Q3 2017
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Outdoor AV: Hidden Brilliance What’s Hot at CEDIA 2017 Q&A: Surveillance Experts Weigh In
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ContENTS
10 18 20 24 26 32 42 48
VISITING SAN DIEGO Things to see and do in the city that’s hosting CEDIA 2017
BECOMING A COI Inside a recent “Train the Trainer” course in NYC
NEW CoURSES AT CEDIA 2017 CEDIA’s added 70 courses and labs for the 2017 show
CEDIA 2017 KEYNOTE A glimpse at what Stringify’s Dave Evans will present
TECH AS DOPE, TECH AS HOPE We’re addicted to technology. Is that all bad?
SET THE PULSE RACING A look at Pulse Cinema’s incredible new showroom
Q&A: SURVEILLANCE Industry experts weigh in on surveillance products and services
OUTDOOR AV What to remember when the patio becomes a media center
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It’S SHOWTIME
Welcome to another issue of CEDIA Communicates. For this third quarter of 2017, we’ve got some wonderful stories to tell.
As I’m sure you’re aware, CEDIA 2017 is just days away. Hopefully you’ll be joining us in San Diego for one of the most important weeks of the year. We’ve redoubled our efforts on the education front, with over 150 courses, more than any previous year, 70 of which are brand new. A small sample of some new courses are profiled in these pages. We also have an in-depth look at our Keynote Speaker, Dave Evans — the Stringify co-founder is readying his presentation on “The Internet of Intelligent Things.” Plus, we’ve included a guide to the city hosting this year’s show, so your downtime in Southern California can be both productive and entertaining. There’s a robust section on some of our exhibitors in this issue, too. As always, we offer profiles of individuals and companies that are doing great things in the CEDIA channel. Our I AM CEDIA series continues, and we also introduce you to an incredible showroom in the UK. There’s worlds of practical advice in this edition of Communicates. CEDIA’s Walt Zerbe digs into “The Importance of Dedicated Controls for Today’s Digital Multi-Room Audio Systems.” Guy Singleton (The Cinema Designer Software) weighs in on “How to Design the Super Cinema.” And Mike Maniscalco unpacks the root causes of network latency. If you’ve not heard our CEDIA Tech Council Podcast (available on iTunes and other services), we’ve got a nice introductory piece, a summary of the show’s recent three-part series on “Technology as a Drug.”
We hope you enjoy the issue — and we can’t wait to see you in San Diego. All the best,
Tabatha O’Connor Chief Operating Officer, CEDIA
Contact
7150 Winton Drive, Suite 300 Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, USA Email: info@cedia.org Telephone: +1 800.669.5329 www.cedia.net
Follow us on:
Unit 2, Phoenix Park, St Neots Cambridgeshire, PE19 8EP, UK Email: info@cedia.co.uk Telephone: +44 (0)1480 213744 www.cedia.co.uk
Front cover image: NV Integration Grosvenor Waterside, Gatliff Road London, SW1W 8QN, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 20 7205 2325 Email: info@nvintegration.co.uk www.nvintegration.co.uk All material in Communicates is the copyright of CEDIA and any reproduction of said material would require written permission from the publisher. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content published, CEDIA cannot accept responsibility for any factual errors that may occur. CEDIA cannot accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors.
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FEEL EVERY EMOTION Discover our new products at Booth 4329. Experience them at SR7.
meridian-audio.com/CEDIA2017
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NEWS IN BRIEF VOTE FOR THE CEDIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Voting for the CEDIA Board of Directors runs from September 5-October 16, 2017. Three elected positions will be open in the regions outside EMEA, and you can find more info at CEDIA.net on the nominees and how you can participate in guiding the direction of the Association. CEDIA wants you to participate in choosing who the next members of the board will be — one of the keys to a healthy association is member engagement, whether that’s something as involved as serving on the board or as simple as casting a vote. CEDIA also encourages each and every member to consider throwing their hats in the ring when the next nomination cycle begins. CEDIA COO Tabatha O’Connor says, “We need diverse viewpoints. We need a Board that best represents the depth and scope of our association’s members as it stands today.”
SHOW OFF YOUR CEDIA CERTIFICATION CRED CEDIA Certification holders are getting a new, distinctive logo to show off their credentials, and a great new marketing platform to tell clients and partners what their certification represents. Through a partnership with BadgeCert, all CEDIA Certified individuals are being issued a “digital badge” which can be easily attached to an email signature, website, or shared via social media. One click will verify the status of the certification and outline what was required to earn it.
CEDIA UNDERTAKES THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN The CEDIA board and staff have been working for the last several months on a three-year plan with esteemed strategic planning expert Dr. Rebecca Homkes, a teaching fellow at the London School of Economics and London Business School who works with top global companies on growth strategy and execution. Homkes says: “This strategy work is all about better defining and understanding the industry that CEDIA as an association serves, which customers we are going to serve, and the value proposition that we are going to offer those customers. “Throughout the summer we will be working on the organization’s value proposition. Once that has been finalized we will make some clear decisions about the priorities going forward. We are thinking about execution throughout the entire process — all decisions that are made are made with execution in mind.”
CEDIA TO BUILD GLOBAL HQ… In June, CEDIA announced plans to build a new global headquarters in Fishers, Ind., a suburb just northeast of Indianapolis. “Building a new headquarters in a desirable, high-growth area gives the CEDIA membership an asset with appreciating value, as well as opportunity for monthly revenue from tenants,” said Dennis Erskine, CEDIA Chairman. “We came to this decision only after 18 months of careful consideration of all options and vetting by three separate financial firms. All concluded that real estate in this booming area was a sound investment, and a solid strategy to diversify CEDIA’s overall investment portfolio.” The building will be 40,000 square feet total on three floors. CEDIA plans to occupy 30,000 square feet, which will include staff office space, as well as a world-class training facility and experience center which will be available for member use. Ten thousand square feet will be made available for tenants. The anticipated move date is early fall, 2018.
…AND A NEW TRAINING FACILITY OPENS IN THE UK In May, CEDIA opened a sparkling new education facility at its UK headquarters in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. Consisting of an education room, a practical workshop, and a new breakout area, this facility provides technology integrators with the latest education in an environment set to inspire and engage. (Find out more about the new facility on page 31.)
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NEW MEMBERS CEDIA welcomes 176 new members across the globe this quarter… ARGENTINA > Trendhouse S.A.
Soluciones Inteligentes De Puebla S De CV (Atani)
AUSTRALIA >
UNITED KINGDOM >
GAILEY HOME THEATRE
Dirac Research AB
iConnect Technology
Arcadia Custom Installation
BRAZIL > Tecnion CANADA > 901089 Ont Ltd Artika AVA Systemes inc. Canadian Smart Systems Cognitive Systems Corp Delphi Custom Theatres Inc. Electronique Michel Chatigny inc HOME CENTRAL Technologies McKee Security & Audio Systems
Artec Electrical Ltd Autonomy Controls Ltd Beyond Habitat Candor Electrical Cerebrum Systems Ltd
Komodo Latam
Custom Sight & Sound Ltd Drexler Hooke Eclectic Home Technology Ltd GF TECHNICAL SERVICES
K i Systems Ltd L-Acoustics UK Ltd Nat Walden Electrical Services One Perfect Solution Limited PeteT LTD
ECUADOR >
Sandal PLC
IQhome
Sound Designs Ltd
EL SALVADOR >
Soundz Good
Colour Vibrations Innovation & Automation (I&A) LK Lifestyle LLP Room Tone Vinshek Marketing Pvt. Ltd
Living with Automation
Bradford Wells + Associates
Mastermind AV
C & G Wright Custom Electronics
Maverick AV
Cavicchi Audio Video LLC CBS CCS Presentation Systems Central Oregon Audio Video Chamberlux Automata Cinch Integration, LLC
DELCO ELECTRIC
Concepto Solutions
ROK Electrics Ltd
AUMIMAGES
Litchfield Stereo Design Inc.
Blackdove Inc
Control Envy Corporation
Automatizado Pimentel
Auliso
Kelly’s 5 Distribution LLC
Bill’s Sound & Security
Clique AV Ltd
Potters Home Digital
INDIA >
JDM Investments, Inc
Big Fish Automation, LLC
Conklin Enterprises LLC
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC >
TEKHAUS
Jarmac Group
Axius
Clear View Tech Ltd
IM Electrical Smarthomes & Security Ltd
COLUMBIA >
Intelligent Technology Group
AV GUYS LLC
Clarke Services Group
GJD Manufacturing Limited
Uniconnect Networks Inc
Integrated Lifestyles
AV Concepts
Cine Home
RUELaudio Inc. Sounds Good AVS Solutions Inc.
Innovo Technology, Inc
ATTYWON CORPORATION
Complete Audio & Electronics, Inc.
Ontic Solutions Inc. Simaudio Ltd.
At-Ease Home Services, Inc.
Southern Electrical Contractors Ltd Sovereign Audio Visual Union Systems Ltd W.E. Morgan and Co Electrical Contracting USA > Adept Communications Advanced Integrated Controls All About Sound & Video, Inc.
Desert Sound & Security
Medianet Metropolitan Music & Cinema Modern Living Technology Newman Electronics, LLC NEXimage Inc NextData Automation Optex Inc. Optima Leathers Palladium Home Theater LLC Pro Video Instruments RAC Advanced Control, Inc. Robohome
Digitalholics
Router Limits
Dusing Security & Surveillance, Inc.
Santa Barbara Smarthomes SATCO Products Inc.
eHome Integration
Savvy Life Interactive Systems
Elevate Integrated Systems Elexa Consumer Products, Inc. Elite Smart Group
SavvyTech Securitech Security Technologies Inc.
Entertainment Audio Video LLC
Security Brands, Inc.
Entertainment Design Group
Sheffield Audio & Video, Inc.
Experience Technology
Simple Home Tech
FE Solutions
Simplified Acoustics LLC
Fractal Mob
Simplified Mfg.
FSM Technologies, LLC
Skydrop Holdings LLC
FSS Technologies LLC
SmartLabs, Inc.
Good Guys Sound and Vision
Smartrent
Gouldin Technologies LLC
Solekai Systems
Guardian Alarm of Florida, LLC
Sonic Fidelity
H&S Ventures Hansen Technology Hauk Technology High Demand Manpower for Integrators High End Home Entertainment LLC Hi-Tek Lightworks Holm | Architectural and Landscape Lighting
SEDIS LLC
SRI Systems Starke Sound Inc. Sync Computer Services The Audio Video Connection Inc. The Simple Solution, LLC Thread Networks, LLC Transparent Audio Varner Sight and Sound Vertical Cable Vx Strategy, LLC
Amenitek Inc.
Home Technology Association
AUDITY
APC by Schneider Electric
HTC, a Schamber Company
Grupo Pax
APS Security Inc
INC Technologies, Inc.
WAYNE’S WINDOW COVERINGS
Procesa de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V.
Ardent Integrated Systems, Inc.
Informed Logic LLC
Woody’s Home
Ingersoll Rand
Xpert Installs
MEXICO >
Alset Innovations
Adocom
Walek’s Custom Technologies
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MEMBERS’ GUIDE TO SUCCESS (PART 5)
When you join CEDIA, you fuel the health and growth of the entire home technology industry by providing resources for advocacy and outreach. Here are the ways you can support industry success.
Government Affairs
Industry Relations
CEDIA’s Government Affairs team ensures that members’ ability to own and operate their business is not impeded. This branch of the association works to influence public policy to protect CEDIA members, the technology industry, and consumers. The team is constantly developing, monitoring, and disseminating information regarding legislative and regulatory issues; developing and implementing public policy strategies; and driving participation at a grassroots level.
CEDIA maintains and develops partnerships with organizations in key affiliated industries, including architecture, homebuilding, interior design, and real estate, to communicate the benefits of professionally installed home technologies and to advocate for working with a CEDIA member.
CEDIA.org CEDIA’s global consumer-facing website, www.cedia.org, generates consumer awareness of the industry, inspires homeowners, and reinforces the importance of working with a qualified home technology professional.
Workforce Development CEDIA recognizes that the success of our industry depends on a steady pipeline of qualified talent entering the field. Our workforce development initiatives raise awareness of career opportunities among jobseekers and provide resources to help them prepare for employment.
Technology Council The CEDIA Technology Council is made up of visionary experts who watch for the trends that will impact the industry and affect you. Their insights enable businesses to build stability by preparing for the future and grow prosperity by adopting emerging technologies.
For more information and to reap the benefits, visit the membership area of the website cedia.net/cedia-membership/benefits
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advert here?
