[ Frequently Asked Questions - Partnerships
]
1. How can Century Stereo
help me as an architect or interior designer?
2. Why should an architect or interior designer partner
with Century Stereo?
3. What is the responsibility of the Century Stereo salesperson
to the customer?
4. What the difference between dealing with a reputable
company like Century Stereo and a "trunk slammer"?
5. Why should a wire
a home for Cat5e ethernet network instead of using a wireless system?
1. How can Century Stereo
help me as an architect or interior designer?
Homeowners want more when it comes to high-end entertainment, whole-house
automation, and home networking. They want home theater; multi-room audio
and video; lighting control; and integrated, connected systems. And they
want all of these to be easy to use.
This is good news for you. It represents great opportunities for your
future. But it also presents the challenges of acquiring new skills and
staying abreast of rapidly evolving technologies. That is where the Century
Stereo can help.
[ back to top ]
2. Why should an architect or interior designer partner with Century
Stereo?
From design to installation service, Century Stereo serves as a complementary,
technical partner. Working with Century Stereo opens new opportunities
to you, without the downside and risk of jumping into this rapidly changing
and challenging industry.
Here are just a few ways Century Stereo can help you:
-
- Professional design service and installation
for distributed audio/video systems
- Professional design service and installation for integrated system control of all low-voltage subsystems, including lighting control
- Design assistance and implementation of custom home theater construction and implementation
- Design assistance with home networking wiring and product
- Installation of all integrated control systems and audio/video products
- Smooth and seamless programming for the control and operation of all low-voltage systems
- Blueprint facilitation of these systems; including wiring, product location, and specifications
- Participation as a team member and resource
Interior designers may find extra support from Century Stereo in these ways:
-
- Product recommendations, specifications,
and solutions for aesthetic and design issues of integrating systems into
residences
- Design assistance and assistance in selection of materials for custom home theater projects
- Participation as a team member and resource
[ back to top ]
3. What is the responsibility of the Century Stereo salesperson to
the customer?
At Century Stereo, our sales personnel and custom consultants are actively
involved in the management of their projects from beginning to end (design
phase through installation and warranty period). After the sale, overall
responsibility for the project will not be handed off to someone else.
A customer always has the opportunity to deal with the sales engineer
who designed the project in the event there are questions or problems
of any kind.
[ back to top ]
4. What the difference between dealing with a reputable company like
Century Stereo and a "trunk slammer"?
In our industry, a trunk slammer refers to a small company or single person
who sells and installs low-voltage systems--sometimes out of the trunk
of their car. This type of supplier often is not licensed; may not have
an office, registered employees, or insurance coverage; and may not be
around to honor equipment warranties. Because these vendors do not have
the overhead of other companies, their equipment may be less expensive.
[ back to top ]
5. Why should a wire a home for Cat5e ethernet
network instead of using a wireless system?
Network CAT5e provides a 100baseT ethernet connection for computers. It
is wired into the wall using a standard outlet. In many cases, a single
outlet plate can include 100baseT, telephone, and/or video outlets. Low-voltage
wiring offers a more reliable way of transporting music, video, telephone
calls and computer data throughout a house. There are several reasons
to have a home pre-wired with low-voltage cabling rather than using a
wireless networking system: Transmission Speed: The transmission speed
of wireless data is limited to 11Mbps. Data traveling over Cat5e can reach
speeds of 100Mbps. Distance Factors: Wireless has a typical "inside
the home" distance limitation of 75-100 feet. The further you move
a device away from an access point, the slower the transmission sped until
you lose signal entirely. Wired runs can transmit data up to 300 feet,
and the speed does not attenuate (lessen) with distance. Frequency Spectrum:
Wireless operate in the unlicensed frequency spectrum 2.5 GHz which is
also a spectrum frequently used by wireless phones and microwave ovens.
This frequency sharing can cause interference and dropped data connections.
Wired runs are dedicated to only the transmission of data and are not
subject to interference. Network Security: Wireless are prone to network
intrusion since wireless access points are often left "unencrypted,"
meaning that other wireless devices can easily roam into your wireless
network and be connected to your network. Wired installations are usually
more difficult to enter because most have firewalls built into the home's
gateways that block unwanted intrusions.
