Part 2: How to Connect a Soundbar to a TV?

In most cases, these two elements are connected via Bluetooth and the pairing is automatic. If the latter fails, there is always a manual procedure to pair them (a forced detection button is placed behind the subwoofers).

Your installation is now complete.

Place the center speaker

These are the dialogues that are emitted by the central speaker. So that the effect is realistic, you must place this speaker next to the screen. If ever, you put it behind, you will have the impression to watch the characters dialogue on the screen while their voices come from the back of the room.

In order to better manage the constraints of your room, the center speaker can be stored below the television. It can also be put on top of the TV, depending on their shapes. The only place that is not suitable for successful sound is located behind the screen. The sound emitted by the speaker remains blocked unless the projection screen is micro-perforated, that is to say, let's pass the sound.

One possible error is the placement of the device in a cavity. The voices of your favorite actors will be cavernous.

Set up the soundbar and connect it to your smartphones

Now that you're ready, it's time to turn on your soundbar, switch your TV to AUX or HDMI depending on the TV models, if this is not done automatically.

Using the remote control on the smart soundbar, enter the setting menus to select the available options. The latter can affect sound settings using an equalizer, you can select automatic presets according to the sound environments you prefer. This step is important because it will allow you to listen to your favorite movies or programs in the best conditions.

You can also enjoy your soundbar as an external speaker for your smartphone or tablet. It is through Bluetooth pairing that this connection will be established. Select the "Bluetooth" source on your soundbar using the remote control, then turn on the same function on your smartphone. In the list of detected devices, select your smart soundbar and follow the confirmation instructions on your smartphone or tablet, often using a PIN code. That's it, your smartphone is connected you can enjoy your music and playlists on your soundbar.

I take this opportunity to tell you that depending on the model of sound bar that you have chosen, dedicated applications for smartphone and tablet will offer you extensive possibilities: streaming, multi-room listening if you have other audio equipment, etc ...

In conclusion ...

You made the right choice by acquiring a soundbar and its subwoofer. You will now be able to enjoy a spatial sound, an unprecedented immersive experience.

The films you enjoy, the concerts you like, the reports that make you vibrate will take on a new dimension. You will finally enjoy the action scenes as the intense dialogues of the actors as if you were there.

Do not hesitate according to your tastes to modify the sound parameters so that the experience is even stronger, always closer to your aspirations.

Part 1: How to Connect a Soundbar to a TV?

Cinephile, lover of intense and powerful sounds, you cracked for a superb bar of sound. You learned about models, brands, technologies and you chose the model that would offer everything you expected. Now it's time to connect your soundbar to your TV. Do you feel lost? Do you feel hesitant?

Questions still remain about your installation and do you doubt it? Relax, I will accompany you step by step in your task. In the end, fun! The pleasure of having a perfect installation, and the prospect of the pleasure of savoring and enjoying your films, concerts or reports in the best conditions.

So go ahead, unpack your purchase, your brand new soundbar!

Check the connections

The advantage of sound bars, particularly in relation to complex home-theater sets lies in the minimalist connectivity it needs to operate.

Open your package and take out the power cable, and the HDMI cable. That's all you need. Make sure your TV is equipped with HDMI jacks. Also, check whether the location of the electrical outlets is close to the soundbar.

Position the soundbar on or under the TV stable

It's time to decide where to place the smart soundbar. It should be positioned on the axis of your TV. You will need to locate the center of your TV and that of the soundbar. The sound bars are usually installed under the TV, but it is absolutely possible to position it above. As long as the axes of the bar and the TV coincide, there can be no problem.

In the most common case, you can put it under the TV, or just in front. You will simply need a stable and flat support to prevent the soundbar from vibrating.

In the second case, it is possible to fix it to the wall by means of a fixing kit that you would have procured. In this case, you will have to fix it to the wall in the axis of the TV. Depending on the model you have chosen, you must first pass the cables in the notches of the support provided for this purpose. Once the support is fixed, put the soundbar and block it.

