Showing posts with label buy car battery charger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buy car battery charger. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Stinger Shoc-Krome Series GM Extra Long Battery Terminal

Stinger Shoc-Krome Series GM Extra Long Battery Terminal
  • Side post battery tap with extended length stud
  • Fits positive or negative battery post
  • For GM type batteries
  • Genuine Stinger Shoc-Krome finish
  • Lifetime Warranty

When I purchased this item the advertisment showed 2 terminals, 1 gold, 1 chrome and that's what I was led to beleive I was getting. When I read the description I thought the same thing. After I bought this item I only received 1 chrome terminal, but no gold terminal. This is a bad buisiness pratice in my book. I would not advise anyone to buy from his name.

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This is a great product, good quallity and price, delievery was as advertised. I would purchase from this vendor again.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Lead Quick Disconnect Battery Terminals

Lead Quick Disconnect Battery TerminalsThe Lead Quick disconnect will probably do the work however, the quality of finishing and look is pretty poor and it extrudes a lot outside the battery area.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Bell Automotive 22-1-38801-8 Fake Car Alarm - Pack of 2

Bell Automotive 22-1-38801-8 Fake Car Alarm - Pack of 2Of my two vehicles, one is a beater that I really couldn't justify buying a decent alarm for, so I elected to go with a mechanical immobilizer via a battery disconnect switch. I remove the key with me every night so the car is permanently disabled.

The upside to this is that the car absolutely isn't going anywhere without that little key, so even if I have to replace a broken window, busted steering column cover and popped ignition, I still have my car... The downside is, most of the "cheap" alarms I looked at didn't have an aux power supply so with the battery disconnected, they wouldn't work. Seeing as I'd really rather not have to replace a window, steering column cover and ignition, I picked up this little bluff light to hopefully act as a deterrent.

It does what it's supposed to do. W. Chan's review is right; the stickypad/velcro system sucks, so I took that off with a razor blade and used ordinary rubber cement to hold it put while still being 'removable'. The battery seems to last foreverI leave mine on all the time, so I just ground off the little switch. The only thing I don't like about it is that they now sell these at pretty much every auto parts store, and their dome design is rather 'distinctive'. It's entirely possible that a meaningful percentage of car thieves can spot them for what they are, but hopefully, the next guy who peeks in my car window at 3:00 AM isn't one of them.

They flash bright enough.

Decently sized for a car alarm would be nice if it was a tad bit smaller though. I took off the velcro on the bottom to make it flush with my dash and looks decent if you just glanced at it. The On/Off lettering is a giveaway so I had to rub it out. If I had to complain I would've wished that it was a twist on/off instead of a little switch which you can see poking out, other than that the price is right.

Buy Bell Automotive 22-1-38801-8 Fake Car Alarm - Pack of 2 Now

Turned the first one on and seemed to work fine.tried to turn the second one on and it wouldnt turn on.took it apart as per instructions.it turned on while apart then after i closed it up it wouldnt turn on.As for the first one,it wont turn off.i took it apart and was able to shut it off.when i put it back together i turned it on and again,it wont turn off.returned both.

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Ok ~ so these are quite big ~ approx 1 inch x 1 inch (an important small detail that seems to have been left out). For something like this the size seems to be a litte on the large side.

Batteries are included which is a bonus. Being curious I tried to get the cover off of one to see how the battery is replaced and it was tough. The opaque dome twists so far and then stops you need to twist it just that but more for it to come apart. The pieces are quite difficult to separate. I had to pry the dome off with my finger nail to separate it.

I also found it nearly impossible to re-align the pieces back to their original position. The little plastic tabs that hold the dome on broke almost immediately as they seem paper thin but it all seemed to hold together once pressed in again.

Update:

The second unit was much easier to open.

It seems there is a little empty space behind the battery. This unit fell off in my car (velcro strip Adhesive didn't hold). The led wouldn't switch on. I pulled it apart and had to press the battery in and it worked again. I might place something in that empty space behind the battery to prevent the battery from losing its connection.

It looks quite convincing in the car especially at night. I'm going to try some 3M double sided tap to hold it in place. Positioning is important. Look at it during the day and night. I found lower down where it gets less light was better.

I have also found that these place in the right position at home can look light a camera or sensor.

Want Bell Automotive 22-1-38801-8 Fake Car Alarm - Pack of 2 Discount?

Great little item. Makes it look like your car is alarmed. And the little on/off switch is a terrific little idea.

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Friday, July 25, 2014

Vector VEC034B 225 Watt D/C To A/C Power Inverter With Power Level Meter

Vector VEC034B 225 Watt D/C To A/C Power Inverter With Power Level MeterThis is a great little power inverter. Use it to power my laptop, portable TV/DVD combo, and Xbox 360 at different times, not together. Works great, never overheats.

Owned mine for three years now works great. Use it to power my laptop. Buying a second one for my wife.

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Great way to expand your home based products into your vehicles. Works great, in my case, I have to use a couple of lap tops, and a printer in my vehicle, and this inverter makes it possible to do just that. You can use the cigarette lighter plug or hardwire to your vehicles battery. I chose the latter.

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We travel a lot and this is the only one, out of the six I've owned, that powers my laptop and all its functions without a hitch. I'm throwing all the others out, or listing them on eBay, and making sure each of our vehicles has one in it.

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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Moroso 74201 Quick Battery Disconnect

Moroso 74201 Quick Battery DisconnectThese terminals are for 6awg wires (or smaller), not for anything near what most automotive battery cables actually use, which is 4, 2, even 1/0 cables, which makes the title description of the add misleading, because they will NOT work for MOST battery cables. They are also only rated for 50amps. again that would make them unusable for jump start remote terminals or battery (main) disconnects, which is what I wanted them for. I rated them a 2 because of the title, Im sure these would be great for other uses, but not battery disconnects.

They would be useful for MUCH smaller battery systems, like lawnmowers, go carts, things of that nature... but... how many of us modify the starting/charging systems on those contraptions?

I digress, I will be sending these back to Amazon for something else.

I bought this product as a quick-connect for my subwoofer's amplifier. The plug has two terminals for the positive and negative connections. Once installed, the plugs have a firm connection that is doubtful to rattle loose, due to car vibrations. There are pre-drilled holes in each connector to allow them to be mounted to a surface (in my case, the side of the subwoofer box.) There are NO INSTRUCTIONS included with the connectors, which could have been slightly helpful. I called Moroso customer care, and confirmed that the terminals can be attached to the leads by crimping the connectors, no solder is needed. Also, I did not quite understand how the connectors attached to the plugs until I started messing with it. I'll try and explain quickly. The terminal is crimped onto the appropriate wire. The terminal (which is now attached to wire) is then inserted into the back of the connector, the ENTIRE way to the front of the plug. A small lip on the terminal catches on the front of a metal spring plate. It was easy to see once I figured it out, but some simple instructions could have remedied all this easily.

Overall, I'm very happy with this product. However, these plugs are NOT sealed, so if there is a chance of water or moisture coming into contact with the plug, I suggest

Buy Moroso 74201 Quick Battery Disconnect Now

great system for sharing winch duties, pulling from a variety of power sources, easy to assemble, snap together and pull

apart rather smartly...I like it.

