Saturday, October 11, 2014
Keyless Entry Remote Fob Clicker for 2006 Lincoln Navigator With Do-It-Yourself Programming
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Gomadic Car and Wall Charger Essential Kit for the Garmin Zumo 450 - Includes both AC Wall and DC C
- Gomadic TipExchange Technology protects your investment by allowing you to change/upgrade either charger by simply swapping the physical charging tip. (Charging tips for Garmin Zumo 450 included with additional tips sold separately).
- This Gomadic Car charger has a wide input voltage range of 12-24vDC to support all vehicle charging ports. Works in cars, trucks, planes, boat, RVs and more (both domestic and international). Available output current is an impressive 10W/2A . (Twice most competing products!)
- Gomadic Wall Charger is built to support worldwide voltage input levels ranging from 100-240vAC /50-60 Hz. High output 10W /2A transformer provides output voltage and resistor configuration specific to the Garmin Zumo 450.
- A select best-selling product bundle from Gomadic Corp, one of the leaders in consumer electronic charging accessories since 2001.
- Backed by our Gomadic Lifetime Warranty. Quality products protected by a quality guarantee.
The car charger also does it's job as charging it. But you can't use the GPS while it's charging in the car. Because it also thinks that your connected to the computer.
Both use the USB type of connector to connect it to the GPS
The tip of both chargers is the same and won't fit the Automotive Suction Cup Mount so you can't take advantage of the speakers on the Mount. You'll have to get the Garmin 12-Volt Vehicle DC Power Adapter for the StreetPilot C510 and C550 (010-10747-03) to make the mount work. Which is what I got eventually.I bought a Garmin Zumo 450 navigator for my bike. I also want to use it in my truck so I bought the windshield mount and the Gomadic cigarette lighter plug that was recommended by the "other buyers who purchased a Garmin also bought these items" section on the website. Everything came and I went out to put it in my truck and guess what...? The "tip exchange" piece doesn't fit the Garmin 450. Why do they sell you Garmin 450, a windshield mount that fits the Garmin 450 and then sell you a power cord with the wrong tip? I guess it's so you'll just have to order another tip for $5.95 (plus $5.00 shipping) which will fit. RINKY DINK! At least they should send the tip that fits the unit you buy!The zumo takes a standard mini USB connection like most phones except the iGay. I bought this not knowing and i have tons of adapters like this already.I ordered this charger system with the idea that I would use it in my car. I use the system that came with the Zumo on my motorcycle. The system doesn't seem to want to charge the item, and it is constantly running out of power. In addition, with the windshield mount, I get no sound. The wall plug-in works fine.The charger do what they say they do.The adapter fit my GPS like it stated it would,and charges the battery just fine.
The one thing that confused me is I didn't know my GPS yet and I had know idear where it gets pluged in.The picture show it being pluged into the side of the GPS.
I don't leave home with out them now.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
SUPERNIGHT (TM) RF Wireless 10-Button Remote Control Mini RGB Controller for LED RGB Strips Light 5
- Brightness adjustable
- Adjust the light soft and stable, no flickering
- Easy to install and simple to use
- Use for single color strip and LED lamps, such as wash wall lamp, glass curtain wall light
- Constant voltage and constant current output
Monday, May 19, 2014
GTMax Rapid Car Charger w/ IC Chip + Home Travel Charger for Garmin nuvi 550 ...
- NOTE: When using this charger for GPS device, GPS device might restart with computer mode; after less than 10 seconds of synchronization, GPS will start with GPS mode with charging from the charger.
Buy GTMax Rapid Car Charger w/ IC Chip + Home Travel Charger for Garmin nuvi 550 ... Now
I purchased a few of these chargers both ac and dc for my garmin nuvi 500 because I have different vehichles I use it in. Thought they would be a good deal, NONE of the DC chargers worked, only the ac charger worked. Seller offerd to replace them if I sent them back but I didn't care to waste time on it to just receive new junk, Just purchased a couple of car chargers from Garmin, they work and feel like they are just built better.I used this car charger with my nuvi 550w. It both powered and charged very well until it broke. The piece which inserts into the GPS broke apart on the third use.Want GTMax Rapid Car Charger w/ IC Chip + Home Travel Charger for Garmin nuvi 550 ... Discount?
Very nice item. Not as heavy duty as I would like, but it works very well just the same.Wednesday, April 30, 2014
2) Cobra CPI1575 3000 Watt Car Power Inverters DC To AC - TWO PACK
- PACKAGE 2: Cobra CPI1575 Power Inverters.Continuous Power: 1500 Watts and Surge Power: 3000 Watts
- Peak efficiency (12V - 1/2 load) > 88%
- Protection: Overload, Short Circuit, Overtemp, Reverse Polarity, Under/Over Voltage
- USB Output- 5V Allows charging and operation of modern office devices such as iPod's, Blackberry's and cell phones.
- LED volt/meter , Remote on/off capable
Buy 2) Cobra CPI1575 3000 Watt Car Power Inverters DC To AC - TWO PACK Now
the Inverter is just the right size for my businessIt is perfect for running my 4 1/2" grinder and then my 3/8" corded drill.It is perfectly capable running my interior lighting in my vans as well as a small heater for in the winter time along with my key cutting machines all at the same time with no problems. I have also run a small 110v wire feed welder with these units and had great results. this product has proven to me that it is good for the contractor service world for running the tools of the trade. the product has another great featureit will shut down before it drains the battery or battery's in you service vehicle completely so you will be able to start it up and recharge the battery or be able to leave the job site. there is a remote on off switch available for these units and i would recommend them as well for the simple reason of placement of this unit, if you are like me i don't like to mount things in "easy to remove" places and the switch has a great deal of wire on it be able to mount it in a comfortable location for turning the unit on and off and not giving away the location of the mounted inverter.Read Best Reviews of 2) Cobra CPI1575 3000 Watt Car Power Inverters DC To AC - TWO PACK Here
We have used these converters quite often in our companies trucks, and have very little problems with them. The products sent were exactly what I was expectingFriday, April 25, 2014
Dorman 00595 HELP! Battery Hold-Down Kit
I had thought the task of getting the original off, replacing the bolt would be an easy task.. it wasn't and the original battery tray broke.. ordered this replacement now our battery stays in place.. Perfect fit and a simple install (now getting the old rusty bolts out was not so much fun.. To prevent a future issue, I drilled small holes in each leg so those 4 cavities can no longer will up with water.. This new Dorman 00595 Battery Hold-Down Kit should outlive the van.
Thanks amazon for the prime free shipping(missed the cut off for $3.95 shipping by an hour or soGood replacement for oem part that had rusted bolts. Fit was very good with no problems installing it and all hardware was included for a complete repair. Delivery was prompt and the price was right.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Kargo Kooler 12V
The Kargo Kooler arrived a day before a 1600-mile road trip: I tested it en route to the Deep South in April as a chest cooler for exotic cheeses and a frozen pork roast, plugged into a socket in the cargo area of my Subaru Forester. I also splurged for the the optional AC adapter so I could plug it in at hotels. It cooled things superbly, despite lid problems. Yes, it may be a bit noisy in quiet office/home environments, but I did not notice its hum above road noise or the loud blasts of heating/cooling in highway hotel rooms.
My unit was obviously damaged from shipping, so I'm returning it to Amazon for a refund. Just check the lid covers and hinges very closely for damage and/or defects if you order this item.
I liked this enough to give Koolatron a second chance: I just ordered Koolatron's slightly smaller rolling mini-fridge model which may better suit my needs, has an adjustable thermostat, and should tuck away nicely and discreetly under the cargo area blind of my Subaru.I got this as a sort of "extra" frig for drinks in the summer. However, it freezes up easily and can't be adjusted for temperature. It is lightweight and portable, working well for a drink chest for parties.
Also, the plug in that comes with it was missing. It only plugs into a car outlet--I had to buy the adapter to use it in the house.
