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- Review count85
- Helpfulness votes155
- First reviewOctober 30, 2016
- Last reviewApril 21, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.2
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- Answer count7
- Helpfulness votes18
- First answerJuly 27, 2017
- Last answerOctober 21, 2021
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Adjust lighting levels easily with this universal Belkin Wemo Wi-Fi smart dimmer switch. It lets you schedule operations and set timer rules via the Wemo app, and it works with any dimmable LED, CFL or incandescent light bulb. This universal Belkin Wemo Wi-Fi smart dimmer switch is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice control, and requires no hub for easy installation.
Customer Rating
4
Great if you don't have home automation hub
on May 16, 2017
Posted by: cw77
Pros: Looks cool in the room. Has a very subtle light on the switch itself, which makes it easy to find in a dark room, but not so bright as to be intrusive. Install instructions clearly written; any homeowner with average diy skills should be able to install. App is easy to navigate and schedule on/off times. Integrates easily with Amazon Alexa so you can turn lights on/off by voice command.
Cons: Will probably take up more space in your electrical box, so it may be tight with all the wiring. Doesn’t integrate to Samsung Smartthings, so if you already have Smartthings home automation, you won’t (currently) be able to integrate the WeMo dimmer switch. I tried speaking to support about this, but they could not say if Smartthings integration was being worked on. Although, during that same conversation, she stated it didn’t integrate with Alexa either, which was false.
Initial setup had some difficulty getting the wemo on our wifi, but a quick restart corrected that. If you’re replacing an ‘old-fashioned’ toggle switch, it may take you a few days to get used to pressing this switch, instead of the traditional way of flipping the switch up.
As for recommending... I would recommend to a friend that simply wants to control lighting, and doesn't already have a home automation hub. If they want to get a little more advanced, and look in to a hub, then I'd probably suggest they pass.
My Best Buy number: 2274651919
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Bring your favorite varietals back to their natural state with the Üllo wine purifier. It uses Selective Sulfite Capture technology to rid any still wine of sulfites and other impurities and has a built-in adjustable aerator to release aromas and smooth out flavors. The Üllo wine purifier comes with four single-bottle filters, a display case and handy travel bag.
Customer Rating
4
Works well, but expensive filters
on April 4, 2017
Posted by: cw77
To be honest, I was pretty skeptical that this would make any difference. After trying it, I can say that the wine seemed slightly smoother when run through the Ullo. Is it a night & day difference? No, but it is there.
The main difference I noticed was I didn’t wake up the next morning with a headache. I definitely didn’t consume any less wine than I normally would have. In fact, I probably had more than normal (purely for testing purposes, of course…) so I can only attribute the lack of headache to the Ullo.
Unfortunately, this headache-free evening comes at a slight cost. For starters, it takes a minute or two for the wine to filter into your glass. This isn’t a huge deal, but you will probably notice it more than you’d think. The second drawback is that the filters are only good for one bottle OR 3-4 hours, so don’t think you’ll be able to enjoy a glass one night, then reuse the filter the following night. I imagine keeping filters around could get a little pricey, depending on how often you enjoy a nice wine.
My Best Buy number: 2274651919
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Take your music anywhere with this portable Sony wireless speaker. Lightweight and water-resistant, it has a 16-hour battery life, making it perfect for on-the-go listening all day. This Sony wireless speaker has Bluetooth connectivity with NFC One-touch, and it can also link to a second speaker for stereo sound.
Customer Rating
5
Great little speaker for on the go...
on April 4, 2017
Posted by: cw77
Great little speaker to take with you around the house, or around the country. Sound quality is more than acceptable for it’s intended purpose. You won’t be hosting any dance parties with this thing, but it’s great for background music in a small environment.
Battery life has been wonderful so far. I've probably got 8 hours or so on it, and haven’t had to recharge yet.
Unit is small enough that you can take it just about anywhere. Easily thrown in a laptop bag so you can have tunes during out-of-town trips.
Build quality is superb. Feels very solid & well built. It’s also water resistant, which is a definite plus. No need to worry about the occasional rain shower or splash if you have it outdoors. I can vouch for this one first-hand…. just sayin’.
Bluetooth pairing was effortless, especially if you have NFC on your phone - pairing that way is pretty much idiot-proof.
