What's New
Smart home insights, local project spotlights, and expert guides from the South Sound's Control4 Gold Dealer and Ajax Certified integrator.
Mesh WiFi vs. Wired Access Points: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Best WiFi System for Your Home or Business
Not sure whether to go mesh or wired for your South Sound home? We break down the real differences in performance, reliability, and long-term cost so you can make the right call before you run a single cable.
Smart Home
DIY Smart Home vs Professional Installation in Gig Harbor: What You Actually Get (and What It Costs)
Learn the real differences in reliability, cost, and long-term results — plus use our Online Estimator.
Smart Home
Smart Home Installation Cost Estimator: How Pricing Really Works in Tacoma (2026)
How online estimators work, what affects pricing, and how to get an accurate quote.
Smart Home
Smart Home Problems Tacoma Homeowners Regret (And How to Avoid Them)
Common smart home mistakes — from weak Wi-Fi to poor integration — and how professional design prevents them.
Smart Home
Smart Home Installation in Tacoma: Cost, Process & What to Expect (2026)
Real cost ranges, what a professional install includes, and how RTG designs reliable Control4 smart homes.
Networking
Island Router Review: Is It Worth It for Smart Homes in Tacoma?
Hands-on review of the Island Router and Island Router Pro — performance, pros/cons, and which to choose.
Smart Home
Smart Home Service & Support in Puyallup: Keep Your Control4 System Fast, Stable, and Simple
Fast, professional service for Wi-Fi, AV, lighting, cameras, and automation in Puyallup.
Smart Home
Home Automation in University Place: Your 2025 Smart Home Guide
How smart lighting, AV, security, and shades make daily life easier for University Place homeowners.
Home Theater
Home Theater Installation in Gig Harbor (2025 Guide)
What it takes to build a true 2025 home cinema — audio, video, lighting, control, and pro installation.
Lighting
Permanent Holiday Lighting in Bonney Lake: A 2025 Homeowner's Guide to JellyFish Lighting
Smart, year-round LED lighting with custom scenes and pro installation for Bonney Lake homeowners.
Security
Home Security Systems Tacoma – Smart Protection for Modern Homes in 2025
Ajax Systems, IC Realtime, Akuvox, and smart home integration for Tacoma homeowners.
Lighting
Permanent Holiday Lighting in Tacoma – Why JellyFish Lighting Is the Smartest Upgrade for 2025
Smart, year-round exterior LED lighting with pro installation by Rivas Technology Group.
Networking
Why Your Home Network Matters More Than Ever in 2025 — And How to Future-Proof It in the South Sound
How to future-proof your home network in Bonney Lake, Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and the South Sound.
Lighting
Permanent Holiday Lighting in Bonney Lake – Why JellyFish Lighting Is the Must-Have Upgrade for 2025
Smart, customizable, year-round exterior LED lighting — the definitive Bonney Lake guide.
Smart Home
Home Automation Bonney Lake – Your Complete Smart Home Guide for 2025
Control4, lighting, security, audio, shading, and whole-home integration for Bonney Lake & Tehaleh.
Networking
Reliable Outdoor Wi-Fi in Bonney Lake, WA – Alta Labs AP6 Pro Difference
How RTG designed a high-performance Alta Labs outdoor Wi-Fi system for Bonney Lake homeowners.
Shades
Motorized Shades That Move With You – Comfort, Privacy & Control in Puyallup, WA
How PowerShades motorized blinds bring comfort, efficiency, and smart control to Puyallup homes.
Lighting
Smart Lighting Systems That Adapt to Your Mood: Control4 Lighting Control with Colorbeam Architectural Lighting
How Control4 lighting and Colorbeam architectural fixtures transform your South Sound home.
Networking
Case Study: Blending Performance & Aesthetics in a South Sound Smart Outdoor Network
How we wrapped an Alta Labs AP6-PRO Outdoor in Bonney Lake to match the exterior — no performance loss.
Smart Home
Outdoor Living Automation in Bonney Lake – Smart Entertainment Spaces
Smart outdoor living — lighting, audio, and shades designed for your Bonney Lake backyard.
Audio
Whole-Home Audio in University Place – Sound That Moves With You
Studio-quality sound throughout your University Place home with Tyba Muse, Genelec, and Soundtube PoE speakers.
Security
Smart Home Security & Surveillance in Gig Harbor – Smarter Safety with Control4 & Ajax Systems
Integrated Control4 and Ajax Systems for safety and peace of mind in Gig Harbor homes.
Lighting
Smart Lighting Solutions in Gig Harbor – Comfort, Control, and Efficiency with Pure Smart Lighting
Pure Smart Lighting integrated with Control4 and PowerShades for Gig Harbor homeowners.
