ELAN g! and Niles Speakers Provide the Foundation for an Easy-To-Use Full Home Automation System

Building a home always starts with laying a strong foundation. The same can be said for any home control system, and that’s exactly what the ELAN g! System and more than 50 Niles speakers have done for one Pennsylvania homeowner.

“This client came to me asking for a simple way to control everything in their home from the TVs to the pool, but they didn’t know how to accomplish that,” said Keith Foltz, owner of Harrisburg, Penn.-based Momentum Sound and Media. “I told them that I could take care of everything, and that it would all tie together seamlessly through the ELAN g! system. All of the other components are intentionally behind the scenes, so the most important thing for them is an enjoyable user experience and reliability, which ELAN delivers in spades.”

Like most homeowners today, this family didn’t want to see wires hanging from TVs or clunky black boxes in every room. Foltz was able to eliminate all of that clutter by combining all the ELAN equipment plus every cable box, audio receiver and subsystem control unit into two equipment racks located in the basement utility room. Then he designed a whole-home audio system using Niles legendary in-ceiling speakers so every room has crystal clear audio and no visible speakers. These considerations keep the house free of mess and also make it easier to troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

“Putting all the electronics in one stack is the only way I would organize a system this large,” Foltz said. “That way if anything needs to be changed, replaced or fixed, I don’t have to trace wires or open walls. It also makes the system cheaper, because all equipment like this should be connected to high quality surge protectors, so I can install just a few of them for the whole rack instead of putting one in every room.”

Even the backyard has its own music zones with two wall-mounted speakers, two planter speakers, two rock speakers and a hidden in-ground subwoofer, all from Niles. So what is it like to control nine TVs, 52 speakers in 21 zones, five zones of HVAC, the home’s lights, security, garage doors, irrigation and pool from one device?

“The ease of operation and convenience of the iPhone/iPad app is best part of the system,” the homeowners said. “Control of the entire house is literally at our fingertips at home as well as when we’re away. With four children, it is amazing convenience to be able to turn off lights, TVs, and music from our phones rather than running through the house each time we leave.”

With a centrally-located 7-inch ELAN touchscreen, five 2-inch wall-mounted touchscreens throughout the house and eight ELAN HR2 handheld remotes for the TVs, the family is always just a few buttons taps away from putting their favorite music or TV on in whichever rooms they choose. It’s just as easy to check that the security system is armed, the garage doors are closed and the lights are off, making it easy to come and go without walking around to make sure everything is set appropriately. And whether they are home or halfway around the world, the family can check in on the home’s surveillance cameras from their iPhones, iPads or any computer. In the near future Foltz will install and integrate electronic locks on several of the home’s exterior doors and ELAN control for the driveway gate.

The crown jewel of the home’s entertainment offerings is the luxury home theater. Combining a backlit 122-inch Screen Innovation Black Diamond screen, a JVC 4K projector, three Sunfire CRM3 ribbon speakers in the front, six Niles HD8 speakers for surround and a Sunfire in-wall SubRosa subwoofer with nine Salamander Designs theater seats, the theater takes viewers away from the home and places them right in the movie.

“I love that the ELAN system is compatible with so many products from other top-name brands like ELK Security, Aprilaire, Pentair, Lutron, Access surveillance cameras and more,” Foltz said. “It gives me a lot of flexibility when designing a control system, both in terms of functionality and price.”

To download hi-res images of this installation, click here.

Niles In-Wall Soundbar Turns Living Room TV Into a True Cinematic Experience

Modern flat screen TVs are incredible improvements over years past, with even some budget models providing fantastic viewing. The sound quality, however, is lacking on even the most expensive models simply because of size constraints. One Pennsylvania family has found the ultimate solution to this problem — the Niles Cynema Soundfield in-wall soundbar, which provides professional-quality audio from a nearly invisible speaker.

“The Ginter family already had their TV where they liked it, but between the lackluster audio and the four remotes needed to operate the TV, cable box, Blu-ray player and Apple TV, the viewing experience could turn into a chore,” said Keith Foltz, owner of custom installation firm Momentum Sound and Media. “Being mounted above a shallow fireplace mantle, going into the wall was the only choice for a simple, high-quality speaker solution. The Niles Cynema Soundfield provides audio quality that rivals bookshelf left, center and right speakers without the mess of wires or the space required for big boxes, and the Sunfire SDS-8 subwoofer provides all the bass the family needs to enjoy a cinematic viewing experience.”

