When we move we know to cancel our gas and electric, cable and Internet service. But, what about your home electronics tied to your name? If you are conveying your TV, sound devices such as Sonos, or a Universal remote control, you need to be sure to cancel the plans tied to them. TVs: Be sure to log out of your apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc. Otherwise, the channels that will come up will be from your account, risking charges and privacy issues. Wireless devices: Sonos is one product that allows you to use an app from your…

Before you schedule a service call, we encourage you to attempt to resolve the problem yourself. Here are some basic ways to troubleshoot your problem. If the problem cannot be resolved, please call our office to schedule an appointment for a service call. 1) Check that the power plug is plugged in. Yes, this sounds common sense, but if you know you didn’t unplug the electronic device, you may assume it is plugged in, when in fact a cleaning person, child or other member of the family may have unplugged it. A lot of components have power cords with multiple…

We are going to add a FAQ page to our website and would love for you to send us a question to include on it. Here are a few that we receive regularly. Send your question to info@hns-ons.com or via website contact page. Q: Why do I have dead spots or slow bandwidth in my home, when I pay for high bandwidth from my carrier? A: The high speed bandwidth your carrier gives you is what comes into your home. From that point, it can disintegrate depending on your network infrastructure. For devices hard wired (directly connected to your router)…

Most of the components of cellphones, computers, and other electronic products are now manufactured in China. So, tariffs against China will result in increased costs of these components to come to the US, and passed on to American consumers. Even if China doesn't raise the tariffs on electronics being imported here, they will raise the price of other products that will reduce the ability to buy electronics. "The latest tariffs will add another $500 a year in costs for the average U.S. household," Katheryn Russ, an economics professor at the University of California at Davis, told NPR. "Companies won't immediately…

Service calls are expensive, both to the business and to the customer. Unless the business operates where trucks are out on the road all day, every day, putting a vehicle and person specifically on the road to perform a short service call is a large business expense. Many AV companies won't even perform service calls, unless it is part of a maintenance plan with an existing customer. We will perform service calls for both customers and non-customers and while we must roll a truck for a homeowner or business that we've never done work for, we are trying our best…

Televisions, amps, subwoofers, receivers, speakers are all high-dollar investments, and you want to make sure those investments are not damaged when moving. Here are 10 tips to consider when packing electronics for your big move. 1. Follow the product manual Follow manufacturers’ advice for packing electronics and storing them as well. They know the most about what it takes to protect the product. Consult the owner’s manual or manufacturer’s Web site for details. 2. Save boxes for repacking If possible, save the original boxes and packing materials for repacking. Otherwise, you won’t find packing materials that fit as well. 3.…

Moving can be very stressful, so here are some recommendations for you. TVs: If you have unmounted TVs, you can either take them or not. If they are older models that still work you may want to donate them to a school or senior home. Don’t try to pawn off tube or projection TVs to anyone, as they are way too old to be wanted. Hire a junk company for those. If they are newer TVs, i.e. TVs with HDMI connections, then they can be boxed & moved to your new home. Mounted TVs can also be moved, however they need…

On Sunday, April 14, 2019 on the front page of the Washington Post was an article titled “Cord Cutters’ dreams dashed as streaming sector splinters.” For those who didn’t read this, we thought we would summarize it because we get a lot of calls from existing and prospective clients to “cut the cord” on their cable TV and go straight to streaming via the Internet, to save money. Essentially, the article talks about the fact that because streaming is becoming so popular, companies owning the movies that are offered via streaming, are starting to splinter into additional streaming companies. For…

Your trash collector will not dispose of electronics. Dumping your old TV or receiver into a commercial trash bin or worse yet, the environment is not acceptable. First check your options through your county (see below) for disposing of electronics. For example, Loudoun county holds 2 events a year and while there are limits and small costs, they ensure that the waste is disposed of properly. Their next event is in either May or June at May or June 2019 at 751 Miller Drive, Leesburg, VA 20175. There are also private events held all the time that help dispose of…

As the weather starts to warm up (hopefully soon), we will be spending more time outdoors. Sitting back and listening to some tunes is relaxing as well as fun. Take a look at some of your options. Mounted speakers: There are a variety of speakers that can be attached to the house or porch. These speakers are weatherproof and come on a swivel mount to direct the sound down. Our preference on the high end is Bose 251 Wall Mount Outdoor Environmental Speakers and for a mid-range speaker the Polk Atrium 5 series. Rock speakers: For those who want to…

