Disclosure of Material Connection: I received some of these products for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements. Products with a * before the name were review samples.
I recently went on travel, and took a good bit of my gadgets with me. Some of it I found useful, some I probably will take with me again. I decided to pull together a list of what I took with me (from a gadget perspective) and my thoughts on each item. I don't really plan to list the details of the standard stuff people might bring - laptop, smartphone, tablet or smartwatch ( yes I had all of those with me ).
NOTE : Each item is either linked to my blog review, Amazon review, or just a generic product page.
Battery Packs
*RAVPower 18200 mAh (Model RP-PB26): This is a pretty large battery pack, and I did find it useful on the flight itself but other than that I didn't use it much. I think it is a great high capacity pack, but I found myself grabbing the smaller one below. I just didn't use my tablet as much as I thought I would at the airport or on the flight.
*RAVPower 7800 mAh (Model RP-PB31): I used the battery pack pretty much every day, mainly to keep my phone charged while I was using it as a hotspot. Although it isn't a high capacity like the one above, it did the job for the day to day needs.
If I had to pick one of the two battery packs above, I would go with the larger capacity - basically it ends up being insurance just in case I do need the juice (or a coworker needs to charge their phone too).
Bluetooth Gadgets
*TaoTronics Shower speaker ( Model TT-SK03 ): I actually got this right before I went on travel, so I figured it would be great to test (no worrying about playing loud music in the morning and waking up others). I don't know if I will take it again, but it is pretty compact so I may bring it along just in case.
Wallet TrackR: Honestly I didn't get any real use out of this - I put it in my luggage, so I was able to look at the screen and see when it was close but normally by the time the phone found the tracker the luggage (when waiting at baggage claim of the airport) it was only a minute or two away from being seen. Neat gadget, but the way I used it didn't really provide any benefit.
*Ukonnect Bluetooth keyboard: This one is pretty simple - I planned to use my Nexus 7 tablet while on the plane, and basically I didn't do it. I didn't really run into any other situations where I felt the need to break out a keyboard.
Chargers
*RAVPower Qi charger (Model RP-WCN13): I took this with me for my Nexus 7 tablet, but honestly in the hotel I was normally sitting near a charger or just didn't use the tablet that much so I didn't even use it. It is pretty small so I might try it again next trip.
*Bestek 5-port 8A USB charger: I used this every day to keep my multiple devices charged, I have reviewed other multiple port chargers but this and the RAVPower 4-port (Model RP-UC07) are probably best for travel since they come with cords instead of plugging directly into the wall.
Other Gadgets
*RAVPower FileHub RP-WD02: This is a pretty unique device since it acts as a portable router and file sharing device. I didn't really use the file sharing aspect on this trip. For the wireless router, I was thinking I could hook it up in the room (if the hotel had an Ethernet jack) and use my own secured WiFi instead of the open WiFi of the hotel - unfortunately they didn't have network cables in the room and I was too lazy to go downstairs so I just used my smartphone hotspot instead.
I did find an interesting use while flying out - I was able to use this device to connect multiple devices (via 1 account) to the in-flight Internet. I honestly just did that to see if it worked, especially since their support people said there was no way to do that.
One other advantage - if you are taking a device that probably can't go to the login page of hotels ( game system, Chromecast etc) this little gadget should help in that sort of situation since your devices connect to your router and that router connects to the hotel wifi (or Ethernet) - so as long as you have 1 device (laptop, smartphone or tablet) that can click on the agreement the other devices can leverage that same connection. As a side note, there is a newer WD03 model out.
GoGo Inflight Internet: This is isn't really a gadget I took with me, but it was neat to use this service on the flight. I learned a few interesting things from using GoGo:
1) On my Android devices, some Google apps seem to work even if you haven't paid for a pass (such as email)
2) Chat with their support, they can sometimes hook you up with a discount.
Google Chromecast: I was able to catch up on a few episodes of Blacklist using my Chromecast, and considering how small it is I don't see a reason why I wouldn't carry it along just in case the TV didn't have anything I enjoyed.
