New Front Entry Door - March 2026

Background

We had our house exterior repainted about two years ago. The stucco painting went well but not so for the south-facing fiberglass front entry door. The new paint poorly adhered to the door, resulting in numerous paint blisters. The paint contractor was terrific at handling repainting of the door. However, after three different attempts at repainting, the blisters continued to occur after each repriming and repainting. The contractor had tried Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paints in the hope of avoiding the blister results. This door faces the south and experiences direct rain in the winter and hot sun in the summer.

 

The paint contractor offered a fourth and last repainting effort but acknowledged different paint compositions over time have made painting a fiberglass door more challenging. Apparently, other area painting contractors have had issues with re-painting fiberglass doors. Our painting contractor no longer recommends repainting weather-facing fiberglass doors and will not warranty such entry door painting.

What to Do?

The painting contractor suggested a longer term solution could be door replacement and avoiding repainting a new front entry door. At this point, we decided that this would be our best solution, but the next question was which door manufacturer to select - ProVia, Anderson, Pella, Therma-Tru, or Marvin? Another alternative was to visit our local Home Depot. Ultimately. ProVia was our choice as its Signet doors have a 15 year warranty on its manufacturer finishes and lifetime warranty for door frame integrity. No other door manufacturer offered this warranty. ProVia is located in Ohio and manufactures doors, windows, siding, stone facia and roof materials..

We were impressed by the following ProVia painted entry door features:

• Self adjusting threshold
• Hardware strike stile
• Dove-tailed stiles and rails
• Insulated foam core
• Hardwood door internal edging
• Four ball-bearing hinges
• 5-ply finish process, with oven-cured multiple paint coatings
• Energy Star Certification

With a 96 inch tall front entry door, ProVia requires a multi-point locking mechanism. This is a traditional center lock accompanied by a similar locking device at the top and bottom of the door. Thus, there are three points securing the door to the doorframe. This locking mechanism enhances door security but also helps to engage the tall door into the door frame when locked and ensure weather sealing. Moreover, the ball-bearing door hinges are supported on non-hinge vertical side when the tall (and heavy) entry door is locked. Multi-point locking systems are now able to be integrated with digital locks. Thus, you can have a single digital smartlock, integrated with a back-up key lock, controlling all three locking mechanisms. 

Our new door was manufactured by ProVia with a PanoLock Plus multi-point lock, new handset, digital smartlock and a new peep viewer.  We ordered all entry door components (and component installation) from ProVia. This approach preserves the warranty coverage as the installer did not drill additional holes in the door. Our door contractor was a local ProVia certified installer. 

Source: Enduraproducts.com

The primary downside of selecting a ProVia door is the cost. ProVia fiberglass front entry door are expensive. Our selected front entry door (presently the top-tier ProVia fiberglass door offering) does not have glass panels and we have no entry door sidelights. Nonetheless, the cost of the new door, multipoint lock, new handles, digital lock and labor for old door removal and new door installation can easily run $10k (depending on door size, finish and hardware). This could be twice as much as the purchase and installation of a Home Depot entry door.  It took one installer about seven hours to remove and install the new door, with new interior three-inch door casings.

We will not repaint this ProVia door in the future and accept possible fading over time.  We've learned from our exterior painting experience.

Note: I received no compensation from ProVia or Endura for this post.

Updated Water Leak Detection - January 2026

Background

An undetected water leak in an unattended house can result in one of the most expensive household repairs. About ten years ago, I installed a central water leak monitor for my residence and about eight remote sensors. The remote sensors detected water on the floor and notified the central monitor in the house. The central monitor, connected to my landline, would then call my mobile number and indicate the sensor location reporting a leak. The central monitor could be configured to call out to multiple phones. This system worked flawlessly over ten years and did not have any recurring costs, other than sensor batteries.

We recently decided to terminate our landline service and just rely on our mobile phones. This anticipated change meant the landline-based leak monitor would no longer be able to call out.

Search for New Water Leak Detection System

I started looking for a replacement leak detection system and came across the Firstalert L1 WiFi Water Leak and Freeze Detector. Each remote detector communicates over WiFi to a central app. When a water leak or excess humidity is detected, the app sends text messages and emails to the registered homeowners (and other enrolled contacts). All configuration is performed using the app. There is no physical central hub to purchase and install - which was one of the primary features I was seeking. 

Source: Firstalert.com

Benefits:

• The FirstAlert system permits me to drop my landline. 
• There is no cost for app download or a monthly/annual subscription app fee.
• The remote sensors are easy to configure.
• Each remote has an adjustable temperature setting, which permits setting the temperature for a freeze alert. 
• Each remote has an adjustable humidity alert setting. This is needed for high humidity sensor placements, such as in a bathroom/shower area.
• The remote sensors are small and, in most cases, do not need to use the supplied cord. The cord is only required as a sensor extension. The remote is able to detect leaks without a cord.
• The app provides a date and time history of leak and high humidity detection.
• Customer service quickly replaced a remote sensor that failed a leak test upon setup.
• My homeowners insurance provides a discount for use of at least two leak detection sensors.  

Downsides: 

• The system is dependent on WiFi communication and electricity for Internet connectivity.
• The cost of an individual Firstalert leak sensor is $68, though I was able to reduce sensor cost by purchasing multiple sensor units through my home insurance partner. 
• It is unknown if app use will remain free.
• It is unknown if and when the app will reach an end-of-life date. This could be a serious issue.
• Each sensor uses two AA batteries that will need to be periodically replaced. I place a "battery installation" date label on each sensor to help remind me to proactively change the batteries in 18 months. This battery issue was similar to the previous leak detection central monitor and sensors. Note, I place a similar battery installation date label on my smoke alarms - I really dislike having a dead smoke detector battery alert going off in the middle of the night.

