SPY HAT Review & **SPECIAL FOOTAGE**

So, What Do I REALLY Think of My SPY HAT?

I've had a little while now to try out my SPY HAT, and I think it has great potential.

It seems to me that having a SPY HAT gives a person a fantastic ability to capture unscripted and candid footage of everyday life and its many strange encounters.  I look forward to chronicling some of the stranger moments in my life as a Maker with mine, and sharing those moments with others.

It's not all perfection though.  The SPY HAT I bought has many limitations, and I began to encounter them almost immediately.

1) The interface (three momentary switched integrated into the bill) isn't the most intuitive

2) The battery time is limited, at about 40 minutes

3) The file naming mechanism is really clumsy

4) The overall build quality of my SPY HAT is really low, and I fear for its durability

So, all in all, I find the idea of a SPY HAT really powerful and evocative, but the reality of my particular example of a SPY HAT a little on the disappointing side.

I think just a few small tweaks and changes, some of them costing nothing, would have made my SPY HAT a much more intuitive, useful and durable unit.

It left me wondering if I, armed with my experience with this SPY HAT and knowledge of how to make things (and how to get things made in China), couldn't make a much better SPY HAT than the one I ended up reviewing here:

Help a Maker Out?

Did you see anything in this video you want for yourself?  If the answer is yes, consider using one of the link(s) below to buy it directly from amazon.com.  If you do, I will get a small, but very encouraging commission that keeps me going!

Bill of Materials

RecorderGear HC100 HD 1080P Hidden Spy Camera Hat/Surveillance Body Worn Camera/Professional Grade
https://amzn.to/34PGxrd

YAAY! I Can **SHOWER** With My JBL ONBEAT AWAKE!

Why I Bought This Old Technology (GOOD & CHEAP!)

I saw a JBL ONBEAT AWAKE for sale recently on Carousell, the local Hong Kong version of eBay/Amazon.  The unit was listed in New Old Stock condition, and the price was low (and negotiable!  I got an even better deal than the asking price, which I love!).  I simply couldn't resist making an offer on it.  I've been looking for a way to bring audio into the bathroom for some time now, because I like to listen to the news and music while I am taking a shower. 

The unit promised to neatly solve a host of problems.  A compact and attractive stand-alone amplifier from a respected manufacturer, the JBL ONBEAT AWAKE not only features a docking port for Apple technology (we have a legacy iPad around the house that we can plug into this thing), it also accepts direct LINE IN and Bluetooth inputs, affording a great deal of flexibility in terms of audio sources.

The Problem Is My Mobile Phone Isn't Loud Enough

The amplifier in my cell phone, a Samsung Galaxy A8+, puts out a pitiable amount of power.  Most mobile phones put out 8mW, or .008 Watts, which is miniscule when compared any other type of amplifier typically around the house.  But it still somehow manages to be the loudest cell phone in production right now, at 86db.

Still, even the Samsung Galaxy A8+ wasn't loud enough to overcome the sustained sound pressure of a heavy downfall, like that of a bathroom shower, which can reach almost 70db under conditions where the droplets are striking a hard surface.  

The enclosed nature of our shower also serves to reflect sound waves, further confusing the soundfield.  Finally, leaving the bathroom door open, so our main amplifier could push sound into the bathroom, was a poor compromise.  To hear the main amp in the bathroom, the sound level needed to be cranked up to the point where Mrs. Maker began to make unhappy noises, and the water vapor from the shower invaded the rest of the house.  Extremely sub-optimal.

Watch Me Experience The JBL ONBEAT AWAKE

I received the unit this morning by mail and couldn't wait to unbox it, set it up, and review it.

Here's the video of my experience with the JBL ONBEAT AWAKE:

Help a Maker Out?

===============

Did you see anything in this video you want for yourself?  If the answer is yes, consider using one of the link(s) below to buy it directly from amazon.com.  If you do, I will get a small, but very encouraging commission that keeps me going!

Bill of Materials

============

JBL OnBeat Hotel Bluetooth Wireless Loudspeaker with 30-pin Dock Connector (Black)

https://amzn.to/2STN8yy

For a modern version of this technology, I recommend the JBL Charge 4.  Several of my "hipster" friends have them, and they seem like a LOT of fun and are especially popular with Gen Y, Gen Z and beyond...

JBL Charge 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker with 20 Hour Battery - Black

https://amzn.to/39DmzDL

A Pull Apart Key Chain! The FIRST of many amazon.com purchases!

MAIL CALL!  I got a little package today from amazon.com, containing - a "Pull-Apart Key Chain", something I have wanted since I first saw that little silver HONDA key. 

I had this kind of key chain when I had my first motorcycle in 1986, and I found it super convenient to prevent my house keys from bouncing around (and potentially getting wet from being exposed to the elements). 

So I deliberately ordered a pair of Pull-Apart Key chains from Amazon,and once they arrived, I immediately loaded one of my HONDA keys onto the end of one of them, and my big mass of other keys (including the keyless entry dongle for my SUV) on the other end. 

The result is everything I wanted to achieve and I couldn't be happier!  Nostalgia and utility all in one gleaming silver package...and a package coming in the mail to boot!

Custom Accessories 44101 Pull-Apart Key Chain, (Pack of 2) $3.49
https://amzn.to/2rIrQIM

BONDHUS Hex Keys **WOW**

Tools

BONDHUS Hex Keys **WOW**

After completely destroying TWO no-name hex keys that I purchased on Ap Liu Street, I decided to treat myself to a set of high-quality, name brand hex keys.

