More and more end users want to use their mobile devices for both personal needs and control of electronic systems in their homes. Successfully using mobile devices that way demands a robust and reliable network configuration for connectivity and roaming throughout the house, bringing the home network front and center for today’s electronic system contractors (ESCs).
“Today, end users expect their mobile lifestyle to seamlessly transition into their homes, and, more importantly, throughout their homes,” Dave Pedigo, senior director of Technology, The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA), Indianapolis, told SDM. “Using mobile devices in the home requires a reliable connection to a wireless network. Quality networks are much more challenging and time-consuming than most realize. Even though we are moving very rapidly toward standard IP, there are still a lot of nuances for today’s systems to be designed properly and perform reliably. High-end IP is not plug-and-play and is not for the faint of heart. But with training and the right approach, it can be a profitable undertaking,” Pedigo says.