Author Archives: John Hagensieker

LaserPecker 5 Review

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LaserPecker 5

LaserPecker 5

With a name like LaserPecker, you know it has to be great. And with a 5th generation LaserPecker 5, ($2899) it really has to be great.   The LP5 is a combination 20 watt 450 nanometer (nm) blue diode laser and a 20 watt 1064 nm IR fiber laser.  This allows for engraving on a large variety of materials to include wood, paper, leather, metals and plastics and a whole lot of other items.

It currently only has one other straight up competitor with the inclusion of the 20 watt fiber laser.  I was super excited to test this as my other combo lasers are 10 watt diode and 2 watt 1064nm IR lasers.  I do have a dedicated 30 watt fiber laser and I’m very curious to see how it compares to that.

Additionally, I have tested the LP4 and it kind of fell into the “Fantastic Hardware, Not So Fantastic Software” category as far as I was concerned.  So I’ll be focusing a bit more on LaserPecker Design Space software.  And I’ll be looking at Lightburn integration for the LaserPecker 5.
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Sainlogic Weather Station SA1 Review

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Sainlogic Weather Station SA1 Review

Sainlogic Weather Station SA1

Sainlogic Weather Station SA1

Over the years I have dabbled with weather stations.  However, I haven’t touched one for ages.  The older I get though, the more I realize that weather is something I stay on top of more and more.   I’m old but I still ride a bicycle and daily I check the temperature and wind to see if I can ride.  I was pretty happy when Sainlogic approached me to test and review their new SA1 Home Weather Station ($69.99).

After I unboxed the SA1 and did a quick setup I came to realize that I personally would level up to one of their higher end stations if I were spending my own money.  Allow me to explain why.

The following comment is not meant to be negative in any fashion.  And it pertains only to me and others like me. I mentioned WIND earlier.  Every morning I ask my Alexa what the temperature is and then what the wind is.  Also, I won’t go out if the wind is 10 mph or faster unless it is blowing West or South West.  I want to be able to look at that screen and see the wind speed and direction.

I imagine that 98% of people are content to look outside and say “It sure is windy, eh?”.  So I know I am the exception here.  All I am saying here is that wind speed is a super important statistic to me. And what I’m really saying is that I WOULD BUY A MORE EXPENSIVE WEATHER STATION FROM SAINLOGIC to satisfy MY requirements.  In absolutely no way am I dismissing the SA1.  But the fact is, the SA1 does not display wind speed on its screen.  It can however we obtained from the app “Weatherseed” at any time. Weatherseed is required to set up the SA1.

All this being said I’ll start my shakedown of the Sainlogic Weather Station SA1 and I think it is pretty darn cool.
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GMKtek Intel N150 Mini PC Setup And Review

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GMKtek Intel N150 Mini PC Setup And Review

GMKtek Intel N150

GMKtek Intel N150

A while back I bought a GMKtek G3 which I reviewed here.  I put it in the guest room on the TV and it serves up as a Logitechmedia client to a nearby stereo.  Also, I use it as a Police Scanner with an RTL-SDR device.  Lastly, it can be used to stream anything in a browser such as Sling, Netflix, Hulu, etc.   Something happened recently which led me to purchase a new GMKtek Intel N150, G2 Plus Nucbox.

A reader CC’d me on an email to GMKtek.  This person was quite unhappy with their Nucbox.  Now I don’t mind when someone emails me and tells me their harrowing tales but I do mind when adding me to an email implies that I’ll write a bad review about that product for them.   I do so love writing negative reviews but I don’t have anything negative to say about GMKtek.  I contacted GMKtek and told them I had nothing to do with the email and that I didn’t know the person.   The good news is that they told me they’d investigate and try to help the author.  Right after that I have no idea what happened.  GMKtek treated me awesome though.

So while looking at the latest offerings I was kind of shocked to see an Intel N150 with 12 GB of onboard DDR5 RAM, and a 512 GB M.2 2242 SSD with Windows 11 pre-installed.  The price was amazing as well at just less than $150.  By comparison my first PC, a 486SX cost nearly $3000.
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Dummies Guide For Cariboulite SDR

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Dummies Guide For Cariboulite SDR

Cariboulite SDR

Cariboulite SDR

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.  Worst actually.  I own a LOT of Software Defined Radios.  And for some odd reason if I see something new and cool with SDR I like to shake it down and give it a try.   Even though the Cariboulite SDR Hat device for Raspberry Pi has been around a few years I decided to give it a try.

I am just going to say this up front.  This is a story of great hardware and abysmal software.  Your money seemingly just buys stress and grief.  Oh, it does work.  But the software is pretty awful and very difficult to configure.  It should not be this way for a $150 device.
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Abbree AR-318 Mini Mobile Radio Review

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Abbree AR-318 Mini Mobile Radio Review

Abbree AR-318

Abbree AR-318

If there is one thing I hate about my own blog is that I seldom have time to review things I purchase with my own money.  I almost always have 2 or 3 items either on the table or inbound at any given time.  The tech that I buy with my own cash gets pushed way down the list.  One such item is the Abbree AR-318 Mini Mobile Radio ($77).

