Showing posts with label car battery sale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label car battery sale. Show all posts

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Schumacher BT-50 Digital Voltmeter

Schumacher BT-50 Digital VoltmeterPortable and simple to use. Seems to give accurate result which is of prime importance. good for checking both your car battery and the extra battery I carry for photography use.

The Schumacher BT-50 digital voltmeter is very easy to use and does just what it claims to. It feels and handle like a good quality tool and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good voltmeter.

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I didn't know that this thing will be big (compared to a pocket size that I imagined). I have a 6v battery (from fisherprice) that I used with my Off-shoe flashes. I needed something that will tell me if the battery is less than 5.5v (less than this will affect the recycle time). But the big LED screen is the plus for me. I can see it without bringing it close to my face.

Bottom Line: A really cool and good gadget to tell you the voltage left in a battery.

Read Best Reviews of Schumacher BT-50 Digital Voltmeter Here

Friday, August 15, 2014

Bluetooth Supper Mini OBD 2 /Mini OBD II Compatible with Andriod Power 2-Blue

Bluetooth Supper Mini OBD 2 /Mini OBD II Compatible with Andriod Power 2-Blue
  • Andriod / Droid / Torque backwards compatible with ELM OBD2
  • Bluetooth Connection, No need Batteries, Cables, or Switches
  • View live engine data on your Android phone
  • Retrieve Fault Codes (DTCs) and clear Check Engine lights

I bought this adapter along with 2 other similar ones to try out the Torque app on my android galaxy S3 and this is the ONLY ONE of the three that worked with my truck, even though all of them claim to work with all protocols. So far I have used this on an 03 VW jetta, an 01 Subaru impreza, an 03 ford focus and an 05 Chevy Colorado and it works on all of them. I recommend this over all of the othersit was 5 bucks more but definitely worth it. It was also the only one that came in a legitimate package too!

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I needed a mini version of an ELM327 OBD2 scan tool.... I am using Torque on both the Nexus 7 and the Samsung GS2.

On the Nexus 7, it works as expected.

On the Samsung GS2, I can get it to pair with the Bluetooth, but the Torque application will not connect to the device and subsequently connect to the car....

Edit:

I ended up resetting the Samsung GS2 back to factory; and the adapter worked after reset.

Overall the adapter works OK, a little slow sometimes, but it gets the basic job done.

Read Best Reviews of Bluetooth Supper Mini OBD 2 /Mini OBD II Compatible with Andriod Power 2-Blue Here

I am very pleased with the adapter. It is ding what I bought it for, to relay system info from the OBDII and display error codes.

Setup:

02 wrx

Samsung Galaxy S 3

Torque

Plugged it in paired it on the phone and ready to go. Cleared one of my error codes with no problem (O2 sensor below temp for 6 min on highway or something like that).

The compact format fits in flush with the ODB port, nothing hanging down (and nothing to grab to pull it out). I am leaving it in place 24x7 to see if there is any negative impact to the battery.

Want Bluetooth Supper Mini OBD 2 /Mini OBD II Compatible with Andriod Power 2-Blue Discount?

Turns out, despite any possible linguistic confusion on my part, it does a decent job of transmitting ODBII info to my tablet, which is running the Torque app. If it lasts longer than the last one I had from a different manufacturer, I may come back and make it a 5 star rating. If not, it'll end up with one star.

After three attempts trying to pair this device with my HTC Cell Phone, I gave up. Could not make it work.

other adapters worked just fine with no problem. Returned to Amazon for credit.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Permatex 31163 Copper Anti-Seize Lubricant, 1 lb.

Permatex 31163 Copper Anti-Seize Lubricant, 1 lb.I have been looking for a copper grease for brake pad installation for the longest of time and finally settled on this one. I couldn't be happier with it. No brake pad screeching at all. The brush-top does make it easier to use as you don't have to dip a glove in and then instantly put on a new one if you're working on a car. Do make sure to clean the part though otherwise you will end up with a dirty bucket of grease. I have used nearly every brake quieting product available at the local stores and this is by far the best I've run into.

any one who works on cars & trucks knows that anti-seize lubricant is absolutely needed to keep nuts & bolts from fusing together & rusting away this stuff has been used by myself in both forms for many, many years now,you should always use this it wll save you the head aches of frozen & snapping bolts from rust & corrosion this will save your knuckles to

Buy Permatex 31163 Copper Anti-Seize Lubricant, 1 lb. Now

Monday, April 7, 2014

RoadPro 5027S 12V Smart Car Pot

RoadPro 5027S 12V Smart Car PotJust got this little 12v. pot for heating water, soup, etc. and didn't expect much since I had a recent bad experience with a 12v. coffee maker that, after waiting over an hour for something to happen, didn't work at all. Well, I was pleasantly surprised! This litle unit is well-made and has some very nice features, such as being able to remove the pot from the base for easy cleaning. I also like the fact that, as well as an "on" light, the pot lights up with a white light to let you know that it is seated correctly on the base. It also has a nice safety feature in that it will shut off if there's not enough water, so it won't "burn dry." Best thing, though, is that it really does work! It does take longer with 12v. units, but that's to be expected. However, in less than half an hour the water was bubbling merrily away! I am very pleased with my purchase and would definitely recommend it.

I purchased this unit as my wife and I love the "coffee on the go" mode and figured to save a few bucks in the long run on the expensive Convenience Store drinks. So far, and that includes three vehicles, we have blown the fuse every time that we plug the RoadPro into the cigarette lighter. I am approaching half the cost of the unit in replaced fuses. I'm not saying that the unit will not work, in fact I believe that it will do what it claims if you can get the proper power to it. For many vehicles, it will require a heavier wire to be routed from the battery to a seperate 12 volt outlet. This takes the convenience away and adding new wiring to the vehicle adds cost to the use of the RoadPro.

Buy RoadPro 5027S 12V Smart Car Pot Now

Being an over-the-road driver I carried one of these for awhile in order to make coffee and hot cereal. It actually heats pretty well, and is a much better product than the previous one I had. However after about 3 months of 3-4 times a week use, it started to leak through the base and into the heating element. After that it quit completely. As this happened with 2 of these in a row, I tend to believe it's a design flaw. For occasional use, it's probably well worth it, but if you use it regularly, expect to replace it every couple of months.

Read Best Reviews of RoadPro 5027S 12V Smart Car Pot Here

What a treat to have hot tea or instant coffee on long road trips. Holds enough for 2 cups of your favorite brew. Takes about 15 minutes for hot water, 20 minutes to boil. Very handy.

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It takes around a half hour to heat water that is "cool to the touch" up to a temperature suitable for making tea, etc.

This really isn't the fault of the manufacturer. They are stuck making a product that can work on just about any car's accesory outlet (unfortunately some vehicles can't provide more than 10 Amps or so). I bought two of these gadgets and they consume around 8Amps (give or take a bit) or approximately 100watts. That sets how long it takes to heat water.

Otherwise, it is reasonably well built. The little bracket that comes with the car pot is a little cheesy, but everything else is fine.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

HQRP Replacement Car Cigarette Lighter 12V Charger for Garmin Nuvi 200 , 200W , 250 , 250W , 260 ,

HQRP Replacement Car Cigarette Lighter 12V Charger for Garmin Nuvi 200 , 200W , 250 , 250W , 260 , 270 GPS Device plus HQRP Coaster
  • HQRP Car Cigarette Lighter Charger plus HQRP Coaster;
  • Plug in this spare car charger into the cigarette lighter and charge the battery of your Garmin GPS;
  • Type: Car Charger;
  • Designation: Automobile;
  • Compatible with Li-Ion , Ni-Cd and Ni-Mh batteries; 200 days warranty.

