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    Gadgets

    HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

    The HT Guys, Ara Derderian and Braden Russell, are Engineers who formerly worked for the Advanced Digital Systems Group (ADSG) of Sony Pictures Entertainment. ADSG was the R&D unit of the sound department producing products for movie theaters and movie studios. Two of the products they worked on include the DCP-1000 and DADR-5000. The DCP is a digital cinema processor used in movie theaters around the world. The DADR-5000 is a disk-based audio dubber used on Hollywood sound stages. ADSG was awarded a Technical Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2000 for the development of the DADR-5000. Ara holds three patents for his development work in Digital Cinema and Digital Audio Recording. Every week they put together a podcast about High Definition TV and Home Theater. Each episode brings news from the A/V world, helpful product reviews and insights and help in demystifying and simplifying HDTV and home theater. Our email address is hdtvpodcast@mac.com

    Advertise

    Copyright: Copyright © 2022, HT Guys. All rights reserved.

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    Latest Episodes:
    Podcast #978: HDTV Buying Guide 2020 Dec 11, 2020
    Show notes

    Wyze Video Doorbell review: Spotty performance holds it back

    The Wyze Video Doorbell comes at an incredible price for an app-enabled live-streaming buzzer: $30. Nothing from major brands like Amazon's Ring or Google's Nest comes close to that level of affordability. That said, I experienced issues with the camera's performance on this video doorbell -- something I haven't encountered with other Wyze cams (more details on that in the section below). Full article here…

    Steven Soderbergh: The Reports of Cinema's Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

    We are only taking a look at a couple of questions from this interview. We recommend that you take a look at the entire interview linked here. Full article here…

    HDTV Buying Guide 2020

    Tis the season for us to go shopping and to continue to help you spend your money - one of our favorite times of the year. If you or anyone in your life is looking for a new UHD TV this Christmas, but still aren't sure which one to buy, we've got you covered. There are some incredible TVs out there with fantastic pricing.

    50 Inch

    If you are looking for a TV in this size category you probably have a small room and don't want to spend a lot of money. With that said, you still want a good TV for your home.

    Hisense H8G Quantum Series Android 4K ULED Smart TV with Voice Remote (Street Price $525)

    When you consider the price and performance this TV is hard to beat. By the way, it comes in bigger sizes with similar values. RTINGS.com gives it a 7.8 out of 10 rating for overall use. Having full-array local dimming gives it great contrast and black levels. The TV has a good color gamut which produces rich and saturated colors in HDR content. The HDR drops off in a well lit room as the TV does not get bright enough. Finally, off angle viewing is not the best.

    65 Inch

    At this size we are not looking for a bargain but more a high quality TV that won't break the bank.

    Vizio P-Series Quantum X 4K HDR Smart TV (MSRP $1530)

    This TV is great for most uses garnering an 8.3 overall rating from RTINGs.com. If you were turned off by the previous model due to its limitations in bright rooms, then this TV is for you. But it also does well in dark rooms with it's dark blacks which makes watching movies a joy. However, this TV has off angle viewing issues as fo most all LCD based TVs

    75 Inch

    Now we are getting into serious TV watching here and will up the budget substantially. We also want a TV with as few compromises as possible.

    LG CX 77 inch Class 4K Smart OLED TV w/ AI ThinQ® (MSRP $3500)

    This OLED delivers excellent picture quality with the best black levels on the market. RTINGS.com rates it 8.8 overall and a whopping 9.3 for movies! If you are a movie junky this TV is for you, with the caveat that the room is dark. This is the only TV on our list that has no off angle viewing issues. The CX has a wide color gamut for HDR content. The only issue we have with the TV is the brightness. If you are watching in a bright room you may not be able to get brightness levels you like.

    Ultimate TV (for Braden)

    Our Ultimate category was added specifically for Braden this year by Ara. He is trying to get Braden to buy something!! Even if he has to store it in his garage until the home is ready for it's use. We all know Braden has an affinity for TCL but this TV is going into his main room so we are upping the game!

    85" Class Q80T QLED 4K UHD HDR Smart TV (2020) (MSRP $3800)

    At 85 inches, this TV gets into the projector size category. I ruled out OLED out solely based on price but at $3800 this TV is not cheap. RTINGS.com gives this TV 8.4 overall. The Q80T is a wonderful all around TV. Great picture quality and contrast ratio combined with its high peak brightness makes it a great choice for use in bright rooms. But thanks to it's full-array local dimming, the Q80T has great contrast which allows it to perform well in dark rooms too. Finally of all the non-OLED TVs, this one has the best off angle viewing.