Given the choice, I'd probably go with a small refrig that adjusts temperature. However, again, I like the portability of this product.WE GOT INTO THE TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS AND NEEDED A SMALL FRIDGE TO KEEP DOWN THE COST OF FOOD.. WE HAVE USED THIS KOOLATRON ALMOST STEADY FOR A MONTH NOW. IT KEEPS ON GOING. THE ONLY THING BETTER WOULD BE IF IT WAS VERSITLE TO PLUG INTO CAR AND HOME. WE BOUGHT AN ADAPTER TO TAKE IT INTO MOTELS AND SUCH TO BE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE.. WE JUST LOVE IT THOUGH. WE RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY.
Read Best Reviews of Kargo Kooler 12V Here
Used this on my road trip, it did great keeping all my food and drinks cold. Even when driving through the hot desert of 90 degree weather, it did cool down below 40 degrees from outside temperature, so it was 50 degrees inside cooler for our food. Warmer does great, can use up to 4 hrs maximum. Either cooler or warmer, plug into 12v lighter when car is running or will drain your car battery. It stays cool when at picnic and cannot plug cooler in.Only concern is when fans running, its loud inside the car. When driving the road noise blends it out. After awhile you don't even think about it. Not too bulky in the backseat. Easily used seat belts to help hold it down when driving, such as around corners. Greatly recommend this cooler/warmer. My friend had a different brand and didn't work well. This one is a great portable fridge. Plus bought adapter from Amazon.com to use at hotel rooms, plug right in to wall outlet.The hinge on the door was broken on arrival even though the packaging was not damaged. It seems like the double door concept with the heavy cooler mechanism on the door put a lot of stress on the plastic hinge. Good concept, but poor execution. I had to return it before we could even turn it on....
Monday, March 17, 2014
Sony Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter for iPod (Black)
First off, Amazon's two sentence product description is a bit too brief, so here are some specs from the packaging:
Communication System:
Bluetooth Specification version 2.0 + EDR
Output:
Bluetooth Specification Power Class 2
Maximum communication range:
Line of Sight approx 10m (30 ft)
Freqency band:
2.4 GHz band (2.4000 GHz 2.4835 GHz)
Modulation method:
FHSS
Compatible Bluetooth Profile:
A2DP, AVRCP
Supported Codec:
SBC
Supported Passcode:
0000, 1234, 8888
Terminal:
iPod connector
Compatible iPod models (official):
iPod nano 1st generation
iPod nano 2nd generation (aluminum)
iPod mini 1st generation
iPod 4th generation
iPod 4th generation (color display)
iPod 5th generation (video)
Although the compatibility list does not mention it, this add-on definitely works with the iPod classic, because that's what I'm using. The terminal is the current standard 30-pin connector, so if your iPod is more recent than the above list, chances are that it will probably work... but I can only speak for the classic.
CONTENTS:
The package comes with:
iPod Bluetooth transmitter
manual
One funny note regarding the packaging: I couldn't believe how HUGE the packaging was for such a small item!! The main photo on the package depicts an iPod with the transmitter cleverly placed in view right below the iPod photo, where it would plug in. It certainly catches the eye.
USAGE:
It couldn't be simpler You just turn on your iPod and connect the transmitter to the port, and in order to activate it, you set your receiving device into pairing mode and then hold down the button on the transmitter for about 7 seconds until the two devices are paired. That's it.
SOUND:
Overall, I find the sound quality on the receiving side to be excellent. I base my opinion on headphone comparisons between:
a) plugging directly into the iPod and
b) plugging into my Bluetooth receiver unit
As far as I can tell, the sound is pretty much identical, although a bit lower in volume, but that may due to my Bluetooth receiver.
For reference, I'm using the transmitter in conjunction with the Sony HWS-BTA2W Bluetooth wireless audio transmitter/receiver as my Bluetooth receiver. Both these two devices support Bluetooth 2.0 and A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile). For audio comparisons, I used a pair of Sony MDR-V700DJ Monitor Series Headphones.
One important thing to note is that you cannot control the volume of the transmitted sound. I'm not exactly sure why that is, but it appears to be by design. All your iPod controls behave as they normally do and you can even move the volume slider up or down, however it has no effect on the transmitted sound. Some functions, however, do still affect the sound, such as "Sound Check", "Volume Limit", and all the "EQ" settings. Since these features still work, I'm assuming that the lack of volume control is by design. The volume output is the max allowed by the Volume Limit setting.
My only guess is that the volume control is to be used in conjunction with AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile), but I don't have such a device to confirm. I don't know if this happens on other iPod bluetooth adaptors, but I could see the inability to control the volume via the iPod becoming an issue if you want to use it with a BT headset (unless the headset has volume controls)
RANGE:
The packaging states "Line of Sight approx 10m (30 ft)". I had thought that Bluetooth did not require line of sight, but Sony clearly states so and for the most part, it holds true for this unit. I have tested up to around 25 feet with clear line of sight and the sound remaind crisp and clear. Clothing also did not present any problems. I buried the iPod and transmitter under a pile of ski clothing with no effect.
But once you block the path with walls or other sources of interference, the signal will start to become choppy or completely cut off. Be warned that your body can also block the signal. Cupping my hands completely around the transmitter would pretty much turn the signal to crap beyond only a few feet from the BT receiver. In most cases, as long as I'm witin a one or two feet, the signal still comes through, but the more I block the signal and the further I go, the more the signal would degrade, as is to be expected.
As far as home use goes, as long as I'm in the same room and not actively trying to block the signal, I haven't had any problems.
DESIGN:
The design is about as simple as you can get. It has a single big button in the center, which you can use for various functions (turning on/off, pairing) and a bright blue light which signals the unit's activities. It is completely powered by the iPod, so no extra power supply or battery is required.
I have seen similar Bluetooth attachments for the iPod which are little blocks the same width as the iPod. Personally, I prefer the small design of the Sony. One major factor that I like about it is that I can plug it into my iPod without removing it from its protective case. I use a leather casing by INCASE which only leaves me an opening for the 30-pin connector at the bottom.
My main pet peeve that I have about most block adaptors is that while they may blend better with the iPod in overall shape, there aren't any cases (that I know of) available that fit an iPod WITH attachments, so if you use a case and want to connect something, chances are you'll have to remove the iPod from its case before plugging in your accessory. The Sony might make for an odd shape, but for my purposes at least, it works better and I think that it still looks pretty slick.
One thing that Sony could have added, however, is a locking clip for the transmitter. The transmitter sits pretty snugly and doesn't feel like it'll fall out by accident, but it would have been nice to have that extra sense of security.
CONCLUSION:
The unit is a bit pricey, but overall I'm quite satisfied with its functionality. The sound quality is good and for my purposes, I haven't had any problems with signal strength.
As an aside, my primary goal was to connect my iPod to my home speaker system. I was originally looking at the iPod Universal Dock, but found it to be completely worthless, since the remote control could only play/pause/skip prev/next and control the volume. For actually selecting music, I still had to go up to the dock in order to browse for my music. And who wants to get up to change music anyway? :)
Using this Bluetooth setup, I can now use my iPod as a fully functional "remote" (except for volume) and have my music come out of my main speaker system. I do wish I could have the option of charging my iPod while it's broadcasting (since the charging port is occupied by the transmitter), but the fact that I can keep my iPod in its protective case and the nice compact size and look of the transmitter makes for a decent tradeoff. Bottom line: If you have a nice home speaker setup, I totally recommend going this route!
**UPDATE 12/13/2007**
Just a few more quick notes and clarifications (as if this review wasn't long enough, eh?) since I've been using it for about a month now... and I still LOVE this device!