There are a few different chargers listed that are a little cheaper. This one does the right thing and makes the GPS act like it is connected to a car, not a computer. The cable is also more flexible and lighter than the OEM one which makes for a much less annoying GPS cord-dangling experience. The unexpected added bonus is the HQRP coaster which includes an eagle in an awesome pose. It keeps my desk clean from those annoying condensation rings, while rocking it in style. 10/10, would buy again.

Buy HQRP Replacement Car Cigarette Lighter 12V Charger for Garmin Nuvi 200 , 200W , 250 , 250W , 260 , Now

I highly recommend this product for people in search of a GPS charger. It works while you are driving. And it is great for the price.

Read Best Reviews of HQRP Replacement Car Cigarette Lighter 12V Charger for Garmin Nuvi 200 , 200W , 250 , 250W , 260 , Here

I purched the HQRP Replacement Car Cigarette Lighter 12V Charger... and found it works just as well as the original did. Great product!!

Want HQRP Replacement Car Cigarette Lighter 12V Charger for Garmin Nuvi 200 , 200W , 250 , 250W , 260 , Discount?

This is a very simple item, so my review will be simple as well.

It charges your GPS without any problems at all, mine has been working great for months now.

The only issue is that it lacks quality shielding, so it may mess with your FM radio a bit.

Seriously though, it's great for it's (dirt-cheap) price.

~Rusty

I am very satisfied with this purchase. My concern was that this charger would not keep the GPS unit on when it is functioning, however my fears were never realized. This charger will continue charging your GPS unit even when it is in use.

It arrived fast and the price was more than reasonable. I have no complaints!

Friday, January 31, 2014

Philips 12824WLEDX1 DayLight 8 High Powered Luxeon LED Daytime Running Light

Philips 12824WLEDX1 DayLight 8 High Powered Luxeon LED Daytime Running LightThese Philips LED DRLs are well built, bright, rugged, and the supplied harness and hardware are top notch. Heatsinking is excellent so the LEDs should remain bright for the life of the car. The LEDs on my units are also of matched tint with none appearing particularly warmer or cooler. Overall the tint is a cool white which goes well with HID headlights, but my halogen fogs look very yellow next to these. They are not as surprisingly bright as I was hoping for after reading the reviews here, but isn't that how it always is with high expectations. (EDIT: After 3 weeks in varying weather I can say they are satisfyingly bright. I find myself driving off at night forgetting to turn my headlights on since they do illuminate the road to a degree.)

Hookup is easy 3 wires: battery +/-, and one lead to a parking light. The control module has two excellent waterproof plugs that connect to the lights. The lights have sufficiently long wires with matching plugs at the end. All wire is protected by a gloss black vinyl tubing. The lead to the parking light was not long enough for my installation (control module mounted on center of firewall to left front park light).

The lights function by sensing change in battery load and automatically turn on. When the module senses the battery is in a steady state the lights turn off after ~10 seconds. This works well enough, but has some quirks. My car has delayed-off dome lights. So when I open the door and trigger the dome lights, the module senses the current and the DRLs turn on (no key in ignition). Not quite 10 seconds later the DRLs turn off (meanwhile my dome lights are still on). Then when my dome lights turn off, the module senses another change and turns the DRLs on again for 10 seconds. So while this could seem like a fancy convenience function of the DRLs, it is the consequence of the simplified hookup design. I do not find this objectionable except when the battery is connected to a charger that is cycling on and off and the lights are turning on/off as well. Personally I would have preferred wiring them to the ignition or the option to. As is when I approach the car and unlock the doors with my remote, the DRLs come on and help locate the car as well as illuminate the walk toward it not a bad thing. UPDATE: Upon installing a new battery I found the DRLs no longer turn on when I operate the remote. The old battery was tired and exhibited a larger voltage drop when the dome lights turned on whereas the new battery maintains voltage better and does not trigger the control module. The lights now turn on with the engine, but only with the engine. I believe this is how they were designed to function and my initial experience was due to a weak battery. If the lights begin to operate again with my remote I will know my battery is starting to weaken.

The LEDs dim when the park/headlights are on unless the park light lead is not hooked up. These are bright enough that oncoming drivers will be annoyed if they are not dimmed at night. The control module uses PWM dimming which is basically a superfast strobe. This is noticeable when waving your hand in front of them, but not when driving.

I measured the current to the system and it was 1.25 A on hi, and 110 mA when dimmed which figures to 16 and 1.4 watts. By contrast my two dome light bulbs draw 680 mA each or 17 watts for the pair, more than the DRLs on hi.

Depending on your vehicle, installation may be more involved that the 2 hr. estimate. My car (2003 Audi S6) has lower grilles which are not ideal for directly mounting these. I fabricated some brackets that bolted to the bumper support and secured the lights into openings I cut in the grilles (I uploaded a customer pic of the finished install).

If you do mount as suggested by screwing the frames to the car then snapping the lights into the frames, be advised it will be difficult to remove them. The frames are a strong spring steel and snap securely over the light housings in matching recesses. So once the light is snapped into the frame they are flush, and once in the frames the lights obstruct the mounting screws. Removing the lights would require prying the frames up to free the locking tabs something I'd rather not attempt. There is another suggested mounting option directly bolting them to the car via two M5 tapped holes in the back of the housings and not using the frames, but there are no M5 bolts included in the kit.

My car requires removal of the front end for certain engine maintenance. As such I wish there was also a disconnect plug at the lights and not just at the control box. Removal of the lights would require unplugging at the control box and feeding all the wire back through PITA. I ended up adding disconnects at the lights and making 2-piece mouting brackets so I could remove the lights, their frames, and part of the bracket easily as one unit without having to pry the lights out of the frames. When I added the disconnects I removed most of the excess wire and used some to extend the park light lead which was short.

The only non-OEM quality part in the kit is the connection for the lead to the park lights, a Scotchlok-style tap splice. I've had problems with corrosion over time with these, so I placed a blob of silicone in it before I squeezed it to encapsulate the connection.

Overall I am very satisfied with them and have confidence they will last. I would have liked the ability to disconnect the lights at the housings and a more disassembly-friendly design, but depending on your vehicle these may be non-issues. If you have an easy install or have the means regardless, these exude quality and will not disappoint. I rate it 5 stars for the quality of the components and for what it is a universal kit. Installed on my Audi they look and perform every bit OEM.



Just had these installed in my 2008 Infiniti G37. The lights look good and function more or less as advertised (come on bright, dim when other lights come on), but I also noticed the lights had a blinking duty cycle in dim mode when I stopped after 30 minutes of driving (see video). This is not documented, but is exactly as LAQ described. There must be a reason for this. My lights were professionally installed according to the directions.

