Chicago-Based Systems Integrator Installs World's Largest ELAN g! Home Control System

Chicago-based systems integrator AudioVideo Specialists, LLC has just completed what is believed to be the world’s largest ELAN g! installation in a new 10,000 square foot suburban Chicago home. The homeowners wanted their new house to have all the bells and whistles modern technology could offer, but when they went in search of a home control system they came down with a serious case of sticker-shock. The first systems integrator they spoke with suggested a different control system and gave them a quote of $480,000!

When they went looking for a second opinion, builder Rich Bondarowicz, president of Smart Group, Ltd., recommended Dan Cochenour at AudioVideo Specialists, LLC. Cochenour knows that there is a lot to consider when installing a home control system of this magnitude, from superior functionality and third-party component support, to ease of use and competitive pricing. Using the ELAN g! Home Control System he was able to offer the homeowners a simple-to-use, robust IP-based complete home control solution for a lot less than his competitors.

“This is the largest residential installation we’ve ever done,” said Cochenour, “and it is a glowing showcase of the control muscle that the ELAN g! Home Control System offers. With a system as extensive as this, it’s important that it be easy for the homeowner to operate and adjust. Luckily, the ELAN g! system basically makes whole-home control as simple as adding a contact on your iPhone.”

When all was said and done, the project wound up being the largest ELAN g! installation to date. Every subsystem in the house is integrated with ELAN g! – whole-house audio, video, lighting, HVAC, security, surveillance, motorized window curtains and sheers, irrigation, and even the pool and spa controls. It even includes custom-programmed “Away” and “Home” modes that conveniently set every system in the house to a pre-determined configuration for optimum efficiency and comfort. The ELAN g! system can be accessed through the owner’s three iPhones and two iPads, as well as a multitude of ELAN control interfaces including 12 HR2 remotes, seven TS2 2” in-wall touchpads, two TS7 7” in-wall touch screens and a WT84 8.4” Wireless Tablet with table top cradle.

The house is a media lover’s dream, featuring 11 LG flat panel HDTVs ranging from 32” to 60”, two of which are 3D TVs with LG 3D Blu-ray players and four pairs of 3D glasses each. Many of the TVs are custom-mounted less than an inch off the wall, giving the rooms a clean, uncluttered look. And when they need some fresh air, the family can watch TV year-round in their backyard on a 46” SunBright Outdoor LCD TV, viewable from the pool and spa. Through the ELAN g! system, every TV can access four DirecTV feeds with two DVRs, two networked Sony 400-disc Blu-ray changers and can view eight surveillance cameras located throughout the property.

To complement the ample video system, the house features a total of 54 speakers and seven subwoofers throughout 32 audio zones, including two surround systems, 12 outdoor speakers and two outdoor subwoofers. Each zone can play audio from a dual am/fm tuner, a three terabyte hard drive (enough space for 600,000 songs!), two iPort table-top iPod docking stations located in the kitchen and bar, Pandora internet radio, XM satellite radio, all of the video feeds and the home’s intercom system.

With the push of a button the family room transforms into a complete home theater as a Screen Innovations 106” motorized screen drops from the ceiling and a motorized theater curtain extends across the stairs to block sound from traveling out of the room. The 7.2 surround sound system with in-wall and in-ceiling ELAN and Sunfire speakers and an Optoma HD8600 projector rival the quality of full-scale commercial movie theaters, and trump them in convenience.

Managing a lighting system for a 10,000 square foot house can be challenge, but ELAN g! makes controlling the home’s 80 lighting zones a breeze. The owners can set automatic schedules for indoor and outdoor lighting and check which lights are on from any control interface. There are six motion sensors installed outside the bedrooms and elevator to automatically turn on the hallway lights when they are needed. With a whole-house Vantage lighting system, light switches are replaced by custom-engraved backlit keypads with pre-programmed lighting and entertainment modes. In most of the TV rooms, for instance, hitting the “Media” button on the Vantage keypad turns on the lights, entertainment system and automatically sets it to the correct source.

Security is one of the biggest concerns when living in a home of this size and value, which is why the owners have installed a full-fledged GE security system and surveillance cameras that are accessible and viewable on every TV, iPad and iPhone in the house. The system can also be viewed and controlled from anywhere in the world on an iPhone, iPad or PC using the ELAN g! software, providing the owners with peace of mind when away from home.

