If there's one thing constant in this world, it's the relentless advance of technology. From super-computers in our pockets to electric cars, technology keeps moving forward rapidly. Smart home automation, of course, is no exception, and it's one of the most exciting areas in technology, bringing new benefits and capabilities to the home. 

As metro Atlanta’s premier AV and home automation company, GHT Group stays at the forefront of what’s new in smart homes. Here are four trends that we see accelerating into 2022. 

What makes for a superior smart home experience? At GHT Group, it’s not just about giving you another way to control your lighting or HVAC system. While it’s undeniably convenient to control lighting from an app, you ultimately want a system that can intelligently and seamlessly manage your home – often without any input from you.

A Crestron system is all about smart control of your Destin, FL property. Whether you’re at home or away, Crestron gives you intelligent management and automation of your home. Here are three ways – out of many – that Crestron delivers a superior smart home experience. 

The concept of smart home control and automation sounds great to you. We talk about every aspect of it on these blog pages, from AV systems to lighting to shading and everything else. But the process of starting might seem a little daunting; trying to figure out what you want and need. 

When you buy a car, do you spring for the loaded model that has absolutely everything? If you do, you won't suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out) – you’ve got it all. That’s great, but most auto manufacturers offer different trim levels or a multitude of a-la-carte options to customize your vehicle the way you want it. That way, you get what you want and don’t pay for what you don’t need. 

When it comes to smart home design and installation, that’s what an expert Control4 installer like GHT Group can offer you – a system specifically tailored for your Duluth, GA home and your needs. Read on to see how working with a Control4 dealer gets you all the smart home you need and want – and not what you don’t.  

We love motorized shades at GHT Group, and it shows in the many blogs we’ve written about them. But there are some shades we haven't written too much about, those from our home automation partner Crestron. As GHT Group has been in audiovisual and smart home technology for over three decades, we are a long-time Crestron dealer. Crestron is a bit like Apple in that they make high-end solutions in all the major product categories – home automation in this case – and when they do something, they do it right. 

If you’re considering a Crestron smart home system or looking to upgrade an existing one, there are several excellent reasons to consider Crestron motorized shading for your Cumming, GA residence. Let’s go into it more below!

Are we being serious here? Yes and no. After all, as a leading Control4 installer serving Sandy Springs and Metro Atlanta, why would we tell you not to hire us for your smart home needs? So bear with us here for a little tongue-in-cheek look at smart home automation.

Almost every day, a new smart home device hits the market. OK, maybe not every day, but it seems like there’s a new one every day. From devices from industry giants like Amazon to upstarts like Wyze, there are amazing options for remarkably sophisticated smart home functionality. Couple that with the ever-growing software ecosystem from the tech industry’s leaders like Amazon, Apple, and Google, and why would you ever need GHT Group? Well, we’re going to go ahead and tell you three reasons why you might not need us, just in case you couldn’t think of any right off the bat!

We won't say that fall and winter come without warning in Georgia, but does it go from pretty balmy to quite cool in a hurry come November? Or is it just us? Or maybe it's the effect of daylight savings time? 

If shorter days and less sun have had an effect, we may have a solution for you – home automation. Smart features in your home can help you with the transition to the crisper seasons in our fast-growing Woodstock suburb. And fear not, you know winter in Atlanta isn’t protracted or severe, so it won’t be long till the warm spring and summer are back! In the meantime, GHT Group, your local home automation company, has some smart tech to make the seasonal transition just a little easier. Keep reading for four of our favorites smart features below. 

When designed well, your backyard can feel like a nice escape from home—even though you haven’t technically left. Fresh air, outdoor views, a bubbling hot tub, and good company is often all it takes!

Still, unexpected weather changes can force you right back inside if your outdoor living spaces aren’t equipped with the protection needed from extreme temperatures, sunrays, bugs, and rain.

When you add motorized outdoor shades to your Atlanta, GA backyard, you can keep these elements at bay and enjoy your exterior living spaces all day long and in any season! Below, learn four smart ways to use motorized outdoor shades for extended fun in the sun (or moonlight).

Sometimes, technology adds needless complexity to life. Shouldn’t technology make our life easier? When it comes to home automation, it’s surprising how some products and solutions seem to forget that critical aspect. Sometimes you get new innovative ways of doing things, but often you have to adjust to the vagaries of the technology.

As a company that has been at the forefront of smart home automation for decades, Crestron believes technology should simplify, not complicate. With the latest iteration of Crestron Home, they continue to deliver on that premise with an intelligent platform designed to make managing a smart home as simple, intuitive, and natural as possible. As a longtime Crestron dealer in Metro Atlanta, GHT Group is excited by the evolution of Crestron Home and the ease it presents in leveraging the full power of home automation, from lighting to climate to entertainment to security and more.