Philips Automotive (248-553-9080) first advised the blinking was because the 3rd wire to enable dimming is connected to a circuit that has auto-on capability (my marker light, parking light or city light whatever you want to call it). Most modern vehicles have sensors to automatically turn on lights at night or in tunnels. Philip's advised this capability conflicts with the DRL's auto-dimming function; even during the daytime when the headlights don't come on! One or the other must be disabled. I removed this 3rd wire on the DRL leaving the DRL's permanently in their bright mode. UPDATE: Cutting the wire to the parking light had no effect the lights still blinked. After further discussion with Philips, they commented the Daylight 8 LEDs are designed in Europe and when installed on many North American vehicles the (voltage?) tolerances are not the same. They sent me a new control module (Alternative Control box ACC/KL15 starter)with one additional wire to a fuse box. Once installed again, the lights performed as advertised. I downgraded my rating from 4 stars to 3 stars as this issue was not documented and I was given incorrect advice the first time. Philips is not only aware, they have an alternate module ready this situation should be both documented and a warning to clients. I had to pay twice for the 2 installations and a lot of lost time debugging a known issue.

Philips attempted to make the connections idiot proof by utilizing a 2-wire control module with a voltage sensor to determine when the lights should change modes. Unfortunately it doesn't work for all vehicles so be forewarned. In my opinion, the traditional 3-wire connections to a fused relay is more complicated to install but gives predictable results.

I also note the lights are quite directional. Mine were installed to match the shape of the bumper which has a slight curve where mounted. Consequently they point a little bit to the side, perhaps 10 degrees. I don't consider this an issue as they are not the primary source of illuminating the road ahead of the vehicle. In fact it could be beneficial as they complement the front pointing projection lights.

They are bright and slim providing an even more modern look to my car.

Buy Philips 12824WLEDX1 DayLight 8 High Powered Luxeon LED Daytime Running Light Now

Based upon the glowing reviews for this product, I decided to make the investment in the LED DayLight 8 running lights for my new F-150 King Ranch. The product is well-made, lives up to all of the reviews, and the shipment was prompt and problem-free. Installation was relatively straight-forward, although the instructions for the wiring sequence were a little confusing and I hadn't anticipated the need to remove the entire headlight assembly to access the wire to the parking light. I was very pleased with the end result, until a few days later when someone on the street pointed out that the running lights were flashing on and off. It seems that after the vehicle runs about a minute, the running lights begin flashing...5 seconds on and 2 seconds off. It appears the control box may be overheating....which seems further supported by the fact that the flashing stops when the running lights are in "dim mode" when the headlights are on. Convinced a replacement control box would fix the problem, I called the Philips support number that is listed on the instructions and on the box the running lights came in. This phone number is for the household lighting division, which is totally unfamiliar with this product. They transferred me to the automotive division...which appears to only be able to help consumers identify which replacement light bulbs to buy for their vehicles. After several circular conversations it became evident that Philips was unable / unwilling to help me....to the point that it seemed they had never heard of this product. These results are very disappointing. The LED Daylight 8 running lights were a great addition to my truck and I am very frustrated that after spending over 2 hours to install them, I now have to uninstall them tonight so that UPS can pick them up tomorrow to return Amazon. Since I'm not willing to invest the time for another installation with potentially similar results, I didn't request a replacement set.

Read Best Reviews of Philips 12824WLEDX1 DayLight 8 High Powered Luxeon LED Daytime Running Light Here

This product is indeed of the highest quality. The frame is (as far as I can tell) aluminium, the lens is glass, and has the DOT mark. The light pattern from each of the eight LEDs is designed well, projecting the light forward in a narrow beam as viewed from the top, yet projecting a very tall beam as viewed from the side. The mounting brackets appear to be high strength, hardenned steel very rugged. The electronics work perfectly, just as advertised and are encased in a steel box (looks water tight as well). As soon as the car turns on, the DRL come on. When you turn on the car's running lights, the DRL immediately dim. When you turn off the car, the DRL waits about 20 seconds and then turns off. I'm quite sure the LED's are pulse width controlled, meaning the control box is more complex than just a relay switch, and I'm sure this contributes to both the brighness and longevity of the DRL.

The other great attribute of this product is its slim profile. The DRL is ~17mm high ( less than 3/4"). Compared with all the other DRL I saw on the market, this seems to be the thinnest.

The lights themselves are *very* bright, easily seen in broad daylight. Phillips clims a 10000hr liftime which is way beyond the life of the car assuming an average speed of 30mi/hr, the DRL should last 300,000 miles.

Bottom line: I'm happy with the product, it was well worth the premium over other products available in the market.

Want Philips 12824WLEDX1 DayLight 8 High Powered Luxeon LED Daytime Running Light Discount?

Had these lights installed last week on my 2011 Infiniti g 25. They installed in about 1 hour, simple and easy to do for most people. I had purchased a diffenent brand in October and after the first storm had water and condensation behind the lens. These Phillips lights are real quality and I have had lots of comments form friends and the sales person where I purchase the car, infact they will probably purchase the same light themselves. They are much brighter then I thought they would, very visable in daylight and they dim to a beautiful accent light when I turn on the headlights. I did a lot of research before I finally settled on these lights and it paid off. Don't buy the cheaper lights out there or imitations because you will just have to replace them quickly and sooner then you want. These are quaility, bright, and easy to install. Highly recommended

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Thursday, January 2, 2014

Motorola Motonav TN565T 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

Motorola Motonav TN565T 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
  • 4.3 Display
  • 2 Watt Hands-free speakerphone with noise cancellation technology
  • Live traffic with re-routing options
  • 3 months free MotoExtras service package (Google Search, Weather, Fuel Prices, Flight Status)
  • Voice Recognition

It's going to be a long review.

For starters, I've used in-car OEM GPS for the past 2 cars, and I've seen how they have evolved and technology has really improved over the years.

I really enjoy the GPS/bluetooth/audio integration (in my Honda Civic Hybrid) but since this is a hand held unit, I won't complain. Besides, it's fractions of the cost 1/10 of the OEM GPS Navigation units).

The screen size is just right. Even though I've enjoyed the OEM 7" GPS, but this one packs lots of information in the 4.3" very nicely. Even when you are driving at a location with 7 lanes, it highlights exactly which lane you should be driving. It is very updated (there's a location nearby my house finished construction 2 years ago but my new 2009 Civic didn't have an updated map of that Freeway interchange. But this one did. And it is a very confusing interchange, but this one executed the command and routing beautifully.

The speed in pulling up a destination is a bit slow when compared to my in-dash unit. And the GPS signal sensitivity is a bit low (since it has no external antenna. when I am in a car port or under a highway overpass too long, it may lose GPS signal.

The routing announcement is tooooo frequent. I guess if you are in a new area and are stressed out trying to find your destination, it's good to be constantly reminded. But if you are just driving around in an area you are fairly familiar with but just making a detour or need to make sure you are making the right turns, the announcements are too frequent. And there's no way to reduce it too. (You can only choose the types of command to on/off.)

No media player (good or bad? you decide. Some people want it, but I'd like it simple.)

It has great bluetooth/hand free phone integration. As soon as you start the engine, and if the charger is plugged in, the unit turns on and immediately links to your cell phone.

The call display is great too. Clearly displaying who is calling and not distracting your drive. The sound is loud enough and the mic is right at the front right hand corner to capture all of your voices. I don't know whether it has noise cancellation build in, so I don't know if the caller on the other side can hear me well or not.

The traffic update is great. I usually use my iPhone to check traffic condition before I drive home or go to work. With this, it tell me if there's traffic with advance voice warning and red lane indicator.

