All Products Filed in Home Automation and Control

Thursday, February 02, 2012

Over the past several months the momentum behind the HDBaseT transmission technology has grown with several manufacturers adopting the format and releasing new products into the marketplace.

The latest company to launch a new HDBaseT product into the professional electronics market is Audio Authority. The Lexington, Kentucky-based manufacturer's new HBT200KIT is a HDBaseT solution that electronics professionals can use to address long-range signal transmission issues in commercial and residential system environments.

Audio Authority says the HBT200KIT is capable of sending uncompressed HD video, lossless audio, IR and RS-232 control signals distances as far as 330 feet with a single Cat-5e/Cat-6 cable. The company says the kit includes a transmitter and receiver and the components are compliant with HDCP/EDID protocols to ensure the system's compatibility with a variety of displays and source components.

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

In the world of networking it's not too often that a custom installer can say that there's a networking component specifically for the custom electronics industry.

In the case of the newly released Pakedge S8W 8-port gigabit switch however, electronics professionals will find a networking device with home theater, security and traditional networking in its DNA. Pakedge says the switch is equipped with eight auto-sensing 10/100/1000Mbps ports and it can be implemented without any preconfiguration. The Foster City, California-based company also says the high-speed, compact switch is compliant with all of the latest networking protocols to ensure its compatibility with all of the latest networking technologies.

Pakedge ships the 8-port gigabit switch with a wall-mounting bracket and it incorporates custom installation features such as the ability to automatically negotiate network speed and duplex mode with connected devices. The company adds the switch is made with a metal enclosure that can be placed on a table, in a rack or hung on a wall.

Monday, January 23, 2012

When top dealers such as Nick Tamburri of AHA Design consistently laud HAI for its line of home control, home automation and security products, it says the company must be doing something right.

Validating those opinions are actions such as the New Orleans-based company's recent announcement that it is releasing a software update to enhance its control and security systems' usability. Just after the start of the new year HAI revealed that it is updating its controller software to allow for the two-way integration of ZigBee and Z-Wave wireless door locks. HAI dealers that install Omni and Lumina home control systems will be able to utilize wireless door locks from top manufacturers such as Kwikset, Yale and Schlage, and the company says that with the update homeowners can lock and unlock as many as 16 doors using HAI tuchscreens and keyfobs, and they can control these solutions remotely via HAI's Apple iOS and Android apps.

HAI says that installers should make sure the Omni Pro II, Omni IIe, Lumina Pro and Lumina controllers are running software version 3.10 or later, and that Z-Wave integration requires Leviton RF+3 Serial Interface Module part number VRCOP. In addition ZigBee integrations will require HAI's ZigBee Interface Module part number 81A00-3ZB running firmware 14.08 or greater.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

HAI (Home Automation, Inc.) announced that its 2012 HAI Product Catalog is now available in three formats: hard-copy print, electronic PDF, and online Flash. It will also be included on HAI's upcoming 2012 Automation Simplified CD.

The Product Guide features products currently shipping and products scheduled to be introduced in 2012, including all-new Promo Kits, the ZigBee Gateway, the Bluetooth Remote Input Module, and the Temperature Display/Control.

To make it easier to find specific products, the catalog is divided into the following general categories: Safety, Energy Management, Entertainment, and Convenient Interfaces, with color-coded tabs. Also included is information on HAI's history, industry participation and research, training and dealer support programs, warranty and technical support, wiring requirements and diagrams, as well as marketing and supporting documentation.

HAI Dealers and Distributors may now order free hard copies as well as CD's via the online support websites. HAI will ship the documents when they become available within the next few weeks.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

For many homeowners the winter time months mean a significant increase in the amount of energy used to heat their homes. The Chatsworth, California-based company Venstar has two new products that can help homeowners affected by the cold weather of winter to better manage their energy consumption.

Venstar's new FlatStat line of residential thermostats are engineered to help homeowners efficiently manage their home's energy consumption through the ability to schedule their HVAC on seven-day cycles. The line comes in two models: T1000FS and T1100FS, and the company says the thermostats are designed to install and operate easily.