According to builder Rich Bondarowicz, the house requires less energy to maintain a comfortable climate than the owners’ former home that was half the size, thanks to ELAN g!’s smart energy monitoring, Energy Star HVAC systems and the inclusion of super-efficient foam insulation in every wall. The house has 18 climate zones controlled with Aprilaire and Tekmar thermostats, which are automated through the ELAN g! Home Control System.

Demonstrating the dedication and skill of Audio Video Specialists, LLC and the flexibility of the ELAN g! Home Control System, Cochenour centralized all the system components in a custom-built temperature-controlled four-rack cabinet. The cabinet features custom TZ locks that are controlled electronically by the g! system, as well as programming that turns on the fans when the cabinet rises above 85 degree Fahrenheit.

The system also includes several custom-programmed features:

• When the doorbell rings, every TV and speaker in use throughout the house pauses and displays the front door camera and intercom.
• The outdoor and landscape lighting turns on at dusk and off at dawn, based on the astronomical clock. If any of the home’s sump pumps or ejector pumps should fail, the ELAN g! Control System sends a text message to the homeowner and builder, allowing them to fix the problem before any damage is caused.
• If any of the equipment racks exceeds a set temperature limit, it will send a text message alert and shut down the AV system for protection.
• If the security alarm is triggered, the coach and porch lights will flash and the pathway lights will turn on until the system is disarmed.
• With an “Away” button, the owners can turn off all lights and AV zones with one touch as they walk out the door, and use the “Home” button to turn on pre-configured zones when they return.

Bondarowicz knows that he needs to keep up with building and technology trends to succeed in today’s homebuilding market, so he discusses home automation systems with all of his customers. “Some of my customers do ask about home automation systems, but I make sure to mention it to everyone, especially if they are unfamiliar with the technology,” he said. “And compared with the other home control systems out there, the ELAN g! system has become a favorite because it offers the best mix of a simple-to-use interface, all-encompassing capabilities and overall affordability.”

Available starting at $1860 for a single-room, four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series Control System can be expanded quickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home control of every room appliance. ELAN g! provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices, including TVs, touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendy g!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN touch screens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisions and mobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room - or across the globe.

Xantech Honors APA Music & Pictures With Two-Millionth Installation Acknowledgement

On June 15, 2011, at the InfoComm show in Orlando, Florida, Xantech presented Bensalem, Pennsylvania-based firm APA Music & Pictures, Inc. with a special plaque commemorating the two-millionth installation of Xantech products and thanking them for their years of Xantech use. The recent installation was performed at Mount Laurel, New Jersey’s Twelve Thousand Building Conference Center, housing training room and boardroom spaces for TD Bank. Xantech products, including the WIC1200 Web Intelligent Controller and CWTC10 10.4-inch Wireless Touch Controller, now form the foundation for the A/V distribution in several rooms in the building. APA has a long history as Xantech users, and they have been proud to push ahead with putting Xantech’s newest technologies to good use. The ceremony was attended by APA’s VP of Sales and Production Dave Pedemonti; Xantech President Graham Hallett; and Xantech Director of Business Development Rick Seegull.

Pedemonti stated, “We are very proud to have completed Xantech’s two-millionth installation, and we thank them for this honor. Xantech and our firm have a long relationship, and we use their products whenever we can, because what it really boils down to is value for dollar. It is great to be here with Xantech management celebrating our achievements together.”

Xantech President Graham Hallett stated, “We sincerely thank APA Music & Pictures, and all of our other valued integrator partners, for consistently choosing Xantech to build the systems that make things work. For 40 years Xantech has worked closely with custom installers and consultants to develop unique insights into the design, integration and control of a wide variety of A/V systems in every conceivable kind of commercial and residential installation. This is why so many designers and installers begin and end every project with Xantech. We are proud of our accomplishments, and we are proud to have great firms like APA Music & Pictures in our corner.”

For more information, please visit www.xantechcommercial.com.

MidwichHome Features The Brands Of The AVC Group At The 2011 CEDIA Home Technology Event

MidwichHome, the newly appointed exclusive United Kingdom distributor of the brands of The AVC Group will be showcasing UK market product introductions from ELAN Home Systems, Niles Audio, Xantech, Sunfire, and ATON at the 2011 CEDIA Home Technology Event, 28-30 June, 2011. The introductions will be made and displayed at MidwichHome’s Stand B7, at the ExCeL London.

Lee Hooker, sales manager for MidwichHome, said: “We are proud to present these iconic custom installation brands to the United Kingdom market. The AVC brands provide professional installers with industry-leading audio, video and control solutions for residential applications, and through this exclusive partnership we are pleased to establish Midwich as the UK’s leading source for custom home electronics installations.”

