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UPDATE: INSTEON (Smartlabs) shut down their servers on April 16th, 2022, effectively discontinuing the use of the INSTEON protocol and nearly all of their devices.

Ecolink security products are now available at HomeControls.com.

Dakota Alert creates long range motion detection devices for indoor and outdoor security. Dakota Alert products primarily benefit users with large properties, such as farms, office buildings or other properties with lots of ground to cover. Their products have provided users exceptional security coverage over wide areas thanks to long range RF transmissions that have increased in strength and scale as newer iterations were released. Currently, Dakota Alert offers two distinct product series: the MURS series and the 4000 series.

There are many seniors who plan to live long lives at home independently, but as they get older the more challenging it could be just to perform simple tasks like turning on the lights in various rooms or even answering the front door. Then there’s safety and security to think about. Unfortunately, seniors do run the risk of injuring themselves if they fall due to poor visibility because of inadequate lighting, and some may even experience memory loss that could cause them to accidentally leave the front door unlocked, which could lead to a home burglary.

Have you ever wondered if your home is as safe and secure as it could be? Or, have you been thinking about adding a home security system to your property but are not really sure if the investment is worth it? To help answer these questions, we put together a Simple Home Security Checklist to see what areas of your property could use the extra security. If you answer “no” to any of the questions below, you’ll want to take action to improve your home security.

Home Controls now supplies Wi-Fi connected smart lighting products from SATCO, a premier supplier of smart and standard lighting products. Devices from the SATCO catalogue include color changing Wi-Fi Connected Lightbulbs, as well as Switches and Plug-In Outlets with remote Wi-Fi connectivity. Every SATCO device available at Home Controls is capable of remote Wi-Fi operation via their Starfish mobile application, no smart home hub or controller is required.

Home security has changed for the better with the integration of home automation systems. There is so much you can do nowadays besides just having a video surveillance system installed in your home. With so many home automation controllers and hundreds of different smart devices available at your disposal, you can literally set up your smart home in many creative ways to work against unwanted intruders. Combining your home security system with other home automation devices allows you to create unique scenes to occur when certain security sensors are triggered. Plus, many home automation systems can be accessed, controlled, and monitored with a mobile app, which means receiving alerts and notifications over the phone of all the activity that is happening at home so you can react and notify the authorities if needed.

When it comes to setting up a video surveillance system for your home or office, you’ll need to decide on what type of system to use: NVR or DVR? Which is better, or more importantly, which system is better suited for your needs? Both types of systems pretty much provide the same thing – a video recording of an observed area – but each system goes about it in a different way.

We’ve spoken about Z-Wave before, but now we’re going to get into a little more detail on the usefulness and practicality of home automation. Typically you would look at a door/window sensor, or motion sensor, and expect that all it does is tell you and your automation hub when a door or window is open or when movement is detected in the room. While that is true on both counts, these sensors are capable of much more than simply telling you.

Use home automation to help make the summer season a whole lot easier. Besides bringing blue skies and sunny days, summer is also responsible for increasing the activity around your home because it’s the time of year when the kids are out of school, the days are hotter, pool parties are being planned, and families get to go on their summer vacation.

Home Controls is proud to announce we now carry Luxul networking devices. Luxul is a trusted name in IP networking solutions, creating high quality wired and wireless network devices for residential and commercial applications. Luxul devices can accommodate any sized home or business regardless of the setup , thanks to their plug-and-play installation design and high capacity specifications, including Gigabit network speeds, Power over Ethernet (PoE) functionality, and more.

Home Controls now carries wireless audio streaming systems from EISsound. EISsound, a European manufacturer, was one of the first players in the home audio system industry to introduce audio control units designed to replace standard light switches. Their product designs always include a seamless or universal aesthetic in order to be easily included into any home audio or business installation. EISsound’s wireless audio products use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth technology to deliver music from a single streaming device to expandable multi-room audio setups.

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Besides making life easier and more secure at home, smart automation and security devices can also be used to help keep tabs on your kids. There are many parents, both single and married, that have to work full-time jobs and can’t always be home at the same time their kids are home, especially after school.

Streaming music at home without having to rely on just using your smartphone and an external speaker is now possible and easier than you think.

Looking for ways to save money on utility bills and make your rented home a smart home? You don’t have to own the building you're living in to start building an automated home system with smart home products.

Let’s face it: for many of us, waking up during the work week can be a struggle. Whether you sleep through your alarms or force yourself out of bed while still half asleep, it can be hard to quickly muster the energy and focus necessary to kickstart your mornings. For days like these, adding smart home automation devices to your home can potentially improve your morning routine by programing your home to wake up with you. Here at Home Controls we offer a full spread of smart home devices that can make your mornings easier to greet.

Z-Wave 700 (aka Z-Wave Plus v2), and Z-Wave Long Range (Z-Wave LR) allow new Z-Wave compatible devices to benefit from greater transmission ranges, longer battery life, and other improved features.