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AmpliFi Instant System review


REVIEW – I live in an apartment building that was built many years ago and besides its very thick brick walls, all of the studs are metal. It is surprising to see how much this construction can weaken an otherwise great wireless signal. My initial solution was to place additional access points in the areas with a weakness in the signal, and that seemed to work for a while. However every so often, my Roku and Amazon streaming sticks seemed to still suffer from a weakness in the signal. I was very excited when I got the opportunity to test the Amplifi Instant System, with the hope that it would finally solve my wireless signal woes. Let’s see if it did.

What is it?

The Amplifi Instant System is a network mesh system that allows you to extend the reach of your wireless network to ensure a strong signal in areas beyond the capabilities of your base modem/router.

What’s in the box


1 x Amplifi Instant Router
1 x Mesh Point
2 x AC Adapters
1 x Instruction Manual
1 x Ethernet Cable

Design and features

Specifications:

On one side of the Instant Router, there is an ethernet port for connection to the main router or modem, an additional pass-through port to hard wire to another device, and the USB AC adapter port.


On the front of the Instant Router, there is a touchscreen that shows the date, time and status of the router.


On one side of the mesh device, there is an ethernet port that allows you to hardwire another device and the USB AC port.


At the bottom of each component, there is a LED light that goes around the entire base.

Performance

Setting up this system literally took only a few minutes. Once I connected the Instant Router to my main router, and downloaded the app, and followed the easy steps through the app, the router was fully functional and ready to go. I then plugged in the mesh device in an area in my home with a usually very weak signal, and via the app was quickly able to make the wireless connection between the router and the mesh device. and Voila!! My entire home now has a very strong and fast wireless signal everywhere. It is just that simple.


At the bottom of each component, there is a LED light that surrounds the edges. Not only is it nice looking but it senses the darkness of a room whether it is nighttime or the lights are turned off, and it turns off or on to match the ambient lighting.


APP

The app is not only used to set up connectivity but also for a host of other functions including monitoring, testing, troubleshooting and setting preferences. Here are some screenshots from the app:





What I Like

  • The size
  • The build quality
  • The ease and quickness of setting it up
  • The App and its capabilities
  • The general reliability of the connection and the speed of the connection
  • The sleek and attractive design
  • The LEDs and their sleep capability
  • The wireless range

What can be improved

  • For me, the Amplifi Instant just works, so no issues here

Final thoughts

The Amplifi Instant in a great solution for extending your wireless signal to areas of weakness within your desired jusridixction. It is very easy to set up and for me it works flawlessly. I highly recommend it as a solution for this type of isse, and I give Amplifi two thumbs up for this product.

Price: $179
Where to buy: Amplifi website and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Amplifi

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AmpliFi Instant System review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 22, 2018 at 3:00 pm.

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Act quickly and you can get the Fingbox for $69

NEWS – I reviewed the Fingbox in December 2017 here on the Gadgeteer. It is a small hockey puck-sized device that you connect to your router (it is NOT a firewall). It helps you to keep an inventory of the devices on your home WiFi network and will detect when a new device connects to your network. The Fing app then allows you to block the new device manually or automatically thus protecting your network from nearby intruders. It also allows you to detect all the new or anonymized devices that are within range of your network (Fings calls this feature the Digital Fence). In addition, it detects your home’s WiFi hotspots, detects bandwidth hogs, and allows you to schedule or manually pause internet access to your network devices. The app has been updated several times since 2017 and is now much more user-friendly.

Some commented to my review that the Fingbox was interesting but a little too pricey ($129 at that time). However, now it is available for $69 on Fing’s website – be sure to use code: VIPBLACKFRIDAY (not the advertised BLACKFRIDAY code which makes the Fingbox $74). I received an email that says the sale is good until the end of the day November 17, 2018. If you miss this sale you could try the code BLACKFRIDAY to try to get it for $74. Additionally, it looks like standard shipping is free! It’s a great device and I recommend it especially if you don’t have a newer router that provides a lot of the features this device provides.

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Act quickly and you can get the Fingbox for $69 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 16, 2018 at 5:36 pm.

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Netgear can now cover your home in mesh wifi with Orbi

NEWS – If you don’t know what a mesh wifi network is, you will. Mesh wifi allows devices to piggyback off one another as part of a network. Originally used mostly by the military and hospitals, mesh networking has now hit the home market. Eero was the first, followed by Google, Luma, and Netgear with their new Orbi mesh system—to name a few. 

The goal of mesh networking is to cover your home in a wifi signal without any dead spots. What makes Orbi special is that it comes from Netgear, a pioneer in networking technology. 

The Orbi system begins with the Orbi tri-band wifi router and uses a wall plug, stand-alone or outdoor satellites to extend the speed and performance of the wifi signal throughout the home. The size of the house and desired speeds determine how many satellites are needed or wanted. For instance, a home up to 3,500 sq. feet may need only one router and one satellite. In a hallway or kitchen, garage or basement, the wall plug satellite only needs an electrical outlet to deliver wifi. Extra satellites are available individually. 