    Podcast #977: Receiver Buying Guide 2020 Dec 04, 2020
    Show notes

    Receiver Buying Guide 2020

    It's that time of year where we get to spend your money. This season we start off with AV Receivers. We take a practical approach with these guides in that we try to get you the best bang for your buck. Well we do indulge with one of our selections. Here is our AV receiver buying guide for 2020.

    Under $500

    Sony STR-DN1080 7.2ch Home Theater AV Receiver (MSRP $499.99)

    The Sony STR-DN1080 is a receiver that has been out for a few years but still checks all the boxes for a 4K receiver that won't break the bank. If you spent a few hundred dollars on a new 4K TV at a Black Friday sale or will do so between now or Christmas this is the perfect receiver for you. We are not going to recommend that you spend a thousand dollars on a receiver for a $300 TV. Even still, this receiver is packed with a lot of features.

    Features:

    • 6-in/2-out HDMI connectivity with 4K/60p (4:4:4)7 pass-through, HDCP 2.2 support, and HDR support
    • Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X support
    • High-Resolution Audio-compatible
    • Wi-Fi®, AirPlay and Chromecast built-in for music streaming
    • One-cable HDMI eARC
    • With Google Home
    $500 to $750

    Onkyo TX-NR797 9.2 - Channel Network A/V Receiver (Street Price $750, Back Ordered)

    The Onkyo TX-NR797 makes our list as a solid mid-level receiver with high end features typically found in receivers costing more than $1000. This is the receiver you buy when you spent a little more on your TV but ran out of budget for a receiver to match.

    Features:

    • 100 Watts/Ch (8 Ohms 20-20kHz, 2 Channels Driven, FTC)
    • HDR (High Dynamic Range) video including HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision®, and BT.2020
    • Six HDMI inputs, ARC-ready
    • MAIN OUT, and SUB OUT pass 4K/60p and HDR video from player to compatible TV and projector and all terminals are HDCP 2.2 compliant.
    • Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X® compatible
    • THX® Certified Select™ theater-reference sound
    • Access streaming content from Amazon Music, Pandora®, Spotify®, TIDAL, Deezer, and TuneIn and share sound as part of a multi-room system via Works with Sonos, AirPlay 2, DTS Play-Fi®, and FlareConnect.
    • Chromecast built-in with the Google Assistant
    • Works with Sonos
    $750 - $1000

    Denon AVR-X2700H 7.2ch 8K AV Receiver with 3D Audio, Voice Control and HEOS Built-in® (MSRP $849.00)

    The Denon AVR-X2700H is a receiver that is as future proof as it can get. Do we think you will need 8K support anytime in the near future? Probably not. But this receiver can handle it if you do. Of course it supports all the audio formats, HDMI eARC, HDCP 2.3, and so much more. This receiver does it all and at $850 it's hard to beat!

    Features:

    • 95W per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, THD: 0.08%,2 ch. driven)
    • 8K/60Hz pass-through, 4K/120Hz* pass-through for gaming, and support for the latest HDMI specifications
    • Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X and IMAX Enhanced
    • HDMI section (7 in/3 out) with a dedicated 8K input that will support 8K/6OHz and 4K/120Hz video pass-through and upscaling
    • HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), Dynamic HDR, 3D, and BT.2020 pass-through support
    • 4K/120Hz* pass-through and upscaling, as well as Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Quick Frame Transport (QFT), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which reduces or eliminates lag and frame tearing to offer a smoother, lag-free gaming experience.
    • Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri and Josh.ai
    Greater than $1000

    Denon AVR-X6700H 11.2 Ch. 8K AV Receiver with 3D Audio, HEOS® Built-in and Voice Control (MSRP $2499.00)

    If you have upgraded your room with a higher end TV/Projector and better speakers with full blown ATMOS/DTS:X you need a receiver to match. We are so impressed with Denon's 2020 lineup that we decided to stick with them for this category. Our top selection this year is the Denon AVR-X6700H. There are more expensive receivers out there but not necessarily better. The 6700 has everything we like about the 2700 but more!

