Home Reviews

Raven dashcam and connected car system review


REVIEW – I have tested many different brands of dash cams that offer HD and 4K resolution and a few additional features and they all seem to be close to the same with a few minor exceptions. When I first heard about the Raven Connected Car Device, my thought was, “here we go again”. Was I right? Let’s see!!

What is it?

The Raven Connected Car Device is a smart device that connects to your car’s OBD connector and offers access to smart cameras,  sensors, navigation, diagnostics, and data. It works via the built-in LTE cell connection, so it is always connected.

What’s in the box


1 x Raven Connected Car Device
1 x Quick Start Guide
1 x Extra Double Sided Adhesive Tape
1 x OBD Connector Power Cable
4 x Cable Clips with Adhesive
1 x Allen Key

Design and features

The device itself is a black sleek device, with a single cable connection to your car’s OBD connector. On the front, there is a display screen and an in-cabin camera hidden/embedded behind the clear surface.



On the back, there is the outward facing camera, and on the bottom of the mount, there is the double-sided tape that does a great job of ticking and staying put on the windshield.


On the bottom, there is the adjustable mount, a micro SD card slot for on-board recording, a micro USB port for direct connection and the ability to download videos from the SD card without removing it from the device, and a “Sim” slot that is not currently used.

Performance

Features:

    • Wi-Fi Hotspot
    • Live preview and streaming from dash outwards and in-cabin
    • Speed alert and threshold settings
    • Next-turn Navigation
    • Video recording triggered by hand gesture
    • Real-time GPS location
    • Easily download and share video
    • Security Alerts and Notifications
    • Access onboard diagnostics and get information about what might be going on with your vehicle
    • Driving alerts and notifications
    • In-App Navigation

Once I connected the Raven and started driving, one of the first things that I noticed was that when viewing the speed of the vehicle on the Raven versus the digital speedometer on my dash, at times there was a +/- 1 MPH difference. This occurred mostly when accelerating or slowing down. Since the Raven is connected to the vehicle’s OBD connector, it would be interesting to find out which one is actually truly correct.

The Raven continuously records video while you are driving so that nothing is missed. The continuously recorded video files are not accessible through Media Manager on the app like the gesture or event generated videos. The continuous video is recorded on the micro SD card (optional), and you can access either by removing the card and viewing via a PC or by connecting the Raven to your PC using a micro USB cable. The raw video files are in the Videos folder. Another great feature of this device is that since it connects via the OBD connector, it always has power and can always provide live views of the cabin and the outside as well as security alerts as long as the cell signal exists.

App
The app provides access to all of the functions and settings of the Raven. Here are some screenshots of the in-App choices and preferences:






Screenshots of outward and in-cabin app views (Views can be fullscreen as well):


Here is actual footage downloaded from the camera. (The footage was not edited and is exactly as it was when downloaded including the speed of the video):

Here are screenshots of types of warnings and notifications that you receive on your mobile device:



Screenshots of fullscreen in-app navigation. Navigation directions are voice enabled:


If you choose to continuously use all of the features and functionality of the Raven, there are 3 data plans to choose from:


What I like

  • The look
  • The build quality
  • The features and functionality

What can be improved

  • The length of the OBD connector cable so that larger vehicles are accommodated
  • Additional built-in cameras to provide a 360-degree view
  • Options for cell service. T-Mobile does not have the best coverage in NYC.
  • Addition of remote start feature since the OBD connection is being used (More like my personal wishlist item)

Final thoughts

After not expecting too much more than a dash cam from this device, the Raven has won me over in many ways. I love having this device and I love using its features and functionality. Having the ability to view my car when it is parked at the railroad station and in the garage or on the street is great, and the alerts are also great. Having that kind of heads-up display that gives me the option to view various parameters is a plus, and while my truck does have the navigation, having a second option is just a bonus. For my personal use, I can’t say enough about how much I like this device. I have actually replaced what was my favorite dash cam with the Raven. Each person has their personal preference, so keeping that in mind, I give the Raven a big two thumbs up!! If they add 360-degree camera views and remote start capability to the next version, I may have to get more thumbs.

