#alexa

Craig Whitaker

Nov 11, 2019
1 min

Can Bose Bluetooth speakers be part of my Bose Soundtouch system?

With the holidays approaching, our clients are asking if they purchase Bose Bluetooth speakers such as Soundlink Mini or Revolver, as gifts for family members, can these Bluetooth speakers be added to their home wide Soundtouch system? The answer is no. Bose Soundtouch products are Wi-Fi based products and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are different technologies. What adds to the confusion is you can Bluetooth music to a Soundtouch device, but remember, Bluetooth speakers cannot connec

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Craig Whitaker

Aug 5, 2019
1 min

Do I Need the Most Expensive HDMI Cables?

Clients often inquire if they need the most expensive HDMI cables. For the majority of people, the answer is no. Unless you have one of the new 8K TV’s, an expensive HDMI cable will not improve your picture quality. Standard 2.0 HDMI cables will transmit 4K HDR signals. If you do have a new 8K TV, a new 2.1 HDMI cable is needed. As with all audio video systems, the final result is equal to the weakest component. For example, if you have the best speakers and the best audio so

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Craig Whitaker

Jul 4, 2019
1 min

What are the top rated home Wi-Fi network routers?

After last week, some clients were ready to upgrade their routers and asked what were the highest rated routers. According to a CNET article published January 2019, the top router was Asus RT-AC68U Dual-band Wireless-AC1900. This router had the highest rating in Set-up (9), Features, (9), and Performance (10). This was followed by the Asus AC2900 dual-band Wi-Fi router. This router was specifically recommended for larger homes and scored a 9 in all performance metrics. Acco

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Craig Whitaker

Jun 17, 2019
1 min

How Can I Improve My Wi-Fi Network?

Most of our clients are adding network-connected devices to their Wi-Fi network. As you can easily understand, this increase in connected devices will slow down your network speed and create connectivity issues. Clients are constantly asking how can I improve my Wi-Fi network. Before you invest in a new router, there are a couple of things you can try. First is the location of your router. The router should be centered in your home for the best coverage for your entire home

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Craig Whitaker

Apr 15, 2019
1 min

Thinking of cutting the cord?

Many people, especially millenialsare fed up with high cable bills and are contemplating cutting the cord. Before you take out those scissors, there are a couple of things to consider. First, what TV channels do I want? If you are satisfied with the free over air channels, you will need a TV antenna and an idea what over the air TV signals can you receive with the antenna. Regarding the antennas, there are 2 types, outside, which are, mounted to the roof or side of your home

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Craig Whitaker

Feb 11, 2019
1 min

How to explain an Alexa Skill?

There is an old adage; sometimes the student is the better teacher. That happened this week during a consultation. I was struggling trying to explain the Bose Alexa skill, and Alexa skills in general. After what seemed to be an eternity, the client looked at me and said, “It appears that these skills work like the apps on my phone”. Bingo! The client just taught me the perfect way to explain Alexa Skills, apps for your Alexa. Like an app, Alexa skills help you accomplish var

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Craig Whitaker

Jan 2, 2019
1 min

What is the Difference between Bose Soundtouch Speakers and Bose Smart Speakers?

Clients have asked what is the difference between Bose Soundtouch speakers and Bose Smart speakers. There are a couple of significant differences to consider when selecting between the two product lines. The first is the Alexa control. With the Smart speaker products, Alexa control is built into the product. With the Soundtouch products, control is through an external Alexa device using the Bose Alexa skill set. The 2ndconsideration, a larger one, is the number of available S

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Craig Whitaker

Dec 12, 2018
1 min

Can I Control My Bose Soundtouch System with Amazon’s Alexa?

Many people are getting the Amazon Alexa device for the holidays and want to know if their Bose Soundtouch music system can be controlled with Alexa. The answer is yes. You can control most Bose Soundtouch systems with Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Tap or any Alexa-enabled device. The 1ststep is to download the Bose Soundtouch Control Skill into your Amazon account. Once you have done this, you will need to enter your Bose Soundtouch account’s username and password. That’s it, your

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Craig Whitaker

Nov 14, 2018
1 min

Can I still have a hard-wired, non-streaming system installed?

Recently some clients have asked if hard-wired, non-streaming residential music systems can still be installed. The reasons vary from vacation homes with no Internet service to clients with no interest in using streaming music services. The answer is yes. We have installed this type of system a few times during the past few months for clients who want to play their favorite over the air radio station or their CD collection throughout their homes. The basic design includes a

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Craig Whitaker

Nov 7, 2018
1 min

What is 5G?

Much talk is starting to surface about 5G technology and our clients are now asking about 5G during our In Home Consultations. First, 5G stands for 5thGeneration of cellular technology. Developers of 5G are promising speeds of 10-100 times faster than current 4G or LTE cellular services. But it’s more than speed, 5G will reduce latency and allow more devices to be connected. Latency is the response time from clicking a link on your phone to when you actually see the website

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Craig Whitaker

Oct 17, 2018
1 min

What is a network access point?

