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Our Approach
Gecko Media Systems takes
great pride in all of its Home Media Installations. We are not
a typical "out-of-box" company. Anyone can sell hardware. We
 are a very experienced integrations firm and pride ourselves in
knowing how to integrate every aspect of anything involving
technology.
We start by interviewing
the client, listening to them and walking their home. We follow
with an itemized proposal of what we think should be done to
execute the concepts which they have described and add our
extensive experience and knowledge to help generate a written
plan. After discussing and revising and reaching an agreed upon
plan
we produce a drawing of all the structured cabling associated
with the project. This is the only way to end up with a
functional completed project.
We adhere to the highest of
standards in everything we do. We want and have very satisfied
clients that are proud of their Media Systems and can operate
them seamlessly regardless of how complicated the project is or
how technologically savvy the person may be.
Our controls and
remotes are programmed specifically to each project and are very
easy to use. They don't break and it is rare we have service
calls except for new business.
We can make our own
cabinets to
accommodate the media we install so they blend beautifully. No
visible wires anywhere would be acceptable. All the cabinets
and conference tables in any of the photos you may see in our
galleries were Gecko built. We are very good, very fast and
aggressive in our pricing. If you want the most beautiful media
installation you can imagine, please call on our very
specialized team.
Because of the large
business and building infrastructures background of GMS, our
home approach is modeled on the distributed, structured
cabling theories. Which means, for example, when integrating
a home, GMS will identify a location central to the home and
distribute all audio/video cabling from that location.
Service provider connections such as cable, satellite and
phone are typically managed in the same space but separate
from audio/video. Where GMS differs f rom other integration
companies is we understand audio/video matrix devices,
structured cabling environments, computers and servers, and
the ability to share resources and properly interconnect
various technologies to maximize their potential. Extensive
analysis from an experienced integrator is required to
properly design a whole home system. It is not about just
specifying hardware; one has to consider all the various
aspects of the project.
Before a budget is even
considered, a good understanding of how the client intends
to use the home is the foundation of our decision making
process. In other words, walking the entire home with a
qualified technician who is trained to both listen and
prompt based on the client’s questions and their own
knowledge and experience. The next factor to consider would
be the level of understanding the client has of the various
types of technologies and their expectations regarding the
final product. We recognize that the reason this is so
important is because the objective is to meet the client’s
expectations and hopefully exceed them; one cannot do this
unless they understand what they are. Of course every
system we deliver will be easy to drive! There should never
be a learning curve involved regardless of the size and
complexity of the system. If it’s not easy to drive, it is
not a well-designed system! All of these factors are
ultimately controlled by a budget. This is why an integrator
should not lock in to specific manufacturers, but understand
the abilities and costs of many of them. This is the most
important component to obtaining the expected end result and
yet still be able to build the system within a given budget.
Technologies addressed in
all systems are as follows:
1.
Lighting controls:
Security lighting, automated lighting, lighting scenes, time
activated lighting, and lighting controls.
2.
Distributed Audio:
there are basically two types of audio zoning, the
traditional way of approaching zoning is to share a single source with a
speaker selector and volume control knob. Although using
this type of distributed audio provides much less control,
it is sometimes dictated by mere budget. However, with the
use of microprocessors combined with audio amplifiers,
c ertain companies have developed systems that give every
zone independent source and volume control.
3.
Surround sound and Media
Rooms: although these areas
are independently driven it is important when selecting
equipment to consider both the hole home audio and video
requirements to allow for proper integration.
4.
Video:
With today’s technology there is no reason why high def
video cannot be used from any monitor in the home. However,
selecting the right projector or flat panel is based on a
very large criterion. Placement, source selection, and
lighting are a few of these factors.
5.
Control systems:
These are the most important part of any system by far. A
good technician will be able to select and program controls
that make the entire system seamless in its utilization. Any
control or remote should be intuitive enough for anyone to
pickup and use without any training. I cannot stress how
important this aspect of the system is; without it,
everything else is simply useless.
6.
Internet, Network, Wifi,
Phones and streaming media:
Today’s AV equipment is utilizing these kinds of
technologies more and more. Understanding how all these
various kinds of technology types blend determines how fluid
the system will be when it is complete.
7.
Computer systems:
A complete home integration should always include wire and
wireless computer systems, DVR, mp3 players and media
servers. Being able to understand and properly integrate
such system provides the control today’s users require.
8.
Security, surveillance,
doorbell and intercom systems:
a structured cabled home will have all these items punched
down and labeled in the communications area along with
audio, video, phone and data. By designing the system this
way, we provide the client with the ability to merge these
kinds of technologies. Examples of such can be, from any
given room in the home the user can press a single button
from a remote control and monitor the property, playback
recorded video, communicate with someone at the front door
while viewing them, being notified of a guest from the
doorbell chime dispersion through the audio system, having
certain lights be activated by the motion of someone on the
premises, receiving a warning message that someone is in
your property, the ability to unlock unlatch, open or close
a door or a gate remotely, etc… |
