Consumer Research

My WF p/w does contain one or more special characters. I also use their text based 2 factor authentication.

There are certain ones they don’t allow based on the last time I looked at their criteria. I keep really strong random passwords so I haven’t changed it in quite awhile. I agree they do have the 2 factor text based authentication though

The way I look at this is that it’s not good security to limit the potential number of unique values because it results in fewer combinations.

My husband only ever goes to one. Hennepin Lake Liquor. They know him by name. Is that a bad sign?

Not as bad as me. For awhile it was 2-3 shops near my house

True story: I worked at Tonka Bottle Shop in college and we had a regular that came in for a 12 of Natty Light and 750 of Karkov 4 or 5 times a week without fail. At one point he got a DUI was and resigned to riding his bike to the store which for him wasn't too bad because he lived very near by.

We once busted him stealing from us and banned him from the store. At that particular time the only other liquor stores near Mtka Blvd & 101 were? MGM near 7-Hi didn't exist yet nor anything else close. Glen Lake or Wayzata?

He eventually got a DUI or something on his bike and had that confiscated. About that time I stopped working there and never heard additionally what happened to him after that. Post college I worked part time at Wayzata W&S and we had a similar extreme shopper but he managed to avoid similar troubles at least while I was there.

Can only imagine how hammered (or unlucky I guess) you'd have to be to get a DUI on a bike.

Anyone in photography have any experience or opinions on Tamron lenses? Looking to get a "super zoom" lens for my Nikon D7100 without taking out a second mortgage. The Tamron B016 AF 16-300MM f3.5-6.3 seems like a serviceable, reasonably priced option, as strictly "hobby" glass. Thanks!

Tamron makes good glass. Most people wouldn't notice the difference versus Nikon. Especially with the smaller asp-c imager on the D7100.

I’ve thought about buying Tamron when I get a new lens. It’s good quality glass.

Have you thought about buying something like a 50-250 or something that doesn’t go from wide angle to telephoto? My experience with just my telephoto is that it’s a little heavy so I’d think carrying something like that for awhile could be exhausting.

I’m assuming you have a kit lens already to cover the wider focal ranges. It is a little bit of a pain to switch but the lower weight may be a worthwhile trade off

First of all, thank you both for replying. Very glad to hear the positive views on the Tamron glass. Seems to fit the bill of a solid nature and landscape zoom lens without breaking my budget.

I DID consider keeping my kit lens (18-55mm) and buying a zoom beyond that range, but the price and versatility of the Tamron 16-300mm made it worth the extra weight on the body. And yes, not having to switch back and forth was a consideration.

Once I get the lens and play with it a bit I will definitely post back with my thoughts.

I am by no means an expert, but wanted to offer my expeirence. I have a Nikon D3300 with a few lenses, one of which is a Tamron 18-270 that we bought at the same time as the camera. We purchased it for our National Park trips, and use those photos as artwork in our house. Wildlife and huge landscapes.

The 18-270 has some barrel distortion and vignetting, both of which are more pronounced at either end of the spectrum.

I want to warn you, that in my experience shooting above 150mm or so really requires a tripod, or a much steadier hand than I have. Most pictures I have attempted to take at that range are too blurry and have a lot of chromatic aberrations. Even at a 5x7 it is noticeable. Not to mention having context makes the pictures SO much better, IMHO. My zoomed in grizzly bears just aren't as cool as the grizzly in the foreground with the mountains and stream in the background. I am no National Geographic photographer, that's for sure.

I found myself using the 18-50 mm range much more and typical had the kit lens on. The Tamron was very heavy. I also felt the photos in the 18mm-24mm range were better on the kit lens than the Tamron, and easier to focus (for me, I don't use autofocus). The other thing it didn't do well was night sky photos. The super zoom lens was a huge lever on the end of the tripod, which occasionally would move over a 60 second exposure creating blur. And needed longer exposures to get a good photo than the kit lens (very little light travelling through much more glass?)

