product review

ecobee4 with Amazon Alexa Voice Service — Today is the official launch of the ecobee4 smart thermostat: the latest in what’s now a long(ish) line of WiFi thermostats from the eponymous Toronto-based ecobee Inc. Whenever ecobee releases an even “smarter” version of their smart thermostat, you can pretty much guarantee I’m gonna be all over that product […]

ecobee4 Smart Thermostat Review

This entry was posted in Home Theater & Automation Product Reviews Technology and tagged Alexa Amazon Amazon Alexa Apple ecobee ecobee 4 ecobee 4 review ecobee4 ecobee4 review home automation HomeKit IFTTT product review review SmartThings thermostat voice control on May 15, 2017 by Steve Jenkins (updated 2744 days ago)

AC Infinity S3 fan — If you’re like most homeowners, you probably keep your receiver, amplifier, router, network switch, or any other electronic equipment inside a cabinet… which means you have a heat problem. Heat is the enemy of electronics, and circulating air through and around anything electronic is vital to its performance and longevity. This is the cabinet […]

Review: AC Infinity Airplate Cabinet Fan

This entry was posted in DIY Product Reviews Technology and tagged AC Infinity cabinet fan computer fan cooling fan equipment cabinet product review review usb USB fan on July 11, 2016 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3054 days ago)

WOSS Titan Suspension Trainer Kit — Like most other people who’ve visited a commercial gym in the past couple of years, I’ve seen those bright yellow TRX suspension trainer setups, like this: Initially, I wondered if they were simply the latest fitness gimmick, or whether there was something to them. I played around with them a bit, but never […]

WOSS Titan Review: Affordable TRX Suspension Trainer Alternative

This entry was posted in Fitness Product Reviews and tagged AttacK fitness fitness products Hurricane product review review suspension trainer suspension training Titan Tough Mudder TRX TRX bands TRX straps TRX training workout WOSS WOSS suspension trainer on January 30, 2016 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3217 days ago)

Becker Micarta Knife Scales — I love my KA-BAR / Becker knives. They look good, they feel good, but most importantly they work good (OK, I know it’s technically “work well,” but that would have thrown off the pattern). But if I have any complaint at all about these excellent knives, it’s the black plastic […]

Review: KA-BAR Becker Micarta Scales / Handles for BK Series ...

This entry was posted in Knives Product Reviews and tagged Becker Becker Necker BK10 BK2 BK3 BK4 BK5 BK7 BK9 G10 handles KA-BAR kabar Micarta product review review scales Upgrade on July 17, 2015 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3414 days ago)

Last year, when the ecobee3 smart thermostat was announced, I published a preview, then a “first look” and unboxing video, followed soon after by the very first review of the ecobee3. I followed those up with an ecobee3 installation guide for new users, along with an ecobee Smart to ecobee3 upgrade guide for owners migrating […]

Review: ecobee3 HomeKit-enabled Thermostat

This entry was posted in Home Theater & Automation iPhone Product Reviews Technology and tagged Apple automation ecobee ecobee3 Home Kit HomeKit HomeKit-enabled HomeKit-Enabled ecobee3 iOS iPad iPhone Nest product review review Siri smart home smart thermostat thermostat WiFi thermostat on July 15, 2015 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3415 days ago)

“Smart” home devices don’t only make your life easier, but in many cases can also save you money. Readers of my blog already know I’m a big fan of ecobee’s smart thermostat products. They’re WiFi enabled controllers that use weather data available via the Internet to predicatively (and reactively) minimize HVAC system […]

WiFi Sprinker Controller Review: Rachio Iro vs. RainMachine vs. IrrigationCaddy

This entry was posted in DIY iPhone Linux Product Reviews Technology and tagged irrigation IrrigationCaddy product review Rachio Iro Rachio Iro review Rain Machine RainMachine RainMachine review smart controller smart home sprinkler WiFi on July 15, 2015 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3416 days ago)

GunVault SpeedVault SV500 — The first responsibility of gun ownership is safety. Providing a good balance between quickly accessing your firearm when needed vs. keeping it out of the hands of those who shouldn’t touch it what GunVault Inc, makers of “personal sized” gun safes, are offering with their SpeedVault SV500 and SpeedVault SVB500. The SpeedVault’s design […]

GunVault SpeedVault SV500 Review

This entry was posted in Fitness Product Reviews and tagged biometric desk safe gun safe Gun Vault GunVault nightstand safe product review review safe Speed Vault SpeedVault SV500 SVB500 on June 23, 2015 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3320 days ago)

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I write lots of product reviews for “geeky” tech stuff (like smart thermostats, automatic toilet flushers, surge protectors, etc.). But when I get a chance to review some tech that also involves one of my other interests (karate in this case), I’m all over it. As a part-time karate instructor at Fairwood Martial Arts, one […]

Product Review: StrikeMeter by Martial Arts Instruments

This entry was posted in Fitness Karate Product Reviews Technology and tagged impact force Karate kick martial arts measure force meter product review punch review StrikeMeter tae kwon do on May 30, 2015 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3462 days ago)

Yes, I know… the .22LR cartridge isn’t exactly known for its recoil-generating properties. But if you’re target shooting, and want as flat a gun as possible, I recommend the TANDEMKROSS “Game Changer” Compensator.

Video: Ruger Mark III 22/45 Upgrade – TANDEMKROSS “Game Changer” ...

This entry was posted in Guns Product Reviews Videos and tagged 22/45 22/45 Lite compensator Mark III product review Ruger Ruger MK III TANDEMKROSS on April 26, 2015 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3496 days ago)

standard MeteoBridge hardware configuration — I’ve been a weather geek (or as weather geeks would write it: “Wx geek”) since 2001, when I bought an Oregon Scientific WMR968 weather station. Within a couple of years, I’d connected my weather station’s console via a serial cable to a dedicated computer in my basement running Windows 95 and Ambient’s Virtual Weather Station (VWS) software, which […]

Product Review & How-To: Using MeteoBridge to Connect your Weather ...

