SpaceX Starlink is currently a beta service that provides high-speed low-latency broadband internet to rural communities using low orbiting satellites. It’s the world’s most advanced satellite internet service. Currently there are over 1000 Starlink satellites that are delivering internet access to beta customers, and SpaceX is regularly launching more satellites into space. Their potential long term goal is to have 40,000+ Starlink satellites.
Starlink can provide much lower latency compared to other satellite internet companies. When satellites are far from Earth latency is high, resulting in poor performance for activities like video calls and online gaming. Starlink satellites are over 60x closer to Earth compared to traditional satellites, resulting in lower latency and better performance.
Currently during the beta period, Starlink customers can expect to see data speeds from 50Mb/s to 150Mb/s and latency from 20ms to 40ms in most locations. Starlink doesn’t have any data caps right now. Orders will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis and anyone can input their address on Starlink.com to see if it’s available. Currently it’s available to a limited number of users per coverage area and is delivering initial beta service both domestically and internationally.
During beta, Starlink monthly internet service costs $99/month + a one time fee of $499 for the required Starlink kit which comes with everything you need to get started: wireless router, POE injector, network cables, mounting tripod, and Starlink antenna. The antenna will detect and melt snow that falls directly on it to help prevent outages and interruptions since Starlink does require a clear view of the sky to connect.
Starlink has a free mobile app that walks you through the entire setup. It also lets you use your phone camera to find the best location for the Starlink antenna. Another cool feature from the result of the Starlink antenna receiving power from the black cable is it’s not only used to melt snow but it’s also used to power the tilt motor which automatically adjusts the angle of the antenna to sync up with the nearest satellite so you don’t need to manually position the antenna angle.
Going from 1Mbps to over 100Mbps is seriously not just a game changer, it’s a life changer. Having immediate access to relevant information, being able to consume and create content, being able to work from home sufficiently, that’s huge for people who live in rural areas and haven’t had access to broadband internet like this. I am super impressed with the setup and performance of Starlink. This is going to make a lot of people happy, and I’m sure people will gladly pay the $500 one time fee and $100 monthly fee for it if they’ve been living with slow internet up until now.
This beautiful white Tesla Model 3 is the secret “off-menu” base Model 3, and it’s the most affordable Tesla ever made. My wife and I visited beautiful sunny California thanks to Canossa Events and Travel Paso who helped put on a 5-day Electric Vehicle grand tour in Paso Robles, California. For this trip I rented this Tesla Model 3 on Turo, not knowing that it was the $35,000 Standard Range base Model 3. It doesn’t have Autopilot. It doesn’t have traffic-aware cruise control. It’s very bare-bones and it’s something I’ve been wanting to try for a long time to see if it’s actually worth the money. The reason this is the secret Tesla is because it’s not available to order online at Tesla.com like all the other Tesla vehicles. You have to actually make a special request for this Model 3. In this video I’m going to give you my thoughts on what it’s been like to travel 1,000 miles in the cheapest Tesla that you can buy right now.
Recently I’ve been wanting to upgrade my home theater system to bring that movie going experience to my living room, and Enclave just released the world’s first THX-Certified Wireless home theater system called the CineHome Pro, and I’m going to show you the unboxing & setup of it and give you my initial first impressions of the features & quality.
The CineHome Pro CineHub edition is currently around $1500 and is one of two wireless 5.1 surround sound home theater systems by Enclave (the other called CineHome II which is around $1000). The reason I jumped at getting this is because for the past 4 years I’ve been using just a Bose sound bar and subwoofer on my living room TV, and I’ve been itching for something the sound bar doesn’t offer: real surround sound. The CineHome Pro seems to check all the boxes I’m looking for in a home theater system: true 5.1 surround sound that is wireless + a quick plug & play setup.
When you open the box you’ll find two boxes that contain 7 power cables for the speakers and subwoofer, an owner’s manual, a quick start guide, some gloves to prevent fingerprints, the CineHub transmitter, and an HDMI cable. The 5 main speakers and 1 subwoofer are next. This system does not come with a remote. It’s actually controlled by your existing TV remote or through the Enclave app.
The Center speaker along with the Front Left and Right speakers are all the same size, around 5 x 3 x 24″. The Rear Left and Right speakers are around 5 x 3 x 16″. The Subwoofer is around 14 x 12 x 19″ and weighs nearly 27 lbs. The CineHub transmitter is small & lightweight and equipped with eARC, ARC, and Optical connections along with a 3.5mm AUX port and built-in Bluetooth 5.0
These are good size speakers, and the build quality & design are top notch. I think the best feature is that this CineHome Pro system is the world’s first WiSA compatible THX Certified system which means a product meets high quality, performance, and consistency standards while WiSA (Wireless Speaker & Audio) is an association that defines standards for high-resolution wireless multi-channel audio. The result of WiSA technology is audio transmission with incredibly low latency and synchronization between the speakers of less than one microsecond which is amazing because the fear of latency is probably the main reason why some people are afraid to go completely wireless. The system also operates on its own dedicated wireless network at a different frequency than a typical home Wi-Fi network so this safeguards the system from latency, lag, or interference from common wireless devices.