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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

SharkMotorcycleAudio Shklxmbt688il Motorcycle Snowmobile Bluetooth Multi Interphone Headsets 6 Ride

SharkMotorcycleAudio Shklxmbt688il Motorcycle Snowmobile Bluetooth Multi Interphone Headsets 6 Riders Intercom Bluetooth, Great for Skiing
  • Use with multiple helmets with mounting kit per helmet
  • Prioritized audio devices e.g. mobile interrupts music
  • Detachable microphone and headset
  • 6 persons Intercom Motorcycle Bluetooth headsets
  • Wireless hands free communication for motorcyclist

I bought a set to try out for snowmobiling to talk and listen to music. Read the other reviews and looked at the company's other products which all had good reviews. The price was right and if it worked out, I would buy another pair for the rest of the family.

Got the first pair and I was pleasantly surprised at the packaging. Nice box, foam padding for the units and parts inside. The instructions booklet is in typical "Chinglish" but can be deciphered fairly well.

Installed them in our helmets. The speakers and mic are fairly easy to install. If your helmets don't have velcro or material for the speaker's velcro to grab, you can stick the supplied velcro inside your helmet. Just be sure that the mic's "hole" is pointed towards your mouth so check by removing the foam covering. The clip system that holds the unit to the helmet is very flimsy and does not hold well. While riding, it would slip down and I had to push it back up into the helmet to keep it from falling off. The other mounting system is stuck onto the helmet with double sided tape. Although this is a bit more stable, you cannot remove it and re-install it on another helmet if needed. The other issue is the tab on the back of the unit which clips into the mount on the helmet is not the most effective means of retention. It simply slides into the mount and is relatively loose in the mount. It can easily move around and up, which it could then come off. It spun itself upside down a couple of times. My son, who wears a motocross helmet with goggles, accidentally broke the tab. As an interim fix, I used velcro on the back and the helmet to hold, which was way more effective than their clip and tab system.

Functionally, they worked well. Was able to talk continuously for 4 hours between riders. Talk time could have been longer but I believe Li-ion batteries are affected by cold. The 1Km Range was not really as advertised (never is) and was more like 1/2 of that. We could understand each other well up to about 80km/h but beyond that, wind and engine noise makes it near impossible to understand. Sound is good but on the tinny side. As for playing music, it works well with my iPhone. But these are not Dr.Dre's so don't expect much for the sound quality. Again, it's rather tinny with no bass at all. To stop and start the music, just push the phone button. For phone calls, it automatically answers after a couple of rings. Phone calls take precedence over everything else, cutting music and communication. After the phone call, it goes back to whatever you were previously doing whether you were listening to music or talking with someone. Phone calls are quite clear at both ends. I talked to my son on the phone while he was riding and I could hear him quite clearly with just a bit of engine noise in the background. Again, speed will affect this. The only negative here is that there is no voice dialing capability but you are riding so if you need to make a call, you should stop, pull out your phone and dial. Not quite the time to remember that you have that important deal you have to call on while riding, is it?

Here is an issue that affected us for snowmobiling so this may not apply to motorcycle riders. The buttons don't work well in the cold. The colder they get, the harder the rubber gets and gets more difficult to get the buttons to register. Another issue is that it is difficult to find the buttons with a gloved hand, especially the smaller ones for the volume or other riders (B, C, D, E). This would become very frustrating when trying to get something to work. Sometimes was able to get it to work by pressing the button repeatedly until it worked but not always.

Also, the communicators would disconnect for no apparent reason although I suspect it's a text message coming in that causes the disconnect as if it was a phone call. Pressing the button reconnects them again.

I also had a chance to contact Shark Audio customer service. I sent an email with my concerns about the broken tab on one and the buttons not working on the other when cold. They sent me a whole new set to replace the defective ones! No dicking around or anything, shipping included and they didn't even want the old ones back. That's the way customer service should be!

With that said, I'm sad to report that the replacement units had the same issues with the cold, breaking tabs and flimsy clips. I just wound up breaking off the remaining tabs and using velcro for a more solid mounting on the helmets. Sometimes just the simplest things work best. As for the cold buttons, we try to warm them up with our hand or just keep pushing until it works. Although they are being advertised for snowmobiling, skiing and so on, maybe they should just do so for motorcycles only.

Since I now had multiple units, I was also able to try them with more than two riders. Pairing them is a bit tricky and you have to follow the instructions (in Chinglish) and you sorta get the hang of it. If you get six of them, it is also different since there is no F button. Again, you have to follow the directions. I also recommend that you label each one. Switching from one rider to another works quite well by pressing the corresponding letter button (A is the main motorcycle button, B, C, D, E. To contact F, you press your letter button). Also took a while to figure out how to go back to music after finishing talking with someone. You have to hang up on them and it will go back to the music. Pressing the phone button won't work while talking to somebody. Another thing about the multiple (3+) units, you cannot all talk at the same time. You can only connect two at the same time (one on one) so basically, no party line. You can however have two separate pairs talking at the same time (A with B, C with D).

So to summarize:

PROS:

price

fair range

fair talk clarity

music ability

multiple units ability

auto phone answer

good talk time

easy mounting of speakers and mic

simple music control

excellent customer service!

CONS:

flimsy helmet mount

breaking mounting tabs

buttons don't work well in the cold

no voice dial

small buttons with a gloved hand difficult to use

reduced advertised talk time due to cold

cannot all talk at the same time (multiple units)

NEUTRAL:

tinny music sound quality (goes with the price)

readable Chinglish manual

I would recommend this product with the caveats of its weaknesses and just replacing the mount with velcro because the price is so good for what you get.

Buy SharkMotorcycleAudio Shklxmbt688il Motorcycle Snowmobile Bluetooth Multi Interphone Headsets 6 Ride Now

Great device, I shared with a friend for our long rides, rather than using hand signals, voice communications is a lot better. It sync'd. to the cell phone without any problems, no code was not needed, and I would say the distance between motorcycles is about 500 meters. There are two problems that I can comment on, first are the instruction, the print should be a lot bigger and it should have two booklets instead of one, second the wires connecting the ear piece and microphone could have been a lot better, I did get to check if the devices were waterproof, and they are as we were caught in two down pours. After riding we spoke to a few friends and a couple have ordered the same units.... Good job Shark

Read Best Reviews of SharkMotorcycleAudio Shklxmbt688il Motorcycle Snowmobile Bluetooth Multi Interphone Headsets 6 Ride Here

I don't like to give 1-star reviews, but this is the absolute worst combination of product and customer service I've ever received from a seller on Amazon. The product arrived promptly, but that was the only good point to this purchase. I bought two sets, one as a wedding gift for a friend and one for myself and wife so we could all ride together and be able to communicate. Neither set worked at all, after following the "Chinglish" instruction manual to a "T". The charge indicator light came on and went out after only about 10 minutes, which raised the first red flag. My first thought was that the set had sat unused for so long that the batteries were absolutely dead. After that I could never even get the unit to turn on. I wrote the seller, but didn't receive a response until I basically had to threaten "further action". When I did receive a response it was terse and suggested I try doing things that I had already done (and told the seller I had tried, leading me to believe they didn't even read my entire message). This went back and forth for a few messages before I finally got them to agree to accept a return. Now it's been over three weeks since I returned the product and I haven't heard anything from the seller, seen a replacement product, or a refund to my bank account. I would say that you get what you pay for, but these units weren't exactly inexpensive which makes the whole situation even more irritating. Scala and Chatterbox may be more expensive, but at least they come with warranties and tech / customer service. I'll be sure to invest a bit more money for a far superior product and support in the future. My advice, don't buy this product or from this seller.shark SHKLXMBT688IL Motorcycle snowmobile Bluetooth Multi Interphone headsets 6 riders intercom bluetooth (set)

UPDATE: Months later and this issue has still not been resolved. The seller (gooddeals18, a.k.a. "Effyzaz, Inc.") has continued to sidestep my requests, seemingly in hopes that I finally get frustrated enough and give up. I'm not a vindictive person, but I sincerely hope people don't buy from this seller. They've shown no customer service skills, have been rude, and have drawn out the simple act of returning a defective product into months of tiresome dialogue via e-mail. Only when I further threatened seeking legal counsel did they respond to me at all. I'm simultaneously angry at, frustrated with, and feel pity for this seller.

