Technology question

[hawing]

The tech-o-weenies thread has apparently not been used in 2019, and I'm tired of searching further for it - so I'm starting anew.

 

The SO has a Grace Digital internet radio which he listens to overnight. He uses wired earbuds but it limits how much he can move around, plus one of our cats has figured out that a great way to wake him up is to pull on the cord with his mouth.

 

I was looking into wireless earbuds as a Christmas gift for SO, but the internet radio doesn't have Bluetooth. A newer version of the radio does have Bluetooth, but the FAQs with it suggest that it won't work with wireless headphones.

 

Would a wireless transmitter plugged into the headphone port work? My google searching suggests it might, but I'd rather not buy one if it wouldn't. Since the current radio fills his needs now, I'd rather not upgrade it if there's a less expensive way to upgrade his listening experience.

 

(Yes, I know he could just stream from his phone to wireless earbuds. He really likes the radio.)

 

Thanks, fellas!

[homer]

I was looking into this for my TV speaker bar but the new version of Roku has a remote with a headphone jack and I decided not to pursue it. I think your idea works in theory but like you, I wasn't 100% it would work with my setup.

[zurch1818]

Would something like this work? I have no idea if this is a good one or not as I have never had a use for it. I am just providing a link as a concept.

 

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/aluratek-bluetooth-audio-transmitter-black/6332920.p?skuId=6332920

 

Edit:

I just did a little more research and think this one may be better. It says it can either be continuously charging or the batter should last 8ish hours.

 

https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Receiver-Simultaneously/dp/B01EHSX28M/?tag=imoreb-20&ascsubtag=UUimUdUnU39712YYwYg

[MrTPlush]

Yes, those audio transmitter are nice, used one in college so I wasn’t “that person” with their TV on all the time.

[hawing]

The TaoTronics is actually just what I was eyeing. So thanks, you guys. Now I feel like there's a chance I can accomplish what we want without shelling out unnecessary dough.

[Samurai Bucky]

Taking it a step further ---

 

I have a nice Onkyo receiver that does not have Bluetooth. Any suggestions for something that plugs into the "aux" port that would receive Bluetooth or some other suggestion?

[Baldkin]

Taking it a step further ---

 

I have a nice Onkyo receiver that does not have Bluetooth. Any suggestions for something that plugs into the "aux" port that would receive Bluetooth or some other suggestion?

 

There is definitely a way to do it. Here is the basics: https://www.reviewgeek.com/11864/the-best-bluetooth-adapters-for-your-tv-stereo-and-speakers/

 

First you need to decide if you just want a receiver, or a receiver and transmitter - the difference in cost is about $20.

 

I used to use this: https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Receiver-Wireless/dp/B01KO1JNCA/

 

before I upgraded my setup. Did fine for my relatively small apartment.

[Samurai Bucky]

Thanks Baldkin... this is exactly what I'm looking for. I nice cheap gift for somebody to get me for Christmas...

[LouisEly]

I just purchased a refurbished laptop off of eBay. I've purchased two refurbished computers previously off of eBay and they worked out well, each lasting over five years until the technology got too outdated.

 

I just fired this one up and it seems to be working well, but it's making a loud rattling noise under the right side of the keyboard. It's a PC, Lenovo, 15' screen, recent model (late 2020 I believe).

 

Anyone know what that rattling might be and if I should be concerned? I have a 30-day warranty on it.

[nate82]

I just purchased a refurbished laptop off of eBay. I've purchased two refurbished computers previously off of eBay and they worked out well, each lasting over five years until the technology got too outdated.

 

I just fired this one up and it seems to be working well, but it's making a loud rattling noise under the right side of the keyboard. It's a PC, Lenovo, 15' screen, recent model (late 2020 I believe).

 

Anyone know what that rattling might be and if I should be concerned? I have a 30-day warranty on it.

 

If it is rattling noise pretty sure it is the fan either dying or rubbing against something.

 

Do you hear a fan spinning up?

[LouisEly]

Thank you, nate, it was in fact the fan. After getting the runaround from them, they didn't offer enough of a credit so I returned it.

 

I'm looking at a similar laptop that has an Intel 10th gen i5-1035G1 processor. It is only 1GHz, but it's a quad-core processor, so I'd appreciate some advice as to whether that's a decent processor for basic computing (no gaming, but some multi-tasking with multiple programs running and running on Win10 and likely some video recording/editing). Thanks!

[nate82]

Thank you, nate, it was in fact the fan. After getting the runaround from them, they didn't offer enough of a credit so I returned it.

 

I'm looking at a similar laptop that has an Intel 10th gen i5-1035G1 processor. It is only 1GHz, but it's a quad-core processor, so I'd appreciate some advice as to whether that's a decent processor for basic computing (no gaming, but some multi-tasking with multiple programs running and running on Win10 and likely some video recording/editing). Thanks!

 

That should be ok for just basic computing but multi-tasking you may see some slow down depending on how much RAM you have. For video recording/editing depending on the software you are using that should be fine but will also be dependent on how much RAM you have this is both system RAM and the amount of RAM on the video card I am assuming this is a basic laptop which means it won't have any or very little. If you are using ADOBE Premiere Pro then no that processor is not going to work at all. I believe that one is below the minimum specifications for ADOBE Premiere Pro.

 

I really hate laptops but if you are traveling or don't have the room for a desktop then they are preferable though you can get small form desktops that perform 10 times better than a laptop and are actually smaller in size and cost far less.