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I AM CEDIA 60 SECONDS WITH LEWIS FRANKE Who are you?
home technology integration
My name is Lewis Franke and I
here in Dallas. I immediately fell in
am a Texan — and I bleed burnt
love with it. It allowed the trained
orange. GO LONGHORNS! I am
musician and geek/nerd in me to
a CEDIA Certified Technician, Designer, and Network Specialist and I own a custom electronics system integration firm called LED Systems LLC in Aubrey, Texas — just outside of Dallas. I have been in this field for 20 years and I love science and the thrill of constantly being challenged in this world of technology. How did you get into the industry? I originally got my degree in Biology and then went on to Respiratory Therapy and worked with preemies and newborn infants. I love kids, and as anyone you ask will tell you, I love people and I truly enjoy helping others. After five years working in one of the toughest hospitals in Dallas, it became obvious that I was too
flourish, but added the element of helping others and talking to people, which I love. What’s your favorite project and why? We worked on a home that had almost every type of connected and automated system that you can imagine. The home is on a beautiful piece of land next to a lake. The owners may not have understood what we’d be capable of accomplishing, but jumped right in with us full bore, and allowed us to show them how far technology can go. We integrated garage doors, locks, doorbell cameras, HVAC, security, Dolby Atmos theater systems, and low-voltage LED lighting, as well as integrated elevator and touchpanel control. What made this
attached to the patients. I had
system unique: There are multiple
studied music my whole life and
sensors and triggers that react to
was classically trained on piano
the homeowners’ physical actions
and organ, but then went in a
and automatically run “scenes” that
totally different direction and
give the homeowners the needed
became involved in car audio
technology response to better their
installation and got introduced to
life without them even having to
touch a remote control. This space truly pushes the boundary for the integration of various types of technology. Which home technology do you consider the most important today and why? IoT and cybersecurity are the driving forces in what we do and what my peers should be focused on. As more interconnectivity becomes the standard, the risks follow right behind it. We are using different types of automation protocols and a plethora of technologies that can now talk to each other. This allows us the unique ability to create not just simple systems easily controlled by a remote, but also gives us the ability to create activity-based automation that reacts not only to how the client currently lives, but how he might live tomorrow, next week, or when a change in life or technology happens. How long have you been a CEDIA member? I have been a CEDIA member since 2000. I remember going to my first CEDIA Regional in Addison, Texas, and I fell in love with the passion I saw and the education I could receive and learning. I wanted to
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What do you consider your biggest achievement as a CEDIA member? Honestly, it has been my volunteering. I saw the growth of CEDIA and the education, and I loved it. I was good at this integration stuff. A big thrill comes from the student who chases you down on the CEDIA floor after he took your ESC review class and says, “Thanks, Lewis. I loved what you said, and I passed the test!” That’s really good stuff right there. Which CEDIA benefits do you take advantage of the most, and why? It has to be the education. In our industry, there is no college, no school, or pathway I could have selected after high school to learn what I have learned. The training on how to balance an account, or deal with clients, or discover ways to offer CEU classes to architects, builders, and designers is hugely difficult to find outside of CEDIA. These CEDIA benefits are critical to my success. What’s the biggest issue for home technology businesses today and how can they deal with it? I think the IoT is already changing the dynamic of automation. More tech, cheaper prices, and marketing are making it seem really easy and inexpensive, and that is a challenge. While “off-the-shelf” tech may be readily available to
“
“
be a part of it immediately.
I LOVE THE THRILL OF CONSTANTLY BEING CHALLENGED
integrate these devices, it is not necessarily better, cheaper, or even easier. We, as an industry (and especially an organization), must embrace this phenomenon and grow with it and become the expert. It means educating ourselves and revising our business plans so that we can make money integrating the high-end technologies with the increasingly less expensive automation devices. It may mean taking on some projects or technologies we are not comfortable with. It will require us to know more and see much further ahead, so we can be the expert the client needs us to be.
and without the efforts of CEDIA and the tireless dedication of grassroots efforts to put our name out there, we still wouldn’t be wellknown. I think that branding needs to continue to be our main focus to other trades and organizations, and luckily with education and the apprenticeship program I have seen developing, I think we are closer than ever.
If there was one thing you could change in the industry, what would it be?
What does 2017 hold for your company?
Getting CEDIA and our brand more recognized as a staple of building a home. More than ever before, technology is a “MUST HAVE”! I don’t claim to know how to do it,
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If you weren’t in the home technology sector, what would you like to be doing and why? I wish I knew how to work on Harleys. I love to ride, and they are quite beautiful pieces of art.
It is going to be a full year. Even though owning my own firm is a first for me, I have tons of experience and I have been really blessed by others and with the relationships I have nurtured. It continues to surprise me how much the clients and my friends continue to support and bless us. We are going to be doing things in other parts of the country and hopefully around the world. We have had opportunities open up already, and the clients continue to find me no matter where I am. It is amazing how fast we have grown. I, and my friends, agree that as long as you take care of others in an unselfish manner, it will come back for you.
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VISITING SAN DIEGO >>> a starter kit By Ed Wenck with Terry Morton (Land & Sea Entertainment), Dave Arland (Arland Communications), and Steve Multer (SKM Creative)
By now, it’s a safe bet that you’ve heard CEDIA 2017 will be held in San Diego — a locale that marketers and P.R.-types refer to as “not a tough sell.”
Seriously, early September in San Diego means abundant sunshine (exponential, even) and an average high of 77 with lows in the mid-60s. Mix in ocean breezes off the Pacific, spectacular beaches, and sunsets over the water, and you’ve got a town that hardly needs to advertise to draw convention and trade show business. But beyond the weather, the town’s got its own unique architectural, culinary, and entertainment charms. With some help from integrator Terry Morton (of SD’s own Land and Sea Entertainment), and communications gurus Dave Arland and Steve Multer (both regular visitors), we compiled the following list of eats, sights, and sports.
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NEIGHBORHOODS NEARBY
Dr., Pacific Beach. Far and away
The Gaslamp Quarter
the best sushi in San Diego, it’s
The Convention Center is perched
Reservations are a must.
always packed with Japanese locals.
on the edge of the Gaslamp Quarter, which
just
so
happens
to
Civico,
be
celebrating its 150th Anniversary this
Victorian architecture.
Old Town is the birthplace of San Diego
and
its
original
Spanish
settlement. Very popular and only five minutes from downtown, the center is like a Mexican village market. Lots of shopping and tons of Mexican food and other dining options.
St.,
casual and laid-back.
EATS AND DRINKS
Old Town Mexican Café,
Beer!
Old Town
India
and Mediterranean food,
year. It’s 16-plus blocks of dining and entertainment wrapped in brilliant
1845
Little Italy. Super Italian
2489 San Diego Ave., Old
This town is craft beer paradise — so
Town. This is a popular
much so that a great many brewers
local spot for fresh, hand-
(Green Flash, Ballast Point, and the
made tortillas plus plenty
ubiquitous
have
of margaritas. It’s great
found success with national — heck,
for big groups since it’s
even global — distribution. Check the
loud and communal.
Stone
Brewing)
blog at cedia.net/show for some of our hoppiest picks.
STUFF TO SEE AND DO
Restaurants
The USS Midway, venue for the
Just across the water from the CEDIA
What can we say? This is a big town,
2017 home base is Coronado, a
and the list of great eats is daunting.
2017 CEDIA Awards
gorgeous and expensive community
San Diego Magazine has released
in the middle of San Diego Harbor.
their “Best Restaurants” list for 2017,
Centered on the famous Hotel del
and that’s certainly a fine place to
a floating US Naval museum, the USS
Coronado, co-star of the classic old
start
Midway. You’ll be able to tour the ship
comedy “Some Like It Hot,” the tiny
Restaurants/). We did receive some
AND take in the Awards banquet.
downtown next to “the Del” is a great
picks from the Arland/Multer dynamic
place to spend a lovely couple of
The San Diego Zoo
duo — here’s a few (your mileage may
hours. You can take a water taxi from
vary):
the Convention Center, too.
The Prado, 1549 El Prado, Balboa
Mission and Pacific Beaches
Park. Top pick if you’re planning a
Coronado
Riding bikes on the Mission Beach/ Pacific Beach boardwalk is great and super easy. There are several simple joints along Mission Beach Blvd. that rent for $7/day and riders can either cruise along the quiet bay side or the crowded ocean side which are literally two blocks from each other. Sailing or sculling on Mission Bay is also brilliant. You can rent boats and sculls from the Mission Bay Aquatic Center or numerous other retailers and be out on the water in minutes.
(www.sandiegomagazine.com/
large team dinner, one of the prettiest and most inviting rooms and terraces in the country, smack in the center of the park — not the best food in the city but very good, something
Hopefully, you’ll be attending the 2017 CEDIA Awards — aboard the deck of
The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park (five minutes up the hill from the CC) is huge, includes bus tours and a sky ride, shows, and has a plant and tree collection worth far more than the overwhelming animal collection. And, it’s home to the most powerful endangered and animal reproduction
for everyone, and reasonable prices
facility on the planet.
(especially for the awesome setting),
Balboa Park
and close to the CEDIA 2017 show. Blue Water Grill, 3667 India St. Super casual diner environment — you order at the counter then receive table service, but in our view, it is handsdown the best seafood in San Diego. Craft
Commerce,
675
W. Beech St., Little Italy.
Balboa Park was built for the PanamaCalifornia Exposition in 1915, and the size is perfect: You can walk and see it all easily, and the variety of vegetation, architecture, culture, museums, and sights within the park is incredibly varied and beautiful.
Excellent gastropub with
The San Diego Padres
seasonal eats and craft
The San Diego Padres have a four-
cocktails.
game home stand against the St. Louis
Ironside, 1654 India St., Little
Cardinals Sept. 4-7. For those arriving
Italy.
seafood,
Monday (Labor Day), the first pitch
oysters, and chowder in
is slated for 1:40 p.m., the next three
one of the coolest dining
evenings feature games that start as
rooms anywhere.
the CEDIA show floor and training
Sushi Ota. 4529 Mission Bay
courses wind down for the day.
Fantastic
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TRAINING & EVENTS CALENDAR August 30 CEDIA Awards, Asia Pacific
Melbourne, AUS
September 5-9
6
CEDIA 2017
CEDIA Awards Americas
San Diego, CA
San Diego, CA
5
17
CEDIA 2017 Tuesday Training
CRAN Annual Symposium
San Diego, CA
Miami, FL
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26
Networking Boot Camp
JA Job Spark
NYC
CEDIA HQ, Indy
Oct 4
16
25
27
PlumbingHeating-Cooling Contractors Association
CEDIA Board of Director Voting closes
Remodeling Show
Advanced Networking Concepts Workshop
Milwaukee, WI
Nashville, TN
Nov 1
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Total Tech Summit
Advanced Networking Boot Camp
Technomultimedia
Orlando, FL
CEDIA HQ, Indy
Columbia
Dec 4 TechHome Builder Phoenix, AZ
Book training at cedia.net/cedia-training
NYC
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THE CEDIA HOME THEATER BOOT CAMP DIARY DAY ONE 8 a.m. | Instructor Ken Erdmann tells the group that proper calibration of even an inexpensive TV will set an integrator apart from his competitors, especially the “hangers and bangers.” Most displays are set up at the factory to look good in a big-box stores under screaming fluorescent lights. 9 a.m. | Understanding digital versus analog is key. We’re digging into sampling rates, and the concepts here are deceptively simple. More samples per second means a signal that comes ever closer to mimicking the curve of a sound wave. 10:15 a.m. | Amplifier power: it’s not as simple as the stats on the box. Good amps tell you about their RMS power per channel as opposed to one “big” number that powers everything. 11 a.m. | Erdmann says, “Video signals can be divided into two categories: Analog/NTSC — National Television Standards Committee Digital/ATSC — Advanced Television Standards Committee And NTSC also stands for ‘Never Twice the Same Color.’” 1:30 p.m. | The rack-building portion of our day is now in full swing. I’m paired up with Jeremy, a newly-minted integrator who hails from a small town in Georgia. (His firm’s called JATI Security.) We’re mapping where the dummy gear, blanks, and cabling will go. 4 p.m. | Our cables look decent — power on one side, signals on the other, bundled with Velcro straps (plastic ties can crush those cables) — but the guys from Above Grade Engineering, California? Their rack looks ready for entry in the CEDIA Awards.
For three days in March, Your Humble Content Marketing Manager at CEDIA, Ed Wenck, attended the training session called “Home Theater Boot Camp” at the association’s HQ in Indianapolis. Here’s a summation.
DAY TWO 9 a.m. | Add this one to the alphabet soup: HDR, or High Dynamic Range. Simply put, when a color once described by 8 bits is then described by 10 or even 12 bits, the available range of colors jumps from the millions to the multibillions. 9:30 a.m. | Now we’re talking display types: LCD, LED, OLED, name it. 10 a.m. | On to projectors: DLP, DLP: TI, single-chip, three-chip, LCOS. 11 a.m. | Horror-story time: Metal studs? Snap toggles? Televisions that have pulled sections of sheetrock down with them because they weren’t attached to anything even remotely stable? Ken’s seen it all. 1 p.m. | After lunch, it’s time to hang the gear. We’re now in groups of three, and Jeremy and I are joined by Selena, who hails from the Lone Star state. After two hours or so, we’ve gotten images on both the display and the motorized screen that covers the TV when the projector’s in use. Everything looks properly centered (with a bit of image “overrun” on the screen to account for anomalies and slight movements), and we’re ready to calibrate. 3 p.m. | Video knowledge: Tint, brightness, grayscale, and other metrics will be addressed as we work, and the benefits aren’t all intuitive: • Proper calibration can reduce energy usage by roughly a quarter. • The drop in power consumption can help extend the life of the unit. • And the ability to properly adjust the look of an image? It’s expertise that can be marketed as an added value only an expert can provide.
The full diary can be found at CEDIA.net
DAY THREE 8 a.m. | Jeff Gardner — musician, soundman, recording archivist, and current executive director of ESPA — is the guest speaker this Saturday morning. “If you want the commercial theater experience,” notes Gardner in his remarks, “bring in a crying baby and throw some gum on the floor.” 9:30 a.m. | 80Hz is the magic number when it comes to subwoofer crossovers. Remember that. 11 a.m. | “In one double-blind study I read, both pros and regular folks preferred a set of $200 speakers over a pair valued at eight grand,” notes Gardner. Design is everything. 11.15 a.m. | We’re talking subwoofers: where to put them so they’re not cancelling one another out, and how and when to decouple them from a floor with a simple absorbent platform so all the energy isn’t transferred into the basement or crawl space. 2:30 p.m. | The tools of calibration are being set up — pro-model analyzers and SPL (dB) meters, along with the right mics to read a room. The best theaters have a low noise floor — since an 85 dB dynamic range is what we’re after, a span of 20 to 105 dB provides an upper end that’s not uncomfortable — or injurious. 3:00 p.m. | Pink noise is run through the system. Measurements are taken. The AVR we’re using is advanced enough to assist with the setup — it adds delay where needed. We’re moving the subwoofers about. 3:30 p.m. | Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy the modern Star Trek reboot in 4K on an OLED display complete with 3D immersive sound. It’s … amazing.
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HOW TO DESIGN…
THE SUPER CINEMA Guy Singleton
IEng, MIET, LCGI, MInstLM, The Cinema Designer Software
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C
inema design is, and has always been, the engineering process of managing and applying intelligent compromises.