Usage:
I should clarify my above comment that it only requires pairing with your receiving device ONCE (like most BT devices). After the initial pairing you can unplug it and only plug it back into the iPod when you want to use it. If you're near your previously paired receiving device, all you have to do is plug the transmitter into your iPod and hit play, and the receiver should immediately pick up your audio signal. To preserve battery life, the iPod transmitter only transmits if you're actually playing music, which is pretty good.
Lack of volume control:
After having read other reviews for similar attachments, the fixed volume output appears to be normal. For my purposes, it would have been nice if I could have controlled volume directly from the iPod, but I'll live. At least I know that it wasn't necessarily a design-flaw in this particular device.If you've tried another Bluetooth transmitter for your iPod, you may be stunned at just how small this one is (see my product picture relative to coins).
As others have said, it pairs very easily and since it draws power from the iPod, it doesn't require charging.
Some additional notes:
The size of the button is very convenient for any size fingers (many units feature extremely small buttons).
The unit fits securely in the iPod and does not break connection if you shake the iPod, and I mean SHAKE it. Great even for robust exercise.
The power it draws from the iPod is minimal, having only a negligible effect on the battery charge. In this configuration, it outlasts the charge of my Motorokr S9 Headphones
The sound quality is excellent. My previous Bluetooth transmitter was never so clear.
The range is the best I've come across for a Bluetooth device. As an experiment, I connected the device to my iPod in my bedroom and then went downstairs to do some laundry. The sound was clear and uninterrupted until I got to the laundry room door, about 30-35 feet from my iPod.
You really can't go wrong with this unit. It's more expensive than some of the others, but you'll love the convenience and level of performance.
Buy Sony Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter for iPod (Black) Now
This Bluetooth adapter does work with the iPhone in spite of the message you get when you plug it in. The message states that it doesn't and asks you if you want to switch to airplane mode. Just answer no and continue. The key to getting it to work is to start whichever application you are using to play before you plug in the adapter. My only problem is that occasionally if I'm moving with the iPhone on my belt, the sound will "cut out" for a second.Read Best Reviews of Sony Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter for iPod (Black) Here
I just received my iPhone 3G this week, and like many people, I was extremely unhappy that it did not come with Bluetooth support for my Motorola S9 stereo headset. For the life of me, I can't figure out why Apple chose not to support the Bluetooth A2DP standard. I expected more from a company on the leading edge of digital stereo and smart phone integration.Fortunately, Sony came to the rescue with their TMR-BT8IP Bluetooth Transmitter. This small device plugs into the iPhone 30-pin connector and gets power from it, so there is no charging necessary (very nice). It comes in black or white, so it matches the current iPhone colors nicely. Sony Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter for iPod (White) Sony Bluetooth Wirleless Transmitter for iPod (Black)
I have been using the Motorola S9 with my Samsung Blackjack for about a year and half, and I love it. I have become hooked on listening to high quality stereo with no wires to get tangled. As an added bonus, you can pick up phone calls without missing a beat, and even redial without touching the phone. Motorola MOTOROKR S9 Bluetooth Version 2 Wireless Stereo Headset for Cell Phone
Getting everything to play well together was a pain, but now that it's working, I'm a very happy with Sony, and Motorola, but still annoyed with Apple! Apple fumbled the ball here, which added an unnecessary $60 expense to the iPhone along with hours of frustration...
Hopefully, the following instructions can help mitigate some frustration for other buyers of iPhone.
The trick to getting everything to play together is to recognize that the iPhone's built-in Bluetooth is used to control the phone features of the headset, and the Sony Bluetooth transmitter is used to control the stereo music features of the headset. You must pair the headset with the Sony transmitter first, and then pair the headset with the iPhone.
1. Turn off Motorola headset
2. Turn on bluetooth on iPhone
3. Plugin Sony to iPhone
4. Answer no to the iPhone Prompt "This accessory is not made to work with iPhone" this comes up every time :(
5. Press and hold Sony button for 7 seconds until blue LED flashes quickly
6. Press and hold Motorola headset power button until blue LED goes solid
7. Sony and Motoorla will automatically pair
8. Stereo music should now be heard on headset
9. Press and hold Sony button for 3 seconds until it tops playing music
10. Unplug Sony transmitter from iPhone
11. Turn off Motorola headset
12. Use iPhone Bluetooth control to start scanning for devices
13. Press and hold Motorola headset power button until blue LED goes solid
14. Motorola headset should show up on iPhone as unpaired
15. Pair iPhone with Motorola headset
16. Headset can now answer incoming calls using left ear button or iPhone answer
17. Plugin Sony to iPhone
18. Press and hold Sony button for 2 seconds
19. Stereo music should now be heard on headset
Even I still have trouble getting this script to work consistently, but rest assured, if you're persistent, it can be made to work, and it works very well. It's just a shame it has to be this painful Shame on you Apple...
Want Sony Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter for iPod (Black) Discount?
I bought this because I had already purchased the Sony DRBT-50 headphones ( which are also Bluetooth ).I was pleasantly surprised at how easily it paired with the headphones, and how good the sound quality was.
The range seems to be about 20 ft ( unobstructed view ) from the iPod with this transmitter and the DRBT-50s..
( which was also a pleasant surprise, I am used to bluetooth's range usually being about 12 ft or so with the equipment I currently own ) After that range the signal started to drop out.
The device is powered by the iPod, so it cuts down on the playing time of the iPod ( I haven't determined how long it will last yet )
There is no way to control the volume with the iPod or this device, I needed to use the volume controls on the headphones ( which did a good job )
All in all, I am very pleased with this purchase.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Universal Apple iPod USB Charger Kit - USB Retractable Hotsync Cable - USB Home Travel Charger - US
I keep the car charger in my car, with no extra cables to burden it, and I keep the wall charger plugged into the wall. The cable retracts easily, with a design much like that of a window blind (pull until you let go, where it locks, and then pull a bit more and let go to release).
It's a small, unobtrusive, and incredibly convenient device for your iPod, and at this price, it's a steal. You'd pay two or three times this at some electronics stores for the wall charger or car charger alone, let alone one that is so solidly constructed.
No question -if you own an iPod, purchase this product. I was impressed enough to come and write this review -perhaps you will be too.This kit is one that no iPod user should be without. The pieces are well constructed, and the wall charger beats Apple's own overpriced model. Also reasonably priced. I am very satisfied with this product.The product was exactly as pictured, and I am VERY pleased with the construction and price. I am THRILLED that I can use the same cord for different components this saves on storage space!
This is a WONDERFUL product at a fantastic price! I highly recommend it to any iPod owner!
NOTE: as of 11/30/08 the car charger attachment does NOT seem to charge my iPod. I haven't done anything to it to make it not work, it just won't work anymore. Since I am way past the warranty I guess I need to buy a new one. Not a problem since it is so inexpensive.On paper (i.e., computer screen) it looks like an unbeatable deal. In person, though, it looks and feels cheap, and performs accordingly.
I used both chargers with the retractable dock cord on several trips. They worked fine for about 3 months, then the car charger died.
When I called BargainCell for a replacement, they told me I'm out of luck. The items are only guaranteed by BargainCell for 30 days, and they can't even refer me to the manufacturer because the product "comes from China and there is no warranty."
Luckily I'm only out a few bucks because this package is so cheap. But I now have the hassle of researching and buying a replacement. Don't make the same mistake I made!
One thing nice to say: I love the retractable USB dock cord, as it eliminates cable clutter in my car's glove compartment.Everything seemed poorly constructed when I got the set in the mail. Then things started falling apart. The car adapter comes apart everytime you try to unplug it. Every time! So I stopped using it so that I don't get the parts stuck in the cigarette lighter plug. The home charger was fine at first, but it too fell apart. One of the prongs came out in an outlet! it is so dangerous. I almost got shocked.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Goal Zero 39002 Silver/Black Large Extreme 350 Adventure Kit
If you remember the images of people trying to recover after Hurricane Sandy, you understand the difference a power source can make by allowing for re-charging of cell phones and other electronic devices.