The new leak detection system has been running for a few months without issue. I'm still uncomfortable with the leak detection systems that can shut off the household water supply upon leak detection. Our house has ceiling fire sprinklers. I wouldn't want the fire sprinkler water supply inadvertently shut off or incur additional plumbing alterations to prevent this from happening.

Note: I received no compensation from FirstAlert for this posting.

Traveling with a WiFi Router in Japan - May 2025

Currently, international travelers to Japan can have mobile phone Internet access through a pocket WiFi router or e-SIM (or physical SIM). In addition, some domestic plans include international service but may impose additional customer costs. We prefer using a pocket WiFi to SIM but both can work well. Here are a few reasons for our preference:

• Multiple mobile phones, laptops, tablets and game consoles can be connected to a pocket WiFi router, without additional cost.
• You can easily pickup a router from many Japan airports or, depending on the router service, your hotel in Japan.
• You can easily return a router at many Japan airports when you leave Japan, or depending on the router service, via a mail box or regional store.
• The pocket WiFi router has great connectivity in Japan.
• A pocket WiFi router is somewhat easier to configure on your mobile device than a secondary SIM.
• A shared SIM hotspot between multiple phones could exceed the SIM data limit for the host phone. 

For our recent six week Japan trip, we used NINJA WiFi. In full disclosure, NINJA provided a discounted rate for our use. NINJA is a full service provider, supporting pocket WiFi, e-SIM or SIM for travelers.

Source: NINJA WiFi

We made a reservation a few weeks in advance of our Narita arrival. Once we collected our luggage and passed through Terminal 2 security doors, the router counter was within view.  After providing our reservation number to counter staff, we received a package that included the router, wall charger and cable to connect the charger to the router. Connecting the router to our phones was simple as it only took entry of the WiFi network name and password. We noted that the router battery easily lasted a full day of travel, if not more.   

Throughout the trip, we had great Internet connectivity - though service was temporarily intermittent on remote mountainous roads away from towns and villages. Some of these areas would probably present challenges for SIM service, as well. We did note that if one of us with the pocket WiFi router in their purse or backpack drifted too far from the other, connectivity could be lost for the person not possessing the router. Thus, a pocket WiFi router could be best for couples or groups that travel together. 

As we departed Japan, we returned the router package to the NINJA service counter in Narita Terminal 2 Arrivals and then made our way to the JAL lounge. 

Overall, we found NINJA WiFi service a great way to have Internet connectivity when traveling in Japan. Of course, receiving a discounted rental fee was attractive, as well

Interested in Using NINJA WiFi for Your Upcoming Japan Travel?

NINJA WiFI provides a 20 percent rental fee discount to readers of this blog. If you are interested, please use THIS LINK and the Code "BobsTravels."  I receive no compensation from NINJA WiFi for your use of this service but am able to share this discount as a courtesy. I will acknowledge there are several pocket WiFi router providers to choose from and that NINJA provides a great service.   

 

Going Electric for 2022 - June 2022

New Addition at the House

We recently added seven panels to our roof solar generation system for a total of 15 panels. The original system was fine for general household needs, but wasn't enough to generate power for an electric vehicle. With the current price per gallon reaching over $6, we figured it was time to reduce our carbon footprint and gasoline expenses - and sell the hybrid.

Our search for an electric vehicle was quite an eye-opener. I started by looking at an Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. I quickly learned that many California auto dealers are adding a $10,000 "market adjustment" over MSRP for new vehicles. There were a couple of central valley Hyundai dealers that only had a $3,000 market adjustment for electric vehicles. Regardless, no dealer had existing stock for these vehicles. With current gas prices so high, many drivers are understandably looking to abandon their gas cars. 

Unwilling to pay such high add-on fees, we expanded our search to a Polestar 2. A nearby neighbor recently leased a Polestar 2 and we were able to take a closer look at this option. This electric vehicle is designed in Sweden and manufactured by Volvo and Geeley. Initially, Polestar was the performance division of Volvo. Polestar vehicles are ordered online and the prices are not subject to market adjustments. However, the few locations in California that deliver Polestar vehicles don't have existing stock, so you're left to order and wait several months for delivery. The last of the model year 2022 Polestar 2s are now reaching port and 2023 models are expected to start delivery by the end of 2022. 

We placed our 2023 order a couple of weeks ago. Two days ago, we just happened to learn that a pre-configured 2022 Polestar 2, similar to our 2023 order, reached the port of Los Angeles without a confirmed purchaser - this opportunity is somewhat rare.  We quickly put a deposit on it and we hope to take delivery of this electric vehicle in about two weeks. Once we see the transaction fully completed, we'll cancel our 2023 order. The 2022 model is more powerful than what we originally wanted, with dual motors and 408HP.

Quite a bit of research and decisions over a short period of time. We ordered a home EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment) but it won't be delivered until early July. The electrician has been scheduled for the installation and we now have our building permit for the electrical work. 

If you're wondering where Polestars are serviced, there are some Volvo service departments that are authorized by Polestar to perform repairs. 

We're looking forward to our Polestar 2 ownership experience.

 

Electronic Luggage Tracking - Updated

UPDATE - DECEMBER 2018: Trakdot relies on 2G telecommunication services, which is now disappearing from the airwaves.  Trakdot has been largely silent as to what specific, if any, steps are being taken to address this issue. Unless Trakdot is able to update its services to 3G or 4G, my recommendation is not to purchase this device and/or renew subscription services.

