Great Plug-In Intercom At A Great Price

These wireless intercoms from Westinghouse are so popular they are just flying out of our warehouse! Now you can have true voice clarity in a well-made powerline intercom at a great price!

Simply plug the units into your household electrical outlet and talk. Press CALL to page another room. Press TALK to converse. Or for continual communication or monitoring, simply press the lock button. Excellent clarity with no background hum or static. It is ideal as a baby monitor, for small business use, or just to call the kids to dinner!

Available in three channels or four channels, you can talk to or monitor ANY number of rooms. Also available in a doorbell/intercom model; uses existing doorbell wiring…answer the doorbell from any room with a powerline intercom! Mix and match all units.

See the entire Westinghouse Intercom product line here!

• No installation or batteries required
• Two-way communications
• One-way audio monitoring
• Excellent sound clarity
• Press Call to page another room
• Press Talk to converse
• Press Lock for continual monitoring
• Up to 1,500 foot range
• Easy-to-follow instructions in English and Spanish
• More info…

New iTach: Connect Almost Any Device To A Network

Global Caché, known for its highly successful GC-100 Network Adapters, has released the new iTach Family of Products designed to connect any control system, including the iPhone and iPod touch, to common household devices so they can be easily accessed and controlled. Employing the iTach and remote control software available through iTunes, the Apple iPhone/iPod touch is transformed into a universal remote control in a matter of minutes. Now an iPhone/iPod touch or any WiFi-based controller can access the TV, DVD, cable box and almost any other electrical device from any room in the house without wiring.

“With 30 million U.S. households using WiFi for home networking, a significant opportunity exists to bring a wireless non-line-of-sight control element into play for consumers’ growing collections of consumer electronics,” said Kurt Scherf, Vice President and principal analyst with Parks Associates. “The iTach products will bring a new level of convenience to consumers seeking to simplify control of their digital lifestyles products.”

iTach Highlights:

• Ultra compact device (fits in the palm of your hand) for convenient and unobtrusive connectivity
• WiFi can be used from anywhere and does not require line-of-sight access or wiring
• Ethernet wired iTach offers Power over Ethernet (PoE) option — no power supply required
• Infrared (IR), Serial (RS232), and Relay (contact closure) models available for installation flexibility
• Supports multiple simultaneous connections, up to 8 iPhone/iPod devices can simultaneously control one iTach
• Highly reliable full-spectrum IR learning built in for easy installation and flexibility
• On board web server for fast and easy setup and configuration
• Flash upgradeable to accommodate future upgrades in the field
• Backwards compatibility with the Global Caché GC-100 Network Adapter
• More info …

Available in WiFi, Wired TCP/IP, and Wired TCP/IP with PoE option. Home Controls has the WiFi version in stock now, ready to ship out! We are expecting to receive the other versions in just a few weeks, and you can pre-order those today.

Charge Cell Phones, iPods, PDAs, Cameras & More With Solar Power!

Using the latest in photovoltaic technology, the Solar e Power is designed to directly charge electronic devices and rechargeable AA and AAA batteries. This is ideal for recharging Ni-MH, Ni-cad, and Li-Ion batteries used in cellular phones, PDAs, cameras, and other handheld devices using AA or AAA batteries. The Solar e Power is also capable of using alkaline batteries to directly charge electronic devices.

The Solar e Power has such features as a built-in “blocking diode”, which prevents the reverse flow of electricity from the batteries to the solar panels when the solar panels are not supplying electricity. By utilizing photovoltaic cells as solar panels, the charger has the latest technology in sunlight energy conversion.

• Check it out here…

Warning: Before attempting to start vehicle, this unit must be removed from the vehicle’s 12V socket.

Last Call For X10 Lamp Modules For Only $7.95!

Normally priced about $20, Home Controls has been offering a huge savings on the PLM01 X10 Lamp Module. We started the sale a few weeks ago with several hundred of these very popular modules. And wow, have they been popular because we’re down just a few dozen. Now is the time to get yours before supplies are gone!

