Thursday, July 12, 2018

Locksmiths know what they are doing

Getting locked out of your car, home, or business is the sort of day-ruining life event we all experience from time to time. Or instead of getting locked out, you may break a key, or need a door lockout 24/7 quickly.

If you find yourself in any of these frustrating situations, don't try to save money by attempting to fix the problem yourself.

Instead, here are four compelling reasons it's worthwhile to hire a certified locksmith.

1. Certified locksmiths are highly trained.

When you hire a certified locksmith nearby, you can be sure that they have undergone in-depth training to repair and install a variety of locks. They can quickly and accurately create keys, fix a broken lock, open a locked car door, or install a brand new lock for you. When you choose a professional locksmith, you have peace of mind because you know the job will be completed correctly and in a timely manner.

2. They are also bonded & insured.

Certified locksmiths are typically bonded and insured, which offers you protection against any damages that occur in the course of the job. This means you're completely covered in the unlikely case your door, window, or lock is damaged during the repair or installation process.

While it is unlikely that you will need to make use of this feature, it is reassuring to know your locksmith is credible and responsible enough to go through the process of becoming bonded and insured. If needed, you will be compensated for damaged property.

3. Certified locksmiths keep your property safe.

When you move into a new apartment or house, chances are that someone else has lived there before. If you don't change the locks, you're taking a huge risk. Anyone with a key to that lock will be able to simply walk right in at their leisure, which is unsafe for you.

You may also want to change your locks and 24/7 replace key after losing a key, lending one to a housesitter or acquaintance who didn't return it, or any other situation that makes you feel uneasy. Hiring a 24/7 apartment locksmith service to change the locks will assure your safety and security in the long-run.

4. They always come through in an emergency.

Getting locked out or having another key-related emergency never seems to happen at a convenient time. It is frustrating and in some cases dangerous to be locked out of your home, business, or car. Sometimes locks malfunction, other times tampering causes them to stop working, and in other cases, keys simply get locked inside.

When you call a certified locksmith, they will evaluate the problem and come up with a solution quickly. Certified locksmiths are normally available whenever you need them, even late at night or on the weekend.

As you can see, hiring a certified locksmith has many advantages. Instead of trying to fix or repair a lock yourself, or break into your home or car after being locked out, save time and frustration by calling a certified locksmith.

Monday, January 8, 2018

Buffalo TeraStation 5200DN



If you just need a simple network-attached storage (NAS) system (like DROBO 5DT ) for file backups for your small business, then the Buffalo TeraStation 5200DN ($499.99) is worth considering. The TeraStation 5200DN$576.49 at Amazon comes preconfigured with two 1TB drives mirrored for safety, is easy to set up and administer, and comes at a fair price.

Design and Features
The TeraStation 5200DN is built into a black, metal case measuring 6.7 by 6.7 by 9.1 inches (HWD). The top third of the front panel features a LCD that shows information like the NAS's IP address, the status of its drives, and whether the USB ports are in use. The rest of the front panel is a lockable door for access to the drives. Instead of locking each drive sled individually, like the QNAP TVS-463Best Price at Amazon, the door protects both drives. It gives you easy access to the drives when you need to replace one or both, but unfortunately, you can't leave the door unlocked; the key remains captive until you lock the door again. It won't keep out a determined thief for long, but it's more secure than consumer-oriented boxes like the Netgear ReadyNAS 202Best Price at Amazon.

The back panel has a good selection of ports, including two Gigabit Ethernet ports (for failover protection or link aggregation), two USB 2.0 ports, and two USB 3.0 ports. You can connect Ethernet port to your company's LAN, or connect it via iSCSI if you need an isolated network with a server or a workstation. You can hook up a USB flash drive, an external hard drive, or an SSD to the USB ports in the rear, and back up your data to the NAS, but it's less convenient than competitors that have a USB backup port on their front panel, like the Editors' Choice Western Digital My Cloud DL4100Best Priceat Amazon. There's also a serial port for connecting a UPS, so you can set the TeraStation 5200DN to shut down properly (with all of your data and system kept safe) if you lose power in the office. The NAS uses a standard three-pronged power cord, so you won't have to find a spot for a power brick, like on the Seagate NAS 2-BayBest Price at Amazon or the QNAP TS-251$249.00 at Amazon.