*Bestek 2 port 5000 mAh charger: This actually acts as a 2-port charger and a battery pack. I didn't really use the battery pack function ( since I already had 2 others ) but I used the 2-port charger on the nightstand near me so I could keep my phone and watch nearby. I don't know if I will take it in the future, the fact it supports 2 functions gives it a few extra points.
Breffo Spiderpodium: This is not exactly an electronic gadget, but it is a very useful smartphone holder. I think it is great for travel, because you can flatten it out and easily pack it. I used it to hold my smartphone in my rental ( which I used for navigation ) so I think it is definitely a good item to bring on travel if you are going to have a rental.
Overall, I have a good idea of how I will adjust my gadget packing for my next trip. Some of the items that seemed like good ideas but didn't get used will likely not make the trip, of course that is probably when I will actually need them.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
TaoTronics Portable Bluetooth Speaker with NFC ( Model TT-SK02 )
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.
I recently received a TaoTronics Portable Bluetooth Speaker ( Model TT-SK02 ) for a product review. The speaker included a power cable, audio cable and battery. All of the recent Bluetooth speakers I have tested had a built-in battery (that you couldn't remove), for this to have one you could remove was interesting. This speaker also had NFC, which isn't common in the speakers I have tested.
The speaker itself was just a bit smaller and lighter than an Inateck BTSP-10 speaker I have reviewed before. The design was pretty simple - no color or anything fancy, but for something like this function is more important than looks ( in my opinion ).
Normally pairing these types of speakers is fairly easy, but this speaker has a built-in NFC so for devices that are NFC capable you can just tap your phone/tablet to the speaker and begin the pairing process. If you have multiple devices, or multiple people that will share the same speaker, the NFC capability is actually useful.
I found the audio quality and loudness to be pretty good, the low end bass wasn't as deep as I recall from the Inateck speaker I tested but as I mentioned this one is a bit smaller / lighter so the speakers themselves are likely a bit smaller in this unit. However, even with that minor difference the audio quality was still good.
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Portability: The speaker is small and light, making it very portable and the built-in speaker means you can use it pretty much anywhere you want.
Ease of Use: It was easy to use this speaker, and the NFC capability made pairing even easier if you had a NFC capable smartphone/tablet.
Quality: As with any portable speaker, you have to be realistic with your expectations -- don't expect something like this to replace your car stereo or home sound system but if you want a portable speaker for enjoying things outside or for travel use this one sounds good.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker this is a great option to consider.
TaoTronics Product Page: http://www.taotronics.com/taotronics-tt-sk02-bluetooth-speaker-.html
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00TMRUKQG
I recently received a TaoTronics Portable Bluetooth Speaker ( Model TT-SK02 ) for a product review. The speaker included a power cable, audio cable and battery. All of the recent Bluetooth speakers I have tested had a built-in battery (that you couldn't remove), for this to have one you could remove was interesting. This speaker also had NFC, which isn't common in the speakers I have tested.
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| Speaker, battery, and cables |
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| Top of speaker Left to Right : Controls, NFC touch point and microphone |
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| Back of speaker including power switch, Aux in and microUSB charging port |
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Portability: The speaker is small and light, making it very portable and the built-in speaker means you can use it pretty much anywhere you want.
Ease of Use: It was easy to use this speaker, and the NFC capability made pairing even easier if you had a NFC capable smartphone/tablet.
Quality: As with any portable speaker, you have to be realistic with your expectations -- don't expect something like this to replace your car stereo or home sound system but if you want a portable speaker for enjoying things outside or for travel use this one sounds good.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker this is a great option to consider.
TaoTronics Product Page: http://www.taotronics.com/taotronics-tt-sk02-bluetooth-speaker-.html
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00TMRUKQG
Monday, April 20, 2015
TaoTronics Water Resistant Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Shower Speaker (Model TT-SK03)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.
