TechJournal

Setting up a Mesh network with TP-Link AX Routers

2026-06-01T03:33:37.407-07:00

Our old router began disconnecting intermittently, which suggested it might be nearing the end of its life. But it can still be useful, especially when it’s no longer acting as the main unit. That was the case with an Archer AX55 that had become unreliable on its own but worked perfectly once paired as a satellite behind our new Archer AX73. In a mesh setup, the AX73 handles the heavy lifting while the AX55 simply extends coverage, and that’s a role it performs without complaint.

Why the Reset Was Mandatory

The AX55 would not join the mesh cleanly until it was fully reset. A quick tap of the button is not enough. The reset has to be done properly so the router wipes every old setting.

To reset it correctly, power the AX55 on and wait for the LEDs to settle. Press and hold the Reset button until every LED on the front panel lights up and stays solid for a few seconds. Only then release it. The router will reboot, and it needs a minute or two to finish starting up.

Preparing the AX73

All configuration was done through the browser, not the Tether app. Connect to the AX73’s Wi‑Fi, open the browser, and go to tplinkwifi.net. After logging in, open the EasyMesh section under the Advanced menu and make sure mesh is enabled. Leave that page open because you’ll return to it once the AX55 begins pairing.

Pairing the AX55 as a Satellite

Place the AX55 near the AX73 for the initial setup. After the reset, let it finish booting. The Power LED should go solid, the Wi‑Fi LEDs may blink or stay off at first, and the Internet LED will be off because no WAN cable is connected.

Start the pairing process from the AX73’s EasyMesh page by selecting the option to add a satellite device. Press the WPS or EasyMesh button on the AX73. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on the AX55.

This is where patience matters. The pairing process takes about three to five minutes. During that time the LEDs may blink, change patterns, or pause for long stretches. It is normal. Avoid pressing anything or rebooting either device. When the pairing completes, the Wi‑Fi LEDs on the AX55 settle into a steady pattern and the AX73’s control panel shows the AX55 as a connected satellite.

If it does not appear after five minutes, repeat the WPS sequence once more, slowly and cleanly.

Moving the AX55 to Its Final Location

Once the AX55 is listed as a satellite, unplug it and move it to the area where you need better coverage. After plugging it in, give it a couple of minutes to reconnect to the mesh. The LEDs will return to their normal pattern once the link is established.

We placed the AX55 on a window sill to get better line‑of‑sight coverage down the property. It works well as long as the spot stays dry. In winter, some window sills collect condensation underneath devices, and that moisture can damage the router. Direct sunlight is also worth avoiding because it can heat the unit more than expected. If the sill stays dry and shaded, it is a good location; otherwise, a shelf or hallway table is safer.

Why This Setup Works

The AX73 handles routing, DHCP, and all the demanding tasks. The AX55 only needs to act as a mesh node, which is far less stressful on the hardware. Its earlier intermittent disconnects do not matter in this role, and you get better coverage without buying a new satellite unit.

Mesh Networks are Convenient

Devices moving between the two routers only see the one SSID and seamlessly connect between the two. Terrific.

TP‑LINK Archer AX73 — A Real‑World Upgrade Review

2026-05-22T04:22:32.029-07:00

Our household of six (four kids aged 15–22, plus two adults) has always pushed our WiFi harder than most. For the past couple of years the TP‑LINK Archer AX55 handled everything we threw at it — streaming, gaming, online lectures, video calls — and no one ever complained about speed. But recently it began showing signs of failure: random dropouts, sluggish performance, and the occasional need for a reboot.

Unfortunately, when it finally became clear the AX55 was on its way out, we couldn’t find another one in town. The shelves had an AX72 and an AX73, both at the same price. With the kids in the middle of study season, we couldn’t risk a prolonged WiFi outage, so we took the “overkill” option and grabbed the Archer AX73.

Setup experience

Hardware setup is exactly what you want at 10pm when everyone is waiting for the internet to come back:

Plug in the power adapter
Connect an Ethernet cable from LAN1 on the ONT to the router’s WAN port
Enter your ISP’s VLAN ID
Add placeholder values for VOIP VLAN and IPTV VLAN (these vary by ISP)

Within minutes the network was up, broadcasting both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and every device in the house reconnected without drama.

Performance gains (real numbers, real walls)

This is where the AX73 surprised us. We expected stability. We did not expect a massive jump in raw throughput.

At the far end of the house — three internal drywall walls between the router and the device:

AX55: 14 Mbps
AX73: 391 Mbps

In the same room as the router:

AX55: 54 Mbps
AX73: 518 Mbps

These are not small improvements. They’re transformational. The AX73’s stronger radios, better beamforming, and higher‑end WiFi 6 implementation clearly make a difference in real‑world homes with long hallways and multiple walls.