Use the Ethernet ports on the router and the Satellite to connect your Smart TV, game console, streaming player and more. Orbi is capable of more than 100Mbps internet speed over 5,000 square feet.

An app is available to install & personalize the Orbi home wifi system. This app can:

  • Manage WiFi settings, share network credentials
  • Show the list of connected devices. 
  • Pause device access to the internet
  • Easily setup separate internet access for guests
  • Perform speed test

Also available is Circle with Disney—a smart way to manage any connected device. The Circle app helps parents filter content, manage screen time, and stay informed with what their kids do online.

Orbi can be set up and running in 3 simple steps. There are many Orbi configurations to choose from—among them: 

  1. Orbi Tri-Band Mesh WiFi Router
  2. Orbi WiFi System AC3000
  3. Orbi WiFi System with Orbi Voice Smart Speaker & WiFi Satellite
  4. Orbi WiFi System with Built-in Cable Modem
  5. Orbi WiFi System AC2200
    Many versions depending on routers and number of satellites

The Orbi system is available from Amazon. Prices range from $129.99 to $469.99. Additional satellites and other add-ons are priced extra. Visit Netgear for more information.

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Netgear can now cover your home in mesh wifi with Orbi originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 23, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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eBlocker Family anonymous surfing gadget review


REVIEW – Whenever I surf the internet or go”window shopping” or even look up something specific online, I notice that shortly thereafter, the items that I viewed pop up as ads on other websites that I visit. I soon realized that the ads “follow me” as a marketing tool that companies customize based on my online viewing habits. Seeing this got me to start thinking about how much of my privacy and the privacy of my family is being compromised and wondering about what else “the eyes” on the internet are seeing and doing. This device promises to protect me and my family when online and to be effective enough to prevent any snooping. Let’s see!!

What is it?


The eBlocker is a small computer, running the proprietary eBlocker Operating System. The eBlocker only needs to be connected to your router and it automatically protects all devices in your network. There is no software to install other than SSL certificates as needed for HTTPS. Even your mobile devices are comprehensively protected.

What’s in the box


1 x eBlocker
1 x Power Adapter
1 x Ethernet Cable
4 x AC Plug Adapters
1 x Quick Start Guide
1 x License Card
1 x Feedback Card

Design and features

The eBlocker device is a small cube-like box that contains everything to perform its functions. Apart from the logo on the front side, there is an air vent and 2 USB ports, 1 ethernet port, one HDMI port (currently the manufacturer has not enabled this port for use), and the power port on the back.
Specifications

  • Processor: 1.2 GHz quad-core
  • Memory: 1 GB DDR3
  • Operating system: eBlockerOS 2
  • Usage: type 2 Watt, max. 10 Watt
  • Ethernet: 1 x Ethernet
  • 2 x USB 2.0
  • Weight: 153 g
  • Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 9 cm

    On the bottom of the eBlocker, there is the basic spec sticker that includes the serial number that you need to set up the device. There is also a mounting hole to mount the device to a wall.

Installation and performance

Connecting the eBlocker to your network is beyond simple. It just involves connecting power and the ethernet cable to a network port on your router or switch. My network includes several switches in different areas, and I just chose an available port on one.

After the hardware connections are done, you open a browser on any computer on the same network and go to http://setup.eblocker.com.

This link eventually takes you to a browser screen that provides you with a dashboard with all of the metrics for the computer that you are using and provides a conduit to another browser screen that provides the metrics for all of the devices connected to your network.

When I loaded the setup page, I was initially lost because the page is not in English, and there is no initial option for you to choose a language or to translate. The issue is resolved by right-clicking on the page and selecting translate. However, I would prefer a clear and present selection option.

Once translated into the language of choice, you follow the prompts which take you to a dashboard for the computer you are using. There are several configuration options to customize the dashboard and once set up, it presents the metrics associated with the network traffic and what is being blocked. It is difficult in a review to provide details of what information is available because of the amount of information available and the type of information available

In addition to the dashboard for the computer you are using, you can open another browser tab that shows metrics related to every device on the network.

When I connected the eBlocker, most of my devices continued to work as normal. However, some practical web pages were blocked and I had to pause the device and create exceptions for those web addresses. Some of the blocked pages are within an online University Portal and have the .edu domain. Also, initially when I wanted to pause the eBlocker effect on the laptop that was trying to get to the .edu page, I had a bit of a hard time because I did not see its IP address in the device list. Eventually, I used the search option on that eBlocker page and searched using the IP address and I found the laptop under a different IP address. I am assuming that the IP was being masked via the IP Anonymous function. I will confirm this as I spend more time with the device. I can see this becoming a more tedious process if many web pages are being blocked. In addition, I have close to a dozen different types of streaming devices on my network, and out of 4 Roku devices, the one connected wirelessly one seems to freeze and stop working once the eBlocker is connected. I have not yet been able to figure out why this happens. The other Roku devices are wired, and so far there has not been a problem with their connection. There is a large number of options and features available for the eBlocker. If you would like to get a better understanding and learn more about the features and possible customization, you can find the instruction manual here.