I recently received a TaoTronics Water Resistant Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Shower Speaker (Model TT-SK03) for a product review. Only a speaker and power cable were included, but really I wouldn't expect anything else. I have tested various Bluetooth speakers, but this was the first water resistant speaker. I didn't really like the fact that the power cable was not a standard microUSB cable, but I have to imagine they made that decision for a reason.
I definitely wanted to test the speaker out as it was intended, so I tried it out in the shower. The audio quality was pretty good, and it was loud enough to be enjoyable even with the shower running. The controls were easy to use.
The suction cup seemed to hold pretty well, I left it mounted during the day to see if it would fall and luckily it didn't. I didn't test the speakerphone ability frankly because I don't plan to make or receive calls while in the shower but if I do test it, I will update this review.
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Water Resistant: Of course this is the main selling point of the product, it is water resistant. Normal shower use should be fine, but be smart - I wouldn't put it under direct water all the time or put it under water.
Easy to Use: It was very easy to use this speaker, just like any other product take a moment to review the instructions before using it.
Sound Quality: I didn't do a side by side test with other Bluetooth speakers because frankly this is being used differently than other speakers. However, during my real world tests the speaker volume and quality was good enough to use while still being heard over a running shower.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a water resistant speaker, this is a great option to consider.
TaoTronics Product Page: http://www.taotronics.com/taotronics-tt-sk03-bluetooth-speaker.html
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00T2K0ROI
I recently received a TaoTronics Water Resistant Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Shower Speaker (Model TT-SK03) for a product review. Only a speaker and power cable were included, but really I wouldn't expect anything else. I have tested various Bluetooth speakers, but this was the first water resistant speaker. I didn't really like the fact that the power cable was not a standard microUSB cable, but I have to imagine they made that decision for a reason.
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| Speaker and power cord ( USB on one side and a non-standard plug on the other ) |
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| Large suction cup |
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| Close up of controls |
Water Resistant: Of course this is the main selling point of the product, it is water resistant. Normal shower use should be fine, but be smart - I wouldn't put it under direct water all the time or put it under water.
Easy to Use: It was very easy to use this speaker, just like any other product take a moment to review the instructions before using it.
Sound Quality: I didn't do a side by side test with other Bluetooth speakers because frankly this is being used differently than other speakers. However, during my real world tests the speaker volume and quality was good enough to use while still being heard over a running shower.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a water resistant speaker, this is a great option to consider.
TaoTronics Product Page: http://www.taotronics.com/taotronics-tt-sk03-bluetooth-speaker.html
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00T2K0ROI
Monday, April 13, 2015
Ukonnect Hifilink Music Audio Streaming Receiver Review
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.
I recently received a Ukonnect Hifilink Music Audio Streaming Receiver for a product review. The receiver itself came with a USB to micro-USB power cable and two audio cables - one with headphone style jacks on both ends (possible use : aux-in port of a car or radio) and one with RCA connectors (possible use : home stereos with RCA inputs).
Unfortunately the plastic case of this unit was damaged, basically one of the parts of the cover was loose and I could just take it off which also gave me a chance to peek inside. On the plus side, a few rubber bands held it together and it still worked. I reached out to the company and they confirmed that they would replace the unit.
I have tested Bluetooth based devices before, but this was the first unit that I have tested that was WiFi based and before I actually tested the product I had some concerns kicking around in my mind.
My first concern was related to the WiFi operation but after some testing and review of the product manual it seems this unit has two modes:
1) The unit can act as a standalone WiFi point, which is useful if you are in an area that does not have an available wireless network. The only drawback is that most mobile cellular devices use either WiFi or cellular for data - but not both. So if you are connected to this unit with your smartphone, you will probably lose access to the Internet.
2) The unit can access as a wireless client and connect to an existing wireless network. So, as an example, if you use this at home you can connect the Hifilink to your home wireless and then any other devices should be able to see it.