The California manufacturer says the thermostats' industrial designs are engineered to complement a variety of home interiors and some of the user options included in the products include Venstar's All-in-One two-stage heat, two-stage cool functions with gas/electric, heat pump, electric and hydronic heat systems. In addition, they incorporate an Auto Changeover feature that automatically switches from heating to cooling; a security feature that allows only authorized individuals to adjust set points, and non-volatile memory that holds the units' programming.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

In the modern world of electronics IR technologies are almost taken for granted. Generally beyond the mass market segment IR is not taken for granted however and with products like Vanco's new line of IR Kits and accessories, professional electronics installers have tools at their disposal to take care of IR control issues.

With the newly released IR products from the Batavia, Ill.-based manufacturer custom installers can use a component or system's existing IR-based remote controls as part of a broader, more powerful control solution. Vanco says the new array of products are available in a choice of four kits, as well as other accessories and the products are designed to work in a variety of environments that include CFL lit rooms.

The line of products include devices such as eight-port receiver hubs, brass-tube receivers for concealed installs and other components. With the IR products installers can provide control for everything from Blu-ray disc players and cable boxes, to A/V receivers and advanced powered subwoofers.

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Most people's idea of power protection are those $10 plastic power strips that are sold throughout mass-market box-box stores across the country. Very few realize that those inexpensive power strips provide a limited shelf life of protection and once that protection goes their plugged in electronics are susceptible to the dangers of power surges.

Eaton Corporation's 3S line of battery backup products offer small office and home office (SOHO) users, as well as standard homeowners a choice of either a 550VA or 750VA products that are designed to protect their electronics, while also providing battery backup insurances.

The 750VA battery backup unit incorporate the company's EcoControl power outlets, which Eaton says help users to cut as much as 30 percent of their energy consumption, and both units feature Eaton's Power Protector software, which is engineered to protect plugged in devices from any power disturbances. In the event of a power failure the battery backups provide as much as 45 minutes of backup power to allow users to safely power down their computers, NAS drives, DVRs and projectors.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

With the analog fat lady warming warming up her vocals cords as the electronics industry rapidly approaches the analog sunset, it's now more important than ever to have the capabilities to troubleshoot a client's digital infrastructure.

The electronic connectivity manufacturer Atlona's latest product is designed to help industry professionals to successfully install fully reliable digital systems with efficiency. Atlona's new Digital Connectivity Testing Kit (KIT-PROHD3) is a simple and portable solution that installers can use to test their digital system installations. The company says the kit comes with its Signal Generator (AT-HD800), as well as its Testing Monitor (AT-DIS7-PORHD), HDMI EDID Emulator (AT-HDSync) and AT-BAT-DIS7PRO products to enable electronics professionals to diagnose 99 percent of all digital connectivity issues they may encounter in the field.

Atlona says the kit is packaged in a quality carrying case to make it as portable as possible, and it says that when installers use the kit they can save labor time and service calls through the proper diagnosis of connectivity throughput and communication.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

At one time the naysayers said the category of web tablets would never take off and be a relevant part of the computing/consumer electronics markets. Thanks to the success however of Apple's iOS platform, as well as the Android operating system, tablets may well be the future of computing as consumers seek out smaller, portable devices that are convenient to their busy lifestyles.

Sony's new Tablet S and Tablet P tablets are engineered to meet specific usage applications of busy consumers. The Tablet S is designed for multimedia activities and it includes a 9.4-inch touchscreen, along with a NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor and it runs on the Android 3.1 operating system (OS). The Tablet P is designed for mobile usage and like the Tablet S, it uses the NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor and Android 3.1 OS platform. Sony says the Tablet P differs from the Tablet S in that it employs a smaller 5.5-inch screen and it was .083 pounds, whereas the Tablet S weighs 1.33 pounds.

Both also include Wi-Fi connectivity and mobile 4G access exclusively through AT&T's mobile broadband network.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

For most property owners, the purchase of a home, building or other surrounding entity is a significant investment. Protecting that investment is usually a priority and solutions like Honeywell's new 5816OD wireless magnetic contact is the company's latest addition to its 5800 Series of products and it is designed to protect outdoor properties.

Honewell says the 5816OD meets NEMA 4X standards for water protection and it is engineered to withstand a variety of climates to deliver reliable, year-round performance. The wireless magnetic contact is designed to mount on gates, fences, barns, detached garages and other outdoor structures in either a residential or commercial setting.

