Explore Whole-Home Audio, Motorized Shades, Smart TVs, and More

Home automation provides extreme convenience and ease, an incomparable luxury lifestyle. It encompasses much, if not all, of a home’s systems, including lighting, climate control, security, automated window coverings, and home entertainment. 

At Horner Networks, we’ve been helping our customers enjoy the magic of smart home living for over 20 years. We find that, for those just entering the sphere of automated technology, the nearly limitless options can feel overwhelming. Choice paralysis sets in, and you find yourself sitting on the sidelines for another year, wondering what life is like in a smart home.

That’s where we come in.

We’re not here to sell you all the bells and whistles and the technology you may not need. We’re here to help you realize the possibilities and the solutions that would make the biggest difference in your life. 

To that end, we’ve decided to share the five most common questions we get from our customers. We hope they’ll help you ease any uncertainty and provide you with the information you need to experience the wonders of home automation. 

SEE ALSO: The Magic of Home Automation

1. Can I integrate my existing Sonos system with pre-wired in-ceiling speakers?

One of the most popular smart home entertainment systems is whole-home audio. It’s a system designed for music lovers and those who crave the immersive experience of surround sound while watching TV. 

High-fidelity music drifts through your home from in-ceiling speakers. Press ‘Movie Night’ in your media room, and the sound surrounds you. Pre-wired in-ceiling speakers allow for precise placement and a clean finish; they are often integrated during construction before the drywall is in place. 

So, are these speakers compatible with your Sonos system, creating a multi-room audio system that’s effortless to control? The answer is a resounding yes. 

Sonos offers two possibilities. If you have passive speakers, you can connect your pre-wired ceiling speakers to a Sonos Amp and add it to your Sonos system. A separate Sonos amp is required for every zone, allowing family members to listen to different audio simultaneously. If the speakers are already connected to an amp or receiver, you can use a Sonos Port.

2. What’s the best way to choose TVs for different rooms with different purposes?

Today’s nearly limitless options in TV displays can leave one feeling overwhelmed. Here are a few helpful hints: 

• OLED TVs provide perfect black, extreme contrast, vivid colors, and wide viewing angles, making them ideal in low-light environments, such as media rooms with blackout screens and for the immersive home theater experience. 
• QLED TVs, due to their superior brightness, perform well in rooms with lots of ambient light, ensuring vibrant pictures even in the daytime.
• MicroLEDs utilize millions of tiny LEDs to create intricately detailed images with extremely realistic textures and hues. These pixels can be individually controlled for intense contrast, making them perfect for both indoor and outdoor video walls. MicroLED video walls can display multiple screens simultaneously, so there’s no need for compromise. 
• For the ultimate home entertainment, larger displays provide the big, lifelike images that transport you. For instance, in living rooms and larger media rooms, consider displays in the 60-inch range and above. General guidelines include retaining a viewing distance of approximately 1.5 to 2.5 times the size of the TV’s diagonal measurements.
• If you watch movies and sports, consider 4K or 8K high resolution with high refresh rates. These provide crystal-clear images and smoother motion.
• For gaming, consider the refresh rate, lag time, and auto low latency mode. 

3. What are my options for automated shades when replacing windows?

Automated shades come in numerous styles, such as sheer, roller, Roman, and cellular shades. They also come in various blinds and drapery options. These styles ensure the ideal aesthetics for your home and room, as well as the optimum performance for how you use your room.

These can be hardwired into your home for the ultimate convenience and reliability. However, wire-free, battery-powered options may be best for renovations. 

4. Should I schedule a walk-through before making any purchases or upgrades?

We highly recommend scheduling a walk-through before purchasing or integrating smart home technology. At Horner Networks, we offer expert advice on compatible devices and systems that fit your needs and budget. 

These scalable systems ensure the ideal solution now and desirable integrations in the future. Assessing your home’s infrastructure and layout gives our team a much better idea of the systems that will provide the best ROI in terms of finances, enjoyment, and ease of living.

5. Do you have a showroom with displays to show how your products and services will work in my home? 

Yes. We have gone through an extensive vetting process by Control4, a premier home automation platform, to be selected as one of the few certified showrooms in North America. Experience first-hand the best in home automation and entertainment, the only way to genuinely know the best solutions for you and your family. 

To learn more about today’s home automation, contact Horner Networks.