[LouisEly]

Thanks, Nate! The laptop has 8GB DDR4 2400 MHz RAM (4GB OnBoard + 4GB DIMM), which is double what I have now. Not sure about the video card, just says "Integrated Intel UHD Graphics". Not professional video editing, no Adobe Premiere Pro, just using the Windows 10 video editor app.

[nate82]

Thanks, Nate! The laptop has 8GB DDR4 2400 MHz RAM (4GB OnBoard + 4GB DIMM), which is double what I have now. Not sure about the video card, just says "Integrated Intel UHD Graphics". Not professional video editing, no Adobe Premiere Pro, just using the Windows 10 video editor app.

 

Then you are good and should be fine.

[LouisEly]

I think my router is going as I'm getting widely varying internet speeds lately. I thought it was the cable modem which I replaced yesterday and initially got better speeds, but tonight I'm getting 20% of the speed I was this morning/yesterday and my laptop is cutting in and out of the 5GHz wifi signal but seems to be stable on the 2.4GHz wifi signal. I've reset the router several times the last few weeks but still getting widely varying speeds.

 

Might be the perfect time to get a mesh wifi system that I've been looking at for a while. The problem is that my condo is long and narrow and I'll have to put one of the extenders in a hallway. In the middle of my unit is a concrete stairway fire escape, through which wifi signals don't go through real well. Unfortunately the ones with extenders that plug into outlets either don't have good reviews or are very expensive, and the outlets I have are horizontal and the extender-holders that mount on outlets don't work well in horizontal outlets. I can put one on a shelf in front of a window, but the window faces west and is glass-block and gets ungodly hot in the summer and the shelf is recessed into the wall so I don't know if the wall will block the signal. I don't know that I want to mess up my wall mounting something either.

 

Wondering what mesh systems people would recommend if you had to place an extender in a hallway like that. Also, not sure I trust the Google or Amazon mesh systems to not be "listening" to me.

[CheezWizHed]

I have Google Mesh and am really happy with it. I have a 2800 sq ft house. The main unit is in the basement in the middle of the house near my DSL modem. The second is in the back of the house in the basement in a bedroom and serves the bedrooms above it. The third is in the front of the house upstairs in the living room.

 

My original router in the front of the house in the living room, couldn't reach the back of the house. Now I have excellent coverage in all areas of the house.

 

These don't have any microphones, so no physical "listening".

 

This also has a feature of two wifi networks - normal + a "guest" network. Thus you can give a password to visitors while still separating your personal computer connections. I also put low-trust IoT devices on the guest network so that my stove doesn't become an entry point to my computer.

[owbc]

Another vote for the Google mesh — just upgraded 2 months ago from one of the outlet-type extenders. Immediate and significant improvement in streaming on the TV and video calls. There is a switch to turn off the smart assistant. My old extender was finicky about location but the mesh is so good that I doubt it matters where you put it. And the price was great, I feel like the last time I checked they were at least double what they are now.

[igor67]

I shared the skepticism on Google, but got an excellent deal over a year ago at Costco and went with the Google Wi-Fi. The older model (not the Nest) was appealing because of price and less support for the voice nonsense. Despite our broadband being pretty small (12MB) we've never had issues other than a tiny bit of tweaking my initial router placement to avoid 1 deadspot. The mesh system is still designed to handle a large number of devices which is great when I've had guests with kids where it's is easy to have more phones and tablets than people.

[zurch1818]

I am 100% on board with Google WiFi too. We actually bought it for my wife's parents for Christmas. It is super easy to set up. There are a few things I don't like about it:

 

1. I don't have as much control as what I have had in the past in terms of settings. It also has to be managed through your phone. There is no PC interface anymore.

2. It doesn't support WiFi 6 (802.11ax). This probably isn't that big of a deal as we don't have that many devices, but they say that in the future there will be way more devices that would attach.

 

Google occasionally has these go on sale. They just recently had a Nest router and once access point sell for $180 (normally $270). I saw this when I was trying to get my coworker to buy one after I found out he was renting a router from Spectrum. That is a whole other topic to rant about. I don't know why anyone rents those things. Unfortunately, it looks like this sale stopped a few days ago.

[jerichoholicninja]

Went with Google after we were getting spotty wifi everywhere but the room with the router. It's been about 3 years and haven't had a single issue since.

[nate82]

Depends on how much you want to spend.

 

Whenever these get released by ASUS they will be good but they will probably cost about $1,000.

 

https://www.asus.com/Networking-IoT-Servers/Whole-Home-Mesh-WiFi-System/ZenWiFi-WiFi-Systems/ASUS-ZenWiFi-Pro-ET12/

https://www.asus.com/Networking-IoT-Servers/Whole-Home-Mesh-WiFi-System/ZenWiFi-WiFi-Systems/ASUS-ZenWiFi-Pro-XT12/

 

Otherwise there is the Netgear ones but they are rather pricey and don't have a desktop GUI. I believe it is just a phone application only. Also stay away from the Nighthawk ones. I have heard some bad things about those.

 

https://www.netgear.com/home/wifi/mesh/

[DHonks]

I have some prosumer grade access points from Ubiquiti and absolutely love the coverage. I don’t think I could go back to something like Orbi or Google

[DHonks]

I have some prosumer grade access points from Ubiquiti and absolutely love the coverage. I don’t think I could go back to something like Orbi or Google