The home network or small office network enables multiple devices, e.g., PCs, tablets, etc. to connect and connect to the Internet.

Is your home network slow? Are your kids keep calling – Dad! The Internet doesn’t work again?

As Smart Home Automation experts, here in CrispAV.com, we get many questions from our clients about their home network and small office networks.

Why is my Internet Connection is down every time?

Do you know why my videos keep buffering? I have a 100mbit internet connection, and it’s still slow!

Which access point should I install? The one with 4 or 6 antennas? The more is better right?

Today, you will understand how your home network or office network works, and which components you require (like a router, access point, switch, etc.)

Planning your Home Network Setup

Before we start setting up all the network gear, we have to figure out what you need for your home network installation and what you want to accomplish.

You have to answer this kind of questions: 

• What is the design of your house, and what areas you want to have internet access? Just inside of your home, or do you also want to use the Wi-Fi in your garden?
• How many devices do you have to connect wired?
• Are they wired or wireless? Most devices can connect wireless over the Wi-Fi. Still, a wired connection is the best solution for gaming and streaming.
• Do you want to support the “Power of Ethernet” devices (PoE)? Tools like IP Cameras or Door Access Systems.

Do not forget that your children will grow up and one day they will get a mobile phone, computer, and game console in their room. On these days, more devices require an internet connection, so point into consideration that your plan for a network setup has to be suitable for now and the upcoming five years.

Choosing the Best Router for my Home Network. 

A Router is the first thing you need. Routers control two essential things. 

First. The routers “route” information from the Internet to your LAN and all the LAN devices. 

Second. The routers provide a very efficient firewall to protect the devices on your LAN devices from internet attacks.

Let’s see what the characteristics that make a good router are. Most brands advertise with the wireless connection speed, how many Mbps, etc. So, what we have to have in mind about a good router

• Simple to use with an understandable web interface to make it easy to manage.
• The number of packages per second it can process, the throughput.
• Quality of service the QoS so that we can prioritize streaming media and gaming).
• Avoid the fans; the fans make noise and attracted dust into the device.

That is wye we don’t care about it their Wi-Fi performance. A router is never will placed in the optimal position for good Wi-Fi coverage. And good Wi-Fi coverage and speed is the essential part of a good home network. We will leave the Wi-Fi to the access points that are wye their l built.

The Access Points

An access point device connected wired to a router projecting a Wi-Fi signal to a designated area to creates a wireless local area network.

Depending on the access point and the router you have brought, it can be as simple to connect a LAN ethernet cable between the router and the access point. But when PoE technology is in the equation, you will place a PoE adapter.

The best placement of the access point is crucial for your network. Placing it in the right location makes a massive difference in a good internet connection via Wi-Fi. 

Home Network Security

After we have done a home network setup, it’s time to think about its security. We all get guests in our homes, it can be family or friends, and they all have mobile devices. You can say no when they ask you to share your Wi-Fi password, but what if their mobile device has a virus or malware on it? Your network could be infected, as well.

1. You have to set up a separate VLAN for your guest network to keep your Home Network safe. It would be best to make the VLAN on the router first, and then assign the VLAN to the guest SSID in the access point.
2. Change the default network name. New access points and routers come with a default Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password. It would be a good idea to always changed the network name immediately after everything gets connected. Hackers can quickly get the password based on the manufacturer of the access point or routers. When you choose an SSID name, do not use any personal information like your address, birthdays, or family name.
3. Update your firmware network devices often. Creating a good home network is not a one time task; you need to keep it updated. All network appliances, router, access point, switch, smart devices, printers need to be updated regularly to keep them secure.

What we have described above is the simple scenario that applies to home and small business networks. Adding multiple wireless access points, extending networks over large distances, or adding additional security layers or functionality, is much more complicated.

If you need help with your network or have questions, please let us know we can help you with your home or small offices network. 

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A lighting control system can automatically dim your lights, enact preset “scenes” so only the fixtures you need come on, automatically turn on and off lights so you don’t have to run around the house to do so- and interact with other home systems such as motorized window shades, security systems, thermostats, and whole-house control and automation systems.

 

There are many types of systems available, in a variety of configurations and price points. You can have a fully wired system if you’re building a home or addition. If not, no worries: Opt for a wireless system that transmits commands over radio frequency signals instead of wires. A combination of the two works for many homeowners.

Whole-house lighting control systems are available from companies including Lutron. Also available are a variety of lighting control products that employ wireless Z-Wave and ZigBee technologies.

The diagram to the left illustrates possible locations for the various components that make up a lighting control system.