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Gave this 3 stars for several reasons. The instructions are limited. It's not very user friendly. when i switch from cell phone to intercom it drops from my cell phone so i have to re-sync hard to do while driving. this may be because i have a smart phone thats smarter than me. works great at lower speeds but above 60mph has its limits. Speaker placement is a must, they have to be perfectly placed over the ear canal to hear anything so they only fit each individual. all in all they are good quality for the money just don't expect perfect function with all applications but it is still a good product if you are on a strict budget

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I was a bit afraid based on the price that these would not work well. They work great! My buddy also has a set and they linked together no problem at all. They also connected to my Garmin NUVI 765T perfectly GPS nav through it no problem. Played MP3's off the Nuvi without issue via the blue tooth connection.

They were rock solid up to about a half mile apart with my friends rig and the battery has not been an issue. It was fine past 75 mph, a bit of wind noise on the full face helmet but not too bad. I could never not here him or visa versa because of wind.

Take the time and make a foam insert to house them in your ear space inside your helmet and they won't sound so tinny. We'll see how long they last, but I couldnt be more happier with them.

I added a cigar lighter to my bike under the seat with 2 ports and 2 USB so I can charge one unit while using the other, and charge my buddies spare as well.

Monday, April 14, 2014

SOLAR BA5 100-1200 Cold Cranking Amps Electronic Battery Tester

SOLAR BA5 100-1200 Cold Cranking Amps Electronic Battery TesterI am a professional auto technician for a german auto dealer. I was looking for a battery tester to keep within reach to quickly test customer batteries during scheduled services. I was close to purchasing a $400 Snap On battery tester, but when held in hand felt very cheaply built in comparison to the price tag. I found this battery tester for a fraction of the price and decided to give it a try. The tester came as pictured, with an included orange silicone bumper cover around the device (edges). The quality of this product is great, the feel of the buttons and build is very nice. The unit is very small which is an added bonus, fits easily in any drawer of your tool box. Testing of batteries literally takes 1 second. And it tests DIN rating!! It is very accurate. Another great feature, the tester remembers the last options you chose (ex: type of battery tested, test rating CCA, DIN, etc). For the price this product is amazing. The LED read out display does have an orange plastic cover over it which can make it a little harder to read in sunlight. But, a razor blade can easily take care of this issue. ;) Two words: Do It!

It does seem to do the test I want, reserve capacity, which is harder to test than a basic load test or state of charge. A car battery can be fully charged, pass the load test, and still be old and sulfated enough to have very little reserve capacity.

One major verification I got was when I tested some smaller lead acid batteries I use in my uninterruptible power supply (UPS). The new battery passed with a reading of over 100 cranking amps. The bad ones showed a reading of about 5 amps, even though a voltmeter showed nearly 13v (full charge) on one of them. The 13v bad one passed the test that the UPS does when you turn it on (!), but it failed to keep a computer going at all when I cut the power to it. So this Solar tester beats the UPS's own test.

I'm also planning to use this to see if my desulfating battery charger can revive some old or junked car batteries.

**See Comments below for an update the Solar BA5 got "fooled" by a failed car battery with low capacity.

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I am a power supply technician for a local cable company and test up to 75 batteries a day. This unit makes my job much easier without having to lug a cumbersome load tester to all my units every day. The digital readout is easy to read and tests are quick. I recommend this to anyone who has any type batteries to test.

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We had a 3 year old battery die in the middle of the summer on one of our cars. The dealer warned me that the battery was weak when it was in for service. I assume they tested it with some kind of meter like this, so I started looking for a way to test the batteries in the other cars before winter. One of our foreign cars has a battery that is 5 years old that costs $320 installed, so I really wanted to avoid replacing it unless necessary.

I used the tester to check the Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) on all of the cars. The new battery tested above the rated CCA and the most of the others were also close to the rated CCA. But the 5 year old foreign car battery tested at 50% of the rated CCA, so according to the meter, I SHOULD have replaced it. But I didn't, because the car needed new rotors and pads on all 4 wheels for around $1400, so the battery got put on hold.

So every cold morning, I go out and start it and hold my breath. The car with battery with 50% of the rated CCA has started with minimal cranking at temperatures down to 0 deg F, which is as cold as it gets around here. So I am a little suspect about the validity of this meter. I probably should replace a 5 year old battery, but I suspect this battery meter would have caused me to replace it earlier than I needed to. The problem is I don't know of any other place to have the battery tested that I really trust. Seems like they all want to sell you a battery. So the jury is still out on whether or not you can use this meter to decide if you should replace your battery.

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This digital battery analyzer is well made, easy to use and is impressive. I like it and the current price is very reasonable.

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Saturday, March 8, 2014

Sony Lithium Coin Battery CR2016

Sony Lithium Coin Battery CR2016The batteries came just as they were supposed to, nice and fast. They work just great my kid's watch is back working he is so excited.

This is a pretty large "button" or coin style battery for certain electronic gadgets. I trust the name Sony and so I won't worry about this battery leaking. Also, lithium is among the best batteries for long shelf life and for packing a lot of energy. Even with shipping it's cheaper than at the local store and I didn't have to go looking all over the place to find it.

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Ordered a battery. Received a battery. Installed in my 1993 Ironman watch. Watch is alive and kicking again! I would purchase from this vendor again.

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Item was shipped quickly. It was inexpensive and works great in my car key clicker. Would buy again from this vendor

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This was the only place I found this battery. Thanks again, I will be buy more products from you again.

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Monday, March 3, 2014

X-gps GPS S300 MTK 4.3 GPS Navigation 128mb Ram 4gb AU/ US Map, Fm, Mp3, Mp4

X-gps GPS S300 MTK 4.3 GPS Navigation 128mb Ram 4gb AU/ US Map, Fm, Mp3, Mp4
  • Media Tek MT3351
  • 128MB RAM 4GB memory flash
  • 4.3 Touch Screen GPS
  • Resolution: 480*272
  • Built-in FM Transmitter

works well for the price touch screen works well gps works well also . just have to figure out how to upgrade maps good purchase the price

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I first charge the GPS to my house jack and it did not keep a charge. Then I was told I needed to charge it with the car charger because of the type of batter it is. For two days I charge it in my car, 48 straight hours and still when I unpluged it, within 20 minutes it was dead. What got me the must is setting it up. There was no instruction that came with the box. The internet was no help inturns of setting the GPS up. There is no one to call for help. I am so upset because I now have to go and buy another GPS from a store that will help me set it up without problems.

