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Zyxel Multy Pro Tri-Band modular WiFi review

With more and more connected gadgets arriving in our homes, WiFi bandwidth can become a huge bottleneck. Zyxel’s expandable Multi Pro tri-band modular WiFi helps to keep your signal strong, even in the furthest reaches of your home.

What is it?

Zyxel’s Multy WiFi system is comprised of one or more AC3000 wireless routers. The first unit connects to an internet connection and broadcasts a strong, stable signal. Adding one or more Multy units allows continuous daisy-chaining to enable home WiFi to reach the furthest areas of your home.

Hardware Specs

  • Fast, comprehensive WiFi coverage
  • Room-to-room roaming
  • Easy set-up within minutes
  • Guest network
  • Compatible with Alexa
  • Speed Rating (per unit)
  • Number of Bands: Tri-band
  • Coverage: Up to 7500 sq. ft./696 m2
  • Wireless Standard: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz – 256QAM support, IEEE 802.11 a/n/ac 5 GHz (Wave 2) – 256QAM support
  • Wireless Transfer Rate: (Transmit & Receive): 1733Mbps* for 5 GHz (dedicated backhaul),866Mbps* for 5 GHz,400Mbps* for 2.4 GHz
  • WiFi Features: Daisy Chain, Bridge Mode, MU-MIMO, Beamforming, Auto path selection, Single WiFi NameAP Steering, Band Steering, Optional to separate 2.4G and 5G WiFi network
  • Plastic housings
  • Dimensions: 7 x 2 x 9.3 inches
  • Weight: 1.96 pounds.

What’s In The Box?

  • Two Multy WiFi routers
  • Two power supplies
  • Two Ethernet cables
  • Two Instruction manuals

Design and features

Zyxel’s Multy Pro system arrives in handsome packaging. The two Multy routers are identical. I elected to locate the primary router in a centrally-located location on the first floor of my home. Connections were simple – Internet connection from my ISP modem and power. I downloaded the iOS app and followed the simple instructions and was up and running in minutes.

Next, I located the second Multy WiFi in a room with sporadic WiFi and continued with the set-up in the app. The second unit needs power only. The second unit daisy-chains WiFi, using the same SSID and password. Additional Multy units can be added to bring that elusive WiFi signal to all the deep, dark corners of your castle. Communications between the two Multy units is deliciously fast at 1733Mbps. Since the bases have 3 Gigabit Ethernet ports, using the full bandwidth is as easy as plugging in the cables.

After getting the system up and running, I ran several speed tests in different locations in my home with impressive results. Signal strengths even at the furthest reaches of my home were at worst, a very respectable -51dB. My daughter was the first to comment that she had experienced many fewer dropouts and faster speeds on her bedroom computer and iPhone.

Looking to tweak the settings I tried to find a way to change the default IP address of 192.168.212.1 to find there isn’t an easy way to do this. I contacted Zyxel Technical Support and was provided with a way to make the changes using Putty, but elected to just leave it at the default. Next, I looked for a way to plug in an 8TB USB hard drive into the “Master” Multy to use as a backup for all of the computers on my network but was unable to locate anything in the app to enable this capability. Zyxel’s technical support informed me that this is not currently a feature, but may be implemented in the future.

I’ve used Zyxel’s Multy Pro system over the past three weeks. I’ve experienced excellent performance, few dropouts and a very strong and stable signal everywhere. The system is even powerful enough to blast WiFi all through my property so I can listen to internet radio while mowing my entire lawn.

What I like

  • Attractive design
  • Easy configuration
  • Strong, stable WiFi
  • Crazy fast backhaul
  • 3 Gigabit Ethernet ports per hub
  • Capable app

What needs to be improved?

  • Configuration options are very limited. An advanced user configuration option would be welcomed.
  • The inclusion of  USB port functionality for storage

Final thoughts

Zyxel’s Multi WiFi system is ideally suited for large homes where configuration tweaking isn’t necessary. Its sleek design, intuitive setup, and solid performance have earned it a position as the ranking WiFi router in my home.

Price: $299.99 two-pack
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Zyxel.

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Zyxel Multy Pro Tri-Band modular WiFi review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 20, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Bestek MRJ1011 Wi-Fi smart plug review

The Bestek MRJ1011 Wi-Fi smart plug is a device that can turn on or off the AC outlet on it’s front. The device can be controlled manually, self-controlled by timers set by an app, or controlled by the IoT through the Smart Life app, Amazon Alexa, Google Home,  or IFTTT. It also has two 2.4 amp USB ports. Read on to see what I think!

What is it?

