Lutron RadioRA 2: A Scalable, Wireless Home Control System

Lutron lighting has been around since the late 1950s with the solid-state dimmer's invention by co-founder Joel Spira. Since Lutron Electronics’ inception, the company has continued to innovate the lighting industry and later began dominating the home control market with automated shading and smart lighting. Imagine pressing a button or using a voice command to dim the lights in your house, raise or lower motorized shades, and control your Irvine, CA, home’s HVAC system. It’s possible with a Lutron RadioRA 2 system installed by the home automation experts at Launch Systems. With tremendous respect to our clients’ needs, we design, install and support smart home devices in new homes and retrofit projects in Orange County. Keep reading below to learn how the Lutron RadioRA 2 system can transform your life, then contact us for a free consultation.

SEE ALSO: Lutron’s RadioRA 2 Smart Lighting Technology Makes Life Easy  

Climate Control & Shading

Adding a smart Lutron thermostat to your home control system lets you control the temperature in your home using a wall keypad, your smart device, or a pre-programmed smart scene. Whether you’re at home or away for the weekend, you’ll be able to monitor and operate your HVAC system to ensure maximum comfort and energy savings. By installing a wireless temperature sensor in a room, each room of your home’s temperature is monitored. If a specific temperature is reached, then your HVAC will respond accordingly, or you can override the automation by adjusting the temperature yourself. You can pair your climate control with motorized shading, too. If the room becomes too cool during the day, then your blinds will open automatically to let warm, natural sunlight stream into your living spaces.  

Lighting

A Lutron RadioRA 2 system is scalable, so don't opt out of smart lighting because it seems too daunting for your home project. You can first install the system in your most-used spaces, perhaps the home theater and bedrooms. From there, you can add the kitchen and outdoor entertainment areas when you're ready.  

Integrates with Other Products

You aren’t limited to only using Lutron devices in a RadioRA 2 system, either. You can incorporate your Control4 automation system or use Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Josh.ai voice control. There doesn’t seem to be any other brand nearly as versatile as Lutron. And the brand is continually innovating, something it’s been doing for over 70 years, so your system is built to last as you add more smart products to your home over time.     To enjoy the simple and convenient lifestyle Lutron RadioRA 2 can bring to your Orange County home, connect with us now using this form or chat with us below. We can’t wait to hear from you.

Launch Systems Offers Network Wiring Services in Orange County

Think about how many devices you have connected to your home network. The average American homeowner has ten devices, and that number increases with larger homes and larger families. From smart TVs to lighting control and automation systems, you want the best performance out of each technology you own. To do that, you need a robust internet connection supporting each device and triaging network traffic intelligently while keeping security in mind. Simply connecting a router to your ISP-provided modem will not suffice, though, if you want to maximize performance and security for several devices in your Laguna Beach home. Think of your Internet connection as a highway. The more devices, the more traffic and demand there is on your bandwidth. The experts at Launch Systems ensure every device stays in its appropriate lane safely, with faster-moving traffic in one lane and slower traffic in the other. Keep reading below to learn how professional network wiring services far exceed the do-it-yourself network setups many Californians settle for.

SEE ALSO: Leveraging Your Home Network In Your Entertainment Spaces  

Meets You Where You Are

Contacting a professional during a new home building project is the best forward-thinking approach to home networking. Before the drywall is installed, we can map out a technology and data plan that will support your devices now and for years to come. We’ll review architectural plans with builders and design a network that is customized to meet your needs. With the foresight to support future tech needs, you’ll experience superior connectivity for home automation, outdoor entertainment, and more. If the drywall is already installed, don’t worry. Our team can run data lines and wiring cleanly, respecting your home and valuables during the process. Wireless access points are placed in effective locations throughout your Laguna Beach-area property, expanding your network to the relevant places you need in order to stay connected when and where it matters most!  

More Than Networking

Our team does more than wiring services, and we can assist you with all of your smart home needs. Instead of having several disparate systems in your California home, approach your technology in a comprehensive way. We can streamline the network traffic in your home, so your automation system's needs don’t interrupt your remote work or entertainment. Imagine controlling your entire home – smart shades lower, the lighting dims, and Netflix cues up in seconds – with just a tap of your finger or with a voice command. Working with a networking wiring service professional like Launch Systems ensures your entire property stays connected with the latest technologies, with no buffering symbols or lag that bogs down your entire network.   If you’re planning to upgrade your network, call Launch Systems today. You can connect with us using our online form or chat with us at the bottom of your browser. We can’t wait to help you stay connected!

