Will Ethernet Be Replaced by 5G?

As we use mobile technology on a wider and wider scale, both for business and personal use, the need for faster and more reliable connectivity has never been so important.

5G is the next generation of wireless networking technology and promises to deliver ultra-fast speeds and responsiveness to connect everything around us without interruption.

This technology has been designed to accommodate the changing needs of connectivity demands, so will 5G replace Ethernet in the future?

Practicality and Adoption

Although this technology enables super fast wireless application, the proportion of the network will still need to be fiber fed and for most of the country, this infrastructure is not in place.

While urban areas may enjoy 5G very soon – and a handful already are – there are still suburban and rural locations that do not have the framework to support this. There is then the matter of the locality of the transmitters, which will be required to deliver 5G frequencies.

Although ground based antenna similar to that of 3G/4G networks will provide support, the short delivery distances of 5G wave frequencies will mean they will have to be closer to the end user for maximum benefit.

There will also be a few issues with coverage too, as the higher frequencies used in 5G applications have difficulty penetrating solid objects such as walls, buildings and windows. This could be solved in the short-term with smaller hubs of 5G, which can be implemented in largely populated areas such as major cities.

In terms of speed, it is promised that this network will support significant improvements compared to that of 4G. In recent trials, this has been achieved but for real-world applications, it is yet unknown the exact capabilities. Sharing similar traits to 4G connectivity, speeds may be affected by coverage, signal quality and how many people are using the network at once. Speeds may also not be fully realized, as users do not have the smartphones to exploit the full benefits of 5G.

The cost alone of this infrastructure investment is a huge consideration for companies looking to provide this service and at present only appears to be considered where it makes economic sense.

Will 5G replace your home broadband?

While 5G is still some time away for most consumers, one of the most obvious applications of this technology will be to replace your home broadband service. There have already been trials in the US and these have demonstrated that you won’t need cables laid to enjoy fast Internet speeds.

This technology may not be seen as a direct replacement but purely a better option for people that can access sufficient signal. It will also be a great option for people that move around a lot, as this means they will be able to take their contract with them and not be restricted by locality.

When can we expect 5G to be mainstream?

The network has been evolving and upgrading for a long time, but 5G will be a giant leap forward. Target markets are beginning to see roll outs right now and expect it to be more widely available by 2020. 5G smartphones are already available in 2019 and estimates suggest $50 to $100 billion will be spent in the coming years.

Amazing Smart Home Innovations You’ll Love

Our homes are getting more and more dependent on tech. Which is a good thing. But sometimes the gadgets that are arriving on the market surprise even serious tech nerds like us.

The newest home tech devices save you time, stress, and finally put an end to those times you accidentally answer the door to that neighbor who’s always selling something (her kids’ fundraisers, Tupperware, questionable weight-loss supplements) and even allow you to stay in your hammock while you mow your lawn. Here’s a look at some home tech that is really wowing us right now.

TVs With Curved Screens

While they may look a little odd at first, curved screen TVs really are very cool. They offer a great view of the TV from any angle in the room and their unique shape minimizes the effects of glare from interior and exterior light. Plus, they are a real talking point when guests arrive.

Lutron Light Dimmer

Dimmer lighting is nothing new, but this gadget, from Lutron, can not only control every light in your home (if you so desire) from a single, sleek wall switch but can be connected directly to Amazon’s Alexa so that they can be controlled by your voice as well.

Self Watering Planter

Going away in vacation this summer and worried what will happen to your plants while you are gone? The innovative Smartpot will take care of them by dispensing water and plant food on a scheduled basis for up to a month. No need to give that nosy neighbor a key to come in and water them after all. (Note: this is also great for those of us whose thumbs are more black than green and kill every plant we own.)

Nest Security Cam

If you sleep better at night knowing your home is being protected (and who doesn’t?), the Nest Cam will send you a phone alert or email with photos if it detects activity outside. Plus, it has a built-in smart speaker so you can talk and listen through the device. Several of them can be placed around your home and linked together too.

