A smart home offers an ease of living that’s hard to imagine until experienced. The lighting, climate, shades, security, and all your entertainment devices are effortlessly managed with one touch or voice command. Scenes, such as dining, entertaining, and relaxing, instantly transform your home, creating the perfect setting. One of the best features is that you can manage your home in the greater Philadelphia, PA, area from anywhere. 

The backbone of this remarkable system is your home network. This connectivity enables your home automation platform to communicate with your many smart systems and for these systems to communicate with each other. When the shades rise to let in natural light, the lights automatically dim. When you say “Good Night,” your smart home turns off the lights, locks the doors, and sets the alarm. 

As you can imagine, this level of connectivity is far beyond that of a traditional home, and yet, many smart homes are still running on a standard home network. The insufficiency becomes apparent as dropped signals, slow downloads, and video buffering become increasingly evident. 

And that’s where Whitaker Technologies and our partner, Araknis Networks, come in. Here, we’ll explore the makings of a home network designed for smart home living.

Tariffs are a word that conjures up uncertainty. One minute, the Court of International Trade ruled many of them illegal. Next, an appeals court ordered a stay while the case was challenged. 

At one time, China faced tariffs as high as 145%. Today, they’ve been temporarily reduced to 10%. With the additional “fentanyl” tariff of 20%, China’s overall rate is about 30%. 

Some Mexican and Canadian goods are subject to 25% tariffs. On May 30, the rates on aluminum and steel imports rose from 25% to 50%. 

So, what do all these topsy-turvy dynamics mean for smart home systems? Many smart home technology components are manufactured in countries outside the US. These components span almost all features including smart home control systems, AV equipment, networking supplies, security systems, and LED lighting. For some of these items, it translates to higher prices and supply chain challenges. 

As a home technology company serving Philadelphia, PA, and the Delaware Valley, it’s up to our team at Whitaker Technologies to stay ahead of the curve and provide our clients with the best possible prices, with projects completed on time and on budget. 

Here, we’ll explore how we bring great value despite potential price increases and some of the essential actions we take to limit the effects of tariffs when creating the smart home our clients dream of. 

The outdoor seasons are upon us. Are you ready to remember this one as one of the best? Enjoying backyard barbeques and pool parties is a great way to make the most of spring and summer, but an element is often missing. 

When evening comes, an outdoor lighting system can transform your outdoor areas into an oasis after dark. Instead of bringing the party indoors, push a button and create an enchanting retreat.

For the ultimate sports fan, not much beats watching a game in person. But watching the big game outside with friends, fresh air, and plenty of room to cheer is a close second. An outdoor viewing area is a great way to make patio entertainment for the ultimate fan experience. Continue reading for the steps to build the perfect game day setup in your Philadelphia, PA, backyard.