I could spend a week researching the origins of this radio who makes it, and who rebrands it. It seems to be identical to the Baojie BJ-318.  Searching for information is not as easy as it should be though.  So far I haven’t uncovered a ton of usable information other than a product manual.
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GRECELL T200 240 Watt Portable Power Station Review

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GRECELL T200 240 Watt Portable Power Station Review

GRECELL GRECELL T200 240 Watt

GRECELL T200 240 Watt Portable Power Station

Every home should have a portable power station for emergencies or for just the convenience of keeping small electronic devices charged.  Phones, tablets, laptops, radios are among the many things that can be charged.  I was recently contacted by GRECELL and asked to review their GRECELL T200 240 Watt Portable Power Station.  Current pricing is $129 on Amazon with a $40 off coupon.  Unsure how long the coupon will be available. That means that now is the time to get one.

As luck would have it we experienced a winter storm a day or two after I received the T200. I had begun some endurance testing and then decided to top off the device for the storm.

I put it in our bedroom and sure enough the power went out.  As much as anything the light came in super handy.  It provided great light sufficient to find my phone.  From there I was able to check on loved ones.  Also I was able to walk around the home and inspect items outside such as fallen tree limbs.

The light was a great tool for inspecting around our property.
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Maono Wave T5 Wireless Lavalier Microphone Review

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Maono Wave T5 Wireless Lavalier Microphone Review

Maono Wave T5 Wireless Lavalier Microphone

Maono Wave T5 Wireless Lavalier Microphone

The company Maono recently sent me their PD300X Dynamic Microphone to review.   They also just provided me their Maono Wave T5 Wireless Lavalier microphone to review.  I was provided the PA3 Combo version. ($149.99)

A lavalier microphone is simply a mini, wearable microphone that allows the user mobility.

Obviously, if you are stationary at a desk or table or studio, and creating a video a big stationary Dynamic microphone is what you want to use.  But if you are mobile, and moving around, especially outdoors, a lavalier wireless microphone is exactly what you need.
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Maglula UpLULA Magazine Loader

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Maglula UpLULA Magazine Loader

Magula UpLULA

Magula UpLULA Magazine Loader

Anyone that has ever loaded a magazine will tell you that the last few rounds are almost impossible to push in due to spring tension.   I have cut enough fingers and gotten enough bruises that I finally broke down and bought a Maglula UpLULA.  The cost was approximately $28 or so.

What an amazing tool that I should have gotten ages ago.  My 9mm magazine was darn near impossible to push the last couple of rounds in.

So much so that I generally didn’t fully load the mag.

This will be an amazingly short blog as the device is just plain simple.

 

Loading

I took a quick but not entirely inclusive video showing how the loader works.  There are much better videos out there but this does show the ease of loading.

It would appear that I will never wreck my fingers again loading rounds again.

Should You Buy a Maglula UpLULA

If you’ve hurt your hands loading then the answer is a simple, YES.  Get a Maglula UpLULA just as quick as you can.   Ttttthhhhhhhheeeeee that’s all folks!

Allesin Motorized Blinds Review

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 Allesin Motorized Blinds Review

Allesin Motorized Blinds

Allesin Blinds

We bought our house about 4 years ago.  While the blinds inside were once very expensive and very nice, over time they became warped and dirty.  Some could be barely raised or lowered.  So imagine my surprise when I was contacted by Allesin to review their motorized blinds.

Alongside the Living/Dining/Kitchen area in our home are four windows with a double door in the middle.  The old Levelor blinds we had were looking kind of rough.  Also the size of the slats were large and stuck out in the room a bit giving the illusion that the space was much smaller.

Allesin allowed us (and by us, I mean my wife) to choose whatever style and color that we wanted.  We (my wife) chose the K130 Light Filtering Cellular shades.  Shortly after the exchange we were contact by Allesin and told they had an updated version of those shades and would I be willing to wait a bit for them.  I agreed and we were sent their new K230 shades.   As I write this I don’t see the K230 on their website yet.  So, I’m on the leading edge here with this blog.
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ACMER P3 2IN1 Laser Engraver Review

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ACMER P3 2IN1 Laser Engraver Review

ACMER P3 2IN1

ACMER P3 2IN1

Someone has FINALLY done it.  ACMER has made a FULL SIZED laser engraver that has both a 2 watt IR Laser and a 10 watt blue diode laser in a single module.  Enter the ACMER P3 2IN1.  My readers can use the code Johncode for 15% off at the official site.  That link is an affiliate link and it helps me keep this website afloat. 

Also it can be purchased from Amazon. My readers can use the code 208UHVU7 for 20% off.

I know you are probably thinking that there are several lasers on the market that have an IR and a blue diode, and you’d be right.  But, none of them have an engraving area of 400 x 390 mm.  Everything that is out there now is 130 x 130 mm or less.

Also, the desktop diode laser is only about 6 years old.  Everything prior to 2019 was probably a DIY hobbyist build.  My first laser in 2019 had end stops and really nothing else.   My how we have come a long way since then.  Laser engravers these days such as the ACMER P3 are in self contained enclosures with eye protection.  We have gone from Class 4 to Class 1 regarding safety.  Class 1 being the most safe.  The ACMER P3 has lights, air assist, a camera, and emergency features.  The bottom of the enclosure comes with a honeycomb panel and a bottom clean out drawer.  The bottom tray also keeps you from laser engraving the top of your wife’s table.
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