Smart Bathtub

The Archer VibrAcoustic Bath serves as a powerful bluetooth speaker when it is empty. Once it is filled the music waves ripple through the water. Link it to your favorite relaxing Spotify playlist and enjoy the best home spa Saturday ever.

The Roomba for Your Lawn

A beautiful lawn is a wonderful thing, mowing it, not so much. Enter the Worx Robot Lawn Mower, a gadget that is basically a Roomba for your lawn. It uses a shock sensor system to mow around obstacles and returns to its base if it senses rain or needs to recharge its battery. It won’t fetch your next drink (yet) but will allow to you to keep on chilling while it does all the hard work.

Need help installing your new home or office tech? Or help finding just the right stuff? Call us, we’ll be happy to help.

Creative Uses for Residential CCTV You May Not Have Considered

Residential CCTV is becoming more and more commonplace. But security cameras are good for more than just securing your home from burglars. If you are considering CCTV for your home but have yet to decide if it’s the right investment for you to make consider some of these other uses you can put residential CCTV systems to that make them even more useful.

Monitor Workers

Planning on having some work done around the house this summer? A CCTV system will allow you to keep an eye on workmen and contractors, so that you don’t have to hang around all day to keep an eye on things but it can do more than that too. By using your cameras to record the work as it is being completed you can help ensure that everything you are paying for gets done and having documented evidence can help resolve any potential problems or concerns that may arise right away to avoid bigger issues later.

Make Your Home Even Smarter

Thanks to AI assistants like Alexa and Google Home creating a smarter home is easier, and more affordable, than ever before. But did you know that your CCTV system can make a smart home even smarter?

Security cameras can be used to communicate with other smart devices in your home to do things like automatically turn off lights and adjust the indoor temperature when you are away or after leaving the house.

Improve Your Vacation

One of the hardest things about being on vacation has always been worrying about what’s going on at home that you can’t see. Not just in terms of possible break-ins and bad guys but also wondering if the cat sitter will remember to show up, and when they do will they remember to close and lock the back door? How is the cat doing on their own? And did that package you’ve been waiting for for weeks finally show up?

The fact that a CCTV system can be easily linked to your cellphone means you’ll be able to check in and answer these – and many more – questions any time you like.

Solve Those Garden Mysteries

Something is eating all the veggies you so lovingly planted in your garden, but as it’s happening at night you really don’t know what it is, so you do not understand how to solve the problem and save the produce you’re so looking forward to harvesting and eating.

A CCTV camera with infrared lighting – which are easy to find – can be used to monitor all the goings on in your garden at night and help you determine if it’s rodents, bugs or just the neighbor’s wandering cat that’s causing the problem.

Document More of Your Life

The one thing a CCTV system can also do that you may not have thought about? Quietly document everyday life. The changing of the seasons, the comings and goings around the house, special occasions. Little things but precious memories that you’ll be glad, in years to come, your CCTV captured when you didn’t have the time to.

Why Get Your New TV Professionally Calibrated?

Are our TVs just getting a bit too too smart for us? With so many new features, add-ons and fine-tuning possibilities for things like smart TVs, 4K TVs, and HDR, there’s a professional service that’s become available to help us better enjoy our viewing experience; TV calibration.

Why Calibrate a TV? Why Isn’t It Set Right Out of the Box?

Calibrating a TV allows you to ensure you’re getting the most out of your high-end TV. In essence, you’re making sure the video picture in your home is as good as the one in a professional theatre, the one that sold you on this model in the first place in the store, or that it allows you to view movies and TV shows with all the subtleties and nuances the director intended.

TV calibration can also be utilized to make specific adjustments for the particular environment or the room it’s to be watched in; for example a TV in a brightly lit living room should be calibrated differently that one in a dedicated home theatre in a basement. There are also the differences in time of day to consider when watching TV; did you know TVs can have day and nighttime settings for best viewing? Proper calibration of each of these means you’ll get the same great quality picture at midnight as you did at noon.