Buffalo Technology sells the TeraStation 5200DN with hard drives installed, unlike other NAS that are sold diskless. Our review unit has two 1TB hard drives (for a total of 2TB), formatted and configured in a RAID 1 array for data redundancy, leaving 900GB of free space. That data is protected and usable in case one of the drives fails. If that happens, you can then replace the failed drive with an identical hot-swappable SATA drive. The NAS also comes in a 4TB version for $549.99 and an 8TB model for $699.99. Like our 2TB version, they are also set for RAID 1 out of the box, so they actually back up 2TB and 4TB of data, respectively. You can, of course, reconfigure the NAS to access the full capacity of the drives, but you would be doing so at the expense of the RAID 1 safety net.

Apple OS X and Windows clients can connect to the NAS natively. For backup, you can use either the included NovaBackup software for Windows (10 client licenses are included), or use Apple's Time Machine on Macs to back up your data everyday over the LAN. Connecting to the NAS over the LAN is easy since it's already set up to work out of the box.

A CD included in the box lets you install Buffalo's NAS Navigator2 admin console software on your Mac or Windows PC. The console software lets you check the NAS status, including drive capacity, internal temperatures, and CPU utilization. You can also set up password-protected shares and administer to users locally or remotely. Other functions in the console control the FTP, WebAccess, a DLNA server, an iTunes server, a Squeezebox server, a print server (USB printers connected to the NAS), a local web server, and a MySQL server. You can set up a BitTorrent app, an antivirus app, and surveillance cameras running on the NAS as well. One nice feature in the software is its Easy mode, for use in a SOHO environment where you may not have a regular IT person (or where you are the IT person). It guides you through common settings, like network status, drive configuration, and setting up shares.

You'll primarily be backing up your PCs and Macs to the NAS, but you can also set up a second TeraStation 5200DN on your network to back up the first one or even take over in case of catastrophic failure. Other IT-friendly features include Amazon S3 cloud storage backup (you'll need an Amazon business account to use it) if your company mandates off-site backups. The NAS comes with a three-year warranty.

Performance and Conclusion
The TeraStation 5200DN has an Intel Atom D2550 processor and 2GB of system memory. To test throughput, I copied a 4.9GB folder containing thousands of text, music, photo, Office, and video files over both Gigabit Ethernet wired and 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networks. The TeraStation 5200DN was able to write our test folder at a speed of 65MBps and read it at 71MBps through Ethernet, and a much slower 13MBps write and 14MBps read speeds over Wi-Fi. That's not too bad, although the QNAP TVS-463 was measurably faster at 79MBps write and 86MBps read over Ethernet and 21MBps write and 23MBps read over Wi-Fi in our tests.

As a simple plug-and-play office NAS, the Buffalo TeraStation 5200DN does what you need it to do, which is serve files quickly over your network to your PC and mobile clients. It has some added physical security with a locking access door, a front-panel LCD that serves up a lot of information, and it's relatively easy to administer even if you're a novice. It has a lot less storage than the 24TB of the Western Digital My Cloud DL4100, but then again it is a lot less expensive. The Western Digital DL4100 remains our top pick for SMB NAS devices, thanks to more redundant features like failover power capabilities, a front-mounted USB port, and above all its much larger storage capacity. However, if you have simpler needs, like backing up only two or three PC or Mac clients, then the TeraStation 5200DN is a good alternative at less than a third of the price.

Friday, December 22, 2017

Husqvarna 240



Professionals are no strangers to the Husqvarna chainsaw brand, and the Husqvarna 240 chainsaw delivers a modest bite with its 16-inch bar and fuel-efficient engine. During our test, the 240 took a few attempts to start, but it managed to cut through our test log in about seven seconds. While this chainsaw’s cutting capability is slightly above average, its power overall is about average when compared with other saws in our reviews. Despite this, we couldn't help but notice that the 240 is loud. During our test, it cut at a noise level of 77 decibels at its lowest and topped out at 93 decibels.

Husqvarna is a trusted brand for professionals, but homeowners can also benefit from the quality parts used to build these chainsaws. The 240 has a 38.2 cc two-cycle engine, and the clean X-Torq gas engine consumes low volumes of fuel and produces low exhaust levels. Inside this gas chainsaw, the air injection system also keeps emissions low while preventing dust and wood particles from entering the air filter. With proper and regular maintenance, these features extend engine life.

Compared to other chainsaws we tested, the 240’s 38.2 cc engine is petite. The most powerful engine we encounted was on the Craftsman 41BY429S799. One advantage of a smaller engine is less vibration. This, in addition to the anti-vibration system, makes for smooth sawing during long jobs, minimizing hand fatigue.

As chainsaw bar sizes increase, so does the chance of kickback, and the Husqvarna 240 ( as POULAN PRO 42CC )has a specialized feature to handle this problem. If the chainsaw kicks back, the inertia-activated chain brake stops the chain’s rotation around the saw. Kickback, especially rotational kickback, propels the saw bar in an upward arc toward the user. This feature won't save you from kickback but prevents further injury if it occurs.