Product Introductions from the brands are as follows:

ELAN Home Systems will announce that its ELAN g! Series Home Control System is available for immediate delivery to UK customers with built-in multi-language support. ELAN will also be introducing its “Killer Combo” control solution, which combines the award-winning HR2 multimedia-and-home-control remote with the new HC4 four sub-system Home Controller into one affordably priced packaged solution. Also ELAN will introduce two new system controllers to its family of on-wall, can-mount, and rack-mount controller series that feature integrated serial ports, IR ports, relays, sense inputs, and audio outputs — the new ELAN HC4 and HC8 System Controllers which are available for delivery within 30 days.

NILES Audio will introduce the third generation of its DS Directed Soundfield Ceiling-Mount Loudspeaker line and the new ICS Ceiling Mount Loudspeaker lineup. Niles will also announce that it is now shipping the IntelliControl ICS IM-NET Module, the latest in the growing family of source integration modules for the GXR2 MultiZone Receiver. IM-NET plays popular digital music file formats stored on the home’s network and streams music from Internet radio services.

Xantech will debut its Quick Configuration software installation/configuration mode for its MX88 IP-enabled multi-zone audio/video controller. By employing Quick Configuration software, the installer can instantly configure the MX88 for multiple zones and sources throughout a residence without the need of an external computer to program the system. The MX88 can be used to control every aspect of the home theater including audio/video, lighting and drapes. Additionally, it can be programmed to control the air conditioning/heating system, home security and video surveillance cameras.

Sunfire will be unveiling its powerful yet budget-friendly Dynamic Series of subwoofers, in 8”, 10” and 12” models. Tuned for both low frequency Home Theater Effects and powerhouse musical bass lines, these new subwoofers boast up to 600 Watts Peak Power. Also being introduced is the Sunfire Universal Wireless Subwoofer Kit. Comprised of a receiver and transmitter, the Kit is compatible with any third-party manufacturer’s powered subwoofer and eliminates new wires — making the placement of a subwoofer anywhere in a room easier than ever before.

ATON will be introducing to the UK market the industry’s first pre-programmed Whole House “Music & More” System, the ATON AH66T Kit. The new kit features the AH66T Multi-Source Multi-Zone Controller plus six (6) OLED2 touchpads that offer full-color graphic control and feedback. With built-in programming to run market leading sources like the iPort® and Lutron™ RadioRA®2, the affordable multi-room audio solution allows dealers to rapidly deploy a first-time or add-on audio system with iPod® & lighting control capability ready to go.

About MidwichHome:
Established in January 2011, MidwichHome is the home technology division of Midwich, the UK’s leading trade-only distributor of AV, IT and consumer electronics.

Midwich was named Specialist Distributor of the Year at the Channel Awards 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, and AV Distributor of the Year at the AV Awards 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2009. Midwich won the Microscope ACE Award for AV Distributor of the Year 2008, 2009 and 2010 and Logistics Team of the Year 2010. The business is currently ranked 174 on the Times Top Track 250 of private mid-market companies. To find out more, visit www.midwich.com.

Xantech Products Are Winners in Two Categories For The Commercial Integrator BEST Awards

Yesterday, at the InfoComm show in Orlando, Florida, Commercial Integrator magazine named its honorees for their annual BEST Awards. Xantech was chosen to be twice acknowledged: its MX88 Multi-Zone Audio/Video Controller won the Audio Distribution Systems category, and the WIC1200 Web Intelligent Controller tied for first place in the Remote Controls category.

The winners were selected by a panel of industry experts, integrators and the editors of Commercial Integrator to join an exclusive group of products deemed the most noteworthy. The products will be featured in the publication’s July/August issue and online.

Xantech President Graham Hallett stated, “Xantech has always been a leading choice for contractors and system integrators, and to be acknowledged by our peers is the highest honor. From IR to IP, Xantech continues to offer the most comprehensive and intuitive product line, providing solutions that make users’ lives easier. Whatever your system components, you turn it on. We make it work.”

