Welcome! What's On Your Mind?

See Also: HERE’S WHY INTEGRATING SECURITY FEATURES IS A BRIGHT IDEA

HALLOWEEN

Halloween is a lot of downright spooky fun. Whether you’re designing the most terrifying haunted house on the block or you just love to buy big bags of candy corn, there’s always something to enjoy in October.

But the holiday also presents a unique dilemma – it’s the one time of year you welcome masked strangers at your front door.

Sure, those strangers may be small and adorable, but the added activity around your property increases a need for safety.

Smart surveillance cameras and integrated lighting control can help. Receive instant notifications to your smartphone or tablet every time someone approaches your door. Pull up clear, real-time footage of trick-or-treaters as they approach. Maintain safety with well-lit walkways that show the neighborhood kids exactly where to go. And be the first to know if anyone deviates from the path.

See Also: HOW TO PAUSE CONTENT IN YOUR THEATER AND PLAY IT IN YOUR BEDROOM

SETTING UP FOR GAME DAY

A perfect example of the difference between automation and control happens every Sunday. Getting ready for kickoff is a time when you interact with a lot of technology.

Each device you use may have smart features. You can simply request that the Houston Texans game play via voice control, choose the right volume with the touch of a button, and remotely dim your lights from your smart phone. When your friends come over, you can easily unlock your front door with another tap.

It’s easy and fun to control each smart device in your home without ever getting up from the couch.

But Savant automation system works a little differently. Different controls are grouped under single commands, so your system ends up doing the heavy lifting for you.

See Also: HOME NETWORK INSTALLATION: DIY OR PROFESSIONAL UPGRADE

IN-ROOM INSTALLATION

When you think of a home entertainment system, you probably think of the devices that exist in your living room or home theater. From TV displays to speaker systems, there’s a lot of AV choices to consider.

That means a lot of clutter, too. TVs and speakers take up a lot of space, and if you’re not careful they can detract from the interior design. 

Wall-mounting your flat-panel and recessing your speakers takes a bit of work, but it’s easily done by a professional installer. What may take them a few hours could be a weekend project for an inexperienced DIY-er, so it’s important to take in time considerations as well as financial cost when considering an upgrade.

CABLES AND WIRES

You’ve probably seen systems like this: TV propped up in a home entertainment cabinet and a mess of wires in the back.

See Also: HOW TO PAUSE CONTENT IN YOUR THEATER AND PLAY IT IN YOUR BEDROOM

DIY

If you’re handy with technology, you may consider upgrading your network by yourself. That means installing your router, running cables, and ensuring each device connects properly with the system.

In a small apartment, a wireless router may suffice to connect each of your devices to the internet. But in a large house – where you need coverage downstairs, upstairs, and around the backyard, it’s going to take a bit more work.

A wireless mesh network may be the easiest DIY option, because it will offer full coverage throughout your entire property. A mesh network consists of nodes strategically placed throughout your property that generate a web of connections. When you’re within the web, you won’t suffer any dead spots.

If you’re looking for simple connections between each device, you’ll probably end up quite happy with a wireless mesh network. But if you want to establish smart-home quality networking, you’re likely going to want a hardwired solution.