You may be wondering why your expensive new TV doesn’t come fully calibrated. Again, it comes down to viewing environment. The type of fine adjustments you would want to view visual media in your blacked-out basement media suite will be different than someone using a 30” TV in the kids’ playroom or home office, or a sunny main floor area. TVs do kind of come out with all their settings in the middle of the road, but the point is you need these fine settings to work for YOU in YOUR home. Calibration isn’t universal.

TV Calibration Is Especially Important for 4K TVs

Today’s 4K resolution TVs that are ultra sharp, replicate fine detail and provide a hyper-realistic looking picture, but you will only truly get the most out of what is still a several thousand dollar investment if it is properly calibrated. Proper calibration is also key for TVs with HDR colour that are capable of reproducing millions of colour subtitles; bottom line, if your TV isn’t properly calibrated, you’ve probably wasted some of your money.

Calibration Is Not Set-up

TV calibration and TV set-up are two different processes. While ‘set up’ implies simple and basic settings are changed, such as selecting your language, adding a Wi-Fi account or even selecting ‘favourite’ channels or services, calibration makes detailed and specific adjustments to the TV picture, fine-tuning things like colour, contrast and overall brightness.

Can I Do This Myself?

The honest answer is yes, you can calibrate your new 4K HDR TV yourself. There are generally a number of presets built into new TV’s calibration menus. You’ll often see these options called Cinema, Sports, or Vivid. You can easily select one of these and then watch some video and see how it looks to you. Granted, with presets, you may need to make your setting selection based on what specific type of program you’re watching.

You can, of course try to navigate the settings menus and tweak a bit here and a bit there, but unless you know what you’re doing or what effect you want to achieve, or what you’re trying to aim for, this might be ill advised.

Some TV owners are reluctant to call in a professional. But here are some signs you might want to ask for help:

 

  • If the idea of messing with the deep internal settings menus of your brand new $6,000 TV gives you heart palpitations
  • If you have no idea what a perfectly calibrated TV would look like
  • If you’re the type of person who runs right to the IT person at work for help when your phone or computer crashes (which is more than OK by the way )
  • If you’re just not getting what you thought you would from your new 4K or HDR TV set, if you’re just not ‘wowed’ by the picture quality.

Data Installers Inc. is here to help you get your entertainment needs through its audio video installation services, including professional TV calibration.

Common Data Center Mistakes You May Be Overlooking

You are more than aware of the importance of your data center. You understand that if things go wrong there, things can be become chaotic everywhere. But are you making – or allowing others to make – data center mistakes that although easily avoided are still lurking in your server rooms waiting to unleash havoc?

Not sure? Let’s take a look at some of the most common mistakes.

Illicit Liquids

This should be a no brainer, and yet it’s not that unusual -if they were to be honest – that someone sneaks themselves a soda while working – or even just briefly visiting – the average data center. They are going to be careful, and as they are nowhere near the servers nothing can go wrong. Three hours without a drink is a long time, and they’re sure this is how long this job is going to take.

However, the reality is that all it often takes is one drop of liquid on the wrong piece of hardware and the happy hum of a lively server can become the terrifying static silence of a dead one in seconds. So make no liquids EVER – and no food – a golden rule, with tangible punishments for violators, however thirsty they were (that having been said ensure that all of your employees do get their proper refreshment breaks as well.)

Creeping Cardboard

In the 21st century data – and the infrastructures holding it – are the life-blood of companies of all sizes. And if servers are the heart of the system then cardboard is the bad cholesterol, especially if allowed to build up until there is a fatal blockage.

The obvious reason to ban cardboard from the data center is its combustibility and the fire hazard it creates. But there is more to it than that. Over time, cardboard disintegrates and sheds, and as it does these minute particles migrate into server fans, reducing their ability to provide the essential airflow needed to keep all of that vital equipment cool.

