Author: brendanlahert

20 years’ experience in the commercial technical industry. Interested in technology. Certified ITIL v3 Service Management, Project Management Prince 2, Six Sigma.

Review – Robus GLS connect smartbulb and¸5M IP20 LED Stripkit – 2700K – 6500K Tunable with Wi-Fi controller. #Robus

The Robus Plus Connect is a LED light strip that connects to an app on the phone allowing the led to be controlled allowing light to be turned off remotely and varied in colour. The packaging from Robus is bright giving clear specification, 3-year warranty, Wi-Fi, voice-controlled, compatible with Amazon Alexa and google assistant.  

 

Product Specifications:

Total Power (W):          23

Luminous Flux (lm):     1,360-1,580

Lamp Life (Hrs):             30,000

Number of LEDs:           120 / meter

CRI:    90

CCT (K): 2700-6500

Width (mm):  10

Length (mm): 5,000

Height (mm): 2.5

Weight (Kg):   0.4

 

Note the Lamp Life is rated as 30,000 Hrs, as compared to a typical incandescent bulb which only lasts 1,000 to 2,000 hours, The led comes with an impressive 3-year warranty.

 

Features

  •         Smart device enabled, works with iOS and Android via the ROBUS CONNECT App
  •         Connects with Amazon Alexa and Google Home via Wi-Fi with no need for a hub
  •         Smooth control of the light colour between 2700K and 6500K
  •         5m roll of Flexi strip light
  •         Strip can be cut every 6 LEDs
  •         Each kit c/w Wi-Fi controller, driver, flex and 3M double-sided tape for easy installation

 

Company.

The brand is an Irish owned company, LED Group ROBUS which was founded in 1984 with their headquartered in Dublin, branch offices in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Guangzhou in China. The Dublin office inspires trust in terms of familiarity with local power supplies, local Wi-Fi frequencies and standards to ensure compatibility with our local technologies.

 Safety Standards & Approvals:

Complies with: EN60598-1, EN55015, EN 61000-3-2, EN 61000-3-3, EN 62493, EN61547, EN 62471 

Setup:

The setup is standard in terms of download the ROBUS Connect App, register via text message & email address, note when connecting,  use the only 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network.  To set up the Led strip in the pairing mode, press and hold the reset button for >5 seconds. Alternatively, if the switch is inaccessible, turn on for 10 seconds, turn off – on – off – on – off – on. The luminaire will blink rapidly when in pairing mode.  In the background of the app the IP address, Mac address, time zone, Wi-Fi strength is available for those of a technical nature but not required for most installations.

Once set up as the default name of the Flexi-strip, this can be renamed to your choice of name.

The 3M double-sided can be used to stick on to walls, ceilings as required and cut to length.

 

Once connected:

The Led can be turned on / off via the wall socket, button on the cable or via the smartphone alternatively use of the App.  The light can be set to change colour (also with sound) as adjusted to brightness low to high. The app has a variety of default setting for the colour and brightness. A new setting can be saved on the app to your mood of lighting.  A scene in the app can be set up which connects various products which can be connected in various rooms as required. The colours choices are limited in the led but sufficient for a limited variety.

The Robus GLS Connect smart bulb.

 

Connect to the Amazon Alexa, (This unit does not need to be connected to a smart home but a great feature when done). Connecting to the Amazon Alexa required the use of an additional app – Smart Life Alexa skill and then via the Skills & Games. Again, the connection is easy when aware to use the Smart Life app.

 

Conclusion

The quality of the product is excellent with a 3-year warranty and a led life of over 30 thousand hours which alone is impressive. The IP rating may give a false impression as IP20  which is merely a touch by fingers / able to withstand basic touch and rudimentary dust protection, The kit has an excellent  Safety Standards &  list of Approvals which calls out the standard “ Electrical products can cause death or injury, or damage to property” I suspect the 12 Volt, 3 amp would be safer than most Christmas tree lights which can be fitted as DIY easily with minimum electrical knowledge.  Robust ethos is to create enduring products with low energy, low maintenance, which is certainly the case with this product.  My favourite features are not the warranty, led life the colours of the LED. Cost-saving from the lower power drain, but the smart home feature to connect directly to the Amazon Alexa enduring the home is smart. This is a product that once viewed by friends and family is on their wish list, a product that stands out for the right reasons, impressive.