I used option 2 primarily, with my Moto X and it worked fine. With Apple devices it apparently uses the built-in Airplay protocol, but with Android you have to use 3rd party applications - they mention BubbleUPnP and that is the software I tested. The volume control of the software didn't seem to work (made minor adjustments to volume) but honestly that is what I prefer - just one volume control on the unit, with many of the Bluetooth adapters you had to consider the phone/table volume and the Bluetooth receiver volume.
Overall the setup wasn't really difficult and the audio quality was pretty good. It seemed to have enough output power to push my Turtle Beach XO FOUR headset with no problem and even had good bass.
For my music, I primarily use Google Play Music. From what I can tell there is no way to directly use the Play Music software with this unit, however the BubbleUPnP software actually somehow interfaced with my library and I was able to play songs from my playlists. However, since you aren't using the actual application you will lose access to certain features you might be used to.
This device does have some limitations which aren't necessarily a problem with the product, just factors you need to consider as you determine how you will use it. First, I don't think this device would be a good fit for "in car" audio simply because whatever device you are using will no longer have Internet access but if you are using a WiFi only tablet that isn't an issue. Second, you have to use BubbleUPnP (or similar) software to push audio, so you can't just expect every app to push audio/music to this adapter. That is an Android specific limitation, and may not be true with Apple devices.
On the plus side, I could see a device like this being a great gadget in a house (or college dorm) where you may have multiple people that want to push music to a sound system. You also avoid the distance limitations of Bluetooth.
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Compact: The receiver itself is fairly light and think, smaller than my Moto X smartphone. It has a built-in battery so you can use it with headphone to walk around the house with no problem and without worrying about the distance limitations of Bluetooth.
WiFi Connectivity: This unit can act as a client and connect to an existing WiFi network, or can act as a standalone access point. Once you have configured both modes, simply pressing the power button 3 times will toggle the two options.
Output Options: The unit has a standard audio jack (either for headphones or to connect to an aux-in connect) and it also supports digital audio output. I did not test the digital output.
Bottom line: This is a neat little gadget that acts as a WiFi audio receiver which allows for some interesting approaches on how to use it. If you have tested Bluetooth audio receiver, definitely consider this product as an alternative approach to wireless music.
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00OFBF0K0
I recently received a Ukonnect Hifilink Music Audio Streaming Receiver for a product review. The receiver itself came with a USB to micro-USB power cable and two audio cables - one with headphone style jacks on both ends (possible use : aux-in port of a car or radio) and one with RCA connectors (possible use : home stereos with RCA inputs).
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| Hifilink Receiver |
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| Well normally you don't want your device to open up like this but might as well take a pic! |
My first concern was related to the WiFi operation but after some testing and review of the product manual it seems this unit has two modes:
1) The unit can act as a standalone WiFi point, which is useful if you are in an area that does not have an available wireless network. The only drawback is that most mobile cellular devices use either WiFi or cellular for data - but not both. So if you are connected to this unit with your smartphone, you will probably lose access to the Internet.
2) The unit can access as a wireless client and connect to an existing wireless network. So, as an example, if you use this at home you can connect the Hifilink to your home wireless and then any other devices should be able to see it.
I used option 2 primarily, with my Moto X and it worked fine. With Apple devices it apparently uses the built-in Airplay protocol, but with Android you have to use 3rd party applications - they mention BubbleUPnP and that is the software I tested. The volume control of the software didn't seem to work (made minor adjustments to volume) but honestly that is what I prefer - just one volume control on the unit, with many of the Bluetooth adapters you had to consider the phone/table volume and the Bluetooth receiver volume.
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| Two audio cables and one power cable |
For my music, I primarily use Google Play Music. From what I can tell there is no way to directly use the Play Music software with this unit, however the BubbleUPnP software actually somehow interfaced with my library and I was able to play songs from my playlists. However, since you aren't using the actual application you will lose access to certain features you might be used to.
This device does have some limitations which aren't necessarily a problem with the product, just factors you need to consider as you determine how you will use it. First, I don't think this device would be a good fit for "in car" audio simply because whatever device you are using will no longer have Internet access but if you are using a WiFi only tablet that isn't an issue. Second, you have to use BubbleUPnP (or similar) software to push audio, so you can't just expect every app to push audio/music to this adapter. That is an Android specific limitation, and may not be true with Apple devices.