Daily use

Once configured, the AX73 has been completely invisible — which is exactly what a router should be. No dropouts, no buffering, no “Dad, the WiFi’s broken again.”

Every device in the house — laptops, phones, consoles, smart TVs — connects instantly and stays connected. Even at peak evening load, latency stays low and throughput remains consistent.

What we liked

Huge performance jump over the AX55, especially through walls
Fast, painless setup with predictable VLAN configuration
Rock‑solid stability under heavy family use
Excellent value when priced the same as the AX72
Future‑proof enough for a gigabit fibre household

What could be better

It’s definitely more router than we strictly needed
No multi‑gig ports (still capped at 1 GbE)
The interface is simple, but some advanced settings are buried

Final thoughts

We didn’t plan to buy the Archer AX73. We bought it because the AX55 died at the worst possible time and the AX73 happened to be on the shelf at the right price. But after seeing the performance jump — especially at the far end of the house — we’re glad we ended up with it.

If you’re on fibre and want a router that can handle a busy household without breaking a sweat, the Archer AX73 is a superb upgrade. Even if it feels like overkill, the stability and speed gains make it worth it.

LOCATION	AX55	AX73
IN SAME ROOM	54MBPS	518 MBPS
FAR END OF HOUSE	14 MBPS	391 MBPS

How to configure an TP-LINK ARCHER AX73 when your ISP is Mercury Energy

2026-05-22T03:32:41.746-07:00

Our trusty TP-LINK AX55 WiFi Router started getting flakey over the last 2-3 weeks. 5 years, not bad. Time to get another before it crashes altogether.

We upgraded to the TP-LINK ARCHER AX73.

Our ISP is Mercury Energy.

And frustratingly, it turned out to be more difficult to set it up than expected.

That's because we were on the Enable VLAN-tagged network, which requires VLAN 10.

So once you have logged onto the configuration page on 192.168.0.1, navigate to the Network IPTV/VLAN page. And enter the values in the screenshot below, and then reboot the router. You should be done.

AX55

Soundcore Space One Review: Premium Features Without the Premium Price

2025-11-15T18:33:00.000-08:00

The Soundcore Space One headphones are a standout in the increasingly competitive world of budget-friendly wireless audio. Priced under $100, they offer a compelling mix of comfort, sound quality, and features that rival more expensive models. While not without a few hiccups—particularly in the app experience—the Space One delivers where it counts most: immersive sound, effective noise cancellation, and reliable connectivity.

Unboxing: What You Get

Inside the box, the Soundcore Space One comes with everything you need to get started:

- The headphones themselves

- A soft drawstring carrying pouch

- A USB-C charging cable

- A 3.5mm audio cable for wired listening

- A quick start guide and warranty documentation

The inclusion of a wired option is a thoughtful touch, especially for those who want to conserve battery or connect to devices without Bluetooth. The carrying pouch, while not rigid, is lightweight and serviceable for everyday transport.

Design and Comfort: Cushioned for the Long Haul

One of the most impressive aspects of the Space One is its comfort. The headband is generously padded, offering a soft cushion that evenly distributes pressure across the top of the head. The over-ear muffs are equally plush, with memory foam that conforms to your ears and creates a snug, yet breathable seal. This makes the headphones ideal for long listening sessions, whether you're working, commuting, or simply relaxing.

The build is primarily plastic, which helps keep the weight down to a manageable 259 grams. While it doesn’t have the heft or metal accents of premium models, the matte finish and clean lines give it a sleek, modern look.

Specs Snapshot

The Space One packs a solid set of specifications:

- Bluetooth 5.3 for stable wireless connectivity

- Support for SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs

- Up to 40 hours of battery life with ANC on, and 55 hours without

- Hybrid active noise cancellation

- Customizable EQ and hearing profile via the Soundcore app

- 3.5mm wired audio support

- USB-C charging (no audio over USB)

These specs position the Space One as a versatile option for both casual and more discerning listeners.

App Integration: Powerful but Imperfect

The Soundcore app is a major value-add, offering a suite of customization tools. One of its standout features is the ability to create a personalized hearing profile. This profile adjusts the headphone’s equalizer based on your unique hearing sensitivity, enhancing clarity and balance across frequencies. It’s a subtle but effective way to tailor the sound to your ears.

However, the app experience isn’t without flaws. Setting up an account proved frustrating, as the confirmation email with the verification code never arrived despite repeated attempts. This roadblock delayed access to key features and could be a dealbreaker for users who aren’t tech-savvy or patient.

Active Noise Cancellation: Quiet Confidence

The hybrid ANC system on the Space One performs admirably. It effectively reduces ambient noise, making it easier to focus in busy environments like cafes, offices, or public transit. With music or TV playing, voices and background chatter are reduced to a faint murmur—you can just barely hear someone speaking directly to you. While it may not match the silence of flagship ANC headphones, it’s more than sufficient for most everyday scenarios.

