Steve Jenkins

Among hard-core geeks, the speed of your Internet connection is a source of pride. Back in 1996 when I moved to the Seattle area, I paid a couple thousand dollars a month for a frame-relay full T1 connection to my house, giving me a 1.4 Megabits per second (Mbps) connection. […]

Review: Google Fiber Provo Install

This entry was posted in Product Reviews Technology and tagged gigabit Google Fiber Google Network Box Install provo review on March 2, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3915 days ago)

Everybody knows that James Bond doesn’t field strip his own Walther PPK… he leaves that kind of rubbish to the crew at Q Branch. But now YOU can field strip your Walther PPK, so it will always be ready for whatever secret agent adventures you’re planning.

How to Field Strip a Walther PPK .380ACP

This entry was posted in Guns Reference Videos and tagged Ferrari Steve field strip how to PPK Walther on March 1, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3793 days ago)

If you’re ever lucky enough to get your hands on a bad boy like the Desert Eagle .50, then you better figure out how to take care of it. This field stripping video will walk you through it.

How to Field Strip a Desert Eagle .50

This entry was posted in Guns Reference Videos and tagged .50 Desert Eagle Ferrari Steve field strip how to on March 1, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3793 days ago)

If you know how to field strip a Glock, then you already know how to field strip a Walther PPQ. But that shouldn’t stop you from watching this awesome video anyway!

How to Field Strip a Walther PPQ

This entry was posted in Guns Reference Videos and tagged 9mm Ferrari Steve field strip how to PPQ Walther on March 1, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3793 days ago)

The Glock 17, 19, and 26 are the “Daddy Bear,” “Momma Bear,” and “Baby Bear” of the handgun world. In this how-to video, I discuss how to field strip them quickly and easily… just as with any other Glock out there!

How to Field Strip a Glock 17, Glock 19, Glock ...

This entry was posted in Guns Reference Videos and tagged 9mm Ferrari Steve field strip Glock 17 Glock 19 Glock 26 how to on February 20, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3793 days ago)

Let’s be honest. You probably only bought this gun because it’s what the Navy SEALs carry. There are way worse reasons to buy stuff. But owning a Sig Sauer P226 MK25 does not make you a Navy SEAL. However, at least you can field strip yours like the Navy SEALs […]

How to Field Strip a Sig Sauer P226 MK 25 ...

This entry was posted in Guns Reference Videos on February 20, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3793 days ago)

Here’s my latest how-to video, in which I unbox my new Sig Sauer 1911 TACOPS and walk through how to easily field strip and re-assemble it. Hope you enjoy it!

Sig Sauer 1911 TACOPS Unbox & Field Strip Video

This entry was posted in Guns Reference Videos and tagged 1911 Ferrari Steve field strip gun Sig Sauer TACOPS video on February 19, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3793 days ago)

Fair is fair. When a company gets it wrong, I blog about it. When a company gets it right, I also blog about it. This week, a couple of companies got it right. The first company is Grohe, makers of high-end kitchen and bath products. They have the rare distinction […]

Rave: Grohe & Insinkerator Customer Service

This entry was posted in DIY Rants and Raves and tagged customer service faucet Grohe InSinkErator insta-hot instant hot water kitchen rave replace warranty on February 17, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3928 days ago)

This post is a follow-up to a previous one I made last year about what to bring to (and do at) IATC 2013 in Atlanta. This year, IATC has moved back to Raleigh, NC — and much of that advice still applies, so I’ll re-hash it again here… with some […]

Cuong Nhu IATC 2014 Raleigh Survival Guide

This entry was posted in Karate and tagged Cuong Nhu iatc Karate Raleigh on February 11, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3836 days ago)

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During a visit with family over 2012 Christmas holiday, my nephew Jake introduced me to the world of “Plasti-Dipping” car parts. Jake drives a white VW Jetta, and used a product called Performix Plasti Dip to “blacked out” a few key elements of his car (grille, emblems, wheels, tail lights, […]

Using Plasti Dip to Black Out my Grille Emblem

This entry was posted in Cars DIY and tagged Denali dip emblem DIY emblem GMC how to logo Plasti Dip Yukon on February 1, 2014 by Steve Jenkins

I’m going to start out this blog post by saying you should NOT do this. I repeat: do NOT do this. There’s at least a 50/50 chance that if you try this, it won’t work and you could potentially fry your router beyond the point of recovery. You might even […]

How to Unbrick a Netgear WNDR3400 N600 Router after a ...

This entry was posted in Reference Technology and tagged bad DD-WRT flash DD-WRT failed flash N600 Netgear pin short recover bricked router WNDR3400 on January 19, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3955 days ago)

Lutron Maestro 600 Occupancy Sensor Switch — If you’ve got kids, then you’ve probably noticed that they never have problems finding a switch to turn lights on. Yet mysteriously, they lack the ability to turn lights off. I’m convinced it’s just never something that becomes important for a human… until they’re paying their own electricity bill. Using an […]

Product Review: Lutron Maestro 600 3-Way Occupancy Sensor Switch

This entry was posted in DIY Home Theater & Automation Product Reviews and tagged DIY light switch Lutron Maestro motion sensor switch occupancy sensor switch vacancy sensor switch on January 19, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3793 days ago)

Insulation tubing around the recirculating pump return line and drain — I little over a year ago, I made my very first plumbing-related blog post: a report on how I learned I should flush my water heater to eliminate rust-colored water, and should replace its anode when it’s fully eroded. Since that first post, I’ve enjoyed progressively attempting more complex DIY plumbing […]

