First Ring Daily 784: Woodwork and Warzone

Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | iTunes | Google Play

Tagged with

• First Ring Daily

Share post

Conversation 3 comments

• Daekar

  09 March, 2020 - 12:34 pm

  <p>I love it when you guys piss off everyone at once. Well done! </p>

  Log in to Reply

• factoryoptimizr

  09 March, 2020 - 12:37 pm

  <p>In the long run, the concern over home automation hardware obsolescence is less about sound systems and lightbulbs and more about light SWITCHES and power outlets – fixtures that are embedded in the home. If new construction or a home remodel adds home automation-enabled light switches and power outlets throughout the house, shouldn't there be a reasonable expectation that those won't need to be replaced with the "latest model" after a few years in order to maintain functionality? Not talking about ADDING functionality, just preserving the ORIGINAL functionality in perpetuity. In my own home I have light switches and outlets dating back to the early 1900s when the house was constructed. They still work as originally designed and I know that I won't lose functionality if I just leave them alone. The solution Sonos ultimately settled on is a good compromise: "Your old stuff will continue to work…you just won't get the cool new features." That should be a key design consideration for every company building home automation gear: "How can we support this in perpetuity?" Not necessary, perhaps, to add new functionality forever, but at least preserve the original functionality forever.</p>

  Log in to Reply

• mmcpher

  Premium Member

  09 March, 2020 - 6:17 pm

  <p>"Wifi is unplayable". I've always wondered about the Wifi Router end of "What I Use", as I understand that PT uses a Google-branded router, whereas there were and are much higher-rated routers available. In my experience, in a couple of locations, choice of wifi router is one of the things where paying more is justified, because the better-rated routers provided higher speeds and much more stable connectivity. In this case,, it may also be a function of the lack of top-end provider availability. But we've had Fios for years but even if you keep abreast of Verizon's latest and best-rated branded wifi-routers, their branded performance in nowhere near the level you can achieve by shutting off the Fios Router wifi radio and passing through to a higher-end "third-party" wifi router. Some of the best tech bucks I even spent. </p>

  Log in to Reply