A list of my articles featured on SmallNetBuilder from 2012-8/2013!
2013 Aug 5 - SmallNetBuilder
Buffalo LinkStation 420 NAS Reviewed
I simply took a look at the hardware and performance of the Buffalo Linkstation 420. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out Buffalo LinkStation 420 NAS Reviewed!
2013 Jul 29 - SmallNetBuilder
TRENDnet TEW-811DRU AC1200 Dual Band Wireless Router Reviewed
I analyzed the hardware and performance aspects of the TRENDnet TEW-811DRU AC1200 Dual Band Wireless Router. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check outTRENDnet TEW-811DRU AC1200 Dual Band Wireless Router Reviewed!
2013 Jul 19 - SmallNetBuilder
D-Link DCS-5020L Pan/Tilt Cloud Camera Reviewed
I took a look at the D-Link DCS-5020L Pan/Tilt Cloud Camera. As far as network cameras go, it's had the best night vision that we've looked at to date, and it's only $120. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out D-Link DCS-5020L Pan/Tilt Cloud Camera Reviewed!
2013 Jul 9 - SmallNetBuilder
Ubiquiti UAP-AC Access Point Reviewed
I analyzed the hardware performance of the Ubiquiti UAP-AC Access Point. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out Ubiquiti UAP-AC Access Point Reviewed!
2013 Jun 10 - SmallNetBuilder
Tronsmart T428 Android TV Stick Reviewed
I tested out the media player features of the Tronsmart T428 Android TV stick, putting it up against Raspbmc and the NAS-as-HTPC options. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out Tronsmart T428 Android TV Stick Reviewed!
2013 Jun 5 - SmallNetBuilder
ASUS Router Feature Review
I simply took a look at the firmware/admin interface features of ASUS' line of routers. Nothing terribly exciting, just a chance to see the UI before you buy. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out ASUS Router Feature Review!
2013 May 27- SmallNetBuilder
Seagate Central Reviewed
The Seagate Central is a low budget NAS aimed at the non-power user who doesn't care to know what a NAS is. This might be a good NAS for your parents or non-tech savvy friends if they have no current backup solution. It also has media server capabilities and remote access without router configuration. Read more atSeagate Central Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2013 May 9 - SmallNetBuilder
Belkin NetCam HD Wi-Fi Camera with Night Vision Reviewed
I was given a Belkin NetCam HD Camera with Night Vision to review. This is a cloud only camera with 8 IR LEDs for night vision. With the large amount of LEDs, night vision was actually very disappointing. Motion detection was ok, but it was very basic. On the up side, the camera is very cheap. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out Belkin NetCam HD Wi-Fi Camera with Night Vision Reviewed!
2013 April 11 - SmallNetBuilder
ioSafe N2 NAS Reviewed
I have to admit that this may just have been my most interesting review to do ever. I got to take the ioSafe N2 fireproof and waterproof NAS and see if it could live up to the claims. In this case tossing it in a hot fire for 30 minutes and then submerging it in water for 3 days. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out the burning and flooding of the ioSafe N2 NAS.
2013 Apr 9 - SmallNetBuilder
QNAP TS-869 Pro NAS Reviewed
I did a basic review and performance analysis of the QNAP TS-869 Pro. Nothing terribly exciting in this review, but if you need an 8-bay NAS then you might want to read about it. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out QNAP TS-869 Pro NAS Reviewed!
2013 Mar 13 - SmallNetBuilder
Make Your Own Raspberry Pi NAS
As part of part of the ongoing look at the Raspberry Pi, I "built" a NAS out of the Raspberry Pi to see how it could stack up against readymade NAS' in terms of performance and features. The Raspberry Pi wasn't built to be a high throughput device, but it did ok. Read more at Make Your Own Raspberry Pi NAS on SmallNetBuilder.
2013 Feb 28 - SmallNetBuilder
Can A QNAP NAS Replace Your HTPC?
As part of part of the ongoing "as an HTPC" series, I took a look at the QNAP HD Station, which is another HDMI driven media solution by a NAS manufacturer. As far as the execution goes, QNAP is the best solution for a NAS as an HTPC so far, outperforming the competitors. It still begs the question, would you pay $600+ for diskless NAS to use it with dual duties as an HTPC? For $600 plus the cost of drives you could build a smokin' HTPC and have some money left over for a smaller NAS. Read more at Can A QNAP NAS Replace Your HTPC? on SmallNetBuilder.
2013 Feb 19 - SmallNetBuilder
Raspbmc Reviewed
As part of part of the ongoing "as an HTPC" series, I took a look at Raspbmc on the $35 Raspberry Pi. Raspbmc is a very well executed ARM version of XMBC by Sam Nazarko. It's been the best run of "as an HTPC" that I've done to date. XMBC runs really well on it despite the inexpensive cost of the board. Read more at Raspbmc Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2013 Feb 4 - SmallNetBuilder
Seagate Wireless Plus Reviewed
For this review I took a look at the Seagate Wireless Plus. The Wireless Plus is a follow-up product to the GoFlex Satellite and competing product to products such as the AirStash. It's a wireless hard drive, media server, access point and many other things all packed in to one tiny case. It does DLNA, AirPlay and much more. A cool little device. Read more at Seagate Wireless Plus Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2013 Jan 24 - SmallNetBuilder
Can An ASUSTOR NAS Replace Your HTPC?
