Aluminum USB-C Pass Through Multi-Port Adapter Review

I have been using this on a little laptop I have which is used mainly for my daughter doing her homework assignments, logging into the school portal to download homework, messing with her android phone adding music etc, it’s running windows 10 but doesn’t have a network connection which is a drawback as the home WiFi can be a bit sketchy sometimes so the network port or any card reading slots on this is ideal.

It comes in a simple plastic sleeve box and on Windows 10 its plug and play instantly recognised with not additional drivers to download or install. I tested all the USB 3.0 with a couple of USB thumb drives I have and transferred a few files and played some video directly and the speed was on a par with the direct USB 3.0 port connection on the laptop, I then tested a couple of USB 2.0 thumb drives I have which it recognised and worked again on a par with a direct USB connection into the ports on the laptop and also worked with a mix of USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices.

The laptop allocates a new drive letter to each new device added and you can copy and play from multiple devices on the USB hub, I tested both a micro SD card and a normal SD card and both worked fine, I tested the network connection which switched from WiFi to hardwire network automatically. I then went on to test the HDMI output which worked great and as is normal on Windows 10 if you don’t already have it set, right click, select display settings and make sure you have it set for multiple displays.

Overall this is a neat little unit with a space gray or what I would call brushed aluminium finish and deep blue LED’s behind the slots which makes guiding the connection in slightly easier, it did everything I asked of it and did it well so it gets top marks from me.

• TYPE-C EXTENSION PORT - Features Type-C pass-through charging, 4K HDMI (30Hz) video transmitting, gigabit Ethernet, micro/SD card reader slots, micro USB port and Triple USB 3.0 ports.
• HD HDMI VIDEO - Support high resolution output display to your HDMI-enabled external monitor or other devices, up to 4K quality 30Hz. Note: HDMI port supports only devices with Display Port over USB-C with Alternative mode.
• USB-C PASS-THROUGH CHARGING - Support fast charge your Type-C laptops while using other USB ports simultaneously. Important Note: USB-C charging feature only supports devices with USB Power Delivery protocol 2.0 and higher (max 49W power output)
• GIGABIT ETHERNET - Speed up and Stabilize your internet access to a wired network connection via this Type-C to Ethernet port.
• ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR TYPE-C DEVICES - MacBook and/or Pro, MacBook Air, iPad Pro, Chrome Book (only models with DisplayPort over USB-C with Alt mode), ASUS Transformer 3 Pro, Dell XPS 12 9365 and newer, HP Elite X2, Spectre x360 13, 15, Pro Convertible, Lenovo IdeaPad 720s, ThinkPad T470, T570, X1 Yoga, 720, 920, Microsoft Surface Go/Pro/Book 2, Razer Blade Stealth, Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro S and more USB-C supported devices with Power Delivery protocol.

Price: £59.99

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Heorryn Professional Photo Light Box Review

After finally getting fed up with the light box I had I decided it was time to get a new one, the one I have is a ridged sided one that fixes together with magnets and folds flat but the problem with it is the supplied lights are very poor and only one set, it’s not really big enough and I have found the magnets have come off and I have had to glue them on.

I wanted something larger, easy to assemble and disassemble; really good lighting, easy access front and top along with different backgrounds and this seemed to fit all my requirements along with some good reviews so ordered myself one.

The light box arrived tightly packed into a plain box and after taking the wrapping off it was nice and simple to assemble, there is a support bar for the bottom which holds it nice and ridged and although it’s very light it’s also very sturdy, there is a sleeve at the back top which makes slotting in different backgrounds simple and quick, the light banks clip onto the top and are easy to fit along with move and there is a opening at the top for the power cables to come through which keeps it nice and neat.

Setting it all up didn’t take long and after you have fitted the lights they can stay in place when you disassemble and pack it away, the dimmer switch works well and as I normally use a light box for product pictures and prototypes the size is ideal for my use, it packs away into a small square and takes up little room which is great as space is always in short supply in my house.

Overall after using it for a while and taking in excess of 300 pictures, assembling and disassembling over 30 times I am really pleased with it, no issues at all and the light is superb giving me some great shots.