One of the best ways to cut efficiently and safely is by keeping the chains well maintained. Some saws allow you to conveniently tighten or loosen chains with a knob or slide, but this Husqvarna model requires a chain-tensioning tool to make any adjustments. The tensioner is easy to reach, and the 240 comes with a scrench to adjust the chain tension.

The Husqvarna 240 is the little brother to the company’s professional models. Its modest 38.2 cc two-cycle engine delivers plenty of power for basic cleanup and firewood jobs while maintaining fuel efficiency, and it has several features to help prevent kickback. While it varies from attempt to attempt, the number of tries it took to start the chainsaw was unimpressive.

Friday, October 6, 2017

Citizen JY0010-50E Eco-Drive Skyhawk



The legendary watchmaker Citizen was founded in 1924. Since that time, they have carved out a reputation for themselves as one of the most respected makers of fine watches. In fact, since 1986, they have been the largest watchmaking company in the world.

Citizen is also known for being a leader in the advanced technology of watches, developing the first watch with voice recognition and the world’s slimmest LCD watch.

Citizen may not attract the cult-like following as Casio G-Shock does when it comes to tough watches. But for those looking for tough watch alternatives other than G-Shock, a number of Citizen’s flagship collection is worth serious consideration.

The one model that we’re going to be talking about today is the Citizen men’s JY0010-50E Eco-Drive Skyhawk A-T titanium watch. Let’s get down right to it and see what makes it a fine tough watch.
Introduction

The CITIZEN ECO DRIVE TITANIUM A-T titanium watch redefines atomic timekeeping with Eco-Drive technology and radio-controlled accuracy. Radio signals can be received both on-demand and automatically in Japan, China, Europe, the United Kingdom and North America.

This Citizen JY0010-50E review will take a look at the various features that this watch has to offer, pointing out which of these features are the best and worst. This will hopefully give you the information that you need in order to make an informed decision before you purchase a watch.
Where It Stands Out

World Time. This gives you the ability to select the cities where you are interested in keeping track of the time. Therefore, you will not need to constantly scroll through every city to find the ones that you want. In total, there are 43 cities that you can choose from.

Clasp. The double-button clasp is secure and does not come undone when it gets hit by something. However, it is easy to remove when you want to. If you get hot and need to let the watch out a little bit, you can make a micro-adustment with a tooth pick.

This might seem minor but if you are serious about getting tough on your watches, the clasp design is one aspect that you’d want to be paying attention to.

Comfort. In terms of comfort, this watch is smooth and light. Sometimes you even forget you are wearing it.

Looks. Orange blacklight, polished/brushed bracelet, bezel and the orange accents on the dial make this a very attractive watch, and one that you can be proud to wear for any occasion.
Where It Falters

Radio control reception. It is very difficult to sync the watch from a room. The person using the watch will often find it necessary to go to an outdoor location where no buildings are able to block the signal.

As frustrating as it might be, but this is not the only problem you will encounter with this feature. After you have gone out of your way to find a clear location, you will then need to wait roughly 10 minutes for the watch to get into sync.

Quirky functionality: Because the backlight button is the same as the start/stop button, it is not possible to use this watch in the dark.

Your local information can not be seen at the same time as the date and time of your second time zone. In order to utilize most of the functions that are offered by this watch, the user is required to pull out the crown.

Mineral crystal. It is almost impossible to wear this watch on a regular basis and not scratch the mineral crystal. It would have been wise for Citizen to use scratch-proof sapphire crystals instead.
A Tough Pick

There are tonnes of Citizen watch reviews but only a fraction discuss about the JY0010-50E. Given the price tag that comes with the watch, this is to be expected.

The number of owners of such expensive watch as this is definitely outnumbered by other watch models in the lower price category. I don’t officially have the number for the satisfaction level. But based on what I’ve been reading and hearing, many owners praise the JY0010-50E as a brilliantly engineered time piece.