Home Theater
Experience Cinematic Sound and Design in Your University Place Home
Custom audio, Control4 automation, and theater systems for University Place homeowners.
Security
Smart & Secure: Integrated Home Security Systems for Gig Harbor Homes
Control4, Ajax, and IC Realtime — smart, secure home security systems by Rivas Technology Group.
Home Theater
Home Theater Installation in Puyallup – Smarter, Better Entertainment
Custom home theater design, immersive sound, and automation integration for Puyallup homes.
Shades
Motorized Shades in Bonney Lake & Tehaleh – Comfort, Style, and Smart Control
PowerShades motorized indoor & outdoor shades — True PoE, wired, or wireless for Bonney Lake homes.
Security
Home Security Systems Tacoma – Protection Designed for Real Life
Ajax Systems, IC Realtime, Akuvox, and Control4 security integration for Tacoma homeowners.
Networking
Home Network Wiring Tacoma – The Future Is Fiber to the Jack
Future-proof your Tacoma home with fiber-to-the-jack wiring — hybrid fiber networks with Alta Labs.
Security
Mercer Island Gate Intercom Upgrade | Case Study | Sentex to Akuvox X912S
How RTG upgraded a legacy Sentex gate system to an Akuvox X912S smart intercom on Mercer Island.
Home Theater
Home Theater Installation in Tacoma — Experience Cinema at Home
Custom design, cinematic sound, hidden wiring, and smart control for Tacoma homeowners.
Smart Home
Smart Homes in Tacoma: Bringing Modern Automation to Historic Neighborhoods
Smart lighting, security, audio, climate, and control for Tacoma's historic homes.
Audio
Why Phase Technology's Piston-Rod Speaker Technology Outperforms Traditional Speaker Cones
Why South Sound homeowners prefer PhaseTech's piston-rod speakers for true, distortion-free home audio.
Security
Why Homeowners Are Switching from Traditional Alarms to Next-Gen Security
Why homeowners across the South Sound are upgrading to Ajax-powered smart home security.
Security
Wired vs Wireless Security Systems: Which One Is Better?
The definitive breakdown for South Sound homeowners and businesses choosing a security platform.
Networking
Upgrade Your South Sound Home Network: The Island Router Advantage
Eliminate Wi-Fi chaos — the Island Router delivers seamless control and U.S.-built performance.
Audio
Elevate Your Home Audio: Ditch Sonos, Discover VSSL with Rivas Technology Group
Why VSSL is a premium step up for South Sound homeowners who've outgrown Sonos.
Home Theater
Ditch the TV, Ditch the Projector… It's Laser TV Time!
Step into the future of home cinema with Laser TV — and why it's taking the world by storm.
Security
Beyond the Buzz: Why Ajax Is the Next-Gen Security System You Need
A deep dive into why Ajax outperforms Ring, ADT, and traditional alarm systems for South Sound homes.
Security
Elevate Your Home Security with Control4 + Ajax Integration
The Chowmain driver brings Control4 and Ajax together — centralized control, real-time alerts, smart automation.
Security
Ajax Security Systems: Now with Enhanced Surveillance Capabilities
Ajax Systems has integrated video surveillance into their powerful security suite — one app for everything.
Audio
Rivas Technology Group at CEDIA Expo 2024: Elevating the Smart Home Experience
RTG at CEDIA in Denver — what we saw, what we're bringing back, and what it means for our clients.
Home Theater
Rivas TechGroup & Leica: Elevating Home Cinema with the Cine 1
Our partnership with Leica as preferred installation provider for the groundbreaking Cine 1 laser TV.
Smart Home
Maximizing Comfort with Climate Control Systems
How to save money and energy while enjoying a comfortable home — smart thermostat strategies that work.
Smart Home
Single App Control by Josh and Control4
How Josh and Control4 centralize lighting, shades, AV, networking, and security into one interface.
Lighting
Control4 + Lighting Control
How lighting control unlocks the limitless potential of your home — function, feel, and beauty all day long.
Shades
Experience Smart Luxury with Lutron Shades
How Lutron's precision-controlled motorized shades regulate indoor sunlight to keep things comfortable.
Audio
A Guide to Tiny Hi-Fi: How to Achieve Big Sound in a Small Package
High-fidelity audio in any size space — we're in the golden age of audio and here's how to get the most of it.
Lighting
The Best Lighting Designs for Each Room of the Home
How the right lighting creates the mood for every room — and how Rivas TechGroup makes it happen.
No posts in this category yet
Check back soon — we publish new content every month.
Ready to Talk Smart Home?
Schedule a free consultation with our Kent-based team. We'll design a system built around how you actually live — not a templated package.

DIY Smart Home vs Professional Installation in Gig Harbor: What You Actually Get (and What It Costs)