The headphones also offer transparency and normal modes, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings when needed.

Sound Quality: Surprisingly Stellar

When it comes to audio performance, the Space One punches well above its price point. The sound signature is warm and full-bodied, with a satisfying bass response that doesn’t overpower the mids or highs. Vocals are clear, instruments are well-separated, and the overall soundstage feels spacious.

To put it in perspective: if the Plantronics Voyager Focus 2 is a 10/10 in sound quality, the Space One earns a solid 10/10 as well. It delivers a similarly rich and balanced listening experience. Compared to more affordable options like the Skullcandy Mod earbuds, which might rate around a 6/10, the difference in clarity, depth, and dynamic range is immediately noticeable.

Whether you're streaming music, watching movies, or listening to podcasts, the Space One consistently impresses.

Call Quality: Clear on Both Ends

Call performance is another area where the Space One excels. Voices come through clearly, and the built-in microphones do a good job of isolating your voice from background noise. Whether you're taking a work call or chatting with friends, the experience is smooth and professional on both ends of the line.

Connectivity: Smooth and Reliable

Pairing the Space One with various devices was a breeze. It connected seamlessly to a Sony Bravia TV, a Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone, and a Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Convertible without any hiccups. The process was quick and intuitive, with no need for repeated attempts or troubleshooting.

Bluetooth connectivity remained rock-solid throughout testing. There were no noticeable dropouts or stutters, even when moving between rooms. The range also lived up to expectations, maintaining a stable connection up to 10 meters indoors.

Battery Life: Long-Lasting Performance

Battery life is another strong point. With ANC enabled, the headphones deliver up to 40 hours of playback—enough for several days of use without needing a recharge. Turn off ANC, and you can stretch that to around 55 hours. Fast charging via USB-C is supported, giving you several hours of playback from just a short top-up.

While the headphones don’t support audio over USB, the included 3.5mm cable ensures you’re never left without a listening option.

Final Thoughts: A Budget Gem

The Soundcore Space One is a standout in the sub-$100 headphone market. It combines comfort, sound quality, and noise cancellation in a package that feels far more premium than its price suggests. The generous cushioning on the headband and ear cups makes it ideal for long listening sessions, while the customizable EQ and hearing profile elevate the audio experience.

The only real drawback is the app setup process, which can be frustrating if the confirmation email doesn’t arrive. But once you’re in, the app unlocks a wealth of features that enhance the headphones’ value.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Pros:

- Excellent comfort with plush cushioning

- Strong ANC performance

- Customizable sound via hearing profile

- Great sound quality for the price

- Reliable Bluetooth connectivity and range

- Clear call quality

Cons:

- App setup can be problematic

- Plastic build feels less premium

- No audio over USB

If you're looking for a feature-rich, comfortable, and great-sounding pair of headphones without breaking the bank, the Soundcore Space One is a top-tier choice in its class.

How to find your wifi password on Windows 11

2025-10-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

Easy.

Open command prompt.
Type "netsh wlan show profiles" without quotes and a list of stored SSIDs will appear
Type "netsh wlan show profile name="[req'd SSID]" key=clear | find /I "Key Content"" without side quote marks and replacing the [req'd SSID] with the required SSID.
And the password should appear after the colon: "Key Content : [password]"

Lenovo X12 Detachable Gen 2 review

2024-11-12T02:32:00.000-08:00

I've been salivating over the Lenovo X12 Detachable Gen 2 ever since it had been announced at the beginning of the year.

This was a Intel Core Ultra machine with 16GB Ram and a 512 GB SSD.

Delivery took way longer than expected because Lenovo wrongly addressed the shipment.

Eventually it arrived.

Unboxing was fun. But powering up was a little scary as it wouldn't start until we removed the keyboard and did a hard reset.

The stylus took an AAAA battery which seemed a step back to the X1 Tablet Gen 1. I've been spoiled by the Precision Pen 2 which recharges via a USB-C slot at the other end of the stylus.

Reducing the screen size has reduced weight and made the tablet much easier to manage.

The kickstand pivots from the middle of the display's back. In the X1 Tablet Gen 1, the kickstand pivoted from the bottom edge of the display. I prefer the latter. It's more stable on your lap.

Novabench gave the new unit a score of 1159.

Paul Thurrott reviewed one and he was quite disparaging. But then he was getting it to edit video and compile computer programmes.

This unit is designed for road warriors looking for a laptop that is light, for working Microsoft 365 and notetaking with a stylus. That's my user scenario.

It's not intended for coders and videographers doing post-production work.