Available at https://robus.com 

 

Review – Robus GU10 CONNECT 5W WIFI Tunable White LED Lamp. #Robus #IoT

The Robus GU10 Connect for all intensive purpose is a bulb but brings a new excitements/technology to the bulb ( LED). The Led is smart-enabled that connects to the Robus app for Android and IOS to control the Led, with the smartphone. This can be connected via Amazon Alexa and google home. The Led bulb looks the same as standard GU10 Bulb. The LED via the app allows scenes, controlling on/off switching, dim level and tunable white colour temperature.

 

Features:

The ROBUS Connected devices provide multiple functionalities which include:

  •         Smart device enabled, works with iOS and Android via the ROBUS CONNECT App
  •         Connects with Amazon Alexa and Google Home via Wi-Fi with no need for a hub
  •         Multiple lamps can be controlled via a single app
  •         Tunable white between 2700-6500K
  •         Lamp Life (Hrs)  25000
  •         Suitable for use in fire-rated downlights
  •         LED replacement for 50W Halogen downlights
  •         30ø beam angle
  •         No UV or infra-red content
  •         Die-cast aluminium, plastic coated housing and polycarbonate lens
  •         GU10 cap type
  •         High quality LED array providing high efficacy of 83-93lm/W
  •         Wide operating ambient temperature range of -20øC to +40øC
  •         On / off switching so lighting can be controlled from anywhere. You can switch off lights left on in another part of the house after going to bed, without getting up
  •         Dimming feature
  •         Tunable White Colour temperature control from warm to daylight white or anywhere in between dependent use of the lit space
  •         Scene setting which allows single or groups of fittings to be set to a specific state. A dining scene (1) whilst eating might need some lights over the table set to a higher level with lighting around the perimeter of the room set to low level
  •         Scheduling allows setting up of “holiday mode” actions where lights can be set to come on or go off at specific times of the day or night

 

Over several years, I have changed constant blowing of incandescent GU10 bulbs, this was caused by vibrations from the upstairs bedrooms, vibration to the light. The high power rating of the 60W x 6 bulbs burned out the dimmers switch every 8- 12 months, due to the power drain of 6 X 60 = 360 Watt draw of power. The Electricity cost alone on the lights was expensive.

Setup:

The setup is standard in terms of download the ROBUS Connect App, register via text message & email address, note when connecting, use the only 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network.  To set up the GU10

 in the pairing mode, press the on and off button three time until the LED flashes, the luminaire will blink rapidly when in pairing mode.  Once set up as the default name of the GU10 Led, can be renamed to your choice of name.  The setup is the same as the Robus Plus Connect¸5M IP20 LED Stripkit.

 

Connect to the Amazon Alexa, (This unit does not need to be connected to a smart home but a great feature when done). Connecting to the Amazon Alexa required the use of an additional app – Smart Life Alexa skill and then via the Skills & Games. Again, the connection is easy when aware to use the Smart Life app.

 

An LED lamp is expensive:

This is a common comment I get;” I’m not getting an LED bulb as they are expensive and they all do the same job,  “

This is a short comparison done by Techbuzz on the cost of the use of the LED

Comparison incandescent bulb Vs Robus Gu10 Connect The number of hours switched on per day. kWh per day Annual energy consumption (365 days on) kWh used *Utility rate 19.22 c/kWh (Charges Electricity prices per unit (cent per kWh) inc Vat The total cost of electricity for 1 year Cost per year to use the bulb
Incandescent bulb 60 Watt Light Bulb 6 0.36 365 131.4 19.22 €25.26 The Bulb costs €25.26 a year to run
Robus Gu10 Connect 5 Watt LED Bulb with 60W Light Output 6 0.03 365 10.95 19.22 €2.10 The Led   costs €2.10 a year to run

 

*Source https://www.electricireland.ie

Company.