A huge benefit of an Enclave system is that it can be set up in minutes with just a single HDMI cable. First, place your speakers in the desired locations. Next, connect the CineHub to your TV’s main HDMI port, then power on all the speakers & subwoofer, then power on the CineHub. Use the free Enclave app to finalize the setup. The app should automatically detect the system. From here you can power the system on or off, adjust the volume, and see what which audio mode it’s currently on which it does support Dolby, PCM, and DTS. Although this doesn’t have automatic calibration, it’s easy to go into the settings and specify how far away your speakers and subwoofer are from your favorite spot on the couch. Overall this was a very quick and simple setup.
The CineHome Pro system sounds amazing. It’s able to deliver 24-bit high res audio from 11 Class-D amplifiers, 14 custom-designed drivers, and the 10″ subwoofer. It definitely outshined my old sound bar by a mile. It’s a much better cinematic experience compared to our old setup. The audio filled the entire room, the ambience felt very real, and the bass was strong. There were no lags or skips in the audio. Streaming Spotify over Bluetooth works great, and I like that you can set the speakers to Whole Room Stereo mode which plays the audio though all speakers simultaneously. This system also worked great while streaming Netflix from my smart TV along with streaming YouTube from my Chromecast.
If you’re looking for a great wireless home theater system with THX certification and is easy to set up, you can’t go wrong with the Enclave CineHome Pro. If your budget is a little smaller but you still want true 5.1 wireless surround sound then check out the CineHome II.
After renting a Tesla Model Y for a week and driving it hundreds of miles, here’s my full in-depth review of Tesla’s latest electric vehicle. Is it worth $60,000? Let’s find out!
Tesla Model Y Overview
The Model Y is Tesla’s latest vehicle to their all-electric lineup, and many people think it will quickly become the most successful best-selling Tesla ever. After becoming a Tesla owner myself in 2018 I’ve helped thousands of people make the decision of whether to buy a Tesla or not, and in this video I’ll share my full in-depth review of the Model Y so you can find out if it actually lives up to the hype. Tesla says the Model Y is a fully electric mid-size sport utility vehicle, but it can also be considered a compact crossover because it’s based on the same platform of Tesla’s cheaper Model 3 sedan and shares about 75% of the same parts, with the biggest differences being Model Y’s bigger cargo space and a powered lift gate hatchback instead of a manual trunk. This particular Model Y is a midnight silver Long Range AWD with 20” Induction wheels, 5-seat black interior and basic Autopilot. The total cost after sales tax was right around $60,000. So as you can see from its price tag, the Model Y is considered a luxury vehicle. But is it worth that much money? Let’s find out.
Order & Delivery
When’s the last time you ordered something online? Probably very recently, right? Well, when ordering a Tesla, it’s no different. It’s all done online. There’s no haggling with dealerships. You can literally configure your Tesla and pay your deposit all from your smartphone and then end up with a car within a few weeks which is pretty amazing. Let’s hop on the Tesla screen and quickly go over the configuration and pricing. The Model Y currently comes in two versions, both of which are Dual Motor All Wheel Drive: First is the Long Range starting at $54,000 and then the Performance starting at $62,000, and those prices include the required $1200 delivery fee. Both of those versions have about 315 miles of estimated range, but the Performance has an optional upgrade package that reduces the range to 280 miles. The Standard Range Model Y will be the cheapest version at around $40,000 and is expected in early 2021 with an estimated range of 230 miles. The base color that’s included is pearl white, but you can choose to upgrade the paint to black, midnight silver, blue, or red. The standard wheels are 19” Gemini wheels, but there are also options to upgrade to 20” Induction wheels or the 21” Uberturbine wheels with the Performance Upgrade Package. A tow hitch can be added for $1,000, and the 5-seat interior comes in a base color of black but can be upgraded to white for $1,000. The Seven Seat Interior option coming in 2021 will cost $3,000. Autopilot is included on all new Teslas, but the Full Self Driving option currently costs $8,000 and will continue to increase according to Elon. But since it is software, FSD can be purchased any time during ownership. Now if you do decide to order a Tesla online you can click here or in the description below to use my referral link and that will give you 1,000 free Supercharging miles. When taking delivery of the car, Tesla has an option called Express Delivery which is basically a touch-less process where all your paperwork is in the car ready for you to sign. When you show up, all you have to do is accept delivery and sign the paperwork, then you’re ready to go. Overall, Tesla’s online order process and touch-less delivery is the most modern way of buying a car, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes the standard in the future.
Design & Features
Speaking of the future, once you experience a Tesla you’ll quickly realize they have set the bar for what is expected out of a car in the 21st century. When I first saw the Model Y I honestly wasn’t a big fan of the way it looked externally. It seemed like a plump Model 3. But the more I saw it the more I appreciated the design. Of course the front of the Model Y doesn’t have a grill because there is no engine since it’s all electric. It has a beautiful panoramic all-glass roof which gives a great view for anyone inside the car while still doing a decent job of keeping most of the heat and brightness from the sun at a comfortable level. The roof and back windows all come tinted with built-in UV protection which is nice. All Model Y’s come standard with black trim and door handles which is a noticeable difference from the Model 3 which has chrome trim. I’m not sure why Tesla decided to do this, but since I know that a lot of Model 3 owners paid extra to do a chrome delete maybe this is something most people prefer. It does look really good in my opinion. Model Y also has LED fog lamps and power folding, heated side mirrors which actually seem a bit larger compared to Model 3 side mirrors.
