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Don't Touch That! Childproofing Home Theater

12/26/2012

1 Comment

 
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If you have kids, or know any kids, you know that pretty much everything in their vicinity needs to be baby-proofed, for the safety of a crawling or toddling child, as well as your expensive technology. A personal childhood memory of my younger brother sticking tweezers in a wall outlet reminds me that the clatter of the remote control isn't the only thing to be concerned about. 

Here are 3 ways to protect your little ones and protect your electronic investments, without sacrificing any style or convenience.

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  • A great solution to keep little fingers away from the opening and shutting DVD trays and enticing blinking lights, not to mention keeping little feet (and teeth?) away from stray cords, all in on fell swoop, is a custom rack system. BCG specializes in these rack systems, which organize all your home theater and networking components into one spot and neatly bundles cords and wires. They're then tucked away in a closed cabinet or closet, making them a great streamlining feature for you and a non-issue for the little ones. If you're not quite ready for a whole rack system, you'll want to at least have a rack in spirit. Enclose components like DVD players behind doors that can be fixed with childproof "locks," and hide cords and wires behind cord-concealers, which will not only be safer around children, they'll look cleaner and more organized. Products like power strip covers and outlet covers are readily available and will prevent curious toddlers from finding out what happens if they unplug something or maybe even more worrisome, what happens if they plug something in, while still allowing the outlets to be used, unlike those finger- and nail-breaking standard plug covers.

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  • Next, secure your TV. As it's usually the biggest and most expensive single element of your system, and you can't hide it away, you'll want to make sure it's protected. More importantly, studies show that roughly 40% of furniture/appliance related child emergency room visits are from televisions alone. A win-win solution is to mount your TV on the wall. While a hanging television sounds counterintuitive when considering falling television injuries, having an expert, like BCG, professionally mount your flat screen would ensure that it is extremely secure and out of reach. Flat panel TVs are much sleeker looking, lighter (although generally more front heavy), and definitely an upgrade from the older boxy tube TVs, but those features also make them easier to knock over when they're perched on a piece of furniture. Securely mounting your TV to the wall will look great in your space, avoid a tip-over injury, and will even put the glossy frame around the screen away and out of reach from snack-sticky hands.

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  • Everyone, whether due to a curious child or not, has cringed at the sound of the remote control crashing to the floor, and we've all seen a remote with a taped-on battery door. Be sure to safeguard the most used item in your home theater and sound system from the little ones (and the adults!) The first thing to do is condense. Universal remotes are a great option to eliminate a different control for every element of your system. This will make everything more convenient for you, so much more streamlined than 5+ different remotes sprawled out on the coffee table, and will mean less "toys" sitting out just begging to be played with or hidden. A universal remote is typically a bit larger, heavier, and more durable than the remote packaged with your TV. The size and weight won't even be noticeable when you're using it, but will make all the difference if it does hit the ground. Some companies even offer protective cases for their controls. Maybe the best part, since these remotes are so customizable, they also have "lock" features, allowing a child to have fun pushing the buttons if they get a hold of it, but not allowing them to do any programming or viewing damage.

Childproofing your home electronics doesn't have to mean hard-to-open (for adults!) cabinets and an ugly plastic cover over everything. You don't want to have to steer the younger members of the family away from an entire area of the house or continuously repeat, "Don't touch that!" Protecting your loved ones and your investments can be easy, and a bonus for everyone. These changes will mean that every guest and member of the family can fully enjoy every part of your home with total peace of mind.
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It’s Easy Being Green. Eco-Friendly Lighting Control.

12/5/2012

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Kermit may have sung of the hardships of being green, but here at BCG we think it’s easy, and totally worth it. Especially in Los Angeles, you already recycle, use re-usable grocery bags, and drive an Earth-friendly vehicle, why shouldn’t your house be part of the environmental fun too? With all the advances in today’s technology, there are easy things you can do throughout your home that Mother Nature would be proud of, and actually make your life better. Making your home a “Smart Home” is just the thing to modernize your space and make everything around the house a   little more convenient, all the while saving you money and doing your part to protect our planet. 

The quickest way to get your home on the “smart” track? Lighting Control. Automated lighting is an essential element of any smart home. It’s also the easiest way to cut down your electricity bill and save some energy. Preset dimmers, motorized shades, and scheduled automation can help ensure that lights aren’t left on unnecessarily and your entire home can take advantage of natural light. Especially here in Southern California, we should take advantage of all that sunshine!