Read Best Reviews of X-gps GPS S300 MTK 4.3 GPS Navigation 128mb Ram 4gb AU/ US Map, Fm, Mp3, Mp4 Here

it wont even turn on. i've charged it. i just want to return it, and can't figure out who to contact

Friday, February 28, 2014

August CR150L FM Transmitter - Wireless MP3 Player for In-Car use with SD/MMC Card Reader / USB Por

August CR150L FM Transmitter - Wireless MP3 Player for In-Car use with SD/MMC Card Reader / USB Port / Remote ControlI have purchased over a dozen of these players to use myself and give away. When they work, they are great transmitter/sd card players. Once you figure out the controls, they are easy to use and do a great job, and they come with a random play mode. Their downside is that some do not work out of the box. But for the price, I order some spares. You can also get a 120 volt ac to 12 volt female cigarette lighter addapter and use them in the house, giving you a cheap SD card player for your home stero. I have also set them up to use with my old boom box radios outside in the yard. With these, I can play any music I want on any old FM receiver.

This product did not work at all. I am very dissatisfied and would like a refund. I ended up going to Wal-mart to purchase another one that actually works. Do not buy this!!

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It works as per the description. I like this product and recommend to a friend. I had a different fm transmitter before that require tuning and synchronization with the car's fm every time I started the car. I think this one has an internal memory, that can remember the fm band and also the last songs played.

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I bought several of this kind of FM transmitter. The workmanship of most is pretty bad, but the quality of sound that you get is great. This particular model though prettier to look at has less quality for sound reproduction.

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I have an older model car complete with cassette player!! I needed something to play my digital music without the cost of replacing my car stereo. I absolutely love this transmitter! I rec'd it within 4 days. It is very easy to usejust plug into your cigarette lighter, tune into unused radio station and you are on your way to enjoying your tunes! The instructions are easy to follow and It has a remote or (as I prefer) manual buttons to select your songs. You have the ability to choose from selecting your music by folders, random, repeat-which is nice because we all know that SD cards and flash drives hold ALOT of music-and this transmitter will accept both Flash drives AND SD cards so you have the versatility of both. I HIGHLY recommend this product! The price is unbeatable. I enjoy driving againlolLOVE my DMB while I'm on the road! I am one very satisfied customer!!

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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Keyless Entry Remote Fob Clicker for 2004 Toyota RAV4 With Do-It-Yourself Programming

Keyless Entry Remote Fob Clicker for 2004 Toyota RAV4 With Do-It-Yourself ProgrammingWe tried programming it numerous times and each failed. Eventually I found a different set of instructions online and they worked. Two of the steps were out of order.

I had to go through the instructions twice before it worked but it did it exactly as described. Very easy and excellent customer service. Much cheaper route then going here locally which quoted me $595!!!!!!

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This item arrived quickly and was super easy to program with the included instructions. A heck-of-alot cheaper than working with a dealership, too.

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This keyless remote was excellent. My husband had to program it, as I couldn't. It works perfectly and I am most pleased with it.

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Sunday, December 8, 2013

Essential Gomadic AC /DC Charge Accessory Bundle for the Garmin StreetPilot C580. Kit includes the

Essential Gomadic AC /DC Charge Accessory Bundle for the Garmin StreetPilot C580. Kit includes the Gomadic Home and Car Chargers at a Money Saving Price. Based on TipExchange Technology
  • 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 StreetPilot C580 included with additional tips sold separately).
  • 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 StreetPilot C580.
  • 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!)
  • Kit includes two essential Garmin StreetPilot C580 accessories in one convenient package.
  • Gomadic Car and Wall chargers employ latest state of the art advancements in charging and surge suppression technologies to deliver products in an unbelievable micro-sized form factors.

I bought a new GPS and wasn't sure that I would need these chargers or not. As it turned out the GPS did come with everything that was needed to charge it, but it's nice to have back up I guess. For someone that is in need of a new charger because they've either lost or broken the original one, these are very good chargers.

Buy Essential Gomadic AC /DC Charge Accessory Bundle for the Garmin StreetPilot C580. Kit includes the Now

Very Easy on & off usage...!!! Much quicker than Garmin AC Adapters & Plug in Vehicle Adapters. Merely Pull, Click, & it is stored out of sight for would-be thefts...Ingenious Idea...!!! Am sure there are Hundreds of Garmin StreetPilot C550 & C580 Users, who do not know about these inventive ADAPTERS...Like the Little Boy in the Advertisement says, { TRY IT YOU'll LIKE IT...!!!}

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I purchased this same item a couple of years ago and was disappointed by the short cord on the car charger could barely reach from the charger to the dash. This new version has a much longer cord...YAY. Finally I can stop worrying that I'll go around a corner too fast and unplug the charger!!! And it's also great to have a wall charger to fully charge the devise. The car charger doesn't charge well if you're using the devise at the same time. Just used this in a rental car for a trip from SF to LA...got it just in the nick of time.

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The chargers work great and the tipexchange worked great. My only complaint is that this cord is not as long as my original and when you put the Garmin on your windshield, the cord is stretched very tight between the windshield and cigarette lighter and it occasionally pulls the Garmin off the windshield due to so much pressure.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

7 Items Accessory Combo Kit for Sony Walkman NWZ E438 / E438F Series: Includes Green Slicone Skin C

7 Items Accessory Combo Kit for Sony Walkman NWZ E438 / E438F Series: Includes Green Slicone Skin Case Cover, Armband, Belt Clip, Home / Travel Charger, Car Charger, USB 2in1 Data Sync Cable and Light Blue Fishbone Style Keychain
  • Case: Custom made to fit your Sony MP3 Player. Great for protecting your device from damages, scratches, chips, dents, and dirt. Designed to allows access to all features. All slots are accessible without removing the skin case.
  • Wall Charger: High Quality (Non-OEM) Wall Charger, intelligent IC chip inside that recognizes a fully charged battery and automatically switches to safe mode to prevent overcharging and short circuit.
  • Car Charger: High Quality (Non-OEM) Car Charger, this car charger built-in charging circuitry with smart integrated chip that protects your car against back-flow current and your device from excessive electrical load.
  • Data Cable: High Quality (Non-OEM) Data Cable, 2 in 1 feature (Hotsysnc & Charging).

What a fantastic bargain this is. The complete accesory package for my mp3 player.The USB Car charger is awesome. No more worrying about where the charger is. Toss it in the glovebox, Keep the 110v ckarger at home and your all set.I love the bonus gadgets like the belt clip, arm band clip, keychain. This is a great value at an even greater price. Thankyou for giving me a great product at a real value.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Porta-Jump 91300 Emergency Jump Starter

Porta-Jump 91300 Emergency Jump StarterHas more than paid for itself by saving roadside service calls plus the time and inconvenience it has saved... a great back up for when lights are accidentally left on and drains the battery too low to start the vehicle. Requires a functional lighter to work.

BTW, not meant to use for a bad battery that will not take a charge; only for situations where your battery still takes a charge but is run down ie by a light left on or a loose/corroded battery terminal, etc.

I bought one of these in a store about 3 years ago (I've forgotten which automotive store it's been so long). I had a number of instances back there where I needed a jump, and I loved those little kits the triple AAA guys carry to jump cars, much easier than involving another car. So when I saw this in the store I had to buy it. I admit the entire time I've had it I was skeptical it would work. But fortunately I've not had occasion to use it, until today. I remembered that I had this in the back, and despite the package saying a 5 year lifetime, I was not at all confident that it would work after this long. But I opened it up, followed the little instruction list on the back of the battery, and sure enough 10 minutes later my car started right up. The thing paid for itself because triple AAA wanted to charge 35 dollars to come down and jump us. Totally glad I bought this thing.

And like other reviewers have said, this won't help if you have a piece of crap battery in your car. Even normal jumping won't get you far with a lousy battery that needs replacing.

