The Lighting control gurus at Lutron have done it again. The Lutron Home Control+ App for the iPad is now available. A little background… lighting control in a home is a  fantastic luxury feature. Remote control, scene setting, keypad interface, daylight sensing, zone lighting, zone grouping and time clock events can all be part of a modern lighting system. The drawback is that these systems are pricey and traditionally require hard wire to all light switches and keypads. Great for new construction, not so great for remodeling existing structures. Lutron solved this challenge with Radio Ra2, which is a wireless lighting control system. Same proven Lutron features, but now on an exclusive wireless platform. Being wireless, the next obvious evolution was to tie the system to WiFi. The Lutron Home Cotrol+  App gives access to the lighting control system from anywhere. The App provides typical light control plus scene adjustment, shade and blind precise movement, time clock events, an energy “green button” and control for Lutron’s upcoming wireless programmable thermostats. The app is designed for iPad and iPhones and requires a total Home Control system (Radio Ra2 or HomeWorks QS)  and can be downloaded from the iTunes App store for $19.99.

There is no mistaking the wow factor of having a TV display disappear behind a mirror. It’s as though the image comes out of nowhere. Bath, bedrooms, wet bars or even purpose built architectural elements are all potential applications. The units out of the pioneering German mirror LCD display company ad notum© are impressive. At a recent demo I was able to put one of their “magic mirror®”units through the paces. I was not let down.  While the visual quality was stunning, I found it even more exciting to know that ad notum has solved a number of installation challenges. Typically, installation of these products are intensive: special bracing, intricate positioning, cooling, and a host of other concerns that were complex to say the least.  On the other hand, Ad notum© uses a unique LCD   “near surface” mounting system, remotely tethered electronics, and they source the mirror glass as well. All great features that lead to a  less complex, more straight forward system configuration for the professional technology integrator. Pricewise,  LCD mirror products are not for the faint of heart. However,  if you are looking for a practical LCD mirror display that has high quality German engineering, killer aesthetics,  and  a jaw dropping wizzy tech factor,  this is it!

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By: Thomas Bechtel 

Home owners are utilizing higher levels of home automation, lighting control, security and audio/video integration than ever before. As these systems morph to a focus on energy control, a swimming pool is a somewhat overlooked application that really represents some low hanging fruit for the homeowner related to both automation and energy savings combined.   A swimming pool’s electrical functions have become quite complex.  Single touch valve operations, multi pump integration, water features, advanced sanitizing, event timers, spa/pool heat pump/gas heating, solar control, traditional/fiber optic lighting, dedicated cleaning systems, and misting systems can all be specified on a modern day pool build. At Digital, we integrate  these functions with wireless touchpad control typically through a Crestron or Élan automation platform  linking a Pentair digital pool equipment interface. It’s great to have the benefits of automation, but tack on the energy savings and it’s a real winner.

On a recent install, Digital installed a Pentair wireless control system driving complete system automation, along with  two Intelliflo 3 horsepower intelligent pumps. Through timer event programming, and the processor controlled variable flow settings on the pool pumps,  this pool will see an astounding 80% energy savings over the course of a year.  Pay back on these pumps will conservatively be in about 30 months!    Wireless tech, automation, whisper quiet operation, and a pay back on the investment. Does it get any better than this?

Christmas never sounded so good as it did this past season at Mountain Park Community Church. Digital was employed to upgrade the aging sound and video systems in the Church’s main worship center.  The upgrades included a complete Meyer Sound Labs system, Panasonic high performance PT series video projectors, and Draper fourteen foot wide, 16x9 ratio,  borderless video screens. The Meyer system included the award wining Meyer UPQ-1P speakers and the new Meyer Galileo digital signal processor.  Digital utilized Meyer’s MAPP online prediction tool to determine the best choice and location of speakers. The results?... The upgrade drew rave reviews from church leadership during its debut at four worship services conducted on Christmas Eve. Engineering, design and installation lead by Digital’s Glenn Peacock, who also enlisted some talented church volunteers to help with the installation.  

What's your fancy?...iPad, iPhone, Andriod, PC, MacBook, Universal Remote Control?  You may know your chosen application hosting device well, but be careful attempting to make that leap to getting those controllers to play with functional hardware.   That being said, for the clients who want automation – I say “leave the black boxes to your integrator”.  Let me explain.   