But what happens when the budget and the space is flexible enough to allow for a greater level of creativity and engineering excellence? The CEDIA course that I taught at ISE this year, and will be presenting at CEDIA 2017 — ‘‘Designing a Super Cinema: Building the Best of the Best” — investigates this very scenario. As your cinema design skills grow, so does your confidence in delivering a system that not only meets standards and the predetermined performance objectives, but may also exceed them. Winning the project is always the toughest part of the challenge. It’s the ability to say to the client, “I know what I’m doing and you can trust me to deliver.” This can be achieved using a combination of the following: superb design documentation, an engaging presentation that shows your unique skillset, and competence. Most technology integrators know the audio and video standards set out in CEA/CEDIA CEB-22/CEB-23, but these only make up a modest part of the overall design criteria. Looking at elements such as room construction, sound isolation, electrical design (including discrimination checks), HVAC control, and other subsystems integration are also of the utmost importance if a truly “super” room is to be delivered. Integrators should consider all of these things, as well as the audio and video elements. The term “reference” is tossed around in our industry in such a way that many have become desensitized to its true meaning. The methods of design and calibration, coupled with the ability to apply any compromises intelligently, are all key objectives in designing a “super” cinema. It is also important to look at some advanced algorithms that become the driving source to not only the CODEC selection, but also how the room and the listening area as a whole help “select” the required final channel count and speaker locations (either via polar or Cartesian methods). This will form part of the new CEDIA white paper, ‘‘Cinema Design and Recommended Practices,’’ which will be one of the biggest overhauls of the recommended standards in many years. So, if you have some questions that need answering on electrical design math, loudspeaker placement in relation to the required rendered channels, Intelligent Lens Systems (ILS) in projection systems, or anything else in a cinema or media room, then the ‘‘Designing a Super Cinema: Building the Best of the Best” is absolutely the course for you.
www.thecinemadesigner.com
@TheCinemaDesign
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MAINTAINING SERVICE
Should we make service, maintenance, and remote supervision mandatory for safety and security?
A
s a manufacturer, it’s an everyday challenge to create new marketing approaches and engage potential clients. As a remote supervision manufacturer, the challenge is a little more arduous than usual, since before we can sell anything to a technology integrator, we must help them upgrade their business model to better monetize labor and set a service and maintenance plan. An approach that we find useful is to compare remote supervision to insurance. After all, like insurance, a remote supervision device is something you pay for and may never need, but when you do, you really do. It’s something that will protect your margin and your professional credibility against any technology failures. Remote supervision is your armor against the potential casualties of today’s technology. If anything happens, you have logs that you can
Bruce Napoli CTO of Krika
rely on, you can trace the behavior of certain devices, you can demonstrate to your clients that the Wi-Fi system is working, and the ISP is not. It’s similar to having a 24-hour IT person in charge of all your clients, except for the fact that he or she never sleeps, never has a day off, doesn’t complain, and, of course, never asks for a better salary. You will also be made aware when a problem occurs before your client even knows. In fact, you should make service, maintenance, and remote supervision mandatory in your Terms of Sales for all your clients without exception. You can’t work without a safety net in this connected world! The first time we proudly tried to explain this new “insurance” concept to an integrator, his response left us stunned: “OK, I got it. We will use a remote supervision device to help us when we have a problematic job.” Our reply was: “You don’t get insurance after a car accident.” Another point of view is to make
service and maintenance mandatory for security reasons. After all, it’s mandatory to have car insurance. It does not prevent the accident, but helps you afterwards. Car insurance is mandatory because if it wasn’t, 99% of people probably wouldn’t buy it. (Yes, we all feel invincible.) You are required to do so to ensure your own security, your life, and the lives of those involved. It’s the same for all the technology we install in our client’s properties. All systems have the potential to be hacked and used as malicious devices and ransomware. The only way to prevent that is to set a maintenance plan that allows us to come back two or three times a year to update all technology, and perhaps change some devices that are too old to be secure. Think of it like a plane. Once a year, the plane is totally disassembled to allow for safety and mechanical checks. Sometimes they find nothing wrong with it, and so they rebuild it. It’s called “maintenance,” and people feel secure when they travel because they know this plane has been maintained to function as required.
www.get-krika.com @krikattitude
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TRAIN THE TRAINER
BECOMING A COI Peggy Ward has a saying. “Knowledge is knowing that tomatoes are a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put ’em in a fruit salad.” We’re a little over halfway through the first session of the CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI) “Train the Trainer” course at the Lutron Experience Center in midtown Manhattan. There’s a spectacular view of the Empire State Building splashed in sunshine this Thursday afternoon. But everyone’s focused on Ward as she finishes her advice: “Your attendees are interested in your wisdom, not your knowledge.” Ward — who once worked for CEDIA, but now teaches the “TTT” course even though she’s in a different industry (long story short: she’s still a big fan of the association and this initiative) — is ready to crack open one of six modules being covered this day. The one we’re embarking on is “Learner Centered Classroom Delivery” — we’re digging into the way people learn, unpacking concepts such as “Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning.” It’s all part of understanding how to engage those in complementary industries: architects, builders, interior designers. After successful
completion of the Train the Trainer class, the 14 folks in this room will be able to deliver any one of a number of one-hour presentations. Those who take a course from these newlyminted COIs will receive continuing ed credits. And the instructors will gain a room full of new contacts. Ground Rules and Readiness At the start of our day, Ward had the attendees write down two facts about themselves and what they hoped to gain from the class. Manuel Fernandez tells us he’s Argentinian, and he hopes his English is OK. When it’s James Damm’s turn, he tells us, “I’m from the Bronx. I hope my English is OK.” Damm — from a firm called Home Technology Experts — has nicely expressed the tone for this particular bunch. They’re a gang of goodhumored CEDIA members, and they’re all instantly supportive of one another. Therein lies an important reason for these quick intros, Ward tells us: “You might be competitors, but this is about networking, and building awareness for our industry.” After the intros, we dive into the administrative stuff: How to take attendance and broach the subject of instructor review, that sort of thing. Ward’s got strategies for everything: Suppose, for example, you’ve planned
Ed Wenck
Content Marketing Manager, CEDIA
to issue certificates to your attendees a few days after they’ve attended a CEDIA course so you can create another touchpoint — but someone wants their paper right away? Answer: Bring along a plain-paper certificate — but tell them you’ll be back with a nicer version on heavier stock with the attendee’s name spelled out in a wonderful font. Ward establishes the ground rules, too. The courses can’t morph into sales pitches for the instructor’s integration firm. A COI is a CEDIA rep for the hour they’re offering CEUs at a lunch-and-learn. Different Audiences, Different Learning Types As we begin to break down the different types of learning — and learners — Ward breaks the group into three subsets. Each group will talk about a potential audience; builders, architects, interior designers. What motivates each group? What’s their view of tech? And what do we think their primary learning “style” might be? I’m sitting with the group that’s trying to determine what makes architects tick. The motivator for that bunch, we concur, is informed by pride in the work. A good architect wants to be a great architect — prestige is key: A feature story in Architectural Digest is a likely goal. (Later, when we share our results with the rest of the groups, we’ll note that architects also pride themselves on their hand-renderings — even in the era of computer assistance.) Their view of tech? We reckon it’s improving, especially now that the CEDIA channel has the ability to automate the lighting that heightens the visual impact of their buildings. And the style of learning most likely
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Here’s what attendees had to say: Awesome class. Very informative and helpful. Thank you! Chris McLaughlin, eloDesigns First class all the way. Best and most useful training I've ever done! Peggy was really, really good. Her guidance and management of the group was perfect in every way. I'm going to recommend that all my dealers who could benefit from this sign up for her class in San Diego. It’s a top notch program. Michael Cortigiano, Jarmac|Customworks
to be exhibited by those in this field? They’re visual learners — and Ward is reminding us that we need to know how we learn so that we can adjust our inclinations to match the audience. After learning about the other types of learners — auditory, kinesthetic (the “learn by doing” folks), the “readers and writers” — Ward introduces us to an education pyramid, a graphic with levels of knowing called “Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning.” The widest part of the illustration, the base of the pyramid, is Knowledge; next is Comprehension, then Application, and on through more levels until the narrow tip ends in Evaluation. For our purposes as instructors-to-be, Ward stresses that we pose questions that form the bottom of the pyramid: define this, put that in your own words,
so on. Asking for the prediction of outcomes at this early stage — leaping up the chart to Evaluation — won’t work. You’ll lose your audience. Ward then moves from concept to practice; now we’re talking about the nuts and bolts of public speaking: eye contact, preparation, engagement. Asking questions. Adding inflection. Ward’s loading the toolkit for every member of the class. The Presentations The first four-hour session was followed the next morning with each attendee presenting 10 minutes of a sample course plus a quick roundtable of feedback from the group. The COIsin-training are graded on a scale of one to five (the highest number equaling maximum proficiency) in five areas: knowledge of material, classroom management, using the question-andanswer portion of their presentation effectively, staying on topic, and using compelling communication techniques. A minimum score of 15 is required to become a COI. As the presenters begin, it’s clear that this group has been prepping well ahead of the in-person coursework. Jessica Reinhardt from CMI Interiors, Inc., for example, knows the material cold. She’s got a lot of energy — but does lose her train of thought. It’s not so much a negative as a teachable moment — CEDIA’s own Wendy
Griffiths, monitoring the class, has a tip for when the rails disappear: “That’s the perfect moment to interject a question.” Ward has a further tip: Instead of simply asking a class if anyone has a question, “Ask how everyone feels about what’s happening so far — are they getting it?” It’s less open-ended and likelier to spark engagement. Brad Hintze of Control4 is eminently polished. Dan Soler (DBD Electronics) and Chris McLaughlin (eloDesigns) are pure New Yawk in their delivery — both self-deprecating and fast on their feet. Each and every attendee brings something terrific to their audition: Frank DeFilippis of DISH notes the importance of gaming in his presentation: “The Xbox generation is now buying homes,” he notes. A number of presenters note that they’d like to leave us with “that one thing:” Bring the integrator in early. The group’s covered their material properly, they’ve adhered to the rules but brought anecdotes both entertaining and informative to their presentations. As the class finally wraps at noon, the attendees swap business cards and contact info, and it’s apparent that all of them will soon be similarly connecting with architects, interior designers, builders, and even realtors in that same way. And, as any veteran COI will tell you, those contacts eventually turn into cash.
COI Train the Trainer Course at CEDIA 2017 The “Train the Trainer” Course will be offered at CEDIA 2017 in San Diego Tuesday, Sept. 5, 9 a.m. — 5 p.m. Presented by Peggy Ward
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CEDIA Course Spotlight:
A SAMPLE OF 2017’S OFFERINGS The course catalog is big this year: more than 70 new classes have been added to the educational offerings at CEDIA 2017, pushing the total number to well over 150. Additionally, some “classics” have been updated, for example:
Properly Securing a Residential Network: Methods and Best Practices Bjorn Jensen is counting the Slack channels currently discussing IT issues in the CEDIA universe. “Let’s see, 12 … 14 … it’s 16 at last count.” Jensen was part of the original task force that started developing 400-level courses for integrators. Security rapidly became a topic that needed its own dedicated lab work. Jensen sends along the bullet points for the session, the Learning Objectives as they stand right now:
Wireless Network Technologies The job was so extensive that Joel Crane can’t really remember what the original course looked like. “I pretty much ripped the whole thing apart,” he says. Crane — Technical Trainer at MetaGeek, a firm that creates wireless troubleshooting gear such as spectrum analyzers and packet analysis tools — is referring to one of two courses he’s revamped that focus on wireless technology. CEDIA’s Wireless Network Technologies Learning Lab (EST253) covers “all common types of Wi-Fi that are out there and some non-Wi-Fi technologies as well,” he explains. The other course he helped rebuild, the Advanced Wireless Networking Learning Lab (EST353), needed an update, but one that wasn’t quite as sweeping. EST253 needed updating on a number of fronts. “The funny thing about Wi-Fi is that it all really goes back to the original 802.11 standard which was ratified in 1997.” And with that look backward, Crane realized that there was some ground the old version of the course hadn’t sufficiently covered. “It’s kind of like algebra — you build on core concepts,” Crane says, “and the three that need to be readdressed were half-duplex Wi-Fi, co-channel interference, and adjacent channel interference.” Wireless Network Technologies Learning Lab Sept. 6 and 7, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. both days Presented by Joel Crane (ESC-N), MetaGeek; Nathan Holmes (ESC-N), Access Networks; and Jeff Briesemeister, Integration Controls (ESC-T, ESC-N) Advanced Wireless Networking Learning Lab Sept. 6 and 7, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., both days; Sept. 8, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Presented by Joel Crane, MetaGeek and Nathan Holmes, Access Networks
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Identify some of the factors that drive the need for network security
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Define common types of attacks
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Discuss organizational best practices for protecting and securing client information and systems
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Describe the types of encryption and algorithms for secure access, common use cases, and the level of security provided
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Distinguish between firewall concepts such as DPI, IPS, Stateful Firewalls, Access Rules, and NAT
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Recognize the need for secure remote access
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Describe parental control solutions, how they work, and options to consider
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Describe various tools and methods used to identify vulnerabilities and attacks
Properly Securing a Residential Network: Methods and Best Practices Sept. 6, 7, and 8 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day. Presented by Ed Pepitone, Director of IT, Audio Video Systems, Inc., New York; and Bjorn Jensen, President, WhyReboot, Miami
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On to the Business Side While the robust training offerings at CEDIA 2017 include a wide-ranging number of courses designed to help build an integrator’s technical prowess, there’s a hefty number of classes that are concerned with business operations, too.
