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- Review count46
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- First reviewMay 19, 2016
- Last reviewNovember 1, 2022
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- Average rating4.6
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- Answer count19
- Helpfulness votes66
- First answerJune 5, 2017
- Last answerOctober 8, 2021
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Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
Customer Rating
5
Simple set up that works well
on January 12, 2017
Posted by: AncientGeek
I received a Velop three node system free in exchange for a timely and honest review.
I pulled the Velop out of the box a few hours ago. The packaging is neat and easy. I replaced an older WiFi network that had a DSL modem/router and a secondary WIFi access point as an extender. I downloaded the Linksys app for my iPad and followed the easy instructions. I started by just disconnecting my secondary wireless access point and plugging the first Velop node into that cable. I was impressed that the Velop system did all of the configuration work. I didn't have to do anything except plug it in, connect it and respond to the prompts in the app...(basically, next, next, next...)
After the first node came up, I waited before adding a second node. I wanted to see what I had for coverage. I disabled the wireless functionality on my main DSL MODEM/router, so my Velop was the only access point active on that network. I was impressed at the coverage offered by the Velop. It is in the middle of my home, so it basically covered the whole house.
My next test was to take a node to my workshop across the driveway from my house. I have a WeMo switch over there that I use to control the block heater on my Kubota. The WeMo switch has always been at the far end of my coverage and sometimes dropped off-line. I installed the Velop node on the second floor on a ledge under the eaves. I then started the process for adding a node. The system again did all of the configuration work for me. When done, the Velop app told me my signal was weak and I should move the 2nd node closer to the first node. So I moved the node near a window with direct line of site to me house and told the software to try again. After a few seconds, the app reported that I was still on the edge and my network would be slow. Since I'm only using this particular network for IoT management and as a backup for my cable network in case of an outage, I don't need high performance out in my workshop. So I accepted this location and did a speed test. The speed test confirmed that the second node wasn't in a great spot, but it was totally acceptable for my needs.
I now have what should be a more reliable connection to my WeMo in my workshop. If it continues to work well, I have another WeMo I want to add to my workshop to control my low-tech thermostat out there.
It is still early in terms of my usage, but I am very impressed with the ease of setup and the range of coverage provided by the Velop system. This was the easiest wireless setup I have experienced in my life to my recollection...and my experience goes back to the days of the very first wireless routers ever sold.
My Best Buy number: 0207591189
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Revive your Apple Watch conveniently with this Belkin Valet Charger power pack. A single charge of its 6700 mAh battery refuels a watch up to eight times, and an embedded smart chip detects connected devices for automatic wireless charging. This Belkin Valet Charger power pack includes a USB port for simultaneously charging additional devices.
Customer Rating
5
Great for a mid-day boost for my Watch & iPhone
on December 22, 2016
Posted by: AncientGeek
I received the Belkin Apple Watch Portable Power Pack at no cost in exchange for a timely and honest review.
I have used it for one day so far. The device is well made, nice looking and has a quality feel. It is a convenient size and weight. All of these battery packs have some heft to them since batteries are heavy by nature and this one matches other similar modern battery products like this.
The battery pack comes with a USB cord for charging the device device, but requires the user to provide a power source. There is only one USB port on the battery pack, so you can charge a Watch and USB device, but not two USB devices at the same time. The included small graphic instruction card that has no words on it. I found this to be a bit lacking in terms of what owners might want to know about the unit. I'd recommend another pass at the instructions by Belkin.
I used a 12 watt iPad charger as my power source, the battery pack appears to take around 6 hours for a complete charge using this power source. The iPad charger is a pretty good USB power source, so I suspect the time was largely dictated by the electronics in the battery pack. The battery pack displays the charge level as it charges, so I could monitor the progress of the charge.