5 Big Benefits of Lighting Control:

  • Lighting control increases comfort and improves productivity. Not only will uncontrolled lighting zap the energy in your home, it can zap your personal energy as well. Lighting that is too harsh strains your eyes, is a common culprit for migraine headaches, and will subconsciously discourage you from spending much time in that space. Conversely, lighting that is too dim for your task also puts undue stress on your eyes and can cause drowsiness and lack of focus. Being able to control the light levels in your space through dimmers, or through motorized shades and sensors for natural light, will keep you productive and comfortable while saving your electric bill.
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  • So often, in order to reduce your energy use or to be more eco-friendly, you have to sacrifice something for the “greater good,” whether its convenience, money, or time. With lighting control, you’re actually going to enrich your life. You’ll have more control in your space (a lighting solution for every situation, i.e. scary movie ambiance, novel reading, playing with the kids, anything!) setting customized “scenes,” or preset lighting conditions, will mean your preferences are at the easy touch of a button, and there’s the option to control everything from your mobile devices. No more fumbling around in the dark trying to find the wall switch, and no need to turn the car around when you realize you’ve left all the living room lights on.

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  • Dimmers, like those from Lutron, will save you energy. Even if you keep your dimmer switch at its highest level, you’ll still be saving about 5% in electricity compared to a typical on/off control. And the more you dim, the more you save. This goes for any light source you use a dimmer on, whether halogen, CFL, or LED; if you dim it, you’ll save energy on it.
  • Dimmers and lighting control will also extend the life of your light bulbs. Since you’re reducing power, you’ll get more mileage out of each bulb, saving you even more money, and the hassle of replacing burned-out bulbs, especially those hard-to-reach ones, in the long run.

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  • According to Lutron, if every US homeowner changed just 2 standard switches to dimmers, the United States could potentially save $1.5 billion in electricity and would be the equivalent environmentally of taking more than 1 million cars off the road. That’s a big impact for such an easy change around the house!

Taking the first step toward total lighting control will give you instant gratification on your electric bill,  as well as making your home modern and beautiful. We told you it’s easy being green! 
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Do You Hear What I Hear? All About Surround Sound

11/28/2012

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Sound is the element in your home theater that gives your visual experience real presence; it's the aspect that can make you feel like you are really there. A good sound set up can be the difference between just watching Tom Hanks take off in "Apollo 13" and being able to imagine you're actually sitting next to him, hearing the shuttle engines ignite around you.

Setting up your home with a quality audio system is what will take your big screen from basic TV to immersive home theater. So what would you need to create amazing theater audio in your home?
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  • Speakers! While this may seem obvious, you do have a few options. Just like you probably want the biggest display screen your space can handle, the more speakers you bring in for surround sound, the better. You'll see designations of "5.1" and "7.1" most commonly, but what do they mean? Those numbers tell you the available channels in a recording (i.e. the soundtrack of your favorite movie), which corresponds to the number of speakers you need to best reproduce the sound. "5" and "7" are the channels, and ".1" is the subwoofer. To make your home theater great, start with 5 speakers and a subwoofer. Try 7 speakers if you want to really intesify the sound, or go all out and add even more! If you're limited on space, or just don't want speakers positioned all over the room, you may want to consider a "sound bar." With advances in audio technology, a streamlined single speaker (the sound bar), paired with a subwoofer, can create an effective, immersive surround sound experience. Same goes for small speakers, the latest small surround speakers pack as much punch as their large counterparts, without the worry of where you're going to fit them or how they'll look in your space.

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  • An A/V Receiver. Okay, what is a receiver, and why do I need it? Even more important than the actual speakers, a receiver is the key to a successful audio system. It acts as the "brain" of your theater system, decoding a DVD's surround sound format, driving the loudspeakers, and switching between video and audio components. Simply put, you need one, if you want to use all those speakers and enjoy the soundtrack of your video to its true potential.

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  • Placement. You know what they say, "Location, location, location!" This is definitely true within your home theater. For the best sound, ideally you will set up in a good-sized, rectangular, enclosed room. With today's popular open floor plans though, an enclosed room may not be an option, so consider heavier curtains and carpeting or rugs for better acoustics. Locations of the surround speakers and subwoofer are also key. Speakers should be about level with your ears when you're watching a movie, roughly at seated head height. For a basic 5.1 system, one speaker should go directly underneath your display screen, making the main sound seem to come from the center of the picture. Two more should be placed equally on either side of the screen. The last two speakers in a 5.1 system should be spaced equal distance to the right and left behind your seating area, at roughly the same height as the other speakers. Place the subwoofer on the floor to the side of the screen, near a wall. Avoid enclosing it in a cabinet or putting it behind your seating, which would distort or mask its effects. Space out any additional speakers equally and at a height consistent with the others.