Using adjacent cabinets and running all wires through the drywall, Foltz was able to create a premium home media center that fit not only his clients’ space constraints, but their budget as well. The award-winning Niles Cynema Soundfield passive in-wall soundbar provides crystal clear audio and is powered by a Marantz NR-1605 receiver, which also sends audio to the compact Sunfire SDS-8 eight-inch subwoofer. What’s even better is Foltz added the Sunfire SDS wireless subwoofer kit, so the only wire required for the subwoofer is the power cord, making it easy to place the sub anywhere in the room.

To tie together the new premium audio components and make this four-remote media setup easier to use, Foltz recommended the Ginters install the new ELAN g1 universal remote and control system. With this small but powerful system, the family now has instant access to all their favorite media from a single remote control, the award-winning ELAN HR2. The remote includes a 2.4-inch touchscreen to easily navigate between the cable box, Blu-ray player and Apple TV, while also providing all the normal hard buttons for common functions like changing channels and volume, play/pause and more.

Speaking of the finished product, homeowner Elizabeth Ginter said, “I’m very pleased with the installation process and the time Keith took to blend the equipment into the wall below our TV. I also like how everything works together on one remote now, and again Keith took the time and care to program everything so it’s easy to use.”

To protect all of the equipment Foltz went to the leader in power conditioning, Panamax, and installed the Panamax MR4000surge protector and power conditioner that automatically monitors incoming voltage and disconnects equipment power in case of a brownout (under voltage) or a surge of power. When all was said and done the total installation came to around $3,000 (not counting the existing TV), a small and affordable price to pay for a truly premium home entertainment system that is easy to use and keeps all the components and wires hidden!

“This was one installation that really turned into a family affair — a Core Brands family solution that provided best-in-class brand solutions to complete an amazing new system for this family,” Foltz concluded.

To tie together the new premium audio components and make this four-remote media setup easier to use, Foltz recommended the Ginters install the new ELAN g1 universal remote and control system. With this small but powerful system, the family now has instant access to all their favorite media from a single remote control, the award-winning ELAN HR2. The remote includes a 2.4-inch touchscreen to easily navigate between the cable box, Blu-ray player and Apple TV, while also providing all the normal hard buttons for common functions like changing channels and volume, play/pause and more.

Speaking of the finished product, homeowner Elizabeth Ginter said, “I’m very pleased with the installation process and the time Keith took to blend the equipment into the wall below our TV. I also like how everything works together on one remote now, and again Keith took the time and care to program everything so it’s easy to use.”

To protect all of the equipment Foltz went to the leader in power conditioning, Panamax, and installed the Panamax MR4000surge protector and power conditioner that automatically monitors incoming voltage and disconnects equipment power in case of a brownout (under voltage) or a surge of power. When all was said and done the total installation came to around $3,000 (not counting the existing TV), a small and affordable price to pay for a truly premium home entertainment system that is easy to use and keeps all the components and wires hidden!

“This was one installation that really turned into a family affair — a Core Brands family solution that provided best-in-class brand solutions to complete an amazing new system for this family,” Foltz concluded.

To tie together the new premium audio components and make this four-remote media setup easier to use, Foltz recommended the Ginters install the new ELAN g1 universal remote and control system. With this small but powerful system, the family now has instant access to all their favorite media from a single remote control, the award-winning ELAN HR2. The remote includes a 2.4-inch touchscreen to easily navigate between the cable box, Blu-ray player and Apple TV, while also providing all the normal hard buttons for common functions like changing channels and volume, play/pause and more.

Speaking of the finished product, homeowner Elizabeth Ginter said, “I’m very pleased with the installation process and the time Keith took to blend the equipment into the wall below our TV. I also like how everything works together on one remote now, and again Keith took the time and care to program everything so it’s easy to use.”

To protect all of the equipment Foltz went to the leader in power conditioning, Panamax, and installed the Panamax MR4000surge protector and power conditioner that automatically monitors incoming voltage and disconnects equipment power in case of a brownout (under voltage) or a surge of power. When all was said and done the total installation came to around $3,000 (not counting the existing TV), a small and affordable price to pay for a truly premium home entertainment system that is easy to use and keeps all the components and wires hidden!