Your smart soundbar is now installed, all you have to do is connect it. The HDMI "OUT" cable from the bar to the HDMI "IN" connection of the TV. If you have another device, such as a Blu-ray player, satellite receiver, or another device, you will connect them to the other HDMI connections on the soundbar using HDMI cables.

Then connect the power cable to an AC outlet and your sound bar, voila!

Install the subwoofer if you have one

In order to boost the sound bar, it may be that a subwoofer has been provided unless you have purchased it separately.

The question to ask is the location of this box. In general, I recommend to position it near the soundbar, in front of the viewers. The rendering will be better by sending the sound optimally. The subwoofers connect to the mains using a supplied power cable. You must then connect the box to the soundbar.

Part 2: Here are Two Alternatives for A simple Doorbell With Video Intercoms

The other "modern" asset of this classic intercom is that there is a "Video Intercom" application from Panasonic, on the application store of Google and Apple. To communicate this small world, it will first connect your main monitor Wi-Fi to your router. Then, the application will act as a secondary screen: you can use it to see who is at the door, to dialogue and even to open remotely if you have planned an electric lock.

A solution that is quite expensive but, we told you, sustainable. It takes about 650 € excluding VAT. You can find it on the internet or ask your installer to purchase from Panasonic.

Ring

There are, of course, many alternatives. You can go to a DIY store or a supermarket and buy a kit for 150 €, but nothing guarantees the quality of the image (often it will not be 'wide angle' because such objectives are quite expensive ), nor reliability.

Another option is the Ring wift doorbell. This is an American start-up that released the video intercom in sauce 2.0. Smart, wireless (Wi-Fi + built-in battery), easy to install and only controllable via an application: it sounds too good to be true.

We did not manage to get a test copy, alas. But according to several American sites, the concept is functional.

The principle is the same as at Panasonic, but: the image is of lower quality, you can not connect a standard electric strike (it requires a "smart and connected lock" compatible) and connection (wireless only, and via smartphone ...) is probably less reliable (the time between the bell and the alert on the phone may vary ...).

The smart side is that the application is very well done. This is the basis of the concept, so it is necessarily neat, and full of options (we can set alerts in case of motion detected, review the photos taken as soon as it rings or moves, open the door remotely, and configure it all).

It will cost you about 300 €, including delivery, with one year of subscription to the recording of videos in the cloud: a few seconds of images as soon as movement is detected, or when the bell is pressed, and searchable remotely via the smartphone application (you can download the sequences). Pretty practical.

Part 1: Here are Two Alternatives for A simple Doorbell With Video Intercoms

An advanced solution (that of Panasonic, about 600 €, excluding installation), and a more accessible and more modern (the Ring, about 300 €, to install yourself): make your choice but think about if you have to replace your bell. As much to make it a little more "smart".

You must have noticed that any small everyday electronic device could now connect to the network and suddenly become "smart". By this we mean that it becomes intelligent because it is connected and therefore remotely controllable, often using a smartphone.

This rule also fits the doorbell of houses, called "carillon" in good French. And it would be a shame not to take advantage of it, not to make more intelligent one of the objects that we use almost every day, whether we are the one who rings or the one who hears the bell.

Two examples - very different from each other in terms of form, but not at the level of the bottom - will allow you to see more clearly.

The Rolls of the video intercom

You probably do not know, but the Japanese manufacturer Panasonic is one of the most famous brands in video intercom. And this is normal, its range is primarily for professionals, electricians/electronics, home automation specialists.

That said, it seemed important to us to mention one of the latest models, the VL-SVN511. This is a traditional video intercom system (wired, so), to which Panasonic has added a touch of connectivity.