Being a Good Boss Larry Heuvelman’s logo includes a hat. “It’s the Owner’s Hat,” explains Heuvelman. He’s come up with a pretty slick acronym, MOPEDS, to define the different hats members of an integration firm might wear: • Marketing • Ownership • Production • Education • Design • Sales Wearing that owner’s hat correctly is key to good management, says Heuvelman. When he’s presented with the notion that no job is too little for the boss — and that the act of picking up a broom and sweeping the shop floor might inspire loyalty — Heuvelman is contradictory. “I’ve spoken to people who say they’re just going to go and cover someone else’s job at a site for one day — which turns into two, then a week — and they’re not paying attention to marshaling the sales team or keeping an eye on workflow. “And you know what happens next, right?” Being a Good Boss | Sept. 6, 1 - 2:30 p.m. Presented by Larry Heuvelman, President, TheOwnerConsultant.com
Managing for Profitability with Quickbooks Leslie Shiner, who’s been teaching courses for CEDIA since the 2003 trade show, this year adds a pair of workshops to the San Diego slate, both dealing with various aspects of Quickbooks. Shiner explains: “I’ve been using Quickbooks since it was introduced.” After reverse-engineering numerous outcomes that would be of interest to a technology integration firm, Shiner split the classes into Part 1: Accounts, Items, Jobs, and Estimates; and Part 2: Invoicing and Job Cost Reports. “Quickbooks can be an excellent tool for accounts and project management — but only if it’s a) set up correctly, and b), you follow the rules,” she cautions. Shiner knows all about the pitfalls: She was initially a consultant to both the construction and non-profit fields. “Unfortunately, they’re very similar,” she jokes. As for those in the CEDIA Channel, “These companies have a lot of the same issues as contractors, but some have a retail component, some have a manufacturing component — they’re all unique, complex businesses even when they’re small.” Managing for Profitability with Quickbooks, Part 1: Accounts, Items, Jobs and Estimates Sept. 7, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Managing for Profitability with Quickbooks, Part 2: Invoicing and Job Cost Reports
The Art of the Demo For Dr. Frederick Ampel, there are sales techniques that can best be described as “primal.” There are reactions that are hard-wired into the human brain over millennia — and those reactions can provide all the clues a salesperson needs to help close a deal. “Ages ago, when we were four feet high and hunting on the African veldt, the grass around us was six feet high,” Ampel explains. “If we heard a rustling in the grass while we were stalking our dinner, we had to figure out where it was coming from — in case it was a predator stalking us for a snack.” That instinct is observable today. If a customer’s in a showroom, and the salesperson flips the sound he or she is presenting from, say, stereo to 5.1 and then BACK to stereo, an interested consumer will reflexively lean forward, “following the sound as it’s folded back into two-channel,” Ampel explains. “Once they’ve done that, the game is over. The question is not ‘Will they buy something?’ but ‘Will they buy it from you — and what will they spend to get there?’” Those nuggets are just a slice of what Ampel’s planning on presenting — the presentation is a live demo of a soon-to-be-published white paper Ampel wrote for CEDIA that carries the same name as Ampel’s course.
Sept. 8, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Art of the Demo | Sept. 6, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Presented by Leslie Shiner, Financial Consultant, The ShinerGroup
Presented by Dr. Fred Ampel, Technology Visions Analytics; and Chris Foreman, SpeakAV
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CHALLENGE LATENCY
AND SOLUTION
This is the first part of a two-part series on understanding packet loss and latency and what can be done to troubleshoot issues. We are often asked about what is acceptable network performance and what can be done to improve things when performance is sub-par. The unfortunate answer is that there is no silver bullet for all network issues, but armed with enough knowledge (and good ol’ lead bullets, so to speak), you can make your customers’ networks hum.
Mike Maniscalco Ihiji
Here’s an issue that’s come up recently:
“Netflix recommends 25 Mbps per stream in order to get 4K HDR quality video. This means that with only a 30ms round-trip time (latency), users will be BELOW the recommendation, even if nothing else is happening on the network!” For this first part, there are quite a few issues we need to define…
DEFINING LATENCY For the purpose of our discussions, we’ll define network latency as the time it takes for a packet to travel from one device to another. Latency is much like the time it takes for your voice to travel from your mouth to the ear of the person you are speaking with.
WHERE DOES LATENCY COME FROM? Latency is a cumulative effect of the individual latencies along the end-to-end network path. This includes every network segment along the way between two devices (like a switch or access point). Every segment, or hop, represents another opportunity to introduce additional latency into the network. Network routers are the devices that create the most latency of any device on the end-toend path. Additionally, packet queuing due to link congestion is often the culprit for large
amounts of latency. When a switch, access point, or router becomes loaded, the time it takes to process each packet increases, driving up latency. Some types of network technology, such as satellite communications, add large amounts of latency because of the time it takes for a packet to travel across the link. Since latency is cumulative, the more links and router hops there are, the larger endto-end latency will be.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH HIGH LATENCY? TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) traffic represents a significant amount of the traffic on your local network. TCP is a “guaranteed” delivery protocol, meaning that the device sending the packets gets a confirmation for every packet that is sent. The receiving device sends back an acknowledgment packet to let the sender know that it received the information. If the sender does not receive an acknowledgment in a certain period of time, it will resend the “lost” packets. For simplicity, let’s call that period of time that the sender waits before resending packets the “window size.” While the sender is resending packets, it is no longer sending new information. The window size is adjusted over time and tightly correlates to the amount of latency between the two devices. As latency increases, the sending device spends more and more time waiting on acknowledgments rather than sending packets!
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BUT DOES IT REALLY AFFECT ANYTHING? Since the window size is adjusted upwards as latency increases, there is a direct inverse relationship between latency and throughput on the network. Let’s look at an example of two devices that are directly connected via a 100 Mbps Ethernet network (with nothing in between). The theoretical max throughput of this network is 100 Mbps. Now take a look at what happens to that throughput as latency increases. Notice how drastic the drop in throughput is — with round-trip times as low as 30 ms!
Round-Trip Latency
TCP Throughput
0 ms
93.50 Mbps
30 ms
16.20 Mbps
60 ms
8.07 Mbps
90 ms
5.32 Mbps
IT GETS WORSE!
Taking the same test system from above and introducing a 2% packet loss through a packet loss generator gives you the following results. Round-Trip Latency
TCP Throughput With No Packet Loss
TCP Throughput With 2% Packet Loss
0 ms
93.50 Mbps
3.72 Mbps
30 ms
16.20 Mbps
1.63 Mbps
60 ms
8.07 Mbps
1.33 Mbps
90 ms
5.32 Mbps
0.85 Mbps
Effect of Packet Loss and Latency on 100 Mbps Network 100
Network Throughput (Mbps)
Remember when we mentioned that some packets become “lost”? These lost packets have to be resent, thus increasing the amount of data that must be transmitted. Packet loss will cause the sender to sit idle for longer periods of time waiting for the acknowledgments to come back from the receiver. The packets that get lost might even be the acknowledgment back from the receiver, meaning that the sender will be resending information that was already sent successfully. The result is a further significant decrease in throughput.
93.5
75
50
25
16.2 8.07
3.72 0
1.63
0 ms
5.32
1.53
30 ms
60 ms
0.85 90 ms
Latency No Packet Loss
2% Packet Loss
Here’s a great visual representation of the effect of packet loss and latency on network throughput.
WHAT NETWORK PERFORMANCE SHOULD WE SEE? This is a very difficult question to answer with a blanket rule. There are some situations where increased latency is unavoidable. What is critical is that you are monitoring that latency and packet loss so that you can identify what is typical and respond to issues quickly. Here are some guidelines for acceptable performance on your networks: • Latency on a local area wired Ethernet network should be 1-2 ms. • Wireless networks often have higher latency and packet loss. Maximize signal strength, coverage, and RF interference to get latency and packet loss to a minimum. • A round-trip latency of 30 ms or less is healthy on a typical broadband cable modem or DSL WAN connection (fiber has much lower latency). • Round-trip latency between 30 ms and 50 ms should be monitored closely. Consider looking deeper at the network for potential issues.
WHAT CAN I DO TO LOWER LATENCY? We’ll be writing a follow-up article with more detail on troubleshooting latency. The first step is to have an understanding of what causes it!
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Dave Evans — Stringify co-founder, former Cisco futurist, and CEDIA 2017 keynote speaker — is predicting that we’ll see 40 billion things connected to the internet by 2020. But for Evans, the excitement’s not about raw numbers. It’s about the types of things that are being — and will be — connected. “A decade or so back, if I had said, ‘I want to connect my shoes, or my toothbrush, or my front door lock to the internet,’ people would have laughed because it would have just made no sense, it would have been expensive, my shoes would have cost a thousand dollars, or whatever,” says Evans.
CEDIA 2017 Keynote Preview: Dave Evans A glimpse at what the Stringify co-founder will present in San Diego: The opportunities in what he calls “The Internet of Intelligent Things”
Today? The average consumer is surrounded by a wealth of intelligent devices — and they’ll need assistance sorting through their options. “I mean, the sky’s the limit; there are so many things you can now do — there’s fitness, entertainment, health, security.” Evans — given his background as a predictor of tech trends — takes the big pictures that he’s seen and narrows them down: What does a connected armored division on maneuvers have in common with a connected lightbulb? “Once you start adding different types of things, you now get insight you simply didn’t have before,” Evans explains. “It’s the old adage that you can’t manage what you can’t measure. And whether it’s grand issues that we’re dealing with, like climate, or smaller issues like in your home, the ability to get data from those things, to get insight, to manage things — it could be your utility bill, it could be your thermostat, it could be an entire city, it could be the entire planet.” Feed the World? Let’s take a basic, fundamental example of how IoT can solve a pressing problem: How are going to feed ourselves in the future? Evans notes that currently the U.S. population adds another hungry mouth every 14 seconds. And Evans brings the dire news that more than 80% of the land that is suitable for farming is already being used.
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“Land is in short supply, and yet, we have to double food production over the next few decades to feed all these people we’re adding,” he says. “It was about 20,000 years ago when humans began to farm. One can make an argument that for 99.9% of agricultural history, how we farmed didn’t fundamentally change.” The process was repetitive and only as predictable as the weather: dig a hole, plant a seed, hope it grows. Sure, machines came along to speed parts of the process and buttress others — from combines to irrigation — but those tools couldn’t really challenge drought or the right scavenger. Today, though, agriculture is about to undergo an enormous change — since ag, like any other industry, is subject to the universal laws of technological growth, the IoT is about to impact our food supply in incredible ways. “We’re already seeing the early stages of things like vertical farming and hydroponics,” Evans explains. “We’re even seeing the merging of plant life with electronics where plants literally have electronics embedded in them as they grow, and plants could actually say, ‘Look, I need more water. I need more fertilizer. I need more pesticide.’ “And connected sensors and connected devices allow us to do that. Long story short: The population is growing fast, land is shrinking, climate is changing, we need to grow a lot of food — IoT is the answer.”
“What did Lincoln say? ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it.’” And if the IoT can solve problems on the scale Evans is addressing, just imagine what it will soon do for the kitchen in your home. But what about security? But as we’ve learned, anything that can hacked, will be hacked — and more devices mean more opportunities for those with bad intentions. Evans notes that people often blame technology for their lack of security — but that’s a bit unfair: “It’s akin to someone leaving their home and leaving their front door unlocked,” he explains. That’s precisely what happened in a huge DDOS attack in late 2016, and cameras-turned-culprits were responsible for a lot of the requests that overloaded servers. “All of these cameras were hacked, and it was a big IoT botnet attack,” says Evans — and the cameras were vulnerable because their default passwords were left unchanged: “They left it, User Name: Admin, Password: Password.” “So part of [the solution] is education, but part of it is also that we’ve got to all be accountable, all responsible. If you leave your home, and you leave your front door unlocked, and someone breaks into your home — that’s kind of on you. The same is true with IoT
More about Dave Evans: Dave Evans, Co-Founder and CTO of Stringify and former Chief Futurist for Cisco (where he coined the term “The Internet of Everything”), will share his insights on how IoIT will open up vast new opportunities for tech integrators. Evans holds numerous patents in the fields of connected cars, networking technologies, virtual people, IoT, and more. You won’t want to miss this engaging and thoughtprovoking presentation.
technology; you have to secure it properly, you’ve got to get the right firewalls or security, and so on.” “And I think therein lies the opportunity for CEDIA, because the average consumer doesn’t know what to do — but they want security.” Let’s Work Together Part of the reason that Dave Evans was asked to speak at CEDIA 2017 — beyond his straight-up bona-fides as a Cisco futurist — is his current gig as co-founder of Stringify. Stringify is one of a number of companies offering products that grease the skids for that harmonic convergence of All Connected Things we buzzily call “interoperability.” Like many of his contemporaries, Evans saw money in the solution: “There are two major challenges with the IoT of today, I think. One is that it’s an alphabet soup of acronyms: IP, BLE — people don’t care. So, first of all, it’s confusing.” “Second, companies are building ecosystems to lock consumers in. It’s simply too difficult for the average person to get things to connect to one another; that’s kind of where we come in. So we built a platform and a product to let someone with no technical background connect anything to anything regardless of who made the thing, regardless of what it does — it just works. We do all the heavy lifting behind the scenes.” And here’s when Evans serendipitously utters the CEDIA mantra: “The great thing about that? You can now focus on experiences versus focusing on the technology.” “What did Lincoln say? ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it.’” San Diego Convention Center, Ballroom 20A Wednesday, September 6, 2017 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. FREE to all CEDIA 2017 attendees
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Tech as Dope, Tech as Hope We’re addicted to technology. Is that all bad? The concept was high minded, and a little frightening: The CEDIA Tech Council Podcast was prepped to tackle the notion of “Technology as a Drug” — a three-part series that began with the terrifying notion of digital dependence, but morphed into an incredibly interesting discussion on the very future of home technology firms. So what defines an “addictive technology,” anyway? For Christiaan Beukes of South Africa’s Sphere Custom Design, the answer’s broad: “In my personal opinion, any technology. Any technology in which you are constantly in touch with. Any technology that you have within your reach.” Beukes further postulated on the proximity of one’s smartphone to any individual reading these words: “I could probably guarantee that their phone is within striking reach.” For Beukes, there’s no longer six degrees of separation between humans, but “six emails of separation or six bytes of separation. Realistically, any technology that we have and utilize can be addictive.”
