Tech Purchase Thread
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@Tim said in Tech Purchase Thread:
Question:
Is a phone like a Samsung Galaxy A54 or a Google Pixel 7 going to be fast enough to last for 3 years? Both have only 8GB RAM, and moderately fast chipsets.
I'd expect so - I only replaced my phones every two years, and that was solely because I was given them. Otherwise I'd expect I'd have stayed with my Pixel 4.
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@antipodean Thanks!
OnePlus Nord 3 5G will be in stores soon, so might get one of those.
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I've had the Google Home / Nest / Mesh Wifi for just over 3 years now, and as a first step into Mesh, it was good.
The interface is fairly simple, allowing me to set up timers on the kids wifi (the purpose of which is now almost redundant as they're both late teens now and will just burn mobile data if they're up past their bedtime
) and it does what is says on the box. Has the advantage of the 2 nodes being Google home speakers as wellHowever, the simple interface can also be fucking infuriating when I actually need to look under the hood (traffic detail, logs, detailed configuration, ARP tables and routing etc).
I also picked up a few months back that it isn't full point-to-point relay on the wifi signal - it actuallly requires the router (master) to sit between the two nodes.
It is also starting to behave a bit shit when it comes to speed. I've noticed this more and more since I upgraded to a 500/50 connection (we got fibre at long fucking last). e.g. service to my PC via Ethernet will occasionally be a bit crap for web browsing, loading sites slower than I'd anticipated.
I put this down to routing issues and maybe some double-NAT problems with the router. Speaking of which, current topology below. It is set up this way so everything is on the same subnet which is easier for having wifi devices (wife's work laptop) talk to things like the printer and NAS.
So, what's the ask? Basically to replace the Google Wifi with something else. There are a range of options out there, and last time I looked the tp-link Deco got a bit of love here. Additionally there is Wifi 6 out there now.
Has anything changed in this regard? Anyone tried newer stuff like Netgear Orbi?
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We are currently doing an internal refit at home. The sparky suggested upgrading the network while there are holes in the ceiling and walls. We will probably upgrade the modem, install a switch and a bunch of ethernet points, along with a mesh system in the ceiling. I hope CF Jr appreciates the effort when he's gaming
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I'm invested in unifi and couldn't recommend it more for someone with a clue who wants prosumer functionality. I also run Pi-hole on two RPis.
UDM Pro -> Switch -> APs
So that provides the mesh functionality for home wifi. The console is good (and gets better with each iteration) but if you're comfortable with CLI, the functionality can be expanded to do what you want. So I run a couple of networks; home, IoT and guest (which includes work).
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In the end, I looked at the options and decided to go with the extender that complements my existing RSP-supplied router. It is a Chinese brand called ZTE and the attractiveness was the $100 price point, supposedly easy configuration, and .... well that's about it.
ZTE ZXHN H1600 modem/router
ZTE H3601 extenderThe support guys said to just hook it up using WPS but after about a dozen tries at that - various config attempts and I stopped before we got to "just factory reset everything" because fuck that for a game of skittles.
Anyway I hooked up the extender via its WAN port to the router via my office ethernet, and it decided to play nice and just pass on the network settings.
After that everything was seamless and I'm getting full throughput of my 500/50 plan across the entire house and yard, as well as seeing meaningful data like network Topology and ARP etc. Also no danger of double-NAT because the modem is in charge of the lot.
Wifi 6 fucking rocks. Google was topping out at 300mbps ("N" protocol, basically) but this is the shit.
No it doesn't have parental controls but I don't have young kids so meh.
I can probably buy another one to fill in any gaps, but really at this point I'd be wasting $100.
Anyone want a Google Home Wifi?
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@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
Not tech as such, but anyone recommend an electric shaver? Sick of using blades
I have a Phillips one blade that I find gives a good enough shave (not a perfectly 'close' shave) but doesn't cause ingrown hairs.
Replacement blades are no super cheap but would recommend.
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@gt12 said in Tech Purchase Thread:
doesn't cause ingrown hairs.