I ended up buying a Nikon 12-24mm lens that I am much happier with, for the photos WE want. Not saying you would be happier with something like that, but we are. Now, when I want to take anything at 50mm-150mm or so. It is a great lens, and I keep it for that. I just spend so little time in the 150+mm range that if I had to buy a lens again, I wouldn't get something that went to that range to start with.

I have also read that many of the issues we had with it (barrel distortion being a big one) were made much less noticeable on the newer 16-300 lens. So there is that.

Lightroom has been very valuable to me. I stay zoomed out and am able to "stitch" photos together. I can crop images as needed. If you shoot in raw you can adjust exposure and a whole host of other things. With a 24MP sensor, we have a 28"x64" photo (taken w/ tripod) of the Alaskan Mountain Range taken from Talkeetna. It is the coolest picture I have ever taken. Blowing it up that big, there still isn't any pixelation or anything like that.

You miles may vary, and you likely take completely different photos than I do. Good luck and enjoy!

Does anyone here on the board consider themselves to be an "expert" (or close of course) on home theater? I'm looking to make some purchases and would appreciate any feedback or advice which could be provided via PM. Thank you!

Suggest going to AVS Forum [ https://www.avsforum.com ] and post your questions there. The experts will steer you in the right direction.

Anyone know anything about compact wireless printers? We don’t print a lot of stuff so I don’t want to break the bank on one, but we need one from time to time. I am also trying to get rid of my big computer desk and just have the print stashed away until I need it.

Do you need color printing, or just black and white? If just B&W try to find a laser printer. Brother and Samsung both make good ones that will last forever. It's a bit more expensive up front, but the toner never just stops working (it will run out eventually, of course, but it doesn't go bad). Ink will dry out, and the jets will get gummed up if you don't print semi-regularly.

I have a wireless Samsung black & white laser printer and couldn't be happier. No problems whatsoever. Just changed the cartridge yesterday and it took me all of one minute.

Thanks all. We mainly print in B&W when needed but every once in a while we need color. I ended up going with a desk top size all in one.

Alright, anyone got an experience with vinyl wraps for cornhole boards? I have looked into buying a large format printer, but for the amount I want to do, it doesn’t make sense from a budget perspective as it would take years to pay off.

Type of vinyl is best?

Best place to order a design? I found more inexpensive options on Etsy.

Any input is appreciated.

I have made about 10-12 sets of boards for people using wraps. Feel free to PM me with specific questions. Overall it's a simple process but there are definitely some tips and tricks you learn from trial and error. I prefer non-laminated wraps as I like to get the exact finish I'm looking for with my own poly coats but the laminated work fine.

Cornhole doesn't mean what we think it means 'round these parts. It's "Bagz."

The Rube wrote:

Cornhole doesn't mean what we think it means 'round these parts. It's "Bagz."

Oh trust me, I call it bags too. Just know cornhole is more widely known.

Search “bags wraps” on the interwebz and the results are not the same.

MNGophers29 wrote:

The Rube wrote:

Cornhole doesn't mean what we think it means 'round these parts. It's "Bagz."

Oh trust me, I call it bags too. Just know cornhole is more widely known.

Search “bags wraps” on the interwebz and the results are not the same.

That search is a bad idea.

The Rube wrote:

MNGophers29 wrote:

The Rube wrote:

Cornhole doesn't mean what we think it means 'round these parts. It's "Bagz."

Oh trust me, I call it bags too. Just know cornhole is more widely known.

Search “bags wraps” on the interwebz and the results are not the same.

That search is a bad idea.

I tried it. It’s quite innocuous really. Although ymmv based on algorithms from your interweb history. I apparently need a punching bag and some press n seal.

TECH Help?

I have a USB Endoscope (a little camera on a semi-rigid cable) that I used to use for car repair, fishing things out of vents that my kids dropped in there, etc. I used to plug it into my phone, the phone recognized it, launched an app, and good to go. I haven't used it in a few years, and now it doesn't work...

I plug it into the phone and nothing happens. the app I used to use (CameraFi) is long gone, and none of the apps I tried seem to do anything. My phone (android moto) will not recognize the device. I do not have a functioning older phone because I keep my phone until it doesn't work.

