Q: What devices are best for operating my home control?
Variety truly is the spice of life when it comes to controlling your home. Having an assortment of different devices through which to operate the lighting, thermostats, audio/video gear and security products in your home is not only fun, it's practical. Large wall-mounted touch panels, for example, are ideal for monitoring and adjusting the settings of all the systems in your house and allowing you to peruse a list of music and movies available through your whole-house entertainment system. Wall-mounted keypads, by comparison, are well-suited for sending out quick commands to components. A good-bye button, for example, could turn off all the lights and lower the thermostats. Finally, handheld remotes and portable touch screens are handy for operating audio and video systems. Consider using a combination of all three types of controls in your home. If your budget is tight, go with mostly handheld remotes. They're typically the least expensive type of control, and because you can carry them with you, you'll be able to use them in every room of the house.
Keypad
Can be configured to hold just a couple of buttons or more than a dozen, based on how much control you deem necessary. Some keypads come with a small built-in LCD screen that displays information about the commands you've issued and how the components are responding. Buttons can be custom labeled and backlit to help you read them in the dark.
B&K Components CK2.2 |
SpeakerCraft Mode 3.1 |
Colorado vNet TD1 RF Touch pad Dimmer |
Vantage/LeGrand Axolute Keypad |
Remotes
Programmable remote controls can be set up to operate gear other than your audio/video components. They can come with built-in LCD screens that show the status of equipment, for example. Programming is typically done by a professional home systems installer.
Universal Remote Control MX-3000 |
RTI T2C |
Marantz RC9500 |
Logitech Harmony 1000 |
Touch Panel
Features an interactive display screen that presents information about the systems in your house and buttons that when touched can issue a command to one or several electronic components. Portable and wall-mounted units are available. Screens can come in color or black and white. The display is commonly designed by a professional home systems installer.
AMX MVP-5200 |
Control4 C4 |
Russound UNO-TS2D |
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