Price: Two options – $299 plus a choice of a monthly data plan – $8, $16 or $32; With Affirm Credit starting @ $30 monthly for 12 months with 1 year of data included. The first 3 months of use are free for 24/7 connection to your car.
According to Raven, you can choose the additional following option:
“RAVEN WITHOUT A PLAN – Though you won’t have access to Raven’s LTE features, you’ll still be able to use Raven as a dashcam for full-length videos, gesture triggered videos along with time lapses. You’ll also be able to use Raven’s displays to show driving data such as speed, compass, fuel, altitude etc. In the app, you’ll have access to the media manager, settings, historical trips, and historical driver reports.”
Where to buy: Raven website and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Raven

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Raven dashcam and connected car system review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 19, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

LiftMaster WLED Garage Door Opener review

REVIEW – You probably don’t think of a garage door opener as being something super techy or cool right? I didn’t either until LiftMaster changed my mind when they offered to let me test their WLED garage door opener with built-in Corner to Corner Lighting system. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The LiftMaster WLED DC Battery Backup LED Wi-Fi Residential Garage Door Opener is just you have already guessed it is. It’s the motor box that lifts and lowers your garage door. But this one from LiftMaster has some great tech features built-in like high powered LED lights, motion detection, WiFi control, and more.

What’s in the box?

I don’t have a complete listing of what was in the box because the LiftMaster WLED garage door opener is packaged for professional installation and not for a DIY homeowner installation. Chamberlain, LiftMaster’s parent company, sells similar products online and through major retailers (e.g. Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) for those homeowners who wish to install it themselves (no dealer necessary). Chamberlain’s version of this particular WLED can be found here.

  • LiftMaster WLED garage door opener
  • Installation hardware
  • 2 3-button car remotes with clips
  • Wall door controller
  • User guide

I have a 3 car garage that has one overhead door that has to be lifted manually and two others that have Craftsman openers.


I’ve not had any troubles with the Craftsman openers except that the one on Jeanne’s side of the garage has a really crummy 1-bulb light built into it.

Here’s the light from the old garage door opener

Jeanne’s always complaining that the light isn’t bright enough to see to get her belongings out of the car when she gets home at night. The garage doesn’t have any windows, so it’s pitch black except for the garage opener light when she gets home after dark.

Besides the dim light, neither openers work if the power is out. Unhooking the openers so that they can be lifted manually isn’t difficult, but getting them hooked back up later is always a pain in the you-know-what. I don’t know why, but I always have a heck of a time reattaching chain thingy. Yes, that’s what I call it. Don’t judge me!

Design and features

When LiftMaster contacted me to ask if they could install their WLED WiFi enabled garage door opener so I could test it and write about it, I immediately thought of Jeanne and her complaints about the lighting in the garage and said heck yeah to their offer.

They shipped me the box with all the hardware and then set up an appointment to have a local garage door company come to do the installation for me.

The LiftMaster WLED garage door opener features:

  • Built-in Wi-Fi and myQ technology: provides the ability to open and close the garage door from anywhere and send alerts if it’s left open. 
  • Battery Backup: Keeps the opener working in a power outage so you don’t have to raise and lower the door manually.
  • Quiet Operation: An ultra-quiet DC motor and soft start/stop vibration reduction.

Installation

On a cold afternoon a couple weeks ago, two guys from Sterling Garage Door in Columbus, Indiana arrived and got to work on the install. I didn’t stick around to watch them install it because it was about 40 degrees outside (and in the garage since it’s not heated).

Less than an hour later, they were gone and I was left with a brand new shiny new garage door opener with a nice set of tech features that I never knew I needed until that day.

The LiftMaster garage door opener is larger than the one that was previously installed in the same space as it has lights on both ends instead of just the one.

A nod of satisfaction came when I went to the newly installed controller mounted where the old one had been. I guess I should have taken a picture of the old one before it was removed but it was basically one button like an old-school doorbell. As you can see, the new one has a bright backlit screen with the time of day in large easy to read numbers. The display cycles between showing the time and temperature which I really like. It also shows the built-in battery capacity of the opener in event of a power outage.


Above the display is the opener button and below the display, there are four buttons which are used to interact with the menus to customize settings for the clock, time to close, language, lock, WiFi setup, and more.

Below the buttons are two more features that I like. First of all, there’s a motion sensor which will automatically turn on the garage door opener’s lights when it’s tripped. I LOVE this feature because I leave the house before the sun is up and always have to feel around for the opener button to open my garage door when I walk into the garage to leave for work. Now that the LiftMaster WLED is installed, I just open the door to the garage and the motion sensor flips on the opener’s lights.

There’s also a button below the motion sensor that toggles the opener’s lights.

Here’s the light from the LiftMaster WLED garage door opener. Although it looks like it, the bulb next to the opener on the right is not turned on.

If you scroll back up towards the beginning of this review, you can see how the previous garage door opener’s light lit up the garage. Weak right? Now, look at this image. It’s like night and day 😉 Sorry, I couldn’t resist. But seriously, the LED lights on the LiftMaster are really bright. 3100 lumens to be precise. Jeanne no longer complains about how dark the garage is when she gets home at night.

