Browsing: / Home
Shortlink

Do Automatic Faucets Promote Disease Causing Microbes?

By RD Bentley on December 17, 2015 in ,

It’s quite common when out shopping to encounter the motion sensing faucet, or better known as the automatic faucet. New is not always better and some technological ideas may not pass the smell test. However, some public entities do not care what their customers think in America. Unfortunately, customer service has gone to the dogs in many cases.

Check this out. Not only is the automatic faucet unfriendly, there may be evidence that hands-free electronic water faucets harbor bacteria.

“A study of newly installed, hands-free faucets at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, all equipped with the latest electronic-eye sensors to automatically detect hands and dispense preset amounts of water, shows they were more likely to be contaminated with one of the most common and hazardous bacteria in hospitals compared to old-style fixtures with separate handles for hot and cold water.”

Isn’t this disturbing information? In fact, “hands-free faucets may be a risk to some hospital patients.”

Recently, I talked with a maintenance engineer and he informed me that not only is this type of faucet expensive, it also is a high maintenance problem, including sensor failure. He indicated that batteries were required for the apparatus.

Another no-go is the annoying electric hand dryer. My hands never get completely dry and I usually just wipe them on my shirt. No problem though, the solution is easy as hand sanitizer.

No paper towels at your facility? Say what?

Have a nice day shopping and don’t forget the hand wipes!

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

43 Inch TV: Great Quality, Great Price

By RD Bentley on December 15, 2015 in

Product: LG Electronics 43LF5400 43-Inch 1080p LED TV

The weather’s getting very cold outside and it’s that time of the year to catch your favorite team on the tube. If you’re like many who don’t want to be bothered by traffic on the freeway, you’ll probably order the television online. What is the right television to watch the game on? If you need a no-frills TV then just keep on reading.

Here’s what I mean by no-frills: A good quality television with a big screen, non-smart TV, and not many fancy options for audio gear. After all, you just want to catch the game, and you’re not interested in fancy stereo equipment.

How about a 43 inch screen with great quality? Here’s the perfect no-frills HDTV to catch the game on: LG Electronics 43LF5400 43-Inch 1080p LED TV (2015 Model). Smart functionality: No. You don’t need it. Image Aspect Ratio: 16:09. It is the latest technology.

If you want quick connect and get to the barbecue in a flash, then this is the avenue you need to be traveling on.

How do I know about this TV? I just unboxed it and connected the satellite dish cable to it. It rocks I’m telling you.

A word of caution here sports lovers. If you’re a subscriber to a satellite dish company, this TV is going to look a little grainy. It’s because you do not have high definition HD with your subscription. If you want a better picture to watch the game on, then you’re going to have to call the dish company and tell them you want HD quality.

Now the neighbors are going to be green with envy. The big screen LG HDTV blasting on HD quality. It just doesn’t get any better than this!

Great quality, a very reasonable price, and ease of use is a no-brainer. You can’t beat the price on this no-frills box.

There are more extras you might be interested in. The LG Electronics 43LF5400 43-Inch 1080p LED TV is light, easy to handle, easy to assemble, and easy to install. I can’t imagine it getting any easier than this.

Some are bent on getting this masterpiece hung on the wall and that’s okay too. I prefer it on a wide TV stand, but that’s my style. Knock yourself out and hang it like a picture!

Be sure not to hang this picture up too high, or you’ll get neck strain…

Grab the popcorn and get this 43 inch screen going, because you’re going to miss the action!

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Outdoor Bowtie HDTV Antenna Review

By RD Bentley on December 11, 2015 in

Product: DB4e By Antennas Direct

No cable fee, no satellite dish fee, and no increase in bills. And no grainy picture that is totally inferior to true HD quality. Whether you live 30 miles or 60 miles from the broadcast transmitter, you can enjoy free television without the hassles. With this long range HDTV antenna you have a product that works: 4 Element Bowtie Indoor/Outdoor HDTV Antenna – 60 Mile Range. How do I know about this antenna? I just hooked it up. I guarantee it will work.

The antennas I had installed, I built them myself and they were quite adequate. On occasion, one channel was giving me a little trouble during adverse atmospheric conditions. I had the problems worked out, but I wanted to try a commercial brand that performed well and required no maintenance.

Another problem that I could not easily solve was a station aimed at a different angle. My home brew special pulled the station in sometimes but other times it would not. The DB4e solved the problem and pulled the station in all of the time.

My working condition is the digital cliff zone. That means I’m on the fringe of reception. I am serious about my antennas.