Overall, I’m very satisfied with this speaker. Good sound, nice battery life, at an affordable price.
My Best Buy number: 2274651919
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
Customer Rating
4
Few bumps setting up, but nice for larger home
on February 25, 2017
Posted by: cw77
First impressions…
Very nice packaging. Sturdy box, with a magnetic flap securing the lid. Easy to open, and no hard plastic clamshell to worry about gouging yourself on. Each node is protected in its own cradle, with the power blocks in their own section as well. You can tell Linksys put some thought in to the packaging, as opposed to just over-compensating with bubble wrap and plastic bags.
Very nice packaging. Sturdy box, with a magnetic flap securing the lid. Easy to open, and no hard plastic clamshell to worry about gouging yourself on. Each node is protected in its own cradle, with the power blocks in their own section as well. You can tell Linksys put some thought in to the packaging, as opposed to just over-compensating with bubble wrap and plastic bags.
The nodes are squarish white towers, about the size of a sports drink bottle. They’re actually somewhat aesthetically pleasing, which is a welcome change from the typical networking gear you see on the shelves today. I felt compelled to hide my prior router in the basement utility room, which definitely does not help with wireless coverage. Not the case with the Velop nodes. I was able to place the Velop nodes throughout the house without getting the ‘you’re not putting that THING in my living room’ look from the wife. Definite plus there!
Power connects to the bottom (not the back) of the node, entering from a small cutout on the lower corner of the unit. The design hides the cables, as much as they can be, quite nicely. I do question the size of the power plug though. It’s a rather large square, and is almost guaranteed to chew up at least two spaces if you’re using a power strip.
Each node has two Ethernet ports, which are also on the bottom. The primary node requires one of those ports to be used for the WAN connection to your ISP modem, which leaves one port to be used as a LAN connection to any equipment (or another Ethernet switch if you so desire) that may be close to the primary node. The Ethernet ports on the remaining nodes are able to act as LAN connections as well, although I did not personally test this functionality.
Setup experience…
Here’s where things went a little awry. My first attempt at setting up the Velop system was one of the most frustrating experiences I’ve had with consumer-geared electronics. To start, you have to download the Linksys app to setup the system. The first node, or parent node, went just fine. When trying to add the second node, it would seem to go fine, until it gets to a point where it’s “checking node location”, where it would just hang for 10 minutes or so. I’d go ahead and reset the node, and then retry. After several failed attempts, and hours wasted, I figured I should just give up for the day and start fresh the next day.
Here’s where things went a little awry. My first attempt at setting up the Velop system was one of the most frustrating experiences I’ve had with consumer-geared electronics. To start, you have to download the Linksys app to setup the system. The first node, or parent node, went just fine. When trying to add the second node, it would seem to go fine, until it gets to a point where it’s “checking node location”, where it would just hang for 10 minutes or so. I’d go ahead and reset the node, and then retry. After several failed attempts, and hours wasted, I figured I should just give up for the day and start fresh the next day.
Started from scratch, including the primary node, the next day - no issues whatsoever. The app even suggested that the location of my second node was too close to the first, and said I’d get better range if I moved it further away. Two nodes set up in less than 15 minutes. Go figure…
Usability and misc notes...
These are fast; considerably faster than my previous router.
Administration is fairly simple, mainly due to the fact that you’re limited to the app. If you’re a more advanced user, you probably won’t be too keen on this. If you’re a typical homeowner that just wants simple wifi, you’ll be fine.
Thankfully, Linksys decided NOT to force you to use a captive portal (entering a password on a web site) for the guest wireless, like they do with the WRT3200. Some may not care, but this is probably just a pet peeve of mine. We have friends/neighbors that visit frequently, and when we had the WRT3200, it was bothersome to get them logged in everytime they come over. The Velop doesn’t use captive portal, so we can give them the guest password once & they’re good to go whenever they come over. Much nicer.
Coverage would probably be great if you have a larger or multi-story home. If your home is less than 2000 sq ft or so, you probably don’t even need a second node. In my home, my devices wouldn’t bother transitioning from one node to another, as the signal strength didn’t degrade enough to warrant switching. I did temporarily install the Velop in a neighbor's’ tri-level, and you could definitely see a huge improvement over their single router in the basement.
