Home Technology Questions, Answered
Straight answers about Wi-Fi, Security, Smart Homes, Theaters, Audio, TV Mounting, and Commercial Cabling.
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Usually, no. If the signal is weak in part of the house, more speed from the provider still won't reach it. Dead zones and buffering are usually caused by router placement or lack of extenders.
Yes, but use hardwired access points whenever possible. Each one gets a full-speed cable connection; about double the speed of wireless in theory. Mesh is a good fill-in for spots where running cable isn't practical.
A VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) is a separate network from your main one. Homes can benefit from two or three: one for your computers and phones, one for guests, and/or one for smart devices and cameras.
Yes. We work with any provider, really. We just build a better network using their service.
BEFORE drywall. Anything we do is simple to add while the walls are open, but much more costly to add later.
We can still come in before drywall patches and touch ups.
We serve homeowners and builders across the Kansas City metro with a focus on Johnson County; including Overland Park, Olathe, Leawood, and Lenexa.
Wired when possible. A PoE camera gets power and video over one cable, so there are no batteries to charge and no Wi-Fi to drop. Wireless cameras are a fallback for spots a cable can't reach.
Start with the ways into the house: front door, driveway, garage, and back door or patio. We walk the property with you and plan each camera to cover what matters (without getting the neighbors).
Yes. We set up live view, recorded clips, and alerts on your phone; and we show you how to use it before we leave.
Either on a Network Video Recorder (NVR) in your home, or on a monthly cloud plan with your security system. It really depends on what system you get. We can size the storage to how much video you want to keep at a time.
Yes. Cameras, doorbells, locks, and lights can work together. You can make your porch lights come on with detected motion or your doors lock when you leave.
We recommend it, but it's not mission critical. Putting cameras on a separate network keeps them away from your computers and phones, and might keep video traffic from slowing you main network.
Lighting, shades, thermostats, door locks, cameras, music, and TVs; all from one or two apps, a keypad, or your voice. The goal is one simple way to run your house. Not a drawer full of remotes and a phone full of apps.
Store-bought devices are fine for a few lights or a thermostat. We can even incorporate some if they're compatible. However, a professionally installed system keeps everything simple and keeps working as devices change.
Yes. Using your phone's location or Bluetooth signal, the house can close up shop when you leave and open back up on your arrival.
Anything on Wi-Fi and your app access will go down until your network gets back up. However, our Z-Wave enabled products will work locally forever.
Yes. Many smart switches, locks, and thermostats install without opening walls. However, new construction makes it easier to add keypads and wiring, so plan it before drywall if you're building.
That's the point. We set it up around how your family actually lives, keep the controls simple, and give tutorials at hand-off.
A home theater is a dedicated room built for movies; meant for recreating the "big screen" experience. A media room is a fairly normal, multi-use space (like a basement or family room) that still gets great picture and surround sound.
It depends on the room and your budget. A projector gives you the biggest picture in a room you can darken. A large TV handles daylight and windows better. We look at the room and how you'll use it before recommending one.
No. It ups the coolness factor but might be out of your range. Many family room setups are plenty for most movie watchers without taking over the space.
Before drywall. Speaker drops, screen/projector locations, and network drops are simple to run while the walls are open and keep the finished room looking clean.
Yes. We can set up one remote that turns on the screen, sound receiver, and streaming box at once so anyone in the family can start a movie.
Built-in speakers for music in as many rooms as you want; constantly on standby so you can play it whenever. This means no moving a Bluetooth speaker every time you want to listen. Play the same playlist everywhere for a party, or make different rooms play different things.
Whole home audio is great for parties; or just general atmosphere of a house. It can bring up the mood and is especially great for music lovers that like it playing all the time. Many of our customers don't realize how nice it is until they have it!
Yes. You control the music from apps you already use, and from keypads or voice if you want them.
Yes. We have weather-rated speakers for patios, decks, pools, and outdoor kitchens. We can also install rock speakers placed so the yard sounds good without looking the opposite.
Yes. Standalone speakers work where you want something portable, can't get wired, or just need something cheaper.
Yes. We make sure everything looks clean below the TV and can use most walls to our advantage if any wiring needs changed.
Usually. We check for heat and viewing height first. If the TV would sit too high, we can get a pull-down mount that brings it to eye level when you're watching.
Yes. We can mount to brick, stone, tile, or drywall with special hardware.
In most living rooms, the bottom third of the screen should sit close to eye level when you're seated. If mounted on top of a mantle, we usually go about six inches above it. We let you make the final call since it's your house.
Yes. These are TVs that change to look like framed art when inactive. We have mounted Samsung and Hisense frame TVs on stone and drywall especially. We can also provide the decorative bezels of your choice.
Yes. We can connect the sound bar, streaming box, and Wi-Fi or Ethernet as well as any additional settings or remotes.
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