More than that, I liked the idea of having a power source that could get re-charged by the power of the sun, rather than using a loud (and often unreliable) generator that required a supply of fossil fuel.
While you could put together a kit yourself (the "DIY" way) by using a solar panel, charge controller, deep cycle battery and inverter, I was intrigued by the seemingly complete Goal Zero Large Extreme 350 Adventure Kit.
A 30 Watt Solar panel would be sufficient to charge the battery in the power pack during a normal, sunny day. The Extreme 350 power pack was supposed to store 350 Watt of power and the different available outlets on the unit or the inverter offered flexibility to connect and re-charge devices via the USB port (iPhone), 12V DC port (Laptop with 12V power supply) and even 110V AC devices like a pump etc. Just what I was looking for.
Before I made the purchase, I checked with the folks at Goal Zero to make sure the unit was protected against over-charging and reverse charging (rather important features) and proceeded once I had confirmation.
When the unit arrived, I unpacked it right away and wanted to get it charged up.
A sunny day provided direct sunlight, the Boulder 30 panel was adjusted to just the right angle as per the instructions, both the blue power LED and green charging LED lit up and the LCD display started blinking the "20" symbol. That was it. The display didn't change for 2 days, but went blank when I unplugged it.
So I contacted customer service and was told the power pack was probably in a state of hibernation and to reset it by pulling the fuses out for a few minuted.
Not what I had hoped to hear, but I followed the instructions. Instead of the solar panels, I used the 110V power adapter this time to try to charge the pack and indeed, that seemed to work. Multiple symbols started to blink on the LCD display, indicating it was charging, and after a few hours, it looked like the unit was fully charged.
And indeed, the USB port now provided power to charge an iPhone, the 12V DC port was able to power my Laptop and the Inverter produced enough AC to power a 110V AC light fixture.
At the same time I had bought the Extreme 350, I bought a Goal Zero LED lamp, so I tested the unit to make sure it would power the light at least through the night.
So I connected the light (Goal Zero proprietary DC connector) and left it on all night.
By the next morning, the light was off and the LCD display empty, so I took it that the battery had completely discharged again.
Like before, having the solar panel connected all day long didn't get the battery charged up again, even though I tried the "pull the fuses" trick once more.
So the next night, I plugged the unit into the AC power supply again and let it charge all night. Apparently a really bad idea!
By the next morning, the unit was spreading the scent of rotten eggs, was very hot to the touch and some sort of liquid had escaped the case. The inverter was dead as well.
Not really the reliable performance I would have expected from a device that I had purchased for emergencies and needed to trust to work in such a situation.
Unfortunately I only discovered that Amazon has a policy of not accepting returns on this product, due to the HazMat nature of the battery pack, after this fiasco.
That's when it got interesting: I tried contacting Goal Zero for help with their broken product.
Sent an email early on Monday. No response.
Called on Tuesday and was on hold for more than 20 minutes before my call was terminated in a voice mailbox, where I left my contact details and phone number. Nothing though, nobody called me back.
Tried calling again on Wednesday and left my information. Again, nothing.
Finally, 3 days after that, I got a response to my original email. Answered the questions from their customer service rep. and waited.
5 days later a response from yet a different staff member with the same questions I had already answered.
After 2 weeks finally the statement "we'll send you a replacement".
Another week later, still nothing, so I gave up on goal Zero.
I have never seen anything as chaotic as this in my life. They must not have any structure or CRM in the customer service dept. at Goal Zero.
Ball dropped constantly. Left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing. Nobody ever called me back at the number I left and in all that time, they didn't manage to address my problem and replace their defective product. Customers must not be important to them. Or they are overwhelmed with warranty issues, I can't tell.
If it hadn't been for a friendly soul in Amazon customer service that understood the nature of the problem and replaced the unit for me, I would have been stuck with a piece of junk that had cost me a lot of money, with no real support by the manufacturer.
So thank you Amazon, your customer service is first class!
As far as Goal Zero and the Extreme 350 product, I hope my experience is an exception and not many more customers have to go through what I went through.
Problems with products happen. It's how a manufacturer stands by the product when problems happen and how they make it right with customers that experience problems.
And that's exactly where Goal Zero dropped the ball for me.I have several Goal Zero products and I am thoroughly pleased with all of them. I use the Goal Zero 350 power pack to charge many portable devices and power my Traeger grill (requires power to operate). It takes a good while to charge this power pack with one solar panel. The solar panel that comes in the package is 30 watts and the power pack is 350 watt hours, so some simple math says that in perfect conditions it's going to take at least 12 hours of full sun to accomplish 0-100% charge cycle. I have several Goal Zero panels and string them all together (very easy to do with their products) and my power pack charges in 6-8 hours (winter sun angles and partly cloudy). VERY GOOD PRODUCTS. You have to understand the limits of a battery... You aren't going to be able to run really power hungry devices, but for what this is designed to do, it does it VERY WELL and is EASY to use. I wish they were less expensive, I'd be able to buy more and chain the batteries together.
Buy Goal Zero 39002 Silver/Black Large Extreme 350 Adventure Kit Now
I like this product and got it for use around the house to charge things like laptops cell phones and other portable electronics and as an emergency power source. I had considered the Xantrex Xpower Powerpack 600HD Portable Power Source which is a lot cheaper than the Goal Zero Extreme 350 and also more versatile but I wanted to try the 350 for myself. I like the overall design although the inverter could use some work. The inverter is annoyingly loud and when I received it it was cracked open, not broken just dislodged, I was able to snap it back in place but it's very cheaply made. I wish the extreme 350 had built in usb ports or all the ports were built in without having to attached the inverter and a quieter less annoying fan with maybe a heat sink to limit the fans usage. The 350 appears to be reliable and lasts as long as it is rated for based on continuous usage. I tested it with a device that uses 90 watts continuously and the 350 ran for about 3.5 hrs which isn't bad at all.Read Best Reviews of Goal Zero 39002 Silver/Black Large Extreme 350 Adventure Kit Here
I purchased the Goal Zero Extreme 350 Adventure Kit. It is awesome. I totally recommend it. I teach Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness Classes. It is easy to set up. It is easy to use. It works great!!!! I have also purchased Goal Zero's Solar flash lights. They work great. i never need batteries again. They are crank & solar run. I have 4 of the lights. One light will light up your living room. You might need two if the room is large. Goal Zero is the best!!!Want Goal Zero 39002 Silver/Black Large Extreme 350 Adventure Kit Discount?
No instructions, manuals, or any connecting cable came with this unit. Solar panel has no connector, power invertor has no cable, unit is useless to me. Trying to contact amazon is worse than contacting the Pres. Even GoalZero has ignored my plee. Amazon, if you even read these, how bout contacting me or at least complete my order. Ps. Retuning item is difficult. Amazon has it listed as hazardous material. UPS delivered it.Thursday, January 16, 2014
Campbell Hausfeld RP3200 12-Volt Inflator and Worklight
At the same time, these observations should be noted:
The vibration that occurs when it is operating is such that the device must be held down or it will jump around.
The inflation valve goes on easily, but some force is required to remove it. In the process, some air escapes from the tire.
The inflation hose and the power cable must be folded carefully in order to store them in the compartment provided on the back of the RP3200.
I would recommend this product.This unit is very compact, and is also very powerful for its size. The
electrical plug-in is plenty long, and the air hose is also sufficient.
I would recommend this unit to be carried in your vehicle, car or truck,
or be left in your garage or workshop for use. I'm glad I purchased
this unit
Buy Campbell Hausfeld RP3200 12-Volt Inflator and Worklight Now
I have owned this tool for almost a year now, and have used it regularly to maintain tires at proper pressure. Easy to use, reliable, light is useful when needed.A tad noisy if I want to find a fault with it.