• High-quality & Adjustable LED Light Equipped with 126 dimmable LED lamps and lampshade, the lighting is 4 times brighter and more safer than the ordinary lighting,owns long life span! The upgrade the movable rotary dimmer panel and high CRI ≥95 make the light more flexible, easily shoot excellent photos!
• Flexible Shooting Angle Several openings at the front and on the top of the shooting tent box can meet your different shooting angles demands. Professional particulate silver film reflective fabric inside diffuses light evenly and avoid vignette.
• First-class & Never Slipping Backdrops 5 thicken backgrounds allows you to take great pictures for the different colour items. 2 extra clips make the paper never slipped,the paper boards are wrinkle resistant and water resistant. Easy to clean.
• Easy to Carry and Set Up Portable and foldable design makes it can be carried easily everywhere,space-saving and easy to store,suitable for small and medium-sized goods and partial close-up of goods, such as Jewellery, watches, glasses, shoes, etc, which is the favourite of novices and traders.

Specification: 

• Colour temperature: 5500K 
• Colour rendering index: ≥95
• Lumen: 12000LM (white background) 
• Power Input: AC 85-265V 
• Size: 16 * 16 *16in / 40 * 40 * 40cm

Package: 

• 1 * Studio Tent
• 2 * LED light Panel
• 5 * Backdrop(White/Black/Orange/Gray/Blue) 
• 1 * Power adaptor
• 1 * Brightness Dimmer
• 1 * Power Cord
• 1 * Diffuser Cloth

Price: £39.99

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Ernovo Air Fryer 3.5/5.5L Electric Oven Air Fryer Review

I have been after getting an air fryer for a long time but have backed out several times just before purchase really having reservations on how good they are, after getting myself a cheap air popcorn maker several weeks ago and being impressed I decided it was time to take the plunge and get myself an air fryer.

I had been looking at them for a long time already before purchasing and as the Ernovo Air Fryer fitted everything I had decided I wanted it was the one I went for. I wanted something with a decent capacity, simple to use, simple no hassle stop and start, easy to clean with parts I could just put in the dishwasher and it may sound a bit silly but I wanted one with a window so I could see things cooking or check they are not burning without having to open up the oven.

It’s a good weight and solid with a simple touch screen operation you can either use the pre-sets or set the time and temperature yourself, the basket supplied is a good size and will take four chicken drumsticks single stacked or around ten multi stacked, the instruction manual is very easy to follow even including some recipes to try out.

 I tested it out first with some ‘real’ chips, oven chips fill a need but you really can’t beat home cooked fried potato chips so I wanted to see how near it got to the taste of deep fried chips and must say I was very impressed and would even go as far as to say it would be very hard to tell them apart from deep fried chips in a blind taste test.

I decided to try one of the recipes from the instruction manual next spicy fried chicken drumsticks which turned out great and cooked thoroughly right through; they had that great fried crisp texture along with tasting really nice and my wife particularly like these.

I wanted to try a few different things so put some sausages in with a gammon steak adding no oil at all and they turned out great then I decided to try something a bit different so made a sponge mix and cooked a small cake, first attempt I set the temperature too high and it was a bit to brown on top by the time it cooked but second time setting it on 160 it was perfect.

Overall this is a very nice item I am very pleased with, I always fear when I get a new kitchen gadget it will end up in the cupboard being too much hassle to get out but this now has its own spot in the kitchen and has been used daily since I got it so won’t be seeing the inside of my cupboards ever.

• Healthier Way to Tasting Least Fat Fried Food: Ernovo airfryer comes with the functions of oven and air fryer. Using little or no added oil-based cooking methods so you can fry with up to 80% less fat.A variety of foods such as meats, fish, chips, seafood, frozen foods and desserts can be baked, boiled or fried.Having an Ernovo air fryer means having over three cookers at a time.
• Large Capacity for the Whole Family: Ernovo actifry has a 3.5l basket capacity and 5.5l inner chamber, with special built-in hot air technology, which can make food crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, from now on, the kitchen is free from dirty and smoky smell. All removable parts are dishwasher safe.
• Easy Cooking and Operation: With a digital touchscreen and 6 preset cooking programs, the food can be fried quickly and easily with no hassle. There are over 50 electronic delicious recipes and easy to follow step-by-step cooking instructions to give inspiration for a variety of low-fat fried food that you can cook in the Ernovo Air fryer.
• Safe Guardian for Cooking: Built in auto-off safety protection when door opens, overheat protection functions and easy view window. Comes with removable handle that won't get hot while cooking, So you and your family can enjoy carefree cooking.
• Ernovo Supportive: Ernovo offers customers a 90-day money back or exchange guarantee and a 3-year product warranty, and provides you with 24-hour fast and friendly customer support.