The brand is an Irish owned company, LED Group ROBUS which was founded in 1984 with their headquarters in Dublin, branch offices in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Guangzhou in China. The Dublin office inspires trust in terms of familiarity with local power supplies, local Wi-Fi frequencies and standards to ensure compatibility with our local technologies.

 

Conclusion:

If you Ignore the green planet, green energy, the idea the Led bulb will last longer  ( Lamp Life  25000 Hrs at equivalent to 50W Halogen downlights ) due to the low heat emission,  the approx. cost  of €25.26 a year to run vs the  Robus GU10 Connect  €2.10  a year to run per year, The technology is cool, power on  / off via a standard switch, or the app, or Voice-controlled via the Alexa app. On the occasions getting into bed, did you switch off the lights, response Hey Alexa – switch off all lights, or when noise is heard downstairs in the middle on the night, the option to turn on 1 light or all light via your phone or via voice commands is genius.

Robus ethos is to create enduring products with low energy, low maintenance, which is certainly the case with their LED range. The Robus GU10 Connect is technology at its best, Cost saving, efficient for the planet, features to allow the LED to change the white colour from warm to daylight with the option to turn on / off via the app or voice control.  A simple product complimented by a Ireland  company using technology at its best and saving money.

 

Available from https://robus.com/

Or

https://nationallighting.ie/shop/rcgu5cx-gu10-connect-5w-wifi-tunable-led-lamp/

€18.40

Review – Amazon Echo 3rd generation & Amazon Echo Flex. #EchoFlex #Alexa #Echo3rdGen

The Amazon echo is another addition to the Echo family ( 3rd generation ), which were released in 2014 and grown in models offerings. On a basic level, the Alexa is voice-controlled assistant that allows you to talk to the Alexa assistant for general queries from the time, weather, set timers alternative it could be classed as a glorified speaker.  Whether voice assistance  / a hands-free speaker this comes out on its own when used to control a smart home.  It performs useful tasks such as setting alarms, finding out the weather, and controlling smart devices etc.

 

On a basic level other than the physical size of the Echo, compared to the Dot or Echo flex is the audio quality with the  Amazon echo using  Dolby sound which is not available on the lower models, The Amazon Echo is almost identical to the second-gen Echo Plus which was reviewed at TechBuzz in https://techbuzzireland.com/2019/01/16/review-amazon-echo-plus-2nd-gen-amazon-iot-tech-alexa/.  The Echo 3rd generation is physically larger than then echo dot / Amazon Echo Flex which increased its price but has a larger speaker which is noticeable in a large room.

 

Contents:

  •         Echo (3rd generation),
  •         Power adaptor (30.0W)
  •         Quick Start Guide.

 

Amazon Echo (3rd-gen): Specs

  •         148 x 99mm
  •         3in subwoofer & 0.8in tweeter
  •         3.5mm audio input
  •         Bluetooth
  •         Far-field beamforming microphones
  •         Available in four colours

 

Warranty:   1 year, which is on all the range which is a disappointment.

Amazon echo flex :

The Amazon echo flex has similar features as the Echo (3rd generation),  but can be plugged directly into a plug socket with a built-in USB-A port,  to charge your phone.  The echo flex is marketed towards been used in another room allowing access to you information, weather, traffic, control your smart home: turn on lights, adjust thermostats, lock doors and more, with compatible connected devices. This has audio output but not designed to listen to music,  As with the Echo, this is designed privacy: built with multiple layers of privacy protection and control, including a Microphone Off button that electronically disconnects the microphones. ( If the Echo range was 100% secure, this feature should not be required ) The Amazon echo flex has the advantage of no trailing power wire or needs for an adapter. The two Fairfield mics can pick up your voice even when there’s noise, and the speaker is loud enough to hear Alexa most of the time.