The installation is not necessarily within the reach of everyone, but with the explicit documentation in French, a few meters of cables (not supplied, because it depends on the distance between your door/barrier and your stay, but that we cost 5 € for 20 meters), a plug and a screwdriver, it will only take a few hours to install everything: the intercom, the monitor, the transformer and the relay.

This is also why Panasonic does not address individuals directly. However, do not hesitate to do it yourself or ask your electrician to install the models of the Japanese manufacturer, because they are known for their reliability and long life. An alarm installer has confirmed that 20 years later, Panasonic cameras and intercoms still work ...

Panasonic's video intercom works ... like a video intercom. We press the single button of the doorkeeper and it sounds the main monitor, where we can see who is at the door with the camera (very, very) wide angle: 170 ° horizontally, and 130 ° vertically. The image is good and even if your interlocutor is on the side, you will see it clearly. You are free to ignore the bell or press the 'TALK' button to chat. It is also possible to open the door remotely if you have an electric strike that also connects to the main monitor (via the relay).

Traditional, but with options

If we talk about this interphone, it's because it has some significant additional options. First, it systematically records multiple images each time someone presses the wifi doorbell. This allows knowing, the evening for example, if people rang your door, if indeed the factor tried to make you sign the recommended or if it slipped it directly in the mailbox, etc. These images are searchable on the main monitor, whose screen is not tactile, alas, and navigation a little archaic. Once again, Panasonic relies on reliability and durability, more than on special features or a trendy interface.

How to Install A Soundbar?

The sound bars meet two important criteria: to guarantee an optimal sound quality and to be able to be installed anywhere thanks to their reduced size. If a soundbar is easy to install, it is still necessary to find the perfect place to place it to enjoy the best surround effect.

CHOOSE THE IDEAL LOCATION

It's all about location in the installation of a smart soundbar. As a rule, the soundbar is placed under the TV stand, but nothing prevents you to find a different place. You can also fix it to the wall using a wall bracket. Note, however, that this choice will make it more difficult to move ... In any case, you must be aware of the added value of a soundbar: generate a sound enveloping by reverberating on the walls of the room where it is located to get back to your ears all around you. This requires placing your TV in a "closed" room with a reasonable distance between the 3 walls facing the soundbar. It is in this configuration that you will fully enjoy the surround effect!

CONNECT THE SOUNDBAR

You can connect your bar to your TV with an RCA cable or possibly an HDMI cable, which offers better sound quality. Make sure to connect your audio cable to the audio output of your TV. If your TV has multiple HDMI jacks, check to see if it has ARC output. This will allow all audio sources to be redirected to the soundbar. Once connected, turn on your television before turning on your sound bar to avoid damaging the speakers when you turn on the power.

ADD ACCESSORIES

Once your soundbar is operational, you can try to improve it. A subwoofer, for example, will add more depth to the sound of your bar. In addition to your TV, you can also connect other devices to your soundbar, such as a Blu-Ray player. If your ARC jack is already in use, connect the player with a standard HDMI jack. You can then activate a Bluetooth connection to your soundbar using your phone or tablet to connect one or more devices to your device.

The Grass of The Pampas

Pampas grass is a Impressive ornamental grass with plumes swaying in the wind, which gives color to the garden and terrace, in autumn and winter.

What attracts attention in the grass of the pampas, or Cortaderia Selloana, are its magnificent white plumes with silver or pink highlights. The plant blooms in September but the plumes remain beautiful for months, weather permitting. Green and sometimes bicolor leaves also contribute to the elegance of this herb. Long, narrow and decorative, they oscillate at the slightest breeze. They bring a natural movement to the spectacle offered by the garden and the terrace. The plant growing high, it carries this dance of nature to a height where many other plants do not bloom. In pots, it remains smaller than in the ground.