Everyday more and more devices are being connected to your home’s Wi-Fi network. The last couple of weeks, we have discussed the importance of a strong Wi-Fi network throughout your home and how to quickly test the strength and coverage. In many cases, you will find your Wi-Fi coverage will vary throughout your home. You can strengthen the coverage of your network by adding Access Points or Range Extenders. These devices are not the same. An Access Point is wired back to you

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Craig Whitaker

Sep 11, 2018
1 min

How can I prepare for the storm?

With Flo heading towards the Mid-Atlantic region, we would like to remind our clients to un-plug their Bose systems and TV’s along with any other electronic devices before the storm. This will eliminate damage from lighting and power surges during the storm. After the storm has passed, be sure your power has been fully restored and is stable before plugging your devices back in. There are times, when power is first restored, that power may drop in out and this can damage your

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Craig Whitaker

Aug 29, 2018
1 min

What are the differences in TV Brackets?

In selecting the proper TV bracket, first and foremost, confirm the bracket will support the size and weight of your TV. The weight of the same size TV can vary. There are 3 basic types of TV brackets, flat, tilt, and full motion, also known as an articulating arm. The flat bracket is the most common and allows you to mount the TV to the wall with no motion whatsoever. If you use this type of bracket, be sure it has lateral movement, which allows you to center the TV on the

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Craig Whitaker

Jul 18, 2018
1 min

My HOA bans outdoor speakers, How can I expand My Bose Soundtouch?

We have many clients that live in townhomes, condos or private communities that enjoy the Bose SoundTouch music platform throughout their homes. However when they want to add music to their outdoor living spaces, they discover their HOA prohibits permanent outdoor speakers. All is not lost. If you have an electrical outlet on your Deck or Patio and decent WI-FI coverage, you can simply add a Bose Soundtouch 20 or 30 and begin to enjoy your music outside. Although it is a pai

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Craig Whitaker

Jun 20, 2018
1 min

What is an ARC Input?

ARC is the acronym for Audio Return Channel on your TV or receiver. It is designed to allow a single HDMI cable to carry both video and audio between your TV and Soundbar or audio receiver. This return audio is critical when a program is streamed using a Smart TV app such as Netflix or Hulu. Without the return audio, the sound never reaches your audio system. When working properly, an ARC channel will eliminate multiple cables between your TV and audio system. To work proper

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Craig Whitaker

Jun 13, 2018
1 min

Do I Qualify for a Bose Upgrade?

We are often asked what does it take to qualify for a Bose system upgrade and what are the advantages of upgrading? For your system to qualify for the trade-in, it must be a CD/DVD based system, that is, one that has a built in CD/DVD player. If you qualify, you will receive 25% off a new Bose 600, Bose 650, or Bose BIV Home Theater system. Please note if you have expansion rooms connected to your CD/DVD based system, you will also need to upgrade your expansion amplifiers.

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Craig Whitaker

May 23, 2018
1 min

What is the difference between a modem and a router?

Daily, many of our clients are adding devices in their homes that require an Internet connection. This often requires upgrading their home network. Simply, the more devices you connect to your home network, the better your network needs to be. For those that are facing this issue for the 1sttime, we would like to briefly explain the differences between your modem and your router. Your modem is that device that connects your home router the Internet using a cable from your pro

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Craig Whitaker

May 2, 2018
1 min

Why Can’t I Select My Soundtouch 20 in the Bose app?

If your SoundTouch system appears gray in the SoundTouch app but you cannot select it, here are a couple of things you can try. First, close and reopen the SoundTouch app. If the problem persists, be sure your system is powered on and, confirm that your Soundtouch 20 is connected to your network. If you are using a wireless connection, the Wi-Fi indicator light should be solid white. If you are using a wired connection, be sure your network cable is securely connected at both

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Craig Whitaker

Apr 25, 2018
1 min

What Should I do before I disconnect my system?

Over the past several weeks we have scheduled service calls for clients, who for various reasons, have disconnected their system and now need to schedule a technician to come out and reconnect the system components. If you would like to save the cost of a service call and are somewhat handy, here are some do it yourself suggestions on how to disconnect and reconnect your system. All you need is some masking tape and a marker. First, be sure the system and all components are t

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Craig Whitaker

Apr 18, 2018
1 min

Why can’t I change the Pandora station with Soundtouch on my TV?

This week we had a couple calls from clients questioning why they couldn’t change their Pandora station using the Bose Soundtouch app on their TV’s. Although both clients had the same problem, there were 2 different causes. In the 1stcase, the client had a smart TV and had accessed the Pandora service from the Smart TV options, not from the Bose Soundtouch app. Remember, you must select your music service through the Bose Soundtouch app to control it with the app and have th

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With Bose Soundtouch Expansion products discontinued, here are some music zone options for those upgrading their Bose Lifestyle systems.

WB South

888-775-2673