    Features:

    • Premium 140W per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, THD: 0.08%, 2 ch. driven) amplifier designed specifically for demanding speakers
    • 8K/60Hz pass-through, 4K/120Hz* pass-through for gaming, and support for the latest HDMI specifications
    • Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X and IMAX Enhanced
    • Support for DTS:X Pro via a future firmware update
    • Can process 13.2 channels with an additional amplifier
    • HDMI section (7 in/3 out) with a dedicated 8K input that will support 8K/6OHz and 4K/120Hz video pass-through and upscaling
    • HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), Dynamic HDR, 3D, and BT.2020 pass-through support
    • 4K/120Hz* pass-through and upscaling, as well as Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Quick Frame Transport (QFT), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which reduces or eliminates lag and frame tearing to offer a smoother, lag-free gaming experience.
    • Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri and Josh.ai

    Podcast #976: Thankful on Infinite Podcasts! Nov 26, 2020
    Show notes

    We have a special show for you today. The AV Rant Guys (Tom Andry and Rob H), along with DJ Briggs of the Bright Side of Home Theater join us for a fun filled podcast that gives thanks to you our listeners.


    Podcast #975: Black Friday Roundup Nov 20, 2020
    Show notes

    Black Friday 2020

    It's another Black Friday and the HT Guys have you covered. This year is a bit different as many companies go virtual with their Black Friday Deals. We can go through every deal out there but we do highlight a few that we really like. Let us know if you participate this year and what you get.

    WalMart

    Available 11/25

    • VIZIO 70" Class 4K UHD LED Smart TV HDR V-Series V705x-H1 $470 Get the Deal
    • SAMSUNG 65" Class 4K Crystal UHD (2160P) LED Smart TV with HDR UN65TU7000 2020 $478 (was $550) Get the Deal
    • SAMSUNG 58" Class 4K Crystal UHD (2160P) LED Smart TV with HDR UN58TU7000 2020 $398 (was $450) Get the Deal
    • JVC 58" 4K UHD HDR Roku Smart LED TV + Free Shipping $298.00 Get the Deal
    • VIZIO 32" 4.1 Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer (SB3241n-H6) $129 Get the Deal
    • onn. 32" 2.0 Soundbar $29 Get the Deal
    • Philips WiFi Streaming Blu-Ray and DVD Player - BDP2501/F7 $49 (was $65) Get the Deal
    • Apple AirPods Pro $169 (was $250) Get the Deal
    • PlayStation 5 Console $499 Get the Deal
    • Roku Premiere 4K HDR Streaming Media Player $29.00 (was $39.99) Get the Deal
    Best Buy

    Available now unless otherwise noted

    • Samsung - 85" Class Q80T Series LED 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV $2999.99 Get the Deal
    • Samsung - 75" Class Q80T Series LED 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV $2199.99 Get the Deal
    • Samsung 75" Class Q60T Series LED 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV $1,197.99 (was $1599.99) Get the Deal
    • TCL - 50" Class 4 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Android TV $299 (was $349.99) Get the Deal
    • Hisense 65" Class H6510G Series LED 4K UHD Smart Android TV $249.99 (was $499.99) Get the Deal Available 11/28
    • LG - 75" Class NanoCell 80 Series LED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV $999.99 (was $1499.99) Get the Deal
    • Insignia™ - 32" Class LED HD Smart Fire TV Edition TV $99.99 (was $169.99) Get the Deal
    • Samsung HW-Q60T 5.1ch Soundbar with 3D Surround Sound $279.99 (was $500) Get the Deal
    • Samsung HW-S40T 2.0ch All-in-One Soundbar with Music $129.99 (was $179.99) Get the Deal Available 11/26
    • Insignia™ - 2.1-Channel 80W Soundbar System with Wireless Subwoofer $69.99 (was $149.99) Get the Deal
    • So many Sound Bars!
    • Bluray and UHD players from $50 -$200
    • Roku Players from $25 - $70
    • Amazon Fire Sticks from $18 - $30
    • Chromcast Streaming Player $19 Get the Deal Available 11/26
    • Denon AVR-X2600H 7.2 Channel 4K UHD AV Receiver, Supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X & DTS Virtual:X, Amazon Alexa Compatible $599.98 (was $799.98) Get the Deal Available 11/26
    • Klipsch - Reference Series 12" 400W Powered Subwoofer $224.99 (was $499.99) Get the Deal
    Target