FRIENDLY TENACITY

The purple pampas grass is native to South America, where it grows wild in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Like there, the plant can reach 3,5 meters in Europe if it is in the ground, a little less in the pot. Its reed appearance would cause it to be planted near bodies of water, but the soil is in fact too wet. This pleads for this persevering plant that still manages to survive most of the time. The grass of the pampas, however, likes larger and dryer spaces, where the wind can play between its narrow and decorative leaves. The larger the plant, the more resistant it is to the cold.

Ornamental grasses, with their natural appearance, are very fashionable in gardens. A modern, linear garden becomes more welcoming with pampas grass. In a slightly wilder garden, it is an ideal plant for creating perspectives and filling in difficult empty spaces between the ground and the fence height. The grass of the pampas also remembers the seaside; for those who wish to create a dune atmosphere. The plant is very elegant in a big black shiny pot. For a purely natural effect, a faded and weathered wooden container is also very trendy.   

GOOD TO KNOW ON THE GRASS OF THE PAMPAS

The female plant produces soft white plumes with silvery highlights. The male plants, they are more rigid, less decorative and bloom in gray-pink tones.

The Latin name Cortaderia teaches us something on this sheet. "Cortar" means "cut" in Spanish. The leaf is sharp and it is therefore recommended to wear gloves for planting and pruning.

In winter, the yellow leaves are a delightful refuge for small animals in the garden, who can spend the winter there.

After pruning, leave dried plumes and stems in a corner of the garden away from view; the birds will use it willingly to build their nest.

The dried plums are also very beautiful in a vase, both inside and on the garden table.

According to some, the purple pampas grass planted in front of the house would be a way to let insiders know that you are a fan of swapping. Do not say we did not warn you!

Part 2: How to Automate Your Lighting?

The conclusion of my first experiences with these bulbs is as follows:

Take bulbs compatible with your home automation controller

Use preferably actuators compatible with your home automation controller. Xiaomi is a good reference, so the information from the actuators goes directly back to your controller who decides what to do. You are no longer limited! Another interesting article on Xiaomi actuators.

I will add motion detectors to passage areas such as corridors.

I will add remotely controlled switches in the living rooms.

SMART SWITCHES

These bulbs are not necessarily suitable for all situations. We do not want to replace the lamp that does not have compatible bulbs? Take a simple example, I have in my hallway a ramp with several halogen lamps. Would it be wise to change the lamp and buy several connected bulbs? Not necessarily, but then what to do?

There are smart switches, and yes like the bulb your switch can be educated.

Here are some of them:

FIBARO Switch: Be able to add a small Z-Wave module behind your socket or switch to take control of it while keeping your switch functional. You will also have a monitoring of consumption. This solution is not the most economical (about 50 € / piece) but is of very good quality. (I have the roller shutter 2 for my shutters and I'm very happy)

Aqara Wall Switch ZigBee Version: More economical solution, I'm waiting for mine to talk about it but it looks like the basic connected switch. Attention there are two versions one with the connected neutral and one without. The one with the neutral makes it possible to raise the consumption.

SONOFF Smart Touch Switch: Even less expensive, very customizable for connoisseurs, it integrates an ESP8266. I would say it is for advanced users and do not choose it for the touch part, it is very capricious, you really have to insist.

There are others, but I have not tried, do not hesitate to share yours in a comment.

Once your choice is made, read this article on home automation store to get into the technical details of installing the switch.

CONCLUSION

That makes them combinations of products for lighting only, for the moment my combination is: Jeedom, Xiaomi Actuators, PIR Xiaomi, Broadlink compatible bulbs. It can evolve because I start, but I like it as the first solution.

Let's recap if you follow this blog you now have an automation list, a home automation controller (Jeedom), connected light bulbs and switches selected thanks to the room type and your home automation list. All without spending a fortune. If not, what are you waiting for? Tell me where you are in a comment, it interests me.

Part 1: How to Automate Your Lighting?

Lighting with connected lights is a very good starting point for any home automation installation. We will see why, and how to optimize it.