The Model Y doesn’t come with a key or even a key fob. Instead it comes with a key card which can be held up to the b pillar to lock and unlock the car and can be set on the console to drive the car. However, the key card is just the backup method. The main way to lock, unlock and drive the Model Y is with your smartphone. The mobile app is one of the best features of owning a Tesla. When your smartphone is set up as your main key, as long as you have your smartphone with you and Bluetooth is enabled, the Model Y will automatically unlock as you walk up to it and automatically be ready to drive when you sit in the driver’s seat, and it will automatically lock when you walk away. And since all Tesla’s have built-in LTE and are always connected to the internet, you can use the Tesla app to control the Model Y from wherever you are. Some of the things you can see from the app include: the current estimated battery range, the exact GPS location, how fast it’s traveling if someone else is driving it, the current temperature inside the cabin, and it also has various controls including: locking and unlocking the car, turning the climate control on or off, venting and closing all 4 windows, opening and closing the power hatchback, and opening the front trunk. One really cool app feature is the ability to enable Keyless Driving from anywhere. This is really useful if you’re away from the car, and you need to let someone drive the car temporarily.
The Model Y premium interior includes a beautiful 15” touch screen display that controls nearly all aspects of the car, 12-way power adjustable front and rear heated seats, premium audio consisting of 14 speakers, 1 subwoofer, 2 amps, and immersive sound that sounds incredible. One of the best factory sound systems I’ve ever heard in a car. The vegan leather seats are the same as the Model 3 and are extremely comfortable. The steering wheel is also made of vegan leather and feels really nice. The center console has an ample amount of storage along with 4 USB ports and two smartphone docks that provide Qi wireless charging, and it even charges my phone without having to remove my case which is nice. The back of the console also provides 2 USB-C ports so backseat passengers can charge their devices. The visors have built in magnetic cover that reveals a mirror with automatic lights, and there are built-in coat hangers with ambient lights, along with two 12v sockets – one in the center console and one in the very back. The brain of the Model Y and a big advantage over its competitors is the 15” touch screen display. This will become your best friend when driving the Model Y because nearly everything you need to do can be controlled from the touch screen. Tesla has made the layout very user friendly by putting the live view of the car on the left side along with the speedometer and estimated battery range remaining. The majority of the screen shows a giant view of live GPS navigation that is based on Google Maps. The bottom many bar has easy to use buttons to quickly access common controls for the car. We’ll dive deeper into the software later in this video.
But now lets’s talk about one of the best features of the Model Y that separates it from the Model 3 is the size and larger cargo space for storage and seating inside the vehicle. Model Y dimensions are slightly larger than the Model 3 in all aspects: approximately 2 inches longer, 3 inches wider, and 7 inches taller with a ground clearance of about 6 and a half inches. However, Tesla’s website is a little misleading when it comes to cargo volume because Tesla lists Model Y cargo volume as 68 cubic feet and they list the Model 3 cargo volume as 15 cubic feet. That makes it sound like Model Y has over 4x as much storage space. However, that’s an unequal comparison because the Model 3’s 15 cubic feet is only accounting for the trunk, while the Model Y’s 68 cubic feet is its absolute maximum of all storage locations with the seats folded down. If you use those same measurements of all storage locations with seats folded down for the Model 3 then the max cargo volume actually comes to about 43 cubic feet which means Model Y only has about 1/3 more cargo volume compared to Model 3. Now, even though they are closer than Tesla makes it sound, the Model Y is still clearly the better option for storage and seating. The front trunk (or frunk as we like to call it) is bigger and deeper than the Model 3’s frunk which is great because I use the frunk way more than the trunk during my normal daily driving. It’s perfect for groceries or storing things that you need quick access to if the back is full.
