This is a guest blog written by Michael Maniscalco of ihiji for CE Pro Magazine. The original article can be found on CE Pro’s website.

What are the most vital components and processes that integrators need to monitor remotely in a client’s home network?

Many integrators now offer remote network monitoring and management as a base tier of client care programs. By establishing these service programs, integrators are setting themselves up to “own” the network, ensuring the core of today’s integrated system is functioning properly.
This service leads to better performance, increased reliability, cost savings for the customer, and increased efficiency for the integrator.

Curious about what these remote network management packages actually do? In terms of systems monitoring and alerting, here are the 16 key processes and components that should be monitored.

Processes
The basics of network monitoring include automated processes that verify:

Internet … Read More »

New ihiji and SnapAV Partnership enables dealers to detect, diagnose and resolve issues with simple one-click reboots of WattBox™ IP power outlets from any mobile or desktop web browser

Combined functionality cited as having the potential to end costly and cumbersome service calls

Austin, TX – March 11, 2013 – ihiji and SnapAV have partnered to provide simplified cloud-based power management of SnapAV WattBox™ IP products using ihiji’s NetNinja suite within the ihiji invision web portal. This immediately benefits both ihiji and SnapAV’s dealers by providing simple and secure access to all of their WattBox installations from a centralized invision dashboard. Consolidating this data eliminates the need to incorporate multiple remote monitoring systems to gain insight into the health and wellbeing of a growing assortment of connected devices. Dealers can now manage power, network, and control system devices from SnapAV and other … Read More »

Many integrators we talk to are offering network management as the base tier of their client care programs. By doing so, they are setting themselves to OWN the network but also ensuring that the core of any of today’s integrated systems is functioning properly. This service leads to better performance, increased reliability, cost savings for the customer and increased efficiency for the integrator. So what is included in these network management packages? Well, today we’re just going to focus on one component and that is system monitoring and alerting.

The basics of network monitoring include check of Internet Service Provider (ISP) uptime, slow internet connections (latency) intermittent internet disconnects (packet loss), and Domain Name Server (DNS) checks. These checks ensure that the client is getting the service they require from the ISP to access services such … Read More »

Written By Home Automation Hound Posted on February 15, 2013 – Original Article

There are many moving parts in a fully integrated home automation system, and just like any other complex machine, things can and will go wrong. But when something does go wrong, it’s important to have a system in place to quickly and efficiently find and fix the problem. This is why it’s essential for homeowners and customers to view home automation as an ongoing service, not just a one-time purchase. After all, there’s a reason why electronic superstore Circuit City went out of business, while competitor Best Buy, with customer services such as Geek Squad, remains.

Even if there is an ongoing monthly rate, which often scares customers away, it’s important to recognize that you are ultimately saving yourself money and time by allowing companies to actively … Read More »

Do you have wonderful dreams about ihiji’s customer service? Have you enjoyed seeing YOUR feature request or manufacturer added to invision? Are you amazed by the free training and education that ihiji offers to you around service contracts and networks? Did you ever call tech support to ask a question about our favorite food and get the best answer EVER?

If so, vote for us in CE Pro’s Quest for Quality Awards! http://ow.ly/hJ96Z

Deadline is very soon so please vote ASAP.

Thanks!

At the request of many of our dealers who would like to share ideas and learn from each other, we have created a new forum for open dealer discussion. Use the forum to collaborate with other ihiji dealers about best practices, technical problems, feature ideas or just general tomfoolery. We strongly believe in knowledge sharing, collaboration and enabling dealers to easily interact and hope that this forum will encourage you all to participate in the discussion!

This forum is accessible by all ihiji invision users and can be accessed through the forums of the help desk. Access the Dealer Discussion Forum (You’ll need to be logged in to ihiji invision first or this link will not work)

Our only real request is that you please don’t use this forum to submit a ticket request or if you have a … Read More »

That’s right, we’re heading to Amsterdam in January! So if you’re going, be sure to bring your swimsuit and join us at the hotel pool, because it’s going to be warm and sunny this time of year in the Netherlands! All kidding aside, we can’t wait to unveil ihiji invision to the international dealer community for the first time in our company history!

You can catch ihiji invision within the Control4 booth. There you’ll find ihiji at a kiosk where you can ask our staff for a short demo and when it might be available in your area.

ihiji Kiosk in Control4 Booth 8-H180
Find Us On The Map (Control4)

Email us today to schedule a time to meet us at the booth!

See You There – Tot ziens!

Interested in learning more about this topic? ihiji is holding a free webinar on Wednesday, January 9th. Learn more and register here!

This is a summary of a full ihiji white paper on that is complete with an excel network templates so you apply different levels of ihiji invision to each of the packages and create your own managed network offering. Request a copy of this white paper today!

If you were at the 2012 CEDIA Expo the ‘Own the Network, Own the Home’ tagline could not be missed. ihiji has been promoting this concept for years because it is a huge opportunity and also a key requirement for the survival of electronics systems contractors. If you’re selling SMB-Enterprise grade networks then you’ve already begun to realize this opportunity and are engineering your business for future success. … Read More »

This article originally appears on HD Living’s website on October 12th, 2012 and was written by the HTSA Staff.

What’s the most crucial electronic component in your home? Depending on how you use your entertainment system, you may think it’s the receiver or AV processor — the box that routes and switches all of your audio and video, sending sound to your speakers and video to your display.

Or, if your home is automated, perhaps the control processor comes to mind—the box that routes and switches all of your remote control signals, fires up the home theater at the touch of a button, dims your lights, and fills the house with music when guests are on the way over.

Maybe you’re a gamer, and wouldn’t trade your Xbox 360 for a kidney, or perhaps you’re among the new breed of entertainment consumers whose … Read More »

Release from Control4:

Strategic, Control4 Certified Third-Party Products Now Available Through Online Ordering

Salt Lake City, UT – August 31, 2012 – Control4, a leading innovator in residential and light-commercial automation systems, has announced that new third-party brands and hundreds of new products will be available for Control4® Dealers to order online 24 x 7 x 365 beginning September 6th, 2012.

These new partner products drive exceptional performance and interoperability standards across a range of categories including networking gear, power products, AV switches, receivers, projectors, media players/servers, audio speakers, security and access control products.

“Control4′s mission has always been to lead the industry in interoperability,” said Control4 Senior Vice President of Sales Jim Arnold. “We continue to expand our online offering of Certified partner brands and products so that our dealers can conveniently order what they need for an installation – including … Read More »