We both love how the lights come on automatically as soon as we open the walk-thru door to walk into the garage. The motion sensors are a great feature especially when your hands are full.

Safety Sensors

We haven’t had safety sensors configured correctly with the old doors. Whoever installed them, just taped them together and ran the wires out of the way. The guys that installed the LiftMaster had to do the install to code, which means we now have a light beam sensor on each side of the door at the bottom. These sensors are designed to protect people, vehicles, pets, etc. but stopping the door from closing on obstructions and reversing (opening) the door. When this happens, the lights on the opener will flash 10 times to signal the problem.

Time will tell if the sensors become more trouble than they are worth though as we get a lot of leaves that like to pile up in from of the garage and sometimes if it’s windy, they will blow into the garage. I’m curious if we’ll have any issues with the door not wanting to close. I’ll report back if that is the case.

24 hour battery backup

The LiftMaster WLED has a built-in battery that will provide power to the opener for up to 24 hours if the main power goes out. I live in a rural area where the power goes out at least once a month if not a lot more. Heck, I was working on this review a couple days ago and the power was out 3 different times in one day for 1-2 hours each time. I’m lucky because I have a whole home generator, BUT my garage is on its own circuit box. That means if the power goes out, I have to use the emergency release handle and operate the door manually. UGH. I know, first world problems… But with the LiftMaster, I don’t have to worry about that. If the power goes off, I can still operate the door normally. Note that the door will run slower, and the lights will not turn on. But that’s a small price to pay.

Note that I’ll need to replace the battery from time to time, which according to some googling, will cost me around $20-$30 from stores like Walmart.

Using the myQ app

In addition to the features I have already mentioned, you can also control the LiftMaster WLED garage door with your phone. As long as the LiftMaster opener is within range of your home’s WiFi (2.4Ghz, 802.11b/g/n), you can do things like open and close the door remotely, know the status of the door, up or down no matter where you are in the world. You can also set a recurring schedule to close a garage door and use the app as a door opener if you happen to lose remote openers that come with the LiftMaster.



Setting up the myQ app with the LiftMaster was as easy as setting up other smart devices. I just installed the myQ app, then used the wall remote to get into the WiFi setup screens and from there I followed the onscreen prompts in the app which told me what to do on the remote.


The app can be set up to provide real-time notifications to alert you when the door goes up or down. This is an added home security measure provides extra peace of mind when you’re waiting for someone to come home late at night when you’re already in bed, or when you get an alert when you’re not at home that the door has gone up.


You can also set schedules when to shut the door. I’m not exactly sure why you might want this feature, but it’s there if you need it. Note that you can only schedule a time to close the door. You can set a schedule to open the door and you can see a history of when the door was opened and closed.

I mentioned that you can’t set a schedule to close the door, but you can set the TTC (timer to close) feature which will automatically shut the door after 1-99 minutes. This might be a good thing to set for people who can’t seem to remember to press the remote button after they leave the house 🙂

What I like

  • Bright LED lights that light up the whole garage
  • Quiet, smooth operation
  • Motion detector on the wall remote automatically turns on the lights when you walk in the door
  • Ability to know the status of the garage door (up or down) using the myQ app
  • Lifetime warranty on motor

What needs to be improved

  • Nothing

Final thoughts

The LiftMaster WLED garage door opener was a product that I didn’t know I needed or wanted until I got one. From the ultra quiet operation, extra light that it provides in my garage, and the fact that I can control the door remotely with my phone and get notified when the door opens provides extra home security benefits, the LiftMaster gets two thumbs up from me. Now I want to replace my other opener so I have a matching set.

Price: $450 – $500 (including installation)
Where to buy: LiftMaster certified dealers, or the DIY Chamberlain version is available on Amazon.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by LiftMaster.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

LiftMaster WLED Garage Door Opener review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 19, 2018 at 10:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Twinkly App Controlled LED string light review

REVIEW – The holidays are approaching, which means new LED lights to consider! These Twinkly festive lights can be programmed in nearly any color and pattern using your smartphone.

What is it?

This Twinkly set is a 56 LED bulb string capable of displaying millions of colors. Scroll through preset patterns, or use the Android or iOS app to set and program your own patterns.

Hardware specs

  • Lights for both indoor and outdoor use (IP44 certified and rain resistant)
  • Dimensions: 28.2′ long total string; 18.4′ lighted section
  • 100-240V 0.5A 50/60Hz

What’s in the box?

The 56 strand set comes with the power adapter, string LEDs and an instruction booklet.
Don’t like to program? No worries. The LED string works right out of the box. Just press the button on the controller to scroll through the pre-programmed settings.