Read Best Reviews of Campbell Hausfeld RP3200 12-Volt Inflator and Worklight Here
It is nearly impossible these days to find an air hose at a gas station. Especially a WORKING air hose! This cheap little gadget solves that problem. I've had it for a little over 2 years, and find it indispensable. It's super-simple to use, and I love how it shuts off when your desired air-pressure has been reached, so you don't have to disconnect the air hose, check pressure, reconnect the hose, and try again...and again.As others have mentioned:
It is noisy [but have you ever heard a quiet air compressor??];
It jitters around a bit on the ground while it's working [but I don't see that as a problem -after all, it can only go so far while the air hose is attached to your tire's valve stem];
The coupling seal is so secure that it's impossible to remove it from the valve without losing a little bit of air (so, you simply adjust for that by putting in an extra 2-5 PSI to begin with); and
You can only plug it into your car's 12V power outlets -you can't plug it into an home AC outlet.
And yes, you do need a little bit of patience (about 60-90 seconds' worth) to coil the air hose and the power cord back into the little cubby area. Hint: Start with the air hose first, then coil the power cord, "nest-like," concentrically within the air hose coil.
It's not fancy, and it's clearly not built for heavy-duty, frequent use. But when you need it, it does the trick. Just last night, upon starting my car to drive home after a grueling work day, the warning came on the dash that 2 of my tires were low in pressure. It had started to snow, the wind was whipping, and it was bone-chillingly cold. The last thing I wanted to do was drive around in search of a working air hose. Thanks to this little gem, all I had to do was pull into the comfort of my own garage and hook it up (after letting my tires cool so the pressure readings would be accurate). Fifteen minutes later, all my tires were inflated to the correct pressure, and I was snug & warm inside my home.
This $26 gadget is a little life-saver (and sanity-saver); it's a gotta-have-it tool for your trunk or garage!
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My car is parked at a location without AC power so I keep this small 12V pump in the trunk. It has a compartment that stores the power cord and air hose. The power cord is long enough to reach both tires on each side of the car. The pump is reasonably quick to inflate considering it is 12V. There is a built-in pressure gauge and flash light. I highly recommend it!Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Whistler XTR-690SE High Performance Radar Detector
- Total Band protection with selectable bands
- Exclusive twin alert periscopes
- Intellicord-ready
- Real Voice alerts
- Enhanced High Performance with new Ka Max Mode
Laser has been activated many times, of these times I have used the LSID which gives the Pulse Per Second ID on the display. They have been in the 900's most of the time with one alert in the 600's. The 600 one was a police car, but the 900's were false alerts. So make sure you use LSID to make sure it is a real laser threat, especially if you drive the same route everyday.
False-alerts are a big problem with this detector though. I have driven on the freeway with this detector for a while now, and the K band alerts too frequently. Driving through random parts of the city activate a full strength K band alert at level 9, only to shut off completely half a second later. I have no idea what causes this. Of course, the occasional speed trap off to the side of the freeway will alert to a K band as well but it will steadily increase to level 9 and slowly back to level 1 (3..5..4..7..8..9...6...5...2...1.....). This shows that the source is stationary, and it normally will be a gun either on the freeway or just a few hundred feet off the side of the highway.
For the price, you can't beat all of the features though. The KA band sensitivity, especially with the KAID feature, is excellent. It picks up KA as far as the 400 dollar models, with a frequency display. In So Cal, 34.7 is the key. The red display is perfect for me, its dim enough to live with daily, though not at all bright enough to see during the day. I had the xtr-695 previously (it broke) and the color display is not necessary.
Overall a great radar detector if you're on a budget. If you aren't, save and get the Bel Sti Driver, the performance on that thing is insane, and false alerts as non-existent. I would not recommend the Passport 9500 series, there have been too many complaints with it for the money. I don't think they have perfected the GPS technology yet.
Buy Whistler XTR-690SE High Performance Radar Detector Now
Great featuresGreat KA band range (Radar Signature ID can be very helpful in distinguishing real radar threats from fakes ones)
Average K band range
Average X band range
LASER detection: fantastic
Read Best Reviews of Whistler XTR-690SE High Performance Radar Detector Here
I travel for work once or twice a month so I wanted something to carry with me and for 99.00 on sale I figured I would give it a go. I have 3 other Whistler remotes all about 8 years old I ran this unit in each car to check to see its performance, it was about the same or worse then my 8 year old Whistler remotes , K and KA were better with my older remotes they picked up the signal little quicker and after passing the moving radar this unit went quiet the remote was still getting signal. In one location there is a K band radar speed board so I know its always there so I ran them both the units each day past this radar site the radar is facing the oppposite direction of travel the remote nailed the signal almost half mile before the new one , once passed the radar the remote keeps picking up the signal good 1/4 to 1/2 mile longer then the new one. On the way back the remote again sniffed out the signal good 1/4 mile before the new unit in fact the new unit on the dash picked the signal when the radar board was clearly in site if it was real radar I would have been nailed thanks to the remote I had warning before even seeing the boardI was going to buy the Xtr 695SE it is the same unit as this one but with out the multi color display , and this is also a unit Whistler makes for walmart called 693SE all the same inside. Most reviews were pretty good its not a top of the line Bel or Escort but for cheap it works for me for travel , but I would think that the top of the line units from Whistler should be better then my 8 year old remotes maybe they didnt do any changes and just slap new form factors on the same old hardware
So my old Whistler remotes have little better sniffing power then this new one , for the price its not bad not worth more , for the higher price get a Bel or Escort I have owned both in the past and must better quality and performance but for travel if this one gets ripped off it wont hurt as much as a 500.00 Bel or Escort but again it dosnt work no where as good as those units
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I just got this less than a week ago, I'm an old time Whistler customer, and they do make stuff that lasts for years. I'm not a speeder, this is just to keep me from speeding when I'm not paying attention. I drive a large SUV so speeding is not what this thing is meant to do.Pros:
1Look and feels just like a top end radar detector, sounds just likes the V1 for 1/3 of the price.
2Way too many features, I love the voice alerts, so you don't have to memorize the sound of every band, really handy
3Price, is very attractive VS. the top end models.
4In City mode, almost no false on X-band at all, this is the most annoying band in the city typically from super market doors and garage door openers.
5Radar Band ID, is really cool, if you can isolte the rest of the generic KA signals.
6Three years Warranty, most top end models offer just one year, and they have terrible reviews on customer service?
Cons:
1With POP Enabled, you keep getting false pop alerts to the point that going the speed limit and turning it of is much easier on your mind.
2With KA Max enabled, you keep getting Pulse and KA false signals, same as con-1
3Compass has to display the bearing next to the heading N/S/E/W, nice if you were flying a F-18, but in the city do you really need to know that you're going N320? It is actually very distracting, I had to disable the compass to get rid of this throw back feature from when detector almost went absolute due to the new radar technology so they had to entice you with other features in order to justify the price for the unit.
4It doesn't come with a hardwire kit or the dash pad as noted (What's in the box) I contacted Amazon to alert them, and they gave me a discount on the unit as a result (Thanks Amazon, Excellent customer service). The unit that comes with those items is the Whistler Pro-78se High Performance Radar Detector and not this one. You can verify the contents from the Whistler website directly.
5The Whistler XTR-695SE comes with the option to change the color display, comes with an external speaker out jack and the function keys can eliminate at night if enabled, otherwise it's the same exact unit as the XTR-690SE!
All in all, features for the price, it's not bad, I may need to tweak the selections a bit to see if I get better results, less chatter and only alerts when you really need them.