 

 

 

Setup: (this is the same for the range of the Amazon Echo)

The setup was standard, plug in the Echo device wait for the blue ring which covers the top of the cylinder around 45 seconds. Then the unit is paired with the wifi/smartphone easily and quickly.

Amazon Alexa app:

The Amazon Alexa App is setup using your Amazon account, (similar to Google Gmail account for Android) The allows personalized feature, including stop-start a resume from previous actions. the app allows control of Alexa-enabled devices, eg smart lights, locks and thermostats at home. The app connected allowed to connect to music services Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio. As linked into your amazon account, ‘if you order a parcel from Amazon Alexa knows the status of your parcel and can advise via green light, e.g. you parcel is out for delivery today, you can even ask what’s in the parcel. ( This may be a worry if ordering a present for a family member to keep as a surprise )

Music can be transferred directly via Bluetooth to the Amazon Echo using a subscription service e.g. Amazon Prime membership which has access to about 2 million songs, Spotify free version does not work while the paid version does connect direct

 

Smart home:

The key benefits of the smart speaker are the connection to a range of smart devices from a range of providers that support to Alexa.  At TechBuzz we have connected these to a variety of compatible products to include, Tapo Mini, Tile Sticker and Robus via the skills section in the Amazon app. The range of Manufacturers that can connect to Alexa’s skills is growing and includes to name a few include Nest, Philips Hue, Logitech, Ecobee, Belkin, TP-Link, and Samsung SmartThings families of products.

TechBuzz Ireland has reviewed numerous Amazon models over the last few years and the demo model returned,  we can’t give a live demo in the comparison of the older models of the Alexa, This model looks very similar to the second-gen Echo Plus in terms of size and output.

 

Privacy Features          

The Echo has privacy features which has wake word technology, streaming indicators, microphone off button, the ability to view and delete your voice recordings. These are concerns raised by many that use this technology. This concern has been raised by The Revenue Commissioners which have issued guidance to its own staff working remotely warning them about having a smart speaker nearby. The potential of cybercriminals accessing your data is always a possibility but on the odds of this occurring at present is minimal having a firewall, antivirus etc helps to decrease the possibility.

Compare:

 

Conclusion:

The Amazon Echo 3rd generation is an ideal premium speaker when connected to a paid subscription, allowing all the features of voice commands to provide 360 spherical sounds in the vocal, chorus, piano, guitar, and great bass. The Amazon echo flex does not have the audio experience but has the same features to use your voice control in the smart home: turn on lights, adjust thermostats, with compatible connected devices. The smart home option is the future without having to hardwire cables through a property, the cost of compatible devices has reduced and the number of products has increased in choice and features. 

Amazon Echo 3rd generation would be the first choice of model with the echo flex used in a smaller room or bedroom. The echo flex provides value for money and no trailing cables, contains the fairfield mics to control your smart home but not recommended to listen to the radio station or music playlist.  Both the Amazon Echo 3rd generation & Amazon echo flex are the future.   The decision is not to get an Amazon Echo, it’s what’s the budget would allow and your preference in terms of music requirement.   Great features  and affordable when used as part of a smart home, Highly recommended,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/amazon-echo-3rd-generation-smart-speaker-with-alexa/dp/B07P4DKX14  

Price: £89.99 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/amazon-echo-flex-plug-in-smart-speaker-with-alexa/dp/B07PDJ9JFF/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Amazon+echo+flex&qid=1591568038&s=amazon-devices&sr=1-1

Price: £24.99

 

Review – Tile Sticker. #Tile #Tracking #Tech

The tile Sticker is the size of a 2 euro coin but around 3 times thicker.  The build of the tile is waterproof with an internal battery lasting up to 3 years, On the back of the tile there is an adhesive to stick to any product as required.  The tile Sticker is placed on an object and if lost can be found via a ring tone or location map on the app.

 Setup and use:

The free tile app is required to be downloaded and set up on the standard smartphone. The tile sticker has a 46m range or if lost this can be referred to last known location on the app.  If lost or missing, via the Notify When Found.”  crowd community that is within the range automatically located the map location as required. The core features of the App as used to find the item via the ring my tile or find my phone, or see the location on the map, or share with friends and community find.