  • Installation. It's easy to find pre-boxed surround sound systems or total "home theaters in-a-box;" and using our previous 3 tips, you can probably set them up yourself, greatly improving the audio in your home theater. That said, consider calling in the experts. The audio specialists at BCG can easily configure your surround sound to optimize its capabilities, making the audio in your home the best it can be. Our experts can also design a system custom to your space, in lieu of a pre-fab system that's been designed to be general. Not only will bringing in a professional give you the best sound possible, an expert will be able to run all that unsightly speaker wire discretely or eliminate it from view altogether, without sacrificing ideal placements or giving up any sound quality; making your new theater look as good as it sounds.
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BCG's Guide to Choosing an HDTV

11/20/2012

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Black Friday is just around the corner, and we’re all about to be overwhelmed with too-good-to-be-true sounding deals on everything, particularly all those flat panel TVs. Before you gobble down your Thanksgiving pie so you can be in line by midnight for that 70” big screen, let’s take a look at the options, and BCG will help you navigate all the choices. 

#1 - Size it up

Before you hit the stores, consider your actual space. A 70” television might be enticing, but depending on how your room is set up and how close you’ll be seated, bigger is not always better. Start by assessing the space, the size of the room, the shape, and the arrangements. Then measure how far you’ll be seated from the screen. The further the distance, the bigger the screen your room can handle, and ideally, you probably want the biggest display your space can handle, without going overboard. Check out the measurements below to estimate the perfect size displays for your home:
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  • Seating 3’ and closer – 25”-29” Display
  • Seating 4’-5’ - 30”-34” Display
  • Seating 6’-7’ – 35”-39” Display
  • Seating 8’-9’ – 40”-44” Display
  • Seating 10’-11’ – 45”-49” Display
  • Seating 12’ and further – 50” or larger Display
  • Replacing a standard tube TV? You can fit a larger flat-panel into that same space. Measure twice, purchase once! (For example: 27” tube TV = 32” flat-panel HDTV, 32”-36” tube TV = 40” flat-panel.)

#2 - Screen Type

Now that you have an idea of maximum and minimum screen sizes that will work best; we can start to navigate the available HDTV display options. Understanding the differences between the types and considering your primary usage will help you to pick the perfect display.

  • PLASMA TVs: Plasmas are a great choice if you prefer to watch in dark or dimly lit rooms. Their refresh rates make them ideal for sports, gaming, and fast-moving action. Plasmas generally produce rich, bright colors and the deepest blacks. They also boast the widest viewing angle, so more people can watch the display from more angles without losing any of the picture quality. Unfortunately, however, plasma screens are the least energy-efficient choice, with thick, heavy panels.
  • LED TVs: LED displays are a more versatile choice, performing great in all lighting conditions. They produce deep blacks and rich colors, like the plasmas. While they have a narrower viewing angle than the plasma screens, they still have a wider viewing angle than their LCD counterparts, so more people can watch without losing picture quality. For the eco-minded, LEDs are also usually the most energy-efficient choice.
  • LCD TVs: LCD screens are available in the widest range of sizes and per square inch, more energy efficient than plasma TVs. They are one of the brightest displays, but tend to be cooler in color, with slightly lower black-level performance. LCD displays also resist glare, making them a great choice if you like to watch in well-lit spaces, such as multipurpose rooms or the kitchen.
  • Smart TVs & 3DTVs: With all the advancements and ever-changing technology, you’ll likely find yourself staring down a super-store television wall, suddenly trying to decide if you need your TV to be “Smart” or 3D. Smart TVs can connect to your Internet signal and bring you instant entertainment such as streaming movies, music, and more. Keep in mind that HDTVs that aren’t “smart” can still be connected to the Internet via smart devices such as Blu-ray players, gaming systems, and set-top boxes. With the help of 3D accessories, 3DTVs let you experience 3D viewing at home. Remember that in order to take advantage of a 3D ready TV, you’ll need 3D accessories such as 3D glasses, A/V receivers, and 3D Blu-ray or DVD players and discs. That said, you can still enjoy any content you currently view in 2D, without the 3D accessories, and maintain excellent picture quality. 

#3 - Accessories

So you’ve made your choice of HDTV, excitedly get it home and suddenly realize you’re in need of a return trip to the store to be able to set it up and actually enjoy your new toy. Just as important as choosing the right actual television, you’ll want to make sure you have all the correct cables and accessories to set it up. 
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  • First up, the physical set up of your HDTV. If you plan to place it on existing furniture, take a moment to make sure your surface can handle both the weight and measurements of your new TV. If you’re considering wall-mounting, stores carry a variety of mounting equipment specified to the size of the display, but that process can be tricky, so we recommend calling the experts in flat panel installation at BCG to make sure your new HDTV is mounted cleanly and securely.
  • High-definition cables. Often overlooked, the correct cables will be the key to taking full advantage of your new HDTV. If you decided on a SmartTV or 3DTV you’ll also need to make sure you have any additional cables needed to enjoy all its capabilities.