Update Jan 2012:
I just took a 700 Mile trip with this unit, after turning off pop mode, the unit is much quiter. In Highway mode, every time it alerted with a band-ID the cop was about a mile or two down the road.I bought this primarily to pick up the highway patrol. They use Ka around here and this guy did wonderful with that. k worked great as well. Unfortunately, the unit still picks up all the automatic doors at stores. That really bothers me, but don't they all? I keep the volume at max because I listen to my stereo on those long boring trips quite loud. After probably 7 months the speaker blew. I pulled it and couldn't find anything about it on the web. Guess its trash now
Saturday, December 21, 2013
New R300 2.7" 140° Dual Lens Dash Board Camera Car HD DVR Black Box Video Recorder + GPS Logger
- Video and Audio recording
- 2.7 "TFT LCD Panel or TV Out, TV Out support NTSC & PAL
- Dual Lens Camera,1280 x 480 30FPS (2CH Record), 640 x 480 30FPS (1CH Record)
- Support Memory Card :SDHC Class 64GB ~ 32GB, proprietary file format
- GPS module support ,G Sensor Support
Overall picture is blurry and round "pillow-like", nothing is possible to read, not even a license plate of a car standing right in front! Come on people, it's 2012 already, 0.3mp VGA cameras are out of market like 10 years ago. Camera is worthless in any insurance claim as well, if anything happens they require HD quality. So unless you want just to view the roads you drove and what was happening in car at that time, which maybe helps to taxicab drivers, otherwise it's loss of money, 1 star and returned immediately.For what it is, this is a great little DVR. I got mine, put in a MicroSD card, plugged in two wires, and it just worked. Build quality is much better than I expected, it feels like it's put together solidly. For the price that I paid, I was expecting loose fitting, thin plastic shell that creaked and flexed when holding it, this does not do that.
Video quality isn't bad, although it is low resolution. This is clearly stated on the product page in multiple places, so I'm not sure why other reviewers seem surprised by this. Any camera with as wide angle of a lens as this has will have difficulty making out license plates, regardless of the resolution. If you're wanting a camera to read license plates with, get something with a narrower field of view and a high resolution sensor. If you want something that clearly shows what's going on in and around your car, get this one.
Also, this isn't mentioned in the review page, but this unit does show your speed on it. It's only shown in KPH though, there are no options to change it to MPH.
This isn't related to the product review, but I thought it was worth mentioning. Mine was shipped VERY fast. It was well packaged, and arrived in excellent condition. I noticed a lot of people mentioning that they received their cameras poorly packaged and beat up. The seller that I bought mine from was EXCELLENT. It shipped from California, not over seas. The package arrived in good enough shape to be in a retail display.
Pros:
It works well, for what it's designed to do
Exterior camera is wide angle enough to show both sides of the hood, and what's beyond it
Interior camera is wide angle enough to show the entire inside of my pickup, and both side windows
Can easily play back the video (In very low resolution) on the device, without needing to hook it to a computer
Seems to be built well
Cons:
Poorly translated manual, although the device is simple enough to use that this shouldn't be a problem. All menus on the device appear to be translated well.
Requires proprietary software to view playback on a PC.
Mount is relatively large. I've got a pickup with a fairly large windshield, the camera and mount seems to take up a lot of it. This could probably be helped with an aftermarket mount, since the camera uses a standard thread for the mount.
There's a flashing icon on the display, I'm not sure what it means. The manual says nothing about it. It may be because I'm currently using a slower MicroSD card than they recommend.
It would be nice if the wiring harness for the GPS & power were smaller
Overall, I'm very happy with this unit, and would certainly recommend it.Their idea of High Definition and mine are a little different. All and all, it's a fairly nice Dash Cam. If you're looking for true High Definition though, it's not going to happen with this one. Good Luck!I've had this product for many months now and I really enjoy having it, it definitely was worth the money. During the day it is great, however at night, unless you are on a light highway, it is useless. But I enjoy the GPS feature, and the gravity sensor. It has 24hr time which I also like, It isn't extremely intuitive, but you only set it up once and rarely download video onto your computer, so it's not a big deal. It said it worked with a mac, however I tried many time and eventually just gave in and looked at the video on my windows 8 laptop.
This camera is a great buy for the money! I was looking for something simple and would cover me if pulled over by the police or in an accident. I also use this camera on the track and it works great. For the money this is an EXCELLENT value.
Pros
* Dual lenses, so you can record both inside and out, but you also have the option to record only out or only inside.
* Suction cup for mounting and it holds up on a 1 G turn!
* Holds up to a 32 Micro SD (sold separately)
* Video downloads super easy
* Camera can be flipped depending on your windshield (my corvette is very steep)
Cons
* GPS isn't built in, so if you want to use that option you will need to plug it in. (I never use it)
* Not the best for night time driving, but I do mostly day time driving.
* Instructions are useless, but I figured everything out pretty quick.
* Downloads are video only. If you have the GPS plugged in you can't download that information (Playback only)
My camera has captured a few different accidents in front of me and the victims loved that I caught everything on this for their insurance companies.
Some of the people are complaining that the camera isn't true HD or it doesn't have built in night vision or the instructions are hard to understand... What do you expect from a dash cam under $60?
Monday, December 16, 2013
MobileSpec MS100W 100-Watt DC to AC Power Inverter with USB Input and 12-Volt Port
This is one of the smallest AC adapters that I ever bought. 100W seems to be very puny, but if you just use it with low powered electronics, it should be enough. Right now, an iPhone is plugged on the USB outlet, and a GPS on the cigarette lighter outlet at the same time. If you are a camper, forget about using it for your air compressors and the likes, look somewhere else then. Typically, it will power laptops, cellphones and other low powered electronics like the kids' video game portables.
I know it is a little scary to plug in directly your expensive gadgetry like the iPhone and iPods through the USB, but I did it anyway. If you want, you can plug your iPhone first on its own adapter, then plug it to the inverter's AC outlet. That way the iPhone adapter may serve as an isolating transformer.
The fan kicks in and a blue LED light will come on once you plug it in. It is not very loud (I have other adapters that are much louder) but you will hear it on top of your music if you only play at medium volume.
The length of the cord is 3 feet. I have an AC adapter that sticks like a brick on the front that is very inconvenient when I shifting my gears, the main reason why I bought this. The unit has rubberized feel.
The holes for the USB and ac both has rubber covers to keep off dust. The cigarette hole don't have any cover on it.
So far, it is still working after a month. Made in ChinaThis product stopped working almost immediately. It has a fan that seems to hit the housing, and did not work at all.
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I bought this same exact thing at a Pilot travel center to charge my Toshiba Laptop. Within a few minutes it stopped working. Blue light still comes on, but a red light also flashes off and on too. Won't take a charge very well and not too sure how to fix it.WORKING GREAT IT CHARGES MY LAPTOP AND OTHER DEVICES WITH EASE. IT CHARGED MY LAPTOP, GPS DEVICE AND iPOD ALL AT THE SAME TIME WITH NO ISSUES.Want MobileSpec MS100W 100-Watt DC to AC Power Inverter with USB Input and 12-Volt Port Discount?
If I had bought this as a USB charger, I would have been happy. Unfortunately, I bought it for the inverter, and after 5 minutes of using an 85W device, the inverter is permanently blinking red and unusable.According to the specs, it should have taken this load with room to spare. Total junk.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Schumacher SSC-1000A SpeedCharge Battery Charger and Maintainer with 50-Amp Battery Clips
However, on two different occasions and with two different batteries (both brand new when hooked to the charger) I left them in "trickle charge" mode. The batteries were part of an emergency communications station that must to be ready at any time with full batteries. This charger burned up both batteries after three months of trickle charging. This mode is supposed to allow a battery to be hooked up indefinitely and maintain it at peak performance. Not destroy it. Other folks in the emergency communications service use other chargers and leave them in trickle mode for years. DO NOT use this charger for that kind of operation.Battery chargers and I have never gotten along. I actually once sold, what turned out to be, a perfectly good old snow plow truck because I thought something serious was wrong with the engine. The charger showed the battery was good, so I figured it had to be the engine and it was too old and rusty to put more money into it. The guy came to pick it up, gave me $200...stuck a new battery in it, and drove it away. It was a bad charger not a bad battery.