About the MX88 Multi-Zone Audio/Video Controller
The MX88 allows a user to control an entire Xantech multi-zone audio/video system using an Apple iPad®. An integrated audio/video distribution and control tour-de-force, the network-ready MX88 combines a 50W x 16-channel/8-zone amplifier and highly efficient auto-sensing universal power supply with advanced automation control capable of up to 16 Serial ports with the use of Xantech’s RS232 1x8 serial routers, and 17 selectable IR ports, as well as IP communication and two-way interface with an iPhone®, iPod® touch or iPad. Xantech’s iPad integration approach uses an existing WiFi network to interface the MX-series controller to the iPad (or any networked web-browsing device), serving up a web application embedded in the MX88’s architecture. System control and status monitoring can all be accessed within a wired or wireless immediate LAN environment, or remotely over the Internet. Full metadata, menu navigation and even content graphics and album art are all transitioned from media source to the iPad through the Xantech audio/video controller itself. The unit’s Quick Configuration software mode allows the installer to instantly configure the MX88 for multiple zones and sources throughout a residence without the need of an external computer to program the system.

About the WIC1200 Web Intelligent Controller
Xantech’s WIC1200 Web-Intelligent Controller is a standalone room controller for networked/web-based control featuring two IR Ports, two Serial Ports, two Contact Closure ports and two Digital I/O ports as well as two Ethernet ports (one with POE) for TCP/IP Telnet control with less intrusion into facility IP networks. On its own, the WIC1200 is an Event-driven component capable of Timed Events, Calendar Events, Telnet and Serial Events and features a full Web server, email server and FTP server for storage and backup of files. With its built-in Web server, the WIC1200 is totally iPad®-ready without the need for purchasing, installing or setting up an “app.” When interfaced with Xantech’s CWTC10 10.4” WiFi touchpanel or any Xantech hardwired touchpanel, the WIC1200 Web Intelligent Controller can send messages back to the touch-panel allowing for text display, numeric display, volume and indicator bars, ON/OFF indicators and more, for full real-time data display. The IP port allows each room to be accessible on the facilities IP network for status display, remote centralized control and remote diagnostics.

For more information, please visit www.xantechcommercial.com.

TD Bank Conference Center Location in Mount Laurel, New Jersey is Xantech's Two Millionth Installation

Mount Laurel, New Jersey’s Twelve Thousand Building Conference Center houses training room and boardroom spaces for TD Bank, and recently Bensalem, Pennsylvania-based firm APA Music & Pictures, Inc., through McHenry Creative Services, was charged with installing A/V control systems in the bank’s spaces. The project marks the two millionth installation of products from Xantech (InfoComm Booth 1255), a leader in the field of audio/video remote control and distribution, and further underscores the company’s position as the preeminent manufacturer of A/V control solutions. APA’s VP of Sales and Production, Dave Pedemonti, along with Lead Programmer Bob Balan and the rest of their team, selected control solutions from Xantech. APA has a long history as Xantech users, and they have been proud to push ahead with putting Xantech’s newest technologies to good use.

Xantech products, including the WIC1200 Web Intelligent Controller and CWTC10 10.4-inch Wireless Touch Controller, now form the foundation for the A/V distribution in several rooms in the building. Pedemonti stated, “We had a few different rooms – the boardroom space and training room spaces – and they needed to be ready for everything from PowerPoint presentations to audio and video conferencing. Obviously, we were dealing with multiple connectivity, and Xantech’s technology, which is based on IP addresses for different devices, was the clear choice. The CWTC10 is the ideal interface – it has a large touchscreen that is easy to read and operate, and it is wireless, so it can be moved around to whoever is running a meeting or training sessions. This is far preferable to an in-wall box.”

Pedemonti continues, “When we decided on Xantech products for this installation and reached out to them, they shipped us the units right away, and we worked together closely through the installation phase. Now we have four of those CWTC10’s up and running, and they have worked perfectly. The client is very happy, and we are happy to once again choose Xantech solutions for a key installation.”

APA’s relationship with Xantech goes back several years. Mr. Pedemonti stated, “We were probably one of the first A/V companies to really start working with the technology that they created. Through the years, we have been involved in beta testing for some of their new products, getting a good sense of the best ways to put these groundbreaking technologies to good use, and giving our input back to them. That’s a great approach – letting real users in the field give feedback on the product and help make it the best it can be. We’ve been lucky to forge such a strong relationship with Xantech, and we use their products whenever we can. And thinking of what Xantech’s competitors offer, what it really boils down to is value for dollar – we can install the CWTC10’s for about a quarter of the cost of a comparable product from other competitors, and plus, the CWTC10 is actually a far more versatile control device, because you can control so many different types of things. Additionally, we were able to design and implement the customized web control page using Xantech’s new Web Designer 3.0 Software. They have helped us create some very outside-of-the-box installations, and we’re extremely proud to be their two millionth installation. We, look forward to utilizing their products for years to come.”