Here is a list of some of the main features/options/categories, and below the list is a small screenshot sample of some of the screens:
eBlocker Icon – this shows the eBlocker activity on each site and provides access to the control bar by clicking on the icon
Whitelist – This option allows you to disable eBlocker process on websites that you deem safe
Trackers – With this option you can see which trackers are being blocked on the web page
Ads – This is an Ad blocker option to see which ads are being blocked
Anon (IP Anonymous) – this hides your real IP-address
Device Cloaking – makes it seem like you are using a different device to provide you with even more privacy
Pause – Pauses the eBlocker on the device you are using for 5 minutes
Messages – Appears when there are system notifications or messages for you
Settings – Includes advanced setting like SSL support and network configuration settings










What I like

  • The size
  • The functionality
  • The lifetime license included with the Family device

What can be improved

  • Better software design so that additional information is available on the main screen for network devices
  • A language selection option on the first screen

Final thoughts

The concept of the eBlocker is great, and these days, we need to do all that we can to protect ourselves from the vulnerabilities we face when interacting electronically whether voluntarily or not. On a simple network with a couple of PCs and tablets, I can see the setup being very easy. My experience with it has been more complex, due to the number of and different types of network devices that are a part of my network. I feel very assured that this device does a great job at making your network presence mostly anonymous. It will take me some additional time to really get a sense of how to fully customize and take full advantage of the flexibility of the eBlocker, while still evaluating its ability to accommodate the unique challenges that some network devices and web pages can present. For now, I am giving it a conditional thumbs up, and I will follow up with an update if necessary and when I have spent quite a bit more time with it.

Price: $299
Where to buy: eBlocker.com and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by eBlocker.

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eBlocker Family anonymous surfing gadget review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 7, 2018 at 9:30 am.

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ELEGIANT 300Mbps Wireless Signal Booster WiFi Repeater review


REVIEW – When I  use my own mobile hotspot at work, I often lose connection to it as I roam about my floor which is quite large. Knowing that an extender/repeater could possibly provide a solution for better coverage and signal strength, I accepted the offer to test this device that boasted an easy installation and solution.

What is it?

The ELEGIANT 300Mbps Wireless Signal Booster WiFi Repeater is a device that can work as a signal relay or access point to provide extended wireless access to your router.

What’s in the box

1 x ELEGIANT 300Mbps Wireless Signal Booster WiFi Repeater

1 x Ethernet Cable

1 x Instruction Leaflet

1 x Contact Card

Design and features

The ELEGIANT 300Mbps Wireless Signal Booster WiFi Repeater is a small white box measuring 4″ x 1″ x 2.25″, with 4 antennas attached and a built-in AC plug.  The antennas are on hinges that allow you to move them around for the best signal strength. On the front of the device, there are 5 LEDs that represent the following from left to right:
1. Power
2. WPS
3. WLAN
4. WAN
5. LAN

It operates in 3 modes: Repeater Mode, AP Mode, and Router Mode. In the router mode, you can create a wireless network and share Internet access with to multiple Wi-Fi devices. In the repeater mode, you can extend the wireless coverage range, and in AP mode you can connect to a wired network and share your internet connection. It provides 360-degree coverage.


On one of the short side of the device, there are 2 Ethernet ports for the WAN and LAN connections.


On one of the long sides, there is a Reset button, a WPS button, and air vents.

Performance

The instruction booklet gave precise directions, and setup was easy once I connected to the Elegiant. I used my iPad Pro 12.9 to set up the device, and I did have to try a few times including starting over and refreshing the browser to get all of the settings to load completely. This started with the login screen. Since this could be caused by uncontrollable things like environmental interference, I will not blame the device. However, the distance between the Elegiant and my mobile hotspot was only about 2 feet. The actual configuration process was very easy and straightforward. For this review, I set mine up in the relay mode to extend the signal coverage. Here are some of the setup screens:



I work in a high security IT environment, and signal interference is very present. For several reasons, I was only able to place the repeater about 3 feet away from my mobile hotspot. Nevertheless, I was completely impressed by the performance of this device. It literally doubled my wifi range and that is despite the fact that when I move around my floor, there are multiple security doors in between me and the repeater. Based on this experience, I suspect that the other 2 modes will provide the same level of performance.

What I like

  • The small and compact size
  • The user-friendly browser GUI
  • The consistent wireless range it provides

What can be improved

  • The browser settings and how slowly and inconsistently they load.

Final thoughts

The ELEGIANT 300Mbps Wireless Signal Booster WiFi Repeater is a very useful device that performs a very useful and needed function and does it very well. The small footprint means that it can be present but hidden, and the range is superb for its specifications. I do know that there is an AC1200Mbps version that is available, and likely provides even more range and an even stronger signal. Based on the performance of this 300Mbps model, I am very pleased and now very eager to get the chance to test the 1200Mbps model.  For the price, this is a win.

Price: $19.99
Where to buy: Elegiant website or Amazon.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Elegiant.

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ELEGIANT 300Mbps Wireless Signal Booster WiFi Repeater review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 12, 2018 at 11:30 am.

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