The Bestek MRJ1011 Wi-Fi smart plug is part of a new wave of inexpensive AC Adapters that allow users to remotely turn on and off items through a Wi-Fi connection. Smart plugs came into existence about eight years old; even though they costs less these days, they still offer about the same features as they did at their introduction. Not every manufacturer offers every feature but the smart plug generally offers local control, remote control by one or more communication protocols, energy monitoring, and USB power. The design of smart plugs includes various layouts and power capacities. What has immensely improved in the past eight years is the maturity of home automation and IoT. These days, the capacity of the smart plug to integrate with home automation and IoT is a key component of it’s usability.

What’s in the box?


Bestek MRJ1011 Wi-Fi smart plug
User Manual
Information card

Design and features

Specifications

AC Input: 10A 125V ~ 1250W Max
USB Input: 100-250V ~ 50Hz/60Hz 0.45A Max
USB Output: 5V 2.4A(Auto 2.4A Max Per Port)
Total USB Output Power: 12W
Size: 3.25 x 2.00 x 2.40 inches
Weight: 96g

Unboxing

The Bestek Wi-Fi Smart Plug comes in a no-frills cardboard box. The two pack comes in a cardboard sleeve. The front, back and sides are printed with the product, specifications, and QR codes for the control app. 

The QR codes below will redirect you to a page to download the control app.

 

Design of the Bestek MRJ1011 Wi-Fi smart plug

The Bestek MRJ1011 Wi-Fi smart plug is a white plastic plug adapter that looks similar to the “wall wart” transformers that are part of many electronics.  However,  like many Apple voltage adapters, its smooth lines and unobtrusive design enables it to blend in to light colored wall plates better than the typical black plastic designs.

The front of the unit contains a 15 amp grounded receptacle. Since it isn’t tamper resistant, to comply with the intent of the NEC and for general safety, only install the smart plug if an item is plugged in it.  Also, even though the receptacle on the front is a 15 amp design, the unit itself is only rated to 10 amp. Consequently, to ensure that this item is not overloaded the user must be cautious and ensure the wattage of items plugged in to the front does not exceed 1250 watts.   This precludes using this item with many space heaters, most ovens/toasters and perhaps coffee brewers. I do not see any internal circuit breaker or fuse, so I’m not sure what will happen if this powers something over 1250 watts.

The rear of the unit includes a specification decal and the unit’s plug that slightly protrudes from the rest of the unit’s rear. The stepped design of the real may allow installation of the smart plug on decorative wall plates where the outlets are slightly below the highest point.

The unit’s plug does not block the top outlet of a duplex receptacle. However, the portion of the smart plug that contains the electronics and the USB connections will block the bottom outlet of a duplex receptacle.

The bottom of the unit contains two USB plugs that are not switchable but can power and recharge USB devices.

Operation

The smart plug operates in three ways: by the manual pushbutton, by an internal timer, and by an IoT signal.

Manual mode

Manual operation is by a pushbutton on the unit’s side. When the receptacle on the front is on the button glows red.

The red glow may seem overbearing at night. Some electrical tape will block out the red glow if its presence is a nuisance.

Timer Mode

Timer mode requires the Smart Life or BESTEKHOME app. You can use either one – the BESTEKHOME app is the same as the Smart Life app with a new title and app icon. To connect the smart plug to the app power it on, wait ten seconds and then power it off, then hold the power button for ten seconds. The power button will blink after performing these steps.  The app will ask for Wi-Fi credentials so that the device can join a network on its own. Note that this device only supports 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi channels. The device has its own access point that can pair to a phone if no other Wi-Fi is available.  in this scenario, the phone needs to join the devices AP.

After installation, the app can turn on the device remotely, turn on or off the device after a set time (like a countdown timer) or schedule the device to turn on or off at some future time. The schedule may apply to each day or certain days during a typical week.

IoT Mode

There is an entire 26-page booklet of instruction for how to connect the device to Amazon, Google, or IFTTT. The manual can be viewed here (https://fccid.io/2AKS6-MRJ1011/User-Manual/User-Manual-3801625) on the FCC site. In each case, the first step is to pair the unit with the Smart Life or BESTEKHOME app. The activation by Amazon Alexa is straightforward and the IFTTT includes both trigger and action. Note that IFTTT integration permits SmartThings to interact with the device; IFTTT can turn on the physical smart plug when SmartThings switches on a virtual switch, and vice versa.

Performance

The operation through the Smart life or BESTEKHOME app is very quick and operation through Amazon Alexa is only a little slower. The relay inside does make an audible pop, so using this to blink decorative lights is going to create a lot of unwanted noise.

The smart plug contains circuitry that optimizes USB port current to intelligently charge or power the connected device. However, I was not able to get a full 2.4 amps out of the port even with a mostly dead phone battery. 1.58 amps is the highest draw I saw.