I took a fully charged unit with me on day trip and used it to top off my Apple Watch, iPhone 6s and iPad Air 2 late in the day. My watch was about 78% full and topped off in less than an hour. I didn't time any of these exactly. My iPhone was perhaps around 70% and topped off in perhaps an hour. I then tried my iPad which was around 50% charged and after a few hours, I noticed the iPad was no longer charging, indicating I had exhausted the battery pack charge, It did provide about 45% charge before running out of juice and an iPad is a fairly power hungry device.
So I'd say this pack is very good for topping off my watch and iPhone as intended and can even partially boost my iPad in a pinch even though it wasn't designed specifically for that.
I like having the Watch charger built-in. That means I have one less cable to carry and fuss with on a day trip.
I don't know if there is a way to check the remaining battery level in the battery pack once I've started using it. The unit has no light to indicate it is charging anything, I had to determine that from the device being charged, The charge lights do illuminate briefly when I turn on the battery pack, but they go out soon. I'll have to double check to see if that brief display indicates the level of charge remaining in the battery pack. It makes sense, but I didn't notice and since the instructions are so brief, it was not obvious from those.
Overall, I'd recommend this battery pack for Apple Watch owners, but likely not for non-Apple Watch owners since there is only one USB port. I think this would be good for me on long trips. I have only had to place my Apple Watch in low power mode once or twice in the 18 months I've been wearing it, but this would have kept me from having to do that. I could have easily recharged it while traveling.
My recommend comes with the caveat that I don't know the list price Belkin will charge for the product. I assume it will be competitively priced with other batteries like this and it does a nice job with the Apple Watch and iPhone.
My Best Buy number: 0207591189
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Save time when you batch-edit photographs with Adobe Photoshop Elements 15. Sort photos automatically with the software’s enhanced smart tagging feature and find pictures via geotags or visual similarity. Specialized tools within the program let you fix frowns, remove camera shake and remove red-eye, making Adobe Photoshop Elements 15 an invaluable addition to your photography needs.
Customer Rating
5
A great tool for non-professionals
on November 8, 2016
Posted by: AncientGeek
I used PhotoShop Elements (PSE) for many years on Windows, but I had avoided it after moving to the Mac 6 years ago. I received an offer for a free copy in exchange for an honest review and thought it would be a good way to check it out again. I am glad I did.
PSE is a very capable photo editor and organizing tool. I haven't played with the organizer yet, but I have explored the photo editor and I was reminded why I liked Elements so much years ago.
If you are new to PhotoShop Elements, it makes sense to run through a few tutorials to see what the tool can do before diving into it. Alternatively you can bring a photo into the tool with a specific task in mind and then get help on that specific task.
It is pretty easy to use once you understand the basic concepts. I generally just use the automatic image enhancement to adjust image settings to make them just a bit better. I was also curious about adding a watermark to my images and found a great video tutorial on the Adobe site. One of my favorite uses of PSE is to merge a face from one image into a second image. Often a group photo will result in one or more people who have a less than flattering expression on his or her face. I have learned to take multiple shots of groups so that I have choices of expressions on the faces of each person in the photo. That way I can create one image with all of the best expressions. That alone is worth the price of the application for me.
The only odd experience I had was with the Adobe Application Manager which updated PSE to a new version and then got stuck at 99% completion with no way to exit the app other than by killing it. That didn't seem to bother PSE, but is just a loose end that should be tracked down and remediated by Adobe.
My Best Buy number: 0207591189
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Arlo Pro takes the worrying out of life with the 100% Wire-Free indoor/outdoor home monitoring system. Arlo Pro includes rechargeable batteries, motion and sound-activated alerts, 2-way audio, a 100+ decibel siren, and 7 days of free cloud HD video recordings. Arlo covers every angle to help keep you safe and protected.