How to Replace Your Water Heater

This entry was posted in DIY and tagged anode Bradford White DIY hot water heater how to plumbing replace water heater Rheem Ruud water heater on January 18, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3125 days ago)

When is the last time you rocked out this hard in the shower? — The kind folks over at Kohler’s bath products division (about whom I’ve had nice things to say in the past) were generous enough to recently send me one of their new Moxie wireless speaker shower heads for evaluation and review. Kohler states that Moxie allows you to “Shower out Loud” by […]

Review: Kohler Moxie Wireless Speaker Shower Head

This entry was posted in Home Theater & Automation Product Reviews Technology and tagged Bluetooth Kohler Kohler Moxie review Moxie product review review shower shower speaker speaker wireless speaker on January 12, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3793 days ago)

My furnace filter sitting diagonally. — So my buddy Greg Ellis hits me up on Skype this morning and asks if I have time to “take a walk”, which is how we like to meet and discuss business. We both like exercise, and it’s a great way to get both the blood and entrepreneurial juices flowing. […]

Creating a Sheet Metal Bracket to Keep a Furnace Filter ...

This entry was posted in DIY Reference and tagged bracket DIY duct work furnace filter HVAC on January 4, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3959 days ago)

After installing insulating foam. — As we wrap up our Holiday vacation here at the Utah house, I’ve been tinkering with some home improvement projects (part of how I relax on vacation really is by fixing stuff). So today, I did two quick, cheap, and simple projects today to reduce the energy use of our […]

Two Cheap and Easy Water Heater Money Saving Tips

This entry was posted in DIY Reference and tagged DIY foam insulation tubes insulation plumbing save money water heater series water heater on January 4, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3959 days ago)

Hot water feed to humidifier connected! — The climate in Utah is particularly arid, both in the summer and the winter, and so I had my builder install a Lennox whole-house humidifier as part of our HVAC system in the Utah house. It helps keep us feeling comfortable at lower temperatures, meaning we save money on heating. […]

Installing a Water Pressure Gauge and Hot Water Feed to ...

This entry was posted in DIY Reference and tagged DIY ecobee hot water how to connect humidifier humidifier plumbing whole house humidifier on January 4, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3959 days ago)

This setting lets your Ecobee run the humidifier during heat, cool, or with the fan only. — In my original review of my very first Ecobee Smart Thermostat, I described how I had wired my Ecobee’s equipment interface to my whole-house evaporative humidifier at the Utah house. Because my furnace’s control board had a 24V HUM connector, I used that connector to help activate the humidifier. The […]

How to Wire a Humidifier to an Ecobee Smart Thermostat

This entry was posted in DIY Home Theater & Automation Reference Technology and tagged DIY ecobee how to how to wire humidifier to ecobee humidifier plumbing wiring on December 31, 2013 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3959 days ago)

I really wanted to like this product. I really did. I bought it on impulse from Home Depot after reading this description on the box: Spotter keeps you updated on what’s going on at home—from anywhere. Monitor motion, sound, light, temperature, and humidity all from your mobile device. Use Spotter […]

Review: Quirky Spotter

This entry was posted in Product Reviews and tagged GE light sensor motion sensor product review Quirky quirky spotter review Spotter temperature sensor on December 30, 2013 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3793 days ago)

As a follow-up to my previous post on home maintenance parts every homeowner should have in their house right now, I’ve put together this list of basic tools and supplies for any homeowner that wishes to attempt of basic home maintenance on their own. You may not believe me, but […]

Basic DIY Tools & Supplies Every Homeowner Needs

This entry was posted in DIY Reference and tagged DIY DIY tools homeowner project tools on December 29, 2013 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3976 days ago)

Buy replacement furnace filters in bulk to save money — As I’ve taught myself a number of DIY home maintenance tasks over the years, I’ve noticed a trend: things tend to break at the worst possible time. When did my water heater’s TPR valve fail and start to spray water in the basement? At 10PM… when it was too late for […]

Home Maintenance Parts You Should Have In Your House Right ...

This entry was posted in DIY Reference and tagged anode DIY filter fuse parts pieces replacement parts thermocouple valve water heater on December 29, 2013 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3974 days ago)

Small opening at the top of the faucet's trim — Some of my previous posts might make it sound like I’m bagging on plumbers. I’m not. I love plumbers! They bring drinking water and hot showers to my house, and take the poop away. But I will bag on plumbers (or any other “professionals”) when they do stuff wrong — […]

Is Your Shower’s Trim Ring Draining Properly?

This entry was posted in DIY and tagged DIY drain hole faucet Kohler plumbing shower trim on December 13, 2013 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3959 days ago)

No pressure from hot water expansion tank — I’ve been on a plumbing DIY kick lately, and after recently replacing a hot water recirculating pump that had been installed incorrectly (upside-down!) by a professional plumber, I’ve been reminded that it’s never a bad idea to periodically test things inside your own house — even if they were installed […]

Testing and Replacing a Hot Water Expansion Tank

This entry was posted in DIY and tagged Amtrol DIY hot water expansion tank plumbing Therm X Trol thermal expansion water hammer water heater Watts on December 11, 2013 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3995 days ago)

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It all started about a week ago. I got an alert email from a server, complaining about a RAID array. That’s nothing terribly out of the ordinary, as I have all of my systems set to alert me if something seems out of place. However, the problem in this case […]

Rant: Google Apps’ Gmail Can’t Protect Me from Misconfigured Mailers

This entry was posted in Linux Rants and Raves Technology and tagged blocked senders Google Apps SPF split domain routing spoof on November 30, 2013 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3800 days ago)