What I like

  • Lots of IoT connectivity
  • Included USB ports

What needs to be improved

  • 15 amp service
  • internal circuit breaker/fuse

Final thoughts

The Bestek MRJ1011 Wi-Fi smart plug has a host of connectivity options that enable control with a variety of services. If the allowable current were only more than 10 amps this would be a really great design.

Price: $15.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by BESTEK.

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Bestek MRJ1011 Wi-Fi smart plug review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 5, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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BONX Grip review

For the outdoor loving readers out there who are looking for a way to stay in touch without having to pull out your phone, the BONX Grip just may be the solution you have been looking for.  At first, I wasn’t quite sure how functional this would be for me because it seems to fill a very narrow niche in the communication universe but that all changed when I paired a couple of them to my and my wife’s phones and began talking.  All you have to do to get going is download their free app, pair the device like any other Bluetooth device, follow a couple simple instructions and you are off and running. 

BONX explains that this is not a phone or a walkie-talkie.  From a technological standpoint and how data (your voice) is relayed anywhere on the globe, that is absolutely correct even though it applies the functionality of both, and quite well from my experience.  You need your paired phone with you and it must have a signal in order for this device to work.  In addition to having all the functionality of a common Bluetooth headset (answering calls, listening to music…) it uses its software to create a private call room that supports between two and ten BONX, meaning you and your group can all be on one call together, sharing your experiences as they happen.  And because it’s not a walkie-talkie with limited range, you can connect with other BONX devices no matter where they are in the world, as long as your phone has a signal.

The device relies on the data provided by your phone and supports 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi.  When I tested this with my wife, we first started at our house and progressed to her being at home and me in my office 30 miles away, to out on a trail in the foothills of the Rockies.  I also tested the device when my wife was on Wi-Fi and I had one bar of 4G service.  This caused some gaps in our conversation, much like it would if you were on a phone call with a weak signal.  One nice function of this device is that if you totally lose your signal and then come back into an area of service, you will be automatically reconnected to your call and don’t have to dig your phone out to reconnect.  This feature would be very handy if you are skiing, hiking, fishing, etc. and don’t have easy access to your phone.

The noise canceling and voice recognition features are as advertised.  Other voices around me were not transmitted and I could hear the person on the other end of the line no matter where each of us was calling from.  I didn’t test the water and shock resistance but the rubber coatings and housing around the earpiece leaves little doubt that I will be safe in the rain or tumbling down the next ski slope that was too advanced for me to attempt.

BONX has two buttons on the outside of it that are easy to find with your hand.  The larger button answers and hangs up calls and acts as the push to talk button should you want to enable that feature and not be on an open line with your friends and the smaller button is a mute button if you need a little privacy during a call.

It is comfortable on your ear and has a loop that holds it in place, making for a good fit that shouldn’t fall off.  It comes with three different sized ear loops and 2 different in ear attachments to customize the best fit for you.  I found a perfect fitting loop for me but the two in ear attachments were a little small for me so I didn’t get as tight of a seal as I would have hoped.  My wife had no issue with finding the right combination of attachments to tailor the fit to her perfectly.  I was able to get my ski helmet over this earpiece but it took a little adjusting and maneuvering for it to be a comfortable fit.  I still have a few months before I can get it on the slopes and test it there but I expect that it will perform as advertised as long as I have cell service.

The sound provided by the device for voice calls is similar to what you expect coming directly from a mobile phone or another Bluetooth device.  Don’t expect Bose or Bang and Olufsen sound quality if you are streaming music through it but that’s not why a person buys this device.  It is made to be a multi-function Bluetooth headset that supports voice calls with multiple people using multiple calling modes.  BONX is available in four colors: black, white, green and pink, and retails for $139.95

Pros: Multiple functions that go beyond your regular Bluetooth headset; easy to pair to your phone and set up call rooms to talk with multiple people; picks up your call if you lose then regain service; good voice recognition and noise cancellation; works as a regular Bluetooth earpiece if you aren’t connected with other BONX.

Cons:  Some of the places you might want to take BONX may have spotty cell service and no Wi-Fi so don’t expect uninterrupted calls if have one bar of service; to get the full use of BONX you will need to buy at least two of them or a friend/family member will need to buy one – it would be great if they offered to sell them as single units or in pairs but I’m just being picky.  Ear loops come in small, medium and large but the in-ear piece only comes in small and medium, leaving me with a slightly loose fit in my ear (the ear loop holds it securely in place though).