I do not intend to go into the technical details but share some principles from my first feedback. I remind you that I start and that it can evolve. In fact, I have already evolved by writing this article. You will still find links to more technical articles to perfect your lighting installation.

THE SOLUTIONS

SMART BULBS

The smart bulbs have invaded the market between Philips Hue, Xiaomi Yeelight, Ikea Trådfri ... Just look for "smart bulb" on Amazon to realize the market. These are very easy to install because they require nothing more than to change the bulb. They embark a small radio in the base, either wifi (communication with your application through the modem/router) or other protocols such as ZigBee (requires a gateway to communicate with your wifi). Like any bulb, the selection criteria are the brightness, the color temperature (variable or not) and the base.

For color bulbs it is interesting to check the number of colors, for example, those of Ikea has only 20 colors against 16 million for Hue. It will be necessary to wait for a comparison, I for the moment only Xiaomi and Broadlink (see the article how to associate your Ikea bulbs with your Hue gateway ), but I intend well to explore the yeelight and the others according to their compatibility with Jeedom. Here is an important criterion, compatibility with your home automation controller, if you do not have one yet, see the article How to choose a home automation controller. You will be much less limited with the controller than with the manufacturer's application.

When opting for bulbs, think about the actuators. Those who will turn on your light. The first step, you must condemn your current switches so that the bulb is always powered and controllable.

To replace them you have wireless switches or motion sensors provided by the same manufacturers (Philips Hue, Broadlink, Ikea Trådfri, Xiaomi). I would opt for a detector in the corridors or other rooms of passage and for a switch in the living rooms as the living room or the kitchen. Although I think it's possible to combine the two with the Jeedom scenario that's going well.

You can also automate power on / off with your home automation controller. Who will be able to take into account the luminosity of the room, the hour, your detectors of the movements, the presence ... If you want a detailed example with Jeedom, go read Sarakha's article63: Automatic extinction of lights in Jeedom Domotique

For example:

Put the lighting between sunset, until the sunrise when you detect a movement and dim the light between 00:00 and 05:00 to not dazzle.

Or, everyone leaves, turn off all the lights on.

It is also possible to use the voice with Google Home for example to manage its lighting. No need to get up because the voice goes further than your arm.

How to Decorate Cupcakes?

The cupcakes come in the same packaging as the madeleines and muffins. Making cupcakes is very fashionable and there are many ways to decorate them. In this article, we explain how to decorate cupcakes.

How to decorate cupcakes with fondant

The basis is an elastic sugar paste that is widely used to decorate cupcakes or cakes on the cheap cake stands. You can buy it in specialized pastry shops but you can also do it yourself.

 

How to decorate cupcakes with chocolate icing

Chocolate icing is another option for decorating cupcakes. The main ingredients of icings are butter, milk, icing sugar and cocoa powder.

How to decorate cupcakes with buttercream

The buttercream is another type of decoration for cupcakes. The recipe is the same as the icing but without chocolate. You can decorate your cupcakes (in white with this blanket or different colors with food colors).

How to decorate cupcakes with cream cheese

The cream cheese is like buttercream, but add the cream cheese and put less butter. In this way, you will get a much lighter and more fashionable blanket to decorate your cupcakes on the cheap cake stands.

How to decorate cupcakes with royal icing

To make a royal icing you will have to beat egg white with sugar glass. This mixture hardens on contact with air: we recommend using it for fondant cupcakes.

How to decorate cupcakes with a vegan or vegetable cover

Today the decoration of cupcakes with ingredients hundred percent vegetable, that is to say, without using eggs, butter or milk is fashionable. To do this, you will have to go to specialized stores that sell margarine and vegetable milk. This technique for decorating cupcakes is ideal for those who are allergic to certain ingredients.

Types of cups to make cupcakes

To give shape to your blanket, use piping bags.

The content we mentioned above is all that we want to share with you. If you have any question about the tips, please contact me. Besides, I am so glad that you can share some good ideas with me.