After doing quite a bit of research on outdoor HDTV antennas, I went with product reviews and as always, with my intuition.

This antenna is a clear success. As a comparison, the DB4e reception was 80% to 100% on all of the channels, whereas before, I was getting around 50% on most channels, and this is not bad considering that I’m 60+ miles from the transmitter. I wanted better reception and I got it with this product.

How is the quality of the antenna? Very solid and well built. It should last for years without any issues.

I highly recommend this antenna even for those living on the digital fringe. Keep in mind that I do not have trees or hills blocking the path.

PROS:
1. The antenna is well built and all of the parts were included.
2. The quality is awesome.
3. The reception is fantastic. Believe it. Very effective in the rain!
4. The price is very competitive.
5. Install is a breeze. It took me a few minutes to figure out the mast clamp. If I can do it anybody can.

CONS:
1. The DB4e isn’t designed to do VHF spectrum. It was designed for UHF only. Believe me it will not do VHF very well at least, so do not think that it will. Solution: Just add a splitter/combiner and connect to the VHF antenna. Here’s an option: Outdoor Directional VHF-Hi TV Antenna.

2. The mast or clamp is a little cheesy. Do not get me wrong, it works and I do not have a problem with it, but it is rather cheesy. So it’s not really an issue. I used large tie straps, bolt extensions, and hard wire to help secure the antenna. Problem solved.

Analysis
I would not hesitate to recommend this antenna to anyone. As stated before, I’m getting 80% on almost all of my channels and I’m 60+ miles from the target. Currently, my antenna is about 15 feet or 20 feet high.

UPDATE: It’s been up in the air for some time. One of the best antennas on the market! Very pleased on this end. Highly recommend.

Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
Shortlink

Barge versus Railroad Comparison

By RD Bentley on December 1, 2015 in

Have you ever wondered about the difference in freight, for example, a barge versus railroad comparison? What about adding trucking to the equation? A study was released in 2008 and the results were quite interesting.

National Waterways Foundation Releases New Study Comparing U.S. Freight Transportation Modes

Washington, DC – The National Waterways Foundation (NWF) has released a new study comparing selected societal, environmental, and the safety impacts of utilizing inland river barge transportation to highway and rail transportation. Titled “A Modal Comparison of Freight Transportation Effects on the General Public,” the study was conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute’s Center for Port and Waterways at Texas A&M University and was cost-shared with the U.S. Maritime Administration.

Peer reviewed and conducted over more than one year, the study:

  • Compares cargo capacity of trucks, trains and inland river barges. One common 15-barge river tow has the same capacity as 1,050 trucks and and 216 rail cars pulled by six locomotives.
  • Shows that barges can move a ton of cargo 576 miles with a single gallon of fuel, while trains get 413 and trucks 155 “ton-miles per gallon.”
  • Determines that, after adjusting for the differences in quantity of cargo moved by each mode, for each member of the public injured in
    a barge accident, 125.2 are injured in rail accidents and 2171.5 are injured in truck accidents. For fatalities, the rates are 155 trucking fatalities and 22.7 rail fatalities for every barge related fatality.
  • Looks at the environmental impacts of the three modes and concludes that inland waterways transport generates fewer emissions of particulate matter, hyrdocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide than rail or truck on a per ton mile moved basis.
  • Illustrates the effects of a hypothetical river closure on the St. Louis metropolitan area; i.e., if all area river cargo was diverted to trucks on the St. Louis interstates, delays would increase by 500%, accidents would rise by 35-45% and maintenance costs would skyrocket.

    • Source: National Waterways Foundation

    A more recent study: Increased Investment in U.S. Inland Waterways

    Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
    Shortlink

    Solutions For Efficient Lighting Situations

    By RD Bentley on November 11, 2015 in

    The USB Powered Desk Lamp helps to save on the electricity bill, is contemporary, and simultaneously trumps the dark night when the power outage arrives in an unannounced manner. The USB Powered Desk Lamp is a win-win situation, suitable, fashionable, and there are soft-touch bedside lamps for those with unique conditions.

    Using the popular term that some inject occasionally, let’s get campy. Feeling campy.

    Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

    At first glance, it seems apparent that energy efficient light bulbs are somewhat expensive. I do not mean to offend anyone, but the CFL bulb is a loser in my opinion. There has to be other options available.

    LED bulbs do have potential, but realistically the technology may not be ready for years. The advertisements boast claims of extended lifespan, but these claims may not be totally honest. Problems and complaints are numerous. The information is revealing (pun included). Hint: GE 8-Pack Long Life Reveal 75-Watt Color-Enhancing Multipurpose Incandescent Light Bulb 73963.