That plus small grazes turning into infections is something I can't seem to shake. Plus the razor is getting "grabby" around the moustache and beard areas no matter the angle, blade, or length of hair.
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@gt12 said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
Not tech as such, but anyone recommend an electric shaver? Sick of using blades
I have a Phillips one blade that I find gives a good enough shave (not a perfectly 'close' shave) but doesn't cause ingrown hairs.
Replacement blades are no super cheap but would recommend.
I have the Braun (cheaper) version and works well, wish I’d gone for the Phillips, I like it has combs so can maintain a little stubble if I don’t want it completely clean
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@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@gt12 said in Tech Purchase Thread:
doesn't cause ingrown hairs.
That plus small grazes turning into infections is something I can't seem to shake. Plus the razor is getting "grabby" around the moustache and beard areas no matter the angle, blade, or length of hair.
You have a beard? So you just need a trimmer?
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@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@gt12 said in Tech Purchase Thread:
doesn't cause ingrown hairs.
That plus small grazes turning into infections is something I can't seem to shake. Plus the razor is getting "grabby" around the moustache and beard areas no matter the angle, blade, or length of hair.
Yeah, feel that.
I don't shave with a razor because it was causing me similar skin issues, so I was just using my clippers without a comb, so pretty much permanent 5 OC shadow. This does a better job but doesn't have the skin issues (so far).
You can also use the adjustable comb with this if you want the 5OC shadow.
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@Nepia said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@gt12 said in Tech Purchase Thread:
doesn't cause ingrown hairs.
That plus small grazes turning into infections is something I can't seem to shake. Plus the razor is getting "grabby" around the moustache and beard areas no matter the angle, blade, or length of hair.
You have a beard? So you just need a trimmer?
Nup no beard - disposal of facial hair is the goal.
Long ago I had an electric and it was OK but didn't get right down to skin. My brother had one of those Philips triple head shavers but I found them a bit shit at the time.
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@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@Nepia said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@gt12 said in Tech Purchase Thread:
doesn't cause ingrown hairs.
That plus small grazes turning into infections is something I can't seem to shake. Plus the razor is getting "grabby" around the moustache and beard areas no matter the angle, blade, or length of hair.
You have a beard? So you just need a trimmer?
Nup no beard - disposal of facial hair is the goal.
Long ago I had an electric and it was OK but didn't get right down to skin. My brother had one of those Philips triple head shavers but I found them a bit shit at the time.
Electric is never as good as a razor. I have a Panasonic; they are okay, you can use them in the shower too
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I have a Braun S9 wet & dry. It's good, but nothing like as good as a DE razor.
That being said, the Braun doesn't make me bleed.
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@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@Nepia said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@gt12 said in Tech Purchase Thread:
doesn't cause ingrown hairs.
That plus small grazes turning into infections is something I can't seem to shake. Plus the razor is getting "grabby" around the moustache and beard areas no matter the angle, blade, or length of hair.
You have a beard? So you just need a trimmer?
Nup no beard - disposal of facial hair is the goal.
Long ago I had an electric and it was OK but didn't get right down to skin. My brother had one of those Philips triple head shavers but I found them a bit shit at the time.
Grow a beard, (at worst) trim it once a week - I did it a decade ago, best thing I ever did.
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@Nepia said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@Nepia said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@gt12 said in Tech Purchase Thread:
doesn't cause ingrown hairs.
That plus small grazes turning into infections is something I can't seem to shake. Plus the razor is getting "grabby" around the moustache and beard areas no matter the angle, blade, or length of hair.
You have a beard? So you just need a trimmer?
Nup no beard - disposal of facial hair is the goal.
Long ago I had an electric and it was OK but didn't get right down to skin. My brother had one of those Philips triple head shavers but I found them a bit shit at the time.
Grow a beard, (at worst) trim it once a week - I did it a decade ago, best thing I ever did.
thats triggering!
my dad and his dad both had proper 80's newsreader/professional cricketer moustaches......my mums dad famously had to shave twice a day when in the air force as had stubble by the afternoon......me...once a week if i feel like it....its not fair