    Available now unless otherwise noted

    • LG 55" Class 4K UHD Smart LED HDR TV $349.99 (was $399.99) Get the Deal
    • Westinghouse 55" 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart TV with HDR $269.99 (was $379.99) Get the Deal
    • Hisense 50" 4K Roku UHD HDR Smart TV $249.99 (was $299.99) Get the Deal
    • Ring Video Doorbell 3 $139.99 (was $199.99) Get the Deal
    • Skullcandy Push Ultra True Wireless Headphones - Black $49.99 (was $99.99) Get the Deal
    • JBL Tune 750 Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones $99.99 (was $129.99) Get the Deal
    Amazon

    Prices start Dropping November 20th - 27th

    • Ring Video Doorbell Pro $169.99 (was $249)
    • Fire HD 10 Tablet $79.99 (was $149.99)
    • Blink Outdoor Camera Kits up to $130 off
    • Eero 6 Wifi system (3-Pack) $223 (was $279.99)
    • Simplisafe Security Systems 40% off
    • New echo Dot $28.99 (was $49.99)
    • Sony Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones + Free Shipping $88.00 (Was $199.99) Get the Deal
    • Fire TV 4K Stick + Free Shipping $29.99 (was $49.99) Get the Deal
    Costco

    Starting November 5th

    • LG 86" UN8570 4K UHD $1449.99 Get the Deal
    • LG 55" UN7300 4K UHD $379.99 Get the Deal
    • LG 65" UN7300 4K UHD $499.99 Get the Deal
    • Samsung 82" RU9000 4K UHD $1399.99 Get the Deal
    • Sony 85" X90CH 4K UHD $1969.99 Get the Deal
    • Klipsch R-125 Reference Powered Subwoofer $149.99 (was $249.99) Get the Deal
    • Sony WH-H910N Bluetooth Noise Canceling Headphones $139.99 (was $199.99) Get the Deal
    • Deals on Ring Products $30 to $100 off
    • $100 off on a Klipsch 5.1 speaker system $349.99
    • Sonos Beam Shadow Edition Soundbar $80 off $289.99
    • Many many more… HT Guys recommend you make Costco your Black Friday Stop!

    Podcast #974: Roku vs FireTV and the Top 5 Object Based Surround (ATMOS) Movies Nov 13, 2020
    Show notes

    On today's show we take a look at the Top Ten most watched shows on Youtube, we compare Roku vs FireTV and DJ Briggs of The Brightside of Home Theater gives us his top five Object Based Audio (ATMOS) movies to give your home theater system a workout. All that plus your emails and news of the week!

    Netflix's Top 10 Most Watched Movies + Shows

    Netflix's Top 10 is a new feature that highlights the most popular movies and shows on the platform in real time. Right now, the 10 most watched titles on Netflix are an eclectic mix of originals, reality shows, sitcoms, and documentaries. You've probably heard of popular series like The Queen's Gambit, so its ranking on the Top 10 list today won't surprise you.

    Roku vs. Fire TV: Which cheap smart TV is better?

    Choosing a smart TV with all the streaming services and connectivity built in means not having to switch inputs, deal with extra cables, or juggle different remotes. That's the beauty of a smart TV and two of the easiest systems currently available—and available in some rock-bottom-priced bargain sets—are those from Roku TV and Amazon Fire TV. Full article here…

    Top 5 Object Based Surround Sound (ATMOS) Movies

    As selected by DJ Briggs from the Bright Side of Home Theater

    Join DJ on the Bright Side of Home Theater. This podcast will concentrate on the movies that make having a Home Theater FUN. DJ has been into Home Theater since 1988 when he had a simple "theater" in his bedroom. His passion for the hobby has lead him to the never ending pursuit of the best Theater he can build. He believes the best the best way to gauge a theater is by watching the movies and scenes we love.

    And that's what he LOVES to do.

    He loves to talk about the movies, the scenes, sounds, the picture, and all they have to offer. If you, too, have a passion for movies and/or Home Theater, join him in delving into the all the things that make Home Theater FUN.