    Solution: Passive Infrared Technology

    Perhaps there is hope for the LED genre. Wireless Motion Sensing Lights is a genre that’s very appealing to those seeking solutions to lighting problems. Passive Infrared lighting could be a step in the right direction. Motion sensored lights is another genre.

    What is publicly deemed as efficiency may not always be efficient. When the going gets tough, the tough get rough service light bulbs. Very good. Very, very good. Illuminating.

    Can we shed light on the subject?

    More
    1. Light It!TM LED Motion Sensor Outdoor Weatherproof Light
    2. Battery operated motion activated lights

    Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
    Shortlink

    The Solar Flares Are Killing My HDTV Signal

    By RD Bentley on November 5, 2015 in

    Planetary K-index: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015, HDTV Signal Disrupted But Getting Better

     

    Geomagnetic Storm Warning: Red And Yellow The Indicator Of Disturbances In The Earth’s Magnetic Field

    At this current writing, I’m having delicious coffee, the temperatures are unseasonably warm for early November and you’ll hear no complaining about the weather. Clear blue skies is the status and with fans running, this isn’t a bad combination. However, the strong solar flares are killing my HDTV signal. The signal strength is fading! Stop!

    Danger Will Robinson! Geomagnetic storms in progress. The K-index is the gauge of geomagnetic storms. The Earth’s magnetic field is measured via data and warnings are issued for users who are affected.

    The principal users include but are not limited to the following: the electrical power grid, flight control systems, spacecraft operations, users and abusers of radio signals, observers of green aurora, and my authentic HDTV signal!

    No, this is not an episode of The Outer Limits and I am not hallucinating. If my HDTV signal is disrupted, I don’t mind, because I have streaming content via the internet (for now at least). I even listen to internet radio sometimes. I always have my USB drive with music at my fingertips. Admittedly, I’m a self-professed geek. So what!

    It’s quite interesting to observe this scientific phenomenon. Interestingly enough, when my television decreases in signal, so does my ham radio signal, and the HF bands go kerplunk.

    The K-index is a good way to monitor the situation. (I know, most of you guys have cable or dish, and that’s okay.) Good day to you as well.

    Writer heads to the coffee pot for a another hot cup of mud…

    Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
    Shortlink

    Reduce Stress With USB Rechargeable Desk Lamp

    By RD Bentley on October 31, 2015 in , ,

    ▲USB Rechargeable Desk Lamp For Power Outage

    Wireless and portable LED desk lamp on demand. Power outage got you frustrated? What if you had a USB Powered Desk Lamp that is rechargeable? It can be powered by built-in battery so it’s wireless and portable. You can take it move around in your house or take it when travelling. Here’s an example: UnicornTech USB Rechargeable Desk Lamp.

    The UnicornTech recharges via USB to laptop/computer or outlet via recharges via adapter.

    And this desk lamp will bend accordingly to suit your fancy.

    Moreover, it’s more flexible than that. Stepless adjustment for soft lighting is easily adjustable, to help prevent everyday eye strain. This reduces stress, something we all have to worry about.

    Another option is the ergonomic desk lamp that offers USB power and normal battery power, the HDE Bright LED Compact Light Ergonomic Table Desk Lamp, and the link is provided below. This desk lamp is a bit more flexible, because of the battery option.

    For a few more dollars, a stylish desk lamp with more features is available. The TaoTronics Table Lamp LED Lamp comes readily equipped with the automatic timer, a feature that I find most useful.

    These are very nice choices of gadgets to reduce stress and the gadgets will actually save money on that dreaded monthly light bill.

    There’s one more thing. When the power goes out in the village, the handy LED desk lamp has got you covered. And the dimmable light is so sexy!

    More Options:

    1. TaoTronics Table Lamp LED Lamp — [The Most Popular LED Desk Lamp] TaoTronics Table Lamp LED Lamp Dimmable Reading Light(14W, 4 Lighting Modes, 5-Level Dimmer, Touch-Sensitive Control Panel, Auto Timer, With USB Charging Port)
    2. HDE Bright 12 LED Compact Light — HDE Bright 12 LED Compact Light Ergonomic Table Desk Lamp – USB Powered or Battery Operated.
    3. LAMPAT Dimmable LED Desk Lamp, 4 Lighting Modes (Reading/Studying/Relaxation/Bedtime), 5-Level Dimmer, Touch-Sensitive Control Panel, 1-Hour Auto Timer, 5V/1A USB Charging Port, Piano Black — LED desk lamp with 4 lighting modes, 5 level brightness, USB charging port, 1 hour auto-off.

    Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
    Shortlink

    Play Music And Video On HDTV With Flash Drive

    By RD Bentley on October 26, 2015 in ,

    Portable Digital Media Player Guarantee: Lifetime customer support and a 5 year warranty are included!

    Wherever there’s a modern television set and an outlet, there’s a way to play music and video right off the flash drive or memory card. Those songs and videos you have on your USB drive/SD card can be played right on your television with ease. All you need is a portable digital media player. These players let you stream your media collection via the HDMI or composite ports on your TV. Organize your music library and with your unique personal style, all in one dongle.

    Personalize your taste in a minute. The technology is here to do just that. Enter the age of the Digital Media Player…Choose the concert and the time, without all of the hassles.

    Digital Media Player Details: Providing convenient playback of all popular photo, music, and video formats all in beautiful 100% Full HD 1080P resolution will take your breath away. Turn your TV, monitor, or projector into the ultimate home entertainment center.

    There are a lot of portable media players out there, but I found the Incredisonic Vue Series IMP150+ to be the best one for the buck. The broad range of audio (MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, AAC) and video (MKV, AVI, MP4, M4V, MOV, WMV, MPG) formats it supports is unrivaled. And yes, full-HD video is supported as well. It even comes with a remote so you can control it just like you would a Blu-Ray or DVD player.

    The Incredisonic media player is friendly with USB external hard drives, USB drives, micro SD, and SD/SDHC memory cards.

    Reassurance: lifetime customer support and a 5 year warranty are included. That’s good to know in case you need assistance or your device goes awry.

    The portability is a plus – you can take the Incredisonic with you, say on a business trip or vacation.

    Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
    Shortlink

    The Extended Double Zepp Antenna

    By RD Bentley on October 25, 2015 in

    The Extended Double Zepp (EDZ) Antenna 20 Meters

    Leg: 44 feet Leg: 44 feet

    [------------------------------------] [------------------------------------]
    | |
    | |
    | |
    | |

    Stub: 9 feet 6 inches (450 Ohm Ladder Line)

    | |
    | |
    | |

    Coax to transmitter (50 Ohm any length)

    It’s Time To Put Up The 20 Meter EDZ And Add 3-dB Gain Over Your Dipole!

    This 20 Meter Extended Double Zepp (EDZ) antenna should produce a 3-dB over the average half-wave dipole. This is significant enough to try it. An automatic tuner should tune this antenna with no problem. If one should feel it necessary, a 1:1 Balun would do the job.

    Basically, the Extended Double Zepp Antenna is a pair of 5/8 wave elements. The total length is approximately 1.25 wavelengths long.

    Formula

    (A) One leg length (quarter wave) is… 625/F (MHz)

    (B) Stub length is… 142/F (MHz)

    The 12 Meter EDZ Antenna

    The same principles apply for the 12 Meter EDZ. For each leg, use 25 feet 3 inches. For the stub, use 5 feet 5 inches.

    Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter
    Shortlink

    AV Switch: Connect Roku And DVD Player To TV

    By RD Bentley on October 24, 2015 in ,

    RCA Switcher 8-In-1-Out Composite Box

    Let’s say that you have something like a Roku box hooked up to your television, and you want to add another device such as a DVD player. Suppose you would prefer the convenience of a switch or a button, instead of plugging and unplugging the wires every time you change electronic boxes. Simple push-button switching is the applicable solution.

    AV Switch Solution: (Panlong AV Switch) — The AV switch allows you to connect multiple video devices with AV out (such as Wii, XBOX, DVD, PS2, Cable Box) to your TV using AV cables. Then you will be able to easily switch the input signal without the need to disconnect and re-connect your AV devices.

    Buying Tip: In order to save approximately $9 on this item, click on the Panlong 4-Way AV Switch, instead of the 8-Way, since you probably don’t need that many. This depends on how many devices you have.

    Will this work with any device that has the A/V connection? Yes it will. If your device has the AV connection, then you’re in business.

    Does the AV Switch require power or is it self-powered? This unit is self-powered and will not require another electrical outlet. This is great for electronic hobbyists that have run out of outlets.

    Also, the AV box does not come with the necessary composite cables to hook up those different devices. You must purchase the cables separately.

    Easy installation and operation. No extra power supply needed.

    Mixx Delicious Digg Facebook Twitter