After using it for six months now, I have the following observations:

There are only two ports: 1 x Thunderbolt, 1 x USB-C. This can be a disadvantage when there are a lot of USB-A accessories. Fortunately, my PowerPoint clicker supports both USB-C and USB-A.
The smaller screen can be a disadvantage if you have poor eyesight.
Handwriting on a totally smooth screen feels unnatural but once immersed in a meeting, the awkwardness goes away but it does affect how neat your writing can be.
Battery life could be longer. A full day's work can be eeked out if Bluetooth and WiFi are turned off.
It supports Dell docking stations out of the box without needing to load drivers.
We built a new Wordpress website that included WooCommerce; and there was a considerable amount of content to load. This also meant using GIMP for a bit of image post-processing. The X12 did all the work without missing a beat.
Windows Hello and facial recognition works about 80% of the time. Fingerprint recognition works 100% of the time.
On the X1 Tablet Gen 1, the keyboard folio broke from constantly stressing it by repeatedly pulling it on and off. I haven't risked it with this unit, as it is light enough just by folding the keyboard over the back.
Had a colleague who bought a Remarkable 2. After a couple of months, I've noticed he no longer uses it and has reverted to a paper diary.

Zeppelin Chronograph Watch Review

2024-11-02T23:29:00.004-07:00

Zeppelin watches are produced by PointTec, a relatively new German watchmaker (founded in 1987).

Von Zeppelin was a German count and the founder of the company Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH, which between 1900 and 1938 designed and built nearly 100 airships with 27 different designs.

While the pioneering aviator has little to do with Zeppelin watches, the brand draws inspiration from its most famous aircraft to name the classic watches it produces.

Zeppelin watches are about classic designs on the outside but with updated and proven reliable mechanisms on the inside.

PointTec imports movements from Japan and Switzerland depending on each design, using Japanese movements for the more affordable models and Swiss movements for the higher-end ones.

The automatic mechanical models can integrate Swiss ETA or Miyota movements, while the quartz models usually use Ronda calibers, also of Swiss origin.

Generally, the models that offer the best value for money use Japanese Miyota calibers, which are much more affordable than Swiss ones but equally reliable.

In this way, the brand can offer competitive prices without compromising quality and performance.

2-clock stud starts and stops the stopwatch.

4-clock stud resets the stop watch.

Pros

This is a beautiful watch.

No frills, easy to use.

Economical.

Cons

None.

Rating: 9/10.

Citizen Promaster World-Time Chronograph Watch Review

2024-11-01T19:34:00.001-07:00

Just picked up a Citizen Promaster World-Time Chronograph.

When released in the mid-90s it retailed for USD 995.

You can find out how it works from here:

Pros:

If you're into international travel, trade, sport, or relatives overseas, it's fantastic for easily checking what the time is to whoever you want to contact.
The large LCD letters make it easy to read
Pressing the 4 o'clock post in Time and Calendar modes lights up the LCD for night reading.
Water resistant to 10 bar or 90 metres depth.
Nice looking sports/diving watch. I put a leather strap on it as I don't intend to go swimming with it.

Cons:

The location of the LCDs mean that the hands get in the way at certain times.
The seconds hand is black and you have to look hard for the red arrow head at the end to see it.
The slide rule bezel is a conceptually great idea but not intuitive. Keeping a smartphone calculator nearby is much more convenient, and there is no learning curve required.
Small numbers make using the bezel slide rule difficult too.

Overall score: 8/10.

How to fix a blacklisted IP address

2024-08-15T21:31:00.000-07:00

I'm involved in a charity that has a membership of some 400 members. Unfortunately, all their members holding email accounts with Gmail, Hotmail and Xtra have stopped receiving the society newsletter.

The newsletter is just a PDF attachment of about 700 KB.

Find out your IP address by going here: https://whatismyipaddress.com/
Check if your IP address is blacklisted by going here: https://mxtoolbox.com/SuperTool.aspx?action=blacklist%3a115.69.168.28&run=toolpage
If it is contact your ISP and ask them to whitelist it or assign you another IP address that isn't blacklisted.

ThinkPad X1 Gen 4 review

2024-07-19T02:43:00.000-07:00

My trusty ThinkPad X1 Tablet got clipped in the corner in an accident near the power switch and wouldn't start.

So I replaced it with a Thinkpad X1 Yoga Gen 4 for a mere USD 267 and it arrived 5 days later.

Nice. It came with 16 GB of RAM, an i5 CPU and a 256 GB NVme SSD.

Stylus

The big worry was that it wouldn't be compatible with my Lenovo Precision Pen 2. Lenovo's own compatibility article suggested that I would need an Active Pen 2.

Another article was wondering about it and then later reported they'd picked an AP2 and it worked fine.

Tempted to purchase an AP2, I held back and thought I'd make do with the built-in pen if the PP2 didn't work. I was relieved to find that the PP2 worked fine. Only trouble is, there's nowhere to stow it.

