My Three Words for 2021: DO, LOVE, FORWARD.

DO, LOVE, FORWARD.

Something to do,

someone to love,

and something to look forward to.

#my3words #2021

Based on a quote from Alexander Chalmers, "The three grand essentials of happiness are something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for."

Cutting the Cord 2021: How to Live Stream Local TV Stations

I'll be cutting the cord in 2021 and am researching How to Live Stream Local TV Stations on my Android TV.

My local stations are ABC, CBS, NBC, 7 News, NECN, and Fox 25. I'd also like HGTV. ;-)

Here are the options that I am considering and will update this post as I learn more about each option.

Note: This is a working document with changes and updates being made as I do more research and talk with some of the providers. Please look at the provider's site to see CURRENT plans and rules. I need to determine if I would be getting LOCAL news with each package too.

I will probably be getting an Internet package from Xfinity.

1. Digital Antenna

ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox.

2. YouTube TV $64.99/month

ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, HGTV.

3. Hulu + Live TV $64.99/month

ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, HGTV.

4. Tubi TV FREE

Fox local depending on where you live

5. Philo $30.00/month

HGTV

6. Sling $30/month

HGTV

7. Pluto TV Free

CBSN, CNN, NBC News Now, Sky News

8. Locast Free

ABC, CBS, NBC, 7 News, and Fox 25.

9. Xfinity Flex + Limited Basic/Choice 10+ TV $30/month 

ABC, CBS, NBC, 7 News, NECN, Fox 25, and PBS.

Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to Choice Limited TV. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, Broadcast TV Fee (up to $19.45/mo.), Regional Sports Fee (up to $14.45/mo.) and other applicable charges extra. Pricing subject to change. Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. Limited Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. On Demand selections subject to charge indicated at time of purchase. Not all programming available in all areas. 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee applies to one month’s recurring service and standard installation charges up to $500. ©2021 Comcast. All rights reserved.

(Add 100 Mbps Internet - Total $54.99/month)

Limited time offer. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to Choice Double Play. Offer requires enrollment in both automatic payments and paperless billing. Must enroll within 30 days of placing the order. Without enrollment, the monthly service charge automatically increases by $10. The automatic payment and paperless billing discount is for a period of 24 months and will appear on the bill within 30 days of enrolling. If either automatic payments or paperless billing are subsequently cancelled during the 24-month term, or services are reduced to Xfinity TV Limited Basic service only, the $10 monthly discount will be removed automatically. Kit offer for kit serviceable locations only. Limit one kit per customer. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, Broadcast TV Fee (up to $19.45/mo.), Regional Sports Fee (up to $14.45/mo.) and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after the promo. After promo, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular rates apply. Comcast's monthly service charge for Choice Double Play is $89.99 and for upgrading from Performance Internet to Performance Pro Internet service is $15.00 more per month (subject to change). Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. TV: Limited Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. On Demand selections subject to charge indicated at time of purchase. Not all programming available in all areas. Internet: Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed visit www.xfinity.com/networkmanagement. 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee applies to one month’s recurring service and standard installation charges up to $500. ©2021 Comcast. All rights reserved.

10. Xfinity Flex + Preferred 220+ TV  $69/month

ABC, CBS, NBC, 7 News, NECN, Fox 25, HGTV, and PBS.

Limited time offer. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to Digital Preferred. Offer requires enrollment in both automatic payments and paperless billing. Must enroll within 30 days of placing the order. Without enrollment, the monthly service charge automatically increases by $10. The automatic payment and paperless billing discount is for a period of 24 months and will appear on the bill within 30 days of enrolling. If either automatic payments or paperless billing are subsequently cancelled during the 24-month term, or services are reduced to Xfinity TV Limited Basic service only, the $10 monthly discount will be removed automatically. Kit offer for kit serviceable locations only. Limit one kit per customer. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, Broadcast TV Fee (up to $19.45/mo.), Regional Sports Fee (up to $14.45/mo.) and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after the promo. After promo, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular rates apply. Comcast's monthly service charge for Digital Preferred, ranges based on area, from $76.70 to $85.20 (subject to change). Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. Limited Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. On Demand selections subject to charge indicated at time of purchase. Not all programming available in all areas. 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee applies to one month’s recurring service and standard installation charges up to $500. ©2021 Comcast. All rights reserved.

Additionally, I am researching the iOS news apps for the local stations. 