On the plus side, I could see a device like this being a great gadget in a house (or college dorm) where you may have multiple people that want to push music to a sound system. You also avoid the distance limitations of Bluetooth.
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Compact: The receiver itself is fairly light and think, smaller than my Moto X smartphone. It has a built-in battery so you can use it with headphone to walk around the house with no problem and without worrying about the distance limitations of Bluetooth.
WiFi Connectivity: This unit can act as a client and connect to an existing WiFi network, or can act as a standalone access point. Once you have configured both modes, simply pressing the power button 3 times will toggle the two options.
Output Options: The unit has a standard audio jack (either for headphones or to connect to an aux-in connect) and it also supports digital audio output. I did not test the digital output.
Bottom line: This is a neat little gadget that acts as a WiFi audio receiver which allows for some interesting approaches on how to use it. If you have tested Bluetooth audio receiver, definitely consider this product as an alternative approach to wireless music.
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00OFBF0K0
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Ukonnect Bluetooth Ultra-compact Foldable Keyboard Review
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.
I recently received a Ukonnect Bluetooth Ultra-compact Foldable Keyboard for a product review. When folded up, the keyboard is fairly small - about the size of a smartphone, just a bit wider than my Moto X. The keys are about the same size as the keys on my laptop, and when unfolded the distance between the keys on the top row ( from Q to P ) is about the same as my laptop.
Basically this is a compact keyboard that still is usable -- not something so tiny that you have to peck at the keys to even use it.
I tested the product on my Nexus 7 tablet and a Windows 7 laptop, both completed the Bluetooth pairing without any problems at all. The special keys ( such as controlling volume ) worked great on both device.
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Compact: When folded up, this keyboard is about the size of a standard smartphone and when unfolded the key size and spacing is similar to a normal laptop. There isn't a dedicated row at the top for numbers or function keys, and that is where some of the space savings happens.
Ease to Use: I had no problem pairing this keyboard with various devices I tested. It folds up easily, and there are no special tricks you have to learn to use it.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a portable Bluetooth keyboard, this is a great option to consider.
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00O5CGN2I
I recently received a Ukonnect Bluetooth Ultra-compact Foldable Keyboard for a product review. When folded up, the keyboard is fairly small - about the size of a smartphone, just a bit wider than my Moto X. The keys are about the same size as the keys on my laptop, and when unfolded the distance between the keys on the top row ( from Q to P ) is about the same as my laptop.
Basically this is a compact keyboard that still is usable -- not something so tiny that you have to peck at the keys to even use it.
I tested the product on my Nexus 7 tablet and a Windows 7 laptop, both completed the Bluetooth pairing without any problems at all. The special keys ( such as controlling volume ) worked great on both device.
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| Keyboard unfolded |
Compact: When folded up, this keyboard is about the size of a standard smartphone and when unfolded the key size and spacing is similar to a normal laptop. There isn't a dedicated row at the top for numbers or function keys, and that is where some of the space savings happens.
Ease to Use: I had no problem pairing this keyboard with various devices I tested. It folds up easily, and there are no special tricks you have to learn to use it.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a portable Bluetooth keyboard, this is a great option to consider.
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00O5CGN2I
Thursday, April 9, 2015
RAVPower 7800mAh Power Bank with iSmart Charging Review ( Model RP-PB31 )
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.
I recently received a RAVPower 7800mAh Power Bank ( Model RP-PB31 ) for a product review. In addition to the charger itself, a USB to microUSB cable was included.
The charger was pretty small compared to what I have recently tested, but that was expected since my recent tests were higher capacity (over 10000 mAh) units. This one was small, and actually felt pretty light. I was able to carry it in my pocket without really noticing it.