Lenovo has a pen holder that can be slipped into a USB-A slot.

Ports

It comes with 2 USB-C ports, a couple of USB-A ports, an HDMI port it had everything I needed. But according to other reviews online, it should have two USB-C ports so this must be a model variant that has a lower specification.

Operating System

It came with Win 10 and the Win 11 upgrade went smoothly except for my misunderstanding of what it meant by a "current" password.

Screen Protector

Having written on screens since I had an X60 Tablet, a screen protector is a useful pre-caution against stylus scratches. All good.

Performance

On Novabench it returned the following scores.

CPU: 710
GPU: 19
Mem: 251
Storage: 267

Total: 1,247

cf 759 for the X1 Tablet Gen 1, and a X1 Yoga Gen 3 i7 I bought for my daughter back in May 2023, and it scored 1,161.

A nice performance jump.

Conclusion (4/5)

The only thing to make this Windows tablet perfect would be

Calligraphic pens in OneNote and Office 365 instead of just ballpoint pen.
A combined mic/headphone jack
The fingerprint sensor would be better located near the edge of the base so that it could be more easily located when folded into Tablet mode.
A 9.5mm diameter stylus would be heavenly, the current stylus is just too thin to use for more than a few minutes.

Update

September 3, 2024: The laptop started intermittently saying it couldn't recognise the battery. Updating the BIOS and battery drivers didn't work. Today, I replaced the battery for USD 75. Problem solved.

How to fix a loose Lamy Safari pen cap

2024-05-18T04:26:00.000-07:00

The Lamy Safari fountain pen is a great pen but I my cap came loose and didn't "click" on any more. When it's loose like that the pen tip isn't sealed in the cap and dries out, causing clogging issues and preventing good ink flow. Most frustrating.

This video has a great fix:

I tried it. It's way better than it was but still not as good as new.

Why I didn't buy a Remarkable 2 Tablet or equivalent

2024-04-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

Remarkable 2

The other day I attended a board meeting and one of the board members had bought a Remarkable 2.

I love writing so I've always been interested in using handwriting recognition so that I wouldn't have to scan what I'm writing and then process it through OCR so that my notes can be searchable.

My Thinkpad X1 Tablet Gen 1 is a full Windows tablet with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. Even though it was released way back in 2016, its still fast enough to to run MS Office applications.

Thinkpad X1 Tablet

I use a bible study program called Logos with over 20GB of e-Books and once indexed all searches are really fast.

By supporting all MS Office programs I enjoy using OneNote for notetaking and any inked notes are automatically searchable. Terrific.

When the Remarkable 2 (R2) came out, I thought their aesthetic design was really attractive. Clean, and thin. And the software looked uncluttered and beautiful.

But as I investigated it I struggled to see how it could be integrated into my workflow.

The R2 supports PDF documents and any text can be pre-processed. Any inked PDFs can be parsed through an OCR engine but it's a manual process. OneNote doesn't require that. Just launch a search query and it will find the handwritten word.

Because it doesn't support Windows-compatible programs it means if I need to use any of them, it would mean taking another device. I know, I could use a smartphone to process emails and messages but I find a smartphone screen too small and restrictive.

If I have to read an A4-sized document attached to an email, it's painful having to slide the document from side to side to be able to read it.

But that's the point of the R2, to isolate the user from distraction.

Not for me. My mind is divergent. I see connections and I want to look them up and investigate them.

So as I listened to my colleague wax lyrical about how he used his Remarkable 2, he also mentioned how he had yet to figure out how to integrate it into his daily workflow.

WooCommerce makes it easy for e-commerce beginners

2024-04-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

WooCommerce turns out to be a really easy way to add an e-commerce feature to a WordPress website. This website is for a charity and the volunteers have limited technological abilities.

However recent events in their world motivated them to start carrying merchandise to help support their cause.

WooCommerce's huge number of installed users and the fact that it is an open source resource that costs nothing except time to implement persuaded them to choose WooCommerce.

It took about the better part of the day to do it, fortunately there were walkthrough videos on Youtube that provided confidence like this one.

Before you get started you'll need your government identification number for your organization, your bank account numbers and a certificate of registration from your government.

Along the way, you'll need to write down any usernames and passwords you create.

How to hide category entries in a WooCommerce product page

2024-04-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

Access to WooCommerce Product Catalog

WooCommerce allows you to customize how your products are displayed on a Shop page. You can display the WooCommerce Shop page in a unique manner.

For this, go to Appearance > Customize > WooCommerce.

Step 2: Customize category display modes

After accessing the Product Catalog, you can display only one category, the category with products or only products.

There are three customization modes as follows:

Show products: All the products will be listed
Show categories: All the categories will be listed
Show categories and products: Both products and categories will be listed.