Whether your home in Rosemary Beach is for vacations and relaxation or a full-time Florida residence, you always feel safer when you can keep tabs on what’s going on at home. One of the most appealing things about smart home technology is that you can do just that! 

Control4 is a powerful and flexible smart home control system that ties together all your intelligent devices and functions into a cohesive team that works together for you. And one of their most valuable and beneficial home automation services is 4Sight, which gives you extraordinary control and personalization of your smart home experience. Read on to see how Control4 makes it easy to keep tabs on and manage your smart home from anywhere – with an internet connection, that is!

Are you the techy type that all your friends call for advice on the latest devices? Maybe you’re also handy with home projects and enjoy the undeniable satisfaction of doing something yourself. If so, you might be quite tempted to try your hand at doing a DIY home automation project. 

Depending on what you want to accomplish, you might be fine going the DIY route. But if your home is large, you want sophisticated automation sequences, and you want a system that doesn’t need frequent debugging, you may want to read the rest of this blog. Or you can skip it and call GHT Group, Atlanta’s leading Control4 installer, about your smart home wish list. We’ll be happy to help! Now, keep reading below for all the reasons to bolster your decision to call us – just in case you need some. 

Have you recently acquired or built your dream vacation home in Miramar Beach? When you’re not there enjoying the Florida sunshine and the Gulf breezes, there’s no need to worry about the state of your abode. Whether you rent it out for income or you want to monitor your property for safety and security, smart home automation technologies can keep you abreast of what’s happening.

Based in Rosemary Beach, GHT Group is your local home automation services company that can help you set up your vacation home for easy management while you’re there or away. Learn about five smart automation ideas below!

Aside from the continuing popularity of vinyl records, the world of audio went digital years ago. It started with the CD, moved into computers, audio players epitomized by the iconic iPod, and ultimately into internet streaming. Sound, however, is an analog wave, and in many systems, that final step of delivering sound to the speaker is still analog.

In whole-home audio systems, depending on the cabling setup, the system might have speaker wire emanating from a central point to speakers in many rooms and even outside. In those configurations, distances must be considered as the signal can degrade over very long runs. Different connections and cabling might be made to move amplifiers closer to the speakers in some of those cases.

Digital audio, when routed over wiring like standard ethernet cable, does not degrade over distance. Bits are bits, and if all the bits don't make it over to where they're going, network protocols check for that and ensure that missing bits get sent. Digital audio can be sent over any distance without affecting sound quality. That makes distributing audio digitally ideal for whole-home audio, especially in very large homes and properties.

As a longtime Crestron dealer, GHT Group has significant experience with the company’s digital audio and video distribution solutions in both the residential and commercial spaces. We’re excited that Crestron is bringing flexible IP audio distribution to your Duluth, GA home with unprecedented scalability and usability. Keep reading to learn more about the new DM NAX matrix amplifier for whole-house audio.

In this day and age of Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and many home automation devices, Crestron is a name you may not know. Yet before the internet or even high technology was a common term, Crestron was pioneering automation in both businesses and homes. Crestron was (and still is) a top choice in orchestrating automation in the largest residences and the most complex boardrooms across the country and the world.

Sometimes, with great power and flexibility comes a higher level of complexity. Crestron systems could do almost anything, but they required a high skill level to configure, program, and install. Crestron took the power inherent in the system and added a simplified layer that made it easier for integrators to deploy, and more importantly, far easier for homeowners to use and personalize. The result is Crestron Home, a powerful home automation system that offers sophisticated control with supreme usability for your Santa Rosa Beach, FL home. Read on below to discover more about Crestron Home.

By all accounts, the market for home automation and smart technology is growing at a rapid clip. The research firm IDC projects growth at 16.9% annually over the next few years, which means that prospective homeowners will be prioritizing smart automation features.

As trade professionals, you already know that you need to plan early for home infrastructure. But smart home technology is more than just including a basic pre-wire low-voltage cabling package. Keep reading to see how it pays to bring in a home automation company early in your process to make your Duluth, GA projects smart from the start.

Crestron is a company with a long history in home and commercial automation and is universally recognized as a pioneer and innovator in the space. But today, a myriad of options exist in smart home technology, from DIY solutions to other professionally installed systems.

Using its expertise in both residential and commercial settings, Crestron has continued to innovate in smart home systems. In particular, three highly sought-after features in today's homes – home offices, video conferencing, and whole-home media systems – play perfectly with Crestron's expertise in all these areas in the commercial space.

As a leading Crestron dealer in Kennesaw and the Metro Atlanta area, GHT Group recommends Crestron solutions for sophisticated homes that demand solutions with commercial-quality performance. Let’s take a closer look at three popular areas where Crestron solutions excel.