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And the net effect of all the screens and buttons and devices that keep us ever connected? “I think technology is actually making the human race really, really stupid,” says Archimedia’s Peter Aylett. “I don’t know my children’s phone numbers because they’re all on my phone. I don’t know how to get anywhere because I’ll just blindly follow Sat Nav, which means I can’t read a map.”
...almost everything that is a really fulfilling activity is hard.
So what’s that mean for integration firms?
Aylett continues his riff as naysaying philosopher: “In life, nothing fulfilling is easy. Apart from the obvious birds and the bees things, almost everything that is a really fulfilling activity is hard.” Yep, Aylett’s not a fan of that marketing gimmick that came to be known as “The Easy Button,” especially given its deeper meaning: “My argument is, well, is easy always better? Does easy always make us happier? Does easy make us more fulfilled or is it actually taking humanity down a completely different route?” The biggest fear that this constant connectivity brings? “We’re being gamed,” says Beukes bluntly. Big Data is Watching You “One of the things that is very prevalent is how marketing and advertising is affecting us,” says Beukes, reiterating what’s now common knowledge to most consumers: Your web history is used to track your tastes, and that’s why marketers pitch you certain products — and Facebook pitches you certain stories. “From a personal experience, I opt out of everything,” he continues. “I’m not interested in having people sell stuff to me based on my previous search habits or whatever I happen to glance at or click
sell us stuff or make the interfaces we use seamless and ultimately, predictive to nearly the point of clairvoyance. There’s a home on the near horizon that will offer a man-machine integration that’ll be even more intuitive than flipping a light switch on.
on … The statistical analysis of all of the data that we’re generating is so big and these guys are getting things very, very accurately predicted and that’s a scary thought.” Peter Aylett brings it back to what it means for integrators: “If you take things back to the CEDIA channel; I once heard a phrase uttered by the completely wonderful Rich Green, which was, ‘The best technology is no technology.’ That’s really referring to the fact that experiences with technology should be frictionless. We shouldn’t really be aware that something is happening in the background.” So as these systems — and the dizzying array of connected devices available — increase in networked size and complexity, marketers are able to use the algo-
rithms that surround us as targeting tools while those same kinds of predictive formulas give us an experience that becomes, in Aylett’s words, “frictionless.” To be sure, Aylett admits that he’s as guilty as anyone when it comes to geeking over new technology: his Twitter handle, after all, is “@getmoregadgets.” But Aylett’s realistic about the evolving role of the integrator: Provide the experience first. That’s the mantra, the key. “I think there’s a positive to a lot of these things, but in all aspects, when we’re suggesting technology to our clients — it’s a really, really, cheesy, corny thing to say, but just because you can do it doesn’t mean that you should,” he says. Gaffering GAFA We’re addicted to devices. Those devices are collecting data. That data can
Kris Hogg, industry stalwart and founder of the firm Konnectiv, is convinced that in one sense, CEDIA companies will go back to the future. Hogg mentions a buzzy term: “GAFA,” which stands for Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple. The firm of the future will take offerings from these firms and “gaffer-tape these GAFA elements together,” he jokes. This means integrators will once again truly become integrators again, not simply looking for that sweet markup on a pricey flatscreen. (Note: Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but those margins are disappearing.) “It’s a bit like we were doing 15, 20 years ago,” says Hogg. “Taking stuff that shouldn’t work together, wasn’t designed to work together, and actually making it work together. We’ve gone through this whole thing where everybody in our market space — that traditional CEDIA channel — has given us devices that are made to work together, because they’re all part of their ecosphere, which keeps their profitability within their own control. Now I’ve got an Echo here and I got a Google Home here, and actually, we should be able to make those two work together. “Now that’s a different skill set again. “We’re back to being integrators.”
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Living Wall Systems Sherri Dugger
Media and Outreach Director Indiana Farmers Union
EDITOR’S NOTE: After seeing a “living wall” featured in a James+Giles home integration in London (it helped clean the air naturally in a basement condo), we wanted to learn more about the potential for these systems. Most applications of these features in the U.S. have been used in commercial and/or public spaces, but they’re easily scalable to residential installations. CEDIA asked Midwest-based ag writer Sherri Dugger to find out more.
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When an anonymous donor offered the Irsay Family YMCA at Cityway in downtown Indianapolis the funds to install a living wall and green roof, Vice President of Operations Christopher Butler admits neither he nor his staff really understood the benefits of having such systems. “We learned,” he succinctly explains. The Cityway YMCA opened in December of 2015, and, with it, a living wall standing six-feet wide and 28-feet high was unveiled to the public. The benefits of the system, Butler explains, are many. A living wall, which houses panels of vertically and hydroponically grown plants, can be installed indoors or out. When housed inside, these systems remove toxins from the air, act as sound barriers, and add ambiance and interest to residential and commercial spaces. The living wall at the YMCA, Butler says, also serves as an educational tool. “In a YMCA, where we teach a lot of exercise and nutrition, we can talk about the plant utilizing carbon monoxide and giving us oxygen. We talk about this with children, with anyone willing to listen.”
We want to create beautiful and productive spaces
been shown to lead to quicker patient recoveries. Those are some of the reasons that people are choosing to do this [install these systems]. It’s a real benefit. “We want to make living systems that are affordable and that are achieving environmental goals … to clean the air, improve air humidity, improve productivity of staff,” she says. “We want to create beautiful and productive spaces that are close to where people live. We’ve spent so much time disconnecting ourselves from nature. People are unhappier. We [at Omni] want to do any little thing we can to bring a little bit of fresh air back into our daily life.” Butler, too, favors the look and feel of the living wall at the Irsay Family YMCA in Indianapolis. He says guests regularly stop to gaze upon the green structure. “It’s relaxing, tranquil, and fresh,” he says. “It’s just pretty.”
The regular maintenance of the living wall and green roof, both of which were included in the 87,000-squarefoot facility’s original build, is left to Omni Ecosystems, a Chicago-based company that builds green roofs and walls, landscape architecture, and urban agriculture systems in residential and commercial spaces throughout the country. Omni has built several similar systems coast-to-coast since the company was established 8½ years ago. Molly Meyer, Omni founder and CEO, explains the mechanics of these systems. Living walls are made up of a series of panels that are 18-inches wide, 48-inches tall, and five-inches deep, she says. The soil used in each panel is customengineered, depending on whether the living wall will be installed indoors or out. Omni also attaches irrigation and draining lines, so the plants are watered and drained automatically. Tropical plants are regularly used in the indoor systems, Meyer says, because they require little additional lighting. Beyond the environmental advantages of adding these systems to indoor spaces, Meyer says productivity increases in offices where living walls are installed. “Productivity can increase when people have a view of greenery out their window or next to their desks,” she explains. “Greenery outside hospital windows has
Benefits of an Indoor Living Wall: > Cleans interior air space by removing VOCs and other harmful toxins > Acts as sound proofing barrier > Cleans outside air of pollutants and dust > Increases foot traffic and interest in commercial spaces > Qualifies for LEED certification points
Benefits of an Outdoor Living Wall: > Insulates and cools a building, while protecting it from the elements > Helps to offset carbon footprint of people and fuel emissions > Creates habitats for wildlife > Increases real estate value
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CHINA Towards the end of April, CEDIA hosted three training sessions at the Shanghai International Hi-End Hi-Fi Show (SIAV). SIAV is the longest-running, most influential Hi-Fi show in China. Attracting both local and international visitors and exhibitors, the show focuses on the latest audio and video trends. The three sessions focused on “Emerging Residential Technologies,” “Designing Rooms for Immersive Audio,” and “Home Theater Room Design.” All courses were new for the Chinese market, and as such, were incredibly well attended.
MEXICO In May, the home technology industry in Mexico came together as CEDIA held a two-day Tech Forum in Mexico City. Attended by over 90 integrators, the Tech Forum gave integrators the chance to keep up their skills in the rapidly changing home technology industry, learn from their peers, and to set new goals for their professional development and business. Rich Green, one of CEDIA’s most highly regarded instructors, presented his “Future Technologies: The Silicon Valley Scoop” course which was both engaging and inspiring.
INDIA CEDIA membership continues to grow in India every year. With lighting being a key focus for this market, CEDIA ran its three-day Lighting School in New Delhi in July. Supported by Lutron and The Cinema Designer, integrators developed new skills and a better understanding of lighting fundamentals and residential lighting control. CEDIA also ran its “Connect with CEDIA” event which provides attendees with the opportunity to network with peers, as well as CEDIA representatives.
CEDIA has had a busy few months hosting training and networking events around the world. From China to Australia, Mexico to India, the industry has been benefitting from a number of localised events.
AROUND THE WORLD AUSTRALIA For the first time ever, CEDIA hosted its one-day Tech Forum event in Australia, and not just once, but three times. Starting in Melbourne in May, moving to Sydney in June, and concluding in Brisbane in July, over 110 integrators attended the events that included training and networking. Many sponsors came on board for all three events, including Advanced Audio Australia, Artnovion, Cogworks By Wavetrain, Convergent Technologies, Hills, KNX National Australia, Lutron, Meridian Audio, Procella Audio, Pulse Eight, and Wyrestorm. These trade supplier members each presented a 60-minute product training session. The events concluded with a “Connect with CEDIA” networking session. CEDIA is proud to be a partner of Integrate 2017, Australia’s premier AV and Integration trade show, taking place in Melbourne from the 29th to 31st August. The CEDIA education program concentrates on topics, such as “Residential Networking,” “Marketing 101,” “Emerging Technology Trends,” and “Designing a Home Cinema.” This year, CEDIA has partnered with Integrate and InfoComm to create a training pass that covers all the education on offer. This makes the training courses more accessible and affordable. CEDIA will also be announcing the winners of the CEDIA Asia Pacific Awards at the show.
cedia.net/events
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CEDIA EMEA
OPENS NEW EDUCATION FACILITY
In May 2017, CEDIA EMEA opened of a new education facility at its UK headquarters in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. Consisting of an education room, a practical workshop, and a breakout area, the new facility enables CEDIA to provide technology integrators with the latest education in an environment that is set to inspire and engage. Last year, CEDIA hosted 72 courses at its HQ, welcoming nearly 600 integrators. With education offerings continuing to increase, CEDIA decided to expand its facility to accommodate the interest that its training courses are generating. Complete with a brand-new training room and a workshop with six work stations, the area provides more space for both theoretical and practical sessions. There is also a breakout area, perfect for attendees to relax and network between sessions. “Education is an essential step for those looking to enter and progress their skills in the home technology industry,” comments Matt Nimmons, Managing Director, CEDIA EMEA. “Our education program continues to grow
in popularity, so we felt that it was time to invest in a dedicated training facility. Since it opened at the beginning of May, it has been fully booked, with attendees enjoying the new space for various training sessions, including the four-day Technical School. We are delighted that the space has received a great reception from all who attended these sessions.” Between June and December, CEDIA will host nearly 100 days of training at its new facility, with courses including Project and Business Processes; Audio, Video, and RF Systems for Installers; Design Process and Documentation; and 3D Audio and Immersive Sound for Home Cinema. As part of the wider benefits package for CEDIA members, the new training facility is available for members to rent. For more information on renting the space, please contact James Bliss at jbliss@cedia.org.
www.cediaeducation.com
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CEDIA member Pulse Cinemas has recently transformed its business, making a significant investment to its Hertfordshire, UK showroom that will help technology integrators and their customers experience home cinema like never before. CEDIA Communicates talks with Pulse’s Managing Director Mike Beatty to get the full story.
NEW SHOWROOM
sets the heart racing CC: THE PULSE SHOWROOM IS RENOWNED ACROSS THE INDUSTRY AS AN IMPRESSIVE DEMO FACILITY. WHAT’S NEW NOW? MB: We’ve had a reputation for pushing the boundaries of distribution and marketing in this industry since we started back in 2003. Having made some dramatic changes to our brand lineup, we decided that this was an optimum moment to upgrade the cinemas. Starting on this project at the beginning of this year, we’ve used all our design know-how and technical expertise to create a fantastically exciting, powerful, and immersive cinema and media room experience for integrators and their clients. In our opinion, just making incremental differences to our cinemas would not have done justice to any of the brands individually. They all work so well together that it made perfect sense to do a mass upgrade and show them all off at the same time. The beauty of this approach is that we can demonstrate how well they all
complement each other. Ultimately, it is in the interest of every single integrator in this industry, and, of course, their customers. CC: WHAT ARE THE MAJOR BRAND CHANGES? MB: We recently travelled to San Francisco, where we met with the most incredible speaker company, James Loudspeaker. James is a hidden gem in our industry. The range offers integrators a huge choice of awesomesounding products — including custom designs if needed — and all can be modified to make them fully waterproof, so they’re ideal for outdoor use. We feel blessed to have met these amazing people who, like us, are audio and cinema enthusiasts with a passion for saying “yes” to most installation challenges. We’ve also been speaking to Storm Audio for some time, as they were clearly leading the way when it came to forward-thinking processing power and performance. They not only offer Pulse Cinemas, the very best in cutting-edge
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“
Pulse continues to strive in innovative ways to drive the cinema market — they continue to push the envelope of what’s possible. They probably have one of the highest standard of facilities I’ve ever seen; the level of investment in the showroom is clear to see. This is a great place to bring potential clients. Guy Singleton, The Cinema Designer Software
performance, but also the knowledge that our company will be offering dealers the most up-to-date technology and incredible demo facilities in Belgium. They have partnered themselves with Auro 3D, a format that true cinema enthusiasts insist on. We’re using Storm’s calibration software in our cinemas to bring another massive improvement to audio quality. Adding Vicoustics to an already impressive range has meant that acoustic design is something for which our dealers can now look to Pulse for full support. Until now, too many companies have played with acoustics, but, in our opinion, they’ve not really understood the impact it has on home cinema. We’re now working with the team at Vicoustics to bring that experience and professionalism to any project that requires some acoustic improvement. We also have a new Digital Projection 4K projector installed at the showroom, and that delivers an incredible picture. It goes beyond what you think a projector can do! CC: WHAT HAS THE RENOVATION INVOLVED? MB: The size of the actual space remains the same, but, in every other aspect, our showroom will be unrecognizable for dealers. We have created a dramatic new entrance that will take the breath away. A beautifully crafted Italian kitchen including fridges and freezers from our latest partner, Sub Zero. Marble floors and modern artwork will welcome you and provide the perfect high-end introduction to the firstclass cinema experience that follows. Upgrading both cinemas has been a massive renovation process. This has involved stripping both our large and small cinemas down to the bare walls and starting again. We have incorporated exceptional equipment from our new brands — James Loudspeaker, BenQ, Digital Projection, Storm Audio, and Vicoustics — along with the latest technology from our long-term favorites Screen Research, Fortress, and Kaleidescape. We have an amazing team here who were able to carry out this work efficiently and expertly.