Step 3: Save changes

Once customizing, click Publish to save changes.

Making an old WordPress website mobile responsive

2024-04-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

Before

After

There's a charity we're involved with that has an old website. It runs off the smell of an oily rag and was built by a volunteer many years ago.

But these days over 60% of people are accessing websites on a phone. But the site isn't mobile responsive and elements of it are tiny (i.e. illegible) when viewed on a small screen.

The thought of rebuilding a new site was daunting.

Here's a big shout out for a WordPress plugin, WPTouch which creates a mobile responsive theme from the guts of the old site.

On a phone, it has a couple of buttons at the bottom of the page to select the mobile or desktop views.

It's really easy to use. Just search for the plugin, install it, activate it and voila!

There are some configuration options but we haven't touched those.

Highly recommended.

Samsung S21 Ultra 5G FAQ

2024-03-20T00:26:00.000-07:00

Q. I used to own a Note series Samsung Galaxy phone. It used to have a silo where the S-Pen was recharged. The S21 Ultra 5G doesn't have a silo. How do you recharge the S-Pen?

A. It doesn't need to be "charged", per se. Since this pen doesn't use Bluetooth it doesn't have a rechargeable battery. What it does have is an inductive coil near the tip, which draws power from the electromagnetic field emanating from the behind the screen of your phone. In other words, the pen is being "charged" with just enough power to do what it needs to do whenever it's near your phone screen.
Q. What can't you do with the S21 S-Pen compared to the Note series S-Pen?

A. The S Pen integration with the Galaxy S21 Ultra lacks Bluetooth support, which means you won't get the same gesture feature that allows you to do things like control slideshows or skip songs by flicking the stylus like a magic wand -- for that look for the S Pen Pro. Any of the remote features will not work on the Galaxy S21 Ultra. It can basically only be used as a stylus. Another downside to the lack of Bluetooth support is that you won't receive any alerts if you leave the S Pen behind. So if you walk away from the stylus, your phone won't buzz and notify you that the two are parted.
Q. The pen makes stray marks when the nib is a centimeter away from the screen, especially when lifting the pen up. Also a single tap on the onscreen keyboard resulted in multiple activations in quick succession, instead of a single tap. I thought it was a sensitivity issue at first, but it wasn't. The "air marking" wasn't happening consistently. It was definitely a pen hardware problem. How do I fix this?

A. Give the pen a whack against your hand a few times. Surprisingly, that will often fix it. No more glitching. Maybe the nib was too tight straight out of the factory and needed to be loosened up. Wacom pen nibs do normally have a slight "jiggle" to work properly.
Q. My S-Pen keeps falling out of the Samsung silicone case and also an after-market case that is supposed to sport an S-Pen pocket on the side. How do I stop my S-Pen falling out as I'm worried about losing it?

A. The S-Pen cross-section is not completely round. it is oval. Just make sure you insert your pen flat side down and this will cause you to have to force it slightly to get it in. When you hear the case click then it is firmly held inside the pocket and it won't fall out.

As I get used to the S21 Ultra, and find things I didn't know before, I'll add them here.

How to connect to your printer when it says that your "network name is no longer available"

2024-03-19T00:46:00.000-07:00

Make sure you have administrator privileges on your account. Otherwise go find a user who is registered on your computer with those privileges.

Launch the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc). Go to the following section: Administrative Templates → Printers → Configure RPC connection settings. Select “RPC over named pipes” from the dropdown, and click OK.

Using an avatar to do 1-minute blogs

2024-02-18T00:55:00.000-08:00

In a marketing department that is short on bandwidth, finding a way to keep up a good cadence of publications for content marketing is still important.

Videos are an important part of online marketing. It is an effective way to convey a message and done well, it can be very engaging.

But video production is time consuming! Multiple takes are required to eliminate ums and uhs, and to ensure that the speaker's eyes are focused on the camera.

A 1-minute video can take half a day to write, shoot and produce.

This is where AI Avatars can be really useful.

You can create a life-like avatar with a highly accurate voice with a five minute video of yourself. And you've got yourself a re-usable avatar: All for about USD 140 a month.

Then you just feed it a couple of hundred words, and you're done.

I used Heygen. Pretty sharp. Give it a go.

Lenovo Precision Pen 2: impressions

2023-05-06T03:53:00.006-07:00

I have a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet Gen 1.

It comes with a Lenovo Active Pen that has a AAAA battery inside and uses Wacom's AES technology.

Unfortunately it intermittently stops working.

There are many theories as to why this might be, and a number of corresponding fixes have been put forward.

I have tried them all and some have worked for a short time. But none have worked permanently.

Quite frustrating when note-taking during meetings.

I bought a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 3 laptop which comes with a touchscreen and a stylus.

I tried this pen on the Tablet and I was pleased to see it worked.