Setup

The lights pair with your phone by wifi. In these screenshots (iOS) you can see the different preset patterns. You can even create your own patterns with your own colors and blinking pattern.

I was surprised to see a timer feature. I didn’t quite understand how, but the phone doesn’t need to be actively connected for the lights to turn on and off via the timer. To test this, I set a timer on and off time, and put my phone into airplane mode (wifi off, too). The lights still turned on and off at the right times.

Performance

Unless you really want to program something custom, there’s no need for the app. 56 LEDs isn’t a terribly large number, and isn’t as dramatic as this promotional .gif would let you believe.

I recorded how the LEDs look by cycling through the preprogrammed patterns.

What I like

Brilliant colors, tiny but bright LEDs will really brighten up your holiday season. Timer appears to work whether or not the phone is actively connected.

What needs to be improved

The 56 LED string may be a little short to decorate a large tree.

Final thoughts

I found myself playing endlessly with the different customizations, and concluded there’s probably a preset that’s good enough for you.

Price: $79.99
Where to buy: ThinkGeek and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Twinkly.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Twinkly App Controlled LED string light review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 18, 2018 at 10:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Nomad Base Station wireless charging dock review

REVIEW – Back in September, I wrote a news story about the Nomad Base Station wireless charger. As someone who has a lot of devices, I was glad when Nomad recently sent me one to review.

What is it?

The Nomad Base Station is a wireless charging hub capable of charging up to four devices simultaneously.

Hardware Specs

  • 3 coils with 10W output per coil
  • USB-A 7.5W port
  • USB-C PD 18W port
  • LED wireless charging indicators
  • Ambient light sensor dims LED’s at night

What’s in the box?

  • Base Station wireless charging dock
  • AC power adaptor
  • International EU & UK adapters

Design and features

The Base Stations design is highlighted by a black soft padded leather charging surface. The chassis is made of aluminum, making it almost impossibly light.

It also has a low profile, with a height of just half a centimeter.

On the bottom of the device, there are two no-slip grip rubber feet.

The Base Stations clean and simple design makes it perfect for use on an end table, nightstand or desktop.

On the front of the dock, there are 3 small LED wireless charging indicator lights.

On the back, there’s an ambient light sensor that dims the LED’s at night. It’s also where you will find the power and two charging ports.

Let’s charge some stuff

With 3 high-power coils, Base Station Hub charges one or two devices simultaneously at up to 10W each.

When wirelessly charging your phone the LED indicator on the front of the dock glows orange, when charging is complete it glows white. There are 3 lights, one for each coil. This feature comes in handy when charging two phones simultaneously.

The padded leather surface is exactly the same size as my iPhone Xs Max when it’s placed on the charger horizontally. And even though I use a case, I like the fact that it provides extra protection for my phone. The10W charging coils did a great job of quickly charging my iPhone, on par with other fast wireless chargers I have used.

The only issue I found was when placing your phone on the charger vertically (as you would if you were charging 2 phones simultaneously), it’s hard to find the sweet spot on the coils to charge your phone.

USB-A 7.5W charging port

The USB-A 7.5W charging port is perfect for plugging in an Apple Watch charger, a non-wireless charging capable phone, charging a pair of wireless headphones, or any other device that uses a USB-A charging cable.

I used it mainly for charging my 10.5” iPad Pro, and although it doesn’t charge as fast as the included iPad charger, it does the job. And if I need to, I can always plug my Pro into the hub while I’m using it.

USB-C 18W charging port

Having a USB-C port is great. Along with being able to charge a MacBook or MacBook Pro, it also assures that the Base Station is future proof.

I love being able to charge my MacBook Pro from the Base Station. Again, charging here isn’t as fast as with the included MacBook Pro charger but, it still charges my MacBook pretty quickly.

As an added bonus USB-C can now be used to charge the new iPad Pro.

What I like

  • Solid build quality
  • Padded leather wireless charging surface
  • Charges up to 4 devices simultaneously (including fast wireless charging)
  • Easy to use
  • Eliminates having to use multiple chargers and cables

What needs to be improved

  • When charging 2 phones or placing a phone on the charging pad vertically, you have to move it around to get it to charge

Final thoughts

The Base Station wireless charging dock is the kind of high-quality product I’ve come to expect from Nomad. I love its clean, elegant look and the ability to charge all my devices from a single hub. I also like that it eliminates the need for multiple chargers and cables. The Base Station now sits on an end table next to my recliner as the central charging hub in my house.