The powered lift-gate hatchback is absolutely one of Model Y’s most useful features. Since it’s automatic you can open and close it multiple different ways: you can press the button on the back and it automatically raises then you can press the “Close” button to automatically close it. You can also open and close it from the Model Y’s touch screen display and of course from the mobile app. I’m about 6’4” so the hatchback opening at its tallest is just a little bit shorter than me so if you’re tall you still need to be careful about hitting your head. But it’s tall enough for most people. I do wish the frunk was powered as well so you could close it automatically like you can close the hatchback but unfortunately you have to manually close the frunk. The back of the Model Y offers a huge amount of storage including two undercarriage areas, one of which is quite deep and useful but the other is pretty shallow and is only suitable for certain sized objects. There are two side storage areas that are handy as well. Even though the back already provides a good amount of storage space, the automatic seat folder buttons quickly give you an even bigger storage area which is a game changer compared to the Model 3. This makes hauling and carrying certain items that are too big for a car without a hatchback a possibility in the Model Y. It also makes for a great Tesla to camp in. Like I said I’m pretty tall and even I can fit fairly comfortably lying down in the back of the Model Y. That paired with Romance Mode – perfect date night. Now even though I love that the seats fold down I have some small complaints. First, the seats are heavy and when you use the automatic folding buttons the seats slam down pretty hard. It’s quite jarring when you first experience it so please please if you have a Model Y make sure there isn’t a small human or animal in the seat when you use the automatic folding buttons because that could cause some damage. And like I said the seats are pretty heavy so be careful. Now I love how you can manually fold down the middle seat in case you have backseat passengers but also need to haul some long items like skis or pieces of wood. But when the middle seat is folded down it leaves this small metal bar poking out of the back of the seat which is kind of weird. I would think there must be a better way to design that, but Tesla decided that was the best way to do that. Now we know the 7 seat option is coming in 2021 which will add two more seats in the back area of the Model Y, and I just don’t know how those seats will be able to hold anyone bigger than a small child. I just don’t know how it will fit adults like they claim it will. And with those two additional seats it’s going to leave much less room in the very back. But I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Other than the larger storage space, the other notable difference compared to Model 3 is the height of the Model Y. The seats sit up about 6 inches higher than the Model 3, and this gives a much higher vantage point when you’re sitting in the car looking out the windshield. Some people love sitting up higher when they’re driving which is definitely what you get with the Model Y. That paired with the low dash gives a nice commanding view for driving. It’s also much easier to get in and out of, at least for me anyway. My Model 3 sits really close to the ground. With the Model Y it seems to be the perfect height for me to just seamlessly get in and out of the vehicle from any of the seats. The ride height is a great feature for people who struggle with low sitting cars. Not only is it easier to get in and out of, there’s more leg room in the Model Y in all seats from what I could tell. Driving the Model Y resulted in less stiffness in my hips and legs due to the slightly larger leg room, and even a tall person like myself can sit comfortably in the backseats with plenty of head room and enough leg room as well. Although sitting in the backseat of the Model Y is much more comfortable than the Model 3 backseats, the other advantage of the Model Y backseats were to be able to lean the seat back. However, when I did that my head hit the crossbar and basically negated the advantage of being able to recline the seat at all. It’s probably fine for most people but I still wanted to point that out. Also the middle backseat is super stiff and uncomfortable compared to the other seats. For most people it definitely won’t feel good to sit on the middle seat for a long period of time. However I do like how the seatbelt fasteners are tucked away and hidden in little pockets in the seats. Now one negative thing I noticed is that the Model Y doors, especially the driver door, needs to be shut with a good amount of force compared to my Model 3. It almost felt like I had to slam the door to get it to shut all the way. I’m not sure if this is unique to this Model Y so if you’re a Model Y owner let me know if you experienced this. The good news is the touch screen display and also the mobile app will show you if a door is left open which is nice.
Driving & Charging
Now let’s talk about the most fun part of the Model Y: the driving experience. Just like with all other Teslas, the Model Y is an absolute joy to drive. It is blissfully quiet at stops and low speeds due to the lack of an engine, and even at faster speeds it’s still quieter than most gasoline vehicles. No rattling parts under the hood, just an ever so faint sound from the electric motors in the front and the back. These motors are where Tesla’s signature breathtaking quickness come from. The Tesla Model Y All-Wheel Drive versions feature two independent motors for improved redundancy, each with only one moving part. Unlike traditional all-wheel drive systems, the Tesla Model Y digitally controls torque to the front and rear wheels for better handling and traction control. And when you hit that accelerator pedal, the instant torque will literally put a smile on your face. Or it could also make you queasy but in a fun way like roller coaster queasy. The Long Range AWD has a 0-60 speed of 4.8 seconds. The Performance Model Y is even quicker at a mind blowing 3.5 seconds. Not only is it fun but it’s actually really useful in driving situations like merging or passing. And it does it effortlessly which is the beauty of driving a powerful all-electric vehicle. It’s just unreal performance for a car.
Now when you transition to an all-electric vehicle like the Model Y after driving a gasoline vehicle your entire life there are some things you must get used to. First is regenerative braking which allows the Model Y to come to a stop without needing to press the brake pedal at all. If you’re driving and you lift off of the accelerator pedal, the car will actually start to brake automatically by itself and will come to a complete stop. This is referred to as “regen” and this captures the vehicle’s kinetic energy and converts it into chemical energy that goes into the battery, where it can be used later as energy to drive the vehicle. This introduces you to a whole new wonderful side of driving that you will never get with a gasoline vehicle. Not only does it allow you to basically just use one pedal for the majority of driving, but it also improves your driving efficiency and thus maximizes the battery range.
When it comes driving a fully electric vehicle like the Model Y, maximizing range is kind of a big deal. You don’t want to get stranded somewhere with a dead battery, right? Luckily Teslas have the best battery technology out of all the current car manufacturers. The Long Range Model Y has an estimated range of 316 miles on a full charge which can definitely come in handy during long trips. However, the estimated range is based on many different variables like mainly driving speed, weather conditions, elevation, load capacity, and the use of air conditioning or heater. Like with all Teslas, the driving efficiency is shown on the Model Y touchscreen in the form of Wh/mile, meaning how many Wh it’s using on average to travel one mile. For the first 600 miles traveled this Model averaged 287 Wh/mile. This is about 40 Wh/mile higher than my Model 3, which means the Model Y requires more energy than the Model 3 to travel the same distance. This is expected because the Model Y is bigger and heavier than the Model 3. However, the Model Y has a secret advantage over the Model 3 to help with the efficiency: a heat pump. I did an entire video about this which I’ll link to at the end of this video, but basically this should allow the Model Y to be at least slightly more efficient in colder temperatures than the Model 3. Since it’s still summer right now we must wait a few more months to test this out so be sure to subscribe to see my video about that later on when I release it. But for now, until we see the Standard Range Model Y, the Model 3 is still the most efficient Tesla you can get. The heat pump on the Y also runs when the air conditioning is on so many people were wondering how loud it is so here’s what it sounds like. Definitely louder than the Model 3, but it’s not distractingly loud.