The screen can be a bit too sensitive when you are trying to enter destination info when driving. So I strongly recommend you stop completely to enter the destination before you even change gear to drive.

The command to turn is the only major complain I have. Many times you are already at the corner and the voice command prompt you to turn. So, do look at the screen if you know you need to turn soon, or it will be too late.

The battery doesn't last that long if you are not plugged in--only 2.5 hours.

The cradle attachment is very well designed and sticks to the windshield like spiderman would do. I wish it came with a pouch to store the GPS unit so you can carry it out side your car. It is another prime target for car break in to steal the GPS.

I tried connecting the GPS to my computer using the USB, but it doesn't do anything to check software update. I can not find any information on software/map update in the user manual or online at motorolla site. I don't know if they plan to support this unit with new firmware or new map updates, etc.

So that's what I could think of so far after one day of usage. I haven't used the call feature to Bing or other services. (It uses your phone via bluetooth to make a call to a 408 area code number to check on everything (weather, point of interest, stocks, etc.) So it's not a 3G or edge network subscription. The traffic update, however, doesn't require your phone.

For a fraction of the cost of an in-dash OEM GPS navigation unit, I'd strongly recommend getting this unit (the lifetime traffic update is a dream come true.)

For most cars, a factory installed bluetooth hand free integration is about $500. Why buy that when you can have a GPS and bluetooth hand free for under $300? Do your math.

To be fair, I've only used a Garmin unit once when I went out of town trip with a friend. So I borrowed a Garmin GPS (don't even remember the model number).

That unit was very nice too, very intuitive in usage. But this one, has much more features built-in and at a lower price.

The only thing missing now is a speed radar built-in. They could make a receiver unit in the cradle and the software in the GPS unit. So when driving it will you know if there's a police with a radar gun ahead. Oh btw, this one tells you if there's photo radar enforcement ahead too.

It really packs a lot of feature in there with a reasonable price tag.

Highly recommended buy.

***Update***

After using it for a week, I want to update additional worth mention features.

1. I've lowered it to 4 stars. Reason for dropping one star? The mix of the following reasons:

a. unable to add previous destinations to favorites; it only shows 10 previous destinations. no choice on selecting one of them and add it to favorite or contact list so you have a quick list.

b. the phone call to BING is a drag. It takes up the phone line to do data stuff like an old modem. I can't believe Motorolla would use this old technology on this device.

c. it's impossible to handle the unit without accidently hitting some buttons (volume + -, mute, etc.)

2. A good feature: I drove with this GPS unit on but without a destination entered. It is still doing it's job even without a destination: a. still warning you of any photo radar spots, b. still has active bluetooth sync to your phone. c. still shows traffic data; d. still shows your driving speed if you are over the speed limit.

Still a recommended buy.

Buy Motorola Motonav TN565T 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Now

Whats is in the box is a nice, sleek, apparently well made GPS, a window mount, a car charging cradle (that attaches to the window mount), a mini USB cable and a 12V power cable for the car. The quality of the mount is top notch with both up and down positioning and a pivoting head where the car charging cradle attaches. The GPS itself is heavy and has a substantial feel. It can be charged via the included computer USB cable or the automobile 12v accessory jack charger. However, if you want a 110 volt charger for the home, that is extra.

After charging the unit up and proceeding through the basic setup, which is very straight forward, I tested out the devices features. This is a feature rich GPS. Setting up the bluetooth and syncing my phones contacts was a snap (although the syncing part took several minutes). The voice prompts were clear and the voice recognition was both effective and convenient. I was able to retrieve contacts and dial them without ever touching the device. The sound quality of the speaker phone was good, but not great, for both sender and receiver. I didn't get a chance to really check out the noise canceling feature of the hands free operation, but more on that later. Finding gas prices and getting a stock quote was cool and easy. Just keep in mind that it needs a connection to your phone to do this. I was jazzed about this GPS and it's many capabilities. My mind was thinking of ways to make the most of its features. So I decided to take it for a real test drive, so to speak, and that is where the infatuation fell apart.

When I mounted the GPS on it's car charging cradle, it quit speaking and responding to voice commands. So I removed it from the cradle and it resumed listening and speaking. Tried it again with the same result. I unplugged the power, tried a reset, checked the settings...still wouldn't talk to or listen to me when it was in the charging cradle. Next, I visited the Motorola Motonav website and downloaded and installed the software required for updating the GPS. The software is easy to install and use and it informed me that there were three updates available for the device and it's maps. Thinking this would solve my problems, I updated the device (and made backups for the GPS a cool feature of the program). Yet, the issue persisted so I gave in to calling the Motonav support number. The helpful person on the other end sent me an RMA via email. Therein lies my issues with customer support. First, the RMA did not include a shipping label. I would need to pay for shipping a brand new item back for service. Second, I would need to send proof of purchase which was not included with this product because it was sent to me by Motorola to try out and review (with a very nice letter from the Motonav team I might add) via the Amazon Vine program. When I contacted customer service about the issue the response was simple, I pay to ship it back and they may or may not fix it since I do not have proof of purchase. In their words, "that will be up to the service department." Hmmm. I guess I'll be sticking to my Garmin. At least it still speaks to me and I won't have to deal with all of my rejection issues, but that is another story.

Read Best Reviews of Motorola Motonav TN565T 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Here

After spending some time with it, I'm finding the Motorola TN565T easy to operate, feature-rich and generally cool all around. The unit is rugged and obviously high quality with a legible 4.3" LCD screen, accurate touch screen and clear speakers. It runs about 2-3 hours on the internal rechargeable batteries, or it can be powered using a micro-USB adapter (included) in the car. The kit also includes a very rugged car mount and a USB cable for connecting the Motonav to your PC.

One of the unique features is that the unit can pair with a Bluetooth phone, enabling the GPS to access various information services such as live traffic, search (Google and Bing) and added services like stock quotes, weather, flight status, messaging and even up-to-the-minute fuel prices. You can also use the GPS as a "front end" to your phone, letting you place calls and so on directly from the GPS. For those of you having small, conventional (but Bluetooth-enabled) phones, this is a big plus while driving as you can use the big LCD screen on the GPS to work your phone, and it gives you hands-free capabilities. Being Bluetooth, there are no wires or anything.

If left on, the GPS will pair with your phone and periodically make calls to keep its information in sync. On a typical day, this seems to add up to about five minutes worth of airtime...not sure how I feel about that, given that I might be paying for the calls. Since I have wireless broadband and a data plan, I'd probably prefer if there was a way to use either an 802.11 or 3G connection, rather than dialing what to me are long distance calls to get this information.

The traffic information seems reliable, and it doesn't require an additional subscription (the unit in my car requires an XM subscription in order to receive traffic data). Still, I question how accurate it is, and coverage is far from universal. This isn't a gripe about the Motonav just seems to be the nature of the beast at this point in time. To its credit, the Motonav does support automatic redirection around congested areas, so if you drive into an area known to have traffic, the unit will automatically pick the least congested route for you.

The Motonav has a very good database of Points of Interest, making it easy to find many of the nearby locations I might want to search for. When entering destinations, it also supports voice navigation and direct entry using the touch screen. I found the voice navigation fairly good, so long as there's not a lot of ambient noise. The touch screen works fairly well since the screen itself is large, but of course, with lengthy searches, it can be annoying I much prefer the voice recognition. A nice touch is that once you find your destination, the phone number is shown right on the display.