Note: Nomad recently introduced the Base Station Apple Watch Edition which I will be reviewing soon. Stay tuned.

Price: $99.95
Where to buy: Nomad’s website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Nomad.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Nomad Base Station wireless charging dock review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 17, 2018 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Nyrius ORION streaming device review


REVIEW – Devices with wireless capability have become an assumed feature in today’s technology word. However, some wireless capabilities present more challenges than others. The ability to transmit audio and video wirelessly from source to a display has usually been offered with a large price tag attached to it. The Nyrius ORION streaming device promises the same capability but with a reasonable price tag. Let’s see what it delivers.

What is it?

The Nyrius ORION streaming device is a component package consisting of a transmitter and receiver and offers 1080P HD wireless transmission of video and any associated audio between the two components up to a 40′ range within line of sight.

What’s in the box


1 x Digital Wireless HD Transmitter
2 x External IR Remote Extender
1 x Digital Wireless HD Receiver
2 x AC Power Adapters
1 x 5ft HDMI Cable
2 x Screws/Screw Anchors
1 x Instruction Manual

Design and features

Specifications

Supported Video Resolution: 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p (will support 4K content that has been downscaled to 1080p by source device)
3D Compatible: Yes
Audio Formats Supported: PCM 2CH, Dolby 5.1
Transmitter Ports: HDMI input, HDMI Loop-Through (Output), Micro USB (for power), 2.5mm Jack (for IR Emitter)
Receiver Ports: HDMI Output, Micro USB (for power), 3.5mm Jack (for IR Emitter)
Wireless Range: 40ft (streaming line of sight results in maximum range)
Transmission Frequency: 802.11 a, b, g, n; 5.8GHz (Band 1 & 4)
System Latency: Less than 500ms (average 150ms)
IR Frequency: 30-60 KHz
Wireless Technology: ORION GigaXtreme
Source Compatibility: Any source containing an HDMI output port
Display Compatibility: Any high-definition television or projector with HDMI input
Wall Mountable: Yes, Transmitter and Receiver have built-in keyhole slots
Multiple Receivers: Yes, Maximum of 4
Adapter Compatibility: Nyrius does not recommend using Digital to Analog Adapters with their Orion products. However, HDMI to mini-HDMI/micro-HDMI adapters are compatible
TX/RX Channel: 1 TX / 4 RX

This system consists of one Transmitter and one Receiver device that accept HDMI connectivity. They are identical in size, and measure approximately 3 1/4″ x 3 1/4″ x 1″. On the connectivity side of the receiver as shown below there is the HDMI Out port, an IR In port and a micro USB AC adapter port. The HDMI Out connects to an external display.


On the Transmitter as shown below, there is the HDMI In port, the HDMI Out port, an IR Out port, and a micro USB AC adapter power port. The HDMI In port is used to connect the source device to the transmitter and the HDMI Out allows for the direct connection to another monitor/device. This is a loop-through feature.


Both components have the pairing button as seen below that you press to make the connection between them.

Performance

The connection of these devices was straightforward and easy, and within a couple of minutes, I was transmitting wirelessly between my laptop and an external monitor.



When the Receiver is connected to the output display, the screen below is displayed as it awaits a signal from the Transmitter.


The LED indicator on each component lights steady white when the 2 are successfully connected and blinks red when they are not.

There is a slight lag between the source video and the remote display and there tends to be a bit more lag the further away from the source you are. Overall, it works quite well especially within the 20′ to 30′ range that I was able to perform my tests. I tried it on streaming devices, a PC laptop, and a MacBook.

If you are streaming from a media source that is in a different room than your display and you are receiving the audio/video signal with no problem, the IR extender feature allows you to control your streaming/media device like a streaming box from the display, by simply pointing the media device remote and the IR Extender and using the remote as you would when in front of your media/streaming device.

What I like

  • Size of Transmitter and Receiver
  • Operational range
  • Eas of set up and connectivity
  • Consistent connectivity

What can be improved

  • In terms of its specification and what it promises to do, it works as intended.

Final thoughts

The Nyrius ORION streaming device seems to be perfect for sitting on your couch with a laptop or even another streaming device and watching the content on a larger display without having to run wires between the source and the display. The fact that it is able to do so while displaying content at 1080P HD is also a nice feature. While there is a bit of lag, it is not noticeable if the output display is not compared to the input via another display that is connected to the source or the loop-through port, so this is really not an issue. The Nyrius Orion certainly has its niche, and for the features, the price, and how it performed during my tests, it is a good value.

Price: $149.99
Where to buy: Nyrius website and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Nyrius.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: , , ,

Nyrius ORION streaming device review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 17, 2018 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.