Wireless VillageHome technology pioneer plans to offer a wireless home automation system in all its new homes.

Village Homes of Englewood, Colo., has gone on the defensive in reaction to the recent softening of the building industry. The builder signed an agreement with Lagotek to offer wireless automation in all of its new homes. Village Homes has been ahead of the pack in offering home tech, having launched its TechTouch group in 1996. The Lagotek gear was on display in its showroom in mid-November.

“This will be our first shot at offering home automation,” says Josh Stewart, TechTouch sales manager at Village Homes, who adds that Lagotek's wireless products will be offered as an upgrade.

Stewart says the builder will still offer structured wiring with two RG-6 and two Cat-5 outlets in every room. And the builder's main home theater system will continue to be Marantz audio/video receivers with SpeakerCraft speakers.

The Lagotek gear will come in three bundles (see “Wireless Packages,” above). All packages will have a wireless controller, Z-Wave dimmers and thermostats, an Internet protocol (IP) camera, and a Slim Devices audio system. “The only area of overlap is with audio,” Stewart says, “but it's more of an enhancement since Lagotek's distributed audio system lets homeowners more easily play MP3 files throughout the house and set lighting and audio/video scenes.”

Lagotek's wireless system is a breakthrough for the industry in that it offers a path to a totally wireless home infrastructure for low-voltage apps. Buyers still need structured wiring, mainly for high-definition video. (www.lagotek.com)

Here's a rundown of the wireless bundles Village Homes is offering from Lagotek:

Bronze: one wireless controller, 10 Z-Wave dimmers, one Z-Wave thermostat, one audio zone, one IP camera

Price: $3,300

Silver: two wireless controllers, 24 Z-Wave dimmers, two Z-Wave thermostats, two audio zones, two IP cameras

Price: $5,500

Gold: two wireless controllers, one wireless zoned climate control controller, 24 Z-Wave dimmers, four audio zones, three IP cameras (including an outdoor camera)

Price: $8,000

SOURCE: LAGOTEK