Refined Mountain Home

For this refined Signal Mountain home, we had previously done the initial installation years prior, as well as subsequent minor updates in the years since. But it was time for some larger upgrades, and the customer also wanted to add some enhancements, so we took the opportunity to do all of those at one time.

The scope of the refresh included new video and audio distribution, adding whole home audio, improving the network, replacing and consolidating the equipment rack, and upgrading the automation. Any equipment that was still in good working order and wouldn't hinder the performance of the upgraded equipment was kept and used.

For video distribution, the existing component distribution was outdated, so we replaced it with a network-based, scalable, 4K HDMI video distribution system to distribute 7 sources to 8 video zones. To upgrade the audio distribution, we installed a new stand-alone audio matrix and connected it to the existing 8-zone amplifier. To give the entire home audio, we connected the amplifier to the Control4 automation system. We then placed new keypads in each audio zone. We programmed them so the homeowners could choose the audio source, control the volume, and turn the room off with the touch of a button.

To improve the network, we installed a new full gigabit router and 24-port switch to provide a hardwired connection for the equipment located in the racks. We replaced all of the wireless access points with newer ones for increased range.

You can see from the pictures that the equipment rack is housed in a dedicated closet space. The homeowner previously had two racks of varying size, so we replaced one of those so that we could join the two and create a clean equipment tower. We did this so we could distribute equipment evenly to reduce heat and increase wire routing efficiency. We also added power conditioning and battery backup to provide another layer of protection against electrical damage. Additionally, the power conditioners are network controllable, which allows us to power cycle the equipment remotely, potentially reducing the need for physical service calls should issues arise.

The final upgrade we did was to the Control4 automation. The controller in the living room needed to be replaced to provide an additional zigbee access point and IR control. We also added two new extenders to replace older extenders for the Control4 wireless system.

We made sure to upgrade any and all equipment that wasn't performing optimally, and for the equipment that didn't need replacing, we made sure that those devices were still able to perform well with the new devices and didn't slow the improved functionality of the new system.