If you look closely at the long, silver-colored hex key in the video, you can see that I twisted it along its long axis before I ended up rounding the head.  At a standstill and in total frustration, I cranked up google and looked for a 2019 hex key review:

After exploring the different optionsm I elected to go for the BONDHUS Hex Keys #22199, because it looked affordable and offered both Imperial and Metric keys in one low-cost purchase.  I think each key ended up costing around a half dollar or so, which seemed good to me.

Approaching the motorcycle with some trepidation (after all, if the Bondhus failed - what then would I do?) I was able to remove the remaining bolts in the handlebar risers and get the handlebars off!  Fantastic!

So I have to say that I am very pleased with the BONDHUS Hex Keys.  They proved up to the task when TWO other sets failed miserably.

Highly recommended!
Here's a video of the BONDHUS Hex Keys in action....

Video

HELP A MAKER OUT?

Did you see anything in this video you want?  

If yes, use one of the the link(s) below to buy it directly from amazon.com.  

If you do, I get a small, but very encouraging commission!

VIDEO BILL OF MATERIALS

Bondhus 22199 Hex L-wrench Double PK,Long Length,12137 .050-3/8" & 12199 1.5-10mm
https://amzn.to/2OV4Ei8

**CHEAP** Wireless Microphone Review (GOOD!)

Now that we've UNBOXED (see previous video) and also OPTIMIZED THE PACKAGING (see previous video) of the NASUM Wireless Headset & Wireless Lavalier Microphone, it's time to strap one on and see see how it works!

Getting ready was simple. I took the headset out of the packaging and screwed it into the Body Transmitter. I like the fact that it screws in, which should prevent it from getting accidentally unplugged. I then ran the wires under my shirt (further helping to reduce the likelihood that the wire would get snagged on something) and clipped the Body Transmitter to the bottom of my pocket with clip that's integrated into the case of the Body Transmitter.

I then connected the Receiver to my camera using a series of reducers. My camera has a 2.5mm jack and the NASUM Receiver has a 6.5mm plug (1/4 inch / Phono / Headphone). The NASUM comes with a 6.5mm-to-3.5mm adapter (Mini Headphone) and my camera came with a 3.5mm-to-2.5mm adapter, so it was just a matter of clicking them together, then plugging the resulting stack of Receiver and reducers into my camera.

I then used a a cable management strap to hold that somewhat ungainly assembly to a tripod, so it too wouldn't get snagged on anything and come apart by accident, as well as reduce mechanical strain on the camera microphone jack, which is pretty small and probably not that physically robust.

Powering everything up was simple: A momentary push of the power button on the Receiver, then a momentary push of the power button on the Body Transmitter. The units powered on without any trouble, and they negotiated a common communications channel without incident.

After that, using the units was as easy as talking. Once they had become linked, anything I said was pushed from the Wireless Headset to the Body Transmitter to the Receiver. Physically speaking, the experience was identical to using a wired mike.

There was no electrical noise or static and sound quality was dramatically (in my opinion) improved. The NASUM Wireless Headset Microphone picked up much less ambient noise. There was dramatically less echo. There was NO fading of sound volume as I walked away from (or approached) the camera. I was able to roam freely in the room I was in. I did not leave the room, nor did I put any obstacles between myself and the Receiver, because I do not think that I would do that in normal use with this unit.

In conclusion, I believe that the NASUM Wireless Headset & Lavalier Microphone is an inexpensive, effective means of bringing increased physical freedom to a VLOGGING experience, or any scenario where a person wants to have an wireless microphone experience.

HELP THE MAKER OUT?
====================
Did you see anything in this video that you want for yourself? If you did, please use one of the links below to buy it from amazon.com. If you do, I get a small commission and encouragement, both of which help me in my career as a YouTube creator.

BILL OF MATERIALS:
=================
NASUM UHF Wireless Headset Microphone/Lavalier Lapel Mic with Bodypack Transmitter and Mini Rechargeable Receiver 1/4" Output

https://amzn.to/391dSTn

Unboxing: https://www.facebook.com/MyManTheMaker/videos/454464308575307/

Packaging Hacking: https://www.facebook.com/MyManTheMaker/videos/1426790267499038/

DON'T Buy A DT830D Multimeter!

From the MTMM Archives! A video I recorded a few years ago when I bought a cheap-o DT830D multimeter on a whim. Boy did I regret it as the meter turned out to be nothing but a *waste of time* as it could not even deliver the most basic functionality of all - a continuity test! Incredible! In the end, after buying the meter, taking it apart, putting a battery in, putting it back together and then checking its ability to test continuity, I was left baffled by the fact that its resistance measurement was jumping all over the place. I documented the experience and then moved on. But today I found that this meter was still being sold on the market, and I wanted to warn people about the risks involved with buying this meter, at least those which I experienced! As a consequence of its unreliability, the DT830D meter is not a meter I can recommend, and this video documents why. If anyone can explain to me why the meter behaves this way, I would love to hear from you! Instead, I went and bought a much more EXPENSIVE (but also much more reliable) meter from a FLUKE Authorized Dealer the Fluke 12B. This meter is no longer being produced, but I loved and and using it developed a respect in me for FLUKE products that remains to this day. ** I am not supported by paid by FLUKE in any way **