The charger is rated to support 2.4A output, so I used my DROK testers and loads to see what it could handle. Here is what I found:
- 2A load : Unit was able to handle it
- 3A load : Unit maxed out around 2.6A of output
- 4A load : Unit shut off, likely a built-in overload protection
So bottom line, it was able to handle just above the rated 2.4A rated max current.
For real world tests, I just used it from time to time to keep my devices charged and never ran into any problems.
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Compact: The battery pack is fairly small and not too heavy, so carrying it in a pocket or purse shouldn't be a problem.
Ease of Use: Like most USB battery packs, the use is very simple. It has 4 LEDs to show 25% increments of remaining capacity.
Bottom line: If you need a USB battery pack that is good for daily use, enough to keep your devices topped off, then this 7800 mAh unit is a great option.
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00UV9OXNU
I recently received a RAVPower 7800mAh Power Bank ( Model RP-PB31 ) for a product review. In addition to the charger itself, a USB to microUSB cable was included.
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| Charger and USB to microUSB cable |
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| Size Comparison Top : 7800 mAh battery pack Bottom : 18200 mAh battery pack |
- 2A load : Unit was able to handle it
- 3A load : Unit maxed out around 2.6A of output
- 4A load : Unit shut off, likely a built-in overload protection
So bottom line, it was able to handle just above the rated 2.4A rated max current.
For real world tests, I just used it from time to time to keep my devices charged and never ran into any problems.
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Compact: The battery pack is fairly small and not too heavy, so carrying it in a pocket or purse shouldn't be a problem.
Ease of Use: Like most USB battery packs, the use is very simple. It has 4 LEDs to show 25% increments of remaining capacity.
Bottom line: If you need a USB battery pack that is good for daily use, enough to keep your devices topped off, then this 7800 mAh unit is a great option.
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00UV9OXNU
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Inateck 7-port portable USB 3.0 Hub with BC1.2 charging ( Model HB7003 )
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.
I recently received an Inateck 7-port portable USB 3.0 Hub with BC1.2 charging ( Model HB7003 ) for a product review. The package came with the hub, the power adapter and a USB cable.
The hub itself is actually not that big, and feels very light. In addition to acting as just a hub, it supports BC1.2 charging. Basically normal USB 3.0 can support 0.9A output but the BC1.2 standard can support more ( I believe 1.5A ). With the BC1.2 charging capability, this essentially makes it a 7 port hub and 7 port USB charger.
To test the hub functionality, I wanted to see what impact (if any) it had on the performance of an external hard drive. I used Ubuntu ( booted from CD ) to do hard drive benchmarks. I first tested with the drive connected directly and then tested again with the hub between the computer and the drive. The hub had no real impact on the measured average read/write and seek times.
To test the power output it was a bit more tricky. Using my DROK load tester, I was getting around 0.8A on my Nexus 7 which is right around the USB 3 spec. However, when I removed the DROK tester and directly connected the Nexus 7 to the hub there was an increase of about 0.2A (measured using an app called Ampere. That would put it at around 1.1A, which is over the USB 3 spec and likely the BC1.2 standard kicking in.
Using my USB 1A/2A adjustable load, I was actually able to max the port out at 2A. I think the BC1.2 standard just tells the attached device that it can safely pull more than the 0.9A rating for USB 3.
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Compact: This hub is pretty small, smaller than another 7-port USB 3.0 hub I tested. For travel, you should be able to use this hub to also charge devices letting you reduce the amount of devices you need to drag along.
Performance: The hub did not demonstrate any real impact to the benchmark tests performed on an external USB hard drive.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a solid USB 3.0 hub, this ones seems to do the job without impacting performance as an added bonus can also act as a charger for your devices including BC1.2 compliant devices that can charger at a higher rate than normal USB devices.
Inateck Product Page: http://www.inateck.com/inateck-hb7003-7-port-usb-3-0-hub/
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00QHULZH4
I recently received an Inateck 7-port portable USB 3.0 Hub with BC1.2 charging ( Model HB7003 ) for a product review. The package came with the hub, the power adapter and a USB cable.