This information is automatically updated whenever anyone in the Tile community comes within Bluetooth range of your Tile. The Tile app on the play store has Installs 1,000,000+  Installs  ( rating of 4 out of 5 )  which would mean for android only, one of these would be required to pass the path of the tile sticker.  This constant searching via Bluetooth has a noticeable drain on the phone battery power.

Advance features required a payment service which gives advance features of alerts,  30 Day Location History, Unlimited Sharing and Free Battery Replacements.

 

 Tile comparison range:

 

 

Overall:

This is a product that under an ideal world where nothing gets lost or misplaced would not be required, but in the real world, everyday things get misplaced. This product allows you the option to find the product that may be invaluable to ensure the small outlay of cost may be saviours in finding the product. The downside of the system is the drain on the battery on the phone. If the unit is lost far away from a know location this relies on crowd surfing to find the product,  The risk for many is worth taking giving a higher probability of finding a lost product. The tile sticker is solid, not intrusive in size with an excellent battery life ensure its core function works, with a bonus of compatible with Alexa.

 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tile-Sticker-Item-Finder-Pack/dp/B07W63295C

Price: £29.99

Review – Quntis PD fast charger and cable. #Quntis #Charging

The Quntis PD fast charger and cable is a solid high power charger with a quality cable, This comes from Quntis which is a United States-based brand founded in 2015,  The key feature of the charger is the  18W USB C Power delivery wall charger as compared to the original 5 Watt charger. The Made for iPhone / iPad etc     charger comes with a 2 M  Nylon Braided C to Lightning Cable

 

Overview:

  •         High-Speed Lightning Charger Pack
  •         Apple MFi Certified Lightning Cable Extra Long 2 M
  •         Superior Safety USB-C
  •         Perfect Compatibility
  •         Long-time Worry-Free Support

 

 

Charging times: 

The Quntis PD fast charger uses USB Power Delivery which is a fast charging technology, supported by certain iOS / Apple and Android / Google devices, that delivers much higher levels of power than standard charging. (Samsung smartphones and tablets support a different fast charging technology called Qualcomm Quick Charge)

 

Charging times as quoted by Quntis for the PD fast charger and cable

 e.g. iPhone X Quntis   quoted charge times:

10 minutes: from 0% to 18%

30 minutes: from 0% to 50%

45 minutes: from 0% to 70%

From 0% to 100%: 140 minutes

Compared to Original Apple 5W Charger and Cable:

10 minutes: from 0% to 7%

30 minutes: from 0% to 16%

45 minutes: from 0% to 30%

 

TechBuzz tests carried out as per video indication our results of charging on an iPhone 8

Quntis fast charger 18W USB-C Power Adapter with USB C to Lightning Cable
  6 Min 14%
12 Min 35%
18 Min 44%
24 Min 53%
30 Min 60%
36 Min 67%
42 Min 73%
48 min 77%

The charger details can clearly show the fast charging early on going up approx. 10% every 6 minutes, this slowed down after approx. 30 minutes but continues to charge.

 Warranty: 2-Years Warranty. 

Overall:

The charger does what is stated as a fast charger using power delivery technology. The charger and cable are sturdy in quality. The cable stood out in the feel and strength given the impression it will not deteriorate as can happen with inferior brands.  Overall as a charger, this is an excellent choice but if looking to charger numerous devices, having a few iPhone or iPad in the home or business looking at the Quntis 60W 5-Port USB C Charger, & cables may be another option https://www.quntis.com/collections/chargers/products/5-port-60w-usb-power-delivery-wall-charger

A high-quality fast charger.