For more information, please visit www.xantechcommercial.com.

Hanscom Air Force Base and Boston Police to Demonstrate Groundbreaking Technology at Premier Nationwide Homeland Defense and Security Event

BOSTON, Mass. - In a National simulated demonstration, US, U.K. and Canadian Special Forces raid an insurgent hide-out in Afghanistan and uncover critical information about a terrorist plot that may involve a chemical terror attack planned at or near Hanscom Air Force Base and millions in the greater Boston area may be at risk. With field radios in hand, special operators 9,000 miles away in a distant land instantly communicate with Hanscom Air Force Base Security, Boston Police and counter terrorism task force commanders at the Boston Regional Intelligence Center and send real-time video, photos and documents from the field to foil the plot. In the next instant, officers in the field across federal, state and local agencies are connected and fed key information to coordinate and thwart the attack. With the help of groundbreaking technology from Mutualink, Inc., this scenario together with other major emergency scenarios will be played out in real-time with war fighters and homeland and public safety security personnel across the Nation and at other locations around the world at the 2011 Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (“CWID”).

CWID is a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed annual event that engages cutting-edge information technology, focusing on operational shortfalls identified by combatant commanders and government agencies.

Mutualink is currently being tested by key public safety, emergency response and select critical infrastructure entities in the City of Boston through a multi-agency effort designed to enhance instant emergency communication and collaboration between agencies by enabling anytime, anywhere communications across all types of devices. Like Boston and its agencies, the CWID demonstration serves as a National forum to exercise the global real-time capabilities of the platform connecting key domestic military and homeland security agencies across the United States and abroad. Paul Fitzgerald, Superintendent of the Boston Police, commented on their CWID participation utilizing the Mutualink technology and on the Boston Police Department’s leading-edge efforts in implementing advanced public safety and homeland security capabilities. “The Boston Police Department along with our regional law enforcement partners is very happy to be taking part in the CWID exercise. The Boston Regional Intelligence Center is constantly striving to be on the cutting edge in our efforts of intelligence collection and dissemination. This exercise features the use of the latest technology to disseminate critical information in real-time from overseas to our officers on the street. With the ever increasing threat of terrorist activity against our Country, this exercise is of critical importance to local police,” said Superintendent Fitzgerald.

Mutualink, Inc., headquartered in Connecticut with a major Research and Development facility in Westford, Mass., is the developer of a ground breaking real-time interoperable communications and multimedia collaboration platform that enables first responder agencies, military agencies and critical infrastructure assets to seamlessly communicate and collaborate. Mutualink is one of the featured technologies at CWID. At this invitation only event for best of breed technologies, Mutualink’s participation is sponsored by NATO Special Operations Forces Headquarters (NSHQ). Mutualink’s sponsorship was driven by several successful live operational trials in the Afghanistan Theater where Mutualink rapidly established advanced real-time command and control capabilities across joint command elements and across multiple task forces that use disparate field and command communications assets. Participation in CWID is subject to sponsorship and approval based on a technology’s ability to address a new information sharing capability or might improve an existing capability. The demonstrations, which take place in various locations worldwide, focus on technology discovery, risk reduction, and coalition interoperability. Technologies are assessed using real-world inspired warfighter, Homeland Security/Homeland Defense and emergency responder scenarios. During demonstrations, technologies may receive three types of assessments that include User Utility, Interoperability and Information Assurance. Assessment results are captured in CWID’s annual final report that informs the defense, federal and state acquisition community with actionable decision-quality data. The final report publishes annually by November.

According to Colin McWay, President of Mutualink, CWID is a premier venue for Mutualink to demonstrate that it is possible for military, first responder and other public and private sector agencies irrespective of boundaries to coordinate and collaborate in real-time in a scalable, all hazards, all disciplines manner. “When it comes to emergencies, Mutualink enables a world without borders, and as demonstrated in the recent Japan disaster, a key component of resiliency is the ability for critical partners across all sectors to work together in synchronization,” said McWay.