-----

On our return flight from Antarctica earlier this year, one duffel bag containing winter expedition clothes never made it out of Chile. Despite several attempts to locate the missing baggage, LAN Airlines and American Airlines provided little real tracking assistance. Upon return to the US, I started looking at ways to better monitor the movement of our luggage as our checked baggage moved across the United States and through international destinations.

Source: trakdot.com

Luggage monitoring via GPS doesn't really work as a GPS receiver needs clear satellite access for positioning. Bluetooth is limited by the 33 feet maximum range for most mobile phones. Thus, a stronger signal and more reliable monitoring method is required if you wish to use your mobile phone to determine whether your luggage moved from your point of origin, was redirected somewhere else or has arrived at the destination airport.

For our next long distance trips we are trying the Trakdot.Trakdot uses a combination of GSM cellular technology and acceleration monitoring to identify and report luggage movement and ground location.The Trakdot is slipped into your checked baggage.  An SMS message and/or email message is sent to the Trakdot registered owner as the baggage moves - or doesn't move - from your point of flight origin towards the destination airport. The device is powered by two AA alkaline batteries. The batteries last about three days. The only locations for which the Trakdot doesn't work are those that do not have GSM cellular services, such as Japan and South Korea. I noticed that turning the tracker on and off can be confusing as the in-service light is not especially intuitive.

One year of monitoring service is included with a Trakdot purchase. Shortly after purchase, I was offered - and I accepted - a a lifetime subscription at $70 per year for each tracker. At $20 per annual subscription renewal, it will take four years for this lifetime subscription to pay off. Note that in 2016, the one-year subscription rate will increase to $25 and the lifetime subscription will increase to $90.

Even with this technology assist, there are limitations. While the Trakdot will help us monitor movement of our baggage and identify ground location of a checked-in bag, we continue to be at the mercy of airline customer service staff to search for baggage that doesn't make the claim carousel. The Trakdot could help baggage staff focus their search - but only if they have the interest to do so. I recall several times American Airlines baggage staff reportedly called LAN Airlines for baggage search assistance only to be met with disinterest on the part of LAN Airlines. I suppose, the worst case could be a bit more extreme - particularly if the Trakdot became part of a lost luggage claim.

Check back for an update as to how Trakdot performed on our trip to Southeast Asia.

UPDATE: The Trakdot performed well on our recent trip that included seven flights between the US, Myanmar and Viet Nam. Email and text messages alerted us to movement and general location of our two duffel bags. There was one flight connection where one Trakdot reported its location at the origin airport but the alert for destination airport was delayed. I'm not sure what why the delay, but I will admit being worried as I waited at the luggage carousel.




      

Solar Panel Cleaning - 2018

Dark Portion on Panels is Morning Condensation

We're taking a break from travel and I thought I'd share a recent experience with our solar panels.

This summer, we've had quite a few fires in Northern California. We noticed that the solar panels on our house and in the neighborhood were covered with a thick layer of gray ash.  A quick look at electricity production from the panels, pre-fire to post-fire, indicated a power production loss of between 17 and 20 percent.

Our solar panel company suggested that winter rain would generally be adequate to remove debris from our panels. However, the ash was heavier than dust and the build-up was considerable.

A local company we have used in the past for window washing and gutter cleaning, Jeff Likes Clean Windows, recently added solar panel cleaning to its work portfolio.  A soft bristle brush, connected to a hose bib, and long pole is used to remove debris from the solar panels. The water flow is gentle rather than a harsh stream of water.  No soap products are used during cleaning - just water. Each solar panel is individually washed and rinsed.

After the solar panel cleaning, we checked our electricity production. Power production was back to pre-fire production rates. We believe the solar panel cleaning was well-worth the cost to remove the ash ($80 - based on number of solar panels).  If we didn't experience the summer fires, we might have skipped the panel cleaning and waited for the winter rain.

After learning of the solar panel cleaning success, one of neighbors engaged Jeff to perform similar solar panel cleaning. They also noticed a 17-20 percent increase of solar power production after the cleaning.

Residential Security Cameras - 2018

I'm finally getting around to a few of the items on my to-do list. One of them was to reinstall the Ring Video Pro doorbell, used at my previous residence, to the new house and add a security camera in the backyard. Having motion sensing cameras in the front and rear yards, along with a centrally monitored premise alarm,  adds a bit of comfort while we travel. Both camera installations were relatively straightforward and I thought I'd share my experiences.



Ring Video Doorbell Pro
You can find my original review of this device on this blog. The installation followed the steps provided with the doorbell.

The primary installation issue with the new house was the location of the existing doorbell. The doorbell was placed relatively low on the door frame which limited the camera view of visitors to a mid-body perspective and, at that, generally focused on the opposing side of the door frame. As I wasn't going to physically relocate the doorbell, I had to use one Ring corner and wedge kit piece to cant the doorbell up and to the left. With these wedges, the doorbell bulges a bit from the door frame.  I painted the corner and wedge pieces to match the color of the exterior house paint so that the built-up doorbell base was less visually intrusive.



Patio Security Camera - Ring Spotlight Cam (Wired)
Last summer, I asked the builder to install a 120 volt receptacle and one Internet (Cat 6) wall jack about seven feet up the patio wall so that I could use either or both for a future security camera. I figured that this combination would offer the most flexibility in selecting a camera.