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quntis-Charger-Braided-Lightning-Certified/dp/B085LHKK15/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=Quntis+PD+fast+charger+and+cable&qid=1589629139&s=electronics&sr=1-4

(US) https://amzn.to/38B6SfI  20% Code:QUNTIS20
(UK) https://amzn.to/2U1LP0r  20% Code:quntis20
(FR) https://amzn.to/2XD6DMp  20% Code:quntis20
(IT) https://amzn.to/2XFnP47  20% Code:quntis20
(ES) https://amzn.to/2TMoEaa  20% Code:Quntis20
(CA) https://amzn.to/2X6Zqp1  20% Code:quntis20
(DE) https://amzn.to/2XEf0HE   20% Code:quntis20

Price: £20.99 

Review – The Crucial X8 1TB Portable SSD. #Tech #Storage #Crucial

The Crucial X8 1TB Portable SSD is a  solid-state drive (SSD)  which is a new generation of a storage device. SSDs replace traditional mechanical hard disks by using flash-based memory, which gives significantly faster speed and reliability.  This unit is solid which as per the manufactures has been tested with a 7.5-foot drop and tested against extreme temperatures, shock, vibration.

Speed:

The Portable SSD is fast with read speeds up to 1050MB/s, this would mean load files up to 1.8x faster than most portable SSDs, 7.5x faster than portable hard drives, and 100x faster than USB flash drives.

The Brand:

Crucial has been around for over 40 years involved in memory and storage, I have used many of their RAM options over the last 20 years which have worked seamlessly.

 

Warranty:

The unit comes with a 3-year warranty.

 

Overall.

The unit as expected from the SSD is fast, with the cable supplied works with most USB-C and USB-A devices.  This worked with an android phone easily and with speed, and transferred to a Laptop without any issues, ( This is Compatible with a wide range of devices. with Windows, Mac, iPad Pro, Chromebook, Android, Linux, PS4, and Xbox. ) The Build quality is solid and small enough to fit in a pocket if required.  The speed is great to suit most gamers, and elegant enough to be used in an office. Encryption software is available as required. This is a Storage device from a trusted brand, small, fast and great compatible to give an excellent experience. Well recommended. 

 

Available: : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-CT1000X8SSD9-Portable-USB-C-Black/dp/B07YD5TK4F

Price: £160.79

Review – The Creative Sound Blaster G3 USB-C DAC. #Creative #Gaming #Tech

The Creative Sound Blaster G3 is a Portable External Console Gaming USB-C DAC Amp for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mac, This enhanced gaming audio experience has voice chat balance capability, a customizable EQ preset with custom-tuned Footsteps Enhancer, and on-the-fly audio adjustments without having to exit your game’s screen.

 

The first impression of the unit was the feel of the unit, the plastic seems flimsy, with the buttons/switches not as comfortable as I would expect for the well-know Singapore-based Creative, Technology company.  The inclusion of the USB Type-C to Type-A Converter reinforced the UpToDate technology with the fibre optic cable. 

 

Package contents,

  • Sound Blaster G3
  • Optical Cable (1m / 3.28 ft)
  • USB Type-C to Type-A Converter
  • Quick Start Leaflet
  • Warranty Leaflet

Compatibility.

 

Setup:

The basic setup was easy in terms of the units was designed for use with gaming consoles with No software required, no drivers just plug and play. When using the advance features via the Creative app, this had challenges in the connection to the unit, the app had to removed from the android phone and reinstalled as did not pair immediately to the Samsung S10 phone. After reinstalling this worked ok. The setup was done via a PS4 Slim which does not have an optical port (The standard Ps4 and PS4 does), this was easily connected directly to the optical port on the TV and worked. 

Overall.

There were a few niggles in the build quality the app setup and the length of the cable option.  On the positive, once the set up was done there is an abundance of features tailored to specific games in the app, which can be adjusted from your phone and saved on the unit or via the app. The audio difference was noticeable in terms of isolation out specific sounds to your colleagues on the games or enhanced sound which often go unnoticed on the game. This is a real gamer paradise in terms of sounds. 

