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What is Home Automation and how is it defined today?
When we speak of home automation we mean the control and distribution of high quality audio and video throughout the home, the control of lights, heating & air conditioning, the co-ordination of the security and any other home function that makes a homeowner's life simplier. Turning on and off coffee pots and appliances can be done, and is typically what a homeowner thinks of when the term "Home Automation" is mentioned, but this application does not fit the main-stream definition today.
What is Lighting Control?
Lighting Controls provide the means to turn lights on and off or dim them from a convenient location or many locations throughout the house.
Lighting scenes are created by dimming and controlling only those lights in a specific scene which can consist of one light or a hundred lights. All types of lights can be controlled including low voltage, standard line voltage and even fluorescent lights. Incandescent lights are the easiest to control because they are easily dimmed. Dimming fluorescent lights requires special ballasts. Lights can also be controlled from your car or the telephone. Dimming lights also saves energy by decreasing the voltage at the light. This dimming effect also increases bulb life dramatically.
What is Digital Television (DTV)?
DTV is the umbrella term used to describe the new digital television system adopted by the FCC in December of 1996.
What is High Definition Television (HDTV)?
HDTV refers to a complete product/ system with special attributes: 16:9 image aspect ratio, receives Dolby Digital audio, has vertical resolution of 720P, 1080i or greater. There are 18 versions of DTV, but only 720P and 1080I are generally industry wide accepted as HDTV.
What is Dolby Digital?
Dolby Digital (old name AC-3) or Dolby Digital 5.1 as five channels of high-fidelity full range audio plus one dedicated channel of low frequency effects (.1).
What is THX?
Lucas films specification for the reproduction of Audio in Movies.
What is meant by Widescreen television?
This format is shown on screens in movie theaters and is characterized by a width to height ratio of 16:9. The television most people watch in their homes has a ratio of 4:3 and is not Widescreen.
What is the difference between Home Theater and a Media Room?
In the strictest sense, a Home Theater is a dedicated room with a large screen (usually front projection) television, a Dolby Digital and/or DTS audio system with subwoofers, THX certified equipment for audio and formal seating for viewing. A media room is a family room with a home theater system integrated with the television. Media rooms can come in all sizes and forms. Home Theater and Media Room terms are usually used interchangably by the press.
What is an Impedance matching volume control?
These devices control the volume from the speaker and present a constant load to the audio amplifier. This means that when you add impedance matching volume controls to your receiver (as long as you follow volume control manufacturers instructions) you will not harm the receiver when you add more than two pairs of speakers. Most impedance matching volume controls will allow you to add up to 16 pairs of speakers to your receiver, but as the number of speakers goes up, the total volume to each speaker will go down.
What is Cat 5 cable?
Category 5 cable consists of four twisted pair of copper 24 AWG wire conductors that can pass digital data at very fast speeds. Cat 5 cable has this designation printed on the cable itself. Just because a cable has 4 pairs of wire, it is NOT Cat 5 certified cable unless is is printed on the wire. Cat 5 is used for computer networks and telephone circuits. It is important to use this cable in your home to insure your new home does not become obsolete in the near future.
What is Coax?
This type of cable is used to distribute television and video signals throughout the house. The best type is designated RG6 quad shielded. RG6 can distribute the high bandwidth signals that are required for satelite television.
Can I put a Lighting Control system in my existing home?
Yes, the Radio Ra system by Lutron uses wireless technology to control up to 32 switches and dimmers. This system was independently developed to be highly reliable and should not be confused with other Plug and Play products available directly to consumers.
Why is it best to install Home Automation while the house is being built?
Because many wires and cables are needed to distribute audio, telephone and computer network wiring, it is much easier and cost effective to run the wires before the walls are closed up.
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