At the moment, I happen to have access to four completely different GPS devices: the built-in unit in my car, the GPS that comes with my Droid phone (mostly based on Google Maps), a Garmin Nuvi and now the Motonav. This made it easy to compare the features and capabilities of each. One difference is the startup time. The unit in my car seems always ready and the Droid is nearly always-on as well. The Motonav, on the other hand, seems to take about a minute to acquire enough GPS satellites to be useful.

I'd have to say that the large display in my car was the most readable, but the Motonav isn't far behind. The Droid screen seems "sexier" somehow, but it's just small enough that I need to have it right in front of my face for it to be truly readable, where I can see the Motonav from several feet away. Accuracy seemed about the same across these three units. The Motonav offered better guidance in my opinion, warning me ahead of time for upcoming turns in a way that seemed to be more understandable. I also found the Motonav to be a bit more accurate in terms of ETA and other time calculations. Compared to the Garmin, I'd have to say that the Motonav is more up to date in terms of features thanks to it's more sophisticated software and Bluetooth connection.

I was surprised to see the screen compared to my Motorola Droid phone. My phone uses a very sleek and glossy mineral glass that I've come to really love. It's very vibrant and although small, displays a wonderful range of colors and high contrast images. By comparison, the Motonav screen isn't at all glossy, Motorola opting instead for a matte finish that probably works out to be a bit easier to read in direct sunlight. The images aren't nearly as impressive but I suppose they don't need to be...all the basics are there, and maps and so forth are certainly legible it just surprises me how different the technology is versus what Motorola is using in phones today. Not necessarily "worse", just "different".

Only thing I really find to complain about is the location of the buttons on the Motonav. If you use it handheld, it's hard to pick up the unit and not hit one of the buttons on the back of the unit. It's possible to lock out these buttons, but in the beginning, you'll probably be inadvertently adjusting the volume up or down quite a bit. Of course, mounted in the car, this isn't a problem.

Overall, I found the unit to be easy and intuitive to operate and to work about as well as anything else out there. If you need a GPS, this would be one of my top choices...definitely recommended.

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I currently have an older generation and newer generation Garmin Nuvi, a Magellan Xplorist, an iPhone, and now the MotoNav TN565T. I also have a Whistler red light camera detector, similar in functionality to the built-in red-light camera database in the MotoNav.

What I Like about it:

-The interface, although very complicated-feeling at first, is very intuitive after you spend a few minutes playing around with it. The map fills the whole screen, unless you choose to bring up the left-side panel where you can view traffic information, see a list of nearby POI's, see a "dashboard" (speed, direction, altitude, etc.), or other useful information. Want to enter a destination? Just tap anywhere on the map, and it brings up a menu.

-It is fully customizable. You can change what the hardware buttons on the sides do, you can change the order of the menu buttons, and you can change the types of POIs that appear on the map, among other things.

-voice commands work very well. The unit has never had any trouble understanding what I say.

-Traffic information has been up-to-date and accurate in my experience. The unit can be set to re-route you automatically if the delay is longer than 5 minutes and a faster route is available. You can also set which types of traffic incidents to always avoid or ignore, such as construction, accidents, congestion, weather-related problems, etc.

-Even with all the customization this device is capable of, it still works great right out of the box. Motorola did a great job of catering to both the tech-savvy and the not-so-tech-savvy.

-Fast startup (startup for the first time takes a minute, but it's very quick each time after that)

-Faster than average GPS processor

-Traffic light camera warnings work just as well as my Whistler stand-alone unit, so I don't need to use the Whistler unit anymore. The service on the Motorola requires a subscription after 45 days, though, and the Whistler is free.

What I don't like about it:

-I wish the MotoExtras service utilized the cell phone's data plan instead of making a voice phone call to retrieve data similar to an old dial-up computer modem. It seems silly to me that I have to wait for the GPS to dial a number, listen to the "bleeps and bloops" on the other end, and then hang up, when my cell phone has an unlimited internet data package. As such, it only updates the MotoExtras information on-demand, so if you want gas prices in your area, you have to have the GPS dial out to the data center and download new information. If you drive 20 miles down the road, you have to tell it to dial out and get new information again. It would be nice if it was automated in any way.

-If you set your GPS to auto-sync information with your phone, you have to deal with a popup that covers the whole screen and says "auto-syncing, this may take a few minutes", which you have to press OK to close out of. Very annoying after a while! They should make it disappear after a couple seconds, like the "bluetooth connected" message that pops up when your phone connects to the GPS successfully.

-Bing VoiceSearch is really not as useful as they make it sound. It is not something that is integrated with the GPS; rather, it's more of a shortcut to dial Bing's "411" service. When you use Bing VoiceSearch to, for example, search for a business in your area, it just reads off the address and phone number to you. It does not send the address to the GPS, so unless you have a pencil and paper handy, it's virtually pointless. All in all, it is EXACTLY as useful as calling 411 from your cell phone.

-It would be nice if you could use voice commands to enter a destination. The 700 series allows you to do that, but not the 500 series. You can, however, use voice commands to dial contacts and other phone numbers.

-The buttons on the back are VERY easy to accidentally press when you're holding the GPS in your hands. Motorola does give you the option to turn them off, however. Also, there is a "lock" switch that allows you to carry the GPS in your pocket without pushing any buttons.

Some nice features but this GPS also has some very weak points.

1. The bluetooth and handsfree work better than my Garmins (Nuvi and Streetpilot) but it can not dial the number of your destination. The GPS is not "smart" enough to add a "1" prior to the area code. I called customer support and they agreed it was not fixable. No problem using the contacts on my phone since I already have a "1" as part of the number. When I tap on the number on the GPS, I get a recording that says "Your call can not be completed as dialed." FYI, I am a Verizon wireless customer.

2. I primarily bought this GPS for the traffic since the Garmin does a poor job of rerouting me. The Garmin will tell me to get off the freeway for one exit and get back on. It says 1 minute delay when it should say 20. It will re-route you for a minor time savings. It will take me off the freeway onto city streets and grossly mis-estimate the time. The Motorola GPS is a little better but also grossly misstates the arrival time in traffic. It will also describe a 30 minute delay as 1 minute.

3. What's up with the half inch black border around the screen? Garmin does not have it. This annoying border reduces the size of the display.

4. Motorola should have an option to diable the ads. They are not money saving coupons and I am not interested in Red Lobster's Festival of Shrimp.

5. Would rather have stock quotes as an option instead of weather. Why not both like Garmin has.

6. It is impossible to avoid hitting the side and top buttons accidentally. They are too big and sensitive.

7. I would like more language options besides English. I like the scary Halloween voice available on Garmin as well as the multiple icons (firetruck, airplance and hundreds of other choices).

8. It kept replaying a demo screen and I could not figure how to diable it. It eventually stopped by itself. Seems the unit automatically shows help for every function the first time you use it. After loading the updates from the Motorola web site, it reset itself and assumed it was a new unit and did a demo for every feature.

9. Does not show the street I am on when driving. It assumes I know and only shows me the names of the upcoming intersection.

10. Customer service on the phone was excellent. I called twice and got thru right away both times. Agents were friendly and helpful.

