Make Your Devices Work Flawlessly Throughout Your Home

With the number of devices and entertainment options available to homeowners increasing rapidly in recent years, the need for a quality audio-video system to manage everything has only grown. If your devices aren’t linked and don’t let you enjoy the content of your choice in any room, you’re not getting everything you could out of your home audio-video system. Luckily, Pacific Audio and Communications is ready to meet the needs of the Honolulu area, and we’d be happy to help you with your audio and video solutions. Here’s what you need to know to get the most out of your home A/V setup:



 
SEE ALSO: What Kind of Speakers Work for Your Outdoor Sound System?
 

DISTRIBUTION                         

It’s fairly common for most homes to have multiple TVs these days, which means finding a way to get audio and video to each screen. In the past that might mean having individual cable or satellite boxes for each TV, but distributed audio and video makes that issue nonexistent. Distributed A/V systems transmit the feed from a central source to wherever you want it, meaning one central cable or satellite connection can be viewed in multiple locations throughout your home. This approach not only centralizes and simplifies your system, it can save you money by reducing the number of cable or satellite boxes you need for your home. Of course, not all components are created equal, and Pacific Audio and Communications will make sure you have the right parts for your installation.

 

CENTRALIZATION

Now you have audio and video in every room, but how easy is it to manage? Are you still fumbling with multiple devices to change the channel or music? No need; use home automation to bring all your equipment together under one interface. This can be a universal remote, an app for your smartphone or tablet, or a panel on a wall.

Automation lets you expand the capabilities of your A/V system in exciting ways, such as having your music or whatever you’re watching follow you from room to room seamlessly. You can tie your A/V system to the lights, air conditioning, and other elements in your home to give you greater control and make life simpler and more comfortable. Gain even more convenience by incorporating a smart speaker such as Amazon’s Echo or the Google Home to allow for voice control over your devices.

 
SEE ALSO: Is Your Audio Video System Prepared for the Analog Sunset?
 

STRONG NETWORK

You can have the best equipment in the world and the most intuitive control system available, but it won’t make a difference if the network connecting all your devices isn’t up to the task. As the number of linked devices in your home grows, so does the strain on your home network. You need the right gear and the right network setup to ensure everything in your A/V system operates smoothly. Luckily, Pacific Audio and Communications specializes in home network solutions, so we can make sure your devices keep humming along no matter the network strain.

 

NEED AN UPGRADE?

Feeling like your home audio-video system isn’t meeting your needs? There’s no need to delay; contact Pacific Audio and Communications today. We have offices in Maui, Kauai, Oahu and on the Big Island, or you can fill out our online contact form. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

 

The Features You Should Look for with Smart Security Technology

High-end homes in the Honolulu area are often the target of break-ins, making a smart home security system an excellent investment. But deciding on which features you would like in your security system can be difficult. With so many factors to consider, you may find yourself getting overwhelmed.

Below, we cover the top features that will take your security system to the next level, giving you the confidence that you’ve chosen a robust and user-friendly system that will protect your home and family.



SEE ALSO: Make Your Home Energy Efficient With These 3 Smart Upgrades
 

Features

A traditional security system might include little more than an alarm that trips when a window or door is broken, but smart technology enables security to go far beyond that. Within a smart home, all of the following features can be combined into one easy-to-use system you can control at the touch of a button.

1. Door Sensors: Beyond the front door (but certainly including that too), door sensors can keep track of whether any door on your property is open or closed. These sensors can be installed on medicine cabinets, wine cellar doors, and more.
2. Motion Sensors: Install motion sensors that identify if any unauthorized movement happens in key areas of your property, such as a person moving around in your backyard in the middle of the night.
3. Smoke/Heat Sensors: Get notified immediately if there is a health or fire hazard on your property. With a home monitoring service, the smoke and heat sensors can automatically contact emergency services to get assistance to your property as soon as possible.
4. Garage Door Sensors: Ever wondered if you left the garage door open? Simply pull out your smartphone and check the status of the sensor!
5. Water/Flood Sensors: Protect your property from flooding with water sensors that notify you as soon as water is detected somewhere it shouldn’t be.
6. Surveillance Cameras: Real-time, high-resolution cameras are installed around your property, giving you instant access to the camera views via a smartphone or tablet.
7. Smart Door Locks: Remotely lock or unlock doors throughout your property via your smartphone, allowing you to let someone into your home without you having to greet them at the front door.
8. Gate Interface Systems: The same cameras and door locks that protect your home can be extended to a gatehouse. Using a video intercom, you can converse with whoever is at the gate and remotely give them access, if you so choose.
9. Alarm System: Last but not least, your smart home security system can use a state-of-the-art alarm system to notify you of any issues however you see fit – audible alarm, flashing lights, notifications on the television screens, text message notifications, phone calls, and more.
10. Integration with Other Smart Technologies: Imagine having a security system that automatically lights up the pathway from the driveway to the front door whenever your front gate authorizes entry. Or how about a system that automatically locks all of the entryways on your property whenever you select a “Goodnight” smart scene that also turns out the lights, adjusts the thermostat, and powers down electronics? There’s no need to settle for just security or just lighting control or multi-room music. With smart home automation, you can have one system that does it all.