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The post How to choose the TV wall mount that fits my TV. appeared first on CRISP Audio and Video, Inc..

For many people, the comfort is not one of the first things to think. When you decide to mount your TV on the wall, you think about where to connect the cables, the lighting, the type of wall, what kind of mounting, and anything else related with your TV screen. But the mounting height of your tv placement should be one of the most important issues. For most people watching TV means several hours of viewing and washing, that means that the viewer’s comfort is a very high priority.

The answer to what’s the correct height to place a TV is that there is no single answer. That is, it depends on a few different factors. So here are 3 factors that can help you decide the correct height of your television and create the perfect viewing experience by using the ideal viewing.

 

1. What is the Level of Your Eyes?

The first thing that we must take into account to mount our screen at a comfortable height is the focal point, the eye level when you are sitting. For a sitting position, the level of the eyes is usually 42 inches from the floor.

2. How do you watch television?

Another thing that you should take into account to determine your wall mounting height is how you watch television, what are your personal preference, whether you are always sitting, lying or standing in the moment you are watching tv.

 

3. What kind of brackets?

You should consider using tilt or full-motion mount to have better adjustment flexibility for your television and thus find the perfect angle.

Remember, you’re going to be looking at the center of the screen almost all the time, so try to keep the middle third of the screen within the height range that we discussed to get the best viewing angle. 

Crisp AV can help you find the ideal height to mount your TV – and do all the drilling, lifting and technical configuration for you, so you can simply sit back, relax and get ready to enjoy your TV. Simply Schedule a Call Today.

 

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Making sure your home is comfortable should be easy, which is why every Honeywell-connected thermostat can now be controlled simply with the power of voice, using Amazon Alexa-enabled devices like Echo, thanks to a new Alexa Skill.

By simply saying “Alexa,” customers with Honeywell Lyric Round (first and second generation) or Total Connect Comfort (Wi-Fi and RedLink) thermostats can adjust their home’s temperature with a short verbal command.

Even homes that have multiple heating and cooling zones using applicable Honeywell thermostats can be adjusted, simply by confirming for Alexa which thermostat should be controlled.

The Skill is the latest collaboration between Honeywell and Amazon. Customers can also still change the temperature, set up schedules, and make other changes directly with the thermostat by using their thermostat’s corresponding Honeywell app.

“Even as our homes–and the tech inside them–change, customers simply want to feel comfortable, safe, and in control, and find ways to save time and money,” says Jeremy Eaton, general manager, of Honeywell Connected Home. “We’ve always designed our thermostats with that in mind, and bringing Amazon’s Alexa into our family is a perfect next step to help make people’s lives easier and homes smarter.”

In addition to Alexa, Honeywell’s connected thermostats can be connected to other home products and ecosystems, such as Samsung SmartThings and If This Then That (IFTTT), to provide homeowners with the flexibility to pick solutions that best fit their needs.

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Hue hasn’t had any motion sensor options until now, so home owners who wanted to do motion sensing were either out of luck or stuck setting up a chain of third-party gadgets to get the same effect. This solves all of that.

Philips’ app makes it all pretty simple. It lets you pick out which lights to turn on when a motion sensor detects movement, as well as how long to keep them on for when it detects that everyone has left. There are a few nice touches here, too: lights will dim before turning off, so that a person can move again and trigger the motion sensor if it simply hasn’t picked up their presence in a while. And the motion sensor can be set to only activate lights when the room is dark, so that you aren’t wasting energy during the daytime.

The sensor does have some limits. It can only detect motion up to about 16.5 feet away. And while Philips will give you the option of reducing that — that is, only turning on lights when motion occurs closer to the sensor — you don’t have the option of limiting its sensitivity. That means your cat will end up triggering your lights, too. Philips says limits to motion sensitivity will come later on.

The motion sensors will sell for $39.95, with up to 12 supported on a single Hue bridge. They’ll go on sale in October.

Though Philips has added accessories to the Hue system in the past, such as switches, this is the first time it’s added something close to an additional gadget. Philips says it doesn’t plan to start expanding Hue into a broader smart home system, however. If it does add any other sensors in the future, they’ll be just as focused on improving home lighting.

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Motion sensors have the stigma of watching out for the bad guys. Someone walks into your house while the security alarm is set, the motion sensor sees them traipsing down the hallway, and a siren sounds.

While they still are designed to perform this function, when integrated into a complete home control system, they can provide so many more benefits to your family and home.

Here is a list of some of the tricks you can get your motion sensors to perform when set up appropriately by a custom electronics professional.