Available from https://en.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-g3

Review – The Plantronics Voyager 3240. #Plantronics #Voyager3240 #Tech

Plantronics is a Brand Synonymous with call centres throughout the world in small office and reception areas and those that use telecoms equipment. The Plantronics Voyager 3240 is geared towards the office user rather than the full-time receptionist allowing connection to a variety of phones/laptops and telecoms equipment with an abundant of voice prompts to ensure clarity. This is suitable for those on the go in a busy environment, drivers, office staff that have to make/received allot of calls and require handsfree,

The unit comes with only 1 headset which allows you to be aware of your surroundings, most of us will be aware of people with 2 earphones shouting on a call unaware a full office can hear them unaware of their surroundings.

 

Main features

  • In-ear design provides a wearing style that’s easy to put on or take off
  • Precision tuned triple-mic with enhanced DSP delivers superior noise cancellation
  • Smart sensors answer calls by simply putting on the headset
  • Dynamic mute alert senses and alerts you when you begin to speak while muted
  • Up to 98 feet/30 meters of wireless range from supported Class 1 Bluetooth devices
  • Portable charging case provides up to 10 hours of additional talk time

 

Specifications:

  •         Listen/talk time Up to 6 hours plus up to 10 extra hours with charging case
  •         (available in select bundles); up to 7 days standby time
  •         Range Up to 98 feet (30 meters) with Class 1 Bluetooth enabled device
  •         Audio performance Triple-mic DSP noise-cancelling technology, mobile wideband
  •         compatibility up to 6,800 Hz; echo cancellation, proprietary DSP,
  •         A2DP, mobile wideband compatibility (HD Voice-enabled)
  •         Hearing protection SoundGuard®: Sound leveling for listening comfort and acoustic
  •         limiting for protection against sounds above 118 dBA
  •         Headset controls Call answer/ignore/end/redial, mute, volume +/-, smartphone
  •         VPA access, power on/off
  •         Weight 9 g/0.019 lbs
  •         Wireless frequency Bluetooth v4.1
  •         Smart sensors answer calls by simply putting on the headset. Automatically
  •         transfer calls between mobile phone and headset based on
  •         wearing state (enabled using Plantronics Hub mobile app)
  •         Multipoint technology Stay connected to two phones and answer calls from either one
  •         Streams audio Stream music, driving directions, podcasts, and more with
  •         Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
  •         Voice alerts Enhanced voice alerts announce talk-time, mute, connection
  •         status, and more
  •         Firmware Update firmware and change language settings using Plantronics
  •         Hub for iOS/Android

 Connection:

The connection is standard to most phones using the Bluetooth option to your phone/laptop with no issues found. The NFC option works easier and faster.

Charging:

The unit comes with a micro USB cable which is disappointing in terms on modern phones for the last number of years have migrated to USB C resulting in another cable to be carried around, it takes approx. 90 minutes to fully charge the headset.  The status of the charging can be seen/heard via voice prompt/headset LEDs / phone app,

 Charge case:

The charging ( open style ) case does as it states, charges the headset but as a design having the charging connection on the bottom leaves it prone to liquid ingress when placed on a wet surface, the case gives minimum protection when carried from place to place, ( whereas the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 5100 True Wireless Bluetooth Headset, aimed at music lovers case is ideal offering protection and charges the headset )  the belt type clip again leaves allot to be desired with little practical use. The charging case gives 10 additional hours on a single charge, giving you up to 16 hours of combined talk time between a fully charged headset and charging case.

 

 The app – Plantronics Hub

The Plantronics Hub has a variety of useful features but again is different to the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 5100 Blackbeat app. The manufactures appear to have 2 completely different designs and technology which would be great to have one standardised one. The app gives a clear view of the battery time left, allow you to locate a misplaced headset, customise calls, mute calls, auto-answer, headset sensors and a variety of other features to personalise your experience. This also has a reset option in case a mistake is made during setup. The app has got 4.3 out of 5 on the play store out of near 30,000 downloads which is good, the app worked as required and can’t fault.

