The Harold Import Company (HIC) filter cone is the most basic way to make drip coffee. It’s not an automated process like an electric drip coffee maker but it takes a lot less space and is easier to clean. If you already have a hot water kettle, why buy an additional electric drip coffee maker?
PRODUCT LINK
HIC Red: https://amzn.to/3jFwzls
Porcelain: https://amzn.to/3aVgUdt
I bought this Sokani UHF Wireless Lavalier transmitter set after reading a number of positive reviews presenting it as a cheaper alternative to the similar Rode Wireless Go. I am experiencing intermittent and random sound glitches. I’m sharing my experiences in hopes to find out if other owners have experienced similar issues.
I contacted Amazon and they send me another unit and it too has the same sound drop-off glitch. With two identical units, I proceeded to rule out the cables and mic as the causes through a process of elimination. But in the end, I believe that BOTH units sent are defective. Asll the more reason to stay away from this brand.
PRODUCT LINK https://amzn.to/3nT3nYu
ATTEMPTS TO TROUBLESHOOT
• I fully charged both units before using them.
• I used the default Gain that was set on the units the first time I used them.
• The transmitter and the receiver were never more than 4m away from each-other while recording.
• I used the lav mics included in the set and also tried another brand of lav mic.
• I tested the lav mics directly connected to my camera but did not experience any drop out.
• I tried yelling directly into the mics but the sound did not cut off so the drop-out is not Peak triggered.
I put together a budget portable solar setup for under $200; pairing the Beleeb 50W solar panel and the Jackery 160 solar generator/battery. These two highly-rated solar products on Amazon but they were not compatible out of the box. I had to find the appropriate cable which wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be to track down the info, so I’m sharing it with you. As an added benefit, this is also one of the most compact 160W solar setup that you can easily fit in the back of a truck cab or even a backpack.
PRODUCT LINKS
Beleeb 50w solar panels: https://amzn.to/2IFwwYC
Jackery 160: https://amzn.to/3aggmAz
8mm to Anderson adapter cable: https://amzn.to/3aggmAz
8mm power cord: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_A4ifPf
Beleeb
Jackery 160
The Gloryfire Electronic Shooting Earmuffs are budget-oriented hearing protection that sport features found on EarPro that costs twice as much. Strikingly similar in physical appearance to Howard Light Impact Sports, their audio performance makes them more than just cheap rip-offs.
AMAZON LINK
Gloryfire Earmuffs: https://amzn.to/3qQWBp2
These two tripods are highly rated and competitively priced on Amazon. The Joilcan claims it can extend slightly longer and is rated to hold 6.4 more lbs. but is about $20 more expensive than the Phopik. As it turns out both tripods are actually 77” in max height. The Joilcan comes with a 3-inch extension tube that has to screwed on to achieve the claimed 80” length. The Phopik is slightly lighter and faster to deploy and stow. Both appear to be well made and a good value in a light to medium-weight tripod for most photo and vlogging use.
Phopik 77-inch tripod
Jolican 80-inch tripod
For the price and features, the Lumintop TOOL AA 2.0 is the best AA EDC flashlight currently available. I put it through some performance and abuse tests to see if it lives up to that opinion.
It has 4 modes: low, medium, high, strobe, and a 650 lumen turbo mode if equipped with a 14500 LiON battery. This can use a normal AA alkaline cell to provide an output of 400 lumens.
White/Silver: https://amzn.to/3lLKBSN
Black: https://amzn.to/3pJK8mj
Black with Lithium Battery Package: https://amzn.to/38Zo5C4
This is the best budget LED mini-lighting cube I’ve used, the Ulanzi VL49. It’s was even better than my old favorite, their WL49. Easy to use. Easy to charge. Easy to carry. And easy on the wallet.
BUY ON AMAZON https://amzn.to/34TTAuV
MPOW HP102A
• NRR 29dB
• AUX 3.5mm audio port
• Bluetooth
• Phone compatible with built-in mic
Inside this box you’ll find the earmuffs, a micro-USB cable, and 3.5mm stereo audio jack, instruction manual, and a marketing promo card, and a warranty card, it has a 2-year manufacturers warranty.
Now I purchased these with the hopes that they might be a replacement for my Howard Leights. I recently did a video comparing them to Walker’s Razors. I was looking for electronic ear-muffs that had blue-tooth connectivity so that I could hear any phone calls coming through at while at the range and be able to take a call without having to take off my ear pro.
And these are bluetooth enabled ear muffs and you can sync to a phone and make and receive calls. But sadly they don’t offer the electronic ambient sound enhancement technology of Howard Leights or Razor’s. They feature what I thought might be external microphone ports but sadly they aren’t.
I tested them using this 120 decibel vaccuum cleaner. They did indeed reduce the external sound by about 29 decibels. An NRR of 29 is better than Leights or Razors 23 decibels but far short of the NRR of 34 or 39 of some non-electronic passive protective earmuffs. But they are on par with 3M work-ears and other industrial grade hearing protection that also function as audio headphones.
But as audio headphones they fall short. They aren’t as loud as my audio or gaming headphones.
AMAZON LINKS
Twod Gun Socks green https://amzn.to/2Gj8q4R
Twod Gun Socks grey https://amzn.to/3mHYjG7
I created a detailed review and demonstration of function for this Mini-Bodycam. It takes some of the best footage of any sub $50 bodycam including at night but it’s hamstrung by some clunky controls. It’s too easy to accidentally turn-off the cam when you’re trying to start recording. And it’s impossible to confirm that it’s still recording without turning it off. I notified Lenofocus of my difficulties (and a possible manufacturing defect in the indicator light) and they’re interested in sending me another model to review.
PRO
• Good low-light and night capture
• Compact size
• Built-in magnetic mount
CON
• Shakey/Choppy footage
• Clunky user controls
• Weakly attached clip
AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK
Purchase this on Amazon through this link and help support my reviews:
Lenofocus stopped making this model and updated it with this teardrop body style:
https://youtu.be/az4EaQG9O6U