Power and Camera are Located Seven Feet
Above the Floor

My younger daughter recently gave me a wired Ring Spotlight Cam, so my camera selection was pretty much made for me. This camera communicates over WiFi and only needs access to a power receptacle The only question that remained was where to mount the camera. The typical camera installation instructions suggest drilling holes in the stucco for the mounting plate, between seven to nine feet from the floor. However, since this WiFi camera didn't need access to a hard-wired Internet connection, I replaced the plastic Internet wall jack cover that was next to the power receptacle with a steel all-weather cover plate. This sturdier metal plate was strong enough for drilling and camera mounting.

Configuring the Ring Spotlight Cam to the WiFi network followed the Ring print instructions and these steps were completed without problems.

Using the iOS app to remotely configure the spotlight cam's motion setting zones,  motion zone sensitivity, light zones and light zone sensitivity was straightforward. Video captures were very clear during the day and acceptable via infrared lighting during the evening.  Similar to the doorbell, you can initiate a conversation through the spotlight with a nearby visitor. One added spotlight feature is that you can remotely trigger a camera siren, if needed.

During the first 30 days of use, Ring provides free video cloud storage. Managing the videos remains cumbersome for both doorbell and spotlight as you are able to only delete all cloud stored videos or on a single video basis. I did not find a way to delete all videos from a particular day, other than one by one.

As you might notice from camera installation, I still need to shorten the camera's power cord a bit.

Advantages of A One-Vendor Solution
While there are many available security camera solutions, I favor using cameras from one manufacturer. In my case, I already had both camera devices in hand before starting my installation.

By sticking with one vendor, you can manage your camera settings and videos through one mobile/computer app (and possibly through IFTTT). If you run into install problems, you have one vendor to contact. There may also be cost advantages for cloud storage of your camera videos - though with Ring, these cost advantages become more noticeable with three to four Ring cameras. For two cameras, under Ring's basic protection plan, cloud storage of your camera videos runs $60 a year.

Basically, I'm pleased with the Ring products; however, the Ring website and app have some clear limitations. My account continues to display a physical location - with no defined devices - that does not exist and can't be deleted.  While you can add multiple devices to your cloud storage plan, I couldn't find a way to currently view details about each specific camera within the plan. I understand the Ring developers are aware of these issues, so I'm hoping for improved software in the near future.

With the recent windy days around my house, I woke up to find the backyard Spotlight camera light enabled. After some discussion with Ring technical support, I realized that motion sense settings for the light are completely separate from the motion sensor function that initiates video recording. The app doesn't clearly indicate that the settings for these two motion sensor functions are unrelated.

As I posted this blog entry, I read that Amazon just purchased the Ring company. I'm hoping that Ring continues to expand and improve their security camera offerings. Perhaps in the future, Amazon will integrate Ring home security features with its remote door lock function (Amazon Key) to assist package delivery.

Traveling with an HP Stream 11 Pro G3 Computer - 2017

Almost three years ago, I shared a post describing my choice of a travel (non-gaming) computer, a 2014 HP Stream 11. This notebook computer has been trouble free and accompanied me on several international trips. The Stream 11, with its 11.6 inch display, was fast enough to run MS-Office applications, met my web browser needs, had two USB ports, included an SDXC memory card slot and an external monitor connector and weighed about 2.5 pounds. However, I ran into a hurdle when attempting to upgrade its operating system from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. The 32GB of electronic storage, wasn't large enough to permit this upgrade. Windows 8.1 and MS Office applications left only about 4GB of free storage. The remaining storage was too small to download and install Windows 10. Moreover, careful removal of old Windows 8.1 update files was constantly required just to free enough storage to keep current with Windows 8.1 updates. As a side note, there is no capability to replace Stream's electronic storage with a larger solid state drive (SSD).

Of course, three years later, HP now offers a new Stream 11 Pro G3 model that has more memory (4GB rather than 2GB), a faster and more power thrifty Celeron N3060 processor and 64GB of electronic storage (double the storage of the base Stream 11). The downside of the Pro G3 notebook computer is that it runs the "PRO" version of Windows 10. The "PRO" software version has additional features over Windows 10 "home" version and, thus, requires more storage. Nonetheless, the Pro G3 notebook is left with  about 24GB of unused electronic storage after the additional installation of MS Office. There's only so much that can be done within a 24GB storage constraint. So, the use of an SDXC memory card is still recommended for storing documents and photos. For this reason, I add a 128GB card when using a Stream notebook computer.

The computer remains a budget friendly model as searching the Internet can yield an offering within a $200 to $260 price range. This price is similar to a Chromebook portable computer. As a travel computer is often a theft target, I like to keep my travel laptop as inexpensive as possible while still functional. The loss of a $200 computer is much more acceptable than a loss of a $1,300 MacBook (though there's no question that a MacBook offers better performance and more features).

I'll be giving this computer a try and see if it meets or exceeds my experience with the older, but certainly dependable, Stream 11 base model.

What's In My Carry-on Bag - 2017

About two years ago, I added a post that described the contents of my carry-on bag for flights lasting between five and fourteen hours. Here is an update to the list.

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC33iS
QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling 
In-Ear Headphones

• Noise Cancelling Headphones - Depending on how much I have in my carry-on bag, I'll include either a pair of Bose QuietComfort  over-the-head headphones or smaller noise cancelling ear-buds. The Bose headphones, while comfortable and extremely effective at limiting external noises, are large and take a lot of space in my carry-on bag. Alternatively, I have a pair of AudioTechnica ear-buds that take up little space in my carry-on bag.  Note that AudioTechnica earbuds still permit some external noise through but are less expensive than Bose.