 Voice alerts:

The unit has a variety of useful voice alerts

Voice alerts list

Following is a list of common voice alerts. You can use Plantronics Hub to customise some of

these alerts. Download Plantronics Hub at plantronics.com/software

  • “Answering call”
  • “Battery low”
  • “Redialling last outgoing call”
  • “Incoming call”
  • “Mute on/mute off”
  • “No phone is connected”
  • “Pairing”
  • “Pairing incomplete, restart headset”
  • “Pairing successful”
  • “Power on/off”
  • “Phone X connected/disconnected” (my personal favourite feature)
  • “Recharge headset”
  • “Smart sensors on/off”
  • “Battery high”
  • “Volume maximum/minimum”

 

Call quality:

The Plantronics Voyager 3240 as expected has excellent call quality, quoting noise-cancelling technology which is far superior to most headset tested in the last year.  This does not mask out all sound from the call as on tests walking close to a radio / TV, the caller can hear the sounds albeit lower than many other brands. When used to listen to Spotify / Google play music. / Amazon music quality is average been distracted with 1 earpiece and the highs and lows not as pronounced, again this is not designed for recreational music listening but will work perfectly on your voice frequencies.

 

Conclusion:

Plantronics is a great brand with quality products, with my favourites being able to connect numerous phones/laptops at the same time, and able to make or receive a call from any device. This is a feature not seen on many earphones. This Bluetooth multipoint technology enables you to pair and connect your headset to two different Bluetooth audio devices at once with audio prompts to advise what is connected.  The brand as an office technology has a compatibility guide which you expect to ensure if the connection to a specialised device the guesswork is taken out of the interface connection, this may include Desk phone, Softphone, Mobile Bluetooth, Mobile corded Gaming and Landline.

The headset when sitting on a desk can easily be seen to connect to a phone when lifted to your ear but states not connected ensuring when you decide to take a call you can use the headset or traditional holding your head to the phone. Over the years I have had numerous earphones connected via Bluetooth only to find the audio was via the earphone, not the phones when required.

Overall the unit is a lightweight, solid build, comfortable to wear for hours,  and allows you to be aware of your surroundings with superior call quality. There are a few niggles in the charger style given limited protection and micro USB charger while minor in the overall scheme.  The multipoint technology allowing multiple units connected at the same time is a must for those that carry 2 phones or take skype/teams calls from laptops etc.  The Plantronics Voyager 3240 has an abundance of features and personalise options in the app given a great experience overall.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plantronics-3240-Mono-Bluetooth%C2%AE-Portable-Charging-Voyager-3240/dp/B072KH8F9L/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2DUURS77EA6EJ&keywords=plantronics+voyager+3240&qid=1581770535&sprefix=Plantronics+Voyager+3240%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-4

Review – Tapo Mini smart Wi-Fi socket – Tapo P100. #TapoP100

This  is a smart plug that allows the option to  Instantly turn connected devices on/off via the Tapo app. This is set up via the phone / Google assistant or Amazon Alexa with No Hub Required.

 Key Features:

  • Remote Control – Instantly turn connected devices on/off wherever you are through the Tapo app
  • Schedule – Pre-set a schedule to automatically manage devices
  • Timer – Create countdown timer lists for connected electronics
  • Voice Control – Manage your smart plug with voice commands via Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant
  • Away Mode – Simulates someone being at home by automatically turning the connected devices on/off randomly
  • Compact Design – Mini-sized to avoid blocking adjacent sockets
  • Easy Setup and Use – No hub required, set up quickly and manage easily via the free app 

Setup:

The setup is made easy by scanning the QR code on the box and following the app instructions.  This app requires you to register and install a new ‘Tapo’ app  which is another App to be used on the phone. The setup for Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for Voice Control is more challenging  as it requires linking accounts with as limited instruction on either app for the setup. This model is not Kasa compatible as other TP links,

Overall the unit is reasonably priced from a recognised  brand that works as required with a variety of options that can be used for scheduling to turn the socket on or off from  any location. It may be worth getting a set of the same brand of kit to prevent having multiple apps on the phone. This unit worked well without breaking the bank.

BUY HERE