYBAR

The newest creation from the Sonos team is the perfect complement to your home theater:

Never before has wireless HiFi audio been this easy. Simply plug PLAYBAR into your TV and any Sonos component into your router. Control the volume with your TV remote or one of the free Sonos controller apps.

PLAYBAR’s built-in sensors will automatically orient the audio channels and adjust the EQs for the perfect sound.

Six mid-woofers provide deep, rich low frequency sounds, accompanied by three tweeters for crystal clear high-frequency sounds.

But we didn’t stop there:

PLAYBAR is smart. Sonos’ advanced speaker array technology makes 24 million calculations every second where each mid-woofer adds and subtracts from one another simultaneously

PLAYBAR is scalable. You can add a SUB or even two PLAY:3s for a 5.1 experience at the touch of a button without the need for messy wiring or complex audio set-up.

PLAYBAR is sensitive. We thought of you late-night movie-watchers. ‘Night Sound’ dynamically compresses the audio to avoid any bangs and crashes waking the family, while making quieter sounds more audible. ‘Speech Enhancement’ boosts the frequency range of the human voice so you never miss those essential moments of dialogue.

Whether you’re watching your favorite movie, catching up the latest TV series, gaming with your friends or having a full-on dance party, Sonos has you covered. PLAYBAR is the soundbar for music lovers.

Considering Home Security? Here is what not to do.

Don't buy the most dazzling technology. Don't buy based on an advertisement. Don't buy because you are concerned about crime in the neighborhood. Don't buy the least expensive deal. Don't buy because it will save you insurance premium dollars. Don't buy just to feel safer. Buy smart and reach all those goals and more.

The first place to start is planning with you and your family. Discuss. Do your homework. Make a list of reasons for purchasing home security, your needs, your expectations of the system, and what you want it to do and don't want it to do as well as what you want to do and not do with it. Complexity may not be your strong suit.

The bottom line: The successful purchase, installation, maintenance and monitoring of a home security system has nothing to do with that stuff. Instead, it is a matter of a trusted relationship between the informed homeowner and his or her source.

Think of lifestyle needs, too

When considering a new home security system or upgrading an existing one, consider other things you can do with the infrastructure or can add during the installation beyond burglar, fire and carbon monoxide alarm monitoring. Many systems match the needs of an always mobile family by interfacing with smartphones, tablets and laptops from any remote location. Video cameras are now more often a part of the security system; and video can do more than alert to or record an intruder.

Homeowners can also integrate their security system with other home automation gear through a wall mounted panel, handheld touchscreen or home local area network. Individual rooms can be individually protected. Lighting, motorized window shades, HVAC, room intercoms, whole house entertainment audio and video services, storage servers, cloud services all can be handled within an integrated approach. Security systems can also protect specific assets such as artwork, the liquor cabinet and gun racks as well as be part of a sophisticated safe room to protect the family in weather and other emergencies.

In addition, the third-party monitoring of security can go beyond security into lifestyle needs ranging from home energy to aging in place.

A home security system design can include technology that knows the differences among rooms, people in the home and the time of day.

First plan it out

Take a personal home audit. What are your family's concerns and issues? What are the security essentials you need? Doors, windows, square feet inside, outside (what security professionals call the perimeter), the garage, locks and who has keys, a pool and patio, special medical and personal needs. Neighbors. Lighting around your property, on the street and in the neighborhood. Check out the number and types of crime in your neighborhood through your police department or, with some cities, on the Web.

With this homework in hand, a next step is to research security systems and monitoring services. There are, of course, do-it-yourself systems available at big box stores and over the Web. But the vast majority of alarm owners use a professional for advice, product and installation, and contract for monitoring.

Now, since you know yourself in respect to security and have some knowledge of systems out there, a professional from a national, regional or local firm can help out with his or her own risk assessment. Many home security providers offer free risk assessments or an onsite assessment. Since there are many types of home security systems, such risk assessments are essential to allow you to decide what kind of system will optimize your identified needs.

When reaching out for advice, ask your neighbors and friends for recommendations. Check out the firms contacted and customer referrals. Also look for licensing and certifications. The latter shows that the firm and individuals in it keep up to date with technology, installation, liability and business issues.

During this stage of the process, by the way, it is worthwhile to also discuss lifestyle needs. Many custom electronic design and installation firms have expertise in home automation, entertainment systems, wiring, home area networks, computers and home energy management in addition to security.

A security assessment by the homeowner and then by an electronic systems integrator can better understand needs such as patio and poolside needs as well as expansion opportunities for a home local area network.

What about the budget?

It all depends on how extensive is the total system, of course. There also is a monthly fee for monitoring. Similar to cell phone service agreements, third party monitoring often is set for a period of time. Security integrated with other home systems will mean more of an investment. But bundling more into an initial design will prove more cost effective than adding on later.

Enabling remote monitoring through a smartphone, tablet or laptop computer is a growingly attractive addition without much extra expense. This is especially helpful if you choose security video along with traditional burglar and fire alarms. Video streams or clips can be automatically sent to mobile devices upon alarms, when certain situations occur or at the request of the homeowner.

Before choosing a specific system, also check with your insurance company. Many of these firms recognize the effectiveness of home security and can offer insurance discount rates. The rate of the discount varies according to choice of system.

What is the Home Network?

Between computers, tablets, printers, smart phones, TVs, Blu-ray players and a host of other devices, more and more of the components you bring into your home are looking to send, receive and share information.

This information-sharing is done by creating a network in your home.

Your home network is referred to as a local area network (LAN). This is a computer network that connects devices in a limited area, such as your home or an office. Devices connected to the LAN can communicate and share information with one another.

There are several essential elements to setting up a home network:

Cabling and Connections

Networks connect with category-rated cabling typically called Cat 5 or Cat 6. This cabling has four pairs of wires that are twisted at different rates to reject interference and transmit data at high speeds. The category wiring is terminated with a connector called an RJ-45, which resembles a large telephone connection.

Modem

The modem (a contraction of modulator-demodulator) is the device that allows your LAN to connect to the wide area network (WAN) and the rest of the world. The modem is often provided by the cable or telephone company and sends information over cable, telephone or fiber-optic wiring. In rural locations, some modems communicate via satellite systems.

Router

The router sits between the modem and your devices, such as computer, TV, Blu-ray player and printer. Category-rated cabling connects the router to the modem and other devices on the network to the router. The router assigns each device on the network a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address. Routers generally have several (often four to eight) ports to connect other devices.

Switch

When there are more devices to connect than there are ports available on the router, a network switch is used. A switch connects to a port on the router and then adds additional (often five, eight, 16 or more) ports to connect more devices. Multiple switches can be used, and switches can be cascaded, meaning you can plug one switch into a port on another switch.

IP Address

The router assigns every device on the LAN a unique IP address. Much like an actual address, these unique IP addresses allow the router to send packets of data to the correct device. IP addresses are structured in four groups of numbers, such as 192.168.1.150.

WiFi

This is the technology for sending and receiving data over the LAN wirelessly. There are different versions of the 802.11 WiFi standards, and the most popular are 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n. WiFi is typically not as fast or as secure as a wired connection, but speed, security and range continue to improve with each new version of the standard.

Firewall

A firewall is a device or program designed to prevent unauthorized access to data and devices on the home's LAN from the WAN. The firewall provides a layer of protection from people attempting to "hack" into your network and either steal data or install a harmful virus, while still allowing authorized communications to pass through.

With more devices relying on Internet access than ever before, a well-designed and properly installed home network setup is more important than ever. To discuss your home networking needs or have a home network installed in your home.