• iPod Nano - I typically bring my iPod along to have easy access to music and podcasts. Before traveling, I try to upload recent NPR podcasts and remove older podcasts that I've previously heard. Since I replaced my Android tablet with an iPad, I can access my music and podcasts during a flight via the iPad. The iPod remains convenient while using a hotel gym.

• Computer or Tablet - I have a two-year old HP 11 inch Stream laptop that I like to pack. If I know there will be weight restrictions for my carry-on luggage (often remote destinations using smaller planes), I will instead bring my 11 inch iPad Pro. Generally, I will include a portable Smart keyboard for the iPad as a full-size keyboard makes it easier to update my blog and respond to email. Sometimes I will pre-load a movie or two on the tablet for mid-flight watching. I also maintain a Virtual Private Network (VPN) account so that I can use public WiFi in a more secure manner.

• Kindle - If there isn't much to do during the flight, I will often read from my Kindle e-book reader. Its pre-loaded with about 50 books and there is a wide selection between fiction and non-fiction. I also store manuals for my electronic devices on the Kindle.

• Smartphone - I currently travel with an unlocked Nexus 6P smartphone. When overseas and using my ATT SIM, I disable data services. If I'm spending some time in a single country, I'll look for a local SIM to purchase. The phone keeps me reachable by at least a cell phone number, email, text or dedicated Skype number. I use an encryption app (eWallet) for remote access to credit card numbers and card provider contact information.

Cable Example

Canon M5

• Digital Camera - Depending on where I'm going, I'm generally traveling with either a mirror-less camera (Canon M5) or a larger Canon DSLR. If the DSLR is brought, I often include a telephoto and wide-angle lens. In extreme cases where a backup camera is needed (polar regions), I might bring both cameras. With an adapter, the DSLR lenses can be used by either camera. One advantage of the current mirror-less camera offerings is their smaller size and weight.

• Electronic Leashes - As there's always a chance that my checked-in luggage could be late or lost, I prefer to keep all my recharging cords and USB chargers in my carry-on luggage. Having these cords and chargers in my carry-on also allows me to recharge an electronic device in the airport or during a flight. I've recently exchanged one of the long cords for a shorter version. I also ensure that I have two cables/adapters for every charging system so that I can recover from any single cord failure during travel. On a side note, if you forget a charger many hotels have a supply of unclaimed chargers to borrow that previous guests have left in their rooms.

• Plastic Folder with All Trip Documents - In advance of the trip, I assemble a folder with all paper boarding passes and air flight, car service and hotel information. Depending on the itinerary, the folder could also include paper theater tickets and event information and maps. I also use Tripcase (online or app) to maintain electronic travel itinerary information and keep emergency travel related documentation in PDF format stored in Evernote (online or app). PDFs include advance directive copies, health insurance cards, vaccination records, marriage certificate, medical evacuation instructions, auto insurance information, Auto Club information, copies of foreign VISA paperwork and travel insurance policies. PDFs with private information are encrypted. I use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service for secure wireless connections.

• Prescription Drugs - You never want to risk placing your prescription drugs or OTC supplements in your check-in luggage. The loss or misdirection of a luggage piece could cause a medical issue. My carry-on contains enough drugs to cover the trip duration plus a few extra days. I want to be prepared to deal with any rescheduled air travel and/or delays.

• Spare Glasses or Contacts - Being nearsighted and an age where reading glasses are helpful, I always keep a spare pair of glasses or a pair of contact lenses in my carry-on. There is absolutely not much worse than being almost anywhere and also being unable to see clearly.  

• Sweater or light fleece pullover - I often find the ambient temperature in a plane can quickly fluctuate from being too cold or too warm during a flight. The capability to layer is helpful and most airlines have done away with providing a blanket. Moreover, if a blanket was provided you may have wondered about how many times its been used before you've taken your seat.

• Sanitizing Wipes and/or Small Hand Sanitizer Container. Sanitizing wipes are often useful for a quick clean-up of your airline tray table, seat arms and seat belt clips. That said, I'm not sure how well these surfaces are disinfected after a wipe-down. The sanitizer is also useful after a visit to the aircraft lavatory.

• Resusable Nylon Shopping Bag - This comes in handy if you purchase some last minute items in the terminal before boarding or if you need to gate check your carry-on bag. If the latter, this bag can be used to transfer your more fragile or essential items from your carry-on bag into the plane. My bag has an integrated 2 inch by 3 inch storage pouch. 

• Change of Clothes - If we've had a long international flight and we have access to an  airport lounge (and enough layover time), it feels great to take a shower. Changing into some different clothes after your shower is also refreshing and you feel better prepared for the next flight, however long.  

Clothing Arts' Cubed Travel Jacket - 2016

While packing for a trip, I often struggle with the decision of which jacket to take along. Do I bring a warm insulated jacket, a wool coat, a raincoat or maybe just a shell? Generally, layers work best as there is only so much room in your checked luggage or carry-on. Recently, I had an opportunity to try Clothing Arts' Cubed Travel Jacket™. This water-proof shell offers two lower external zipper pockets, two zipper pockets at chest level - which can be accessed from exterior or interior of the jacket and four interior pockets with security locking mechanisms.

I wasn't new to Clothing Arts' products. I've worn Clothing Arts' "Pick Pocket Proof™" adventure travel pants and adventure travel shorts. Both of these pants offer pockets with additional security flaps and zipper compartments that hinder theft of your pocket contents. After feeling a youngster's hand attempting to steal my wallet while in a Rome subway, I learned to appreciate the additional security of Clothing Arts pants. Use of either Clothing Arts' long or short pants can prevent most pickpocket thefts. 