Recently, using what I thought was a more reliable charger, I couldn't get my batteries to fully charge. Rather than blaming the batteries this time, I purchased the Schumacher. I read good things about the brand on the web and took the plunge. I couldn't be happier. This is a hi-tech charger with all the bells and whistles. It is "stupid proof" as well, and lets you know what is going on as it charges. I love it! I am now able to fully charge all my batteries, and the other charger went into the trash. I highly recommend this automatic speed charger.
Buy Schumacher SSC-1000A SpeedCharge Battery Charger and Maintainer with 50-Amp Battery Clips Now
Build Quality:* Great build quality. Has the look and feel of a well engineered product, not some cheap stuff.
* I smiled when I lifted it first as it wasn't feather light and appeared to have decent enough weight to it an indication of a decent power supply.
* This one seems to be rated for marine use and hence should be more resistant to corrosion.
* The connector cables are thick enough and the clamps have enough spring action/grip to them to securely lock on a battery terminal.
Design:
* Very user friendly with direct 1 touch access to most features.
* I liked the case design. Has a neat little pocket to store the power chord and the connecting cables. The chord and the cables do need to be tightly rolled up first before they can fit in the pocket.
* It's got a neat little handle that you can use to hang it up on the wall. Neat design if battery charging is something that you do more frequently and want to have the unit easily accessible, ready to use but out of the way off the floor.
Features:
Well, I haven't used it extensively enough (Used only twice since I got it a month back), but here are some features that were used (and so experienced) when I used the charger:
* Shows level of charge on a battery both in percentage as well as volts. Big readout makes it easy to read all the numbers.
* Has user selectable 2/6/10 amp charging options good for most batteries. Would have liked a 1 amp option as well (for smaller motorcycle batteries), but then that's a different product from Schumacher. The 2 amp option, though slightly higher than recommended, worked great for the motorcycle battery though. So this unit really allows charging a wide range of batteriesfor motorcycles, cars, boats. Nice to have just one charger around rather then 1 for each type of vehicle/battery.
* The electronics worked just as mentioned. Once I selected the primary amp setting, everything else was handled automatically by the charger electronics. It switched to a trickle mode charge automatically once the battery was completely charged. Neat feature, keeps your batteries from being damaged by overcharging.
* Has a desulfation mode that desulfates a battery. Of the two instances when I used this charger, it kicked into this mode on my car battery which was completely drained and was left in the completely discharged state for quite some time that resulted in sulfation in the battery. This charger automatically detected this state of the battery and desulfated it first and then automatically switched to charging mode once the battery was desulfated and accepted charge. (I will be honest with you I don't really know the chemistry and process behind this, but I have read that sulfation can render a battery useless)
* Has a cooling fan to keep the charger cool. Not exactly whisper quiet, but not something that's louder than expected (YMMV) for the application.
Reliability:
Have only owned it for a month and used it twice, so can't really comment on long term reliability. But it has worked perfectly on the two instances I had to use it including it's "automatic" features. So, for the price (I got it when it was about 50% of MSRP at Amazon), it's one awesome, feature-rich charger.Bought the Schumacher SSC-1000A for a "weekender" automobile that spends most the time in the garage. As obligations build up, sometimes too much time goes by between start-ups and significant drives to recharge the battery. The last time, the battery completely died... not even a dim glow of the dome light, nothing, zilch, nada. Sometimes the jumpstart devices don't have enough power to crank a very low battery, so I was looking for another type of solution. The SSC-1000A works great. It's a plug-in machine, feeding off electricity from a household outlet. It's compact and lightweight, about the size of a box of chocolates. Connect the SSC-1000A to the positive battery terminal and the ground post (on the vehicle), plug the SSC-1000A into the power outlet, and the charging process begins automatically. Walk away, and in a couple of hours you have a charged battery! There is a display that can alternate between voltage and % of battery power, as well as a selector for charging rates of 2A (slowest charge), 6A, or 10A (fastest charge.) My 0% battery was resurrected to 100% in about two hours using 6A and 10A. There is another selector to choose between regular, deep-cycle, and AGM gel cell batteries.
The Schumacher SSC-1000A works exactly as I thought and hoped it would. I am most satisfied with the purchase and highly recommend the SSC-1000A to others who might be looking for a similar solution.Simple and intuitive to use. % of charge in battery, and toggle to voltage is a natural.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Kenwood DNX6190HD In-Dash 2-DIN Head Unit Car Stereo
- 6.0 WVGA Touchscreen LCD
- Garmin GPS Navigation System
- Built-In Bluetooth A2DP Music Streaming
- CD/DVD
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Do not buy this unit if the GPS is going to be the deal breaker. Garmin, which usually is great brand (I currently own and have owned several of their units in the past) is very much lacking in this unit. I don't know if it's Garmin or Kenwoods fault but it's operation leaves something to be desired. On numerous times during use, It will lock up with a notice that says application error. This is not good thing on a busy expressway, when you have several turns coming up.The screen freezes and you can't do anything else with it until you reset the unit. On several occaisions it has lost all my favorite saved locations; which I have to then painstakingly re-enter. For some reasons unknown, it will go back to 3D view after I set it to 2D track up in the settings screen.Also, even though it says I have the current software version, it is not. The speed limit changed on a major interstate that I travel daily a few months ago. My regular portable Garmin 1450 LMT has already updated it right after the change; but my Kenwood unit says it is still current. I do not know if this is a clunky / buggy version of their navigation software designed for Kenwood; or it is one of their normal versions that is not compatible with Kenwood units. You cannot even update at the Garmin site; it's not supported there. you need to go to Kenwoods site and the look for the update section. Makes me wonder if it will have support or updates acouple of years down the road when they discontinue it... Had I known of the GPS problems with this unit, I wouldn't have wasted the extra cash!Read Best Reviews of Kenwood DNX6190HD In-Dash 2-DIN Head Unit Car Stereo Here
I bought this to replace my DDX514 in my 2005 Nissan Altimas (w/o Bose). DDX419 is the direct model replacing the 514 but will be phased out and the DDX470 will be the new model. So far, I really like the DNX6990HD unit. No additional hardware was required in my replacement and install was the same except for the desire to bypass the parking brake safety.NOTE: this unit will be replaced by the DNX690 in late February 2013 with four noticeable changes:
+user added custom background image
+improved bluetooth app access for Android
+slightly wider screen (6.93")
-fits fewer older vehicles (won't fit my 05 or my wife's 2010 altimas)
Although Kenwood states the boot time is about 27 seconds to the nav warning screen, it's a little less (around 19). Considering two things: this is a multifunction unit and proper driving skills dictate that after buckling your seat belt, checking mirrors, and checking rear view the unit will be ready before getting into gear it's not bad. The complaint that it takes as long as an "old computor [sic]" is as false as it is humorous.
Although Kenwood hasn't fully adopted the Android OS, it makes a great effort to include Android phones via Bluetooth. I am able to stream Pandora, Songza, Aha, Tune in, and several other music apps straight to the radio and use the on screen basic controls to change tracks. The downside is that specific app functions are not accessible as they would be with a direct iPod or iPhone connection. Still, most Android phone users should be pleased enough while others may find d this to be a deal breaker. Suffice to say, Android OS suffers the same "open" software issues any open platform will: each manufacturer will have something proprietary that Kenwood or any other manufacturer will never be able to completely catch up on. So.. Just be aware of that aspect in your decision.
I appreciate the split screen viewing. I can have nav on one half and my audio control on the other but the view of both is rather limited. There's no loss in function, but it's usually pointless to split the screen unless it phone and nav. To that point, the bluetooth phone function is good. My wife says I sound like it just speaker phone and she doesn't hear any road noise. I don't have to yell or speak abnormally loud, over enunciate words, or speak slowly for her to understand. Attempting the same with her iPhone however yielded slightly different results. The iOS bluetooth connectivity is spotty, but the call quality is lacking in my experience. I believe this is a problem with iOS and not Kenwood.