Many people don’t realize that when you get an electric vehicle, most of your charging is done at home while you sleep. No more stopping at gas stations is such a huge benefit of getting a Tesla. The Model Y comes with a 20 foot long mobile connector that can charge on a standard 120 volt household outlet. From my tests the Model Y charged at a rate of 4 miles of range per hour of charge when using a normal outlet. This means the Model Y can recoup about 50 miles of range overnight assuming it’s charging for 12 hours. So if you drive 50 miles or less during your normal daily driving that should be fine. However, if you need to charge at a faster rate you can get a NEMA 14-50 outlet installed and buy the $35 adapter from Tesla and get about 30 miles of range per hour of charge which means you could technically charge from 0-100% overnight. And Tesla makes automatic charging incredibly easy. You can set a charging limit on your Tesla which they recommend charging to 90% for daily driving, and you can set it to automatically start charging at certain time or you can even set a scheduled departure time which will make the car end its charging right before your departure time which is extremely useful in the winter when your battery and cabin can be already warmed by the time your’e ready to leave. But what about road trips? That’s when Tesla’s secret weapon comes into play: the Supercharger network. Tesla Superchargers are like fuel stations for Teslas when you’re traveling long distances. Right now there are almost 2,000 Tesla Supercharger stations strategically placed along major highways, and since these are considered DC fast charging stations ideally you should be able to spend no more than 30 minutes charging your Tesla at a Supercharger until you’re charged up enough to hit the road again. Model Y is considered pay per use so it will cost money to Supercharge and the price depends on the Supercharger location but it’s still much cheaper than average gas prices. And one amazing benefit of the Model Y is its compatibility with Tesla’s newest V3 Superchargers that can charge at rates up to 1,000 miles of range per hour of charge which is extremely fast. Tesla predicts the typical charging time at a V3 Supercharger will drop to around 15 minutes which is definitely needed because with more and more Teslas hitting the roads, Superchargers are becoming more crowded. In fact, 2 years ago when I got my Model 3 it was quite rare to see most of the Supercharger stalls being used in my city of Louisville, KY. Now when I went there to film an example of Supercharging in the Model Y, it was completely full and there were 3 Teslas waiting in line which is very uncommon in this part of the country where Teslas aren’t as popular as big metro areas and the West coast. Hopefully this won’t become a big problem if Tesla can expedite the installs of V3 Superchargers and if Tesla owners don’t abuse the Superchargers and only use them during long road trips if they can charge at home.
Driving the Model Y feels really good. It’s a very comfortable ride and other than the higher seat position, the driving experience is nearly identical to the Model 3 which is a good thing. Driving a Model Y felt like I was floating in a Model 3. I have plenty more leg and head room in the Model Y as a driver. The ride is also not as bumpy as I thought it might be on the 20” wheels. I couldn’t really tell any difference from the ride on my Model 3’s 18” wheels. However, if you want the most comfortable ride you gotta go with a more expensive Model S or X due to their smart air suspension which Model Y does not have, but all in all the Model Y is extremely comfortable and enjoyable to drive. Road noise and cabin noise while driving at highway speeds are similar to my Model 3 in that it’s a little louder than I would expect, but it’s definitely no louder than any of its internet combustion engine vehicle competitors. The minimalist dash with the full length wood veneer along with the same steering wheel controls and same exact touch screen, all of which I’m a huge fan of. You never realize how many useless buttons most cars have until you experience the simple modern design that’s in a Model Y. It’s like when everyone moved from flip phones to smartphones – a dynamic touch screen display that replaces unnecessary knobs and buttons. That’s what Tesla has embraced, and it’s exactly what I want in a car. Almost everything is controlled by the touch screen even opening the glove box. But the steering wheel also includes to versatile scroll wheel buttons that can be pressed in, pressed to the left and right, and of course scrolled up and down to give you quick common controls at your fingertips without having to touch the screen. Some people are turned off by having most of the controls on the touch screen, but once you get a feel of the layout it’s very intuitive and easy to use. Although the Model Y seems to have a better blind spot view through the back windows compared to Model 3, I still wish Tesla would provide a better blind spot detection system. The Model Y lacks the side mirror light alert that most other new cars come with. The main way to get alerted about objects in your blind spot is from the touch screen to see if it shows a visualization of a car in the lane or just do it old school and look over you shoulder. Another complaint from a driver’s point of view in the Model Y is the extremely narrow view out of the rear view mirror. This was my wife’s biggest pet peeve of the Model Y. It’s almost useless and due to the tint when you’re wearing sunglasses the view is super dark as well as narrow. This is the compromise Tesla had to make by moving the crossbar further back to allow for that expansive glass roof. Do you think it’s worth it? Are you team glass roof or team rear view mirror? The good news is the Model Y has a fantastic backup camera that gives you a great view of the rear when you pull it up on the display which is definitely helpful because of the poor rear view mirror visibility. Model Y also has 12 ultrasonic sensors that alert when an object is getting too close.