11. Icons on screen are hard to figure out. I looked at the manual and there is no legend.

12. Speed trap warning is excellent. It shows a surface street trap near my home very accurately. It is too expensive to renew subscription, however, after the free trial is over. Much better than Garmin.

13. I miss the recent destinations folder. Correction: I found it but it is in an unusual place.

14. I liked the Garmin Nuvi ability to lead you back to your car if you were in an outdoor parking lot. Correction: Its not mentioned in the manual but it does have a last location and when you disconnect the power, there is an option to switch to pedestrian mode.

15. Bing is worthless. There are too many menus to go thru and the voice recognition is awful. It is also talking and you have to wait until its finished or it gets confused when you try to shout instructions which is the only way to interupt it. Not a big deal because I will not pay to continue Bing once the free trial is over.

16. Entering destinations is 100 times better than Garmin. It is very easy to add a partial name and change the city. This one aspect of the Motonav makes me like it over Garmin.

17. Updating software and maps is ok except the first time I did it, the web site said there was not enough free space on the GPS. I hit every help button I could find and there were no instructions about what to do. I decided on my own to copy Canada onto my computer hard drive and this did the trick and I was able to update everything.

Here are my current GPS devices however these are older products and newer models are available.

Garmin StreetPilot c580 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with MSN Direct

Garmin nüvi 760 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

Magellan RoadMate 1412 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

Saturday, October 19, 2013

iShoppingdeals - for Sony Walkman NWZ S544 S545 MP3: Car Charger + Wall Charger + USB Data Cable +

iShoppingdeals - for Sony Walkman NWZ S544 S545 MP3: Car Charger + Wall Charger + USB Data Cable + 3.5mm Audio Cable + Headset + Black Speaker + Black/Blue Soft Gel Skins + Screen Protector + Armband + Clip + Fishbone Keychain
  • This Bundle Includes 12 Items: Car Charger, Wall Charger, USB Data Cable, 3.5mm Audio Cable, Headset, Black Speaker, Black and Blue Soft Skins, Screen Protector, Armband, Beltclip, Fishbone Keychain
  • Car charger: 12-24V, Wall charger: 100-240V, The 2-in-1 USB 2.0 cable is great for charging or to transfer data
  • High quality(Non-Oem) soft silicone skin case is extremely durable and provides a soft comfortable grip
  • Power this speaker with USB power cord (included) or go cordless with 4 x AAA batteries (not included)
  • Compatible with Sony NWZ S544 S545 ONLY (MP3 Player Not Included)

This bundle came with so many great things. I haven't used them all yet. It is nice to have a cover for my MP3 player for protection and there is an extra one as well. It also came w/ 2 screen protecters but I found they did not fit which is not a big deal because it comes with a little stretchy black bad to keep my MP3 player in . And the speakers are awesome and I use them on my bedside tabble. I would buy this again or for a present.

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The product package was very nice, but it was not what I was looking for. I returned the product.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Accessory Power GG-FLEX-BERRY BlackBerry FM Transmitter & Car Charger Mount Flex Pod All in One Car

Accessory Power GG-FLEX-BERRY BlackBerry FM Transmitter & Car Charger Mount Flex Pod All in One Car Kit
  • Advanced Car Mount System charges your BlackBerry from the cigarette outlet.
  • Built-in cutting edge FM Transmitter at 88.1-107.0 MHz delivers hi-quality music through your car stereo.
  • 360 degrees rotating Flexible Neck holds your BlackBerry securely.
  • BlackBerry hands-free conversations through car speaker system.
  • Suitable for all BlackBerry models.

In theory, this is a cool gadget, but I'm not sure it's worth the money. (I use it for my BB Curve 8900 from T-mobile.) My top 3 "LIKES" is that my BB fits snugly in the holster, I can charge other devices using the USB plug, and I can now talk hands-free. My top 4 "DISLIKES" is that I have to turn the phone upside down in order for the USB port not to be blocked by the cradle, when I put the phone in the cradle, it sometimes depresses the voice dial button, the FM Transmitter is weak so if I want to listen to my music on my phone I will just use the speakerphone option, and because my cigarette lighter is low, I tend to bump into it when I shift the car into park. I will still continue using it, but it wasn't as awesome as I hoped it would be.

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This is the second one of these I have purchased. It seems that they are inconsistent with the manufacturing of this device. They have a flexible neck so you can orient them whichever way you choose, however, the first one would flex and stay where you put it whereas the second one just popped back to the straight position. Not too useful there. Also, the output cord is fairly short and over time, it breaks due to being overflexed too much. This second unit I bought has a lot of noise as well in the output. Lastly, they seemed to have changed the cigarette lighter connector as this one is much shorter and doesn't easily make contact with my lighter socket since it's way down in the channel. I have to constantly push it in place. This is more of a band-aid product for me until I get a new car that has an auxiliary input but I'm very frustrated with it.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Blackberry 8300 8310 8320 8330 Integrated 12v DC Car Charger and FM Transmitter - Uses Gomadic TipE

Blackberry 8300 8310 8320 8330 Integrated 12v DC Car Charger and FM Transmitter - Uses Gomadic TipExchange to play music on the FM radioThis is a handy device. Use it to keep your phone's battery charged or use it to transmit audio from the phone's MP3 player or radio app through an FM channel on your car's FM receiver.

I have three complaints:

1. Sometimes the signal transmitted by the Gomadic device is just not strong enough to eliminate all hiss in the radio's output. You have to try different radio frequencies and even move the phone around a bit.

2. Because the controls for changing the frequency are part of the same unit as the power plug, viewing the frequency or changing the frequency can be cumbersome.

3. The price is a bit too high. I recently purchased an equivalent device for the iPhone for about five dollars.

This is an amazing FM transmitter. Of course I was leery since I've heard so many bad things about transmitters, but decided to give it a try before buying a new stereo with an audio jack. This works GREAT. Even my skeptical boyfriend was amazed. It even works for me when changing States while driving.. it was working great the whole way and I was surprised that the stations were all "dead" while driving. Once I unplugged it, I realized it wasn't a dead station, but it was still transmitting through a strong radio signal! Please give this a try if you're questioning an FM transmitter. This is GREAT for using Pandora through my phone, and saved me hundreds of dollars!

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GOLF CART REAR VIEW MIRRORS UNIVERSAL

GOLF CART REAR VIEW MIRRORS UNIVERSALThe value was excellent. These are big and sturdy mirrors at a great price. Shipping took a while but not unreasonable , and besides , who is in a hurry for golf cart mirrors??

I bought these mirrors to satisfy the mirror requirement to make my golf cart street legal. They work very well. They do not lose their adjustment when going over bumps and they have a nice range of view.

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Product as described and works well. Installation was easy and fits my ez go golf cart. I have no complaints.

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These mirrors are poorly made, have hardware that doesn't fit a golf cart, and the plastic mounts are flimsy. They are going back. I thought the extra couple of bucks would get me a better product, but just the opposite....I got junk. DO NOT BUY!

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I park my cart inside a small shed, having mirrors for backing is very helpful. Using the cart outside the property lets me keep better track of cars.

Update 16 Mar 13. Just finished installing these mirrors. A tad tricky you need to remove the mirror from the base to mark the holes and install the lower bolts but NOT difficult. Just pay attention to the way it comes apart and reverse the order for re-assembly. The base is plastic to tighten firmly but not too tight or you might break the base.

