Reasons to Invest in a Home Security System

Reason to Invest in a Home Security System - Sacramento

Reasons to Invest in a Home Security System in Sacramento

When becoming a new homeowner or moving into a new home, one essential investment you should consider making is installing a home security system. Even with additions such as the Ring, Vivint, and Nest, it gets the job done to ensure that your home is protected. In recent years, smart home technology has allowed many Sacramento homeowners the opportunity to keep tabs on their home while they’re away. So, here are some reasons to invest in home security system

Protect Your Family 

Your top priority is making sure that your family is safe from any intrusions. Whether you are at home or in the office, you want to make that your loved ones and belongings are protected from trespassers. Many audio and video companies in Sacramento can agree that a having a security camera system will protect your home. 

Distance Monitoring 

Today, most security systems come equipped with 24-hour surveillance through the app on your phone. All you need to do is a simple download. Enjoy your vacation and be able to check in here and there to see if the dog sitter came by or if the kids are having a fun time at home. Furthermore, you will be alerted of suspicious activity inside and out of your home and will be able to scare off intruders from the premises. Be able to talk through the security to have them running away and scared. Ultimately, the sight of just seeing your system will have them discouraged. 

Scare Away Intruders 

Seeing the type of sign or cameras installed outside of your home will do enough to have intruders think twice before trying to walk on your property. With newer technology in the systems, spook the invaders by talking to them. As an example, Nest security systems have a whistle installed to put people on high alert. This scares them away once they step on the premises and conduct suspicious activities. Make sure you never want to see these people ever again. Our friends at LMS Garage Doors, who offer garage door repair in Sacramento, says that having a security system does help keep intruders from accessing your home. In fact, many intruders try to break in through the garage door or side door.

At Specialized AV, we provide a wide variety of security camera systems. Furthermore, one of our favorite  brands is ELAN. Contact Specialized Audio and Video for more information on our products.   

Reduce Homeowners Insurance Cost 

Once you become a homeowner, you must have an insurance policy. Additionally, the cost of home insurance depends on the home protecting issues, coverage, payment plans, insurance company, and other things. Our Sacramento audio and video experts point out that you can reduce your insurance cost by 10-20% with a security system already installed. 

Peace of Mind 

Knowing that your home is firmly secured and your loved ones are being kept safe will have you at a better peace. No one enjoys the stress of having to worry all the time. So, having a home security system gives you a breath of relief. 

Contact Specialized AV 

So, now that you understand the reasons to invest in home security system, you can decide if it’s for you. If you are looking for home security installation, Specialized Audio and Video are here to help. Our talented team is dedicated to helping you provide the products in keeping an eye on your home from intruders and having your family stay safe. To learn about our service and get a quote, please get in touch with Specialized AV today. We are happy to serve the Greater Sacramento area. Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with our latest news!

Causes of Slow WiFi

causes of slow wifi - Sacramento Audio and Video

Causes of Slow wifi

Slow wifi can be extremely frustrating, especially if you work from home. Unfortunately, there’s no one way to fix slow wifi since there are so many different potential causes. If you’ve tried troubleshooting but can’t seem to fix the problem, consider the following causes of slow wifi. For immediate assistance, you can always contact Specialized Audio and Video in Sacramento.

Wrong Spectrum Band

Wireless networks operate on two primary frequency bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. These frequency bands have an effect on how far and fast data can move over wifi. The 2.4 GHz band provides slower speeds over a greater distance, while the 5 GHz band provides faster speeds over a shorter distance.

As a result, if you want the best wifi speeds, our AV experts always use the 5 GHz band. Experts agree that the more devices you have connected, the slower your WiFi will be. As a result, you can save the 5 GHz band for your most-used devices, such as your laptop.

If you have a dual-band router, you can only use both frequency bands. This router allows you to have two separate wifi networks – one for each pair. You can configure each of these networks to have its own name and password.

To find out if your router supports both wifi bands, go to the router’s settings tab. Then, ensure that both of your bands are turned on. You can also find the name and password for your 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks from this page.

Not Enough Bandwidth

The overall amount of data that can be transmitted over a network at any given time is referred to as bandwidth. That means that if someone on your network makes a video call, streams a movie, or downloads a large file. It can cause your wifi to slow down.

Open the Task Manager to see which tasks are consuming a lot of bandwidth on your Windows device. You can do this by right-clicking on the Taskbar at the bottom of your screen. Then, from the pop-up menu, choose Task Manager.

Once the Task Manager is open, you can sort your tasks based on how much bandwidth they use by clicking on the Network column’s header. If you discover any tasks that are consuming an excessive amount of bandwidth, pick them and press End Task.