11. Don't Cut the Cord:

Xfinity Flex + Select + 205 + TV + Internet up to 300 Mbps $89.99/month

ABC, CBS, NBC, 7 News, NECN, Fox 25, HGTV, and PBS. Plus more including AMC, BBC America, BBC World News, Bravo, CNN, CNBC, ESPN, Food, NESN, SYFY, and lots more cable channels...

Requires xFi Gateway

Available for $14/mo at checkout.

• A modem + router in one that delivers our best home WiFi experience, xFi
• Reliably fast speeds, consistent coverage, 24/7 tech support
• FREE Advanced Security helps protect connected devices from online threats

First TV Box

$7.5/mo

Additional TV Box

$7.5/mo

Cloud DVR Service

Included when you get an X1 TV Box

Limited time offer. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to Select+. Offer requires enrollment in both automatic payments and paperless billing. Must enroll within 30 days of placing the order. Without enrollment, the monthly service charge automatically increases by $10. The automatic payment and paperless billing discount is for a period of 24 months and will appear on the bill within 30 days of enrolling. If either automatic payments or paperless billing are subsequently cancelled during the 24-month term, or services are reduced to Xfinity TV Limited Basic service only, the $10 monthly discount will be removed automatically. 2-year minimum term agreement required. Early termination fee applies if all Xfinity services are cancelled during the agreement term. Kit offer for kit serviceable locations only. Limit one kit per customer. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, Broadcast TV Fee (up to $19.45/mo.), Regional Sports Fee (up to $14.45/mo.) and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after the term agreement. After first 12 months, monthly service charge for Select+ increases to $109.99 per month for months 13-24. After term agreement, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular rates apply (subject to change). Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. TV: Limited Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. On Demand selections subject to charge indicated at time of purchase. Not all programming available in all areas. Internet: Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed visit www.xfinity.com/networkmanagement. 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee applies to one month’s recurring service and standard installation charges up to $500. ©2021 Comcast. All rights reserved.

89.99

14.00

7.50

7.50

------

118.99

=====

Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, Broadcast TV Fee (up to $19.45/mo.), Regional Sports Fee (up to $14.45/mo.) and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after the term agreement.

12. Fubo.tv $64.99/month

ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX 25, HGTV, and PBS.

Yale Appliance electric washer and dryer kit’s page needs an update:

I noticed that the Yale Appliance electric washer and dryer kit’s page needs an update:

 

It shows a 3 prong cord which is illegal. It should be updated to show a 4 prong cord. 

 

Also, the photo shows one washer hose, and the description says hose, but it should show 2 hoses and say ‘hoses’.

 

I let them know, and they are updating the image and the page.

The Google Pixel 5: First Impressions

The Google Pixel 5 

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS:

Charging

This smartphone can even be charged with the new Apple charging disk, AND it can charge other Qi-certified devices by placing them on it’s back. 

Photos

My initial testing showed the this smartphone takes excellent photos including the ability to easily take guided panoramas, and portrait photos.

Body

The phone body itself is cool, with glass front and a leather-like back.

Security

The smartphone uses fingerprint security, with the touchpoint on the back of the phone. At first it seems like a weird place to have that, but after a while it becomes second nature to use. 

SIZE

This smartphone is small, compared to the Apple Phone 11 Pro Max. At first I found the font too small o read, but you can adjust font size in the settings, and after I made it LARGE, I was able to read the green much easier.

APPS

Finding popular apps is easy, with Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, Zoom, Twitter, HBO Max, Spotify, Amazon Prime Video, NY Times, Facebook, Messenger, easily downloadable from the Google Play store.

VIDEO OUT

Although the phone has a USB C port on it, the USB C to HDMI adapter that I tried to use to stream video to an external projector did not work. The Google Pixel 5 does not support this.

LIVE on XFINITY MOBILE with 5G on FACEBOOK

Thanks to Xfinity Mobile for the SIM chip to test out Live streaming to Facebook over the local 5G network.



CINEMATIC PAN

Testing out the Google Pixel 5 Cinematic Pan with video stabilization, which gives you a smooth pan at half speed, and mutes the audio.

MacBook Pro 2020 M1 Review

MacBook Pro 2020 M1 Review. 

Testing MacBook Pro 2020 M1, streaming to Facebook Live with inbuilt webcam, using Chrome (Safari did not recognize the webcam), Xfinity 1 GB service via 3rd Generation Gateway, hardwired with CAT 7, two ring lights, LED light for background, Audio-Technica AT2020 USB microphone. Ethernet connected via Plugable Thunderbolt 3 Dock.