This inefficiency results directly into using more energy and an increased potential for catastrophic failure. To prevent creeping cardboard un-box equipment outside of the data center and store everything that needs to be stored there in plastic boxes.

Cable Spaghetti

Often, the average data center grows surprisingly quickly as the company it serves does and technology it contains becomes more complicated. In fact it is very easy to go from a simple setup to quadruple your original cable count with only a few expansions. And if you do not have structured cabling one of the most dreaded afflictions of any data center – cable spaghetti – creeps up very quickly. 

Structured cabling and proper cable management keeps everything organized and easily traceable, which means that new girl Becky can replace that patch cable without risk of getting caught up in the flying spaghetti monster of cables; resulting in bringing down your network or even herself in an HR nightmare. The benefits of these tactics speak for themselves every time in the sheer amount of risk mitigated.

Haphazard Security

You have locks on your server room. Well done, that’s a great idea. But data center security should extend beyond that. Security isn’t just where you put your servers, it’s also who has access to them. Too often permission is given out without thought towards documentation or even why that person needs access. How many keys are there? Who has them? Why do they have them? These are all questions that can help to address the issue of security and close the gaps that may be hiding just out of sight. An even better idea? A formal access management system that tightens the reins of control over just who – and who isn’t – supposed to have access to your vital data operations at any given time.

4 Great Reasons to Consider Offering Free Wifi at Your Business in 2019

As any service based business owner knows giving customers and clients the best possible on-premises experience is a must. And given that a whopping 69% of consumers interviewed for a survey in 2017 said they make use of public Wi-Fi when it is available that is certainly something that people are looking for service based businesses to provide, which is why all kinds of businesses  — from fast-food restaurants, bars and cafes to doctor’s offices, laundromats and more — are investing in fast, free WiFi.

However, some business owners are still wavering on the issue. They believe it will cost too much or simply just not offer good ROI. However, that kind of thinking really is both outdated and short-sighted. Here are just four very compelling reasons why providing WiFi could benefit your business in a big way:

It’s Great Way to Boost the Effectiveness of Your Business Marketing

Many WiFi solutions allow you to promote your business before customers even sign in. For example, some allow businesses to create a custom splash or landing page to attract customers and share real-time offers. Additionally, there’s an opportunity to brand your network with a custom WiFi network name — like “John’s Diner Free WiFi.”

Free WiFi is a great way to boost the sometimes difficult to master art of social media marketing as well. How? Your customers and/or clients can do the marketing for you via social media. By letting customers “check in” at your restaurant or share a photo of their favorite dish with their friends, they’re spreading the word without any extra effort on your end. And what could be better than free, word of mouth marketing?

Free Wi-Fi Encourages Customers to Stay Longer

WiFi access helps customers stay productive and connected while they’re in your store or at your place of business, so they’ll want to stay longer. In fact, as many as 62% of businesses that already offer the service report that customers spend more time in their facility when WiFi is offered. And when they’re there longer, they’ll likely encourage their friends and family to spend more time at your business, too.

And They Will Spend More Money As Well

Some on the fence business owners do worry that too many customers who use the WiFi will do so without spending a dime, – or stay for hours having purchased just one coffee – but chances are good they’ll end up actually spending more. Half of small businesses surveyed said that customers spent more money when free WiFi became available. For retailers, customers can use the WiFi to browse your products and read reviews in real time, a practice that consumers are utilizing more and more often.

Free Wi-Fi Gives You An Extra Competitive Edge

Did you know that a number of research studies and surveys have shown that when they are using sites like Yelp! or Trip Advisor consumers increasingly filter businesses — coffee shops, bookstores, hotels and motels, bars, laundromats and more — based on which ones offer free WiFi.

That means that those that offer fast, free WiFi have a clear advantage over those that don’t. The reality is, customers have come to expect free WiFi at most places. But not just any old Wi-Fi. They are looking for GOOD WiFi, something that can be achieved when you turn to professionals who can custom create – and install – the very best public Wi-Fi structure for your unique business.

