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performance and management, opera- tions, and staffing and compensation. The results reported this year indicate
that gross margin rose 7 percent from 2007 to 2009. However, average net profit margin dropped from 6.8 percent to 3.5 percent and average staffing levels for field technicians declined by 24 per- cent. Results also indicate that average project size declined only slightly from the 2007 level to $32,000, and overall employment fell by less than 5 percent. “With the uphill battles ESCs are facing
in this economic climate, CEDIA is provid- ing vital research data and education that can help business owners make strategic decisions for their companies and their clients,” said CEDIA CEO Utz Baldwin. The full CEDIA Benchmarking Survey
report, conducted by independent research firm Brand Ubiquity, is free to members who participated in the survey. It’s available for purchase at $1,495 for non-participating CEDIA members and $2,995 for non-members through the online CEDIA Marketplace or through a form available at http://www.cedia. net/survey/documents/Benchmarking SurveyPromoFlyer_ 8.23.10.pdf. — By Bill Zalud, Contributing Writer
Lutron’s Jeff Zemanek Named Fellow by CEDIA Lutron
of directors from 1993 through 1997, was the organization’s 1994-1995 president, and chaired several CEDIA committees and councils. A 29-year industry veteran, Zemanek was re-elected to the CEDIA board in 2005 and served through 2009.
Patent Issued for In-Ceiling Wireless Access Point With home wireless catching on and spreading to a myriad of products and systems, Pakedge Device & Software of Foster City, Calif., said it has been award- ed a U.S. patent on an in-ceiling wire- less access point design. The in-ceiling wireless access point (WAP) is a device that expands the wireless connectivity of a home network, custom installation audio/video system, security system or enterprise-class network. Mounting a wireless access point in
a ceiling can provide significant ben- efits. Wireless range can be increased and transmission/reception reliability improved by mounting a wireless access point
in a ceiling. There is reduced
interference from building and construc- tion materials. In addition, it can offer increased installation options and con- venience to both the installer and home- owner, according to the maker. The patent covers the intellectual prop-
Electronics,
Coopersburg, Pa., announced that Jeff
Zemanek, director of residential new busi- ness development, was named a 2010 Fellow by the Custom Electronic Design and
Installation Association (CEDIA).
According to a press release issued by CEDIA, “The Fellows program honors long- time CEDIA members and volunteers who have contributed significantly to the asso- ciation’s success.” Zemanek, who joined Lutron in 1998, served on CEDIA’s board
SH-126 October 2010
erty relating to the mounting technology necessary to install wireless access points in a ceiling. It also describes the benefits of greater Wi-Fi range and better con- nection stability provided by an antenna array that is placed at an elevated loca- tion. A WAP can be mounted in a variety of ways as either a retrofit or in new construction, in a ceiling as well as in a drywall installation. Power-over-Ethernet eliminates the need for a dedicated power supply. As part of the patent design, a sup- plied wing bracket facilitates installation, and the cover of the device provides a clean, finished appearance, according to the patent owner.
There is now an iPhone and iPad application from Vantage that manages lighting, audio, security cameras, and home climate remotely.
Luxury Living: Native Home Control Application Widens Utility of Mobile Devices The “i” has it for Vantage of Orem, Utah, with the firm’s release of a native iPhone and iPad application that enables homeowners to control lighting, audio, cameras, and home climate remotely. The combination of iPhone and iPad
support for Wi-Fi and the 3G network, along with the device’s touchscreen design, shows the growing importance of the platforms for home automation control. Vantage’s application is down- loadable from the iTunes app store. Using audio control capabilities, homeowners can fully manage and flip between home audio sources, including Vantage’s digital music manager, CDs, tuners, and more. The application allows users to view and control audio in each home zone — man- aging power, synching capabilities, music queues, and playlists, as well as volume levels and muting commands. Comprehensive camera
control is
another feature of the new application. It allows users to flip between cameras, navigate individual IP cameras, or view all cameras at once, empowering home- owners to observe property activity in real-time and from a distance. Specific
PHOTO COURTESY OF VANTAGE
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