Go to any neighborhood social media group site and you’ll see posts from people asking how to cut the cable cord and go towards 100% streaming. You can definitely save money by cutting out cable TV from your bill and only subscribing to the Internet. However, to avoid buffering or a choppy picture, you need to make sure your home’s network is never the bottleneck in your streaming video pipeline. Here are 3 steps to follow if you are considering cancelling cable TV. Step 1: Select the right plan from your Internet Service Provider. You will want to subscribe to…

We are getting close to being in an age where a Flat Panel TV is the same size as a projection screen. Actually, there are now TVs as large as most standard projection screens. The Samsung 110 inch 4K TV introduced at CES in 2013 for $150,000. If that price tag is too high, you can opt for a 90” now for around $9,000. You wouldn’t think 20 inches would cause such a price difference, but the technology to create those additional 20” of screen is far more complex than one would think. So, should you choose between an affordable…

When to call your communications carrier and when to seek help elsewhere You don’t call the electric company when your electrical outlet doesn’t work or when you need a new outlet put in? You call an electrician. You don’t call the water company when you want to change out a toilet or have a plumbing problem? You call a plumber. So when you have an Internet problem or need to expand your Internet within the home, don’t call your communications carrier, i.e. Verizon or Xfinity? Verizon and Xfinity spend millions of dollars on advertising and they make themselves sound like…

I pulled this quote directly from Verizon’s website. “Fios is the fastest internet available.1 Period. Why’s that? Because Fios provides a 100% fiber-optic network to your home. So get the best internet with the 100% fiber-optic network.” They are being 100% honest in this statement. The key word is “to” your home. Chances are you got lost in the rest of the verbiage, and didn’t notice that tiny little word in the middle “to”. In small print they state “Fastest Wifi based on Internet speed plans and maximum router throughput available. “Maximum router throughput” is another way of saying that…

The CE Pro, January issue’s article Closer Ties Between Tech & Interior Design is old news to us. We have been working with Interior Designers for many years. Whether the homeowner, general contractor or the designer contacts us, we have been solving difficult aesthetic problems that designers face when their clients want a clean look, but also expect a quality sound and audio system. And, of course, hiding all those nasty wires. For the first time ever, at CEDIA Expo 2018, groups of interior designers assembled to hit the show floor for an up close and personal look at the technologies…

Here are some exciting new audio products for those really looking for an advanced sound experience. Technics SL-1210 MK7: The Technics SL1200 turntable expands on the series’ legendary sonic engineering and distinct visual design with new DJ features (such as reverse playback) when it arrives in the summer. An iconic slice of sonic history, it is destined to be popular among DJs and vinyl fans alike. NAD Masters M10: NAD’s brand-new just-add-speakers audio system is the latest product to feature the BluOS multi-room streaming platform developed by NAD's partner brand Bluesound. The Masters M10 – an answer to Naim’s five-star Uniti…

Best TV: LG OLED R rollable TV Best car tech: Audi/Disney Holoride Best smart home tech: KitchenAid Smart Display Best AI/smart assistant: Google Assistant with extensive 2019 upgrades, including Interpreter Mode and Google Assistant Connect Best beauty tech: P&G Opte Precision Skincare System Best emerging tech: Matrix PowerWatch 2 Best health tech: Omron HeartGuide Best Laptop: Acer Swift 7 Best gaming gear: Alienware Area 51m Best AR/VR tech: HTC Vive Pro Eye Source: CNet, KENT GERMAN, JANUARY 11, 2019 9:52 AM PST

Think twice…Or it may Cost you! While H&ONS doesn’t mind performing service calls for its clients and even new clients, we get a little angry with the Internet carriers, ( i.e. Verizon, Comcast, etc.) for selling people on upgrading their router and then not telling them it will impact their existing system to the point of needing someone with expertise to come in and fix it. Communications carriers bring bandwidth to your home. Don’t expect anything more than that, as that is what their business is and that is what they train their techs to do. They will pretty much set…

In this day and age, no one should have to put up with slow streaming devices, drops and dead zones within their home. But, calling your Internet Provider and increasing your Internet speed isn’t going to resolve these issues, since the problems generally exist within the home due to the home’s physical structure and your service provider won’t help you. Fortunately using a combination of wired & wireless products, your problems can be resolved. Once you’ve got your network running smoothly, upgrading your video and audio products inside the home is the next step. Many people put #2 before #1 mostly…

When people call us for help in improving their Wi-Fi in their home, sometimes there is a Wi-Fi solution and sometimes the best solution is hard wiring. In most cases, a combination of both hard wiring and Wi-Fi is the best choice. Here are six things we discuss and look at within the home to determine what will work best for the customer. 1. Mobility: The number one reason to choose Wi-Fi over a wired set up is mobility. If you are going to move your device around the house, then you need the flexibility of the Wi-Fi. Laptop computers,…