After decades of travelling with kit, I think I have finally landed on the perfect travel kit for me. And it’s not a computer or iPhone/iPad travel kit… it’s the home away from home kit. Let me explain.
This is my audio-visual and home automation kit, connected to a mobile 5G router. It enables me to use my voice to control everything… Chromecast, lights and music.
It operates on the Google Home system. I can’t use HomeKit as that means I’d have to carry an Apple TV (as you need a hub). I’d also have to take a Home Pod mini.
The Chromecast has all my usual apps, and the user interface is in Apple TV emulation mode.
The 5G router is on my family plan of six SIMs for 320 GB a month, costing USD100. It also has the same network name as my home network, so things connect seamlessly. I don’t bother with hotel wifi anymore. It either doesn’t work, is hard to connect to or is flaky.
I also have a Sonos Roam and have set that up to use Google Home Voice. Finally, I grabbed some cheap TP link Tapo smart plugs for hotel floor and desk lamps that work with Google. These are the smallest smart plugs I could find.
So by saying Hey Google, I can control music, TV and lights in my hotel room. Of course, I would prefer to use HomeKit, but that would be bigger and bulkier.
The travel kit is
- Netgear M6 5G modem and antenna
- Chromecast HD
- Sonos Roam (with Sonos, Google or Alexa voice. The SL version doesn’t have voice)
- TP-Link Tapo (https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/smart-plug/tapo-p100/). I have the Australian version, but the US one is even smaller.
Tapo has some great kit. They also have a movement sensor that you could leave in the hotel room, so you know when housekeeping has been and gone. https://www.tapo.com/us/product/smart-sensor/tapo-t100/
I just love having a mobile home away from home for AV.