Another thing: Make sure you have some strong scissors in the car to open it, or take it out before storing in the car. I was lucky I was at a library at the time, and could borrow a pair. They make the plastic packaging on these things very strong.

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It will only work if the Battery is low because of leaving the headlights on.

It will not work if the battery is bad such as having a bad cell, bad starter etc.

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Bought one from local Target store a few months back and leave it in car just in case one day I might need it. Yesterday, my neighbor came and asked me for help to jump start his car (Mercedes-Benz ML320, SUV). Car won't start because he left the lights on and drained out most of the battery power. Battery still has enough power to unlock doors and roll down windows.

Tested the battery with PortaJump and got a green light, meaning the battery is ready to accept new charge. Connected the PortaJump power pack and left it for 10-minutes.... car still will not start. I did notice the battery has more power after charging it with PortaJump, but it did get not enough cranking amp to start the car.

Eventually, I have to help my neighbor jump start his SUV the old fashion way.

PortaJump is very portable and rechargeable, but it may not work for cars/trucks that needs a lot of cranking amps.

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I was skeptical at first, but I bought it anyway because I liked the idea, and thought it might be worth it. I left my lights on one day while I was disc golfing, and of course my battery died. I plugged it in, and my car started 10 minutes later. Make sure you read the directions. The car has to be in accessory mode for the Portajump to charge your battery.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

ContourGPS Camera

ContourGPS CameraOVERVIEW:

I own the Contour GPS (C-GPS = 1080p) and Contour HD (C-HD = 720p). Primary use capturing HD snowboarding footage in conditions varying from blue bird sunny days to snowy flat light days.

VIDEO QUALITY: (5 out of 5)

The Contour GPS (C-GPS) features some much needed improvements over its predecessor, especially when capturing footage in low light conditions. Where the C-HD's video quality suffered on overcast/snowy days, the C-GPS excels. Subtle details in terrain (fresh vs tracked snow, etc.) are now clearly visible. 1080p HD video quality is excellent, and looks great on my 52" LCD TV.

PORTABILITY / EASE OF USE: (5 out of 5)

The C-GPS is the same size and shape as the original C-HD helmet cam, with the exception of the record toggle switch which now sits a few millimeters higher for easier operation. A welcomed improvement especially when wearing gloves/mitts. Turn the camera on, and two red laser sights light up to aid in lens alignment. Three lights on the unit a battery light, memory card light, and GPS light help identify if your battery is dead, memory is full, or GPS signal is locked.

Heads up on memory card compatibility. The C-GPS is finicky about what brand, class, and size of micro sdhc cards used; and how you format your cards. For example, I bought a 32gb Class 4 Kingston card off newegg that works like a charm; however neither my 8gb Class 6 Transcend or my 8gb Class 2 Sandisk work. Also, my Kingston card only works if formatted by the camera (not my computer).

DESIGN QUALITY: (4 out of 5)

As with previous Contour helmet cams, the design remains virtually unchanged. The body is made of aluminum and plastic. The camera attaches to various plastic mounts (two flat mounts and one goggle mount included inside the package) using Contour's "T-rail system".

My biggest gripe is the T-rails are made of plastic, rather than aluminum. The plastic T-rails are a weak link and could be susceptible to breaking. I wish Contour would have upgraded the T-rail material to aluminum on the C-GPS, but hopefully they will get it right on the next one.

BATTERY LIFE: (3 out of 5)

C-GPS battery life is significantly less than the C-HD. When recording on a fully-charged battery, the C-HD lasts about twice as long as the C-GPS. This is likely attributed to the more demanding 1080p bitrate as well as the GPS function. In my application I typically record approximately 60 minutes worth of footage before the battery runs out on my C-GPS; while the C-HD records approximately 110 minutes worth of footage on a full charge. Note these figures are based on extreme operating conditions where freezing temperatures greatly affect battery life. In any event, buy extra batteries... you'll be glad you did.

Another battery-related gripe is the mechanism which keeps the battery in place. The previous Contour models used a locking latch to keep the battery from accidentally popping out; however the new model uses a new 'hook' mechanism which can be cumbersome. This is discussed in greater detail on Contour's support forums.

GPS: (4 out of 5)

GPS accuracy may be questionable, but it's a nice feature and a step in the right direction for helmet cams. I typically get a GPS lock within 3-minutes of power up, even on overcast or snowy days. The light on the front of the camera blinks green as a satellite lock is being acquired, and turns solid green within a few minutes once GPS signal has been acquired.

STORYTELLER SOFTWARE: (3 out of 5)

Prior to the latest software update, I would've rated Contour's Storyteller Software a 1/5. Their software is buggy and unstable, particularly on mac machines. However, the latest update addresses stability issues; and tackles one of the biggest gripes in the Contour community accessibility of the GPS information without having to upload to their servers. Suffice to say, their software team has some major catching up to do with their hardware team.

Contour also scores an extra point for support; and they continually push out firmware and software updates which can potentially add some pretty cool features in the near future (C-GPS bluetooth connection to iOS or android smartphone which will allow the phone to act as a viewfinder displaying what your C-GPS sees in real-time. Another added benefit: on-the-fly camera adjustments via your smartphone bluetooth connection).

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Overall, I recommend seriously considering this product if you're in the market for a helmet cam to capture HD footage while snowboarding. This model raises the bar for future helmet cams and I am glad that I upgraded from my old C-HD. I may have a few minor gripes, but IMHO, it is currently the best HD Helmet Cam offering in terms of video quality, portability, and features at its price point.

I really wanted to like this product, and it definitely has some great features. But in practice, the camera and its accessories unfortunately were disappointing.

I purchased the Contour GPS, along with the newly available connect-view card, for a safari trip in Africa. I also purchased a spare battery.

There are some major design flaws that quickly became apparent.

THE "HIDDEN BUTTON"- I suspect this design flaw is not yet called out because the use of the "hidden button" is quite new. You can now add a "Connect View" card to the Contour GPS which gives it bluetooth capability, and thus the ability to link to an iPhone so that the phone can be used as a viewfinder. This is a very cool feature and it worked just fine. The problem is that to activate the bluetooth, you press on a "hidden button", which is just a button located underneath a plastic top layer. That's the problem. The plastic top layer is very weak, and after I pressed the hidden button only 5 times, the plastic started to crack. This is completely unacceptable and a major problem, as it obviously allows water and moisture to penetrate the camera, not to mention the problem of having an ugly, cracked top of the camera after initial use. The hidden button was only sparingly used before this bluetooth capability was added, so I suspect you will start seeing many reviews highlighting this defect.

THE DEFECTIVE BATTERY DESIGN- This was also a major design flaw that I'm not sure how was overlooked. I purchased a backup battery, which of course means that it has to be swapped out with the main battery. After pulling out the main battery only 2 times, another design flaw emerged. The battery clasp rubs against the side of the battery, and the top cover of the battery is a very flimsy, glued on piece of plastic. The clasp catches on it and peels it off almost immediately. I thus ended up with 2 batteries with detached covers, with each only being inserted and replaced a total of maybe 5 times. If the covers fall off, the battery doesn't seat properly and doesn't work, so you can't just get rid of the covers. If you're not switching out the battery, this defect won't be apparent, but for anyone looking to supplement the very mediocre battery life of this unit, you're in for a disappointing discovery.

PROS:

The angle of view is very good and captures a huge swath. Picture quality is pretty good in bright light, but basically useless in low light conditions.

The "connect view" feature is very cool (albeit a bit buggy at this time).