 
Don’t be afraid to go beyond the basics with smart home security. Today’s technologies are not only assisting in keeping Hawaii properties secure – they’re also assisting in making daily life more comfortable, convenient, and luxurious.

If you would like to learn more about which smart home security system features would make sense for your property, please contact us by calling 808-386-5963 or filling out this quick inquiry form.

 

Modern Convenience and Classic Style

Oahu is full of beautiful construction. It’s the perfect place to start building, but it’s also a place that should be preserved.

There’s no need to tear everything down and start again when you can renovate a classic building and bring it into the 21^st century.

In this blog, we’ll explore some of the smart ways you can revive old buildings with modern technology – from wireless solutions to whole building automation!

Want to learn more? Just click below.



See Also: We Have Moved To Our New Kauai Offices And Showroom!

Building Network

The first step in any building revival is integrating a network. The network is like the backbone of all automation, so you can get the most out of anything you add later.

In most cases, a hardwired fiber-optic network will ensure the greatest success. Fiber-optics are high-bandwidth cables, which allow for high speeds and large signal transfer, which makes moving information like 4K video easy.

Other times, you can’t drill through a wall or otherwise modify the space, so a wireless network is essential. If that’s the case, building a mesh network will help give you the coverage you need.

Mesh networks don’t work like traditional wireless networks. In a normal network, one device – the router – broadcasts the signal throughout the space, potentially leading to dead spots.

A mesh network, on the other hand, consists of nodes placed throughout the space that generate their own signal, and strengthen the ones nearby.

That way, users won’t have any issue enjoying Wi-Fi access.

Essential Building Automation

In a renovated space, including essential pieces of technology will help the building manager keep costs low and run efficiently.

One major way to do that is through lighting. LED helps you enjoy energy-efficient lights that don’t need frequent replacing, LED use up to 80 percent of the energy used to light them – unlike incandescent bulbs that burn off most energy as heat.

That means they run cooler and last longer.

Additionally, HVAC control will help ensure the building manager isn’t cooling spaces they don’t need to. That will help keep energy costs down.

Energy management software helps keep track of all real-time energy expenditures, so it’s easy to make real-time adjustments to your system.

 
Want to learn more about the essential technology necessary for renovating old Oahu buildings?

If you’re looking for an automation partner, or you have any questions regarding updating an old building with smart technology, just click here.

Find the Components that Work for You

 
If you’re a fan of music, you know there’s nothing better than the sound of a resonant, high-performance speaker in your Honolulu home.

But during the summer, you don’t want to stay cooped up inside, letting the sunshine go to waste.

The perfect solution is an outdoor sound system. You can enjoy your favorite tunes while basking in the warm air – without missing a beat.

Obviously, the components for an outdoor system aren’t going to be the same in an indoor system. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the differences between indoor and outdoor speakers.

Just keep reading for more.



 
See Also: Get Ready for Summer with an Outdoor Sound System
 

Bullet Speakers

In an indoor system, speakers are usually configured in pairs. A two-channel system is the perfect way to listen to music staged as if it were performed live.

But outside, there are other considerations: Ambient sound and lack of reflecting surfaces means you can’t count on the environment to help you out. And wood would likely rot when left too long in the elements.

Instead, bullet speakers are made from durable materials like brass or plastic. Their cabinets are long and slim, and they point in the direction you want to listen. Plus, they’re usually configured with four or more units throughout your yard, facing in toward the listening zone, so you can listen at a comfortable volume without disturbing the neighbors.

 

360-Degree Speakers

On the other hand, there are also semi-buried 360-degree posts. These components play loud and reach every corner of your space.

Most common in commercial applications, these are large units that are designed to draw attention. However, some manufacturers disguise them as elegant art pieces or as art of the stonework layout, so you can get the most out of the sound without looking at clunky components.

 

Wall-Mounted Speakers

Wall-mounted speakers are perfect for a deck or patio space. As the name implies, they hang off a wall and offer great sound for movies and music around a sitting space.

They typically offer bigger cabinets than bullet speakers. Otherwise, they look very similar to indoor bookshelf units.

 

Underground Sub

Perhaps the single most important speaker you can find is an underground subwoofer. Subs help deep bass notes resonate, giving your music a much higher impact.

Of course, on the island, you probably aren’t going to bury anything too deeply. In those cases, the sub can be placed below your deck to hide it.

If that’s not an option, you can select a semi-buried style that will help protect the device but won’t completely cover it. The above-ground part is designed to be aesthetically pleasing, so you won’t have to worry about it disrupting your landscaping.

 
Want to learn more about what you can get out of your outdoor sound system? Just click here for more info!