This device isn’t going to be for everyone but for those people who want to stay connected during outdoor activities, vacations, concerts or just out and about town and are looking for a rugged ear piece that will go where you need it to go, I would recommend checking out BONX.  I really look forward to using it this ski season and staying connected with friends when we are making our way down the hill.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by BONX.  For more info visit their website and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $139.95
Manufacturer: BONX
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Multiple functions that go beyond your regular Bluetooth headset; easy to pair to your phone and set up call rooms to talk with multiple people; picks up your call if you lose then regain service; good voice recognition and noise cancellation; works as a regular Bluetooth earpiece if you aren't connected with other BONX.
Cons:
  • Some of the places you might want to take BONX may have spotty cell service and no Wi-Fi so don't expect uninterrupted calls if have one bar of service; to get the full use of BONX you will need to buy at least two of them or a friend/family member will need to buy one – it would be great if they offered selling them as single units or in pairs but I'm just being picky.  Ear loops come in small, medium and large but the in-ear piece only comes in small and medium, leaving me with a slightly loose fit in my ear (the ear loop holds it securely in place though).

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BONX Grip review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 3, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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Sandisk Connect Wireless Stick review


Most smartphones and tablets do not have expandable memory. One way around this is to purchase the device with as much built-in memory as possible. But for those of you that didn’t think that far ahead when you bought your device and now find that storage space is low, you might want to consider a solution like the Sandisk Connect Wireless Stick.

What is it?

The Sandisk Connect Wireless Stick is a USB flash drive that allows you to wirelessly transfer and access your photos, videos, and files with your mobile device, Windows PC or Mac computer via WiFi or the USB port.

Design and features

The Connect Wireless Stick looks like a slightly oversized USB flash drive that we’re all familiar with. It has a black plastic case with molded facets that give it a cool look and feel.

One end of the stick has a removable cap that reveals a standard USB 2.0 connector that is used to charge the stick’s internal battery and to transfer files to a computer. On the other end of the Connect Wireless Stick is a lanyard attachment slot.

There’s also a tiny status LED on top and something which you don’t normally see on a flash drive which is a power button.

How does it work?

The Sandisk Connect Wireless Stick is available in capacities from 16GB up to 256GB and works just like you would expect a flash drive to work. You can plug it into your PC or Mac computer and save and copy files to it.  But the stick can also create its own WiFi hotspot that you connect to with your mobile device using the Sandisk Connect app to transfer or stream files to and from your mobile device.

To use the stick, the first step is to install the Sandisk Connect app on your iOS or Android device. I tested the Connect Stick with my LG G6 Android smartphone.


After the app is installed, and the stick has been charged by plugging it into a USB port, you can press the power button on the side of the stick and launch the app. The app will detect the stick and connect to its WiFi hotspot.



The stick has some files already saved on it to give you an idea of how to use it. There is a music, video, and photos folder, but you can create other folders and transfer other file types too.


In the Connect Wireless Stick settings, you can set a password to protect the stick and a timeout setting to automatically turn off power when the stick is idle.

You can also enable the photo backup feature that will save the images in your device’s photo gallery to the stick. This can come in handy if you don’t use Google’s Photo’s backup feature or back up your iOS photos to iTunes.


Copying files to and from the stick from your mobile device is as easy as selecting the files and telling the app which folder to place them.

Transfer speed did feel a little slow though. It took a few minutes to copy a 211MB video file stored on the phone to the stick.

You can even access the contents of the Sandisk Connect Wireless Stick from a web browser on your PC or Mac. You have to be connected to the Stick’s WiFi network to use this feature.

Since I have a 12″ MacBook that only has a USB Type-C connector, I used the web browser option to access files on the Stick from my Mac. I even streamed a 211MB video on the stick through my MacBook which worked pretty well, but there were a couple 1-second pauses at the start of the 2-3 minute video. I don’t know if this was the fault of the stick or my phone. When I tried it later, there were no pauses.

The Sandisk Connect Wireless Stick can stream music and video to 3 devices at a time. I tried streaming two different videos to 2 different devices and the same video 2 devices at the same time. One time there was a 1-2 second pause at the start of playback, but for the most part, it video streaming was stutter free.

Final thoughts

One of the best things about the Sandisk Connect Wireless Stick is that it works anywhere because no internet or cables are required. The only issue with this is that while your mobile device is connected to the stick, it isn’t connected to its primary WiFi hotspot. If you are using a phone, you can still use your regular cellular data connection though.

The Connect Wireless Stick is really easy to use and its size makes it extremely portable. The only thing I’d like to see would be a Type-C version of the stick, but other than that, it’s a handy accessory that makes it easy to expand device memory without wires.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Sandisk. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $23.49 – $197.49
Manufacturer: Sandisk
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Easy to use
  • Transfer files without cables or the internet
  • Automatically backs up your camera roll when connected
Cons:
  • File transfers from mobile device to Connect stick is slow

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Sandisk Connect Wireless Stick review originally appeared on on June 25, 2017 at 1:44 pm.

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