Jaime Gannon, owner of New Orleans-based Dynamic Audio Video, recently completed the first installation of an ELAN g! system in southern Louisiana, after becoming the first dealer to take delivery of ELAN’s g! dealer demo system.
Douglas and Lina Leonovicz pose with their new ELAN g! system.
Gannon installed the system in a 6,000-square-foot-home in Old Metairie — just west of New Orleans — with 10 rooms of audio, 2 thermostats, basic lighting control, a home security system, surveillance cameras, and whole-house music.
According to Gannon, the family’s response to the ELAN system was immediately positive.
“I installed the system on a Monday and came back that Wednesday to ask the customer if he was ready for a demo,” Gannon said. “And he said, ‘No, I already figured it out.’ In a day he already knew what he was doing — I literally had nothing to show him. The fact that he was able to figure everything out for himself speaks a thousand words.”
“This happened to be right at the time the iPad 2 launched, and the family liked g! so much, they went out and immediately bought iPads for both of their kids to control the system and listen to music.”
Gannon believes the strength of the g! system is its consistent interface across platforms. The homeowner has already announced his intention to expand, with plans to add a dedicated home theater and media room.
The g! install was the first in New Orleans and southern Louisiana.
“g! is a simple concept – making whole house technology work for the entire family with a fun-to-use interface that is consistent across devices like the iPhone and iPad,” said ELAN president, Paul Starkey. “It is easy to sell, demonstrate, and install, and it’s equally easy for customers to enjoy, maintain and upgrade in the future.”
Though the system was well received, the installation was not without challenges. When Gannon began the project — Dynamic Audio Video’s first sale of an ELAN system, and the first home automation system Gannon has installed from scratch on his own — the house was already partially wired, with most wires unlabeled. He was given a week to complete the project before sheet rock was set.
Gannon believes the training he received from ELAN prior to taking on the project helped him get through about 75 percent of the install.
“Providing our dealers and installers with the industry’s best training services benefits everyone,” Starkey added. “Online access to a full range of training classes lets dealers and installers learn cost-effectively on their own schedule and cuts travel costs, and it allows us to get live feedback on what dealers want to see included in the training.”
“The g! was different from other products, everything went together surprisingly smoothly,” Gannon said. “Since I started Dynamic Audio Video 10 years ago, I’ve been looking for an automation system that’s easy to use and easy to install, and never found anything until now. Despite racing against the clock, everything just fell into place.”