Price: £89.99

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VonShef Hot Air Popcorn Maker Review

After many years of cooking popcorn the old fashioned way (see my linked video at the end of this video) I decided to buy an air popcorn maker, I have no experience of using these and had not even seen one until I got this so found the best value one I could the VonShef hot air popcorn maker which had been reduced to £12.99 delivered.

First impressions where it’s very small but really I don’t know why I expected it to be any bigger, well packed and included six popcorn boxes a nice addition for novelty value. I had a read through the instructions all very clear and easy to follow so it was time to get started.

Nothing complicated with this it’s just a case of filling the lid with corn kernels, emptying them into the popcorn maker drum, switching it on and placing a bowl under the shoot to collect the popcorn then switch it off and your done.

• Create your own flavours of popcorn! From Sweet & Buttery all the way to Parmesan Cheese & Bacon. Or create healthier flavours by using herbs & spices
• Operates through hot-air circulation, which requires no oil or fats, making your popcorn fat free & a great source of fibre
• Easy to use. Popcorn maker lid doubles up as a butter melting cup
• Cool-Touch housing. Measuring spoon and 4 Popcorn Boxes Included
• Free Extended 2 Year Warranty - Registration Required – *Terms and Conditions apply

Pros:

• Simple to use
• Very quick
• A bit healthier than cooking with oil
• Compact and easy to store
• Next to no cleaning, after using it a few times the drum inside is clean apart from tipping out the odd unpopped kernel
• The children like it and no moans it tastes different
• Good price

Cons:

• The lead could do with being a bit longer
• Get more unpopped kernels than the traditional method
• Switch could do with being at the side rather than on the front so you don’t have to move the bowl to turn it on and off
• Capacity is limited so for several portions you would have to run it multiple times and you have to leave it 10 mins between uses to cool down as per the instructions

Overall pleased with this purchase as it saves me washing up, it’s a lot quicker and healthier than the traditional method, a lot less messing about and at £12.99 delivered a cheap kitchen gadget.

• Cool-touch housing
• Measuring spoon included
• Power: 1200W

SKU: 13-036

Price: £12.99
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Lemnoi Wireless Battery Powered Security Camera Review

This was a bit of a rush buy as I needed a camera to cover my back garden, back door and shed combined as we have had a spate of burglaries in the area targeting back gardens and back garden access mainly breaking into sheds taking bikes and tools.

I wanted something easy to put up, simple to set up, would alert me to any movement no matter where I was and allow remote monitoring, waterproof with night vision, could stand alone without needing to be near a power source or internet hard wire connection as I wasn’t quite sure on the best location until I had tried it out in different locations and it would not be possible for me to get power connections or network cables to the areas I had in mind for it and after a lot of searching and mind changing I decided on the Lemnoi security camera as it ticked all the boxes and fell within my budget.

It arrived in a small Lemnoi branded sleeved box with the camera, fittings and manual inside, I gave the manual a good read while I used the supplied micro USB cable to charge the camera, the manual is fairly simple to follow also giving a QR code to scan for installing the app for either Android or Apple devices, I put a 32gig micro SD card into the camera, installed the Cloudedge app to my Android phone and ran through setting up the camera with all going very smoothly taking around 5 minutes start to finish.

With the camera set up, linked to my WiFi and connected to the app on my phone I wanted to give it a good test so set it up in a few different locations testing the remote view, motion detection, alerts and night vision, the alerts worked very well capturing the footage to the micro SD card and allowing me to replay and view using history which highlights each alert and you can easily scan and view. I found the picture quality very good and perfectly adequate for identification even at a distance and picks up sound very well.

