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When it comes to shopping for electronics online, the old adage, “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” definitely applies. There are seemingly endless numbers of great deals on electronics in the online marketplace, both for supposedly brand-spanking new or used components. But the problem is you just never know what you’re getting. Consumers succumb to too-good-to-be-true pitfalls every day, often with little recourse. Here are a few of the problems that you could encounter when purchasing electronics online.

1. It might not have a warranty – This is especially true for used equipment. But even if it’s brand-new merchandise, if you’re not buying the equipment from a reputable, manufacturer-certified dealer, there will be no warranty. This means that any repairs that have to be done will be paid for out of pocket. All the big manufacturers, including Crestron, Sony, Samsung, Sharp, Panasonic, etc. won’t do anything for you if you don’t have the correct paperwork.

2. It could be a fake – There are huge amounts of fake electronic merchandise floating around out there that look just as good as the real thing, just like knock-off jewelry, clothes, sunglasses, bags, and cosmetics, etc. There are also lots of bait-and-switch operations out there. You could get your equipment in the mail only to find out that it’s a hollow replica of what you intended to purchase.

3. It could be stolen – If you’re shopping online for electronics via an eBay- or craigslist-type service, there’s always the possibility that the highly discounted merchandise could be stolen. Do you really want to get wrapped up in some black market smuggling operation?

4. It doesn’t work – Many higher-end components, like those sold by Crestron, Control4, Lutron, Universal Remote, or RTI, require specialized programs in order for them to function that are accessible only to dealers. How disappointing would it be to get your equipment only to realize that you can’t do anything with it?

You should always make sure that you buy your electronic equipment from and work with a reputable dealer to make sure that you’re getting everything that you paid for and more.

Certified Connection is the premier provider of custom-designed home control systems and home theaters to residential and commercial customers. For more than 10 years, Certified Connection has served homeowners and businesses in and around Boston, throughout the South Shore, and the entire Cape.

Additional Reading

Think You’re Getting a Good Deal? Think Again.

Getting the Most Out of Your Audio/Video System

Think You Can Get it Cheaper? Maybe. But You Might Pay for It

Just when you thought the iPad could do no more, think again. There are apps for pretty much anything you can conceive of at this point, but what about an app that specifically makes you cool? Read on.

There’s now an app that connects your home’s electric grid to a smart phone or iPad and allows you to control your energy use. You can turn off lights, air conditioning, or appliances when they’re not being used, and even program them to turn off and on at specific times. It’s home automation 2.0.

No longer do you have to leave the air conditioning on all day just so your house is cool when you walk through the door. You can simply turn it on, or program it to turn on, 10 minutes before you’re due to arrive home.

Jim Gist, a vice president at Control4, says that you can even use the app to see what changes other family members make. “If your teenage kids are home alone and they turn down the air to 62 degrees, your iPad or iPhone will alert you and you can change it,” he said.

If you already have the home control module and an iPad, you can download the app from iTunes for free, though you’ll need to pay a one-time licensing fee of $99. But you should be able to recoup that cost in energy savings. Word is that the app can cut lighting use 10% to 30% and air conditioning costs 20% to 40%.

Got an iPad or control module but not sure how to plug it into the grid? Contact the professionals at Certified Connection today and let them hook you up!

Certified Connection is the premier provider of custom-designed home control systems and home theaters to residential and commercial customers.

By: Certified Connection

Certified Connection frequently relies on the automation products of Control4 when designing custom systems for both homes and offices. Certified Connection recently had the honor of having a project highlighted on Control4’s project gallery website. 

Certified Connection was engaged by Jackrabbit Design, a Massachusetts-based marketing firm, to design an office automation solution. Jackrabbit’s offices are in an interesting architectural space, and the company wanted a solution that would not only reflect the modern space, but emphasize the company’s cutting-edge reputation. Jackrabbit sought a solution that would streamline the technical aspects of the space by incorporating high-tech audio/visual systems and building automation equipment. 

Certified Connection designed a solution that met all of Jackrabbit’s requirements. The system is easy to use, inconspicuously integrated, and allows for automated control of all audio/visual systems, lighting systems, climate control systems, the alarm system, and security cameras from multiple access points, including iPhone control.

Certified Connection’s technicians transformed complex technical components and systems into a simple and elegant customized solution for Jackrabbit’s unique physical environment, and even the most non-tech-savvy employees at Jackrabbit are able to use the most complicated of systems.

Some of the Control4 components used for this project were the Portable 7-inch Touch Screen, the Home Controller HC-200, and the SR-250 Remote Control. Click here to see photos of this project: http://certifiedconnection.com/portfolio/.

By: Certified Connection

The owner of a pizza place in Cincinnati was very sure about two things: he wanted to automate multiple systems within his restaurant, and he wanted an extremely easy-to-use system. He got both.

The solution was the installation of a Control4 automation system to manage the audio and video systems. There are 10 TVs that are on a set program coordinated with opening, closing, and shift changes. The TVs can be preset to tune to a specific source, such as one of the three DirecTV receivers. In addition to managing video, the Control4 system also handles the restaurant’s audio.

There are a total of 34 speakers throughout the interior and exterior of the restaurant that are run through the Control4 system and are connected to an iPod dock. Through these speakers, the restaurant can run audio of a big game, a terrestrial or satellite radio station, or even an iPod playlist. The owner can easily switch between audio options and choose the one that best matches the time of day and the dining crowd.

The main system management is handled through a series of seven-inch touchscreens, and the owner even has mobile access through his iPhone. For parties or business meetings, two touchscreens were installed in private rooms so guests can customize their audio and video during a private event. Automation has allowed this pizza place to step boldly into the future!

Do you own a business that could benefit from this type of automation? Contact the professionals at Certified Connection today and let us hook you up!

By: Certified Connection

It seems like everywhere you turn, there is talk about living more efficiently with less waste. However, it is hard to know how to really maintain a green lifestyle and decrease your carbon footprint besides separating your recyclables and bringing your own bags to the grocery store. And now, coupled with the economy, everyone is seeking ways to save money. As we discussed in our previous blog post, “Home Automation: Cool and Cost Effective,” new home automation technologies are helping consumers to both save money and green their homes.

Monitoring electricity consumption has been proven as one of the best ways to save money on utility bills, which consequently decreases individual energy usage. One of the coolest new products on the market that can help consumers do this is The Energy Detective (TED), a real-time energy monitor designed by Peak Software. Although there are other products out there that can tell you how much electricity an appliance is using, with TED you can monitor all of the energy usage of all your appliances at the same time.

TED can provide daily, weekly, and monthly usage reports in addition to making recommendations on ways to decrease your energy usage. It can even tell you what your electric bill will be before you get it.

TED is designed to work with Control4 home automation systems. Used in conjunction with Control4 systems, you can program your appliances and climate control systems to operate during non-peak (when electricity costs are lower) times of the day. You can also monitor electricity usage from a mobile device like an iPhone.

It is estimated that the average consumer could save between $400 and $500 per year, and move you one step forward in minimizing your carbon footprint.

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