Description says it works with Alexa, but, the Alexa skill is located on an ‘unofficial’ skill store website - not so sure I want to share my Linksys credentials with an unofficial skill…
No USB port to use centralized media/file storage/DLNA
Parental Controls
Scheduled time blocking
App says you can only create these via web interface
Go to web interface, and it says you can only manage Velop through the app… Hmmmm??
These are fast; considerably faster than my previous router.
Administration is fairly simple, mainly due to the fact that you’re limited to the app. If you’re a more advanced user, you probably won’t be too keen on this. If you’re a typical homeowner that just wants simple wifi, you’ll be fine.
Thankfully, Linksys decided NOT to force you to use a captive portal (entering a password on a web site) for the guest wireless, like they do with the WRT3200. Some may not care, but this is probably just a pet peeve of mine. We have friends/neighbors that visit frequently, and when we had the WRT3200, it was bothersome to get them logged in everytime they come over. The Velop doesn’t use captive portal, so we can give them the guest password once & they’re good to go whenever they come over. Much nicer.
Coverage would probably be great if you have a larger or multi-story home. If your home is less than 2000 sq ft or so, you probably don’t even need a second node. In my home, my devices wouldn’t bother transitioning from one node to another, as the signal strength didn’t degrade enough to warrant switching. I did temporarily install the Velop in a neighbor's’ tri-level, and you could definitely see a huge improvement over their single router in the basement.
Description says it works with Alexa, but, the Alexa skill is located on an ‘unofficial’ skill store website - not so sure I want to share my Linksys credentials with an unofficial skill…
No USB port to use centralized media/file storage/DLNA
Parental Controls
Scheduled time blocking
App says you can only create these via web interface
Go to web interface, and it says you can only manage Velop through the app… Hmmmm??
Bottom line… if you have a larger home and don’t need to get overly complex with your network, this is an excellent system. The initial setup experience was definitely not the greatest, so I’ll deduct a star for that, but I’m hoping Linksys will continue to refine the process.
My Best Buy number: 2274651919
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Connect your external wireless devices to the internet with this Linksys dual-band router. Two 5Ghz bands support both high-end gaming and low-end applications without compromising speed, and remote management lets you make adjustments from any location. This Linksys dual-band router has a sleek design that integrates easily into most workspaces.
Customer Rating
5
Impressive router for typical to advanced user
on October 30, 2016
Posted by: cw77
I’ll start with a brief background on my environment. Typical, split-entry, 1500 sq ft home, with the router located in a lower level utility room. Two adults, two teenagers and plenty of gaming/streaming. There are currently 17 devices on the network (easily identified in the Linksys management page!), including your typical devices (pc, laptop, smart phones…), streaming devices, and a couple of Nest devices.
The initial setup was very easy, with a wizard that guides you through a configuration that many people will never have to change. An average user could invest 5-10 minutes or so in the wizard and, if you allow it to perform firmware updates automatically, never have to touch it again. Another cool thing about the setup wizard is that it can detect certain issues & give advice on how to resolve them. Case in point, the router did not detect an active internet connection when it first booted up. One of the first things the setup wizard did, was suggest I power cycle the modem. This resolved the issue and the wizard continued.
Here are a few of the things that I really liked about the WRT3200:
-5GHz Wifi speeds are much faster than my previous router, which is less than two years old. Everyone in the house commented on how much better the 5GHz connection is throughout the house
-Integrated slots to enable wall mounting
-The setup wizard forces you to select an admin password. Couldn’t tell you how many home routers I’ve run into that were still using the default password.
-Automatically sets up a guest network that can’t access your private network. No more giving out the password for your private network to your kids’ friends.
-Parental Controls are easy to set up and flexible. You can select a specific device and restrict internet usage based on time of day and day of week. For example, you could block internet access for your kids after 10pm on a school night. Or you could just block certain web sites.
-Network Map gives you a visual overview of all devices connected to your network, with a separate tab for the guest network. From this map, you can select a device to view basic info (name, IP address, MAC address, etc..) and rename it to something meaningful. You can also select a device and enable Parental Controls from there. It will also report on the internet usage for each device, so when your Roku starts buffering, you can log in and discover that Johnny is hogging the bandwidth… :)
-Media Prioritization allows you to prioritize specific devices/applications so Johnny can’t hog your Roku bandwidth when he decides to download a 5Gb update for his game...
