Under Control?

Inside his renovated home, our eager homeowner searches for the lighting control panel he expected to find near the entry. Scanning the darkened foyer, he recalls the controls expert assuring him he would never return to an unlit home… So much for that. When he finds the panel (behind the door), he's still lost as he scrolls through seemingly endless menu options before ultimately stumbling on the lighting controls. But the trouble doesn't end there, as the labels are incomprehensible. So, he tries a switch called ‘front room’, and the outside lights come on. The switch labeled ‘stairs’ finally illuminates the entry.

Sadly, this scenario is all too common. Our hapless homeowner would have been better served with an electronics system consultant programming the lighting functions, making them easy to understand and control. From placement of control panels to simple construction of menus, a consultant partner can program a home automation system that makes managing your home easier and less expensive. A more intuitive approach leads to better and easier outcomes. Clearly, our homeowner in the above example didn't seek that as an option.

A true electronic systems contractor consultant functions as a partner and recommends solutions that enable the project to remain under budget while still accomplishing all its goals. Armed with a thorough understanding of how you use your lighting, an electronic systems contractor can ensure that panels end up where they should and that labels and levels match the homeowner’s expectations and needs.

For more information on lighting solutions, follow these articles (1 and 2) or contact a sales representative at 760-931-9922.

Smart and Savvy Homeowners - The Price of Perfection

For professional A/V installers, some of the best jobs available come from savvy and well-positioned homeowners - those clients that have the means and the desire to purchase high quality A/V products. As home theater systems become more powerful and easier to access, more and more wealthy homeowners are looking to create a theater-like experience in their homes, complete with features like specialty lighting, Runco 3D projection systems, and whole-home control panels.

Opportunity for Advancement – The Creation of a Custom System

The creation of a home theater system for tech-smart customers can be a significant milestone for a business, as a satisfied customer can mean free word of mouth advertising as well as reputation gains. The opportunity to build a high-quality system also gives an installation technician the chance to shine, to bring their skills at creation and artistry to the forefront. Many wealthy homeowners will have an idea of what they would like that goes beyond the simple “home theater” model and will speak to specific product lines such as Creston and their whole-home U-Panel control options, along with options such as Digital Media. Homeowners know what they want - the best - and options such as the new Creston line are both impressive and versatile.


Easy to Avoid Pitfalls – Making the Best of a New Client Relationship

First are the issues surrounding the quality of the products being installed. Techs need to be certain that they are using the exact products asked for, and if these are not available or cannot be used, they need to communicate why. It is, after all, the client's hard-earned money that is paying for the system, and it is in the best interest of both technician and homeowner to know exactly what types of products are being installed and when.

Next, be aware of questions concerning how products operate. A technician must be careful to confirm with homeowners what they expect from the system when it is finished. Often, technology companies advertise their products in such a way that they appear to be capable of more than they are. A professional technician will meet with the homeowner to discuss how the end system will look, as well as how it will perform when it is first utilized. A superior service technician will be able to craft a system that not only comprises the elements requested by a homeowner, but that also performs exactly as stated, bringing the theater experience directly into a home.

Communication as King – The Rise of the Savvy Homeowner

Technicians can easily ensure they side-step these problems by remembering that homeowners are now tech-savvy, and need only the basics of home theater details in order to understand their functioning. Superior communication gives techs the freedom they need to create a theater system that is a work of art while simultaneously providing homeowners with the peace of mind that they deserve.

Lighting Control And How It Can Lower Your Carbon Footprint And Electricity Bills

An integral part of designing the perfect home these days includes anticipating the family’s needs for lighting. The lighting system creates welcoming and livable spaces, transforming new construction or renovation into a home. Fixtures, lamps, lenses and other accessories need to answer to a wide variety of requirements, while the control system ensures the success of the design.

Lighting control creates the right balance of light for any area of the living space, while avoiding glare. Thus, the occupants can illuminate only the required rooms with lighting designed for their activities. In fact, one control system can handle lighting, HVAC, entertainment and security from integrated keypads anywhere; however, this misses perhaps the most important aspect of lighting control.


As energy becomes more costly we all need to reduce our carbon footprint and overall energy usage. Lighting control systems assist here, too. First, reduce the need for electricity by re-lamping from incandescent to more efficient compact fluorescent lamps. Control systems enable users to run fixtures at less than full capacity, extending lamp life, and reducing consumption and operating costs.


Control systems set light levels and prevent using and paying for more wattage than you need. You can also light and extinguish fixtures remotely and avoid burning lights unnecessarily. Finally, reducing your use of electricity will reduce your utility bills, especially important in today’s economic climate.

Crestron + iPhone = Ultimate Control?

Crestron has an app for that!  The Crestron Mobile Pro app found in the iTunes App store can be downloaded to an iPhone, iPhone 3G, and the iPod touch.  It uses two different ways to communicate with your home automation system.  The first and possibly more robust way is using the 3G network.  This means that you can check the status of your lights in the bathroom from anywhere in the continental US (try not to remember the lack of coverage offered by AT&T)  The second way is using your home wi-fi network or a hotspot at your local Starbucks.  Both of these connections have their own pros and cons.  Without some extensive testing, I will not be able to comment on the response time of the button presses through either of these connections.  I hope to see it in action in the wild soon so more to follow.