This entry was posted in Home Theater & Automation Linux Product Reviews Technology and tagged Belfryboy data-logger Davis MeteoBridge MeteoBridge review product review review upload weather station Weather Underground on February 3, 2015 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3311 days ago)

You probably haven’t stopped and really thought about exactly how many devices you have in your home that plug into a power outlet. So do it now. Go ahead. I’ll wait…. Now, think about how many of those devices have some sort of electronic or digital component. It’s probably way […]

What’s the “Best” Whole-House Surge Protection?

This entry was posted in DIY Home Theater & Automation Product Reviews Technology and tagged 51120-1 CHSPT2ULTRA compare comparison Cutler Hammer Eaton Leviton lightning product review review Schneider Electric SDSB1175C Square D surge suppressor SurgeBreaker Plus SYC-120/240-T2 Syscom whole-house surge protector on October 16, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3683 days ago)

The new ecobee3 — In 2009, Toronto-based ecobee released the very first “smart” thermostat and called it, not surprisingly, the “ecobee Smart” (see my original review of the Smart from 2010). Since then, they’ve followed up with the ecobee Si (which I call the Smart’s “little brother”), along with a handful of firmware and mobile app updates for […]

ecobee 3 Review

This entry was posted in Home Theater & Automation Product Reviews Technology and tagged compare ecobee ecobee 3 ecobee 3 review ecobee3 Lyric Nest product review review vs on September 19, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3645 days ago)

Final assembled grill — I’ve been a “big stainless steel natural gas” barbeque grill guy for a long time. I’ve owned everything from entry-level Nexgrill units, to mid-level KitchenAid grills, all the way up to the big-daddy Viking grills. So this past Saturday, when my wife and I hit our local Costco, our intent was […]

Product Review: Traeger BBQ 400 Select

This entry was posted in Product Reviews and tagged BBQ BBQ 400 customer service product review Traeger Traeger Select warranty wood pellet grill on July 28, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3768 days ago)

Control options for the ZigBee control module — One of my favorite features of my Ecobee WiFi thermostats is the ability to heat or cool a location so that it’s nice and comfortable by the time we walk in the door. For example, our furnace and heat pump at our cabin both use electricity, so I save money on my electric bill by allowing a […]

Product Review: Remotely Controlling an Electric Water Heater with a ...

This entry was posted in DIY Home Theater & Automation and tagged 240V 30 amp ecobee Leviton product review remote control schedule smart thermostat water heater wireless control module ZigBee on June 29, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3612 days ago)

Caliber 4R digital hygrometer and thermometer — I recently purchased a dehumidifier to place in my gun safe (product review is coming), but I wanted to make sure it was doing its job properly. The only way to ensure that is to test the humidity inside the safe before placing the dehumidifier in there versus after. And […]

Product Review: Western Humidor Caliber 4R Digital Hygrometer and Thermometer

This entry was posted in Guns Product Reviews and tagged Caliber 4R cigar gun safe humidity hygrometer product review temperature Western Humidor on June 25, 2014 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3801 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 3795 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 3795 days ago)

The Harmony Ultimate handheld remote communicates via RF to the Harmony Hub, which blasts IR to all your devices — Universal remotes have come a long way… and I’ve been along for the ride for pretty much the entire journey. I owned an old-skool “All In One” remote that controlled my cable box, VCR, and TV. I owned a variety of Phillips Pronto and Marantz RC5000 controllers, which required me […]

Product Review: Logitech Harmony Ultimate Remote

This entry was posted in Home Theater & Automation Product Reviews and tagged Harmony Harmony Hub Harmony Touch Harmony Ultimate Logitech MyHarmony product review review Ultimate on August 26, 2013 by Steve Jenkins (updated 4092 days ago)

Winland Electronics WaterBug Sensor — I’ve already written plenty of posts about my experiences with the Ecobee Smart Thermostat. To say I’m a fan would be putting it mildly. But today, I became an even bigger fan after extending the functionality of my Ecobee Smart Thermostat by connecting a water sensor to it. My basement […]

DIY: Connecting a WaterBug Water Sensor to an Ecobee Smart ...

This entry was posted in DIY Home Theater & Automation Product Reviews Technology and tagged alarm dry contact ecobee how to product review review smart thermostat water sensor WaterBug WB-200 Winland Electronics on January 10, 2013 by Steve Jenkins (updated 4332 days ago)

iTAC-TDL1 Tactical Light — I picked up a Sig Sauer STL-300J STOPLITE tactical light this week to mount onto my Sig Sauer 556 SWAT. Here’s my review of this accessory. The retail price on this piece (which you’ll pay if you purchase it direct from Sig Sauer) is $215. The street price, however, is […]

Review: Sig Sauer STL-300J STOPLITE Tactical Light

This entry was posted in Guns Product Reviews and tagged front grip iTac ITAC-TDL1 laser LED product review review Sig Sauer STL-300J STOPLITE tactical light on July 25, 2011 by Steve Jenkins (updated 4455 days ago)

ZQuiet — I’ve been told that sometimes I snore. Because my father suffers from sleep apnea (which causes him to snore like a swarm of chainsaws), I went and did a sleep study last year to see if I had sleep apnea, too.

Review: ZQuiet Anti Snoring Mouthpiece

This entry was posted in Product Reviews and tagged American Express Amex does ZQuiet work mouth piece mouthpiece product review review snore snoring ZQuiet on January 29, 2011 by Steve Jenkins (updated 3802 days ago)