Construction and Material
The jacket uses an eVent water-proof and breathable DVstorm laminate. This membrane is engineered to vent moisture under both low and high humidity conditions. As a comparison, GoreTex® tends to vent best under high humidity levels. All water-proof membrane products need to be kept clean to avoid clogging the tiny membrane pores. Use of DEET spray is generally not recommended for use on any jacket using a water-proof membrane.

All interior seams are taped which provide an additional water protection level. The exterior hand-level pockets are lined with jacket material. Interior pockets are formed from stretchy fabric.
  
Fit
The Clothing Arts sizing table indicated a medium-sized jacket for me. I typically wear a size 40 sport coat, have a 32 inch waist and 34 inch dress shirt sleeve length. I often have issues with the sleeve length for medium-sized jackets. The Cubed Travel Jacket™ provided plenty of additional sleeve length for me as shown by the above photo, so I presume the sleeve length for a medium-sized jacket is likely around 35-36 inches. 

The jacket has plenty of spare room in the chest and arms without being baggy. The jacket can easily accommodate a sweater, sweatshirt or light vest.

The detachable rain hood can be customized for a good fit via pull cords. I particularly like the capability to adjust the degree in which the hood hem covers your forehead. On jackets without this adjustment, I often find that I need to wear a baseball style cap so that the cap visor prevents the hood from sliding down and obscuring my vision. The collar of the jacket is a bit stiff, but perhaps it will soften with wear.

The jacket cuffs have a Velcro enclosure. This permits you to adjust the cuff closure to a position that suits you best.

Weatherproof Capability
The jacket uses waterproof zippers on all exterior pockets and for the jacket closure. A detachable rain hood is provided with the jacket.  During a December rain, I walked the dog while wearing the Cubed Travel Jacket™. As with my other jackets with a water-proof membrane, the shell with a sweater provides a reasonable degree of warmth while performing light to moderate speed walking. Water nor wind could penetrate the jacket and water beaded on the outside of the jacket. Keep in mind that a heavy downpour would likely drench your pants and shoes, making a possibly uncomfortable outing even though the top of your body is dry and warm.

The hand pockets are not lined with warm fleece or flannel. This feature would be helpful for cold weather. 

Packing Convenience
The jacket should be easy to pack - it is not very thick when folded. The detachable hood is handy, but it might be best to keep the hood attached. This avoids misplacing the hood or leaving it behind during an unexpected downpour. Alternatively, the hood can be folded and placed in a jacket pocket - though a hood folded to pocket size is a little bulky.

A medium-sized jacket, with hood, weighs about 1.5 pounds (680 grams). 

Security

© 2016, R. Ono

Only the four lower interior jacket pockets can be secured. If the zipper locking mechanism is engaged in advance, these four zippers cannot be opened without disengaging the lock. All other jacket zippers are without a locking mechanism.

Summary
Overall, I believe the Cubed Travel Jacket™ would make a great travel companion. The jacket has a "business casual" appearance rather than looking like an outdoor expedition jacket. I like the attention to detail, such as using waterproof zippers on exterior pockets and taping all interior seams. The security pockets could prevent a theft and are not found on other jackets. Overall, the jacket should pack well.

With a list price of $380, this is a relatively expensive jacket. That said, quite a bit of thought went into jacket design, the latest technology material is used during hand-manufacture of the jacket, the jacket is weather proof and its four interior pockets are likely to resist pickpocket theft. I suspect that a retail price point closer to $300 would be more attractive.

If there was a design change to recommend, it would be to line the exterior lower jacket pockets with at least a flannel lining. This feature keeps your hands warmer on blistery days when you're without gloves. I'm guessing this could be done without sacrificing the jacket's water-proof functionality. Absent this feature, I'll bring some lightweight gloves.

There are several ultralight rain jackets (8 ounces or less) on the market; however, some ultralight jackets may lack the probable long-term sturdiness of the Cubed Travel Jacket™. Other non-ultralight travel weather-proof jackets to consider include Marmot's Red Star Jacket ($300) and Palisades Jacket ($325), a Rab Muztag Jacket ($300) or a Patagonia Piolet Jacket ($299). Secured zipper pockets would not be present on these other products.

It would be terrific to see this travel jacket line expanded to offer jackets for women. I'm guessing that over time, perhaps Clothing Arts will offer a Cubed Travel Jacket™ for women.  

© 2016, R. Ono

Interior View of Jacket Pockets
(Jacket is inside out)
© 2016, R. Ono

Cuffs Have Adjustable Velcro Enclosures
© 2016, R. Ono

The Hood Height is Adjustable Using This Cord
© 2016, R. Ono

Acknowledgement

Clothing Arts provided a Cubed Travel Jacket™ to me at a reduced price to support this review. However, Clothing Arts did not influence the content of the evaluation.

Monitor and Record Activity at Your Front Door via A Ring Video Doorbell

Back in July 2016, I posted my independent review of the installation and use of a Ring Pro Video Doorbell on this blog.  This device was pretty easy to install and the operation provides an additional security measure. It's handy to be able to use the Ring smartphone app to record or monitor motion at your door. The app will also permit you to speak to the person ringing the doorbell when you're busy and can't reach the door in time or when you're away from your house. During the holidays, the Ring Video Doorbell can record motion from any package delivery or, alternatively, package theft activity. Keep in mind that if the package delivery is made outside of camera range or the individual is extremely quick and/or obfuscates appearance there is a limit to how much video the Ring device can capture.