1. Turn on and off lights

This function is particularly helpful utility rooms, powder rooms, kids’ bedrooms, and closets, and the concept is simple: When someone walks into the closet, for example, the lights activate. After the motion is no longer detected the lights turn off. You can work in some cushion time, like a minute or two after you leave, to ensure that the lights don’t turn off too soon.

2. Keep your kids safe

Maybe you have a swimming pool in the back yard. Perhaps you live on a busy road. With motion sensors aimed at these the patio and front porch, you can be notified via flickering lights, a chime … whatever, should someone step outside the house? With a motion sensor planted in the kids’ bedrooms, you’ll also be able to know when they get out of bed in the middle of the night.

3. Notify you of guests

A motion sensor can alert you when you have company. A popular way this could unfold in your house: A sensor perched near the entrance trips when someone walks by, triggering a surveillance camera to activate (many surveillance cameras have motion sensors built-in), which send the video to your smartphone or TV screen.

4. To set the mood.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, you can use a motion sensor to set the mood in the dining room, family room, bedroom, or anywhere else. As you sweep your stroll into the family room, for example, the lights could dim, the motorized shades could close and your favorite tunes could start piping through the stereo speakers. Your home control system could be programmed to only allow this to happen at certain times, like Friday nights, for example, or during the holidays.

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It’s official. Sonos now integrates with third-party home automation systems. Of course, smart-home systems have integrated with Sonos for at least a decade, but now they have the love and support of the manufacturer itself. Control4, Crestron, Deutsche Telekom’s QIVICON, iPort, Lutron and Savant are Sonos’s first sanctioned partners.

You can’t do anything special with the home-control systems that you couldn’t do before — just the same old transports, lists of favorites to select and feedback for “now playing.” For almost everything else, you still have to go back to the Sonos app itself. Crestron is the exception (below).

Control4, Savant and QIVICON (Deutsche Telekom’s smart-home platform) already integrated with Sonos. Crestron, on the other hand, has been by-the-book, refusing to offer native Sonos support without the blessing of Sonos itself.

Lutron and iPort Integration

The collaboration with Sonos, the sound platform for the connected home, gives consumers direct, one-touch control of any Sonos speaker alongside lights, shades and temperature, when used with Lutron’s Caséta Wireless, RadioRA 2, and HomeWorks QS smart home systems. Play, pause, skip tracks, and adjust volume, in exactly the same way that you control lights and shades from your nightstand or from the wall. Lutron has developed a new Pico Remote Control for Audio just for this purpose which puts audio and lighting control in the palm of your hand.

“Music sounds better when the lights are just right,” says Michael Smith, Lutron vice-president of sales. “Imagine settling into the couch with a glass of wine and you can adjust the lights and music right from the Pico remotes on your coffee table. Or as you pull into your driveway, the entry lights automatically turn on and your Sonos Home Sound System starts playing to welcome you through the front door.  Music lovers will truly appreciate how easy it is to sync your music and lights and get immersed in the experience.”

And imagine this: Lutron’s geofencing feature allows scheduling of immersive sound and lighting scenes to have speakers and lights automatically turn on/off once an owner is within a set distance of home.

You know … to get the house in the mood before you arrive home.

Priced from $49, the Pico Remote for Audio will be available starting on September 15 from your local lighting showroom, electrical professional, home technology professional, and Amazon.com. 

Also new to Sonos is iPort, the division of Dana Innovations that makes iPad mounts and controls. iPort will launch the xPress Audio Keypad, which talks directly to Sonos over the home’s Wi-Fi network. Unlike Lutron and the others, iPort does not require a hub for controlling Sonos.

The $100 Decora-style Keypad is wireless, so it can sit right next to same-style light switches on the wall. The xPress Magnetic Wall Adapters allow users to grab a Keypad off the wall for use as a hand-held remote.

Crestron Integration

Crestron is doing its Sonos integration different from the others. From within the Crestron environment, users have full access to the Sonos app itself. Plus, while the other Sonos partners can deliver just the fundamental Sonos controls, Crestron will allow users to browse song lists, create presets and do everything else Sonos itself can do.

Other Sonos Partnerships: Alexa and Spotify

Sonos owners with an Alexa-enabled device such as an Amazon Echo or Echo Dot will soon be able to use Amazon’s popular Alexa service to control their Sonos sound system. The software integration – collaboratively built from the ground up using the Alexa Voice Service (AVS) SDK– taps into both Sonos’ and Alexa’s existing music capabilities so owners don’t have to learn additional commands or key words. Simply ask Alexa to play your music from Amazon Music, Spotify, and more and it will flow to any group of Sonos speakers in the home.