-Advanced users can administer dhcp reservation, static routes, static DNS, MAC filtering, port forwarding, etc...
-It’s also supposed to support open-source firmware, such as DD-WRT, but I didn’t experiment with that on this particular router, yet...
-5GHz Wifi speeds are much faster than my previous router, which is less than two years old. Everyone in the house commented on how much better the 5GHz connection is throughout the house
-Integrated slots to enable wall mounting
-The setup wizard forces you to select an admin password. Couldn’t tell you how many home routers I’ve run into that were still using the default password.
-Automatically sets up a guest network that can’t access your private network. No more giving out the password for your private network to your kids’ friends.
-Parental Controls are easy to set up and flexible. You can select a specific device and restrict internet usage based on time of day and day of week. For example, you could block internet access for your kids after 10pm on a school night. Or you could just block certain web sites.
-Network Map gives you a visual overview of all devices connected to your network, with a separate tab for the guest network. From this map, you can select a device to view basic info (name, IP address, MAC address, etc..) and rename it to something meaningful. You can also select a device and enable Parental Controls from there. It will also report on the internet usage for each device, so when your Roku starts buffering, you can log in and discover that Johnny is hogging the bandwidth… :)
-Media Prioritization allows you to prioritize specific devices/applications so Johnny can’t hog your Roku bandwidth when he decides to download a 5Gb update for his game...
-Advanced users can administer dhcp reservation, static routes, static DNS, MAC filtering, port forwarding, etc...
-It’s also supposed to support open-source firmware, such as DD-WRT, but I didn’t experiment with that on this particular router, yet...
Although it’s a great device overall, there are a couple of things that some will consider a drawback:
-Aesthetics won’t appeal to some. Definitely not a router that will look unobtrusive in a living area.
-The Guest Network access is via a captive portal, which takes users to a webpage where they enter the network password in order to connect to the internet. I’m assuming this would have to be done every 24 hours, but I’m not certain. Some may prefer this method, but I definitely do not. Our guest network is most often used by friends and family. They’ll now have to remember/enter the password every time they come over. I would much prefer that Linksys allow you to disable the captive portal, so friends and family just have to enter the network password once, just like they would if connecting to your home network. This is by far my biggest complaint about this particular router.
-Aesthetics won’t appeal to some. Definitely not a router that will look unobtrusive in a living area.
-The Guest Network access is via a captive portal, which takes users to a webpage where they enter the network password in order to connect to the internet. I’m assuming this would have to be done every 24 hours, but I’m not certain. Some may prefer this method, but I definitely do not. Our guest network is most often used by friends and family. They’ll now have to remember/enter the password every time they come over. I would much prefer that Linksys allow you to disable the captive portal, so friends and family just have to enter the network password once, just like they would if connecting to your home network. This is by far my biggest complaint about this particular router.
So, after all that, is it worth the extra money? If you live alone in a small apartment, and just want to surf the internet, probably not. If you have a larger family, with multiple users streaming/gaming/downloading/surfing, then it definitely offers features that you may find worth the cost.
My Best Buy number: 2274651919
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Coffeehouse Versatility meets Pod Convenience with the Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System. Included 12-cup, double-walled thermal carafe is perfect for both hot and over-ice beverages, with an ergonomic handle and spout allow for easy control of pouring. Tackle grounds and pods with 9 grounds brew sizes from small cup to full carafe, and 4 pod brew sizes from 6 to 12 ounces. Brews a coffee pod faster than a leading Keurig coffee maker upon startup. With Thermal Flavor Extraction DUO technology, perfect flavor for grounds and pods is delivered with even saturation and precise temperature control for ultra-flavorful coffee. Separate from the coffee system is a dedicated hot water line. Using a separate line eliminates flavor contamination and delivers clean water. 2 temperature settings, hot and boil, allow you to make tea, hot cocoa, instant soups, and oatmeal. Brew a super-rich coffee concentrate that you can use to create delicious lattes, macchiatos, cappuccinos, and other coffeehouse-style drinks. Use the built-in, fold-away frother to transform hot or cold milk/milk-alternatives into silky-smooth froth in seconds. Top your Specialty brew with frothed milk for a coffeehouse-style drink. The frother is also removable for easy cleaning. Choose from one of four different brew styles; classic or rich for a traditional hot cup of coffee, over ice for an iced coffee that's never diluted, or specialty to make a cappuccino or latte. Clean function, dishwasher-safe parts, removable Ninja pod adaptor and frother allow you to easily deep clean your unit.