The "behind the scenes" black boxes are where the real work gets done.  These components, usually hidden in some backroom closet, rarely need user access.  They are the heart and soul  of a  home automation platform where the world of digital commands intersect with a complex world of operating sun shades, playing music,  controlling temperature, locking doors, changing video channels, controlling lighting, heating the pool, panning cameras, setting alarm systems, etc. To the casual observer, all you’ll see is black electronic components, blinking lights and the hummmm of the thermal management systems (sounds like a corporate data center to me). 

Automation has hit the mainstream. Have you seen the ADT ad for “Pulse”? – Great advertisement for our industry, however I think it will ultimately miss the high expectations of clients regarding a system that controls other systems in their homes.  We spend a lot of time with customers who have a sincere interest in home automation – which is great. Typically the customer is drawn almost entirely to the interface. (iPad as example). On the physical installation side, the professional integrator has to be confident and comfortable with the “black boxes”.  It takes hands-on experience to weed out what works and what does not. There are black box vendors in our industry who have thousands of homes running everyday with commercial grade reliability.   It is our value added service to understand the digital lifestyles of our clients while providing the best equipment choices to fulfill both their functional expectations and budgets. This is what we do...every working day. Why guess at black box configurations? Instead select a respected integrator, and leave the black boxes to a pro. You'll be glad you did!        

First things first, if you are not familiar with RadioRA 2, it is an eloquent, highly flexible home control system that is completely wireless.  Save energy, add convenience, and increase ambiance by adjusting the temperature, the amount of daylight and electric light, and by controlling energy used by many appliances…with RadioRA 2 whole-home control.

The big news is that the RadioRA 2 app is out! Simply called “Home Control”…The early reviews are great!

In a nutshell this app will:Control lights, shades, temperature and appliances.

• Monitor the system while away from home (ideal for vacation properties)
• Control multiple systems from one iPad
• Adjust energy-saving preferences
• Modify time clock events
• edit scenes

Digital recently completed its commissioning of the high tech-audio video systems at the new Legacy Ballroom, located just south of Shea Boulevard and west of Tatum - nestled between Phoenix and Scottsdale. The ballroom can seat up to 300 guests  and provides a great space for events of all kinds.

The A/V amenities include BSS multi zone digital signal processing with remote user interface touchpad control, BSS wireless DSP editing, Meyer Sound Labs mini 220 watt powered loudspeakers with on board DSP, Tannoy powered in-ceiling subwoofers, Niles outdoor audio speakers, Shure wireless microphones, Extron/Sonnance power amplifiers, a drop down 100" video screen,  a BenQ HD DLP video projector, and free Wi-Fi for everyone. What a great experience!

Join them for your next all day event, wedding, breakfast presentation, dinner seminar or holiday party.

 Photography by: Christine Johnson

There’s a Safari in Phoenix?  Yes, indeed there is. When ST Residential, the new owners of the luxury condominium property entitled Safari had their ribbon cutting, they rolled out the red carpet…literally.  Circus acts, food and drinks, beautifully decorated model units, and live music set the scene. Located on Scottsdale and Camelback roads, the real stars of the show are the beautifully appointed condos.  ST Residential thought of every last detail including partnering with Geoffrey Edmunds, who brought their technology visions to Digital for enablement. 

Early in the original condo planning phase, it was clear that technology was not an afterthought with ST Residential.  ST knew that in order to enhance the competiveness of the property, technology must be effectively integrated into the homeowner’s lifestyle.

These tech amenities are part of an overall technology philosophy that finds its way into the very core of the ST Residential operation.  The Safari listing agents were armed with Apple iPads which were given to prospective homeowners to “virtually” review details of the property.  You could elegantly flick, page and touch screen your way to any interest that you may have.  

Once in the models – much of the technology is discrete and unseen. Except for the ultra-thin HD televisions which looked more like picture frames, a casual onlooker would not detect the Crestron Prodigy automation platform that controls lights, temperature, audio/video and many other day-to-day functions.   Today’s state of the art approach to technology centralizes all components and provides the user with a simple to use interfaces.  A very clean look!...like the property itself. 

The main club room, which doubles as the sales office, utilizes Apple computing which drives a cloud-based music system from Sonos. Music selection can be controlled wirelessly from an iPad, iPhone, or the Apple desktop. 

Digital is proud to be a partner of Geoffrey H. Edmunds and ST Residential on this new residence in the heart of Scottsdale.  Please stop by the office and check out this exciting lifestyle.