Stay connected: a five year plan

Given the accelerated rate at which wireless connectivity and “smart” devices are emerging, soon every home will be a Smart Home! Your own home may already include smart products like motion-sensing outdoor floodlights, automatic garage door openers and smart TVs, so now is the time to start planning your home and yard where everything is linked and operable by voice or smartphone command.

Go the router route.

Since smart products rely on wireless communication in order to operate, your home’s Wi-Fi router is the cornerstone of your Smart Home system. If your router is more than a few years old, it may be slow and vulnerable to outside hacking. New routers are affordable and provide the security and increased bandwidth you need while offering features that go beyond what was previously available.

The Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream™ AC5400 MU-MIMO router delivers speeds of up to 5.3 Gbps to support streaming of 4K or HD media, even while WiFi is simultaneously being used by others in your household. This is an important consideration since today’s home networks often support and share bandwidth for HDTV, video game consoles, and multiple smart wireless devices. This router also offers remote access through the Linksys Smart WiFi App, allowing users to monitor and manage their Wi-Fi network for up to 50 guests.

Hub-ba hub-ba.

The next step in preparing your home for the future is to choose a Smart Home “hub” such as Google Home, Amazon Echo, or Apple HomePod voice-assist speakers. These hubs, with cloud-based “digital assistants,” control smart devices with simple directions or requests spoken aloud. Use them to adjust your home’s heating and air conditioning, operate interior and exterior lights, cook dinner in a microwave or oven, see and speak with guests at the front door, listen to your favorite music, and much more.

Smart sensors, lighting and security.

Once you’ve got wireless connectivity and your command controller handled, think about which devices and appliances you want to add to your Smart Home. Start with low-cost products like the Philips Hue lighting that provides convenience and enhance your living spaces. You can use accessory devices like WeMo Smart Plugs and Chamberlain MyQ garage door controllers to easily add remote control to “non-smart” appliances you already own.

Evaluate kitchen and laundry appliances.

When you replace kitchen or laundry appliances, be sure to choose Wi-Fi-enabled equipment that links to your network. This allows manufacturers the ability to wirelessly update your appliances as features become available, and seamlessly integrate the updates into your system.

Compatibility: the key to connectivity.

Choosing smart devices that are compatible with your smart hub is key to creating a Smart Home network. Google, Amazon and Apple have all developed their software to function right out of the box, and also be compatible with competing platforms – a trend that is expected to continue.

Honesty, integrity and reliability in Smart Home sales.

Today, off-the-shelf Smart Home products are readily available to everyone, but creating a seamless and interconnected system of smart devices can be confusing. That’s why P.C. Richard & Son offers complete Smart Home installation and maintenance services, with teams of trained experts ready to assist homeowners on Long Island and throughout the Tri-State area. Every sales associate in the retailer’s 66 stores undergoes hours of training and requires manufacturer certification to ensure that they can guide homeowners to the smart products they need, and answer any questions buyers might ask.

Steven Miller, head Smart Home buyer at P.C. Richard & Son, acknowledges, “It can be challenging for homeowners because the Smart Home category is taking off so fast, and more and more smart products are emerging on the scene. Where before products did not seamlessly integrate, many of the products we offer now are compatible across different smart platforms.”

Planning your five-year Smart Home strategy can be a daunting task. Working with the Smart Home experts at P.C. Richard & Son can help you create the plan that best fits your budget, preferences, and timeline.

To learn more about Smart Home technology and build your own 5-year plan, visit any P.C. Richard & Son location or www.pcrichard.com today!

The news and editorial staff of Newsday had no role in the creation of this content