The alternative magnetic fitting is very clever allowing you to adjust the camera viewing angle to anything you want easily and I have now set up both fittings covering the garden area now I am happy all the features are working well so I can easily relocate the camera, after using it now for a while the battery has hardly drained at all according to the indicator within the Cloudedge app which is also a nice feature to let you know when it needs a charge.

• Quick and Easy Setup Scan the QR code in the manual, download the Cloudedge APP, and follow the instructions on the APP. After pairing the camera with your wifi, you can view the monitor screen on the APP.
• Battery Powered & No Limit Installation Lemnoi wifi IP camera built-in rechargeable battery, it works about 120 days after full charge. No need to plug in, You can choose the best location to install.
• Remote View & Motion Detection Recording This battery camera can be view remotely by your mobile phone. When the camera detects human body or animal, it will automatically record and push through the APP.
• Waterproof & Night Vision Lemnoi wireless cctv camera is suitable for indoor and outdoor use, the waterproof rated is IP65. Its night vision function allows you to monitor clearly during the day and night.
• Warranty Service & Product Details We provide 1 year warranty and lifetime after-sales service. Online user manual : http://bit.ly/2WYXJHb

Overall I am very happy with this camera, it delivers everything I wanted, the record quality is very good both day and night, fitting the camera is very easy and simple to put it wherever I want and not be tied to a power supply point, the motion detection works very well bringing up a movement notification and capturing the footage for me to view no matter where I am, I can view live from any location and even use the inbuilt speaker to talk to anyone should I need to.

Price: £79.99
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Holife Robot Vacuum Cleaner Review

I purchased this for my mother as a mother’s day gift, I got myself a robovac a while ago but spent a long time before I did talking myself out of buying one thinking it was just a gadget, not practical, wouldn’t clean properly, would keep getting stuck, I would have to follow it round with a proper vacuum cleaner but I was so wrong they are great.

My mother is 83,  very independent and I wanted to get her something to make her life easier, she had seen mine working and been impressed with how well it cleaned so after a lot of searching I decided on this as she uses her iphone and ipad all the time so an app to control it is idea along with a remote control, she worries about her dog when she goes out even putting the dogs favourite radio channel on so the camera is an ideal addition to check on the dog while out.

I wanted to get it all set up and test all the functions and features before giving it to her so I could show her exactly how everything worked and set up the app on her devices. It arrived in a double box all securely packed in polystyrene cut outs with the manual on the top so I had a good read through, very easy to follow and in multi languages with English being the first. After setting it up on the charge base I installed the Huiba application to my phone, all very simple and straight forward and even includes a video help tutorial to assist.

I wanted to give it a good test and try out all the modes, the auto cleaning works well and it trundled off round the house covering all areas, the anti-collision and cliff detection works really well giving nothing more than a slight tap on an object before reversing, I tested it multiple times at the top of the stairs with it safely reversing away. Edge mode is good and it navigated round hugging and cleaning all round, the spot cleaning works as it should circling round on the spot until you stop it, zigzag does as the word suggests and vacuum seems to basically be the same as auto although you can remove the brushes and replace them with a suction cover should you not want/need the centre brushes running.

I was very pleased with the tests and it was time to take it over to my mother, I set up the Huiba application on her phone and she was soon controlling it and is very happy with it even using it to check on her dog while visiting me :)

• ALL-IN-ONE VACUUM -- Patented gyroscope technology ensures robot cleans along a rational path and covers every corner of your home. Sweeping, rolling, sucking, moping all in one vacuum robot with 5 cleaning modes provides a thorough & concentrated cleaning.
• TOTAL CONTROL IN HANDS -- 4 flexible control ways: "Huiba" APP, remote controller, Amazon Alexa voice control & self-buttons offer you greater convenience to control vacuum cleaner anywhere anytime. Enhanced "Huiba" App allows you to set cleaning schedules, monitor its progress, switch cleaning modes, even view every corner of your house when you work outside.
• VIDEO CHAT -- Vacuum cleaner adopting advanced audio & video technology can catch synchronous real-time data, which allows you to chat with your family members, pets & monitor your home environment while controlling vacuum to clean the floor.
• AUTOMATIC RECHARGE -- A long-lasting 14.4V 2600mAh lithium-ion battery provides up to 120 minutes of continuous cleaning on a single charge. It will return to dock station and recharge automatically when power runs low.
• SMART ROBOT CLEANER -- Vacuum equipped with anti-collision & cliff detection sensor can avoid obstacle and detect cliff effectively for safe & efficient cleaning. Also, slim robot can move smoothly over 10mm tall obstacles, 15-degrees slope, and clean under furniture, sofas, other unseen dark areas throughout your home with ease