Video: Review MacBook Pro 2020 M1

EXTERNAL MONITOR

Original Apple Thunderbolt display connects via an Apple Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter. 

MacBook Pro 2020 M1 only supports two displays. In this configuration, that is the onboard display, and one external display.

PORTS

There are (2) USB C Thunderbolt 4 ports. Only Thunderbolt cables support external monitors and expansion docks. USB C cables, although they have the same interface, will not. 

SOFTWARE

All the software that I have tried works, except for the old Apple web development software, iWeb. 

KEYBOARD

An older USB keyboard does not work. I looked online, and many people are complaining about this. 

To fix this problem, I purchased an Apple Magic Keyboard with runs on Bluetooth, and is charged using a USB C cable. 

Well, I had problems with this keyboard too, but keeping it connected via the cable allowed it to work fine. 

WEBCAM

The webcam has excellent quality, rivaling many of the webcams that I have lying around here. Better though is the MEVO camera, that now has a BETA software version that allows using is as a wired webcam. 

IMAGE: MacBook Pro 2020 M1

XFER OLD -> NEW

Apple has made transferring everything from your old Mac to new easy. You just place them beside each other, on the same WiFi network, and, if you choose, everything is transferred over. It took about 5 hours for my transfer to complete. 

FAN NOISE

There is no fan noise. So far. At all. 

CPU ACTIVITY

On my old MacBook Air 2011, I have lots of CPU activity from run away processes. Which would in turn make the fan run constantly. I do not see any run away processes anymore. 

SECURITY

There is a fingerprint security button, that will read your fingerprint to unlock the computer, and make purchases with Safari. Making a purchase using Apple Pay is seamless. 

CONCLUSION

The MacBook Pro 2020 M1 is a glimpse into the future of the Apple Mac computer line. With it's new M1 chip, it will be able to run iOS programs. 

When configuring this computer online, the ordering system advised making upgrades at order time. So when you order, I would suggest buying the most memory and disk that  you can afford, so that you don't run into problems in the future. 

The MacBook Pro 2020 M1 is revelation in speed from what I was running. I would recommend it. 

UPDATE

Testing out the Google Pixel 5 Cinematic Pan with video stabilization, which gives you a smooth pan at half speed, and mutes the audio.

TESTING %G LIVE Streaming VIDEO to FACEBOOK

MEVO as WIRED WEBCAM with MacBook Pro 2020 M1

The COMPUTER is the device that CONNECTS to the WIRED internet with the MEVO in WEBCAM MODE.

The MEVO BOOST can not be used when the MEVO is in WEBCAM MODE. 

Here's the HOW TO:

Mevo Wired and Wireless Webcam Mode (Beta)

How To Easily Change the Sound Volume and Source in macOS Big Sur.

 How To Easily Change the Sound Volume and Source in macOS Big Sur.

Use the new Control Center option in the Menu Bar.

YouTube Video:

How To: Add Application menu actions to Apple Magic Keyboard.

How To: Add Application menu actions to Apple Magic Keyboard.

System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts

CLICK App Shortcuts

CLICK +

SELECT 'Application' from drop down menu.

TYPE 'Menu Title'

PRESS 'FUNCTION KEY'

In this example I added a the Safari menu item 'BACK' to 'F13'.

It worked!

How To: Mac OS Big Sur 11.0.1 - How to Connect Beats Flex Wireless Earphones

When I tried to use my Beats Flex Wireless Earphones on Mac OS Big Sur 11.0.1, System Preferences > Bluetooth told me that they were 'Not Connected.'

I had paired them, but they were not playing music.

Looking into it further, I found that I had to DOUBLE CLICK 'Beats Flex' in System Preferences > Sound to get it to work.

Problem: Mac OS Big Sur 11.0.1 - Your Mac was unable to communicate with your Apple Watch.

In Mac OS Big Sur 11.0.1, I can't get my MacBook Pro to recognize my Apple Watch.

Others are having the same problem.

System Preferences > Security and Privacy:

"Use your apple watch to unlock apps on your Mac."

"Your Mac was unable to communicate with your Apple Watch."

Problem: Big Sur Mac OS 11.0.1 USB Keyboard Not Recognized.

Problem: Big Sur Mac OS 11.0.1 USB Keyboard Not Recognized.