Now you’re ready to head out and find your new HDTV. By preparing with our top 3 tips for choosing an HDTV, you’ll be able to make the best choice for your space, eliminating any Black Friday buyer’s remorse, and making that discount deal all the sweeter.
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Top 5 Tips to Get Started with Smart Home Automation

8/9/2012

10 Comments

 
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The phrases "smart home," "home automation," and "integrated home" get thrown around quite a bit and it can be confusing to figure out what exactly you need amidst all the noise. 

There are many players getting into the smart home market including ADT, Verizon, AT&T and more. Systems are becoming more affordable and scalable allowing home owners to get started small and build their systems over time.

Here are 5 tips to finding the right installation for you. 

#1 - Find a system that allows integration with your mobile devices

5-10 years ago, there were fewer players in the market and touch screen control was only offered through their proprietary devices. Take Crestron Electronics for example - They are the leader in automation for residences and businesses and pioneered many of the technologies in the industry. Their touch panels made it cost prohibitive to many consumers at $2,000-$3,000 a piece to provide a nice graphical user interface. Now you can have your iPad, iPhone, Andriod or computer as your touch panel and save a significant cost on those devices.

Control4 offers a site license for the home as part of their control systems that is a one time fee of $499. This allows the home owner to sync unlimited mobile devices to their system. 

There are some advantages in having branded touch panels and interface devices. Typically, the iPhone and iPad are slower to access quick functions like lights, volume and channel surfing

#2 - Choose a system with wireless devices such as dimmers, switches and thermostats

Most of the systems allow you to do this to some extent but if you want your system to be scalable, pick a system like Crestron or Control4 that allows you to add wireless dimmers, switches, thermostats, and more. This also allows you to reduce the hardware in the system without having to make a physical wiring connection from each device to the processor. A few years ago, every single device would have to be hard-wired to the processor requiring additional wiring, labor, power supplies and more.

The Zigbee wireless protocol is very effective in that it creates a mesh network. The original Lutron Radio Ra lighting was point to point, meaning the single wireless transmitter sent out a signal and if one of your twenty dimmers didn't receive it (perhaps it was too far away from the transmitter) the signal would not get processed. The newer systems use Zigbee and other protocols to create a mesh network so each device (dimmer, switch, etc) acts as a repeater for another device. So if you have twenty dimmers you have essentially twenty different transmitters and receivers in the system.

The new Lutron Radio Ra 2 is now a mesh network and a great improvement over previous versions.

#3 - Accessing your media quickly and efficiently

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For most users, a good integrated home allows total control for audio and video as well - not just environmental features like lights, temperature, shades, pool and spa. Some automation companies make it easier than others to access your media. Most offer a nice interface to access FM/AM and satellite radio as well as an iPod dock. 

Having access to Sonos, Pandora, iTunes libraries, Internet Radio and Movies is a little trickier. The easiest and most cost effective way to have total control of your music if definitely the Sonos system. The issue is that Sonos is not an automation company so it is on an island in terms of not being directly integrated with our home control platform. The only company that offers integration into the home automation system of Sonos is Control4. Extra Vegetables (a third party Control4 driver company) has created a driver to allow total control for the Sonos audio system right from the Control4 interface.

#4 - Remote access when you are not home

One of the benefits about having an integrated house or office is that you can check on it when you are away. These functions range from setting vacation modes for your lights, drapes and sprinklers to give the appearance that you are home. Also checking on your cameras when you alarm goes off. Being able to remotely see who is at your front door and buzz people in for package deliveries and more.

CCTV Surveillance
Control4 4Sight
Crestron Mobile Pro G

#5 - Choose an established install company and equipment manufacturer

There are many home automation companies that pop up here and there and ultimately get bought out by their competitors or go bankrupt. This means no support, no dealer network, and no upgrades for the homeowner that just spent $10,000 - $50,000 on a system. A few years back we walked into a client's home who had a Phast system. Phast was supposed to be the game changing new kid on the block 15 years ago and they were in business for a couple years before being bought by AMX (a larger competitor). AMX killed the line and left customers with these expensive systems that were essentially paperweights. 

Companies like Crestron, Lutron, AMX, URC, RTI, HAI, Control4 and Savant have been around long enough that they are good bets to invest in a system - you can also rest assured that you have a strong dealer network with these brands to service, upgrade and repair elements of you system.
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