The field of vision is VERY good and the mirror is clear and did not vibrate (making a blurry image). I'm even more pleased with my purchase.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

2-Way LCD Motorcycle Alarm Pager with Remote Engine Start & Proximity Sensor for all bikes universal

2-Way LCD Motorcycle Alarm Pager with Remote Engine Start & Proximity Sensor for all bikes universal
  • Advanced 2-Way Motorcycle Alarm System with Remote Start. Includes everything shown belowOur kits includes two LCD remote controls and a proximity sensor!Notice other sells may not give you the proximity sensor!
  • This is the highest quality most advanced alarm system on the market! It includes all the bells and whistles alarms $300+ offer. Now buy at our low introductory price! Professional installation recommended.
  • Two way range over 5000 meters - Super long range monitoring Manual and Timer Controlled Remote Engine Starter2 Way motorcycle alarm with remote engine start! Includes unique proximity sensor not found anywhere else!
  • Advanced remote engine starter * remote engine starter / cut off2-Way Remote Control (2) * 2-way long range FM transmission * Four button with LCD display * Status info display * real time clock * real time moto / alarm status * LCD backlight * visual, audio and vibration alert * Function confirmation * 1 AAA alkaline battery (included)Proximity Sensor - Also known as microwave sensor. Can be adjusted for people touching the bike. Can change the color background of the pager.
  • Multi function 2 way alarm w/engine starter kit * ultra-long FSK communication range * two way range over 5000m * remote query functions * visual, audio and vibration alert remote control * arm / disarm bike finding * Frequency : 2.5GHz +/- 1GHz * Detection Range Sensitivity MAX : Width 2100mm, Length 1200mm * Built-in 2-way pager * Powerful 120dB Piezo 5-tone programmable siren * Learning code Brain sensor * 100% waterproof * Sound & LED warning light * Anti-Hijacking Function * Remote Start Engine * Car-finding by Sound & Light * Surpassing Warning * Remote cut off Engine * Arm Reminding & Help Calling * Learning Code & Deleting Code * Back-Ground Light * Power Off Memory * Input Voltage : 9-15V1 Year Warranty Some newer bikes may need extra module for remote start function. Please speak to installer

I came across this alarm on ebay for about $90 and did some research before pruchasing it. A lot of people said the instructions were hard to understand, but since I was not installing it myself that did not concern me (had a professional install it for me on my GSX1300R). All the reviews for it was good so I went ahead and got it. The only problem I have with the alarm is that there is no way to turn it off for bike maintenance. Basically, you have to leave the bike on if you want to do anything to the bike which of course will eventually drain the battery. Otherwise the alarm will keep going off with the proximity sensor installed. I might just unhook the sensor, but then I will be sorry if someone was able to steal my bike, LOL. Other than that I think this is a good product, also the remote start is really cool but not for people that have a habit of leaving their bikes in first gear (the bike must be in neutral for remote start).

Ok as of July 10, 2012 after fully reading the instruction manual I found out the proximity sensor can be turned off from the remote controls. I turned it off on both remotes and was able to work on the bike without the alarm going off. So now I have nothing to complain about so far and will change my rating to 5 stars.

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The instruction for installation are lacking at best. Got the alarm hooked up but couldn't get the auto start or ignition block hooked up. I had it installed by a professional who said the instructions were the worst he'd seen. You have to guess at the settings on the remote because once again, the instructions aren't clear. Would recommend a more user friendly alarm system.

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great alarm, especially for the price.

pros:

-cheap

-loud

-2 way pager

-perimeter sensor

-remote start (useless for me but oh so cool)

cons:

-hard to install as there is no documentation, just a wire diagram, i spent 2 days searching all the forums to figure it out and still there was some guessing involved in the install

-no factory harness option so you need to splice and cut some wires

-could be thinner and alarm speaker smaller

all in all i am very happy with this unit and would buy again

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I purchased this item in November of 2012. It took me 3 months just to find a shop who would be willing to install it because of the horrible specs included. After install one of the controllers would not work. I contacted the seller, Speed Shop, who sent another controller. I realized about a month later that the proximity sensor did nothing at all. The bike had to actually be shaken to alarm. I contacted the seller about replacing the proximity sensor and was instructed to return the old one which I did. Speed Shop received my old proximity sensor and actually repackaged it and sent it back to me. The exact same proximity sensor, with the same tape and dust marks that I had sent. When I contacted Speed Shop again, I spoke with Dan who told me that it was not possible to have received the same one back. I explained the tape and dust marks from the sensor being installed on my bike and he refused to believe me that this occured, then instructed me to make a video of the problem before they would help me further. I reinstalled the proximity sensor, made the video, sent the video (all of this taking even more time) and never received a response. After several more contacts I was instructed to send the proximity sensor back again and told by Chip or Dan (by phone) that I should have previously stated that I wanted the sensor replaced when I sent it in (what?!). Now thinking that we have an understanding and everything else was just a miscommunication I sent the proximity sensor again (shipping paid by me, twice now). No contact from seller, Speed Shop, so I tried reaching them again to see if they received the proximity sensor (again) and when I could expect to receive a new one. This time I was told that in order to receive a new sensor, I would need to pay $8 in shipping & handling charges. I called and spoke with Chip or Dan by phone, and was told the same thing, except now it was $10 in S&H apparently just because I had called the charge was being increased. I paid by phone with my credit card and waited for the new sensor. I called and spoke to Chip or Dan and was told that they could not give me a tracking number because they were on the wrong computer and would call me back with that. I never received a call and called again a week later, this time I was told that the Amazon order # did not exist. I was speaking with Chip who became very aggressive, rude, and beligerant. He talked over me, ignored everything I was saying and refused to help me at all then to top it off he hung up on me. My wife, attempging to mediate the situation, called back and reached Chip (although he refused to acknowledge who he was or provide a name). While talking with Chip my wife remained very calm, even though Chip was quite rude. He would not answer her questions and repeatedly asked, "What is it that you are calling the warehouse for?" My wife repeatedly said that she was calling about an Amazon order and repeatedly asked if he was Chip or what his name was. The fella became very aggressive with her and then hung up again. She, being persistant, called back, Chip answered, and as soon as my wife spoke he placed her on hold. This happened 4 times! Finally a different fella answered the phone as "Shift Global" and said his name was Dan (same guy I previously spoke with and who took my credit card payment by phone for the S&H). Dan was much more receptive, but refused to acknowledge the behavior of the "Chip" fella, although the other fella could be heard being obscene in the background. Dan was able to find the order with no problem, then requested proof that the S&H had been paid for. I had the exact month and day but nothing more. He placed me on hold and came back to say the item had been shipped out, provided a tracking number, but then provided the wrong shipping address and said that this is what was provided by Amazon.

The entire ordeal was absolutely awful from start to finish. I tracked down the package myself and now that I have the proximity sensor, I will be reinstalling to see if it works but seriously have my doubts! The product is truly not worth the money and the seller should be banned from Amazon all together.

I had this system installed on my BMW. The system was easy to install. It has good sensitivity. Sensitivity in the tilt sensor changes with temperature. In cold weather it is much more sensitive to small vibrations.