For this review I took a look at the HTPC features of the new ASUSTOR AS-604T NAS. I found that in some cases it was a little better executed than using a Thecus NAS as an HTPC, but there were still some elements that needed polishing. Read more at Can An ASUSTOR NAS Replace Your HTPC? on SmallNetBuilder.
2013 Jan 18 - SmallNetBuilder
Iomega ix4-300d StorCenter Network Storage Reviewed
For this review I took a look at the Iomega ix4-300d NAS. Read more at Iomega ix4-300d StorCenter Network Storage Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Dec 26 - SmallNetBuilder
ASUSWRT-Merlin Reviewed
For this review I took a look at the Merlin version of the ASUS router firmware. Whereas other firmwares such as Tomato and DD-WRT are completely different firmwares, Merlin builds on the ASUS OEM version, using the same source code. This gives your OEM stability with additional alternative firmware features. Read more at ASUSWRT-Merlin Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Dec 10 - SmallNetBuilder
Ooma Telo, Linx and HD2 Handset Reviewed
I had a chance to review the Ooma Telo, Linx and HD2 handset. The Ooma service was great for me in the metro area, but it got a little less great when I called rural areas. Overall I liked it. Read more at Ooma Telo, Linx and HD2 Handset Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Nov 30 - SmallNetBuilder
D-Link DCS-2310L Outdoor HD Cloud Camera Reviewed
I had a chance to review the D-Link DCS-2310L. Overall I liked the camera, but it was slightly expensive for what you get, probably because of the mydlink cloud capabilities. The night vision was also not as good as I hoped, especially for an outdoor camera. Read more at D-Link DCS-2310L Outdoor HD Cloud Camera Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Nov 7 - SmallNetBuilder
Can A Thecus NAS replace your HTPC?
I took a look at the new Local Display module for Thecus NAS. The Local Display module allows Thecus NAS' to display output to a TV via the HDMI port. I approached the article with the question of whether it could replace an HTPC in mind. Read more at Can A Thecus NAS replace your HTPC? on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Oct 26 - SmallNetBuilder
How to Crack WPA / WPA2 (2012)
I was asked to update Brandon Teska's excellent 2008 SmallNetBuilder article on cracking WPA / WPA2. I had dabbled a little with wireless security before, but writing the article really opened up my eyes to WPA2 security and password security in general. It is well worth a read. Read more at How to Crack WPA / WPA2 (2012) on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Oct 1 - SmallNetBuilder
QNAP TS-569 Pro Turbo NAS Reviewed
The QNAP TS-569 Pro has outstanding performance due to its dual-core Intel D2700 processor, but you pay dearly for it. Read more at QNAP TS-569 Pro Turbo NAS Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Sep 24 - SmallNetBuilder
Actiontec PWR500 and TRENDnet TPL-406E2K Powerline Adapters Reviewed
The perceived weakness of these Qualcomm Atheros-based Actiontec PWR500 and TRENDnet TPL-406E2K powerline adapters are that they are 500 Mbps adapters, yet only have a 10/100 ethernet port. In reality they performed better than their counterparts once distance between them increased. All powerline marketing numbers are inflated compared to actual throughput anyway. Read more at Actiontec PWR500 and TRENDnet TPL-406E2K Powerline Adapters Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Sep 18 - SmallNetBuilder
Thecus N5550 NAS Server Reviewed
The Thecus N5550 NAS Server is a high performance 5 bay NAS that is very budget friendly. Read more at Thecus N5550 NAS Server Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Sep 10 - SmallNetBuilder
QNAP TS-269 Pro NAS Reviewed
The QNAP TS-269 Pro has outstanding performance due to its dual-core Intel D2700 processor, but you pay dearly for it. Read more at QNAP TS-269 Pro NAS Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Sep 06 - SmallNetBuilder
AXIS M1011-W Reviewed
With the Netgear Ultra-2 ReadyNAS as a surveillance kit I was sent two AXIS M1011-W network cameras. The camera was "ok" and did have nice admin interface features, but was rather pricey for no night vision when compared to some other. Read more at AXIS M1011-W Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Aug 29 - SmallNetBuilder
Netgear ReadyNAS Surveillance Reviewed
I had a chance to take a look at the Netgear Ultra-2 ReadyNAS as a surveillance kit with two AXIS M1011-W network cameras. Motion detection wasn't amazing, but it did have some nice touches with playback. Read more at Netgear ReadyNAS Surveillance Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Aug 22 - SmallNetBuilder
EnGenius ESR750H XtraRange Dual-Band Wireless-N Router Reviewed
While Tim did performance analysis, I got to look at the feature set of the Engenius ESR750H router. While the router had a lot of very nice features, they were poorly executed and documentation was severely lacking. Read more at EnGenius ESR750H XtraRange Dual-Band Wireless-N Router Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Aug 6 - SmallNetBuilder
Overlook Fingbox Reviewed
