Plug In to the Mainstream
Multi-room audio and associated metadata will soon be able to run over the existing electrical infrastructure of a home, which will open huge new doors for custom integrators.
August 2009 By Chris Westfall A/V solutions based on powerline carrier technology aren't new, but the quality of service from the HomePlug Powerline Alliance changes the game.
Did you ever think it would be possible to send music and metadata over the electrical lines in an existing house? Would you believe that throughput of over 20Mbps would be possible over those powerlines? Believe this: It's right around the corner and, if you'll pardon the pun, it could transform your custom business to serve the enormously untapped retrofit/existing homes market.
You might be skeptical about this powerline technology, especially if you've had experience with X10. Do yourself a favor, though, and check into what the HomePlug Alliance is doing. This is not X10—far from it. From its inception in 2000, the HomePlug Alliance has focused on one main goal: to use existing powerlines to transmit audio, video and data perfectly. That means no errors. No jitter. No pixilation.
Retrofit & HomePlug: Perfect Alliance
Today, over 165 HomePlug Alliance-certified products are on the market. The Alliance's test results consistently exceed throughput expectations, so the quality issue has been addressed. If you still have doubts about quality, visit www.homeplug.org and read the white papers and test results for yourself.
Later this year, you'll be able to transmit audio and metadata from multiple sources to multiple zones over powerlines. The best of these solutions will not be retail/DIY; they will be pure custom and will require some high-voltage expertise as well. Usually, installation of these solutions will take a day instead of a week; those reduced timeframes are achievable because the powerlines are your home-run wires. Sound interesting?
New construction is in a coma. Retrofit is where the opportunity is. Prepare for this market shift, for closed-wall retrofit using existing electrical wires for transport. Make sure your business isn't left behind as the custom market comes out of its trance, awakened by this new in-home technology solution over powerlines.
Here's the rub, though: Your sales process needs to adapt to this new retrofit opportunity.
Getting Ready for HomePlug
The retrofit market demands, above all, ease of installation. HomePlug delivers "easy" to the homeowner. If price and quality are equal, ease of installation wins. "Easy installation" wins even if it's more expensive, because consumers will pay for convenience. If your solution is easiest, it's not really a fair fight. You can command higher profit margins and service more clients.
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