How To: Synology DS1819+ Network Attached Storage (NAS) Review & Migration
The DS1819+ replaces the DS1817+’s Intel Atom C2538 with the newer C3538, and its PCIe 3.0 slot supports NVMe SSD caching rather than being limited to SATA speeds. Beyond those hardware differences, the disk migration process and key software features in Synology’s DSM are also addressed, including Synology and third-party applications, the file system, file sharing, synchronization & backup, and security. Continue reading How To: Synology DS1819+ Network Attached Storage (NAS) Review & Migration
Plex’s New Video Player for iOS and tvOS
Plex’s latest iOS and tvOS apps replace Apple’s native AVPlayer with an engine built on the open source MPV player, expanding codec support beyond AVPlayer’s stream-focused limitations. At issue: what changed, why AVPlayer’s codec coverage was constrained by Apple TV’s design priorities, and which formats the MPV-based engine now handles. Continue reading Plex’s New Video Player for iOS and tvOS
How To: Advanced Sonos Wireless Network Configuration Using Sonos Beams
Here, I describe an advanced network topology that uses Ethernet-connected Sonos Beam soundbars for better Sonos wireless coverage in your home. This approach: (1) provides significantly greater wired line backhaul to your SonosNet network, and (2) shifts the majority of your Sonos speakers to 5Ghz, freeing spectrum in 2.4Ghz for your remaining Sonos speakers. It is also possible to use either the Sonos PLAYBAR or PLAYBASE instead of the Beam, for example in your home theater. However, the Sonos Beam is a much more cost-effective solution, particularly for secondary rooms in a whole home deployment. Continue reading How To: Advanced Sonos Wireless Network Configuration Using Sonos Beams
Recipe: Paella on the Grill
Paella cooked over a charcoal grill develops a smokiness that stovetop versions cannot replicate. This recipe combines chicken, shrimp, scallops, and chorizo, using smoked paprika in place of saffron. The technique centers on producing socarrat, the caramelized crust that forms on the pan’s bottom, a result that depends on heat management in the final minutes. Continue reading Recipe: Paella on the Grill
How To: BMW S1000XR Horn Upgrade
The BMW S1000XR’s engine compartment is tight enough that the standard single-unit Denali horn will not fit, requiring the two-piece Split Dual-tone version instead. This guide walks through the complete parts list and the installation process, covering fairing removal, bracket mounting, air-hose routing, and wiring. I also address the challenge of routing the air hose away from engine heat. Continue reading How To: BMW S1000XR Horn Upgrade
How To: BMW S1000XR LED Lighting Upgrades
I replaced the stock incandescent headlights on my 2016 BMW S1000XR with brighter, longer-lasting LED bulbs. This how-to covers the full swap: headlights, parking lights, and turn signals, with step-by-step instructions and photos. The trickiest part of the job is managing the LAMP FAIL warning that most aftermarket LED bulbs trigger, and the article explains how to avoid it. Continue reading How To: BMW S1000XR LED Lighting Upgrades
How To: Watch Movies in Your Honda Pilot or Odyssey Using Android TV
The 2018 Honda Pilot’s rear entertainment system accepts HDMI input but cannot directly play video files from a USB thumb drive. This article walks through five rejected solutions, including Chromecast and tethered smartphones, before settling on a low-cost Android TV set-top box. This setup works without an internet connection, letting kids watch libraries of movies on long trips. Continue reading How To: Watch Movies in Your Honda Pilot or Odyssey Using Android TV
How To: Deploying a Ubiquiti UniFi Home Network including Multiple WiFi Access Points (Part 2)
Ubiquiti’s UniFi platform offers granular control over wireless settings that consumer routers never expose. This article walks through a tested configuration for a gigabit home network, covering channel planning, VLAN segmentation, IoT isolation, and per-AP radio tuning. We also cover getting Sonos and Belkin Wemo devices to coexist reliably with the rest of the network.
Continue reading How To: Deploying a Ubiquiti UniFi Home Network including Multiple WiFi Access Points (Part 2)
How To: Deploying a Ubiquiti UniFi Home Network including Multiple WiFi Access Points (Part 1)
Ubiquiti’s UniFi is a modular, software-defined networking platform designed for prosumer and small-business use, built from separate components for routing, switching, and wireless access. We walk through replacing a piecemeal consumer router setup with a full UniFi deployment across a home wired with Gigabit Ethernet and more than 100 connected devices. The installation required coordinating a Security Gateway, managed switches, multiple access points, and a Cloud Key controller. Continue reading How To: Deploying a Ubiquiti UniFi Home Network including Multiple WiFi Access Points (Part 1)
How To: Advanced Sonos Wireless Network Configuration Using Sonos BOOST
SonosNet 2.0 operates on a dedicated 2.4 GHz mesh network, entirely separate from your home WiFi, and multicasts audio to every speaker simultaneously rather than streaming individual unicast signals to each one. This article explains how Boost mode works, when a dedicated BOOST hardware device makes sense over an Ethernet-connected speaker, and how to configure up to three BOOST devices for a large installation. Continue reading How To: Advanced Sonos Wireless Network Configuration Using Sonos BOOST
Recipe: Sous Vide Beef Wellington
Beef Wellington’s origins are disputed: food historian Leah Hyslop argues it is more likely a 20th-century American dish than a British one named for the Duke. This recipe applies sous vide to the tenderloin before wrapping it in prosciutto, duxelles, and puff pastry. Precise temperature control solves the classic problem of the pastry finishing before the beef reaches target doneness. Continue reading Recipe: Sous Vide Beef Wellington
Sonos One & Sonos Beam (Part 2): Review of Voice Services Including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant & Apple Airplay 2
Sonos speakers support Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri simultaneously, letting users mix and match voice assistants independent of their music source or smart home platform. Here, we explain how that flexibility works in practice and what it means for households split across competing ecosystems. A Sonos owner can run an iTunes library, a YouTube Music subscription, and Apple HomeKit controls from a single speaker while still asking Google a question. Continue reading Sonos One & Sonos Beam (Part 2): Review of Voice Services Including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant & Apple Airplay 2
Sonos One & Sonos Beam (Part 1): The State of Smart Speakers
Amazon Echo and Google Home are designed primarily to deepen their makers’ advertising and data businesses, while Apple’s HomePod functions as a local iPhone extension. This article examines what each major smart speaker is actually optimized for, and why that distinction matters when choosing one. The Sonos One costs nearly twice as much as an Echo but delivers meaningfully better sound for listeners who prioritize audio quality. Continue reading Sonos One & Sonos Beam (Part 1): The State of Smart Speakers
How To: BMW S1000XR Farkles
“Farkle” blends “function” and “sparkle”, a term motorcycle riders use for aftermarket accessories that add performance, comfort, or safety. Here, I cover a curated set of farkles for the S1000XR, with installation notes for each. My guiding rule is to prioritize upgrades that carry over to a replacement bike, which shapes some counterintuitive recommendations against stock BMW options. Continue reading How To: BMW S1000XR Farkles
2016 BMW S1000XR Review: A New Journey Ahead
The BMW K1300S sits taller than most sports bikes, yet its stock geometry places the handlebars too low and the foot pegs too high for the tall riders it attracts. This article covers specific aftermarket fixes: Helibar risers, Knight Design lowered foot pegs, a Verholen gear shift extender, and a custom brake lever solution. The brake lever modification, improvised after a Verholen unit fell off on the interstate, is where the real-world problem-solving gets interesting. Continue reading 2016 BMW S1000XR Review: A New Journey Ahead