That suggested that there was nothing wrong with the tablet. The problem lay in the tablet's pen.

I decided to buy a different pen and settled on the Lenovo Precision Pen 2 (PP2).

This Pen is a similar size as an ordinary pencil and it has a hexagonal cross-section.

Both qualities make it easy to hold unlike the Yoga's pen, which is round and very thin. It is literally tiresome to use beyond a few minutes.

The PP2 has an internal battery that cannot be easily replaced. It is recharged via a USB-C port at the other end of the pen. It is protected from dust and debris by a flexible flap. I doubt that it is waterproof.

A LED light on the barrel shines orange while charging and changes to white when the pen is fully charged.

Recharging overnight seems to fully charge it and the battery lasts for days.

For devices that support it, the pen can be tilted and different pencil-like effects can be made in drawing applications.

I only use OneNote which doesn't support this kind of stuff. OneNote only gives a ballpoint-like inking experience.

I wish it supported a more calligraphic experience.

The PP2 has been in use for a couple of months now and it has worked flawlessly.

Highly recommended.

How to fix email signature images changing size

2023-03-22T19:39:00.007-07:00

Sometimes the image sizes in your email signatures change size even though you changed the size properties of the image before you pasted it in.

In my case, the head and shoulders shot would occasionally take up the full frame and the rest of the time it was the right size (1" tall, 4:3 portrait orientation).

The most common reason for email signature images changing in size is because the image resolution (in DPI) is not set to 72 DPI, or 96 DPI for older versions of Outlook (2016 and earlier).

If your DPI settings are too high, you’ll likely end up with an enlarged image in your email signature. This happens because Microsoft Outlook and Apple Mail scale images using the DPI value.

To fix this, you will need to use an image processing tool such as Photoshop to change the DPI setting on the image.

How to Check the DPI of Your Images

The simplest way to check the DPI of an image in Windows is to right click on the image > Properties > Details tab, and check the DPI value.

Note: This method only works on some image types and will not work on PNG images.

You can also check and also change the DPI of an image using almost any image processing software, such as Photoshop.

How to Change the DPI of an Image Using Photoshop

Step 1

Open your image in Photoshop.

Step 2

Click on Image > Image Size.

Step 3

In the Resolution field, enter the new DPI value that you want to use:

96 DPI for older versions of Outlook (2016 and earlier)

72 DPI for all other email clients

Ensure that the measurement is set to “Pixels/Inch” and Resample: Automatic is ticked.

Step 4

Save your image and use it in your email signature.

Now that the DPI has been changed, this should stop it from scaling up in size.

Done!

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Pro Individual 16: First impressions

2023-02-28T23:35:00.002-08:00

Dragon NaturallySpeaking has released its first new version since Microsoft acquired Nuance for USD 19 billion in 2021.

Nuance's speech recognition technology also powers Apple's Siri.

I've only had it for about half an hour but here are my first impressions:

The previous version is removed upon installation.
It loads very quickly, much quicker than version 15.
The pop-up control menu is much smaller and doesn't get in the way as much. Nuance has consolidated all the drop-down menus into one.
Accuracy seems to be better as well. And it wasn't that bad before. So far I haven't had to correct anything in this blog post.
It supports Microsoft Teams, Office 2021 and Windows 11.
Unfortunately, Dragon still does not support OneNote.

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End

How to get a PIN to connect a bluetooth device when Windows doesn't give you one

2023-02-12T15:32:00.001-08:00

When you want to pair a device to a Windows device, the Windows device is supposed to give you a random PIN that you can enter on the device.

But if you don't do it quickly enough it disappears and you start again. Do that a couple of times and then it just opens up with an input box and you're supposed to enter a PIN that comes with the device.

What if you don't have a PIN and its unobtainable?

The answer is to delete the login attempt counts so that you can start again from scratch through the Registry Editor.

Here's the fix:

Open Windows-R
Enter "regedit" into the input box and press enter.
Click through to the following registry key: Computer\HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Bluetooth\ExceptionDB\Addrs\[xxxx]
[xxxx] means it is a random set of numbers and letters.
Right click it and click delete
When the confirmation dialog comes up, click YES

You're done.

As always be careful, back up your registry beforehand if you're not confident about editing your registry.

Opening Office file automatically in the desktop app from links

2023-02-09T15:32:00.001-08:00

These days its quite common to received links to MS Office files stored on SharePoint or Onedrive rather than as a complete file attachment.

A great feature because it means there are less versions of the file floating amongst collaborators and things can get muddled.

But when I click the link I get a draft web page version that can't be edited.

So how to automatically open the file in the desktop app?

The fix: Change the link handling setting in Outlook.

Click File
Click Options
Click Advanced
Scroll down to Link Handling
Just check the following box.

Easy.