“
We’re also creating a third-floor media room in partnership with interior designer Stephen Clasper. This will again allow integrators and their clients the chance to see how Pulse brands can be effectively and beautifully integrated within a real living environment. CC: WHAT’S THE IMPACT OF THESE CHANGES? MB: When dealers visit Pulse Cinemas HQ, they already know and expect that they will receive a first-class experience. Now, from the moment they walk in the door, they and their clients will be immersed into an aspirational lifestyle.
The experience will definitely have a new look and feel, but beyond that, the fundamental difference will be in the audio quality. We’re confident that the sound and picture quality will raise the industry bar as high as it can go. The performance lift is so great that it needs to be heard to be believed. Our dealers will also benefit from using this facility because our team here are experts in their field. They can talk through and visualize how their projects can work in real life. Our sales team live and breathe all things audiovisual, and our technical team, led by Kapes Patel, really understands how to integrate brands to get the best results. CC: WHAT ARE YOUR LAUNCH PLANS? MB: We have already welcomed a few dealers over to experience the new showroom, but we are planning a series of events to showcase them properly in the coming months. We are unrecognizable compared to where we were this time last year, and we’d love the opportunity to show everyone what has been achieved. So, please get in touch to book your visit! We’re also organizing a trip to Storm for dealers wishing to see for themselves what previous visitors enjoyed in last year’s Pulse Cinemas excursion to Belgium.
I’ve never been more impressed by a distributor showroom than I have been @PulseCinemas today. My mind is blown, thanks for a great day! Large home cinema, small home cinema, high performance media room, and a fully integrated kitchen. Amazing! Dave Pedigo, Senior VP Emerging Technologies, CEDIA via Twitter @davepedigo
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THE IMPORTANCE OF DEDICATED CONTROLS FOR TODAY’S DIGITAL MULTI-ROOM AUDIO SYSTEMS
W
e’re squarely in the middle of an audio revolution. Never before has the rate
of music discovery or consumption been higher — in fact, I’m listening to music as I’m writing this very piece (Delia Derbyshire Appreciation Society, “The Scent of Rain” — very chill!). This trend is very good for
Walte Zerbe
CEDIA Senior Director of Technology and Standards
topic by conducting three polls:
•
What is the average room count for your jobs?
•
Is room count increasing, decreasing, or staying the same?
•
Are outdoor sales increasing, decreasing or staying the same? The results supported the stats I was
business, and we need to capitalize
presenting. Nothing was decreasing,
on it. On a recent webinar, I was
and most were staying the same. The
presenting tips and tricks for multi-
most interesting result was room count:
room audio, and we’d researched the
Most integrators attending the webinar
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were installing distributed audio in six to 10 rooms per home. This brings us to something
charge for that knowledge.) The kitchen and master bath are probably the most important locations
important: If more people are
to provide dedicated keypads or wall-
consuming audio and multi-room audio
mounted controllers. Simple tasks like
is growing, then access and control of
changing the volume, muting the music
these systems is paramount. Relying
or recalling a favorite are really simple
on a free app as the sole controller
with a dedicated control. There are
doesn’t serve the customer very well.
many audio manufacturers that offer
And, if you’re an installer not selling
wall-mounted controllers, as well as
dedicated controls, you are missing a
third-party manufacturers that build
big opportunity! Let’s not forget, in a
options for most of the popular brands.
time when equipment margins can be low, sales of dedicated controllers are pure margin in your pocket. Your clients come to you because you’re the expert, and you should be giving them an unparalleled experience. (While we’re on the subject of
Dedicated controllers aren’t just for in-ceiling speakers connected to rack mounted amplifiers. They can be used for standalone, amplified speakers, sound bars, and wired or wireless zone amplifiers. At past trade shows, I’ve demonstrated keypads controlling
pricing: Don’t be afraid to charge for
sound bars — recalling favorites and
your labor! Just look up the word
muting for scenarios like “the phone
“plumber” in the yellow pages — my
is ringing” — and they’ve always
little part of the country has over 100
been a big hit. These demos opened
of them willing to charge $200+ for a
everyone’s eyes to how a truly well
truck roll to install a thirty-cent washer.
planned, integrated, and installed multi-
Certainly, your knowledge base is much
room audio system could be so much
more scarce and specialized — so
better than a DIY project.
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MEMBERS EXHIBITING
AT CEDIA
2017
CEDIA 2017, dedicated 100% to home technology, gives you concentrated access to new products and breakthrough innovations. Here, CEDIA gives you an exclusive preview of a number of products that are being showcased at CEDIA 2017 this year and where you can find them on the show floor.
APOLLO ENCLOSURES #5942 Apollo will showcase the arrival of the 75” outdoor TV enclosure. The AE7570 combines the proprietary all-weather outdoor technology and appeal that Apollo enclosures are known for, with a more versatile interior TV mount system for EZ installation and cable management. This new model houses and protects a wide array of 70” — 75” LED/LCD TVs.
apolloenc.com
AUGUST HOME #1607 August Home will show its new August Smart Lock Pro for professional integrators. Based on the marketleading August Smart Lock, the new August Smart Lock Pro is Z-Wave Plus-certified and designed to integrate with popular security and alarm panels as part of a complete smart home automation solution.
august.com
AUDIOCONTROL #3929 AudioControl will be exhibiting The Director® M-Series high-power amplifiers with full DSP and audio matrixing capabilities. Engineered for superior performance, these U.S. built amplifiers deliver 100 watts/8-Ohms or 200 watts/4-Ohms. DSP features include equalization, crossovers, and signal-delay, plus built-in custom profiles from popular architectural speaker brands, enabling integrators to tailor the sound to match client preferences and acoustical environments.
audiocontrol.com
AVAD LLC. #4612 AVAD offers comprehensive and premium solutions for video, audio, networking, HVAC, lighting control, security, home automation, system design, and other products from brands including LG, Integra, Séura, and Hikvision. Further differentiating its services, AVAD invests in business tools, technical support, and services for integrators to grow their businesses.
avad.com
CREATIVE LABS, INC #SR8 The X-Fi Sonic Carrier is a piece of art, delivering super high-end audio from a sleek, one-piece system. The X-Fi Sonic Carrier transforms music listening into a magical auditory experience with every audio stream algorithmically metamorphosed to an eXtreme Fidelity level of 24-bit 192kHz high-resolution audio and expanded three-dimensionally into a 15.2 super wide soundstage. It also delivers an immersive 3D audio experience with the latest Dolby Atmos® technology.
us.creative.com/soniccarrier
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ELECTROCOMPANIET #2239 At CEDIA 2017, Electrocompaniet will unveil three new series of wireless streaming products, including TANA, a beautifully styled, customizable loudspeaker, amplifier and streamer; RENA, a tabletop amplifier and streamer; and ALNA, a low-voltage amplifier and streamer for in-wall applications. All EC Living components use the homeowner’s existing network, and music can be accessed from existing collection, the most popular streaming services, and built-in internet radio.
ecliving.no
CUJO #739 CUJO will be showing the latest version of its award-winning, smart firewall for the connected home, including the AI security methods that are protecting homes from ransomware and other daily attacks. This one device secures all products connecting to the Wi-Fi router, from tablets and PCs, to smart TVs and baby monitors. CUJO protects homeowners against privacy violations, financial fraud, malicious sites, and other cyber threats.
getcujo.com
DYNACO #1920 Building on the legacy of David Hafler’s enormously successful Stereo 70, the new Dynaco ST-70 Series 3 incorporates advancements in component quality, improvements to the electronic circuit performance, and an all-new design. Dynaco engineers have made extensive use of high-quality parts that were unavailable at the time of the original design, including precision metal-film resistors, poly-composition capacitors, and miniaturized high-capacity power supply electrolytic capacitors.
dynaco.com
ELK PRODUCTS, INC. #4448 M1 controls from Elk Products feature an advanced processor for increased security, faster task completion, and enhanced system capabilities. C1M1 IP/ cellular communicators significantly reduce transmission time of emergency messages. By using the latest encryption technology and multi-level authentication, remote access and control are secure. Two-way wireless sensors use encryption, frequency hopping, and jamming detection to provide superior immunity to hacking.
elkproducts.com
FUTURE AUTOMATION #1520 Future Automation will be presenting its new and improved CHR Automated TV Ceiling Hinge Range, along with a full selection of manual and automated TV lifts, TV brackets, projector mounting solutions, and home automation mechanisms. The new CHR Ceiling Hinge mechanisms offer easier installation, simpler setup, a neater “plaster in” finish, and easier maintenance access. Future Automation will also be demonstrating its new EAD Electric Advance and Drop bracket.
FutureAutomation.net
HAFLER #1920 The Hafler CI Series is a brand new range of multi-channel amplifiers designed for the custom installation market. The line includes the 6-channel CI-6120e™, the 8-channel CI-855e™ and the 12-channel CI-1255e™. Common features include a compact footprint that is only 3.5” high, 17” wide, and 11.5” deep, RCA inputs, an all-channel BUS input for easy routing, Class-AB circuit topology for the most demanding listening needs, Hush-Tone™ fan cooling technology, rear-panel level controls, signal status LEDs, and easyto-use detachable Euroblock® (Phoenix style) speaker connectors for quick and secure termination.
hafler.com
HAUK #1335 Hauk’s STS product provides a signal transparent aperture for satellite dishes, cell boosters, and wireless point-topoint devices. STS allows satellite dishes and other signal technology devices to be placed inside the attic, making them easily accessible and protected from wind and debris. Integrators can now prewire to a location that is acceptable for the homeowner, builder, HOA, and even the dish installation company. STS is available in several forms to give the appearance of a skylight; or slate, composite, tile, and metal roofs.
HaukTechnology.com
HOMEADVISOR #645 Homeowners use HomeAdvisor to find a service professional. With patented ProFinder technology, HomeAdvisor seamlessly matches projects to a network of over 150k pre-screened service pros. And with over 95% of homeowners going online to research options before hiring a professional, an integrator’s online presence matters more than ever before. By signing up to HomeAdvisor, integrators are listed in the nation’s top directory of home service pros, receive a custom profile to showcase their work, have verified ratings and reviews to build trust, and get free access to the Pro Mobile App.
pro.homeadvisor.com
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IHIJI #3329 Ihiji ProVue is the union of Ihiji’s two award-winning products, Invision and ServiceManager, focusing on a powerful and intuitive solution for lifelong customer service and support of smart home technologies. ProVue allows integrators to remotely monitor, manage, and support a client’s connected devices. The Ihiji ProVue platform features a new web application, a mobile app for in-field technicians, and a consumer-facing application for simple self-service and support. The ProVue interface simplifies setup and management without sacrificing the power that Ihiji’s solutions are known to provide.
ihiji.com
JOY CARPETS & CO. #5553 Joy Carpets continues to expand its Any Day Matinee® Home Theater Carpet Collection with new introductions. These unique styles have broad appeal and range from whimsical and casual to sophisticated and modern. Any Day Matinee allows homeowners to break free from the mainstream and express personal style when creating a signature theater with visual impact. Manufactured with only the highest-quality raw materials, Joy Carpets products are able to withstand the most demanding interior environments, and are backed by comprehensive wear warranties for peace of mind.
KANEXPRO #2680 At CEDIA 2017, KanexPro will feature the UltraSlim 4K/60 HDMI 2.0 Extender over HDBaseT, a transmitter and receiver set designed for whole-home distribution of 4K Ultra HD signals. The UltraSlim Extender enables integrators to extend uncompressed 4K Ultra HD signals up to 230ft or obtain full HD 1080p/60 up to 330ft over a single CAT5e/6 cable.
kanexpro.com
KETRA #841 Ketra will be showcasing its collection of D3 Downlights at CEDIA 2017. Ketra’s lights create natural light indoors through an integrated system of lighting and controls software. The lighting and controls communicate wirelessly to ensure the natural light intuitively shifts throughout the day, providing wellness benefits and aesthetic enhancement. Users can access Ketra’s mobile-friendly interface to adjust the lights as they please.
ketra.com
LILIN AMERICAS #3949 LILIN Americas introduces its new line of 2MP and 4MP M-series IP cameras. Available in Dome, Bullet, and Turret form factors, these models are available to integrators with a choice of fixed and adjustable lens models, with in-camera IVS analytics available. The M-series cameras use energy efficient IR LEDs that automatically illuminate in darkness. The cameras are available in both indoor and outdoor models and are PoE and DC12V power compatible. LILIN cameras feature ONVIF profile S, with drivers and integration with AMX, Control4, Crestron, ELAN Core Brands, RTI, Savant, and URC.
lilin.us
LTS #3553 LTS will be exhibiting the LTS Video/ Audio Wi-Fi Doorbell. For premier surveillance recording, the video doorbell is compatible with LTS NVRs and offers benefits of on-board storage. Users can see, hear, and speak to visitors at their front door directly or by using the mobile app, LTS Connect, when they’re away. The video doorbell supports Wi-Fi for an easy and clean installation. It adds value to home automation systems such as Control4, and enhances HD-TVI and Network IP solutions.
ltsecurityinc.com
joycarpets.com
KLIPSCH #4110 The new Klipsch Professional Series Reference Premiere Architectural speakers combine the aesthetics of an architectural speaker with the same award-winning acoustics as its Klipsch Reference Premiere home theater component speaker counterparts. The series uses a new proprietary SecureFit™ two-piece modular installation system that creates a robust, stable acoustic platform for the speakers. It enables a quick and easy one-person installation solution. Machine screws secure the speaker module, thus reducing the baffle vibration by up to 40%.