In addition, any recording from your front door could be a valuable tool that helps law enforcement identify possibly criminal activity in your neighborhood - which translates into a safer community for all of us.

Ring recently contacted me and authorized me to offer a $25 discount to readers that are interested in installing a Ring video doorbell.  Below is the offer that is valid until December 31, 2016. UPS ground shipping is free with this offer. Orders can be made directly at the Ring website.

Review of Ring Pro Video Doorbell - 2016 (updated 2019 & 2025)

Update November 2025: I just replaced my Ring Doorbell with the latest Doorbell Pro model. Why? The rubber cover that is pressed to activate the doorbell cracked from nine years of brutal summer sun. The rubber cover can be replaced with some effort but I noticed a replacement unit was on sale. Are there other security doorbells to consider? Yes - but I have three other Ring exterior cameras and one interior camera. So, I've already committed to storage for my five Ring devices. 

Update (July 14, 2016): After a few additional weeks of using the Ring Pro, I noticed a way to adjust motion detection sensitivity.  Creating an extremely small motion detection zone in a critical viewing area greatly reduced my false motion detection alerts and still provided accurate motion detection reporting.

Background

Recently, burglars broke into my neighbor’s house during the mid-day hours. Apparently, after receiving no response from a door knock or doorbell ring, the culprits kicked in the front door and proceeded to ransack the residence. Given my frequent travel schedule, this incident prompted me to consider how to better protect my home, beyond the existing centrally monitored alarm system.

Over the past month, I added two additional home security components – an exterior motion detection enabled camera and a Ring Pro video doorbell ($249, Amazon). Admittedly, there is some feature overlap between these two security devices as both support a smartphone app that receives alerts when either monitoring system is triggered as well as offer cloud storage of video clips. 

This review is focused on the features and operation of the Ring Pro video doorbell. The Ring Pro, released by Ring.com in April 2016. The developers of the Ring Pro have several years of video doorbell experience, beginning with the release of the "Doorbot" in 2013 and the subsequent "Ring" video doorbell release in 2014. 

Update: In 2018, I replaced my exterior motion detection camera with a Ring Spotight Cam (wired). This camera  monitors my rear patio door area. All Ring products are working fine and managed by a single smartphone app.

What does Ring Pro do?

The Ring Pro replaces your standard residential doorbell with a slim device (4.5 x 1.85 x 0.8 inches) that can send an alert to an app on your Apple, Android or Windows 10 device when someone either rings your doorbell or enters into the video doorbell’s custom motion detection zone. The captured video clips can be stored on Ring cloud servers. If you choose this subscription storage service, the cost is $3 per month or $30 per year. 

Ring Pro Hardware Installation

Installation of this video doorbell is straight forward. A prerequisite is an existing hard-wired doorbell chime. Your chime serves as a power source. The Ring Pro does not use replaceable batteries.

Upon opening the box, I noted that:

• All components and installation tools are in the box.
• Four faceplates with different finishes are included so that you can customize the exterior appearance of the doorbell.
• Instructions in the box are clearly written and installation videos are available.
• A telephone support line and online support chat function are both available.

I suspect the most challenging installation step for most purchasers will be installation of the provided “Pro Power” kit into their existing transformer-powered wall door chime.  This installation requires removal of the chime cover after temporarily turning off the electricity to the door chime. With the chime cover removed, you attach two wires from the Pro Power kit to the internal chime connections for the front doorbell and to the transformer. While the “Pro Power” kit is small, I mounted the kit on the outside of the door chime cover with the supplied double-mount tape. There was little additional interior space within my door chime to permit me to place the kit in the chime enclosure and still replace the chime cover.

Mounting the Ring Pro doorbell to my exterior wall simply required me to remove the two screws used to mount the existing doorbell. As I reused one of the existing mounting wall holes, I only needed to drill one additional hole in the wall to mount the Ring Pro.

Ring Pro App Installation and Final Setup

Once the Ring Pro video doorbell was connected and “Pro Power” kit installed in the door chime, I attempted to complete the last installation step. This step required the download of the Ring video doorbell app from iTunes, Google Play or the Microsoft Store for Windows10. 

After app installation, there was a connectivity test between the video doorbell and the app running on my Nexus 6P cell phone (2018: replaced Nexus with iPhone). The initial test failed. I called Ring technical support and was advised to reset both my WIFI router and the Ring Pro doorbell. The setup communication error was still present and support recommended that I then install the app on my Nexus 9 tablet and reattempt the final wireless communication test. This bypass worked and I was then able to receive doorbell and motion detection alerts on my Nexus 6P phone, iPhone, Nexus 9 tablet and iPad. I am still not sure of why this initial problem occurred as I was running the most current Android flavor (Marshmellow, 6.01) - at that time - on both Nexus devices and the then current version of the Ring Android app. The communication error may have also been related to the strength of my WIFI reception at the front door. 

I found Ring’s telephone and online chat technical support functions required little wait time and the guidance was both helpful and clear. Ring also provides installation videos that can help guide you through each step of the installation process.

Performance

The distance between my front door doorbell location and wireless router extended beyond the 25 to 30 feet limit recommended by Ring - in fact, the distance was almost double. Thus, my Ring Pro installation experienced some intermittent voice and video quality issues likely related to poor WIFI bandwidth at the doorbell. The video capture after the doorbell was generally very good but the sound quality was poor. Real-time video and audio function (LiveView) was choppy and inoperative at times.