Software & Autopilot
And that brings us to one of the best features of owning any Tesla including the Model Y which is the software and Autopilot. I think it’s safe to say Tesla’s biggest advantages and what makes them so good at making these electrics cars is first their battery and Supercharger technology but also the software. Tesla excels in these categories. The reason Model 3 and Model Y are so software focused is because at some point Tesla plans to make their cars capable of driving themselves without any human. When this happens software will be the best way to go forward with full self driving and their robotaxi service which I did a video about and I’ll link to at the end this video. Having a car that is designed around a touch screen means they can constantly update it and make it better. That’s exactly what they do. The Model Y automatically downloads free software updates from Tesla as they release them, and these updates are constantly providing new features and catering to the customer’s needs. For example a few months ago I did a video about some of the things I hate about my Model 3, most of which were things that could be fixed through a software update. And low and behold, last week Tesla released a free software update to all Tesla owners that addressed many of my complaints. That is something you cannot get with any other car. Some of the main Model Y’s software features include things the built-in navigation system which is amazingly helpful, the ability to control the fan direction and climate control all from the touch screen which is brilliant in my opinion, custom drive profiles that save certain settings so if you share your car with someone else you can both have your own profile that automatically adjusts your settings as you enter the car based on whose smartphone it detects as the key. It even has Dog Mode which keeps the car at a cool temperature and displays a message on the display alerting concerned citizens that the dog is happy and cool and the owner will return soon. The dual motor Model Y’s come with one year of free premium connectivity which includes features like: a built-in internet web browser that lets you browse sites even if the car is driven which is good for passengers, Satellite maps with live traffic visualization, built in streaming services such as Slacker for internet radio, Spotify for streaming your own saved music, and TuneIn for podcasts. It also has video streaming including Netflix and YouTube which is actually really clutch during Supercharging on road trips, and since Elon has said their mission is to make Teslas the most fun cars on the planet, there are also built in games and things like Caraoke. Now those are all great, but I have some minor complaints. First I would love to have an option or Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but I doubt that will ever happen. Also I wouldn’t pay the $10/month for premium connectivity after the trial is up. You still get live traffic data on your navigation, you just don’t see the visuals of it but the route will still be the same. And my main music app of choice is Spotify, and Tesla’s built in Spotify app is half baked at best. It’s very buggy so I just end up streaming Spotify and Podcasts from my phone via Bluetooth most of the time. The good thing about that is the left scroll wheel on the steering wheel for playing, pausing, and skipping still works when streaming over Bluetooth from your phone. Model Y also features built-in voice controls that allow you to many different things like set the temperature, open the glove box, drive to a certain destination, and more. These voice commands will become a huge advantage for Tesla as they get more sophisticated because right now I guess the only downside with a touchscreen is that it does require you to look at where you’re touching which takes your eyes off the road.
But that’s where Tesla’s best software feature comes into play. Autopilot is an advanced driver assistance system that makes driving safer and less stressful. Autopilot comes standard with all new Teslas and utilizes the 8 external cameras, the forward facing radar, the 12 ultrasonic sensors and the onboard computer to give you two main features while driving: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control which matches the speed of your car to that of the surrounding traffic, and Autosteer which assists in steering within a clearly marked lane, and utilizes traffic-aware cruise control. The optional Full Self Driving option gives you more features, but is quite expensive. I have FSD on my Model 3 and I’ll link to a video I did showcasing it on my 45 minute commute. But having driven the Model Y that just has Autopilot, it was honestly enough for the majority of my driving. Autopilot can be enabled by double tapping down on the right stalk when you’re within marked lanes. This will initiate Autosteer and Traffic aware cruise control so the car will stay within the lane, maintain speed while also slowing down for the lead car and speeding back up when necessary. And you can easily increase or decrease the set speed or follow distance by using the right scroll wheel on the steering wheel. Once you experience Autopilot you will never want to go back to a non-Tesla ever again. It allows you to not expend constant mental energy to manually drive the car, but instead it gives you more awareness of your surroundings as the car handles lane keeping and speed. All it requires is a hand on the wheel to let it know you’re still attentive. One feature I love about FSD on my Model 3 is the automatic lane change. This feature allows a Tesla with FSD to automatically change lanes on a highway to pass and merge which is insanely useful. Autopilot doesn’t have automatic lane change. And I thought I would miss it dearly when using basic Autopilot on the Model Y. But, Tesla designed Autopilot in a way that is very clever and made me not miss FSD as much especially when changing lanes. For example, when Autopilot is enabled you can disengage and take over by doing either of these three things: pressing the brake pedal, tapping up on the right stalk, or turning the wheel with enough