Customer Rating
4
Some early bugs, but a nice improvement.
on October 28, 2016
Posted by: AncientGeek
Verified Purchase:Yes
I have owned an original Arlo system since the summer of 2015. I have 11 of the original wireless cameras that I have used for over a year as well as one Arlo Q and one Arlo Q Plus. I also have DropCam/NestCam cameras, Axis, NetAtmo Welcome, DLink and a traditional coax camera DVR system. I know, I'm over the top, but these are deployed on three different properties and I'm both intentionally using a multivendor implementation and evaluating systems for future deployments.
I purchased the Arlo Pro immediately when it became available and just set up two of the cameras this week. So far I like the Pro features and functions except that I don't appear to be able to set the recording time on the rules. The audio from the camera to my mobile device seems to be very good. I haven't tried to talk to anyone yet, so that is yet to be seen. Others have reported it is very low volume when trying to speak to someone through the camera. I do think the motion detection is a bit better than with the original Arlo system. I like the base unit better in terms of lights, buttons and added features. I have not yet tried local storage. That's next on my list. I like the fact that I can charge the battery in the camera OR buy extra batteries and a separate charger, so I can keep all of my cameras running while I'm recharging depleted batteries. did I read that there may be a future solar panel accessory for charging the battery during the day?
In addition to not being able to set the recording duration, I also see notifications that the temperature is too low and battery charging has been turned off....when the camera is NOT charging at all...it is just deployed outside and monitoring the house. So this appears to be another programming error that need to get fixed.
It is important to remember that there is absolutely no single camera system that is best for all circumstances. The Arlo Pro is a great totally wireless camera for locations where you absolutely need a completely wireless camera. If you can use a powered or better yet a POE camera where both power and video are wired, you should definitely do that...it is a better solution. But the Arlo and Arlo Pro systems should not be compared directly to powered or wired systems because the two approaches address different sets of problems by design. Even among powered and wired cameras there are system that record locally, in "the cloud" or some combination of the two and there are good reasons to one or the other or both.
Enough rambling. Except for some growing pains that should be resolved by Netgear quickly (I hope), the Arlo Pro seems like a nice "big brother" to the original Arlo wireless camera system.
My Best Buy number: 0207591189
My Best Buy number: 0207591189
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Power your Apple devices with this Belkin charge dock. It comes with a Lightning connector that charges iPhones and an integrated magnetic charger that provides Apple watches with more juice when needed. The single built-in cable of this Belkin charge dock lets you charge both devices simultaneously, saving you the inconvenience of using multiple cords.
Customer Rating
4
Nice looking, quality product
on August 27, 2016
Posted by: AncientGeek
I received this product for free in exchange for an honest review.
The Belkin Apple Watch Dock was actually a great product for me. I wear an Apple Watch every day, use an iPhone and an iPad all day long. I place all of those items on my nightstand every night to charge them and keep them handy. Until now, I have used three separate charging cables which led me also to use a cable organizer when they are not connected. This Dock replaces my iPhone and Apple Watch cables. It has a quality feel and is nicely weighted so it "stays put" on the night stand. The Dock has an adjustable lightning connector, so I can easily position the Lightning connector for whatever thickness iPhone I happen to own. The Watch is just placed on the magnetic charging disk on the right side. I found it was best to clasp the band rather than letting it drape loosely. Both items look great in the Dock and charge well. I haven't done any timed charges, so I can't comment on the speed of the charge.
The power adapter appears to accept universal power and the prongs are removable, suggesting this unit could be used other countries by just purchasing the proper plug type.
Opportunities for improvement... The power adapter is just a bit wide for sharing a power strip like the Belkin SugePlus USB which I also use. It blocks other outlets. I also think the magnetic mount for the Watch should be a stronger magnet. The Watch feels a little floppy on there, though it seems to work fine.
My Best Buy number: 0207591189
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy a compact tablet that fits neatly in your pocket with this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet. It includes a quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM that deliver powerful processing to play all your games and apps, and the 16GB of flash memory ensure this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet and store your files.