The X10 Lamp Module is the simplest and most effective way to control your household incandescent lights. Lighting control is simply a plug-in away. The X10 Lamp Module plugs into any standard 120V household outlet and gives you the ability to remotely control any incandescent light you plug into the Module (up to 300 watts). The Lamp Module is actually a Receiver that Responds to X10 Signals generated by X10 Controllers elsewhere on the electrical power lines. Simply dial in any House Code and Unit Code you choose for each Module and away you go! Don’t worry about losing manual control of the lamp… it will function normally even with the Module in place. The Lamp Module is the foundation of your home lighting system. The PLM01 features Automatic Gain Control (AGC).

• Save here. Sale valid while supplies last!

Last Minute Christmas Gift: Comfy Cruise

If you are looking for a great gift, then you need to check out the Comfy Cruise Travel Blanket. It features a large 42 x 58 inch size and an extra long 7 ft. cord so it can be used in the back seat as well as in the front. It can be used in cars, convertibles, trucks, boats, RVs, and SUVs.

• Warms you up in seconds.
• Large 42″ x 58″ size covers 2 people.
• Great for keeping kids warm, especially when they are in car seats and cannot wear bulky snow suits. Great for your spouse, who wants the temperature warmer than you. Great for senior citizens and others who suffer from poor circulation.
• Extra long 7 ft. cord reaches back seats.
• Luxurious 100% polyester fleece.
• Simply plug into 12V cigarette lighter socket. Comfy Cruise can also be used as a regular blanket when not plugged in.
• Automatic temperature control.
• Timer automatically turns off heat after 30 or 45 minutes for safety.
• Energy-saving 4 amp power usage.
• Easy to clean.
• Navy blue color.
• More info …

These are very popular and selling fast. But don’t worry — we have plenty in stock and ready to ship out!

Long Driveway, Over the Hill and Far Away

I assisted a customer earlier this week who wanted to control some driveway path lights. He described the driveway as being over 300 feet in length, tree-lined, with a small hill and curves that prevented any line-of-sight from the home to the start of the driveway.  I think in my neighborhood, that kind of a driveway is called a road. Or maybe a lane.  Anyway, the customer wanted the lights to come on at night when either vehicles or people were detected.  I whipped up some parts and made a drawing of what he needed to meet his application. Check it out.

I used a combination of MURS wireless motion sensors and UPB lighting control from Dakota Alert and Simply Automated, respectively.  The MURS wireless hardware was selected due to its greater transmit power over standard wireless, and UPB for it’s powerline simplicity.  Enter  ”MURS” in our search window to find two more articles on MURS.  The parts list consists of:

DAMAT, MURS PIR Transmitter

DAM538BSKIT, MURS Transmitter and Receiver

SAZPCIW, UPB Phase Coupler

SAUMI32W, I/O Module

SAUCS01, Scheduler/Timer and Interface Module

SAUS1140W, Transceiver Switch

Feel free to use the system described here as a template for various detection and lighting schemes you may encounter in the future.

Need An Expert Installer? Find One At The NEW ConnectHome Website!

Residential automation, whole-house entertainment, and networking is a must for the 21st century home. But the fast changing technology can be confusing and the options seem endless. You need a professional installing dealer you can trust to guide you through the process of creating a home with the latest technology for convenience, security and energy efficiency.

ConnectHome is the answer.

ConnectHome is the nation’s premier installing dealer network for the professional sales and installation of residential networking, control and entertainment systems. Take the risk out of choosing a dealer, and make your life easier. Peace of mind is priceless!

Visit the NEW ConnectHome website! ConnectHome is very proud to announce the launch of our completely redesigned website. The website is brand new from the ground up with all new content and the latest web features:

• Project idea videos
• Room-by-room automation opportunities
• Energy savings tips
• Business solutions
• ConnectHome dealer directories
• And so much more!

Visit www.ConnectHome.com Today!

To become a ConnectHome dealer, contact Brian Callan, National Sales Manager, at 800-422-4024 x133 or email.