Advancements in New Technology in Home Automation

Each component that home automation can be applied to can be conveniently controlled by a master computer, or even a smart phone.

Audio/Video Systems

Home theater systems have been perfected to offer superior entertainment experiences which can be controlled with a single remote. You can watch your favorite movie as if you were at a theater, listen to music throughout your home, or enjoy video games more than ever.

Home Security Systems

Advancements in home automation make home security stronger than ever. A single computer can record audio and video inside and outside of your home while allowing you to access a live stream anywhere you go. Sensor systems on doors and windows can be configured to alert emergency personnel at the first sign of a home invasion. Home automation also offers special alert devices and monitoring systems to help your family’s elders call for help with ease.

Temperature and Light Controls

Modern home automation allows you to set automatic times for your thermostat to change temperatures, and for your lights to turn on or off. You can conveniently control either system with your smart phone.

Upgrading your home to a smart home may be one of the best investments you ever make. Contact Desert Valley Audio/Video to find out how you can use the most recent advancements in home automation to turn your home into a smart home.

HD Explained

HD television works through the transmission of a compressed digital signal from a source such as your gaming system, blu ray player, or digital cable box. The digital signal is decompressed within the device as a 1080 interlaced megapixel signal to send the information to your television. Your television goes through the process of upscaling the image to fit its resolution and the data is displayed with a high image refresh rate to allow the frame rate to transition smoothly and provide a clear image.

• An image is not considered HD (high definition) by modern standards if it isn’t transmitted as a 1080p resolution.
• Some LCD television’s don’t offer true HD because of their limited screen resolution and refresh rate such as 720p.

It is always a great idea to do careful research about the new HD systems that you are considering buying. It is also important to make a point of asking questions about the products from a knowledgeable sales associate so you can make an informed decision when you want to buy a true HD system. Contact an associate at Desert Valley Audio Video for any of your HD questions or home setup needs.

There are many options to choose from, so knowing where to begin and what questions to ask is critical. How large is your home theater room? Are you looking to hook up surround sound or will you consider doing so in the future? What are your space requirements? Do you want the speakers to be wall-mountable? These are just a few of the questions that you need to ask yourself, because when it comes to buying speakers, it pays to be patient. Taking the time to research and assess your options is essential; if you fail to do so, you could end up spending hundreds of dollars on equipment that simply does not deliver. Here are some helpful tips for choosing the ideal set of speakers for your home theater system.

How to Select the Best Speakers for Your Home Theater

• Don’t always go with package deals offered by brand name manufacturers; speaker design is an art that should not be taken lightly. There is a wealth of specifications that should at least be addressed before any purchase is made.
• Always perform sound and voice-matching tests; a speaker family is the best way to ensure proper harmonic quality. Grab a few CDs and test out your favorite music on every system that interests you. You will be surprised at how different the sound will be from speaker to speaker.
• Focus on the setup; many people get distracted and lured in by the sound and bass of the subwoofer that they forget to test the quality of the center and side channel speakers. These are the speakers that will emit mid and high-range frequency sounds (i.e. voices).
• Choose the correct size; larger speakers may seem cumbersome, but they often deliver higher sound quality than their smaller counterparts. Speakers that are divided into two or three sections will produce the best sound.

What is a Codec?

Codecs are program installments which allow the data in media files to be conveniently transferred to and opened in computer media player applications, or to allow you to view and listen to streaming media without interruption. Codecs essentially compress and decompress media to allow the best, uninterrupted performance on your system.

Examples: mp3, DViX, FLAC, .mov

There are two different types of codecs:

Lossless Codecs: Lossless codecs contain all of the original data that was a part of the produced file, meaning that no audio or video information is sacrificed when it is compressed.

Lossy Codecs: Lossy codecs contain most of the audio/video content, but are missing bits of information as a means to reduce the file size.

The Difference: Lossless codecs contain complete information, while lossy ones contain a reduced amount of information. Lossless codecs are large files which take up more space on your computer, and lossy ones are small files which allow you to store more on your computer.

Now you know the basics of codecs and how they work. Contact a representative at Desert Valley Audio Video to get answers to any of your questions involving audio and video.

Wireless Home Theater Trends

Any device involved in a home theater can operate on a wireless system:

• Wireless speaker systems have been engineered to provide similar audio quality to wired systems. The wireless systems simply involve a receiver being plugged into the audio source, and the audio signal is transmitted to speakers throughout the room.
• People want to see video on the largest screen they can, which is why projection systems are the way of the future. Wireless video transmitters can be connected to multiple video sources to be projected onto a large screen with the fantastic image quality of movie theaters.
• Tablets and smart phones are popular tools for home automation, and can be found in nearly every house. People are beginning to put their many remote controls in storage, and use their smart phones to control their home theaters in a more simple manner than with remotes.