Overall a great bit of kit, the remote that comes with it takes two AAA batteries not those silly flat round ones I never seem to have a replacement for, the cleaning quality is superb and my mother has several rugs and a half inch step down into her kitchen which the robovac has no problem at all going up and down as it goes from room to room, it has returned home without fail thus far when the battery gets low. As I said at the start when I first got one I had reservations but now I wouldn’t be without one as they save so much time and my mum loves hers.

Price: £149.99

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JEEMAK 4K WiFi 20MP UHD Action Camera Review

First off I will say I really like this action camera, it arrived in a simple branded box with the camera in a separate compartment along with two batteries, the other compartment contained the manual and a box with multiple fixtures and fittings for the camera along with the USB lead for charging and transferring. The manual is in separate multiple languages, has images along with the descriptive text and very easy to follow.

After unpacking it and putting it on charge I installed the OKCAM app onto my iphone 6 a simple process and also available on Android devices, connecting the camera to the phone initially requires you to input a password but this is saved so only has to be done once per device. Once I had connected my iphone to the camera via WiFi I opened up the app (I think this can be done in any order) and it was connected. The settings on the app are a cut down version of the full version available through the cameras menu but I would say sensibly so giving the most commonly used settings and features to adjust making it quick and easy to navigate.

The menu on the camera is accessed through quick presses on the front power button then navigated via the up and down buttons on the side and item selected by pressing the ‘OK’ button on the top of the camera then using quick presses on the front power button to exit the menu. There are a mass of options and features on the menu including the option to set it up as a dashcam, slow motion recording, Anti shake, Time lapse recording, Aqua mode and more.

I purchased this for my daughter who is 12 years old and cycles a lot including back and forth from school, I have a Hero 5 I purchased for myself a couple of years ago mainly because of the wide angle recording options and have regretted it ever since, my main issues are it gets extremely hot when in use almost hot enough to burn you which I am told is normal, the battery is inbuilt and only seems to hold around 15-20 mins of charge with no option or way of changing to a fresh battery and it cost a fortune so with this offering the same features and more it’s idea for my daughter.

Although the camera will mainly be used as a cycle helmet cam she will also be using it for any other recording she wants to do along with taking photos so I wanted to give it a good test and let her use it to ensure everything was working as it should and she was able to navigate and use it without coming to me to set it up for her.

First thing I tested was the underwater mode as she is already talking about taking it with her to the beach in the summer, I tested it in the bath, the case is very simple to open and close not allowing any leakage, the underwater footage is very impressive and even in the case records the sound perfectly.

Next I went through everything on the camera with my daughter and she went out for a walk with it doing some recording along the way, beautifully crystal clear recording she was very impressed as was I, we then tried the slow motion recording by striking a match on a matchbox which seemed to work very well. After using the fittings to fix it to her cycle helmet she went out for a ride round the block again great quality and very pleasing.

The camera has a micro HDMI out socket so you can link it directly to a monitor or TV which I did as I have I purchased a micro HDMI to standard HDMI adapter a while ago for around £2.50 which worked perfectly, I transferred the footage by removing the micro SD card and putting it in a USB card reader but you can also transfer by just plugging the charge cable in the side and then into the USB socket in your PC both work easily.

We tested the OKCAM app for transferring images and video to the iphone very simple to take any recording or pictures from the camera to the iphone using the app and then you can view or even upload them to social media as no doubt my daughter will be doing.

Overall this is a very nice camera, feature packed and superb quality, the video I have uploaded really doesn’t reflect how good the quality is due to having to mix different formats and then export it to a single one but hopefully it shows enough.