Klipsch.com
MERIDIAN #4329 Meridian Audio will be unveiling its Digital Theatre Controller, the 271, which allows integrators to deliver the most exceptional and immersive home cinema experience for their customers. Complete with the highest quality dynamics and clarity, in analog, digital, and 3D format applications, the 271 is designed to integrate any analog or digital AV processor or receiver on the market with Meridian’s DSP loudspeakers. The 271 offers 16 unbalanced inputs, 16 balanced inputs and the option of 16 digital inputs, depending on your choice of processor, and is available to experience for yourself in our dedicated Meridian sound room.
meridian-audio.com
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NUBRYTE #5055 The NuBryte Touchpoint integrates home security, smart lighting, intercom, and home hub into a light switch. Its intuitive touchscreen interface doesn’t require any programming, making NuBryte a home automation system that is simple to set up and easy for a homeowner to use and maintain. There’s no extra wiring required, allowing integrators to complete multiple installs in a day. NuBryte offers voice-controlled lighting with Amazon Alexa, and works with Google Calendar for in-home event alerts. Integrations with Nest and IFTTT are also underway.
nubryte.com
NAD #4630 The NAD T 777 V3 Receiver is packed with the latest audio and video technologies, including Dolby Atmos surround decoding and 4K Ultra HD (60p/4:4:4) video pass-through. It also supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), the latest must-have technology for high-performance video. Designed with NAD’s legendary full disclosure approach to power ratings, the T 777 V3 features 80 watts of true power per seven channels.
nadelectronics.com
NEO CONTROL #1945 At CEDIA 2017, Neocontrol will be showing the latest version of the BOX 101, a powerful home automation controller. This unique device combines Z-wave technology with Somfy® protocol (RTS). BOX 101 resolves a common industry challenge when it comes to integrating curtains, thermostats, lighting, audio, and video control. Specifiers no longer need to use two or three different gateways, as they can now benefit from this singular product that is capable of controlling all the systems through a user-friendly app.
neocontrolglobal.com
OBSERVABLES INC. #2310 Observables™ Inc. has created a connected service platform that connects, manages, monitors, and controls new and legacy infrastructure devices on the network. It includes alarm systems, computer networks, access control, smart home, phone, and video surveillance into a singular cloud and mobile dashboard with pervasive communication and unlimited connections. IOBOT is a Software Defined Security Device (SDSD) with the baseline functionality of a network router, but with configurable internal modules for customization by market application.
observables.com
PRIMACOUSTIC #1920 Primacoustic Element panels are a range of acoustic absorbers that are designed to provide users with more aesthetic options. The hexagonal shape and bevelled edges allow the panels to be installed in unique patterns and clusters. Primary reflections and flutter echo can be controlled with an acoustic treatment layout that is personalized to the space. The 16” Element panels are 1.5” thick, and are constructed from 6lb high-density glass wool for optimal broadband absorption. The Element panels are available in black, grey, white, or beige.
primacoustic.com
PLEX #2508 Plex organizes all video, music, and photos to provide instant access to them on all devices, and the ability to share with friends and family. With a premium Plex Pass, users can watch and record free, and sync videos, music, and photos to smartphones and tablets to enjoy while offline.
plex.tv
PEERLESS AV #5008 Peerless-AV’s UltraView™ UHD Outdoor TV provides unparalleled picture clarity thanks to 4K resolution and support of HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 for increased compatibility with 4K sources. A high TNI and IPS panel ensures the TV thrives in all conditions and sun positioning, without the risk of isotropic blackout or loss of color accuracy. The TV is operational in temperatures ranging from -22°F to 122°F and features an aluminium construction. Available in 49”, 55”, or 65”, the UltraView™ UHD Outdoor TV’s internal speakers provide excellent sound without detracting from the TV’s aesthetics.
peerless-av.com
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SAVANT #5129
PRO AUDIO TECHNOLOGY
#5719
Pro Audio Technology will show the new DMA-1508B amplifier with fully-balanced analog audio inputs. Unique among 1U, 8-channel amps, the DMA-1508B is much less susceptible to system-based noise than amps with single-ended operation only. DMA-1508B utilizes PRO’s proprietary SoundTools™ DSP control software, which offers high resolution digital processing for loudspeaker filtering and EQ, user gain and delay adjustments, and up to 8 user parametric EQ filters per channel. The DMA-1508B features two 300W, plus six 100W channels. Each 100watt channel pair can be bridged to create a 300W channel for up to 1,500 total watts (5 x 300W) of power.
proaudiotechnology.com
RBH SOUND SOUND ROOM 3 RBH will be showcasing its Visage™ custom architectural in-wall and inceiling speaker range, alongside the company’s conventional speakers and subwoofers. RBH’s Visage Series is designed to impress audibly, visually, and monetarily. The VM-610, with its newly-updated, modern, frameless aesthetic, is among the highest performance models in the line-up. RBH includes a 25-year warranty on the Visage Series, proving the company has no reservations about standing behind its custom architectural products.
Savant is leading an evolution in 4K Ultra HD video distribution with the Pro AV over IP family of products. Savant Pro AV delivers lightning fast performance with unlimited scale and features 4K/60 4:4:4 HDR video distribution, audio down-mixing and breakout options, along with integrated control. Integrators will appreciate the convenience of centralized 10GbE architecture, enabling Ethernet connectivity throughout the project, with either fiber or copper as an option. A transmit chassis for centralized sources and distributed receiver boxes have been designed with ease of installation in mind, reducing the complexity at the rack.
savant.com
ROSEWATER ENERGY GROUP #3345 RoseWater Energy Group provides innovative energy storage systems and works with its clients to design, build, integrate, and manage energy-storage power system assets specific to client needs. Focusing on both large and small energy-storage applications, RoseWater is committed to cultivating cutting-edge technologies and working with leading manufacturers across a broad global network.
rosewaterenergy.com
SMOOTHTALKER #1845 The SmoothTalker 4G LTE cellular signal boosters are the most advanced 4G LTE solutions in the market covering 6 bands lower and upper 700, 800, 1900 and 1700/2100. This solution allows cellular devices to be connected in the most remote areas, with reductions in dropped calls, increased data speeds, and longer battery life. Grab-and-go kits ensure the system is easy to install.
smoothtalker.com
rbhsound.com
REVOLUTION TELEVISION MOUNTS & TOUCHSTONE HOME PRODUCTS #718 RTVM is launching its new ARTV Mount for placing a large screen TV above a fireplace or hiding the TV behind artwork. The ARTV Mount is able to lower the TV up to 36” for easy viewing, can be mounted on or within 4” stud walls and is suitable for use with TVs ranging between 45” to 75”. It offers both wired and wireless controls (RF and IR).
rtvm.net
RTI CORP
SURGEX
#2825
#6029
The CX10’s integrated 10.1” touchcapacitive 1280x800 WXGA-resolution LCD screen delivers simple, intuitive control. Going beyond control, the touch panel is a vibrant HD video display supported through an integrated HDBaseT input and stereo speakers. Easy to mount on a countertop or inverted beneath a cabinet, the display boasts a tilt range from 10° to 90° for the best viewing angle possible. Additional user-friendly features include video intercom support and a built-in composite input to view video from security cameras and other devices.
rticorp.com
The new SurgeX large format uninterruptable power supply (UPS) solutions are available in a variety of sizes to provide integrators with the system run time required for their project. Available in a 10kVa, 15kVa, or 20kVa, the new product line offers comprehensive protection against sudden loss of power and safeguards critical AV systems. Each of the new, large format UPS models features online double-conversion technology, in addition to an integrated isolation transformer to ensure that if power from the utility is dirty, unstable, or lost, connected AV systems continually receive isolated and regenerated power to ensure availability and peak performance.
espsurgex.com
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STARKE SOUND SOUND ROOM 18 Starke Sound will make its CEDIA debut with the award-winning IW-H5 Elite loudspeaker. This stunning design, available in custom color options, is best suited for on-wall positioning, however the cabinet depth is designed to allow for a comfortable fit into any home theater wall assembly. The IWH5 Elite features Starke Sound’s key design elements, including LMF Driver technology™, beryllium tweeters, carbon fiber driver cones, and expanded volume. This powerful combination preserves the low-frequency response, allowing the IWH5 Elite to function as an on-wall cabinet with the sound and performance of a floor standing design.
starkesound.com
STEALTH ACOUSTICS #1720 Stealth Acoustics will showcase its new 8” 3-way totally invisible architectural speaker, the LRx83. Producing a deep, warm and natural bass response down to 40Hz, with a smooth midrange and solid upper frequency, the LRx83 is balanced, powerful and the highest quality invisible speaker ever created by Stealth. It incorporates a 30mm midrange device, a 25mm tweeter and an 8” high-power cone woofer. In addition to its premium audio performance, the LRx38 is also straightforward to install, featuring the same dimensions as Stealth’s LR8g and so fits neatly into any LR8 back box accessory.
stealthacoustics.com
VANCO INTERNATIONAL
#3645
At CEDIA 2017, Vanco will show off its full line of premium AV products and electronics accessories, including the new EVEXHDB2 HDR Extender that offers the latest in HDBaseT technology. The highlight of Vanco’s booth will be a display of its most recent brand, Beale Street Audio. Renowned for its patented Sonic Vortex® technology, the line features high performance residential audio solutions, including in-ceiling models, in-wall options, angled in-ceiling and dual voice coil speakers, inceiling subwoofers, plus single and multi-room amplifiers, and subwoofer amplifiers.
vanco1.com
THE CINEMA DESIGNER #1800 The Cinema Designer will be demonstrating TCD, a cloud-based design tool that allows integrators to design any cinema room in minutes, which adds up to saving weeks of work. Created by Guy Singleton, TCD allows users to create technically impeccable cinema designs, support documents, and aesthetic renders within minutes. TCD can create a 3D CAD drawing for any room in under 30 seconds, and is available to users all over the world. TCD provides all relevant documentation for theater design, allowing any company to enter the CEDIA awards, no matter their size.
thecinemadesigner.com
TRIPLETT #505 Triplett’s Wi-Fi Hound Spectrum Analyzer is a low-cost, super-powerful system that lets integrators identify and isolate anything that is interfering with the wireless network. The highly intuitive interface lets integrators see everything that is broadcasting in the 2.4GHz or 5GHz spectrum, allowing them to track down the rogue equipment that keeps creating problems for end users. Integrators can also automatically generate full, easy-to-understand, customized reports for their clients or supervisor.
triplett.com
VIKING ELECTRONICS #1609 The E-32 is a vandal-resistant, single button call box that provides hands-free, two-way communication for a variety of residential, security and commercial applications. The heavy-duty stainless steel faceplate is both attractive and durable, while the small 5” x 5” footprint and convenient double gang box mounting makes the E-32 a smart choice. When the button is pressed, the E-32 cycles through 5 pre-programmed phone numbers. Programming can be done remotely or locally and is stored in nonvolatile memory, requiring no batteries. This unit is available in either analog or VoIP interface.
VikingElectronics.com
Z-WAVE ALLIANCE #2620 The Z-Wave Alliance Pavilion will feature member companies demonstrating their smart home offerings. The Alliance will show off the Z-Wave Certified Integrator Toolkit, a unique service device designed to provide dealers assistance with the setup and maintenance of a Z-Wave smart home mesh network. As the market grows, consumers are looking for a variety of ways to add connected solutions to their homes. Z-Wave has a portfolio of over 2,100 certified products from 600 member companies, giving integrators and their customers an array of choices.
z-wavealliance.org
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HOME TECHNOLOGY FOR
BETTER SECURITY Home surveillance represents a big market opportunity for technology integrators. Here, CEDIA talks to four industry experts to find out their opinions on surveillance in the home technology market. What makes surveillance such a good business opportunity? Joel Reis Life Emotions
Mark Tibbenham GJD
Jaime Freyria Sutcliffe BASENXT
Jason Hill LILIN UK
MT More and more homeowners, who are now well-versed with smart devices, are looking for more than simple plug-and-play integrated surveillance systems for their residences. IP-enabled perimeter security products that seamlessly integrate with custom integration systems (Control4, RTI, Crestron) immediately warn of a potential intrusion, and this is a big attraction for end users. They’d rather know that a would-be burglar is at the fence rather than in their home. JFS In many ways, surveillance in the home is a great business opportunity. Today, all our clients want to have control over their homes even when they are not there. We are able to integrate products to provide a solution that allows homeowners to know what’s going on their home, and receive alerts if something happens. JR The IoT and DIY product range is growing every day, and these products demand that our market needs to improve the know-how and deliver a better solution for our customers. JH We already see significant market data that suggest that at least 90% of automated homes have
surveillance systems or cameras fitted. End users love being able to see their home from their phone. Within five years, most detached residences in the UK will have cameras in them. The manufacturers of DIY cameras struggle to make good external cameras because Wi-Fi is not reliable and the significant majority of cameras we sell are external with IR illumination, so the market for professionally installed cameras remains significant and is growing.
What are the main components of an integrated surveillance system in the home? JR It is essential to have good quality cameras that work well during the day and in the evening. The system needs to be able to archive footage, provide video analytics, and respond accordingly with audio and lights. To achieve this, you also need to install sensors. MT Outdoor motion detectors and IP-enabled illuminators are the linchpins of integrated home surveillance systems. The motion detector is the main device that detects when an intruder is outside the home. It can be used to control cameras, connect to alarm panels, and communicate with lighting control
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systems. It can also provide other data such as the outside temperature and lighting levels. JFS The main components are alarm systems, CCTV cameras, and access control. Wireless alarm systems communicate to a main panel and provide homeowners with the confidence that their home is safe. Internet-connected CCTV cameras allow users to watch and record what is happening in their property, while access controls let the homeowner grant access to their home when they are not there. JH In its most simple format, an IP camera with a built-in SD card will provide a great level of functionality. If good HHTP/IP drivers are available, then additional functions can be “opened” to the control system, such as audio detection or tripwire crossing, as an alert. Conditional email notification with a snapshot is possible with some automation systems. When the camera count increases over three, then a recorder brings the system together. Typically a Network Video Recorder (NVR) is an appliance in the rack with an HDMI output and an array of large hard disk drives. The system also requires a good PoE network switch to handle power and data.