Is there a different adapter I can purchase? Something I need to do differently? Do I just have an $80 cable that does nothing now and I need to buy a new one?

Do you get a better result if you plug into a computer? That would be a good test to see if it's the phone not recognizing it (or not having the right software, etc) or if the thing has just gone bad.

Feel free to PM me here so we don't fill up the thread.

We have a two year old LED 4K TV and seems to have part of the screen turning darker or a gray tone vs. the rest of the TV. Reading online it may be a bad LED bulb but not sure. Anyone have experience with this or know what it may be? Anything to do to fix it or know a repair person to call to support?

I would hate to dump the TV given how new it is but the repair may not be worth it.

I just replaced all of my LED backlights a few weeks ago. Found them online for $65 and replaced them myself. On mine, I was losing the areas of Red and Green causing it to look purple in spots because the blue was just fine. Then along the top there was a gray strip which was all three colors getting weak. It took a few hours to do. Basic tools and a YouTube video for instructions.

Before
[attachment=0]IMG_7396.jpeg[/attachment]

During
[attachment=2]IMG_7388D.jpeg[/attachment]

After
[attachment=1]IMG_7395.jpeg[/attachment]

oh... my TV is a 65 4K LG from 2017.

Those TV's really aren't made to be repaired. If you took it to a shop to be repaired, they might say they could do it, but for what they would charge you could practically buy a new TV.

My brother had a similar problem last summer with a Samsung 55" model. A grey strip about six inches wide developed on the right edge of the screen from top to bottom. He quit using it right away and got a new TV. He called me and asked if I wanted the TV. I told him only if I could fix it. I did a little research online and discovered the problem was common to this model of Samsung. It was less than a year old. I found a video on line of the exact same model with the exact same problem.

As Jup said, it was a malfunction of the LED's. On mine there were LED strips that ran along the bottom edge and projected up. About four of them had overheated. The grey strip is where the bulbs started to melt the diffuser panel. Depending upon how long you've watched the TV after the problem first came up will probably determine whether the TV is repairable. If you quit using it right away, you should be OK. The LED strips are pretty easy to find and not very expensive. I paid $27.00 for mine plus shipping. The diffuser panel is not easy to replace. It's part of an internal unit that is made up of about seven layers of varying thicknesses. It's not shown anywhere as a replaceable part that I could find.

If you are a DIY'er, you might be able to save some money and fix it yourself. It took me a little over an hour to fix mine. Good as new. :dup: It just takes a little patience, the right tools and a good-sized work surface or dining room table to lay it all out. It was actually pretty easy to do.

PM me if you have any questions

I bought my LED backlights from Shop Jimmy and used a video from them as well. Very happy with the results.

I got my LED strips from a vendor on eBay.

Also very happy with the results. This was shot the evening after the repairs. :dup:

<img class="go2wpf-bbcode" src="

2" alt="">

Hmmm.... Is this a common problem with those type of tvs? I guess we have 4 TVs from around that same year and haven't seen issues yet. One LG, one Samsung, and 2 TCLs.

I think it has becoming more common. TV's get cheaper as they use cheaper parts. LED backlights are one of those areas that companies like LG & Samsung have had issues with. It has me thinking about moving up to OLED in the future. But my current fix should last at least a few years, then I will pony up for OLED.

I have a 40" Samsung from 2009 that has had issues with white for about 5 years. Bright whites show slightly pink. So watching hockey is not great. But I switch it to movie mode and it seems to look much better. I am temped to get new backlights for it just as a hobby project after already doing it once for a much bigger TV.

They can be. In the case of the one I got from my brother, I took the Samsung model number and searched for service and repair problems. I got quite a few hits on several forum sites pertaining to that particular model and picture problem. I then went to YouTube and found the repair tutorial for that exact same model.

They aren't made to last forever. If it's a similar LED issue and still in warranty, you should be able to get it repaired. If out of warranty, it's probably too expensive to repair, but worth trying to repair yourself if you are so inclined.

Looking for a good 2 way walkie talkie set...