    Here's DJ's List

    5- Jurassic Park (DTS-X)

    4- Lucy 4K

    3- John Wick 3 4K

    2- Mad Max Fury Road 4K

    1- Gravity (Diamond Luxe Edition)


    Podcast 973: Black Friday will be radically different from prior years Nov 06, 2020
    Show notes

    On today's abbreviated show we look at Walmart, Target, and Best Buy's Black Friday plans and we read your emails and discuss this week's news.

    Walmart, Target, and Best Buy have revealed their Black Friday plans, and they're all radically different from prior years
    • Three of the biggest retailers just revealed their Black Friday plans.
    • Walmart, Best Buy, and Target are spreading deals across the month instead of concentrating on one day.
    • The stores said they would take measures to keep shoppers safe and offer more shipping options.

    Retailers have to both make shoppers feel safe with coronavirus precautions and deal with inventory issues and customers who might be less willing to spend in a recession.

    Over the weekend, three of the most popular Black Friday destinations — Walmart, Best Buy, and Target — released their plans for the shopping holiday. Full Article...


    Podcast #972: Tribit Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Earbuds and Vizio OLED TV Oct 30, 2020
    Show notes

    On this week's show Ara's gives us his impression of the Tribit Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Earbuds that we talked about a couple of weeks ago. We also look at the Vizio OLED TV Review by RTINGS.com. We also read your emails and take a look at the news!

    Tribit Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Earbuds

    Last week Ara was on vacation and used the time to review his new and very inexpensive in ear Active Noise Canceling headphones. They are made by Tribit and are available from Amazon for $50.

    So how did they fare? Well they are pretty good for $50. We could end it here and you really would have enough to make up your mind but of course we'll go into a little more detail. The main reason we were interested in these headphones was because they have active noise cancelling so we'll get into that first. The ANC was OK. There was a reduction in outside noise but not as good as full size over the ear headphones we have used in the past.

    The key to making the noise canceling work is finding the right size ear tip. I tried three including the default size and as it turns out the default size was perfect for me! When you place the headphones in your ear you need to use a twisting action to kind of screw them into place. This gave me the tightest seal and best results for noise cancelation/isolation as well as general listening.

    Speaking of sound quality, they did great for podcast listening and telephone calls. For music they were good too!. The bass, which was a feature that Tribit touted, sounded good. We used our go to bass test, the first five seconds of California Roll by Snoop Dogg. Again good, not great. Our $300 Sennheiser Momentums have much better bass response. But these things only cost $50!

    The phone mic quality sounds like you were holding the phone to your ear without a microphone. People listening on the other end had no issues hearing the conversation.

    Other Considerations
    • Pairing - simple once you realize that the leads have a plastic strip on them and the headphones won't pair until you remove them. Clearly stated in the instructions but who reads that??
    • Battery Life - worked for my entire trip without a recharge. The longest continuous street was three hours before placing them back in the case which recharges the batteries. You can get an additional hour and a half play time if you charge the headphones for ten minutes.
    • Comfort - if you properly size the ear tips they will be very comfortable. But after a three hour flight they were starting to irritate the ears. In fairness, no headphones we have tried have been free from irritation after prolonged usage.
    • Charging Case - Small and easy to carry in your pocket. USB-C connection.
    • Volume Control - There isn't any from the headphones. This must be done from the device
    • Other Controls - double tap to pause, 3 taps to skip, hold right to activate/deactivate noise cancelling.
    Our Recommendation

    If you are very critical of your music, you will be better served with different headphones. If you are looking at these because of the ANC, well, it works but nothing that is going to make you say wow. If you are looking for good headphones with noise canceling and transparency mode that allows you to take calls or use for zoom meetings, you will be hard pressed to find anything better for the money.

    Vizio OLED 2020 TV Review

    The Vizio OLED 2020 is the first OLED TV Vizio has released and delivers impressive overall performance. Like any OLED TV, its ability to turn off individual pixels results in an infinite contrast ratio and perfect black uniformity. It displays an excellent color gamut for HDR content, but it doesn't get very bright in HDR, and large areas get significantly dimmer. Most gamers should appreciate the 120Hz refresh rate, near-instant response time, and low input lag. It's advertised to have variable refresh rate (VRR) support, but it doesn't work at all and there's screen tearing. The TV has a unique center-mounted stand that's designed to hold the Vizio Elevate soundbar. Sadly, the screen has the risk of permanent burn-in, which is typical of OLEDs, and our unit has noticeable temporary image retention, but this may vary between units. Full Review Here...