force. When you disengage Autopilot by turning the wheel it takes a good amount of force. However, when you initiate the turn signal while Autopilot is engaged, it actually lessens the required force for the steering wheel allowing you to easily change lanes then it quickly lets you re-engage Autopilot when most of your car is in the new lane. I didn’t know it was set up like this, and it was really impressive even coming from my Model 3 with FSD. So given that, and the level at which I trust Autopilot because it is the best advanced driver assistance system on any car right now in my opinion, I think the included Autopilot feature set is enough for most people. It’s mostly useful for highway driving right now. If you do choose FSD, you will get some cool features like Summon and Autopark but those I rarely ever use in my Model 3. Once FSD improves in the coming future to where it’s usable on city streets then it will separate itself from basic Autopilot. But until then, Autopilot should meet most driver’s needs. And it obviously enhances quite possibly the best feature of owning a Tesla that people seem to forget: safety. Autopilot has proven to be a safer way to drive when it’s used properly. That’s because software doesn’t suffer from human error. Software doesn’t get road rage, it doesn’t fall asleep at the wheel, it doesn’t get distracted. And like every Tesla, the Model Y is designed to be the safest vehicle in its class. It has a low center of gravity, a rigid body structure and large crumple zones that provide unmatched protection. Even after all the cool things abut the Model Y, most people would benefit from choosing a Model Y just on safety alone which is something to think about. Another safety and security feature that is unique to Tesla and Model Y, is the Dashcam feature which allows you to connect a flash drive to the USB port under the center console area, and it will record continuous dash cam footage from all the external cameras while driving which is extremely helpful if you’re ever in a situation where something happens to your car. It also can record surveillance footage while the car is parked, and this feature is called Sentry Mode. It’s extremely helpful for monitoring your car for security reasons. The best part is Tesla’s latest software update lets you view the dash cam footage directly from the touch screen, and even skip ahead to the point where motion is detected.
Conclusion
The Model Y has been criticized by many of suffering from fit and finish issues. This Model Y definitely has a few of those issues including part of the upholstery interior sticking out which was an eye sore, one of the hatchback’s interior side paneling is misaligned which revealed the inner components, and the passenger window makes a popping noise when it’s rolled up. However, those are pretty minor issues that should be easily fixed by Tesla’s mobile technician and covered under the new vehicle warranty. The exterior of the Model Y was actually great. I couldn’t find really any panel gaps or misalignments that were noticeable. It’s probably safe to say Tesla isn’t the best at fit and finish quality assurance, but most of the fit and finish issues that some Model Y owners have seen are minor cosmetic issues that will most likely get fixed for free and not cause any inconvenience due to the service being performed by a mobile technician at the owner’s location. I hope Tesla will try to improve their fit and finish quality going forward, but I think most people will be head over heels in love with the most important parts the car.
The Tesla Model Y brings a lot to the table. It has an attractive design and provides the best things about the Model 3 with even more space at an elevated view, while being much more affordable than Tesla’s only other SUV – the Model X. The Model Y is pretty much the only option for people who want a fully electric hatchback vehicle with at least 300 miles of range, along with the high level of performance and quickness. It’s packed full of capable self-driving technology, and the feature set is constantly improving via free over the air software updates. The hardware and software are made by the same company so it’s optimized to integrate together seamlessly for a top notch user experience. The newly introduced powered lift gate hatchback makes the Model Y extremely versatile and great for families. The feeling of never buying gas or oil again is the cherry on top. If owning for a long period of time, owning a Model Y could lead to some big fuel savings with the possibility of the sun charging your car via solar energy which is the ultimate goal. After owning a Tesla for over 2 years now it’s so hard for me to recommend any gasoline vehicle or even a hybrid even though there are some promising upcoming options like the Toyota RAV4 Prime that are cheaper than the Model Y. I definitely wouldn’t recommend depleting your savings or going into considerable debt to get any new vehicle, but if you have a $50,000 budget, the Tesla Model Y may very well be the best car option on the market right now.
I’ve always thought of Ecobee as the Tesla of smart home products. Both companies are similar in that they’re all about improving everyday life while creating a more sustainable world. They both make high quality, state-of-the-art products aimed to save money and energy, and ecobee was kind enough to sponsor today’s video and let me review their new SmartCamera and SmartSensors that can turn your home into a Tesla. Sort of. Let me explain.
If you didn’t already know, Teslas have built-in cameras all around the car that will monitor the car when it’s locked, and it will automatically record footage onto a USB drive if it detects motion, and you can watch the footage back to see what was recorded. It’s like a security camera system for your car. Tesla calls this feature SentryMode, and it’s one of the most unique features of owning a Tesla.
Well, that’s basically what Ecobee’s SmartCamera and SmartSensors provide for your home especially when they’re paired with ecobee haven which is their smart home monitoring solution that eliminates the need for any keypads or complex programming.