It is one of the rare few watches that offer excellent combination of atomic/solar technology and high-quality physical attributes.
It’s Your Call

It might not have hit perfect scores on all the attributes. But if you are looking for a tough yet elegant watch, there are not many alternatives that comes close to matching the Citizen JY0010-50E Eco-Drive Skyhawk A-T titanium watch.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Blade 8X Lights Out Scouting Camera Review




Blade 8X lights Out is among the mid-range trail cameras ( MOULTRIE MOBILE WIRELESS FIELD MODEM MV1 ) manufactured by Wildgame Innovations. One of the few good things about the camera is its No glow IR flash which has a great range of 50 feet and it’s 8-AA cell power option which provides it the capability to take 30,000 photos in a go. The camera has two mode of operation: Flextime and Time lapse. It doesn’t support hybrid mode of operation. It works on C- cell batteries and supports up to 16 GB of SD/SDHC card.
Quick Facts
Trigger Speed: 1 second
Recovery time: Not given by the manufacturer
Detection Range: 50 feet
Flash Range: 50 feet
Batteries: 8 AA batteries
Dimensions: 8 x 3 x 11 inches; 1.4 pounds
Overall Rating: 3.3/5
Detection Circuit

The camera seems to perform well in terms of detection circuit. Its trigger speed is 1 second, which is impressive. The camera detects animals accurately within its detection range of 50 feet and takes bright photos with the help of 36 LED No glow IR flash.
Picture Quality

The camera has 6 Megapixel CMOS sensor and it has three resolution settings ranging from 2 MP to 6MP in order to attain desired quality and power optimization. The camera produces average picture quality with its 6 MP CMOS sensor; the color reproduction in the day time photos was good. It is capable of recording 30 second videos. It uses wide angle lenses, hence it records videos and captures photos in a aspect ratio of 16:9.
Battery and Power Options

The camera follows the universal standards in terms of power options and it can be powered with 8 AA batteries. Hence users are free to use any rechargeable battery with the camera. Buyers will get 8- standard alkaline AA batteries with the camera. On the given set of batteries the camera claims to be capable of shooting 30,000 photos. The deal is really impressive because No other trail camera in the market comes with batteries in the box.
Type and Features

The camera uses 36 No glow IR LED to facilitate a flash range of 50 feet, which is outstanding for a camera of 90$ price bracket. It supports up to 32 GB SD card and the good news is that 8 GB SD card is inclusive in the sells package contents of the camera.

Moreover, it puts time date, temperature, and location information on every single frame it captures, which is really nice. It has two modes of operation: Flex time and time lapse. In flex time mode captures photos whenever a moment is detected. But in time lapse mode it just takes photos after the specified interval, which is configurable by the users.

Buyers will get Bungee cords, USB cable, mounting hardward, and Migration Mode CD software with the camera.
Ease of use

We were not happy with the design of the trail cam Blade 8X lights Out. The manufacturer WildGame Innovations should have made its design better in terms of robustness as well as the look. The programming is not difficult to figure out but the buttons are cheap and flimsy. The manufacturer must look upon these aspects of the camera.
Conclusion

The camera Blade 8X Lights out trail camera along with 8 GB SD card and 8-AA batteries at a price of 90$ make it one of the best trail camera deals available in the market. If you are looking for a low range camera to meet your basic requirement, you must think about it at least once.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Build your Brand by Building Relationships


What better day to mull the topic of relationships than today? After all, the masses (and, you and me) have been at it all week, conjuring up the perfect plan to show their significant other that he/she is special, and taking extra care not to overlook any hidden expectations.

I’m trusting you’ve got that one in the bag, but what about your business relationships? Have you taken stock lately of what you could be doing more of to convey appreciation and commitment to your existing customers/clients, as well as lay the foundation for strong ties with those you’ve interacted with recently? And, are you putting in the time to learn about these new acquaintances, rather than leaping in after the first couple of meetings with a request to sign on the dotted line?

Thursday, March 9, 2017

What Can Weight Watchers Teach You About Business?



As early back as I can remember, my grandmother belonged to Weight Watchers. I can vividly remember her making her famous rhubarb pie. My sister and I never tried it but looking back we probably missed out on a tasty treat.

My grandmother loved Weight Watchers so much that she would travel by bus about an hour to go to their meetings. Once she reached her weight loss goal she started working for them.

Weight Watchers helps you reach your weight loss goals but how does this relate to your business?

Recently I saw a commercial from the company letting you know that you are not alone. When you sign up for Weight Watchers, you will have your own personal coach. Why do you think the company would offer this? As one coach mentioned in the commercial, she’s been there. She knows the frustrations you face and she knows how to help you reach your goals.

When it comes to your business, you might be facing one or more challenges. Wouldn’t it be nice to have help from someone who’s been where you are? Someone who’s faced and conquered those challenges?

That’s where a business coach comes in.

Here are six reasons you might want to seek the expertise of a business coach:

Locksmiths know what they are doing

Getting locked out of your car, home, or business is the sort of day-ruining life event we all experience from time to time. Or instead of g...