Partner With a Home Automation Company From the Start

Smart home technology has developed dramatically over the last few decades, with intelligent systems and devices becoming prevalent in many homes. These devices can make a home more comfortable and convenient, something every homeowner can enjoy. Unfortunately, many Oregonians fall victim to the pitfalls of DIY when they first embark on their smart home journey. Several visit the local big-box retailer to buy a “smart ____.” Fill in the blank with your choice of device; it likely exists, but it’s not nearly as smart as it lets on. Read below to learn three reasons why going the do-it-yourself route can become a nuisance and why you should instead work with Launch Systems, your local Portland-area home automation company.

SEE ALSO: 3 Reasons Why We Love Control4  

DIY Mistake #1: Incompatible Systems

Disparate devices do not communicate with one another. Each speaks a different language, so synchronizing them all together is a feat, if not impossible. That means you need to juggle multiple apps and cables in order to use every smart device you would find at a big-box retailer. Instead, Launch Systems can design a customized Control4 home automation system that incorporates every smart device in your entire Portland home. Control4 works with the leading technology companies – like Sonos, Amazon, Lutron and Sony, to name a few – plus the brand offers its own family of smart devices, too. These seemingly incongruent products are programmed to work together in unison with just a tap of your finger or with designated smart scenes.  

DIY Mistake #2: Not Scalable

The average U.S. household has 45 light bulbs. Think about your own home for a moment. If you have a larger home, then you could easily double that number. Now think of the other tech devices you have. DIY home automation cannot control all of the smart devices inside and outside of an expansive home. Even with a robust home network triaging device traffic for you, a poorly designed residential control system simply can’t support every motorized shade, audio/video component and tunable LED bulb. A professionally designed system with expert installation will not only incorporate every single device you currently have, but it will have room to grow when you add additional devices that demand extra power and bandwidth.  

DIY Mistake #3: An Eyesore

Though some homeowners may not care about this particular mistake, we consider it one of the most dreadful issues we encounter when coming in to fix DIY disasters. At the local retailer, color and finish options are skim. Color options are typically white or black, and finishes come in matte or glossy. Luckily, you don’t have to live with these drab options in your home. Custom-etched wall plates are available in satin, metallics, matte, or glossy finishes are available, so operating your smart home can be a stylish activity. Clunky black boxes don’t need to mar your interior design. We work alongside homeowners to find custom finishes and fabrics that complement your décor and meet your technology needs.   For more insight on what it takes to incorporate smart home technology into your Oregon or California home, be sure to follow us on Facebook. And if you’re ready to explore the possibilities of home automation, connect with us using our online form. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Don’t Forget These Small Yet Important Details When Designing Your High-End Audio System

A music playlist can change the feel of any situation. Relaxing, cool jazz sets the mood for a romantic dinner for two, while fast-paced metal beats keep your blood pumping during a cardio session in your home gym. To experience life with a stellar soundtrack in your Huntington Beach, CA, home, high-end speakers and an expertly designed home audio system are required. High-performance amplifiers, speakers, and cabling are all necessary to enjoy the best possible audio experience in your Orange County home, but there are three often-overlooked components of home audio that you shouldn’t ignore. Read on below to learn three small details you can incorporate into your whole-home audio system for a more enjoyable listening experience.

SEE ALSO: Are High-End Speakers Worth It?  

Room Correction

Sound waves can reflect off of surfaces or absorb into fabrics. Taking the room's physical makeup into consideration when designing your home audio system ensures music, TV, movies, podcasts, and your other favorite audio entertainment sounds clear with no distortion. To further combat possible echoes and audio issues, digital room correction technology can improve the listening experience. Many high-end speaker systems incorporate digital room correction functions that includes internal software and microphones. When a sound is emitted, the software then measures the response time for the sound to return. A digital filter is then placed over the audio waves to combat distortion and improve sound quality. If you were to change your room's layout, you would need to rerun digital room correction to combat sound absorption and reflection in the room adequately.  

Surge Protection

In California, homeowners are no stranger to electrical outages and planned power grid failures, especially during wildfire season. Even though some outages are planned, those that aren't can have catastrophic consequences on the electronics in your home. To protect your high-end equipment, you need surge protection. During an outage or power surge, a surge protector reroutes extra energy so that it does not harm your devices. Over time, multiple surges can wear down your equipment. Robust protection is required to protect your technology investments for years to come.  

Home Network

With the rise in audio and video streaming’s popularity, your home’s internet connection is increasingly important. Slow music downloads and buffering icons during movies are just two mild annoyances that can stem from a poorly designed or underpowered home network. The experts at Launch Systems can create a system that triages your internet traffic, dedicating bandwidth where and when it matters most. Your music and movies won’t lag when you’ve addressed your home network!   Home audio is more than high-end speakers, and it requires an attention to detail that only the professionals at Launch Systems can provide. Connect with us using this online form so we can help get you started!