    Podcast #971: Hoobs Home Automation Hub Oct 23, 2020
    Show notes

    Wireless Earbuds Active Noise Cancelling,Tribit FlyBuds NC Bluetooth 5.0 Earphones Deep Bass ENC 4 Mics Noise Cancelling Earbuds 35 Hrs Smart Touch Controland Waterproof

    About this item

    • Industry-leading 4MIC Active Noise Cancellation - The Noise Cancelling Processor works by capturing and identifying ambient noise then subdues these frequencies for a cleaner listening experience(Reduces noise up to 30dB).
    • Crystal Clear Calls with Environmental Noise Cancellation - For an even better, more peaceful listening experience, you'll benefit from the AI Noise Reduction Technology which gives excellent vocal enhancement and reduces background noise for clearer calls even in noisy environment.
    • Transparency Mode for hearing what's happening around you - If you want to still hear what's happening around you but don't want to take your earbuds out, transparency mode is a great way to get the best of both worlds. Tribit uses active microphone technology to amplify the sounds around you so you can still hear your surroundings, whether it needs to cross the street safely or hear what your workout partner is saying. Same experience as Airpods Pro!
    • 10mm Dynamic Drivers for Deep Bass - Dive fully into the sound and enjoy the 10mm dynamic drivers along with active noise cancellation for immersive sound. NOTE: For the best audio performance please twist the earbuds around in your ear until the sound and fit feel correct.
    • 5 Pairs Eartips - To ensure the highest possible quality listening experience, having earbuds that fit properly is extremely important. Choose from these 5 pairs soft, flexible silicone tips for a customizable fit. Plus, further enhances the effectiveness of the Noise Cancellation.

    Hoobs Home Automation Hub

    A few months ago I added a Raspberry Pi running homebridge to my home automation system so that I could use Ring and Harmony products on Homekit. It works quite well but it did require quite a bit of fiddling and knowledge of SSH, Config files, networking, building software, and installing plugins. For software developers like us we'd rate that a 7 out of 10 on the difficulty scale. For someone without this knowledge we'd rate it an 11 out of 10 on the difficulty scale.

    A few listeners emailed us about a solution called HOOBS (Homebridge out of the box system) that is supposed to make it much easier. It costs $170 for the complete system but if you already have a raspberry Pi you can buy a SD card with everything setup and ready to go for $20. For our test we went with the complete system out of the box.

    Setup

    The HOOBS box is about the size of a deck of cards and trival to get up and running, You plug in power, wait for it to boot up and install then connect it to your network with the ethernet cable that is provided. Next launch a browser and type hoobs.local into the address field. From there the system asks you to setup a user account and that gets the system up and running. It can't do anything at this point but it's ready to be configured with plugins. This process takes about ten minutes. To get to the same spot of the Raspberry Pi without HOOBS took more than an hour!

    What Next?

    First thing you need to do is add the HOOBS hub to your Homekit setup. The interface has a QR code that you scan with your phone in the Home app. It gives you a warning that it is not a supported accessory. Once you are done the HOOBS Bridge is now added and any device that can talk to HOOBS will be exposed as a supported HomeKit Device.

    Now you are ready to add plugins for your devices. In the HOOBS interface there is a good search tool that makes the process simple. Even the installation is one touch. We loaded our two plugins (Ring and Harmony) in a matter of minutes. The only place where the HOOBS process is still a bit geeky is the configuration. You don't have to actually modify the configuration file in raw form for certified plugins (both the Ring and Harmony plugins are certified) but you still need to know what to do. There is no real clear explanation for the Harmony Remote plugin so you will have to hunt around. There are plenty of Youtube videos that will walk you through it.

    The Ring plugin also required a bit of work. If you have two-factor verification turned on you need to run a command line application to get a key. The instructions are clear and Hoobs makes it simple to open a terminal window to run the command. Like the Harmony Plugin there are videos that show you what to do.

    There are instructions on how to add the new devices to your Homekit system. Some devices just show up and others need to be added like any other supported device.