“This was one installation that really turned into a family affair — a Core Brands family solution that provided best-in-class brand solutions to complete an amazing new system for this family,” Foltz concluded.

“This was one installation that really turned into a family affair — a Core Brands family solution that provided best-in-class brand solutions to complete an amazing new system for this family,” Foltz concluded.

To tie together the new premium audio components and make this four-remote media setup easier to use, Foltz recommended the Ginters install the new ELAN g1 universal remote and control system. With this small but powerful system, the family now has instant access to all their favorite media from a single remote control, the award-winning ELAN HR2. The remote includes a 2.4-inch touchscreen to easily navigate between the cable box, Blu-ray player and Apple TV, while also providing all the normal hard buttons for common functions like changing channels and volume, play/pause and more.

Speaking of the finished product, homeowner Elizabeth Ginter said, “I’m very pleased with the installation process and the time Keith took to blend the equipment into the wall below our TV. I also like how everything works together on one remote now, and again Keith took the time and care to program everything so it’s easy to use.”

To protect all of the equipment Foltz went to the leader in power conditioning, Panamax, and installed the Panamax MR4000surge protector and power conditioner that automatically monitors incoming voltage and disconnects equipment power in case of a brownout (under voltage) or a surge of power. When all was said and done the total installation came to around $3,000 (not counting the existing TV), a small and affordable price to pay for a truly premium home entertainment system that is easy to use and keeps all the components and wires hidden!

“This was one installation that really turned into a family affair — a Core Brands family solution that provided best-in-class brand solutions to complete an amazing new system for this family,” Foltz concluded.

Pennsylvania Special Needs Class Makes High Tech Education A Sustainable Model

In one of the special needs classrooms at Quaker Valley Middle School in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, tablets are integrated into lesson plans each day. With seven Apple® iPads, teacher Jason Harrison transformed his traditional classroom into an intimate learning experience that enables students with disabilities to interact with the materials at hand. In order to protect his school’s investment in innovative classroom technology, Harrison searched for the most protective tablet cases. He eventually turned to Trident’s Kraken A.M.S. and Aegis cases and Arkon mounts, a solution that simultaneously protects and locks down tablets.
 
“We have had the cases for about a year,” Harrison explained, “and they are still in perfect condition after being used every day. It was a necessary investment, and we made the right choice by choosing Trident cases.”
 
One of the determining factors in choosing Trident cases was the compatibility with professional-grade mounts from Arkon. In the classroom, Harrison uses the mounts to securely fasten tablets to the edge of each student’s desk. “The mounts diminish the variable of having to pick up the iPad and move it, enabling students to focus directly on the lesson,” he said.
 
Harrison, a teacher of thirteen years, currently oversees seven special needs students, many of which are accompanied by a personal attendant. He utilizes the latest tablet applications, such as UPAD, a traditional note-taking application with photo and caption capabilities. “UPAD allows students to highlight and edit the PDF material I post,” Harrison said.
 
Similarly, the app Educreations acts as a virtual whiteboard, bridging the gap between each student and the teacher. The app allows instructors to create new lesson plans before class time, which are later launched through the application. Other capabilities include voice recording and recognition and handwriting analysis for students.
 
“As I began teaching, I asked myself, ‘how can we naturally integrate this technology? How can the iPad replace basic classroom tools such as the whiteboard, markers, and the calculator?’ Now, teachers can grab an app to accompany each need and find a natural fit for the classroom,” he said.

According to Harrison, as technology becomes more important in the classroom, teachers will require the toughest cases to protect against the wear-and-tear of daily use. “I would absolutely recommend Trident cases to any classroom. We are trying to get them introduced into every special needs classroom at Quaker Valley,” he said.
 
Trident is proud to manufacture cases that are ideal for education environments and teamed up with Arkon mounts to give educators strong mounting solutions for every teaching environment.
 
According to Erin Luzzi, Vice President of Marketing at Trident Case, “We are thrilled to see our Aegis and Kraken A.M.S. cases being put to such good use in a special needs classroom. In collaboration with Arkon Mounts, Trident is leading the way in protecting tablets in innovative environments and we will continue to do so as technology becomes exponentially more important for learning.”