We Choose The Most Useful Stay At Home Consumer Tech Products

By Richard M. Sherwin

(With Bob Plunkett, Jennifer Auspitz, Marc Burstein and Susan Davis)

Some consumer tech products, heretofore considered secondary or not must-buys for many people, have now come to the forefront for the millions stuck at home.

Families who have had to take in a relative or two and are now using basements, extra bedrooms, and even garages, have found that their home networks are not strong enough to provide internet and Wi-Fi throughout their home or apartment.

Service providers sell a bunch of “Internet Extenders” now at exorbitant prices but smart shoppers have caught on and are buying these extenders at Target and Walmart and BJs. In the past, these devices were for experts only, but now with a smartphone and maybe ten minutes of time, you can expand your wi-fi throughout your home or apartment.

Mesh Mosh in your home

The Orbi Mesh Unit

Many of you presently use a one-piece modem/router to spread Wi-Fi around your home. Now that you might need to expand or extend your Wi-Fi, the use of

Mesh Systems provide Wi-Fi and broadband capacity using “satellite” modules (like above) that strengthen an individual area like a third bedroom, garage, or basement. Another advantage is that these modules are all part of a single wireless network, and share the same SSID (wifi name) and password. This means you won’t have to switch networks and passwords as you do with traditional range extenders. DFA’s first experience with extenders about 5 years ago wound-up requiring several names and passwords.

NETGEAR’S Nighthawk

For instance, the award-winning Nighthawk, which we demonstrated in our lectures and columns the last few years, was terrific when we just needed to cover the first floor of our home, but its sister product, NETGEAR’S Orbi System, now provides a satellite node downstairs where there was previously hardly any Wi-Fi at all.

Most Wi-Fi system satellites use Mesh Technology to talk to the router and to each other. Each nodule serves as a jumping-off or transfer point for other nodes in the system. So even if the node is very far from the router, this jumping-off point …nodule to nodule… enables your wireless signal to cover a wider range.

Some Wi-Fi systems do not use mesh networking. They incorporate a radio signal from the router to the satellite to expand Wi-Fi. We tried some of the radio wireless signal extenders and found the Mesh Systems works better to reach distant areas of a home.

Our top choice was the Orbi, which offered the best range and broadband strength by far. The Eero (around $225) and The Google Nest (around $100 a single node) were very disappointing despite their reputations. The TP-Link RE220 AC750 Wi-Fi Range Extender ($125) was OK… the NETGEAR EX3700 (non-mesh and very popular AC750 Wi-Fi Range Extender, (around $125) was pretty good and the Linksys RE6350 AC1200 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Range Extender ($200) was decent.

But again, three years in a row our pick is the NETGEAR Orbi Tri-band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System. It has 3Gbps Speed– and this Router & Extender Replacement covers Up to 5,000 sq. ft. The 2-Pack Includes 1 Router & 1 Satellite system and is a little pricey ($300), but was well worth the money.

The Best In-Ear Blue Tooth Phones Are NOT From Apple, Samsung Or Bose.

With everyone on their mobile phones talking or listening to their tablets, some in-ear Bluetooth devices are outperforming top-selling Jabra, Apple, Bose, and Samsung in-ear headphones.

DFA found one brand, the TOZO line of True Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth Headphones, outperformed all the aforementioned in-ear headphones at about a quarter of the price.

The TOZO T6 buds have Touch Control and come with a Wireless Charging Case. They are Waterproof certified and their TWS Stereo Earphone in-Ear Built-in Mic Headset also provides a premium, Deep Bass. Another advantage, and a very big one over many of name brands, is that the TOZOs come with several sizes of earbuds.

For DFA, the TOZO T6 wireless earbuds lasted at least 5 ½ hours of playtime from a single charge after spending 24 hours in the wireless, compact charging case. And its tech support was wonderful, answering our questions via email almost immediately.

Streaming devices take center stage

We’ve all become enamored of our Roku’s and Amazon Fire Sticks and even with the disappointing Apple TV. Streaming TV content has become a way of life. But for many who dropped cable TV and just kept the Internet, now have to offer entertainment like TV shows and movies to relatives living in the extra bedroom, garage, basement, etc. These streaming devices have now become the focal point for electronic entertainment.

Even without Extenders, if your Wi-Fi at home could produce at least 8 Mbps (Mbps stands for “Megabits per second, the standard measure of “speed” or “bandwidth” on home internet connections) any of the streaming services — from Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube and now tons of other streaming content providers– should produce decent quality entertainment. DFA noticed that with sports apps like MLB, NFL, and the tennis channel, there was a bit of a lag unless you had 12 Mbps or more. Also, to experience true 4K and super high-quality movies and shows, your Wi-Fi should be at least 12 Mbps.

Our pre-Virus ratings of these devices have not changed. Roku’s high end fully 4K version, the Ultra, at under $100, still does a better job of streaming through its superior chipset and also has less intrusive advertising than the Amazon Firestick. The Ultra includes enhanced voice support and more customizable apps.

Some Rokus and Firesticks even have HDR (High Dynamic Range) the newest way to get true blacks and deep colors.

There are Roku’s priced from $29 to $59 to fit everyone’s budget and feature preferences. And there’s also a very portable Roku Stick.