Taking the wife and 3 kids along with my in-laws to the cabin and Glacier Nat'l Park this summer. Looking for good set of walkie talkies with a decent radius especially driving form the Cities to the cabin. As well as closer proximity while in the mountains. Knowing as long as we are on the same side of the mountain they should work. Cell service is sketchy in parts of North Dakota and eastern Montana. And becomes more of a problem inside GNP and the higher elevations and other mountain ranges in the Flathead Valley.

Has anyone else had their sump pump working more in the last couple days.  My wife and I closed on our house in Rosemount/Lakeville May 6th of 2021 and moved in officially on the 16th.  So, we have been in for almost a year and haven't heard the sump pump kick on until yesterday.  When I'm in the crawl space under the stairs I'll check the sump pump.  Though yesterday I was in the crawl space reorganizing all my junk (lol) and it kicked on and has been running off and on since.  I assume the ground is saturated and the sump pump is doing its job.  First time dealing with a sump pump so I'm just trying to figure it all out and what to expect.

I grew up in the area you are describing and that sounds normal for this time of year and the weather we have had. Keep an eye on it, but this seems normal.

Has anyone else had their sump pump working more in the last couple days. My wife and I closed on our house in Rosemount/Lakeville May 6th of 2021 and moved in officially on the 16th. So, we have been in for almost a year and haven’t heard the sump pump kick on until yesterday. When I’m in the crawl space under the stairs I’ll check the sump pump. Though yesterday I was in the crawl space reorganizing all my junk (lol) and it kicked on and has been running off and on since. I assume the ground is saturated and the sump pump is doing its job. First time dealing with a sump pump so I’m just trying to figure it all out and what to expect.

The fact that it’s running is good.  Shortly after we moved into our house our next door neighbor said our sump runs all the time but I had never heard or seen it flush.  Then one day we had a heavy rain and water seeped up through the floor of our finished basement.  The sump pump had died but was sealed so I couldn’t easily check it.

You are probably fine since the ground recently thawed and we’ve had quite a bit of rain recently.

My sump basically runs all the time in the Spring.   With all the rain this month it's been non-stop.

We might have a really high water table here because even when they replaced my drain tile a couple years ago (in late December) there was standing water while the new tile was going.

Thanks guys!!!

And my sister and brother-in-law live in Apple Valley less than 2 miles from me. And in their nearly 20 years living in their house their sump pump has never turned on.

Thanks guys!!! And my sister and brother-in-law live in Apple Valley less than 2 miles from me. And in their nearly 20 years living in their house their sump pump has never turned on.

They likely live over sand, gravel, or cobble which allows water to drain easily. My home in Coon Rapids was build on sand and it didn’t even have a sump pump and the basement was always dry.

My current house is on clay so the soil is always wet and the sump is needed.  I actually now have a back up sump pump and each pump has 2 floats.  And they have an alarm if any of them aren’t working.  I don’t want to go through the flooding again.

gator wrote:

Thanks guys!!! And my sister and brother-in-law live in Apple Valley less than 2 miles from me. And in their nearly 20 years living in their house their sump pump has never turned on.

They likely live over sand, gravel, or cobble which allows water to drain easily. My home in Coon Rapids was build on sand and it didn’t even have a sump pump and the basement was always dry. My current house is on clay so the soil is always wet and the sump is needed. I actually now have a back up sump pump and each pump has 2 floats. And they have an alarm if any of them aren’t working. I don’t want to go through the flooding again.

Agree on the 2nd sump pump.  Our 2nd one runs off the water pressure so if the power goes out, we don't have to worry. In fact, in the spring on 2019 when we were in Buffalo for the FF, we had a massive ice storm that knocked out power for 4 days while we were gone. worked like a charm.

Thanks guys!!! And my sister and brother-in-law live in Apple Valley less than 2 miles from me. And in their nearly 20 years living in their house their sump pump has never turned on.

You might want to check where all of your downspouts are discharging to, and also check your gutters for any obstructions.  If you are getting a lot of water into your drain tile system, it's discharging too close to your foundation.

gator wrote:

Thanks guys!!! And my sister and brother-in-law live in Apple Valley less than 2 miles from me. And in their nearly 20 years living in their house their sump pump has never turned on.