Posted by: AncientGeek
Full Disclosure: I received the Acer Iconia One 8 in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I think $69 is a difficult price point for anyone to hit and I'm impressed with what Acer has provided here. Processor, memory, touch screen, camera, WiFi, etc. At pretty much the price of a fully loaded Raspberry Pi computer. Amazing.
I have only had the product for one day, so I can't say anything about battery life or overall longevity, but the unit works and does what you would expect of an economy priced Android tablet.
It is light weight. The case is plastic, but has a pleasant feel. The screen is bright, colorful and has very decent resolution.
My normal platform is Apple iOS, so Android is not my native environment. For that reason, I can't comment on Acer's implementation of Android versus that of any other OEM. One thing that struck me was the needed to log into Google and also create an Acer ID. It reminded me that Apple is a bit unique in its offering of a completely unified environment where the hardware and software both come from the same company. Presumably most Android devices require this dual relationship with the software and hardware providers.
Also, I generally use a 9.7" tablet, so I found the usable screen area on this 8" tablet to be a bit small for my needs. Since most applications have navigation overhead in their screen design, a little extra screen area offers significantly more benefit than the pure mathematical difference in size might indicate.
The camera is OK. Not as good as my iPad Air 2, but the Air 2 costs ten times as much as this tablet, so it makes sense. Don't expect to submit your photos in contests, but they will fine for most purposes.
Overall, I'd say that I personally wouldn't buy a tablet like this because I can afford to buy a higher end device and I value what I get for that extra investment. However, a lot of people live on very tight budgets and I could see where this low priced device could give those people basic access to the Internet at a very affordable price point.
So I'll say that I would recommend this to a friend, but note that this is highly related to the personal needs and resources of the person to whom I would me making this recommendation. For people on tight budgets who want a basic tablet, this appears to be a very decent value.
My Best Buy number: 0207591189
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Monitor your property from your smartphone with this Wi-Fi enabled Guardzilla 360-degree outdoor camera. The 100dB siren warns off potential intruders, while night detection records in dim conditions for enhanced security after sunset. This Guardzilla 360-degree outdoor camera instantly alerts your phone when motion is detected, so you can react quickly.
How long does it take to charge the battery or is it a consumable battery.
The battery is not removable. You have to connect the camer to power tor echarge it.
5 years, 10 months ago
by
AncientGeek
Monitor your property from your smartphone with this Wi-Fi enabled Guardzilla 360-degree outdoor camera. The 100dB siren warns off potential intruders, while night detection records in dim conditions for enhanced security after sunset. This Guardzilla 360-degree outdoor camera instantly alerts your phone when motion is detected, so you can react quickly.
Would one have to pay a monthly service fee to both Nest and Guardzilla if this camera were to be installed on a Nest system?
To the best of my knowledge your proposed installation would not be possible. Nest only allows Nest cameras to join their app. The GO 360 only works with their app. And they are different companies whose business models rely on service revenue for a portion for their business.
5 years, 10 months ago
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AncientGeek
Add this SanDisk portable SSD to your mobile office setup, and enjoy high-speed data transfers. Resistant to water and dust, this device protects your data during travel, and the compact size fits neatly in a briefcase or camera bag. Featuring 500GB of storage, this SanDisk portable SSD is ideal for storing high-resolution pictures and video, providing a convenient way to bring work along.
what are usb 3.1 Gen 2 type-a/type-c ?
The USB standards have evolved for a couple of decades. There are specifications that define the operation and connectivity of devices that conform to the specifications. If you "Google" USB 3.1, you will likely see a good explanation of the latest standard. From a practical perspective, 3.1 Gen 2 is faster than prior generations. Type A and C refer to the stye of the connector. Type A is the squared edge rectangular USB connector we all know and have used for many years....about 1/2" wide and perhaps 1/8" high. Type C is the latest connector type and is much smaller with rounded corners and it is reversible, so it doesn't matter which way is up...both ways work just fine. You may remember mini-USB and micro-USB from prior generations and many mobile phones and cameras...the latter sometimes being a bit difficult to determine which way is up. USB-C solves that problem. Compact and reversible.