If you’re using an Apple device, you can use the Activity Monitor to identify tasks that consume a lot of bandwidth. To do this, navigate to the Applications folder and open the Utility folder. Then, at the top of the window, open the Activity Monitor and pick the Network tab.

To find the most bandwidth-intensive applications, sort by bytes (data) or packets sent or received. Then, at the top of the window, press the “X” to terminate any running processes.

Router is Outdated

One of the simplest ways to improve your weak wifi link is to replace your old router. In general, newer routers can have faster wifi than older models. This is due to the fact that older routers are typically unable to support newer wifi requirements. Ask our audio and video service experts which wifi router best fits your needs.

The Router is in the Wrong Place

If you have a new router but are still experiencing wifi “dead zones,” you should consider moving your router. Since router signals move in an outward radius, placing your router in a central position rather than a corner would provide better coverage.

Wifi signals can be transmitted both vertically and horizontally. This means you should keep your router in an elevated spot, such as on top of a bookshelf, or place it on a wall. Water and metal objects, on the other hand, block wifi signals, so keep your router away from refrigerators and fish tanks. It takes trial and error to find the optimal router placement, so test your wifi signal strength in various areas before deciding on a final location for your router.

Network Driver is Outdated

Your device uses a network adapter to link to the internet, which is supported by network drivers. These network drivers allow your computer’s hardware and software to communicate with one another.

Windows Update automatically installs the most recent network drivers on your device. However, these network adapter drivers can go missing, become out of date, or become incompatible with your current device. This can cause your wifi to lag.

If you have Windows 10, you can manually update your network driver by typing “network driver” into the Windows search box (the magnifying glass icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen). Then, in the search bar, select Device Manager and press the Open button. Right-click on the network adapter you want to update in the Device Manager menu and select Update Driver.

If you own a Mac, Apple can manage both device and driver updates. To ensure that your drivers are up to date, go to System Preferences. Then, pick Software Update and press the Update Now button. If you don’t see this option, your Mac is current.

Hire an Audio and Video Company

If you’re still unsure about your slow wifi connection after reading the article above, hire a professional. They can diagnose the problem and provide you with a quick solution. Our Specialized Audio and Video team is more than happy to help restore your wifi or improve the connection altogether. Learn more about our premium products and services today! Don’t forget to leave us a Google Review!

Quality Audio and Video Services

quality audio and video services Sacramento

Quality Audio and Video Services

At Specialized Audio and Video, we offer our customers the most cutting-edge audio and video services in Sacramento. When you hire Specialized AV, you get expert audio and video installation and optimal efficiency. Each of our home automation systems is designed to work cohesively to provide a fully customized and user-friendly system. In this article, our audio and video expert share some of our quality audio and video services.

Home Audio and Video Services in Sacramento

A common concern is the home automation, audio/video systems becoming outdated. However, these systems are easy to change/update. Specialized AV is committed to providing customers a diverse range of home automation products and solutions. We’re not like other companies who mix and match their systems, creating faulty and unreliable results. When we come out to any project, we will ensure that you have the best audio and video system available. Here are a few home audio and video services we offer in the Greater Sacramento area.

Luxury Smart Lighting 

Many Sacramento residents are opting in for smart lighting. This high-tech technology allows users to turn on and off their lights with a simple voice command or click of a button. If you don’t have smart lighting in your home, consider upgrading today!

Hi-Fi System

A sound system will make or break your home theater. You can’t hide the quality sound. We’ll install the best audio system for your home that will provide the most exceptional experiences, with consistency and clarity.

Entertainment

Home automation elevates your entertainment experience, allowing you to control your entire home at a touch of a button. With lighting, curtains, music, and other features, you’ll have the most modern house on the block. Our friends at Headwaters Construction Inc., a general contractor in Sacramento, recommend hiring a professional to install the automation system for your home or commercial building. 

Security Camera Systems

In today’s world, almost everyone has security systems. It’s the best way to protect your home or business. When you contact Specialized AV, we will get the best security camera systems. Connect to your smart device and lock/unlock your doors, and watch live video. Your property is secure when you install security cameras.

6 Tips for Proper Video Wall Installation

6 Tips for proper video wall installation specialized av

Video Wall Installation

Video walls are fast becoming permanent fixtures in corporate headquarters, retail stores, and even government offices. To a certain extent, the surge in popularity in the use of video walls can be attributed to recent advances in technology. For example, the screens available today offer crisper images and have thinner bezels that translate to better images and videos. Furthermore, today’s screens have become more versatile and powerful—capable of handling a wide variety of content. If you are keen on having a video wall installed within your stores’ premises, here are a few helpful tips that will allow you to reap good returns for your investment.