Mutualink will be demonstrated at numerous CWID and participating partner sites, including the NORTHCOM Command Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Co., Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) San Diego, Ca., Hanscom Air Force Base, Lexington, Ma., Boston Police Department Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC), Boston, Ma., US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) Joint Integration Systems Center, Suffolk, Va., New Jersey Institute of Technology, Business Emergency Center (BEOC), Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, NATO Special Operations Forces Headquarters (NSHQ), Supreme Headquarters Allied Power Europe (SHAPE), Belgium, and NATO SOF, Kabul, Afghanistan, and Canadian Forces Warfare Centre, Shirleys Bay, Canada.
Demonstrations of Mutualink are open to the public by invitation at all US facilities on June 15th and 16th, 2011. Interested parties are invited to learn more and arrange for site visits during public viewing at www.CWID.js.mil

Mutualink Contact Information:
Dawn Odams, Operations Manager
Telephone Number: (978) 392-0040 Ext. 101
Email: dodams@mutualink.net

Boston Police Media Contact Information:
Elaine Driscoll, Director of Communications
Telephone Number: 617.343.5412 / 617.594.2991
Email: driscolle.bpd@cityofboston.cov

Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration Contact:
Luefras Robinson, Chief of Public Affairs, CWID Joint Management Office Public Affairs
Telephone Number: 757-371-9150, 757-225-2172
Email: CWIDPA@langley.af.mil

America's Greenest New Home Is Controlled and Monitored With The ELAN g! Home Control System

The “Power Haus”, a new Sarasota, Florida house, has received the lowest HERS score ever in the U.S., a negative 22, which means the house produces more energy than it uses. It also scored 118 LEED points (an internationally recognized green building certification system), making it the highest-scoring new construction home in the U.S. The home’s state-of-the-art systems are simple to manage through the IP-based ELAN g! Home Control System, which allows for consolidated control of lighting, heating, cooling, security, surveillance, whole-house audio/video and even the pool and spa right from the owner’s iPad, iPhones and ELAN in-wall touch screens.

Josh Wynne, President of Josh Wynne Construction, utilized every tool at his disposal to set these incredible green-building benchmarks. Every wall in the home is filled with super-efficient foam insulation, and the ceiling’s exterior is coated with spray foam insulation to allow for an elegant and unique “tongue and groove” ceiling inside. A Uni-Solar Flex-Lite solar array covers more than half of the roof, producing 14.2 kW of electricity and helping the house achieve its negative 22 HERS rating.

The house was carefully designed and situated to take advantage of shade provided by the property’s large trees, and it features an open floor plan with ceiling fans throughout, including an eight-foot fan in the great room. An independent dehumidification system helps to control the Florida humidity and full walls of operable impact-resistant Jeld Wen insulating windows serve to maximize natural ventilation. The home is fully outfitted with Energy Star appliances and super-efficient core systems – such as an Infinity HVAC system and Eternal tankless water heater – and it features 100 percent LED lighting, even outdoors.

“Not all of my clients are super tech-savvy, and neither am I, so I like things that are simple and reliable,” said Wynne. He knew all the technology in the home needed to be tied together in a simple, convenient way for the homeowner to control and manage, so he contracted Mark van den Broek, president of Sarasota-based SmartHouse Integration, to install the ELAN g! Home Control System.

“The ELAN system is the best control solution for me and my clients based on its relatively low cost, superior reliability, scalability, extensive third-party component integration, and most of all its ease of use,” said van den Broek. “My clients love that the control interface is the same on an iPad, iPhone, in-wall touch screen or on the TV. And I have never come across a third-party component that couldn’t integrate with the ELAN system.”

The homeowners control the system through two ELAN TS7 7-inch in-wall touch screens, three ELAN TS2 in-wall touch pads, an iPad and their two iPhones. With six flat screen HDTVs indoors plus one on the deck, the Power Haus is no slouch in the media department. To complement the video system, 14 speakers are distributed through eight audio zones, including two outdoor rock speakers. The media systems can play content from three DirecTV feeds, two Blu-ray players, XM satellite radio, Pandora Internet radio, am/fm radio and an ELAN VIA!migo iPod dock.


The ELAN g! Home Control System is integrated with the home’s five DVR surveillance cameras, DSC security system, LiteTouch lighting system and Bryant HVAC. SmartHouse Integration even custom-programmed a button in the ELAN g! software to instantly access the GUI for the solar array so the owners can monitor its performance in real time. ELAN g! allows the homeowner to program events for every subsystem, simplifying virtually every aspect of running a household. Users can set the lights to turn on and off at specific times, and the heating and cooling systems can be adjusted for maximum efficiency based on when people are home. And for travelers, there is nothing more convenient than setting up an “Away” mode that automatically changes all of the systems’ settings with the touch of a button.

Available starting at $1860 for a single-room, four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series Control System can be expanded quickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home control of every room appliance. ELAN g! provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices, including TVs, touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendy g!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN touch screens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisions and mobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room - or across the globe.