You might want to check where all of your downspouts are discharging to, and also check your gutters for any obstructions. If you are getting a lot of water into your drain tile system, it’s discharging too close to your foundation.

You may want the city to check and see if there is a leak from the main to your house.  Since it would be before your meter you wouldn’t notice increase on your meter.

Our neighbor had a water leak in their main and it caused our pump to go off nonstop.

gator wrote:

Thanks guys!!! And my sister and brother-in-law live in Apple Valley less than 2 miles from me. And in their nearly 20 years living in their house their sump pump has never turned on.

You might want to check where all of your downspouts are discharging to, and also check your gutters for any obstructions. If you are getting a lot of water into your drain tile system, it’s discharging too close to your foundation.

I have checked my gutters and downspouts and they are clear and discharging. Though I could look into one or two of the downspouts and lengthen them from the house. Though water does drain from the house pretty good.

gator wrote:

Thanks guys!!! And my sister and brother-in-law live in Apple Valley less than 2 miles from me. And in their nearly 20 years living in their house their sump pump has never turned on.

You might want to check where all of your downspouts are discharging to, and also check your gutters for any obstructions. If you are getting a lot of water into your drain tile system, it’s discharging too close to your foundation.

Not necessarily...

The downspouts only discharge water from the roof.  Rain (and irrigation) falls on the whole yard.  There are also properties with high water tables (like mine), and even underground flow.  There are parts of my back yard, if I dig down less than 1 foot, water will fill the hole.  I spent a lot of money to install drain tile in the back yard to move underground water away.

5 O.T. wrote:

gator wrote:

Thanks guys!!! And my sister and brother-in-law live in Apple Valley less than 2 miles from me. And in their nearly 20 years living in their house their sump pump has never turned on.

You might want to check where all of your downspouts are discharging to, and also check your gutters for any obstructions. If you are getting a lot of water into your drain tile system, it’s discharging too close to your foundation.

Not necessarily… The downspouts only discharge water from the roof. Rain (and irrigation) falls on the whole yard. There are also properties with high water tables (like mine), and even underground flow. There are parts of my back yard, if I dig down less than 1 foot, water will fill the hole. I spent a lot of money to install drain tile in the back yard to move underground water away.

I don't have the high water table issues you do.  Ordinarily, my sump basket is bone dry.  Even during wet springs and times when we get a lot of rain.  However, I have a lot of big maples and a big ash tree that are relatively close to my house. They have lots of seeds and leaves that end up in my gutters at certain times of the year.  When that happens during a hard storm, the seeds and leaves clog up my gutters.  This causes water to gush over the tops of the gutter, with the water coming down very close to the foundation.  Those are the times when I get a lot of activity with my sump pump.

I need new gutters with covers because I'm getting tired of cleaning the leaves and seeds out of my gutters.  It's always something.

Again... thanks everyone!!!

Lots of help comments for me to keep my eyes on. I'm coming to the conclusion this is going to be my yearly late March/April/early May.  Being that I haven't had the sump pump turn on since moving in last May.

Anyone had good service from 'Weed Man' for lawn service care?!?!?!

We've been in the house for a year now and now I'm tackling the yard with a patio project, driveway project and getting the yard (grass & trees) under control.  The house was a rental for several years prior to us buying it.  While I give the house inside and out an A- for upkeep, especially for being a rental.  I give the yard a C- at best.

Anyone had good service from ‘Weed Man’ for lawn service care?!?!?! We’ve been in the house for a year now and now I’m tackling the yard with a patio project, driveway project and getting the yard (grass & trees) under control. The house was a rental for several years prior to us buying it. While I give the house inside and out an A- for upkeep, especially for being a rental. I give the yard a C- at best.

If you're at all interested in managing your own lawn care in the future, I highly recommend you watch videos from the "Lawn Care Nut."  If the lawn is in rough shape, use any lawn service this year and then take over next year using the LCN tips.