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| Left to Right : Power adapter, Hub and USB cable |
To test the hub functionality, I wanted to see what impact (if any) it had on the performance of an external hard drive. I used Ubuntu ( booted from CD ) to do hard drive benchmarks. I first tested with the drive connected directly and then tested again with the hub between the computer and the drive. The hub had no real impact on the measured average read/write and seek times.
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| Size Comparison : Hub next to a 2-port USB charger and a 5-port USB charger |
Using my USB 1A/2A adjustable load, I was actually able to max the port out at 2A. I think the BC1.2 standard just tells the attached device that it can safely pull more than the 0.9A rating for USB 3.
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Compact: This hub is pretty small, smaller than another 7-port USB 3.0 hub I tested. For travel, you should be able to use this hub to also charge devices letting you reduce the amount of devices you need to drag along.
Performance: The hub did not demonstrate any real impact to the benchmark tests performed on an external USB hard drive.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a solid USB 3.0 hub, this ones seems to do the job without impacting performance as an added bonus can also act as a charger for your devices including BC1.2 compliant devices that can charger at a higher rate than normal USB devices.
Inateck Product Page: http://www.inateck.com/inateck-hb7003-7-port-usb-3-0-hub/
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00QHULZH4
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Bestek 8A 5-port USB charger Review
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.
I recently received a Bestek 8A 5-port USB charger for a product review. The charger itself was fairly small, and the package included the A/C cord to plug it into a wall socket.
The charger is rated at 8A, unfortunately I wasn't able to fully max it out with the items I had available but here is what I did test:
- Nexus 7 tablet pulling 1.17A
- Moto X pulling 1A
- Two 2A loads
Total current tested 6.17A, which is under the 8A rate maximum but still pretty good. Unless you are a power user with many tablets, you may never hit the 8A rated maximum.
For real world tests, I will be using this on my night stand to charge a smartphone, tablet and smartwatch on a nightly basis. So far I have not run into any issues.
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Design: Considering this is basically replacing a bunch of single port chargers, it only takes up a bit more space than two chargers would take. The power cord lets you place the charger itself where you want, instead of having to plug it directly into the wall like another unit I recently tested.
Multiple-ports: If you are in a situation where you only have one available wall plug, being able to get 5 USB ports is a great thing. In many hotels, you only have 1 plug available near you since the other one is typically used by an alarm clock or lamp.
Capacity: Although I only just over 6A of the total rated 8A, this charger should be able to handle multiple devices without a problem. You don't have to worry about certain ports being rated certain amount, each port can handle a max of 2.4A ( 8A total for the device ). I have tested other chargers that have ports labeled for just 1A, and others for higher amounts.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a multiple port charger, this is a great option to consider.
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00UMYHO2Q
I recently received a Bestek 8A 5-port USB charger for a product review. The charger itself was fairly small, and the package included the A/C cord to plug it into a wall socket.
 |
| Charger and power cord |
- Nexus 7 tablet pulling 1.17A
- Moto X pulling 1A
- Two 2A loads
Total current tested 6.17A, which is under the 8A rate maximum but still pretty good. Unless you are a power user with many tablets, you may never hit the 8A rated maximum.
 |
| 5 USB ports |
 |
| Size Comparison : 5 port charger next to two different 2-port chargers |
For real world tests, I will be using this on my night stand to charge a smartphone, tablet and smartwatch on a nightly basis. So far I have not run into any issues.
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Design: Considering this is basically replacing a bunch of single port chargers, it only takes up a bit more space than two chargers would take. The power cord lets you place the charger itself where you want, instead of having to plug it directly into the wall like another unit I recently tested.
Multiple-ports: If you are in a situation where you only have one available wall plug, being able to get 5 USB ports is a great thing. In many hotels, you only have 1 plug available near you since the other one is typically used by an alarm clock or lamp.
Capacity: Although I only just over 6A of the total rated 8A, this charger should be able to handle multiple devices without a problem. You don't have to worry about certain ports being rated certain amount, each port can handle a max of 2.4A ( 8A total for the device ). I have tested other chargers that have ports labeled for just 1A, and others for higher amounts.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a multiple port charger, this is a great option to consider.