• Display: 2.0" LCD
• Lens FOV: Wide/Medium/Narrow
• Video Resolution: 4K/24fps, 2k/30fps, 1080P/60fps, 1080P/30fps, 720P/120fps
• Image Resolution: 20M, 16M, 14M, 12M, 10M, 8M, 5M, 3M, VGA
• Diving Depth: 40m/131.2ft
• Time-lapse Record: 1/2/5/10/30s,1min
• USB Interface: Micro USB 2.0, micro HDMI
• Battery Capacity: 3.7V Li-ion Battery 1050mAh
• Charging Time: About 3 hours

Price: £69.99

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ExquizOn R6 Mini Portable WIFI Projector Review

I purchased this for our spare room, the TV in there had finally given up and as I already have a ExquizOn projector in my children’s room I purchased a few years ago and it is still going strong I was more than happy to stay with a brand I knew, I could have gone for another TV but it would have been more expensive, take up far more room and certainly use more power to run.

The projector arrived in a branded sleeved lift top box with easy to follow detailed instructions, remote control, power lead, a spare HDMI cable, a bracket that fits on the bottom so it can be fitted onto the stand supplied or mounted onto a projector wall or ceiling mount, it’s the standard size thread connection that seems to be universally used for most things now, I purchased a small wall mount, fairly easy to fit and due to the size and weight of the projector not intrusive at all with no danger of the weight being too much.

Setting it up is very straight forward with a simple and easy to follow menu system, it has a full size HDMI connection so no need for adapters and everything and anything plugs straight in or as in my case I have a HDMI switcher box so simple to flick between devices with one cable from the projector to the box, it’s extremely quite so you don’t suffer with the drone of fans you often get with the larger projectors.

The picture quality is great and I am using it directly onto a plain wall, I have been considering getting a projector screen or even trying the ‘special’ paint you can get for the wall but really with the quality it gives on just a pain wall I am not sure it is needed.

I connected my iPhone 6 via the WiFi airplay which is fairly simple to do and great for watching videos or pictures on the big screen, it has a USB connection on the back so you can put movies etc on it, select movies or pictures from the menu and it plays perfectly, I set up my Xbox One again great picture quality and smooth no lagged gameplay, I tested my Android box and freeview TV box all worked perfectly, It has a little wheel on the side for fine focus adjustment and manual buttons on the side if you don’t want to use the remote control or have misplaced it as is often my reason.

I have added a video but due to the optimisation, size limitations and difficulty recording a projected screen the quality is not a true representation of the high quality you see so it’s more a demonstration of the uses and menu.

• Wireless Same Screen Display ExquizOn R6 is an amazing projector that can be connect to the smart devices wirelessly, such as iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone and tablet, support both Android and iOS operating system. Once you connected them with same WiFi, You will get a home theater with up to 120" screen size in a second!
• Optimal In Battery Life Built-in 4000mAh battery makes it be more convenient, no need for power cable, you can even charge it by a power bank. What a big bonus for cinephile, they can enjoy movies anywhere with R6's about 3 hours long lasting battery life! The 360° rotation tripod gives it a firm stand and allows you to take a all round view.
• Excellent In Compatibility R6 is an exquisite projector with complete connections, such as HDMI, USB port, it can be connected to PC, laptop, PS3, PS4, digital camera, game consoles, U disk, DVD player, TV box, etc. Compatible with 1080P videos playing, R6 will be your thoughtful multimedia entertainment companion!
• HiFi Sound &Low Noise With built-in 2W speaker, R6 will give you a perfect audio-visual feast. You can also connect external speaker via its 3.5mm jack. It owns over 30000 hours LED lamp life because of its high efficiency cooling system, the noises are greatly reduced, no worries about unpleasant noises anymore!
• Palm Size With Outstanding Features Its round shape design with the diameter of just 4.7"(12cm), compact enough to take with you as if bring a pie, perfect for parties or camping projection in dark environment. However, it is no less than other DLP projectors with outstanding features of 854*480 native resolution, 1000:1 contrast ratio, and 100 ANSI lumens in brightness.

Overall a great little projector, great quality picture, lightweight and quiet, idea for portable viewing being small enough to take anywhere and with the inbuilt battery pack perfect for camping and great if you are replacing a normal TV as is my case, setting it up was a breeze and even with fixing a wall mount I had it all up and running in around 30 mins, very pleased with it.

Price: £169.99
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