Overall construction, with the exception of the hidden button and the battery, is good.

The camera is compact, light, and sleek.

CONS:

The battery life is terrible, especially with GPS activated. You might get 90 minutes of standby with GPS on. Maximum of about 2 hours with it turned off.

Design flaws as discussed above.

This WILL be a great product someday, but I can't recommend it until the hidden button, battery cover, and battery life issues are addressed.

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The Contour GPS camera is a fantastic product, in theory. The form factor and feature set exceed the GoPro in many ways.

However: There is a KNOWN problem with the video quality. Contour is baffled and there is no reason to believe they will fix it before you lose your ability to return the device. I would absolutely not buy this camera until they fix this. As Amazon will nto allow us to post links, just go to the Contour customer support area and read the long thread about this camera.

We had to return 3 of these to Amazon.

1) Could not upgrade firmware USB port problem

2) The battery clip broke off (a common issue)

3) Video quality was horrible (a common issue)

Thankfully Amazon's polices are AWESOME about returns. There is a reason why you buy big ticket items from Amazon.

Ken

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I wanted to like this. I really did.

As soon as i got home and saw the Amazon box i couldn't wait to try it out. However i soon found out that while it looks rugged and well built, it is anything but. My unit was DOA.

The first issue while trying to troubleshoot why it wouldn't power up, was the simple procedure of removing the battery. Though i was absolutely sure that i had placed it in the right way round (they have a handy + marking on both the battery and the camera to help) it wouldn't come back out. No matter what i tried the little red clip that holds the battery in place (though not correctly, as you will see) would not let the battery slide past it to get it out. It kept catching on the protective plastic wrapper that is around the battery to stop it from shorting out against the metal body of the camera, and was trying to rip a chunk out of it.

Thinking I'd damaged the camera already, i took to the Internet and looked at their support site. I soon found out that this is apparently the norm and the company even helpfully point out that you can REMOVE SOME OF THE PROTECTIVE WRAPPING to help the battery come free enough that you can then grab it, with the aid of needle nose pliers if needed. Really?? Have they heard of quality control? The site is here, take a look at the thread and decide for yourself.Eventually i managed to get the battery out without too much damage but the plastic was torn. I did put it in correctly though, so i put it back in and pressed the power button. Nothing. Thinking that the battery must be out of charge i plugged the included USB cable into my laptop and plugged the other end into the camera. Hurrah! A red light came on. I decided to let it sit for an hour or two while i went to dinner and when i returned the red light had turned green So, fully charged it should now power up. Right?

Wrong. The camera still refused to power up. So, i took to the Internet again. I'm not sure how i missed this the first time, as it appears to be a pretty hot topic, but i don't appear to be alone with my issues. There is another thread chock full of people who took delivery of a new (new? We'll get back to that) ContourGPS and it won't power up. Lots of varied answers to what the issue is, it could be the battery not being set far enough in (the fix for that being a wad of paper, or cutting a chunk out of the top of the battery!!), the hinged cover not latching correctly, or even the power button itself not being installed the correct way around. This thread details all of the issues, with official replies from Contour.The most interesting part of all this for me at least, and the reason i decided to return my unit ASAP to Amazon (at my cost) is not the fact that this camera is clearly badly designed / manufactured. No, it's the fact that Contour claim point blank that all new cameras do not have this issue. The topics i linked to are 6 months old as a write this, but yet they are being updated daily, with people all over the world complaining that their brand new unit has the same problems.

So, Contour are either:

A: Being dishonest, and all units have these problems.

B: Telling the truth, but not selling that many.

C: Telling the truth, but they "stuffed the channel" with so many units that 6 months later they are still in stock at retailers. (which is pretty much B, but crappier for the consumer)

I've no way of knowing either way, but i like to think that Amazon is probably one of the biggest sellers of these devices, in the USA at least. If Amazon still have the "old design" in stock then Contour must have given them thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of units; if they are selling well. Though if that is the case I'm surprised more complaints are not on their support site.

Either way, It's obvious that Contour think it's better to have consumers buy what is essentially a $300 paperweight, then modify it themselves to get it to power up or return it to Contour for one of the rare "fixed" units than it is to actually recall all the defective ones from the channel and replace with new ones.

This is bad for the consumer and ultimately bad for Contour.

Thanks for reading -hopefully before it was too late.

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I got this as a gift only a week ago and it has been hours of fun since. Great for family sports videos and also for my own training in a rowing shell. In addition to GPS, this model has a larger, easier record switch. Don't have to take the gloves off in the cold! It also has a still photo mode, unlike the earlier Contour models. The GPS version has better microphone placement as well, so I was able to hear my commentary even skiing in the wind. Even if you don't need to see your speed and GPS data, several improvements make this model worth it over the less expensive earlier versions. While the photos are a bit fish-eyed, resulting from the 135 degree lens, you can't beat skiing and taking 3 60 shots/second without having to stop and take off gloves, etc. The contour storyteller video editing is not the best, but it does have an easy link to post on the contour website and does show the GPS data. If you use imovie the editing is better, but the GPS data is not available. The techinical issues I have had (mostly "how to" stuff) were answered within just a few hours on the Contour.com website (over the Christmas holiday!). I would buy this product just on the basis of the AMAZING tech support.

Here's a link to a video we made with imovie skiing in Colorado: . We had an incident with a low tree limb in the woods during a minor snow slide. The camera, once found in the avalanche debris field, was still recording! Since then it continues working perfectly.

Neagative aspects include the need to link to a computer to set the HD mode and photo mode. But there are 2 settings inside the camcorder back cover that allow switching between two video/photo modes in the field. Also, I wish that the GPS data did not require use of the simplified and somewhat quirky Contour Storyteller software. Yet, the product is Mac friendly and you can upload and edit videos without Contour's software (e.g. by using iMovie or PC software) If you want to see the GPS data you must use the contour software to post your video e.g.: .

The few negatives seem outweighed by the excellent design and support of the folks at Contour. I also can't help noting that the folks I saw skiing with a competing brand looked like they were wearing a toaster on their heads.

This product has given me major grins and is the best tech gadget present in many a year. ( One caution: Be sure not to buy the waterproof case for the GPS since it only fits the earlier models, not the GPS with its larger record button. oops!)

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

TomTom START 55 5-Inch GPS Navigator with Roadside Assistance

TomTom START 55 5-Inch GPS Navigator with Roadside Assistance
  • 5-Inch Touchscreen
  • Fuel Prices - Find the lowest gas by location and price
  • TomTom Roadside Assistance - Reliable roadside assistance you can trust 24/7
  • Advanced Lane Guidance - highlights the correct lane
  • Maps of US and Canada

I have just returned from a trip of 1500 miles roundtrip, and for 3 of the 4 days I used Tom Tom it was absolutely great! I love it! Here is the warning: on the last leg of my return trip today, the unit would/could not find GPS satellites! I tried everything, but no luck. Fortunately I knew the route to take on this leg of my journey, but I was still miffed! Got home, determined to pack it up and send it back to Amazon, when I noticed the advice on the box to call support or go online for help before returning the unit. I went online, and lo and behold, there was a notice that a GPS upgrade was needed! This was disconcerting, happening as it did in the middle of a trip, and I didn't see any notice that this might happen, either in the box poster for using the unit or online in the manual(I had my iPad on the trip and stopped at a rest area and looked up the manual; even if I had stumbled on the explanation, I could not have downloaded the update through the iPad). So be advised if this happens to you! Make sure to take the sync cord so that you can use a computer to upgrade.