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00UMYHO2Q
Friday, April 3, 2015
Bestek 5000 mAh 2-port USB charger Review
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.
I recently received a Bestek 5000 mAh 2-port USB charger for a product review. The charger just comes with an instruction manual, but no carrying case or cables which isn't really an issue.
As far as design goes, the wall plug can flip in/out so it is more compact for travel and you don't have to worry about the plug getting bent when it is packed up. The unit itself is larger than the average 2 port charge, but that is expected since it is also a battery pack.
If you have the unit plugged into a wall, it is rated to handle a total of 3.4A ( max of 2.4A on a single port ) but based on reading the instructions if you use the full 3.4A the internal battery will not charge. If you are using the unit as a battery pack (not plugged in) it can handle a max load of 2.1A.
I used my DROK USB testers and adjustable 1A/2A loads to do some tests to see if the product can handle the rated capacity. Here are the results of my quick tests:
While plugged in:
- I was able to get over 2.4A out of a single port
- I was able to get over 3.4A out of two ports together
- 4A of load seemed to make it reset ( probably triggering the built-in protections )
While unplugged (acting as a battery):
- I was able to get 2A from a single port
- I was able to get 2A across two ports
- Trying to pull 3A across two ports made the unit shutoff
Overall, the unit seemed to handle within (or above) rated specs and would seem to protect itself if the load was too much.
For real world tests, I have been using it both as an A/C adapter and as a battery pack without any problems.
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Compact: Although this is larger than the average 2-port USB charger, it is still fairly compact considering it also has a 5000 mAh capacity. For the traveling power user, being able to carry one devices to support multiple functions is always beneficial.
Ease of Use: Nothing complicated here, you just plug it in and use it.
Capacity: The output of 3.4A as an A/C adapter and 2.4A should be able to handle multiple devices, but of course two power hungry devices may give you some trouble.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a good capacity battery pack that is compact and great for travel, this is a great option to consider. Basically you are combining a 2 port USB charger and 5000 mAh battery pack into a single unit. Less things to haul means less clutter and less chance of forgetting an important piece of your setup.
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00UVCA5YS
I recently received a Bestek 5000 mAh 2-port USB charger for a product review. The charger just comes with an instruction manual, but no carrying case or cables which isn't really an issue.
 |
| Bestek charger ( middle ) with regular 2 port USB chargers on each side for size comparison |
 |
| Two standard USB ports. The unit has no power button, you shake it to turn it on |
I used my DROK USB testers and adjustable 1A/2A loads to do some tests to see if the product can handle the rated capacity. Here are the results of my quick tests:
While plugged in:
- I was able to get over 2.4A out of a single port
- I was able to get over 3.4A out of two ports together
- 4A of load seemed to make it reset ( probably triggering the built-in protections )
While unplugged (acting as a battery):
- I was able to get 2A from a single port
- I was able to get 2A across two ports
- Trying to pull 3A across two ports made the unit shutoff
Overall, the unit seemed to handle within (or above) rated specs and would seem to protect itself if the load was too much.
For real world tests, I have been using it both as an A/C adapter and as a battery pack without any problems.
Here are the main points I noticed about this product:
Compact: Although this is larger than the average 2-port USB charger, it is still fairly compact considering it also has a 5000 mAh capacity. For the traveling power user, being able to carry one devices to support multiple functions is always beneficial.
Ease of Use: Nothing complicated here, you just plug it in and use it.
Capacity: The output of 3.4A as an A/C adapter and 2.4A should be able to handle multiple devices, but of course two power hungry devices may give you some trouble.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a good capacity battery pack that is compact and great for travel, this is a great option to consider. Basically you are combining a 2 port USB charger and 5000 mAh battery pack into a single unit. Less things to haul means less clutter and less chance of forgetting an important piece of your setup.
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00UVCA5YS
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