There are a few snags in updating things. Though I do not require updates, the process is a bit contrived. It requires access to the rear only USB (and installer will leave the dongle accessible), and access to a PC (sorry mac users). This is the only disappointing aspect of the unit kenwood clearly accommodates apple products well, but does not afford mac users the ability to update the unit or maps from their native systems.
Finally, the menus of Kenwood units have always made me wonder why the company doesn't hire a UX/UI designer, or if they ever have. Admittedly its rather unsightly, but the fact is that the menus aren't activated and navigated by touching it with my eyeball, making it a moot point. Users can however swap the placement of menu options. For example, an iPhone user prefers Pandora over HDradio great, press and hold the Pandora function, then slide it up to replace HD Radioa menu item defaulted as one of the three primary choices. In addition, the touch screen allows users to touch and scroll as one does on modern smartphones so there's no more pages to punch through. And, settings are very straight forward compared to older units.
Is this the end all headunit? Not by any means. The DNX6190HD is Kenwood "value added" GPS receiver of 2012 and is a nice budget model replacement for those looking to gain BT and NAV. For individuals looking for higher output in terms of audio quality and flexibility, consider the DNX6990HD. The difference being and addition 2W in amperage and higher RMS with an additional year warranty from Kenwood (and a few hundred more dollars).
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I was primarily after two things the Garmin navigation and bluetooth features (especially the audio bluetooth streaming). They both work great and I'm really happy with the unit. It boots up a little slow, seems a little sluggish at times navigating around, but overall is awesome. The Garmin navigation works great and the bluetooth call quality was surprisingly clear and worked well. It was very confusing that when I tried playing blutooth audio from my iPhone that the music only played out of the front speakers. Finally found that under the telephone settings (of all places) and was able to fix it so now I love that.It takes a little getting used to the radio and figuring out presets when it's not easy to go from FM1 to FM2 or FM3, etc. You can't just jump to what you want very easily. Again, love the unit and would buy it again. There are a couple firmware updates out there that might make it work better also. I haven't tried that yet. Still getting used to it and love getting in my vehicle to use it!MAC users cannot update Garmin/Kenwood GPS systems.
I have been back and forth with product support and they confirmed this.
If you ever want to upgrade your system and firmware,
you will not be able to do it from a MAC computer.
Rendering the system obsolete within a year or two after purchase !
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Goldsource STU-1000 Step Up/Down Voltage Transformer Converter - AC 110/220 V - 1000 Watt
The only catch is the wall converter from US to Euro (so that you can plug the thing into the wall jack) It is too wide for Switzerland (would work in e.g. Germany). So I had to spend a couple of euros for a converter in a local store. Other than that, no issues in the first 45 days....Got this so I could hook up my 110v 52" LCD HDTV and LG blu-ray player here in Europe. I plugged in a power strip to the 110v outlet, and it powers both items without a hitch. Also extremely quiet. If the entire house is silent you can hear the slightest low hum but as soon as the tv comes on then it's undetectable. Very happy with this purchase and may buy another.
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I moved from Germany to USA so I have a few 230V devices to run on 110V.This converter works absolutely inconspicious.
You just turn it on, plug a german device in and it just works. No noise no hum at all.
Good product. Highly recommended.This company back their products 100%. I had a problem with the USB power port and I mentioned it in a comment. The company reached out to me via phone and email and insisted they rectify the problem in any way I wanted. Refund or replace. I have no real use for the USB part of the transformer so elected not to have the unit replaced. Otherwise the unit works perfect. I would definitely buy from this company in the future. Excellent Customer Service!!!I bought two cheaper converters before this one. None of them survived after 3 months. I have used this one for over a year. No problem at all so far. It is little heavy but compact in size. I used a power strip connected to this converter and have several appliance plugged in this power stip. The total power is close to 800 watts. The unit works perfectly.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Directed Electronics 479V Viper Responder Transmitter
I do know that installing the Viper 791vx security system is a big job. If you happen to purchase the security system online to get the lower price you may want to re evaluate your decision. Because even if you happen to find a qualified installer for DEI products that's a certified retailer for DEI products or just any installer. You have to pay for the install that ranges from about $150.00 to $200.00 for install you get no Warranty. I mean NO Warranty. This also applies to the $150.00 to $200.00 installation service fee that you just paid to have it installed. They won't even certify their own install. So if you by chance had some problems with your security system. You have no clue if it's the install they did or the security system itself. So you would have to pay the installer to diagnose your security system. This also applies when you take it to a qualified DEI installer. I have personally only had two problems with my system since I purchased it but the warranty covered it. But this is only two of the problems I had with my security system unit. All the other eight times that I had to take it back to the qualified DEI installer to fix my security system. It always turned out to be an installer error. The main problem I had was the antenna. Sometimes the Viper 791vx wouldn't read the remote. The Viper 2-way remote would just keep beeping telling me that it's not able to talk to the brain of the 791vx Also in some cases it would do what you wanted but the remote is not showing any of the commands that you did. It would just keep beeping because it was sending the signal to the brain of the 791vx but not receiving the signal back to the 2-way remote model 479v. I found that the wiring of the antenna or a loose or bad connection could have caused this from the connection to the antenna over a period of about one month or two.
Also the main problem is the 2-way remotes these remotes require some extra attention. Just think of the 2-way remote (479v) is your first-born. The Viper 479v LCD 2-way remote is very sensitive but they don't really tell you that when you're purchasing it. The merchant just gave me examples like if you lose your remote or jump into the pool with your remote exc. At that time the replacement remotes where only about $80.00 and they had a lot in stock. For some reason the cost went to $150.00 to $180.00 WOW! This 2 WAY remote let's me know that commands I have sent have been received. It alleviates a lot of guesswork. At a glance, I know if my doors are locked/unlocked, if the car is running (remote start) or not. If the alarm is triggered, it even shows me the zone that was triggered when the alarm was tripped (it actually shows which door/window has been opened/broken, or if the car was hit). But to have it double in price why?
For those of you who don't need the 2-way function, its important to know that you can program one-way remotes (much less expensive) to work with the alarm brain too. I strongly suggest having extra remotes for every alarm. You should also know to locate your valet button in case you have to bypass the alarm without a (working) remote. The model number is 472. It totally overpriced for what it does and that's just the basic functions. The 472 remote doesnt page you back telling you if the alarm is going off. But the price range is $90.00 for the 472 remote.
I too have found customer service to be a joke at DEI, they are no help at all and I had to solve the problem on my own. The only reason I found out about the 472 remote was from searching on Amazon. DEI and the merchant didn't even offer or suggest it for me as an option. I told them I needed my alarm in anyway to work A.S.A.P. But the alarm itself is great!
I Hope this help you out?Works great no problems. However the instructions listed on the back of the remote are incorrect and will make it a hassle to get the remote to work properly. Here is the correct way to program this replacement remote. Open driver side door and leave it open until your done programming 1. turn ignition to on position
2. press valet button 1 time then press again and hold this time
3. siren will chirp once
4. press the unlock button on your new remote
5. you should then hear a confirmation from the siren and you are done, just make sure everything works after.cant beat the price and worth doing it yourself why pay an installer money when you can do it yourself.
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this transmitter was a replacement for me . I was able to program the transmitter with out any difficulty. I read the instruction that came with the devcie.Read Best Reviews of Directed Electronics 479V Viper Responder Transmitter Here
All I have to say is it sucks! I have bought two of the 479V remotes and they have both crapped out on me. Not to mention, I tried calling Viper Alarm systems and their customer service sucks because they won't even return your calls. They don't insure their remotes either. The new remotes are around $100.00 and it's a waiste of money... DON'T BUY THEIR CAR ALARM SYSTEMS!... it will just keep breaking on you.Want Directed Electronics 479V Viper Responder Transmitter Discount?
This is a very good item and it is just as it was described. I would recommend it to a "T".