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GPS navigation devices have come a long way. What used to be exclusive gadgets that only a few could afford has become nearly as ubiquitous as the car stereo. In recent years this trend has only accelerated with the introduction of GPS navigation capabilities to the smartphones. Some of these smartphone GPS solutions are really impressive and give the standalone GPS devices run for their money. However, there is something to be said for having a dedicated device that will do one thing and do it well. That's why I have continued to use the standalone GPS devices, and will likely do so for foreseeable future.

Over the years I've owned several different GPS navigators. Garmin continues to be my preferred brand, but I've also tested several Magellan devices. This is the first TomTom device that I've come across, and although I will probably continue using my Garmin Nuvi, in terms of most essential features TomTom gives it a run for its money.

The TomTom Start that I got comes with the lifetime map updates for US and Canada, so I naturally wanted to make sure that my maps are up to date before I start using it. It turns out that I needed to download the Mac desktop app since my unit did not come with one. Getting the app from the TomTom's website was not the smoothest process shall we say. They really need to make the connectivity and user experience more Mac friendly.

I like the large 5" screen. In my opinion that is an optimal size for a small vehicle GPS navigation unit. Anything larger would obstruct too much of the view through the windshield. The screen is fairly well illuminated even in the bright sunlight.

The screen uses the resistive touch technology, instead of the more expensive capacitive technology that is found in most today's tablets and smartphones. This means that the touch sensitivity is very low, and you have to press fairly firmly before the screen detects the contact. The touch response time is also not very good, nor is the precision. All of these things become very annoying when you are starting your trip and want to get going as fast as possible. If you've never used a GPS navigation unit and are familiar with smartphones, you may be very frustrated when you first start using it.

The device comes with a windshield mount, which is overall OK. I prefer mounting my GPS units to the dashboard instead of the windshield, but this mount will be useful in either case.

Unlike most other GPS navigators that I've tested TomTom only includes one standard voice for the turn-by-turn navigation. You can purchase additional voices online, but these are kind of expensive (about $13 per voice), and they don't include the street name annunciations. This is definitely a shortcoming in my book.

When it comes to navigation TomTom Start's performance was definitely comparable to the one that I've experienced from my Garmin Nuvi. There are a few subtle differences (I think that TomTom acquires satellites a bit faster than Garmin), but nothing in my experience thus far that would make either one of the units a clear winner. I liked all the speed limit indicators, traffic updates, and the exact lane navigation that this TomTom navigator offers, but most of those are only really useful if you drive a lot around bigger cities. If you use GPS navigation predominantly for long road trips, then all of these extra features are a nice add-on but not something that is all that crucial.

Overall I have been very pleased with this TomTom Start navigator. It has all the features that I'd expect from an up-to-date stand-alone GPS device, and it will probably be a solid choice for anyone looking to invest into one of these for a longish period of time. There are a few shortcomings that prevent me from giving it a five-star review, but overall it is as good of a GPS device as you'll come across.

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I have tested many GPS devices over the past 5 to 6 years. Rarely do I use the same model GPS for more than 6 to 8 months. Over time I have seen a great amount of improvement in technology with these devices, and prices have dropped to where just about everyone should be able to afford a reliable GPS navigator for their vehicle. The TomTom START 55M is only the second TomTom GPS that I have tested. My most frequently tested GPS units, which has also become my brand of choice over the years, have been made by Garmin, although I have tested a few Magellan models as well.

This TomTom START 55M provides a bright, colorful, 5 inch display, which I enjoy far more than the 4.3 inch displays I have had on most of my other test navigation devices. The downside is that this TomTom model does not have a capacitive touch screen, which means that you have to press your finger fairly hard against the screen to register input. While I have had many other model GPS devices with this same resistive type screen, the TomTom 55M seemed to require more pressure, and registered far more false entries than the previous test models by other manufacturers. My recent Garmin GPS, with its capacitive touch screen, is extremely easy to input information, with a response close to that of a modern day touch screen smart phone (iPhone, Android phone, etc.). Although all GPS manufacturers recommend that you do not attempt to input information into the device while driving, let's face it, we all do it. This TomTom device, with the difficult touch entry, would certainly pose a hazard if you fiddle with it while driving. You want to make sure you have your destination programmed before you begin your journey. If you must alter your destination, or input any waypoints, then I definitely recommend you pull over and do it from a safe, stationary location.

Setup was pretty straightforward, with a map update already available for the device when I connected it to my computer. The download is fairly hefty, and the installation process takes quite some time, but it is almost totally automated. You will need to properly register the device with TomTom before you get the free updates. Installation in the car was a breeze. I'm not a big fan of windshield mounts, but the included mount holds the device firmly in place. I just worry that over time it may not hold as well. After testing the TomTom START 55M in my car for two weeks, I found it to be spot on at getting me to my destination with an efficient route. I don't care much for the navigation voice, and was disappointed to find that TomTom charges a hefty fee to download any additional voices into the device. My Garmin devices have always had several voices to choose from, with many others free for download (although there are a few premium voices that they charge for). One bothersome thing for me is the time it takes to acquire satellites. Because my car sits in direct sunlight at my place of employment, I like to remove the GPS from the windshield or dash and place it in the center console of my car when I am not driving. My Garmin devices go into a kind of sleep mode, using very little battery power, and when reconnected reacquire satellites quite quickly. The TomTom 55M, however, seems to completely power down when I remove it. Once popped back into the mount, I have to power it up, and wait for it to boot up and reacquire satellites. This takes some time, and I do not like the wait time it takes before I can begin navigating. The 5-inch screen displays a lot of useful information, and the menus are laid out well for ease of use. But entering an address on that resistive touch screen is quite a chore, sometimes requiring multiple presses to get it to register a proper touch command. It just seems like TomTom could have used a more sensitive screen for this device, to save the user a lot of frustration. Once you get the 55M programmed for navigation, it performs flawlessly; at least it did for me. The display is bright and easy to read, even with sunlight pouring into the car, and voice prompts are loud, clear, and easy to understand. The lane assist feature is handy, but I did find that traffic updates in my area were not always reliable and accurate.

Overall I find the TomTom START 55M to be a solid performer for an entry level GPS device, with some added bells and whistles not normally found on a low cost GPS navigator. However, I am now back to using my Garmin nüvi 3590LMT 5-Inch Portable Bluetooth GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map and Traffic Updates, which is notably more expensive, but far more easy to operate, faster satellite acquisition, and with much more reliable traffic updates. For someone looking to purchase their first GPS navigator, or to upgrade from a much older and/or smaller device, the TomTom START 55M would be a great choice. The purchase cost is extremely affordable, and the free lifetime maps make it a real bargain. I seriously doubt you would find a better device, with as many features, for the money. For someone with far more patience than me, at dealing with the pesky, low sensitivity touch screen interface, this would be a great choice.

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No two GPS units are the same. I've tried almost every major brand and I prefer the TomTom models. Before this unit, I was using a GPS by TomTom with a smaller screen for vacation trips and navigational adventures in unfamiliar areas.

I plugged the unit into the TomTom site and updated the software which took quite some time. But, from previous models' snafus that I had read about, I first deleted voices and icons from the unit to free up space in the unit before I began the download of updated materials. This may not be necessary now, but it was at one time. Once updated, I took it out and began my trip.