The Benefits of Going Wireless

• No need to replace wires
• No risk of tripping while walking near wires
• No need to run wire through walls
• Simple calibration
• Great audio and visual performance
• Easily switch between audio/video sources
• Use your tablet or smart phone to simply control each component of the system

Here are 3 great home automation apps that you can use to control your house with your Ipad or Iphone:

• My House UI – The My House UI app can be used to control house temperatures, lights, home theater devices, security systems, and more devices which run on Control 4 automation systems. This app is user friendly and reliable.
• HAI Snap-Link Mobile – Snap-Link Mobile can be used to access and control your house security systems, lights, audio, and more. It also allows you to access your video surveillance system in real time so you can see what is happening at your house whenever you want. This app works with HAI automation systems and offers a user friendly interface.
• HouseInHand KNX – HouseInHand KNX is a home automation app for iPad & iPhone which allows total control of your houses systems such as temperature, home theater, security, surveillance, lighting, and more. It can be synced with your house’s IP controlled automation system to allow easy control with a great interface.

The number of great home automation apps for iPhone & iPad will continue to grow as time goes on. Make sure you research your home automation system to find the best control app for your needs.

Audio video distribution may be composed of several components:

1. A multichannel distribution box which you connect all of your media devices to.

2. Multiple CAT5 cables.
3. Power amplifier.
4. Speakers.
5. Wall control panels.
6. Remote controls.

How Audio Video Distribution Works

A/V distribution systems work by you connecting all of your audio and video devices to the multichannel box. The distribution box and power amplifier sends the audio/video signals to video screens and speakers throughout the house through high-quality CAT5 cables which are installed in the walls to lead into each desired room. Wall control panels are often installed to choose which source you want to be transmitted in each room, and allow you to control the volume for an individual room. A programmable master remote will allow you to control each component throughout the house.

It is always important to have an audio video distribution system installed by licensed professionals to ensure that the system works to its full potential. Contact Desert Valley Audio Video to begin designing your new audio video distribution system.

What is HDMI?

HDMI basically means High-Definition Multimedia Interface. Devices such as televisions, blue-ray players, computers, or gaming systems often use this term to refer to the capability of said device to harness and utilize high-definition multimedia.

How HDMI Works

The cable works by being a very efficient cable that can transfer large amounts of uncompressed data to your device. Typically these cables have multiple channels installed in them that are dedicated to particular aspects of high-definition media such as audio or video. You may recall or have standard definition cables in your home. While these cables work fine they are not suitable for maximizing audio quality, video quality, internet connection speed, or any other function performed by HDMI cables.

Types of HDMI

There are a number of types of HDMI cables that tend to have particular focuses on the attributes contained within the cable. For example, some HDMI cables are tailored for internet access (HDMI with Ethernet) and function best when utilized for that purpose. Other cables are tailored for cars (onboard interface devices) while others may be for audio (stereos, surround sound systems etc). In any instance, utilizing the high-definition capabilities of a device are met by using an HDMI cable.

Currently many devices are compatible with standard definition cables and attachments, but as technology progresses and prices go down this may not be the case in the future. Remember a device that is intended for HDMI may not necessarily say “HDMI” but something similar to “high definition”. If you purchase an HD or HDMI product it is wise to invest in an HDMI cable as this tends to be the only cable needed for basic high definition functions (saving space) and most current HDMI cables on the market are inexpensive.

But what are the differences between projectors and TV’s?

The most obvious difference between a projector and a TV is the size of the image that is produced. The new, large LCD and plasma TV’s can cost a few thousand dollars, while a projector and screen system will produce a much larger image of similar quality for a smaller price than a TV. The new LCD TV’s produce an image through electrical signals which cue tiny liquid crystals to generate an image. Most projectors work through LCD technology, but some follow the process of a lamp shining light through a quickly moving color wheel, which passes through a polarizing filter to be shined through a lens and onto your viewing screen. TV’s tend to last longer than projectors, but the bulbs in a projector can be replaced inexpensively.

Many movie enthusiasts will say that a projector will provide a superior image which is rich in detail with vivid colors. As home entertainment has began to move towards the 3D technology, more people are buying the 3D TV’s. Projectors are also fully capable of producing 3D images of similar quality. The choice between a projector and a TV is yours alone. Look into the performance of several projects to help you choose the option which best suits your needs.

I Can Use My Phone to Control My Home?

Many people are wondering how this is even possible. The way this works is that many new houses, or houses that have or will be remodeled, have smarter technological components integrated into them. For example, security systems have been able to be remotely accessed for years, but only by security companies. Now, new security systems allow you privileged access to your home security system through applications specifically designed for your phone. The hardware has been around for ages, but now with common use of smart phones the software and technology has become normative.

Use Your Phone to Control Energy Used

Many people also choose to control things that relate to energy consumption in their houses. While certain appliances always stay on, such as refrigerators, others can be turned off when you are not home. Air conditioning systems and lights are among the most popular things that are controlled at the touch of a button with your cell phone. Many people want to arrive home with lights on and the air blowing set to their exact comfort level and now that is exactly what you can have. You no longer have to navigate through a dark house to find a light switch or sweat for the first half hour until your air conditioner kicks in because you can turn them both on when you leave work!

Virtually anything in your house can be programed and wired in a fashion so that you can access it through an application on your phone. With the growing use of smart phones and portable internet access this technology has become cheaper and more available so that everyone can reap the many benefits of it.