GIVE US A CALL 1-800-730-3468. We ensure you that we give a good quality service.

Top Three Ways to Prevent Porch Piracy in 2019

The big holiday shopping season may be over, but as the number of people choosing to shop for almost anything online is still increasing everyday. And the chances are you (and your family) will do a lot more online ordering over the course of 2019 and why not? Shopping online is fast, convenient and you can often find a wider range of products than you can at the local stores (and even at the mall.)

However, the rise in popularity of online shopping has created a new opportunity crooks; the chance to take up a new career as a ‘porch pirate’.

Package theft statistics show how much of a problem this has become. According to one package theft survey, one-third of Americans have experienced package theft and over half of those polled know someone who has been the victim of package theft.

Despite the rise in the number of these kinds of thefts, there are some simple preventative measures you can implement to help prevent package theft. Use the following tips to keep your packages safe and delivered to the rightful owners, ie: you

Install Security Cameras

The single biggest thing you can do to prevent someone from stealing your packages is to install security cameras at your front door, or in your hallway, or driveway. Visible security cameras can help deter criminals from attempting to swipe your package as they will be captured by the camera.

Additionally, security cameras with a mobile app allow you to monitor your home on days when you are expecting a delivery. Your security camera will send an alert when it detects someone/something notifying you when the package was delivered. You may have seen some viral social media videos recently of people making use of that feature with some rather interesting results.

Some people might say that ‘fake’ security cameras would be just as effective, but that is not the case. Residential CCTV can be useful for more than just preventing porch piracy and the investment in a residential CCTV system can provide a great deal of peace of mind and is far more affordable than you might think.

Consider Making Use of Click and Collect

Click-and-collect is another easy way to protect your packages on your schedule. Many large retailers – including Walmart and Target – offer a click-and-collect option in which you can shop online and pick up in the store the same day or within 24 hours. Although this means you have to go to the store to pick up your order, stores are catering to this new consumer preference and making it quick and easy to run in and pick up your order. If you are an Amazon shopper they have even introduced Amazon Lockers, which are found in an increasing number of areas that allow you to pick up your goods from a secure locker making use of a special security code.

Ask the Neighbors For Help

This ‘old fashioned’ technique can still be effective if you have neighbors close by.  If you know your neighbor is home during the day you can ask them to hold your package once delivered until you get home. Before going on vacation, ask your neighbors to collect any mail and packages delivered as mail piled up is a clear sign to potential burglars no one is home making your home a viable target. Getting to know your neighbors can help keep your home and neighborhood safer as everyone will be looking out for each other and hey, it just makes life nicer in general too.

GIVE US A CALL 1-800-730-3468. We ensure you that we give a good quality service.

Getting a New HDTV for Christmas? Why Considering Professional Installation is a Must

Are you planning on buying a new HDTV? Or isSanta bringing you one for Christmas? Any HDTV is still a pretty big investment and there are plenty of things to consider before you make that investment. Do you want plasma, LCD or projection screen? Flat or one of the new curved screens? What size will best suit the room that the new TV is going to ‘live’ in?

Once you’ve done your research and come up with the right answers, before you finally buy the TV that’s right for you there’s one more big thing to consider; should you have a professional install it for you?

TV Installation in the 21st Century

Just like televisions have evolved in leap sand bounds over the last few decades so have the complexities involved in actually getting them up and running. We’ve come a long way from the days when installing a new TV meant little more than plugging it in and spending an hour playing with the rabbit ears antenna to make sure you could pull in all the right stations.

These days to get your new baby going you may have to run cables through a wall, ensure that it is safely mounted (HDTVs are heavy) tweak a sophisticated sound system calibrate your television’s image quality and more.