The general operation of the GPS is very similar to my older model. Some icons are on the opposite side from my older one. With one touch I could switch views of the map on the screen from a view you'd see by looking down on a map to a view of looking down the road ahead of you. This was convenient and useful to me when I was in congested city settings. I could switch to the view looking down on the map and see streets parallel to me and get a better view around me. Overall, this new one is brighter and the touchpad sensitivity is much better. I felt like I had to press the old screen much harder than I should've had to. This new unit did alert me to a redlight camera that I knew was there, but the older unit has never alerted to the camera. My old one did not have the lifetime maps, so had I spent the money to update the maps it too might have alerted to the camera.

Having the free lifetime maps will definitely be nice. I will never have another GPS unit without the free lifetime maps.

Some say GPS units are dying out. If you travel much outside major metropolitan areas where there are no 3G or 4G cellular towers, you will soon find out just relying on your smartphone to get you there will not work. As long as your up-to-date TomTom GPS can see the sky, it will get you there...and no, I don't work for TomTom or any GPS companies.

So, having tried many GPS systems, I can confidently say that this one is the best yet. I love the large screen and the map layout. I would highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a good gps system and free lifetime maps. That alone makes it worth a lot, considering that was never offered in the earlier models.

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Initially I will give it 4 stars as this was its first full day of use from mid morning into late evening. All functions worked as advertised, map was accurate out of the box, no updates applied yet and...

... though it is not adverised as being able to provide traffic info when I used the car power cord from my XL350TM, how about that, there was the traffic info. I had decided to go with my older cord because the one supplied was way too short for my needs so having the traffic information appear on the screen was a very nice surprise.

Compared to the recently deceased XL 350TM the Start 55M screen felt more sensitive to the touch, its processor a bit speedier reacting to user unput and moving to a 5" screen is easier on the eyes.

The window mounting bracket supplied was had the friction on the ball mount set way too tight, the tension screws will need to be adjusted before I consider it ready for daily use. I'm using the mount from the 350TM which I had already adjusted to my liking and it handled the slight extra weight of the 55M without any problems.

It found and locked on to 10 satelites within a reasonable amount of time in the St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN area. By that I mean it was ready to go by the time I removed it from its travel pouch, turned the unit on, connected the power cord to the unit and the vehicle's cigarette lighter and secured it to the windshield.

Already being familiar with the Tom Tom interface made it for an easy transition from the XL350TM unit to the Start 55M. I can't speak to other reviewers' comparisons across brands all I can say this is not the worse interface ever and it does the job just fine.

As a basic 5" screen GPS with a hidden unadvertised feature and on sale for 129.99 I would suggest anyone not in the market for bells and whistles to give it seroius consideration.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Deka-manufactured Big Crank ETX20L Battery

Deka-manufactured Big Crank ETX20L BatteryGot this as a cheap lightweight alternative to the stock Miata battery and the overpriced odyssey battery.

More than enough to crank the miata. It did make it through this nasty winter without even the slightest problem.

My bike had been idle for over a year. I couldn't jump start it with the car. This battery turned it over right out of the box.

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Seems to be a very good battery. I have only had it a short while but it cranks my 96 cu inch Harley Heritage Classic really well.

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Deliever on time and easy tracking I would buy again from Battery Mart.

Thanks they are a 5 star company

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From what I've been told, this is the same battery HD uses as their oem battery. It fits into my 2008 HD softail custom anniversary edition and has started it every day except for when I left the lights on. A quick charge and it was working just the way it was before. I use the battery tender 2 to 3 times a week to keep it topped off and haven't had any other problems.

Monday, July 1, 2013

12-Volt Heated Ice Scraper & Melter - Non-Scratch - 14-Ft Cord

12-Volt Heated Ice Scraper & Melter - Non-Scratch - 14-Ft CordAlthough the concept is awesome, the follow-up operation fails to meet expectations in a dramatic way. Not only does the unit not heat up enough to start the melting process of the accumulated ice/frost, the scraping end itself is not durable enough to clear the windows.

We live in north central Alabama, so cold mornings are nothing new to us. It is not uncommon for us to have to scrape the windows every morning, sometimes removing a thin layer of frost, other times having to deal with a fairly thick layer. I found that this product wasn't helpful in either instance.

In the time that it takes the element to heat up enough to be remotely effective, your car defroster has had ample time to start clearing the windows from the inside.

I tried timing the heating element, giving it 1, 3, 5 then 7 minutes to heat up prior to attempting to use it, to no avail.

The vendor that I purchased it from issued me a prompt refund, in full. I was very pleased with their service & would eagerly shop with them again.

This is my second unit ( shut the last one in the car door then ran it over! The heat element still worked but toasted scraper shell,! This works good with or without heat turned on. I preheat before scraping. Wish I could say can't wait to use this product but not a fan of hot weather or cold

Lol.

Anyways good solid unit

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Over priced and far less efficient than scrapers I've owned in the past. Takes forever to heat up and then still doesn't scrape well

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The scraper broke within a week of buying it when i was trying to scrape a light layer of ice from my windshield. The heating element works nicely but the plastic used on this item is FAR too weak and brittle to be of any use in an actual winter environment. Picked up a pair for my wife and I and it was an absolute waste of ~25 bucks. After this hunk of junk made me late for work (had to use plastic shards to scrape my windows) I bought a very durable $3 scraper from a department store and it does a far better job (and even has a brush attached).

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This heated ice scraper is so awesome to have in the winter! It's so much easier to get the ice off the windshield and faster! I hate standing outside scraping the car windows and now it takes just a little bit of time.

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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Big Crank ETX16L Battery

Big Crank ETX16L Battery
  • 12 Volt 19 Ah AGM

I think most bikers, especially Harley riders, eventually come to realize that after-market parts are, generally, not the bane they are made out to be. Furthermore, most informed bikers, and a few Harley riders, learn that dealer threats of voided warranties by use of after-market parts are trumped by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. In a word, service it, repair it, or replace it with whatever you choose, keeping receipts and a record of what was done and when.

For me, there are two reasons to use after-market parts: greater variety and reduced cost. It is for the latter reason that I purchased the Deka Big Crank for my FXDL (as a replacement for the Harley 65989-90B); as long as the battery/tray dimensions are within range, this battery will suit multiple applications (it comes standard with a tray adapter, if needed).

I've only had this battery for seven months so I am unable to fully comment on its value. To date, however, the battery has performed flawlessly in hot and cold weather, although the term cold, as used in southern NM, is relative. When not riding I always maintain my batteries on a tender which reduces sulfation rates, while keeping the battery fully charged.

Because the Deka Big Crank is an AGM battery, there are no restrictions on shipping and no maintenance procedures to follow. As I mentioned, it is too soon for me to fully evaluate this battery but, to date, I am a happy rider.

Ed

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I put a charge on it using a battery tender. As advertised, it was nearly fully charged out of the box. I verified the charge over several days and it held up well within specs. It's now on my jet ski and I don't even think about it it turns my 130 horses over just fine. Great for the price.

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This battery does exactly what it should. It fits perfectly and starts every time without any trouble. Of course the bike itself must be in good running condition. I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THIS BATTERY SO FAR,. TIME WILL TELL..

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WELL IT IS THE WINTER NOW IN JERSEY SO IT WILL NOT SEE MUCH ACTION BUT SO FAR WHEN CALLED UPON IT STARTED RIGHT UP.

I've used this battery in our Waverunners for years and they are great. AGM technology is far superior to a flooded battery in that they provide more starting power, no leakage (corrosion issues), far longer storage time and battery life. I've had some of these for 4-5 years with no degradation in performance. Deka builds a solid, reliable AGM battery.