The Amazon Firestick takes up less room and is more portable than all of the Roku models, but it does require an extender for those of you who have TVs mounted on the wall, not near an AC socket… And yes, the Firestick sometimes goes on sale during “Amazon” days so that you can buy three of them for $100 or less. Why would you want more than 1? Some people I know use them for other types of alternative broadcast content like Kodi and keep the others for their other rooms.

The Firestick

All Firesticks come with Alexa built-in. The Firestick 4K Plus, under $50, comes with a one-year subscription to the Food Network. And the Firestick Cube, a knockoff of the Roku Ultra, can be used almost hands-free with Alexa.

Streaming runners up:

Google also has an entry into streaming devices with its Chromecast model, which only uses your mobile phone as a remote control, a cumbersome, unreliable way to stream.

While only $29 at major retail stores, at DFA lectures, most people complained that it just didn’t have the features or the video capabilities of Roku or Firestick.

Apple TV, which was never a real contender and can be purchased really cheaply on eBay, didn’t have any of the features of the market leaders and, in effect, killed itself with the advent of Apple AirPlay 2 support which lets you stream media from your iOS device directly to your TV over Apple’s own platform.

Smart TVs take center stage

Roku has partnered with several TV manufacturers that now have built Roku into their TV sets. TCL, the Chinese company that purchased RCA years ago, has Roku TV as cheaply as $120 for a 42-inch set. And TCL also has higher-end models with 4K capabilities and now has screen sizes up to 75-inches.

But if you are looking for a higher-ranked and in DFA’s opinion a better large screen Smart TV (which many housebound people seem to be doing) then look at LG’s TVs (best ranked by everyone) and Samsung, Sony, Vizio, and Hisense TVs, all of which have many Apps built into their newer models.

LG’s 42 inch and larger Smart TVs even come with an Internet-based LG Channel which has nearly 200 TV channels that are only Internet, not network-based. So, when you combine this with over the air channels and Streaming Apps, these LGs (which again seem to be the best TVs you can buy) have enough content to suit everyone.

Smart Tablets

For the first time, DFA is not choosing an Android-based tablet. Samsung, which is still the market leader, has dropped the ball by putting too many unnecessary applications and proprietary programs into their line of Android tablets…slowing them down. This might be why Samsung’s 8 inch and 10-inch tablets aren’t selling as well as Apple’s newly priced iPads.

Apple still requires too many passwords and ultra-security maneuvers before using your iPad. But, when we matched speed, convenience, and accuracy, iPads now have an edge.

And with Target, BJs, Costco selling iPads at reduced prices, Samsung better improve its Android products.

Runners up include Lenovo’s very fast, very colorful tablets but they are way overpriced. And poor customer support at Acer has caused us to downgrade the former top performer.

Amazon’s Kindle and Fire HD tablets are always well priced, but still only have 50% of the features of most Android and Apple tablets.

At a recent lecture, Google’s Chromebook (a hybrid between a PC and a tablet) got mixed results. However, many school systems (especially during the COVID 19 Crisis) stopping using iPads, replacing them with the cheaper, lighter, and easier to use Chrome Books. Some families have also switched over to

Chrome books from Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Samsung, HP, and the very expensive Google Chrome book Pixel.

Bytes and Pieces Microsoft previews antivirus protection for Android

Microsoft, which provides free anti-virus protection for newer PCs, is previewing the Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection for Android, which offers branded for a fee malware detection and protection against phishing and unsafe network connections. A version of the Defender ATP is now generally available for Linux, and an iOS antivirus app is in the works.

NBC Peacocks Itself, while HBO Maxes Out

Android, and its sister Chromecast devices from Google, will carry NBC Universal’s Peacock streaming service soon as the so far disappointing streaming service goes nationwide. The deal allows people using Android or Android TV to receive an advertisement-supported edition of Peacock Premium free of charge for three months after that launch date.

The Peacock network, owned and operated by Comcast Universal, has been offering this streaming service has is mainly NBC shows, which are available almost anywhere or anytime for free on the Comcast networks.

HBO Kills HBO GO

One of the most popular Apps available on almost all streaming devices, PCs and Macs, is HBO GO. This lets subscribers see their favorite HBO shows when they’re not at home or via streaming devices in their homes.

In one of the first moves that HBO’s new parent company AT&T has made since their multibillion-dollar purchase of all Time Warner broadcast ventures. AT&T is killing the App. Roku and other streaming manufacturers are trying to fight this move. Some are taking it to the FCC.

Roku’s statement put this selfish maneuver into the light: “ We are disappointed that HBO will no longer give its customers access to HBO GO – and that HBO is taking this action at a time when so many people are at home. We believe providing an exceptional user experience is paramount and we have asked HBO to reconsider their decision. Unfortunately, at this time they are still planning to shut down HBO GO. “

Meanwhile, HBO customers can still access HBO in a number of ways. Existing HBO users that subscribe through Comcast, Charter, or AT&T TV can stream HBO on the Comcast Xfinity Stream, Spectrum TV, and AT&T TV channels available on the Roku platform. But only on their Tablets and phones not on their TVs. Additionally, if you would like to continue to access HBO on Roku you may subscribe directly to HBO on The Roku Channel.