The Latest Trends in Home Theaters Huge projection screens, rows of reclining chairs, special lighting, and a number of powerful speakers strategically positioned around the room – these are the things we most often associate with some high-end home theaters. But everyone has their own preferences and requirements, so no two home theaters are ever […]

I recently completed the Crestron Master Programmer Silver certification.  A Crestron system lives or dies by its software, so you want to be sure your integrator includes the services of an expert programmer in your project.  One indication of a competent programmer is certification, another is experience.  The master certification verifies your programmer is not […]

I just returned from training in Atlanta where I completed the DigitalMedia-Engineer certification. DMC-E certification is required to deliver systems that comply with the HD Digital Transport and Distribution System (HD-DTDS) specification. HD-DTDS is a comprehensive roadmap that clearly defines the critical aspects of system design and installation that must be followed to assure reliable […]

I just returned from training in Indianapolis where I completed the Registered Outreach Instructor program. As an ROI, I will be offering training to industry partners including architects, builders, and interior designers. From the ROI information site: “CEDIA is an approved provider of continuing education for the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Institute […]

This year’s lightning season has kept us busy the last month or so and has caused the most equipment damage of any season so far. The main victims have been audio amplifiers tied to landscape speakers. Landscape speakers generally survive nearby strikes, but the surge travels along the speaker cable to the amplifier and causes […]

The long awaited Crestron touchpanel app for the iPhone and iTouch is now available on the iTunes App Store. You can find it in the Lifestyle section, called Crestron Mobile. This new app turns your iPhone or iTouch into a touchpanel capable of controlling your Crestron automation system. As with all Crestron touchpanel products, this […]

HDMI has been with us for a few years, but as a video connection standard it is only just becoming practical for use in distributed video systems. It has been possible for a while, but the complexity and limitations in HDCP (Hollywood-imposed copy protection) have made it impractical in a home solution. A video matrix […]