I took a look at Fingbox, the cloud partner of Fing, one of the best mobile network analysis apps out there. Read more at Overlook Fingbox Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Jul 24 - SmallNetBuilder
TRENDnet TV-IP551WI Day/Night Network Camera Reviewed
To finish up the TRENDnet surveillance series, I looked at the differences between the TRENDnet TV-IP551WI and its big brother the TRENDnet TV-IP572PI. I loved the TV-IP572PI, but if looking at just the TV-IP551WI I would suggest going for the wireless brother of the 572PI camera reviewed below, the TV-IP572WI. Read more at TRENDnet TV-IP551WI Day/Night Network Camera Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Jul 19 - SmallNetBuilder
TRENDnet TV-IP572PI HD Network Camera Reviewed
I took a look at the very affordable TRENDnet TV-IP572PI HD network camera. It had a lot going for it including power over ethernet and rock solid motion detection all at a really affordable price. Read more at TRENDnet TV-IP572PI HD Network Camera Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Jul 16 - SmallNetBuilder
AXIS M1031-W Comparison Review
To finish up the Iomega/AXIS surveillance series, I looked at the differences between the AXIS M1031-W network camera and its big brother the M1054 HD network camera. I loved the M1054, if looking at just the M1031-W I might explore other options such as the Zyxel IPC-4605N network camera reviewed below. Read more atAXIS M1031-W Comparison Review on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Jul 5 - SmallNetBuilder
AXIS M1054 HD Network Camera Reviewed
I took a look at two different AXIS cameras in conjunction with the Iomega StorCenter ix2-dl NAS. The first being the AXIS M1054, which is a great camera. ReadAXIS M1054 HD Network Camera Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder.
2012 Jun 14 - SmallNetBuilder
Video Surveillance On A Budget: Iomega Video Surveillance and Mindtree SecureMind
I took a look at the different surveillance functions on the Iomega StorCenter ix2-dl NAS. This included the built-in software and SecureMind Surveillance Manager. Head over to SmallNetBuilder and read the Iomega Video Surveillance Features review.
2012 May 2 - SmallNetBuilder
TVersity Pro Media Server Reviewed
I reviewed the TVersity Pro media server. There were some very nice features to it, such as the web admin and media interfaces, however it seems to be more geared toward low-end systems. Head over to SmallNetBuilder and read the TVersity review.
2012 Apr 24 - SmallNetBuilder
Zyxel IPC-4605N CloudEnabled Network Camera Reviewed
I took a look at the Zyxel IPC-4605N. We had a bumpy start, but I really grew to like this little camera. It doesn't look like your typical IP camera, not very conspicuous, but if you can get past that it's a nice little camera. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out the Zyxel IPC-4605N review!
2012 Mar 26 - SmallNetBuilder
D-Link DCS-942L Enhanced Wireless N Day/Night Home Network Camera
In the first of hopefully several reviews on IP cameras, I take a look at the D-Link DCS-942L.Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out my D-Link DCS-942L review!
2012 Mar 21 - SmallNetBuilder
TP-LINK TL-WR700N Reviewed
I review the TP-LINK TL-WR700N, a tiny wall-wart router which may be a viable router for someone who only has wireless devices, or wants to use it as a bridge for a device with no wireless capabilities. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out my TP-Link TL-WR700N review!
2012 Mar 5 - SmallNetBuilder
Amped Wireless R10000G Reviewed
I take a look at the impressive routing and wireless throughput performance of the Amped Wireless R10000G. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out my Amped Wireless R10000G review!
2012 Feb 21 - SmallNetBuilder
Conceiva Mezzmo DLNA Media Server Reviewed
In this feature for SmallNetBuilder.com I demonstrated a solution using Conceiva Mezzmo DLNA media server to stream media to a format-finicky Sony KDL-32EX720 TV with DLNA integration. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out my Mezzmo review!
2012 Jan 19 - SmallNetBuilder
Build A Compact Low Power Atom Server
In this feature for SmallNetBuilder.com I walked through the planning and implementation of building a compact, low power home server. Specific emphasis was placed on low noise, low power, moderately low cost and small footprint. I utilized the Habey EMC-600S mini-ITX case for its size and general cuteness, yeah I said it. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out my article on building a compact low power atom server!
2012 Jan 3 - SmallNetBuilder
It Takes A Neighborhood To Fix Bad Wireless
In "It Takes a Neighborhood to Fix Bad Wireless" I covered what I called a "wireless socialization" approach to having fast and stable wireless in your neighborhood. The basic premise being that, in a dense neighborhood, your wireless network can't be viewed as its own little island. Sometimes great results can be realized by talking with your neighbors and developing a plan so that a multitude of wireless networks can co-exist peacefully. Go over to SmallNetBuilder and check out thearticle on one way to fix bad wireless.
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