Also, just FYI. Use your own batteries. The once which came with the set were bad and it took us about 30 minutes to figure out.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Griffin NA15005 RoadTrip Handsfree for iPod, iPhone and Smartphones -Black

Griffin NA15005 RoadTrip Handsfree for iPod, iPhone and Smartphones -Black
  • Play your iPod or iPhone on your car's FM stereo while you recharge its battery .
  • Flexible steel neck and case-friendly cradle holds your iPod or iPhone securely where you want it .
  • Easy SmartScan 1-button setup finds the best frequency for you .
  • Griffin SmartSound adjusts the signal for best sound, always .

Just arrived. Took it out for a spin around my neighborhood and it just works. Setup took under five minutes. It suggested I download the app. I did and it made the setup that much easier. Not having to press and hold buttons to set/change stations is quite nice. The interface of the app is a much larger display to read. Well worth the download.

I live in a VERY saturated city and the stations hold well. However the stations suggested by the SmartScan feature were not the best by a long shot. Fortunately I knew and had already set the best channels on my radio. The phone works very well. My voice, according to my parties, came through very clear with no background noise. It was hard to tell I was in my car. Their voice on my end was also very clear. Conversations can be had without shouting by either party.

Static still creeps in but that's common in a saturated market such as mine. I have yet to find a transmitter that was static-free. However, I came close with the last RoadTrip model. Changing the output to mono gave a clear static-free sound. The loss of the sound stage was noticeable but not unpleasant.

The design is very sleek. Soft blue lights provides a very pleasing effect at night. The display is very easy to read and very nicely designed. The menu can easily be navigated without reading the manual.

It's nicely built. However I found the swivel on the holder a bit looser than I'd like. That's my only concern so far. So, I'm keeping the box and packing materials handy just in case. There's no need to remove even the bulkiest case (short of military grade) I can imagine. The holder is adjustable and is nicely padded with soft rubber.

Bottom line:

It's the best FM transmitter I found so far for the iPhone 4.

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I was a little hesitant to purchase and FM transmitter for my car. I heard they didn't work as advertised and that I would hear a lot of static with my music. But when I bought a used car and an FM transmitter was the only way I'd be able to listen to my iPod, I needed to get one.

The Griffin Roadtrip Hands-Free was the only practical option when it came to FM transmitters. It plays and charges the iPod just like it's supposed to and the ability to talk on the phone through the car stereo and microphone is really nice. The only design flaw I can think of right now is that instead of pausing the iPod when a phone call comes in, it mutes the music. I have songs on my iPod because I like the music and I don't want to miss them if I have a long conversation on the phone. You can still manually pause the iPod, but it creates an extra step.

In terms of performance, I've heard that sound quality can depend quite heavily on the location of a car's antenna. Mine is built in to the rear window and I'd say sound quality is pretty good. If I listen hard, or during pauses between songs, I can usually hear a little static. The biggest factor in sound quality is the competing radio stations. I've found a station that maintains good quality for my trip from work to home, but if I deviate from that path, I usually have to use the Roadtrip's built in station finder. It usually does a good job of picking clear stations, but sometimes it only lasts for a few minutes.

In terms of the physical layout, the buttons are easy to find and press, and the lighting of the screen is not too bright for night driving. I love being able to rotate the iPod dock and move the neck around. It holds the position well, though I've only had it for about two months.

If you're looking for a good FM transmitter, I'd highly recommend you purchase this one. It's not perfect, but in my eyes, it's the best one one the market.

Read Best Reviews of Griffin NA15005 RoadTrip Handsfree for iPod, iPhone and Smartphones -Black Here

I was awaiting this car adapter for my iPhone for months to be released as my current Belkin TuneBase product which I have two was working except the LED numerals are burning out in each.

The stalk strength seems sufficient for most use. The adapter holds an iphone but a bit looser than the Belkin product a little wobbliness can occur.

I haven't tried the Bluetooth mode yet but the biggest problem with this device is weak FM signal transmission. I bought two of these and each behaves the same. In sport utility and crossover vehicles, the FM antenna is often not located near the front window. In both of my cars they are on a rear quarter window. The FM is almost complete static unless I cup my hand behind the unit essentially turning myself into an antenna. In a car with the FM antenna up front, the signal strength seems sufficient.

I discovered through trial and error that one can wrap a narrow gauge wire around the top of the stalk where it pivots to connect to the base. This appears to be near where the FM transmitter is located. This wire behaves like a passive antenna and one can then position the length of wire to an optimal position to optimize the signal output. I decided to wrap the wire around the antenna feed that leads into the back of my car radio. So it's actually not completely wireless a user modification is required if you have a sport utility or your car's FM antenna is not near the front.

I was under the impression this had a 5 watt FM transmitter but reading up, I think the specs only mean it draws 5 watts of power to power the whole unit. There is no way a full 5 W FM signal can't reach an indoor antenna 6 feet away. I believe this could be an electronic engineering deficiency in its design.

If this flaw gets fixed, then I would increase my rating to 5 stars. Right now, it has to be a buyer beware for you alpha adopters.

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Like other reviewers, I waited months for this unit, only to be severely disappointed. The FM signal output is so weak as to be almost useless.

It's not because of any FCC-mandated limits, either. I've owned several other FM transmitters (major brands, mind you, not no-name Asian knockoffs), and the RoadTrip Handsfree is hands-down the worst of the lot.

Here's how lame it is: I live in Central MD, where there aren't any truly clear frequencies, so much as there's one empty frequency between stations, all the way up and down the FM dial. With every other FM transmitter I've had, I could tune it to one of those between-station frequencies, then use the Seek button on my car's radio to tune into that frequency, as if my transmitter were its own "station".

Not so on the RoadTrip Handsfree. The Seek button went right past my chosen frequency as if there was nothing there. The signal is THAT weak. And my car's antenna is pretty much directly above the RoadTrip unit.

The upshot is that no matter which frequency I try, the signal is constantly overtaken by static as I drive, and my music fuzzes in and out. I can cup my hand around the stalk of the thing, as another reviewer noted, and that seems to improve the signal a bit, but that's about it.

Haven't used it for a phone call yet, so I can't speak to that. SmartScan is useless -it keeps picking frequencies that are already stations.

I was also unimpressed that every time I plugged in my iPhone, a message popped up informing me that an app was "required" to use the accessory. I finally downloaded the silly thing -which does nothing you can't do with the RoadTrip's buttons -just so it'd stop nagging me about it. Haven't used the app since.

Maybe if you live in rural country with broad swaths of clear spectrum, the HandsFree would work for you. For my part, I'll be sending it back and looking into other brands instead.

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I bought this as a mount, an FM transmitter, AND a handfree calling device.

Unlike others, I had no problem with the gooseneck not supporting my phone. The phone (even within a big case) fits on this device just fine. It's easy to put on; easy to take off. The FM transmitter works ... okay. My local reception is a problem, but that's not the fault of the device. It worked great to enable me to hear my Mapquest app's turn-by-turn directions.

My complaint about this device is the "handsfree" capability. It didn't always auto-pair to my phone (sometimes it did, sometimes it didn't) -but the real problem is that no one could understand me when I spoke into this thing, on a call. My car's cigarette lighter sits down low -so the microphone on the phone (that's the only microphone, for the unit) is far away from my mouth. It just couldn't be used as a handsfree device. Griffin was contacted, and had absolutely no suggestions.

I'm giving 2 stars because the handsfree part is the primary reason I bought this. If you're looking for a mount/FM transmitter, your rating might be higher.