Arsenal 2 intelligent camera assistant handheld mode on a Canon EOS 80D

2022-12-22T02:45:00.001-08:00

Mobile phone manufacturer's have been pouring resources into their cameras. The limitations of the physics of a slim, short focal length camera are high yet phone buyers want quality images that rival a full sized camera with interchangeable lenses.

Phone manufacturers have been trying to make up the performance gap with fancy image processing software.

And they've been pretty successful. By building Photoshop type filters and intelligent algorithms to automatically select which ones to apply, the best smartphones have created some spectacular images.

This is the field of computational photography.

Of course, conventional camera users can do it through a workflow on a laptop or desktop computer and an image manipulation application like Photoshop or Gimp.

But its time intensive and you have to know what you're doing.

Not everyone has the time nor patience to get through the learning curve.

For one reason or another, the incumbent interchangeable lens camera manufacturers led by Canon and Nikon have lagged behind in the field of computational photography.

Perhaps the traditional interchangeable lens camera user has a strong DIY streak. Perhaps Canon and Nikon are struggling to accept change too. Or perhaps they feel they lack the resources to go toe to toe with Samsung or Apple?

Whatever the reason, they are behind.

Enter, the Arsenal 2, a kickstarter project which hopes to bring computational photography to conventional interchangeable lens cameras.

The promotional video is pretty slick!

So I was excited to receive my unit and put it through its paces.

The Arsenal 2 is meant to be able to:

Stack multiple images to maximize depth of field or to do high dynamic range shots.
Do time lapse photography.
Enhance color depth
Enhance night photography
Remove people from photographed scenery

A lot of this functionality requires the camera to be tripod mounted and activated remotely using a phone app. But it does have a handheld mode which doesn't need the phone app.

In handheld mode, users are instructed to put the camera into aperture priority mode, and to turn off any WiFi functionality, then the unit is supposed to select the best parameters to maximize color depth and minimize blur.

But unfortunately when I tried it out, it selected ISO 100 no matter what lighting conditions. Of course, even with the aperture opened as widely as possible, the Arsenal would select long exposure times, resulting in blurry images from camera shake.

See:

I dropped a line into Arsenal's support crew. They were very responsive and emailed back within a day.

After sending them all the details, including the above video, they came back with the following statement:

I checked in with QA and Dev and they have identified an issue with the Handheld Mode on some cameras and are working on a fix for that. I am sorry for any inconvenience. I will be happy to follow up with you as soon as that fix in place. Have you had a chance to try the other features of the app? Is everything working for you with those?

That's what I'm going to do next.

Lenovo X13 Yoga Gen 3 impressions

2022-12-09T20:39:00.008-08:00

Before you get too excited, this isn't a professional "Notebook Check" review complete with minute benchmarks and detailed descriptions of every detail.

This is an exercise in "impressionism" not "realism" :-)

So with those introductory remarks, here are my thoughts:

The keyboard is golden: This is probably one of the top three reasons why people buy ThinkPads.
The screen is bright and clear: Probably another of the one of the top three reasons why people buy ThinkPads.
The Professional ThinkPad look: Probably another one of the top three reasons why people buy ThinkPads. The look is a design classic and like all classical design, IMO it doesn't age.
It's comparatively heavy: I've come from an ThinkPad X1 Tablet Gen 1 and I used it mostly without the keyboard attached. The X13 Yoga is basically a laptop that allows the keyboard to fold over so that it can be used as a tablet. This means its quite a lot heavier and fatigue sets in after 5-10 minutes of use. I find sitting on a couch using it tiresome and I gravitate to a table or desk top for relief.
It's quick enough for most office workers: I wouldn't call it blazingly fast but its occasional slowness could be due to a problem with the internet speeds in our office. But it handles video playback, MS Office work, MS Teams, and MS Dynamics without any hiccups.
The camera is pretty good. To my eye, again this is subjective, it seems to me to be pretty clear and plenty good enough for Teams video meetings.
The stylus is too skinny: For me, and I think my hands are average sized, then its too narrow and I find it uncomfortable to use after 5-10 minutes. Fortunately other pens Lenovo sells as accessories are compatible too, such as, the pen that came with the X1 Tablet.
Not a lot of ports: There's a couple of USB-C ports, a couple of USB 3.1 ports and a HDMI port. If you need to connect to an external keyboard then there's one USB port used up already. Then a noise cancelling headset might also want to use up another port. This means you might be shopping for a docking station too.
Good value: OK, I admit this is all in the eye of the beholder. But IMO, at USD 1,300 for an i7, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, it's pretty good value.

In summary, another solid offering from Lenovo.

Now my biggest worry is what will happen to Lenovo if the Chinese government continues with its totalitarian ways and starts WW3 over its expansionist plans beginning with the South China Sea?