The product works with the company's VISTA and LYNX series of control products, and it incorporates Honeywell's Total Connect Remote Services technology, which notifies property owners by email or text message when activity is sensed within a protected area.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

For many years the T-2C remote has been a staple of the RTI product line and recently to ensure its compatibility with the latest generation of home electronics the company updated the unit to reflect the market's latest technologies.

The newly introduced T2-Cs+ from RTI is the latest generation T2-C handheld remote from the popular custom electronics manufacturer and it says some of the freshly added revisions to the remote include a 2.4-inch LCD touchscreen that offers users better image quality and an increased viewing angle, and 128MBs of flash memory along with a 532MHz CPU to bolster the unit's speed and performance.

In addition, RTI utilizes its dual-RF platform to enable the remote to work with traditional 433MHz one-way communication RF signals and the 2.4GHz ZigBee protocol for two-way communication with RTI control processors and third-party products such as music servers, lighting dimmers, HVAC thermostats and RSS feeds to provide users with weather updates, sports transactions and other news items.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Honeywell (NYSE: HON) has launched a new application for Android devices, letting users control their security systems and view live, streaming video from any remote location. This version is the latest application of Honeywell’s Total Connect 2.0 Remote Services, which allows consumers to utilize the Internet, smartphones, cameras and more to stay connected to their homes and businesses.

The new icon-based user interface allows users to control security system keypad functions and video viewing. They can view live video, record and store video clips, take snapshots or have video clips or pictures e-mailed to them upon an event, such as a delivery taking place or a child arriving home from school. The app replicates a physical keypad. It is a free download in the Android Market.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Elan Home Systems has always been a company that's been able to balance competitive price points, modern technologies and pleasing industrial designs.

The latest example of how the company balances these three key items on a consistent basis can be found in its new TS10 touchscreen. The TS10 is the latest user interface from the company and it is engineered to provide homeowners with a versatile, easy-to-use control device that facilitates their use of their home electronics. Elan says the new touchscreen incorporates the company's "touch-and-swipe" user technologies with an active matrix screen that can display large icons that are easy for users to read, and analog video content.

Some of the features built into the unit include a 16:9 aspect ratio screen, speakers, a microphone and a choice of finishes such as almond, light almond, ivory and black. Elan also supports the touchscreen with install accessories like an optional backbox and preconstruction brackets.

Whether a user is sitting on a couch in their living room or if they are standing in the middle of a classroom trying to explain the Bill of Rights, nothing is more frustrating than having to go back to a device that wouldn't turn on because of sync issues with the rest of the system.

Xantech Commercial's ISM4 Intelligent System Manager/Controller is engineered to solve these control system sync issues. The device can be used in a residential setting or in a commercial environment such as a classroom or corporate boardroom to manage the control of A/V components to ensure reliable system control. Xantech Commercial says the ISM4 offers visibility of any IR-based component's power state and it automatically issues the correct commands to keep the components in sync with the rest of the system.

The ISM4 monitors the power status of as many as four IR components and it has the capability for another four additional devices. Xantech Commercial has designed the unit with setup control provisions that include IR, RS-232 and manual operation, and it says that electronics professionals can use its Sensor modules for audio, video, CC, AC/DC, current and light sensors to set up full system power monitoring. The solution also sets up without the aid of a PC, and Xantech says through the use of the ISM4's XPS cloning option, installers can duplicate the programming from one unit to another unit.

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Without question one of the most heavily scrutinized product categories in the entire world of consumer electronics is power protection/power conditioning.

The Florida-based manufacturer Tributaries is taking on the challenge of those who doubt the validity of power protection/conditioning through the UL certification of products like its new PWRI-PRO in-wall power management outlet. The PWRI-PRO carries 1440 joules of protection and it is UL 1449, 498 and 514 certified, which means it has met UL requirements for surge projection devices (SPD); UL standards for power receptacles and UL standards for cover plates for mounted wiring devices. The in-wall power product can be used to supply protected power during the installation of projectors flat-panel televisions and other home entertainment products.

Tributaries says the two-outlet product uses the company's latest X3 MOV technologies to provide surge and spike protection, under voltage protection and it filters out line noise to help plugged in products to operate at their highest levels. The RoHS-compliant device also includes LED indicators that communicate its operational status.