We perform quite a bit of in-home service calls. Did you know that you have several options before scheduling an in-home service call? 1) DIY first: We always recommend you troubleshoot the problem yourself first. Standard troubleshooting is to perform a re-set. Resetting means physically unplugging, waiting & restarting your equipment. You are not going to mess anything up doing this. You may have had a power surge or an update to one of the devices messed up the communications between your components. Look at this as the same as performing a computer reboot. If that doesn’t work and something is…

While we didn’t attend CES this year, we did keep abreast of what was going on there & what the “big” takeaways were this year. Of course the biggest “news” was the future launch of 5G cell service. The CES show floor was chock full of devices boasting 5G capability, from super fast gaming routers to all kinds of modems, laptops, and smartphones. But since 5G networks haven’t yet been set up in much of the US, this tech will likely stay within the walls of the manufacturers for awhile. Health and Wellness became a large segment of CES this year.…

CEO Response & Our Take on Things to Come This past week SONOS sent out an announcement to its users that they would end software updates on their legacy products. Each customer’s email included the products they registered with SONOS that would be discontinued. As a result, we received more than a dozen emails and phone calls from our customers regarding their SONOS, which we did respond to one-to-one. However, for those who do have SONOS that didn’t already receive an email from H&ONS, here is additional information. As a result of the SONOS announcement, social media blasted SONOS and on…

If you, like millions of people, have decided to stay in your current home rather than downsizing or moving to another state, there are some things that you might want to set up to make aging in place easier. Even if you don’t do it right away, when you do some remodeling you may want to consider these improvements. 1. Lighting controls. Have your lights come on in the hallway and bedroom at a certain time of night or based on motion so that you don’t have to walk anywhere in the dark. Touch a button next to your bed…

So your Internet provider says you can get 940 mbps of speed with their upgraded router and fiber lines, but you are only getting 700. How can that be? Here’s an example of verbiage straight from the Verizon website. “Fios Gigabit Connection delivers speeds up to 940/880 MBPS in available areas. The key words are “Up to” so there is no point in calling Verizon, Xfinity or any other provider, since they have given you exactly what they promised…the possibility of speeds up to what they advertise. So, why aren’t you getting the optimum speed they offer. There could be…

Wi-Fi 6 is the newest version of the 802.11 standard for wireless network transmissions that people commonly call Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi 6 isn't a new means of connecting to the internet like fiber -- rather, it's an upgraded standard that compatible devices, particularly routers, can take advantage of to transmit Wi-Fi signals more efficiently. While it is still an unknown, the industry touts based on testing only that Wi-Fi 6 will offer speeds that are roughly 30% faster than Wi-Fi 5, with theoretical maximum transfer speeds up around 10 Gbps. The actual number you ultimately experience will really depend on context, though,…

Apple TV 4K is a solid choice for streaming with its super fast A10X Fusion processor, as long as your Internet connection can handle it. The new option to copy login info directly to the Apple TV from iPhones, iPads and Apple laptops will reduce the amount of time spent entering passwords. Plus if you have a third-or fourth generation Apple TV now, it will automatically sync your previous TV OS layout. You can use Siri to search for content, including cross-platform searches though Apple’s library of apps isn’t as diverse as Roku’s. You can send images, video and audio…

Forget jack-o-lantern carving and bobbing for apples. Halloween is now about 3-D imaging, home automation and creative use of drones. The future is 3D. Kids and adults alike will build costumes and props using 3D printers. It's obvious that automation programming and use of motion sensors can be leveraged to improve haunted houses experiences. Control everything from the fog machines, the “blood fountains," the science lab, audio distribution, lighting, numerous IP cameras and security features, and more—and everything can be turned on, or off, with just the simple touch of a button. High-tech Halloween costumes are all the rage using…

The latest advance to mimic nature. Because we crave nature with every fiber of our being and we suffer physically, mentally and emotionally from our severe nature deprivation, the home technology sector is warming up to human-centric (circadian) lighting. HCL is a classic tool for mimicking nature through changes in lighting intensity and color temperature that replicate natural daylight patterns from dusk until dawn. Scientific evidence abounds for the health benefits of circadian lighting when you’re trapped indoors for 90% of the day. It is now big business for office buildings and hospitality, prisons and schools and soon to be…

The process is pretty simple but varies a bit depending on what brand of TV you own. Start by using your TV remote control (or a digital converter box remote if you still have an older analog TV) to press the Menu or Setup button. You may see the Channel Scan control right away, or it could be one layer down, under Antenna, Channels, or Channel List. It might be called "Live TV" (for LG TVs) or "Broadcast" (for Samsung sets). If you don't see any of those options as soon as you press the Menu button—and that's not unusual—you'll…

As part of a more in-depth article by Andrew Nichols ·for CE Pro on August 21, 2019. here’s what ADT found in a recent survey of owners and non-owners of smart hubs in relation to protection vs. privacy. To find out how the general population is adapting and supporting smart home tech, ADT surveyed more than 1,000 individuals, analyzing their attitudes about specific technologies and connected devices more generally. Among the respondents, 63% owned a smart hub. While the smart hub category includes an expanding range of products and technologies, most consumers seemed pleased with the particular hubs they'd selected…

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…