According to a new market research report Video Wall Market by Product (Video Wall Displays, Housing, Installation, & Content Management), Application (Indoor, Outdoor, Menu Board, & Billboard), Vertical (Retail, Hospitality, Transportation, Healthcare) & Geography – Forecast to 2020” the total market size is expected to reach $17,956.26 million by 2020, at a CAGR of 23.44% from 2014 to 2020.

Tips on How to Select the Right Video Wall Installation Company for Your Business:

Don’t Forget About the Content


Before even contacting companies specializing in video wall installation, you should have a clear idea of the type of content that you wish to use. The type of content that you are planning to use should be a vital factor to consider before shopping for the hardware. Additionally, you need to make sure that the hardware you purchase and have installed should be fully compatible.

Opt for Industrial-Grade Products


If you are going to invest in a video wall, it is advisable to opt for industrial or professional-grade products instead of those usually sold in consumer electronics stores. Products sold at the latter are often not recommended for use for an extended amount of time. Additionally, they cannot handle the demands and needs for applications in a retail store.

Invest in a Suitable Mounting System


A suitable mounting system will answer two key needs for video walls. First, these will ensure a suitable platform for video walls. Second, they will ensure that maintenance will be safer and easier for your staff.

A Word on Temperature


In order to prevent unnecessary damage and keep video walls running efficiently, it is important to keep these systems cool. Apart from ensuring that the display wall has adequate cooling and ventilation, it is also worthwhile to choose displays with integrated cooling fans.

Use an Appropriate Power Source


The bigger the display wall, the larger its power requirements will be. Ideally, display walls should have their own dedicated power source and should be complemented by a surge protection system as well as power conditioners.

Leave it to the Sacramento Video Professionals


Video wall installation can be a complex endeavor. As such, it is a task that is best left to the professionals. Hiring experts to video installation services will ensure that the display wall is up and running at the soonest possible time without undermining safety. Contact Specialized AV for audio and video services in NorCal.

Home Automation System – One Smart Device to Rule Them All Remotely

home automation system - one smart device - specialized audio and video - Specialized AV

Home Automation System

Home automation systems are becoming more popular in the Sacramento Valley and nationally expected to top $100 billion in sales by 2020. Remote control units have always been designed to increase the functionality of the systems they come with while providing convenience to people. But when you have different remote control units each for climate control system, home entertainment, lighting, and security camera systems, that’s having one too many.

It may seem like a minor inconvenience handling different remote controls inside your household or commercial property, but almost every property owner knows that remote controls can be easily misplaced. And instead of enjoying your downtime at home, finding the right remote control for the system you are going to use can add to your confusion. Luxury home automation manufacturer, Savant has one remote for almost everything in your home! Read more about it here in this article from Forbes. 

A home automation system integrates various components of your home’s different systems into a single unit. By upgrading with this system, you can conveniently enjoy your home’s various units with just one smart device to control everything. Devices aside, homeowners are choosing home automation for safety, security, and peace of mind.

A Task Best Left to the Experts

Here at Specialized AV, we understand your needs and motivations. We know that you want a powerful yet easy-to-use system that provides you with greater control without the hassles of dealing with several remote control units and all the woes associated with that. We know that you’d want to hear your favorite tunes streamed to different parts of your household, enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows, control the lights, and even bolster home security. You can do all of those and more through home automation.

Although it is possible to go the DIY route with this task, it is certainly better to leave it to the experts who have the knowledge, experience, and yes, even the tools to get the job done right the first time and in a hardwired and reliable system.

One System to Rule Them All:

An automation system can control various systems inside a dwelling or commercial property, including their subsystems. These systems include:

Climate Control

Automating this system offers the benefits of greater control, efficiency and even savings on energy bills. With just one console, you can turn heaters and AC units on and off.

Home Entertainment

Whether you want to enjoy your favorite music anywhere in your home or watch movies in your den, we can integrate all the systems involved in one handy console.

Lighting

Switching lights located in different parts of your home on and off can be one great inconvenience after a difficult day at work. With a universal remote control, you can easily turn different lights inside your home on and off and even set a timer for these.

Security

Through automation, you can enjoy greater functionality from your property’s security cameras. With an automated system, viewing, controlling the cameras, recording and taking snapshots have never been easier.

Access Control

Allows you the ability to open and close home doors, garage doors, gates, etc. when you are away from

home. This can be a great tool for allowing people access like maid services, family, friends, etc without having to give copies of your keys out. This is also a good tool for the person who looks on their cameras and notices he left the garage wide open.

Pool/Spa Control

Control everything on your Pool/Spa system. Turn deck jets on/off, control temperature, control schedules, lights, etc. from your Smart Device

Irrigation

Control schedules, turn system on/off, etc.