Author: sparta

Heating and cooling generally represent the largest portion of energy use in a household. While standard thermostats will suffice, smart systems offer the potential for savings on energy costs by going beyond mere scheduling and adjusting temperatures according to household behaviors. Therefore, it is advisable to consider replacing the conventional thermostat with a highly-rated smart thermostat from leading brands.

One noteworthy option to consider is the Amazon Smart Thermostat, an $80 device utilizing Honeywell technology that integrates with Alexa and Ring. Once linked to Wi-Fi, Amazon’s smart thermostat can be managed through the Alexa app. You can manually adjust the temperature, set personalized heating and cooling schedules, or configure an Alexa Routine to modify your thermostat throughout the day after you’ve departed for work.

You will also have the ability to modify the temperature through voice commands with devices from major smart speaker manufacturers, but they must be Alexa-enabled since the Smart Thermostat lacks a built-in microphone. Thus, during those moments when you prefer not to rise from the couch to change the thermostat, a simple command to increase or decrease the temperature should suffice.

Useful features available on the Energy Dashboard of the Amazon Smart Thermostat

Utilizing the Energy Dashboard within the Alexa app, alongside data provided by the Amazon Smart Thermostat, allows you to oversee your HVAC system usage from a distance. The Amazon system can modify your thermostat’s set point to lessen usage during times when energy is less “clean.” Additionally, you will be able to monitor energy usage for devices such as smart lights and water heaters with this energy dashboard.

If you opt for an alternative smart thermostat, the dashboard is also compatible with the Honeywell Home T9 and T10 Pro thermostats, as well as the Sensi Touch thermostat. Amazon’s Smart Thermostat works with standard 24V HVAC systems, but it requires a common wire, or C-wire, connection for proper operation. An adapter kit for C-wire power can be utilized as well, and fortunately, you can acquire an Amazon Smart Thermostat along with a C-wire adapter bundle for $120 if necessary.

cable-less gaming headphones to wireless gamepads. Concerning those game controllers, there exist two primary wireless connectivity choices for linking a gamepad to either a console (whether a stationary unit or a portable like the Steam Deck) or PC: Bluetooth and 2.4GHz. Each of these connectivity techniques has its advantages and disadvantages, but typically, a serious PC gamer should avoid Bluetooth, particularly for fast-paced, online multiplayer games.

Wireless gamepads that operate on the 2.4GHz frequency range generally come with a small USB receiver. This kind of wireless technology is known as USB-RF (with RF denoting radio frequency), and it is significantly better than Bluetooth in terms of input delay and total bandwidth. Traditionally, Bluetooth features a considerably lower polling rate (measured in hertz, indicating how quickly the controller communicates input information to a console or PC) compared to 2.4GHz through USB-RF.

The maximum polling rate achievable with Bluetooth is 125Hz (the limit of the protocol), while USB-RF can provide polling rates of up to 1,000Hz or more. Higher polling rates mean reduced input delay that gamers must face. Furthermore, all USB-RF controllers are proprietary, meaning the USB receiver will not have to share its wireless link with products from different brands.