How can homeowners benefit from an integrated approach compared to a standalone installation? JR We offer a solution that includes video analytics and virtual fences. When the virtual fences are triggered, the system responds accordingly — DMX lights turn on in the garden (police scene), the irrigation starts, a barking dog is heard through the garden speakers, and the interior bell rings on the security system to guarantee that the guard sees the action. This is all possible because the surveillance system forms part of a wider install.
“
MT Standalone installations don’t provide customization to suit the homeowners’ lifestyle. The integrated approach enables homeowners to choose specific areas to be monitored and which actions to take in the event of an intruder. Clients can use apps to control their entire home at any time and from anywhere in the world. This integrated approach enables the user to monitor the perimeter of their property and remotely illuminate an area from their mobile. Homeowner’s minds are put to rest and life is made easier as customized home security provides day and night notification to the owners’ smart home device. JFS When you have an automated home, you can control everything from one app on your phone or device, instead of opening several apps to control every system. We use Creston as our main control system and this provides our clients with the opportunity to control the alarm, CCTV cameras, access control, lights, shades, audio, and more from one device. JH While 90% of smart homes will have cameras, a much smaller percentage are integrated. To provide an integrated smart solution, the surveillance cameras should have HTTP/ IP drivers for the automation system. Most importantly, the recording device (usually an NVR or DVR) should also be able to be operated from the user’s remote controls so that they can perform playback of recordings on their televisions as required. A good integration of the NVR will allow a
We already see significant market data that suggest that at least 90% of automated homes have surveillance systems
selection of split screen displays, frame advance, fast forward and rewind at various speeds, and the ability to select specific time and dates to start playback from. Integration also allows camera-based events to be enabled or disabled based on whether the user is at home or not. The utilization of the audio functions on many cameras can provide PA type announcements, “listen in,” or even provide two-way communication to keypads in the home through SIP integration.
How would you describe the current market for integrated surveillance systems in your business? JR For us, the market is complicated, as there are so many companies that sell alarms for $35/month and the customer doesn’t see the big picture. This decreases the number of requests for integrated security solutions. JFS Today, surveillance is important all over the world. Every project that we work on, our clients want to have a surveillance system and that’s a great business opportunity for us.J
What issues and challenges do you face with surveillance system integration? JR Managing customer expectation is the biggest issue that we face with regards to surveillance systems. JFS The biggest challenge for us is working in a property that is already finished. We are used to working on projects from the very beginning, when we have the opportunity to install and hide necessary cables and systems. When we work on refurb projects, this becomes an issue.
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a piece of
ART Acoustics has been the subject of research and development for years, and has evolved hand-in-hand with developments in science and music. Although we may not be actively conscious of it, sound shapes the perception of our environment. Acoustics is the way sound is affected by the physical properties of the space where it is produced, and is a fundamental aspect of how we experience and enjoy sound. In a “bad” room, you don’t have to be an audiophile to notice that the audio is off. No matter what speakers you may have, they will only sound as good as the acoustics of a space allows.
by Jorge Castro
CEO and R&D Manager for Artnovion
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Acoustic Principles To improve the acoustic response of a room, we need to control the overall quantity and distribution of energy throughout the space. We do this by modifying the physical properties of the space itself to ensure a more balanced and enjoyable sound experience. A source, such as a speaker, generates vibration that disturbs air particles. This is what we consider a sound particle — an air particle with velocity. These particles affect the surrounding particles, and so on, creating an expanding wave pattern. The sound particles move in response to the stimulus, then return to their original position, creating a cycle of movement. The number of cycles per second is measured in hertz (Hz). The more cycles per second, the higher the frequency. Here’s a good example: A listener is sitting in front of stereo speakers that are emitting sound waves. The listener will first hear the direct wave, the sound wave that has travelled straight to the listener without interacting with the room. Then they will hear the first reflection, a sound wave that has bounced of a single surface, causing it to travel a longer path before reaching the listener; and then the second reflection, and so on. The sound waves can also be distorted by interfering sound waves with coinciding paths, or zones of the room with a contrasting pressure. Resonating waves represent the phenomena of sound waves that are as long as a room, or half of its proportions, usually caused by low frequencies. They are louder and take longer to dissipate, causing more distortion to the sound field. These create “room modes,” key areas of the room with high contrasts of particle velocity and pressure that force resonant waves to interact with other frequency waves, causing severe distinctions in the distribution of the sound field. To improve room acoustics, there are two main options: Alter the distances between the listener and the surfaces sound is interacting with, or change how these surfaces interact with sound waves. There are certain “golden ratios” that take into account key resonating frequencies and provide the optimal distances between source and listener. Changing an existing room is normally limited to modifications such as altering
height, and can be very costly. The material of each surface in the room also determines the frequency response. Another option is to change how the surfaces interact with sound waves by using acoustic treatments. There are two main groups in acoustic treatments: absorption and diffusion. In basic terms, absorption removes energy from reflected waves. Diffusion scatters incoming waves, breaking up the reflected wave into multiple lower energy elements. The Efficiency of Foam There are two kinds of absorption applications, broadband absorption that target midhigh frequencies, and bass trapping for low frequencies. At Artnovion, we developed specific panels for certain functions or designs. Our standard absorbers are composed of a solid frame outlining a core of acoustic foam and either a fabric or wooden front. The acoustic foam is produced in our patented “nestled” design. The crenelated foam creates an air gap behind the product that increases efficiency in the mid-frequency range, and also boosts the active absorption area of the panel. The equivalent foam in a solid block not only has less surface area, but also doesn’t add to the efficiency of the product at the target frequency range due to the critical thickness of the material. Bigger really isn’t better. Our panels are available in a wide range of fabric or wooden fronts. The fabric fronts are acoustically transparent, while the wooden fronts are perforated to an acoustically optimized design, and tuned to add a Helmholtz absorber
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effect to the panel. We utilize every component of the construction to our advantage for maximum performance. When a sound particle encounters a porous or fibrous material, it interacts with the open structure of the material, ricocheting and transforming the particle’s kinetic energy into thermal energy. When passing through a porous structure, the particle has a certain velocity and travel path. With an air gap, once the wave has passed through the material and reflected off the rear surface, it is then forced to interact with other incoming waves, causing more energy to be dissipated. The combination of the nestled foam and air gap create unique performance specs, peaking with an absorption coefficient of over 1.2 at certain frequencies. Our wooden fronted absorbers have specific perforation patterns. When a sound wave hits the panel, the air in the perforations creates a localized pressure pocket that causes resistance to the incoming wave, dissipating energy, as well as fully permitting the wave to interact with the acoustic foam core.
The key to any good acoustic treatment is a balance of absorption and diffusion
This is a great technique to target certain frequencies by relating the perforation size to a targeted bandwidth. The wooden absorbers alternating areas of absorption and reflection also add mid-high frequency diffusion, scattering incoming waves with the perforation pattern. Low frequencies To treat low frequencies, we first need to differentiate materials that respond to particle compression or particle velocity. Porous materials such as foams react well to particle velocity. Besides direct mechanical transfer through compression, they create a web of internal reflections that dissipate kinetic energy into heat. Heavy membranes made from taut elastic materials respond well to particle pressure. They directly absorb mechanical energy from the wave. Helmholtz resonance also responds to high pressure. Common bass traps are panels that use one of these elements. Artnovion bass traps use all three. Since placement is very important for bass trapping, we always aim to treat the corners of the room first. In practice, the corners are not always accessible or a practical place for bass trap, leading us to design a range of dedicated wall bass traps that seamlessly meld into the rest of the room’s treatment. Reflections Reflections are an acoustic phenomenon that occur in any kind of room, regardless of its shape,
function, or size. When sound waves encounter an obstacle, they react by producing “counter-waves,” resulting in the listener hearing the direct sound from the audio system and then the delayed reflections from interaction with the room. In extreme cases, this will create a distinct echo effect. Diffusion is the method of splitting reflected sound waves into smaller, lower energy waves, producing a scattering effect over a larger area. These smaller waves no longer interfere with direct sound, creating a sense of “fulfillment.” These smaller energy waves also imitate the effect of a decaying wave, that is, a wave that has already travelled some distance through an environment. This tricks our senses into perceiving the room to be larger than it actually is, adding to the overall sense of depth and spaciousness. The efficiency of a diffuser is determined by how it scatters an incoming wave. Here, the main variables are obviously the bandwidth of the incoming wave and the angle at which it encounters the diffuser. Therefore, we employ different style diffusers at key points of the room. Acoustic treatment There are many thoughts on the best way to treat a room, such as creating a non-environment, a Live End/Dead End (LEDE), or a full reflection zone, or employing early sound scattering, among many others. I’ve found that each room is unique in terms of design and function, and should be treated
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accordingly. The key to any good acoustic treatment is a balance of absorption and diffusion, with a linear absorption pattern and efficient diffusion, paired with good low frequency control. The biggest challenge is controlling low frequencies. The first resonance occurs at the frequency where one of the room dimensions is equal to half the wavelength. The smaller the room, the lower the resonance threshold. Smaller rooms are most common in studios and home environments, meaning around 90% of room problems are derived from a lack of low frequency control. On the other hand, a common error is to absorb all reflections, thus creating a dry room. The absorption of lateral walls between the monitors and the listener should be as linear as possible to not interfere with the sound spectrum from the loudspeakers. A good room design has a linear reverberation time (RT). Rooms with RTs below 0.2 seconds deliver nonrealistic sound images. A room with RTs above 0.4 seconds are usually closer to the listener’s reality. The target RT depends entirely on the room’s function.
We try to balance the reverberation time spectrum by controlling reflections between the source and listener, as well as the diffusion of the surrounding reflections from the room’s surface. Listening rooms with a stereo system have a limited amount of information, and require more diffusion to preserve and distribute this information, and also a higher RT to achieve a more realistic sound. Diffusion is a very important way to treat reflections, especially for small home studios, as it scatters and expands the sound field. This is also used on back wall reflections. Absorption is most effectively used to control reflections, primarily the stronger first reflection between source and listening point, both on walls and ceilings. For example, a cinema room with a surround sound system has multiple sources of information that actively interact with each other. In these cases, the objective is to remove this excess energy solely with absorption. Seeing as placement is just as important as functionality, our team provides a free design service to guarantee that every room sounds its best.
www.artnovion.com @Artnovion
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CHALLENGES
and
SOLUTIONS
OF
OUTDOOR Customer lifestyles have changed significantly in recent years, leading to a lack of clear division between indoor and outdoor living, especially when entertaining. This has resulted in Wi-Fi, music, and lighting all needing to work seamlessly to create an impressive environmental “soundscape.”
Jon Rebbeck, SMC Technical Account Manager and Kevin Wilton, SMC Director of Operations discuss the challenges around Outdoor AV.
AV
With the increasing desire for discreet outdoor AV solutions that perform just as well as indoor installations, it is important to understand that “natural” environments require a different approach. External settings are more sensitive to environmental conditions and so it is more challenging to create a consistently reliable experience. The sound system, for example, has to deliver through a range of environmental conditions, rather than simply within the controlled volume of a room; distributed speakers (which can easily be concealed in planting)
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together with a number of subwoofers are likely, therefore, to work best. The Sonance Landscape Series is a good example of this. Understanding how clients plan to use external spaces is also essential to allow for “zoning” of the system to provide custom control when required. Throughout the design and delivery of all outdoor systems, care should be taken to ensure that installations are planned and installed with minimum visual impact on external living space and landscaped areas. This extends to ensuring that visually sympathetic ease-of-access for maintenance is considered during the design stage. Critical issues such as the avoidance of water ingress into sub-system architecture need early thought and so very early-stage design coordination is key to a successful, problem-free installation. “Direct burial” cable or “duct grade” cable within conduit may be required and external cable connections should be avoided wherever possible, but where needed, should be housed in enclosures that are water- and weather-proof. The typical outdoor AV installation has come a long way and is likely now to include integrated lighting and shading control, Internet connectivity, and security. As outdoor and indoor spaces are often physically integrated in the modern home, ensuring consistency of control is very important. This is likely to mean that managed Wi-Fi is essential to provide complete and continuous coverage. This can be achieved using externally rated network cabling and
wireless access points. A robust, fast Internet connection is also likely to be crucial. Outdoor televisions are increasing in popularity and requests for outdoor cinemas are soaring. With external projection systems, brightness is key, and the associated audio solutions need to be designed very carefully to reflect the likely location and number of viewers and their potential seating, standing, or even lying positions! Of course, any solution also needs to be waterproof and able to withstand the elements. When designing the lighting control system for external areas, it is best to implement it as part of the main system, again, in order to achieve a seamless transition between internal and external spaces. Consideration should also be given to lighting and landscape design. Clients often invest substantially in their landscaping within their gardens. Integrators are able to add significant value to this investment by working with landscape architects and lighting designers to ensure that landscape design features can be optimized across a range of light conditions and use cases. Lighting scenes in external areas can be programmed to operate automatically, depending on the time of the day or ambient light levels, as can automated shades. Integration
with light sensors and weather stations can provide the client with automated responses to changes in climactic conditions, to deliver a consistent environment internally and externally across a range of conditions. Sympathetic integration of external systems will allow clients to make the most of their outdoor spaces and can add significant value to installations within any suitable property.
www.smc-uk.com @smc_systems
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DISH: Beautiful from every angle.
MEET THE 4K JOEYÂŽ: Featuring IP integration with popular control platforms, this receiver is capable of powering a matrix switch, individual display, or projector for a seamless, 4K-enabled entertainment experience*. Why? Because you asked us for more connected technology in the home.
DISH.com/CEDIA TM
*Watching 4K requires a 4K TV.
4K Joey set-top box requires HopperÂŽ Smart DVR setup.