After consultation with Ring technical support, I ordered and installed a wireless range extender (Netgear EX2700, $30 on Amazon) near the downstairs front door. My intention was to increase the reach of the upstairs WIFI router. The EX2700 was one of two WIFI range extenders that Ring has tested with its video doorbells. My below comments reflect testing with use of the WIFI extender.

Doorbell function: When the doorbell button is pushed, Ring Pro triggers a chime located in the doorbell and informs the Ring app of a doorbell ring. About two seconds later, the wall doorbell chime rang. The app permitted me to either remotely answer the doorbell using the app's video and audio function or, if unanswered, I could capture a video from the doorbell location. Once a video is captured, I could view it later and/or download the video to my computer or tablet.

The extender greatly improved doorbell WIFI reception and video and audio quality within the app when devices in the house were used to respond to doorbell rings or motion detection events. However, audio quality sometimes broke up when using the Ring app on my cell phone to respond to a doorbell ring or motion detection from a distant location. This audio issue is difficult to resolve as interference at the remote location, cellular service strength and/or quality of guest WIFI connectivity could contribute as problem sources. 


Motion detection: Multiple custom motion sensing zones can be established and monitored by Ring Pro. However, it is not possible to adjust the motion detection sensitivity. My external security camera has this adjustment function and it helps to reduce false motion detection from extraneous activity such as plants moving from wind, walkers or traffic. Lacking this sensitivity adjustment, false motion alarms do occur with the Ring Pro.

Motion detection, as well as the doorbell monitoring, can be individually enabled or disabled through the app.

LiveView: Real-time viewing at the exterior of the front door is a very useful feature as I used it to initiate a conversation with an individual at the door via the Ring app. Local video and audio reception quality of LiveView improves greatly after installation of the WIFI extender.

Day vs Night: The daylight video images were bright and clear. I noticed that my downloaded video clips indicated a 1280x720 resolution. It was not clear if the Ring Pro file export function reduces an actual 1080p video feed to a 720p downloadable clip. Evening infrared LED assisted video was grainy and less sharp than daylight video images.

Adding users: The Ring app permits you, as a doorbell  owner, to add/invite/revoke additional individuals to respond to Ring Pro alerts. This feature is particularly helpful for adding household members so that they can respond to doorbell or motion detection alerts. 

Integration Feature: During this evaluation, I did not attempt to integrate the Ring Pro doorbell with any other security device, such as a WIFI enabled door look mechanism or existing residential security system. It appears that such integration is possible with a limited number of vendor security solutions.

What’s the difference between the “Ring Pro” version versus the original "Ring" video doorbell?

This latest Ring product supports higher video quality(1080p HD video), both 2.5GHz and 5GHz wireless connectivity, provides a “LiveView” real-time video option, permits the establishment of a custom motion detection zone rather than a fixed zone, is a bit thinner and smaller than the original Ring video doorbell and requires connection to an existing hard-wired door chime mechanism as the “Pro” device lacks an internal rechargeable/replaceable battery. The Ring Pro offers significant enhancements over the Ring video doorbell.

Are there other 2019 wireless video doorbells to consider?

The market is becoming very competitive with several WIFI enabled video doorbell alternatives. I have not reviewed any of the other devices and am not sure how the Ring Pro compares to these units in respect to features, installation, operation, reliability nor ease of use. Looking through Amazon reviews, owners of of the below alternative video door bells report varying degrees of installation and/operational success:

• Arlo Video Doorbell
• August Doorbell Cam Pro
• eufy Security Wi-Fi Video Doorbell
• Nest Hello
• Remobell S Wi-Fi Video Doorbell Camera

Summary

Ring Pro, the latest iteration of Ring's video doorbell, appears to meet its feature specifications. As mentioned above, there were some audio challenges when I attempted to respond to a doorbell ring from a remote location via my smartphone. These difficulties required me to verbally repeat my audio responses. There are several possible contributors to this problem, so Ring firmware/software/hardware components or the Ring app may not be the primary problem - hard to tell without detailed code review or inspection of network communication. Finally, the Ring Pro's motion detection does produce false positives that a motion sensitivity adjustment, if available, could likely reduce. For this reason, I favor the combination of Ring Pro's doorbell function with my standalone motion detection camera.

Overall, I recommend the Ring Pro as a well performing video doorbell solution - as long as you have sufficient WIFI upload bandwidth at the doorbell location (3 to 4 Mbps). Less bandwidth could lead to unstable video and audio functions and suggests the need for a WIFI extender. Over time, I firmware and app enhancements have made this a stronger product in a crowded marketplace.

Suggested considerations for product Improvements, include:

• Sensitivity adjustment for motion detection to help avoid false alerts.
• An adjustment for the vertical video capture zone. The default viewing zone is a fairly broad. However, when the doorbell is mounted on horizontal exterior siding with overlapping slats, there is a possibility of the camera view being tipped up a bit. The capability to adjust the video camera view angle could be helpful for some installations.
• A setting to permit scheduling of wall doorbell chime monitoring. This would allow the chime sound to be disabled when a household member wants to sleep during a regularly occurring timeframe. At this time, the app provides only a single setting to enable or disable the doorbell chime.    
• Improved doorbell monitoring from remote locations.

Note that my review did not specifically review the security protocols used by Ring Pro. A more detailed security evaluation would require substantial resources to complete.

Rear Camera View

 

Acknowledgement 

Ring provided a Ring Pro evaluation unit to me at no charge. However, Ring did NOT have any influence on the content of this review. In addition, all contact with Ring's technical support was done without identifying myself as a product reviewer.