Must I use the pods for single cup?
No, it also comes with a reuseable pod, which will allow you to use regular ground coffee.
2 years, 6 months ago
by
cw77
The choice is yours. Whether you prefer making single cups of coffee with *K-Cup pods or full-sized carafes from coffee grounds, the nutribullet Brew Choice Pod + Carafe has the goods to brew both. Just insert your *K-Cup pod or filter, and the machine’s Brew Sense Technology will automatically adjust its display to match, giving you options to brew a 6, 8, or 10oz cup of *K-Cup coffee, or a 6, 9, or 12-cup carafe.
If using an actual K cup instead of the reusable, will it fit a K Cup from Keurig? or is it a special size where you have to use an exact brand?
Standard k-cups (Keurig & non-Keurig brands) work just fine. However, it will NOT accept the carafe sized k-cups.
2 years, 6 months ago
by
cw77
The choice is yours. Whether you prefer making single cups of coffee with *K-Cup pods or full-sized carafes from coffee grounds, the nutribullet Brew Choice Pod + Carafe has the goods to brew both. Just insert your *K-Cup pod or filter, and the machine’s Brew Sense Technology will automatically adjust its display to match, giving you options to brew a 6, 8, or 10oz cup of *K-Cup coffee, or a 6, 9, or 12-cup carafe.
Is the coffee really hot when it comes out?
160-170 degrees.
2 years, 6 months ago
by
cw77
Better sound begins with better silence. That’s why Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are engineered with the world-class noise cancelling and high-fidelity audio. Microphones inside and outside the earphones sense noise and react instantaneously to cancel the signal. Get rid of disruptions so you can turn up the music on your wireless earbuds and amplify whatever you’re most passionate about — from hiking or circuit training to coding or baking. And when you need to be more aware of your surroundings, minimize noise cancelling with a quick double tap, so you can walk down a busy street or listen for your boarding announcement. StayHear Max tips provide extra comfort and stability for an even better experience. Rule the Quiet with Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and get an exhilarating experience that’s tough to find in any other Bluetooth earbuds. The Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds are available in Triple Black, Soapstone and limited-edition Sandstone or Stone Blue.
Can you go go back on a track, or only skip forward, also can you controls volume headset?
I could not find a way to go back; could only go forward. Nor did I find a way to control the volume.
3 years, 6 months ago
by
cw77
Work and play on this 13-inch convertible HP Envy notebook. It has a 360-degree hinge that takes it from laptop to tablet in moments, and 8GB of memory and an AMD Ryzen 5 processor keep it functioning smoothly. Corning Gorilla Glass ensures the screen of this HP Envy notebook remains free from scratches and dings.Learn more.
Can this charge via the usb c port?
Yes, you can charge it via the usb c port if you have your own charger/cable. The included charger is a for the traditional dedicated charging port.
5 years, 8 months ago
by
cw77
Enjoy a variety of entertainment with this LG mini hi-fi system. Its Bluetooth function lets you stream audio from digital devices, and you can also play music from cassettes, FM radio and CDs. This LG mini hi-fi system has a USB port to read flash drive files and includes a remote control for convenience.
How long is the speaker wire? Thank you.
Clean your carpets efficiently with this iRobot Roomba vacuum. It lets you set a schedule for automated vacuuming, and the sensors help it navigate under furniture and around objects on the floor for a more thorough cleaning job. This iRobot Roomba vacuum has internal brushes, agitators and suction to handle debris and pet hair.
Does anyone who owns this model find that it is sort of loud?? The part that is the loudest is not the vacuum part but the part that makes it move I guess. Just wondering if anyone else found it loud or is there something wrong with mine?
I'd agree that it's fairly loud. Definitely louder than a competitors robot vac that I have.
6 years, 9 months ago
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cw77