These new voice capabilities will be delivered in a software update that will work with new and previously purchased Sonos and Alexa-enabled devices such as Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Amazon Tap, and Amazon Fire TV. The companies will begin rolling out the experience through an invite-only beta test later this year, with general availability in 2017.

Sonos also announced a Spotify Connect integration with additional functionality that will make it the only whole home sound system that can be fully controlled directly from the feature-rich Spotify app, including play controls and easy access to grouping and ungrouping of rooms. Spotify will be the first music streaming service that allows Spotify Premium listeners to have full control of the music all over their homes outside the Sonos app.

The inherently social listening experience also makes it possible for everyone in the home to control a listening session with both the Spotify andSonos apps, which stay linked with one another. Friends coming over? They can connect to your WiFi and use their own Spotify app to instantly play music to your Sonos speakers without downloading the Sonos app. And since you can control your Sonos system when you’re away from your home WiFi, you can now have music playing for you as soon as you come home.

This free software update will be available in October as part of the Sonos public beta program.

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We spent four hours learning to turn lights on and then another four hours turning them off. It was a joke, but there’s actually some truth to it because among the things we practiced was smart lighting programming to make lights do a lot more than simply brighten up space.

Smart lighting control, while not exactly a new technology (Lutron’s founder Joel Spira invented the solid-state dimmer in 1959), has risen to become one of the most important features in a home control system. When properly designed and programmed, a lighting system can be much more than just the glow that allows you to read at night.

Here are a few of the applications made possible by home control systems:

Notifications: Yes, your lights can be programmed to communicate things to you based on events (and other devices) they’re linked up to. Let’s say you spend a lot of time listening to loud music or movies and know you can’t hear the doorbell (or driveway gate, depending on the size of your house). You can have a light in your media room programmed to flash once or twice when someone rings the doorbell. If your lighting or home automation programmer wants to make it even more tricky, he or she can make sure the flash only happens when the media system is playing so the lights don’t flash unnecessarily.

Extra Sensory Perception: Lots of fun things can be done using lights in combination with motion or contact sensors. For instance, an automation system with smart lighting can be programmed to turn up a pathway of lighting based on motion sensors outside. Those can serve both as a security measure—turning on bright floodlights when an unexpected visitor approaches, or as a welcome program when a car pulls into the driveway at night. The sensor will relay a message to the control system that tells it to turn on your entryway lights and any other lights you like on as you walk in the house.

Is your home theater or media room in a basement (like mine)? Have the stairway light linked to a contact sensor that automatically turns on when the door is opened. For added customization, you can have the stair light timed to go out after a reasonable time, say one minute, while the main theater lights stay on until you start a movie, then they can automatically ramp down to movie level.

Warnings: Aside from criminal activity, you can use your lighting system to provide warnings or notifications of other events. Maybe you have little kids who get up in the middle of the night. A motion sensor can turn on a hall light so your child can see, and turn on a small light in the master bedroom to alert you that your child is stirring.

A company new to the advanced lighting scene LIFX, has a Wi-Fi-based color-changing LED bulb system that is supposed to be able to sync with social media sites or text messages from your cell phone. Imagine if your desk lamp turned a shade of green whenever a text message came in or red when someone tagged you in an Instagram picture.

Ambience and Décor: While your lighting devices (lamps, sconces, chandeliers) should look nice, the quality and color of the light they emit can be just as much a part of your home’s interior design as the artwork and furniture—and the best part is that you can change the look on the fly.

Something as simple as the color your walls can change dramatically based on the light quality in the room. If you want to change the feel of the room, change the lights. You can do it yourself on a whim with various dimmer or control apps, or have your programmer design scenes that will run at the press of one button. Such versatility is just as important and impressive for outdoor lights as for indoor. Some of the most common light scenes are party, morning, dinner and of course, goodnight. Many control systems also allow you to use a combination of lighting and music as part of your wake up routine. Who would want to start the day with the bedroom lights on full blast when you can have them slowly wake up along with you?

With new color changing light options, such as the Philips Hue system, how your lights compliment your lifestyle can take on a new dimension. Adding color options to lighting scenes can be done in several ways, but the Hue system is now able to be integrated into both Control4 and Savant via new driver software from Extra Vegetables. Let’s say you like the living room lights to dim low, but not off when watching TV. Having your installer set up a TV light scene that turns the lights to a dim blue or green can satisfy your need for a dark room while still keeping it lit up enough so you can find your remote. It also looks cool.

The creative ideas are endless if you stop thinking of lights as simply something to turn on and instead as part of a dynamic system that responds to your needs.

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