Like all ecobee products, the SmartCamera and SmartSensors come in very nice packaging, and the setup is really simple. Starting with the SmartCamera, which is a 1080p full HD indoor camera that connects to your Wifi network and it has built-in Alexa voice control and also works with Apple HomeKit. It comes with a nice solid stand that can be used on the bottom for setting the camera on a surface or it can be put on the back if you want to mount your camera on a wall. It also comes with a mounting screw, a power cord, and a quick start guide. Just like with my ecobee smart light switch from a couple years ago, this setup is very easy as well. Just download the ecobee app and it walks you through the entire setup of the smart camera which only takes a couple of minutes. One of the best things about the SmartCamera is its 180 degree field of view which is important for home security cameras. It can easily monitor a large room and will send alerts to your phone when it detects motion. It also has a feature called Smart Focus which recognizes when a moving person enters the frame and automatically adjusts to keep the person centered as they move around. I’ve found it can be a little jumpy when it first detects and tracks a person, but once it’s locked on it does a pretty impressive job following the subject. I really love the activity zone feature which lets you specify an area of the camera frame and it will only trigger an alert if motion is detected in that specific area which I’ve never seen that feature on any other smart home camera. For example this comes in handy if I don’t want to be alerted if someone enters my office but I do want to be alerted if someone tries to get on my office computer. Another thing I really appreciate is the dedication to privacy which is always a big question mark when it comes to indoor cameras. Can you trust it? Well, ecobee says the SmartCamera has mandatory two-factor authentication, and the video is encrypted and processed onboard the device using the 8-core processor rather than in the cloud which is good for privacy and for saving bandwidth. And if you choose to allow it, the SmartCamera uses Wi-Fi and GPS to detect when family members enter or exit the home, and will automatically stop recording when they’re home. And of course, having Alexa built-in you can say your usual voice commands and it will utilize the SmartCamera’s built in microphone and speakers. It also has a two way talk feature so you can talk through the speaker from the mobile app wherever you are. The speakers are pretty loud and you can also set it to trigger a siren if motion is detected which I’ll play a sample right now with the volume lowered so it doesn’t scare you. It also has infrared LEDs for night vision which is nice, and of course the SmartSensors can be paired to the SmartCamera to create a complete home monitoring system without the need for a hub or keypad. The SmartSensors come in two varieties: one is a dual-purpose contact sensor so you’ll get automatic alerts on your phone when entry is detected through a door or window, and the motion sensors will alert you of any in-home activity that it detects when you’re away. The motion sensors are especially handy for me because it allows me to make sure that my automatic cat feeder is still feeding my cats when I’m away. If Louie misses one meal he gets a little crazy. He’s just a hungry hungry boy. The door and window SmartSensors are also very sleek and minimal, completely wireless and very easy to setup. Just scan the QR code and walkthrough the setup on the ecobee app. The door and window SmartSensors can easily be installed by sticking them to any door, window or cabinet and once you do that, the ecobee app will alert you and show you if those doors or windows are opened or closed. The motion sensors are completely wireless as well and are very small and can easily be placed on a shelf or table without being noticeable or standing out. They can detect motion in a 120 degree arc up to 16 feet away which is really nice, and if you have ecobee’s flagship product, the SmartThermostat, the motion sensors can automatically adjust the temperature based on when you leave and enter a room so you can maximize energy savings.
If you want to unlock the full potential of the ecobee SmartCamera and SmartSensors you’ll want to get ecobee haven which is their smart home monitoring subscription that allows you to get alerts, live stream, or re-play events all from the ecobee app starting at $5/month. This will give you some key features like Autopilot (no, not that Autopilot) Ecobee’s Autopilot will arm and disarm the SmartCamera and SmartSensors based on the geolocation of any member linked to your ecobee Family Account. It also fixes one of the few downsides of the SmartCamera which is the fact that without an Ecobee Haven subscription the SmartCamera doesn’t save any videos for you to replay if it detects motion so you can’t go back and view any videos from the past. However, with an ecobee haven subscription you can save and replay any automatically recorded event from your SmartCamera video feed for up to 14 days. I wish the SmartCamera came with at least video recordings up to 7 days for free like my outdoor camera system offers, but unfortunately for the Ecobee SmartCamera you’ll need the haven subscription to access any recorded videos. But ecobee does allow you to try haven out for free and you can cancel at anytime which is good. I am a big fan of the three different home monitoring modes and how easy it is to switch between them depending on your preference. Disarm obviously disarms everything, Arm Stay is for when you’re at home and it will only alert when external doors or windows are opened, and Arm Away is for when you’re away from home and it will alert you of any motion detected by any of the SmartSensors or SmartCamera. I also love the way I can respond to alerts on my phone which lets me quickly trigger the alarm if I want. Louie may not like that though. He hates loud noises.
So far I’ve been pretty impressed with the ecobee SmartCamera and SmartSensors. Like I said at the beginning, ecobee is similar to Tesla. They aren’t the cheapest options on the market, but you get what you pay for. Solid build quality, very attractive design, simple intuitive setup and interface, and at the end of the day it will give you peace of mind when you’re at or away from home. The SmartCamera is currently $179, and the SmartSensors bundle is $99 so you’re looking at about $280 for this setup that I have here plus $5 a month for the optional haven subscription which is all probably worth it for people who want a high quality smart home monitoring system that also takes privacy seriously which is always important. What do you think of the ecobee smart camera and smart sensors? I will link to these in the description below if you want to check them out for yourself. Be sure to subscribe for more tech videos in the future. My name is Andy. Thank you for watching, and I’ll talk to you in the next one.
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