Determining if you should hire a professional to install your TV depends on the complexity of the job and your confidence in your own DIY skills. You probably won’t need help physically installing it if your television is going to sit on a stand or in an entertainment center, or fit has a built-in base. But if you plan to mount a flat panel television on a wall you probably don’t want to leave that to chance.

Even if you’re confident that you can mount the television to the wall on your own – and be very you have to be very sure as a poorly mounted TV is a very expensive, and even very dangerous – an accident waiting to happen – you also have to think about the cabling.

How are you going to hide them? A wall filled with a maze of cables is far from attractive. Cables trailing all over the floor is both unsightly and a health hazard. And one look into the settings of any HDTV and you quickly realize that getting the right balance in terms of both sound and picture is going to be quite a challenge.

Before you pick an installation expert at random from a basic Google search, or whatever local directory you happen to prefer, you should take a little time to determine exactly what you are going to need from them. You’ll want to be sure that the professional will be able to handle the entire process.

We get that this might sound like a lot of work – and more of an expense than you might have banked on – just to get your new television up and running, but consider the risks of a poorly executed installation. Not only could you break your new, expensive television, but also you could damage your home in the process. It’s just better to invest in professional installation, let them so all the hard work while you get all the drinks and snacks ready for that first inaugural viewing once they’re done!

GIVE US A CALL 1-800-730-3468. We ensure you that we give a good quality service.

8K TV is (Almost) Here – But Do You Actually Need One?

The buzz was loud at tech shows all over the world this year; 8K TV is coming. This news, exciting as it is, induced groans from tech fans though. Why? Why in the world do we need 8K when it feels like 4K just became a thing? And is there even such a thing as 8K content to watch on these new generation TVs anyway? Read more

Phone Support or Live Chat? Which is Best for Your Business in the 21st Century?

If yours is a customer/client facing business then you are more than aware of the fact that you need to provide great customer service in order to satisfy customers, build customer loyalty and outshine your competition. But there are so many ways to do that now. In a perfect world, every business would strive to offer support from every single channel: but in reality, that’s just not possible. Read more

The Big Benefits Upgrading Their Access Control System Offers to Residential Landlords

Any landlord knows that as a property owner a great deal of the responsibility for security falls on them. And while commercial landlords have made great strides in this area, thanks to advanced access system technology residential landlords have been a little slower to catch up. Read more

Why Are Businesses Turning to Biometric Fingerprinting?

Biometric fingerprinting – as ‘high-tech’ as it might sound – is actually nothing new. As a usable technology, it has been around since the mid – Seventies – that’s around 50 years – but it is only now that more and more corporations and businesses are beginning to implement its use in the workplace. But the question that many who do not have is why should they consider it? What benefits might biometric fingerprinting offer to them? That’s the ‘big question’ we are going to begin answering here. Read more

Investing in Smart Tech for Your Home and Your Business

As technology continues to evolve at a very rapid pace so do the opportunities that businesses – and people in general – have to make use of it to manage their homes and workplaces more efficiently, to help streamline everyday processes and tasks, improve security, reduce costs and much more. The media tends to refer to it as ‘smart tech’ because the fact is that technology really is becoming more intelligent and intuitive than ever before. Read more

Simple Signs You Need to Update Your Company’s Access Control System

Is your company growing? We certainly hope so! But when a company is growing its’ operational needs quickly become more complex. Not just your hardware and software needs, but the sometimes-overlooked day to day functions as well.

For example, just how do people get in and out of your building? You need an access control system that can keep up with the new employees and perhaps an increase in visits from clients, customers and the general public as well. Read more

Enhancing California Homes with Technologies from Data Installers in Montclair, CA

Your California home is probably one of your most valuable investments as well as the place that you and your family spend so much time and create so many great memories. But what if technology could make your home so much more than that? A place that is as safe and secure as possible, or one that is truly connected and efficient, offering you, your family and your guests the best in wireless technology, multi-media consumption and more. With the services offered by Data Installers, it can be all of this and more. Allow us to explain… Read more