5 years, 10 months ago
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AncientGeek
Store documents and photos digitally with this Brother wireless scanner. Its duplex setting copies both sides of the page in a single pass to save time, and its image optimizing feature improves the quality of the scan. The 2.8-inch touch screen on this Brother wireless scanner lets you configure its settings to your preferences.
Can I duplex into SLMPDF and omit blank pages through the settings menu? How fast is it?
I am not familiar with SLMPDF, but here is my experience. I scanned a 3 page document with blank backs in 2 sided mode. The scanner scanned them and the PDF document appeared on my Mac in 6 seconds with the blank pages removed. That six seconds included the scanning of each page, transmission of the pages to my Mac via WiFi, the removal of the blank pages and the saving of the file to the Mac file system on the SSD.
I would not call this a "production scanner" for an office full of people, but for home use it is pretty nice so far.
I would not call this a "production scanner" for an office full of people, but for home use it is pretty nice so far.
6 years, 4 months ago
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AncientGeek
Completely customize your Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat to match your lifestyle and decor. The ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostat lets you choose the temperature, schedule, display color and the devices you use to control it all.
This looks like the same thermostat a professional installed at my last home. I'd like to add one to another zone in the same residence. Is the version sold and installed by HVAC companies the same as the one sold at Best Buy?
You can probably pop the current thermostat off the baseplate and check the model number of that thermostat on the back. Honeywell has quite a few models, so it may look similar, but actually be different. I have some that connect to a base via Red Laser or something like that, rather than a direct WiFi connection.
6 years, 6 months ago
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AncientGeek
Completely customize your Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat to match your lifestyle and decor. The ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostat lets you choose the temperature, schedule, display color and the devices you use to control it all.
Can you control this by an app on your phone?
Yes. It is great!
6 years, 6 months ago
by
AncientGeek
Completely customize your Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat to match your lifestyle and decor. The ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostat lets you choose the temperature, schedule, display color and the devices you use to control it all.
How do I know if I have a C-wire in the wall where my old Honeywell thermostat was? Is there a way to make this work if I do not have a c-wire?
You should be able to snap the front of your thermostat off the baseplate and examine the wiring of your current thermostat. You can see if it uses C or if there is an unused wire in the multi-conductor cable that runs to your furnace.
There are good videos on the Honeywell site referenced in the Quickstart guide.
There are good videos on the Honeywell site referenced in the Quickstart guide.
6 years, 6 months ago
by
AncientGeek
Completely customize your Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat to match your lifestyle and decor. The ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostat lets you choose the temperature, schedule, display color and the devices you use to control it all.
Only have 2 wires on thermostat where do I put them on new one if I run 2 new wires from a 24 volt transformer where do I put them on what terminals help??
I believe your two wires will be R and W so you would connect those to the R and W terminals on the new baseplate. The wires from the power supply go to C and RC and you need to remove the jumper that connects R and RC. There are good videos on the Honeywell site explaining all of this.
6 years, 6 months ago
by
AncientGeek
Prepare fresh coffee at home with this Cuisinart Grind Central coffee grinder. The built-in safety interlock secures the lid before operation for enhanced protection, while the detachable stainless steel bowl is dishwasher friendly for easy cleanup. This Cuisinart Grind Central coffee grinder features a heavy-duty motor that ensures efficient bean grinding.
I have purchased DCG-12BC Grind Central Stainless coffee Grinder at a store in Kansas city. I have to use in India where domestic current supply is 220 volts 50Hz. Could you help me how could use in India?
Most equipment like this is built for specific regional electrical requirements rather than having universal power supplies like most modern electronics. So your grinder likely would require a voltage converter (not just an adapter) in order to work on 220/50. You will need to match the size of the converter to the current requirements of the grinder.
6 years, 11 months ago
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AncientGeek