Solution: Buy Bluetooth Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad - US English - Silver.

https://amzn.to/3pTDQAw (affiliate link) and

How To Fix iPhone 11 Pro Max WiFi Connection Issues

iPhone 11 Pro Max has trouble connecting to, and staying connected to, known WiFi networks that other devices have to issue with.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250659429?page=1

Here's how to fix it based on the comments on the Apple Support Thread. It worked for me, I hope it works for you

First, Your iPhone has VPN. (Virtual Private Network)

That was news to me. I know you used to have to buy a subscription to a VPN service. Now, VPN is in SETTINGS.

Turn off VPN.

Turn off your router.

Turn off your iPhone.

Wait a minute.

Turn on the router.

Turn on the iPhone.

HOW TO: Use Xfinity xFi Gateway with Orbi Mesh Router and Satellites in AP (Access Point) Mode

Xfinity xFi Features with Orbi

I've had the Orbi mesh WiFi system for a long time, and up until now, the only way to use it on an Xfinity network, as far I knew, was to put the Xfinity Gateway into Bridge Mode. By doing that, you loose many of the neat Xfinity network management and virus protection features. 

But now I've found a way to Put the Netgear Orbi into AP (Access Point) mode. 

Note: You loose some Orbi features by doing this. 

From a web browser, you go to orbilogin.net and then go to ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Router/AP Mode, and SELECT the AP Mode radio button.

After that, Reboot the Gateway, then, from a computer connected the the Xfinity Gateway, via a hardwired cable, Go to 10.0.0.1 in a browser, Login to the Xfinity Admin page, and DISABLE Bridge Mode.

Then, reboot all your Orbi's. 

After a while everything will come back. If your speed does not improve, reboot the Gateway.

Results:

First test on Fast.com was 100 Mbps, and that still wasn't right, so I rebooted the Gateway, and when it came back up, I was at 270 Mbps down, 37 Mbps up. 

That was better. 

Now I had the Orbi's using AP (Access Point) mode. The Xfinity iPhone App worked too. I also had my laptop computer directly connected to the Xfinity Gateway.

I also found xfinity.com/myxfi which showed me:

Gateway Test:

Plan Speed: 1,000 Mbps

Speed to Gateway 1,074,3 Mbps

Upload Speed 41.5 Mbps

Latency 9 ms

Test Speed to this device:

Download speed: 477.1 Mbps

Upload Speed: 37.9 Mbps

Latency: 11 ms

Protocol: IPv6

Host: Boston, MA

Speed Test Lookup Device

My MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2011) Expected WiFi Speed is 150-500 Mbps.

I'm going to be getting a new MacBook Air, depending on what is released on November 10th. I think that will help. ;-)

Internet Cable:

I looked up speed ratings on Internet cables and found how the categories of cables are rated:

Category	Max speed transmission	Max bandwidth
Cat 5	100 Mbps	100 MHz
Cat 5e	1,000 Mbps	100 MHz
Cat 6	1,000 Mbps	250 MHz
Cat 6a	10,000 Mbps	500 MHz

I had a Cat 5 cable, so I switched to a "Cat 7", which is listed at 10,000 Mbps, and is shielded. I think Cat 6, rated at 1,000 Mbps would be enough.

Here's the Fast.com speed test, with the "Cat 7" cable:

Download speed: 280 Mbps

Upload Speed: 36 Mbps

Latency: 9 ms

Xfinity.com Test Speed to this device:

Download speed: 752.2 Mbps

Speed test from Xfinity iPhone App:

Speed test to iPhone 11 Pro Max: 

Download Speed 177.9 Mbps

At what speed and bandwidth can my Orbi system transmit data?

The Orbi WiFi System’s Tri-band WiFi technology includes a dedicated 5 GHz (866 Mbps) band for communication between an Orbi router and satellite. The remaining WiFi bands are used to connect devices to your Orbi system.

The performance you experience depends on the devices, WiFi interference, and the construction materials in your home. In most circumstances, you can expect the following speeds:

• Up to 400 Mbps for older devices that support 2.4 GHz and 256 QAM
• Up to 866 Mbps for newer devices that support 5 GHz and 802.11 ac

Conclusion:

I think I'm on the right track, and am glad to have the Xfinity network management featured available. 

Update:

I presented at a conference and got good upload and download speeds, 429/33.

Update 11/7/20:

Now getting download speeds of 270/450/510/540/260