    Other Thoughts

    We were never really able to setup the Rasberry Pi to boot into Homebridge and allow for remote access. That meant each time the system needed to be reset we had to SSH into the Pi and setup remote access. Then we had to remote into the Pi and launch Homebridge. Hoobs has taken care of this but making Homebridge auto start. This is even true for installing plugins. HOOBS has certified (to work with HOOBS) many of the most popular plugins which makes them easier to find and install. The web interface is also a huge advantage in that with a little network administration can make the Hoobs interface available outside your home.

    Conclusion

    While we overwhelmingly feel that HOOBS has made the installation and setup of Homebridge more straightforward and easy to maintain. We won't go as far to say that if you don't have any computer skills it makes it easy. There is still some tweaking that needs to be done to get Homebridge running on your network. We recommend this for the techie person that just doesn't want to spend a few hours setting up a Raspberry Pi and building and configuring Homebridge.


    Podcast #970: UST vs Projector vs Large Format TV Oct 16, 2020
    Show notes

    On this week's show we look at what movies are trending for on demand viewing and we try (again) to help Braden decide between a UST Projector, a traditional projector and a large format TV. We also look at email and news of the week.

    We received an email from a listener asking if we were building a media room today, would we still go the projector route and more specifically, if we went the projector route, would we go with an ultra short throw projector?

    There is a lot to unpack there. This listener is building out a media room in his basement and is in a situation where he can control lighting and has space for a 120 inch screen. He also said he does not mind buying higher end equipment since he intends on using it for the long term. Here is how our thought process goes.

    Large Format TV

    Reasonable cost and very good bang for the buck. Samsung is selling an 85 inch QLED TV that is 4k, HDR, Your assistant of choice, and many many more features for $3300. It's a good TV that has good reviews and would make an excellent choice for anyone's media room. However, is 85" big enough if you have enough room for a 120 inch screen and you have the budget? We think not. But still It's amazing how simple it is to install this TV in a room with full light and get an incredible big screen experience for a mere $3,300!

    Traditional Projector

    There are plenty of Long Throw projectors that are 4K that cost about the same as the samsung TV. The advantage is that you can get a 120" picture on a screen and it won't break your back moving the projector into the basement. The JVC LX-UH1B is a 4K UHD with HDR Projector that costs $2500. It does achieve 4K by using pixel shifting by from what we have seen it's not going to be any issue whatsoever. Going this route requires mounting the projector to the ceiling and the purchase of a 120" screen. Since there is no issue with ambient light a traditional screen can be used which should bring the cost to be about the same as the Samsung TV. You will need to pay attention to the cables being used to make sure that they support 4K HDR. But a very doable proposition at a reasonable cost. The only possible downside is that the room will be difficult to modify. However, that may not be an issue as none of my rooms have changed configuration in twenty years.

    Ultra Short Throw Projector

    The UST projector is, in our opinion, the best of both worlds! You can get a screen size of 120 inches that is easier to install than both the Long Throw Projector and 85" TV. There are many models from multiple manufacturers to choose from. The cost is a little bit more expensive than the TV or the Long Throw projector. However, if you are having the Long Throw projector installed by a professional it may end up costing you more money. Although a minor benefit. It's easy to move the UST projector around. If your aesthetics committee wants to change the room it can be done without a major headache. The Picture quality of the UST projectors are incredible and they work extremely well in light controlled environments. But imagine if you have a big game room next to the media room and the lights are on it has no real impact on the picture brightness. It's harder to get that kind of performance out of a traditional projector without spending a lot of money on an ambient light rejecting screen.

    Our Take

    It's Ultra Short Throw Projector for the win! You have more options for where you can use them and anyone can install them with minimal effort. They are easier to maneuver into and around your home and to get a TV of similar picture quality in 85" will cost more money.


    Podcast #969: Google Pixel Buds 2 and the Best HDMI Cable for your new 4K TV Oct 09, 2020
    Show notes

    We have a short show for you today. We take a look at the Google Pixel Buds 2. Google's new true wireless earbuds and we find you the best HDMI cables for your new 4K TV. Great news! If you are connecting components it won't cost you more than $10 a device! Pulse we have your emails and News of the week.

    OK, Google: Pixel Buds 2 are the real deal

    After underwhelming with its original Pixel Buds, Google's new true wireless earbuds stack up well against the competition, with a comfortable fit and strong performance. More info here…

    Best HDMI cables for your new 4K and HDR TV in 2020

    There's no reason to spend more than $10 for 6 feet, even with the most expensive TVs. Here's what we recommend. More info here...


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