Sirius Stiletto SL10 Portable Satellite Radio Receiver

• Portable satellite radio receiver with 256 MB of built-in memory and 2.2-inch color display
• Receives more than 130 channels of Sirius satellite radio, including music, sports, and more
• Stores up to 10 hours of programming; offers Song Seek and Artist Seek functions
• GameAlert and GameZone sports functions; pauses and replays 60 minutes of live radio
• Includes slim and standard batteries; measures 2 x 4.5 x 0.7 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

Yes, you could buy this radio and attempt to run around with it wearing the uncomfortable, oversized antenna headphones and spend your day repeatedly tilting your head at weird, painful angles trying in vain to hold onto an elusive live signal, thus frustrating yourself silly in the process.... or..... you could (unfortunately) change your expectations just a bit, accept this radio for what it is actually able to consistently deliver on-and ENJOY the heck out if!! Here is how:

1. Buy the MANDATORY home dock with the superior antenna, automatic charging of battery when the unit is docked, and remote control.

2. Program the radio to record up to 10 hours of your favorite channels, in 60-minute blocks (or whatever duration you prefer; I record a fresh 9 hours of content overnight while I am asleep, from about 6 different channels.) You do this while the unit is sitting in the home dock, making use of the continuous power supply and greatly improved antenna reception.

3. Wake up to 10 hours (or whatever you have chosen to record) of fresh, remixed content. Plug in a REGULAR pair of headphones-whatever kind you like-and enjoy!

In other words, just think of it as a radio version of a Tivo (or other brand of DVR). I am already used to using Tivo and not watching television "live" anymore-so applying the same concept to satellite radio wasn't very difficult. I really wish I could say that you can be mobile all day with this radio picking up live signals with no problems from the antenna headphones, but the stark REALITY is that your "live" listening will possibly have to be relegated to when you are plugged into either a car or home dock; otherwise, you are just going to have to start enjoying making up to 10 hours of recordings (while docked) and then listening to them during your mobile times. Not hard to do! (Buying a second 'home dock' for the office will give you even more flexibility). Another benefit of recordings is that you can skip through the recorded songs (yes, song breaks are included in the recordings) very easily; quickly finding the songs that you may want to "dub" onto something else. (The home docks come with the outputs and cables that you will need to connect to other devices for dubbing.)

Good Luck!!!

Buy Sirius Stiletto SL10 Portable Satellite Radio Receiver Now

First of all, the programming offered by Sirius is the absolute best. I couldn't wait to get this home and try it out. However, there are some huge limitations of this device:

1. Unless you live in a major city that happens to have a satellite repeater to rebroadcast the signal (New York), you cannot get any service. At my house 20 mins outside of Pittsburgh, PA, I can only get a signal if I stand directly in front of a window.

2. It comes with a set of satellite headphones that are so uncomfortable, they should be used to torture captured terrorists with. Unwearable.

3. I figured that at least I would be able to use this thing to store MP3s on. However, with their provided software, you cannot store MP3s on this thing they want you to move up to the 100.

So, unless you want to stand outside in your front yard in the middle of winter to hear satellite radio, there's no benefit of this device at all.

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Yes this item cost over $300 and it is worthless unless you want a paperweight that constantly says acquiring signal. I had this item outside in broad daylight, under clear skies and it was getting no signal. The item was fully charged and if I was lucky and moved into the perfect position and the stars and moon were aligned I would get a singal for about five seconds. But then it would go right back to acquiring signal.

It would be nice if Sirius did not try to milk every cent out of subscribers by monopolizing production of their equipment. Right now it is only Direct Electronics, which I believe is soley owned by Sirius and of course completely made in China. In short, they make lousy products, so it would be nice if Sirius let go of the leash and allowed companies like Pioneer, Samsung, Sony, etc. make productsas they are allowed to do for XM Radio.

Until then, Sirius will not have a decent portable radio. But if you want to spend over $300 on a paperweight that does not get signal this is for you.

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I LOVE Sirius radio, and I paid well for this because I thought it was supposed to be a high-speed, low-drag way to get it. It is not. The antenna headphones are pretty good at getting signal, much better than the antennas that come with the Sportster, but they are bulky and uncomfortable. If you want to use it in the car, or as anything but a Walkman, you have to buy seperate kits (another $100 after the $195 I'd already paid). And the car kit is, well...See my review there. For here, lets just say don't plan to use it in the car. So, to sum up, Sirius satellite radio...Excellent content in terms of music, talk and news. Getting satellite radio signal? A pain in the behind.

I've had Sirius in home and car for about two years, and I got this portable to make a contract job a little less boring. I've used both my Shure 3 and Sennheiser P100 headphones, and put the Sirius antenna headphones in a window. The signal has been superb, as has the sound quality. The hookups for the two headphones are different, so there's no problem there. It has been a wonderful investment.

Schumacher SC-600A SpeedCharge High Frequency Battery Charger

I purchased the product from Walmart for about $30.00. I purchased it as a compliment to a more powerful but not automatic charger I already have. My main purpose is to keep boat batteries charged during the off season. After reading the instructions and hooking it up it went through the charging and stopping cycles as indicated in the user's manual. All of the indicator lights worked as stated in the manual. So far I have charged two batteries. I hooked them up in the evening, the indicator light showed they were at about 75% charge. By morning they were fully charged and the charging cycle had stopped. According to the user's manual once the charging stops it goes into a maintainance mode where it monitors the battery and when it falls below a pre-set charge, it begins a recharge cycle again. The automatic function is nice because you dont have to worry about over charging. The 6 ft power cord and 6 ft charging cables are convenient because I could charge my boat battery in the garage without having to use an extension chord. I have only charged two batteries but so far, so good.

Schumacher's basic charger 6V or 12V, 2A, 4A & 6A charge rate. Automatic charger that charges, then goes to maintenance mode. Their more expensive chargers have higher charge rates (10A & higher) and additional built-in metering like voltmeter to test state of charge, etc.

I am using it exclusive for my 2 cars in the winter. Went on vacation and returned 6 days later to find the car wouldn't start when the trunk lid (truck light) was left open. With regular below 32 degree weather in the winter in Wash DC, bought this to maintain the 2 car batteries. After jump starting my wife's car, decided to buy this to charge the battery and monitor battery condition (can't leave her stranded or home alone with a dead car battery).

Instructions were simple, but use caution anyway. Charger had approx 6 feet alligator clip cables to connect to battery and keep away from battery (acids, fumes, etc.). With negative-grounded car, attach red clip to positive battery terminal, then black clip to ground (charger must be unplugged from AC). Then plug into AC. Charger has "connection" indicator tyo show a battery is recognized. Then select 6V/12V, then select charge rate (2A or more). When charging, has "charge" indicator light and 3 lights (25%, 50%, 75%) to show progress. When fully charged, 3 progress lights go off and green "charged" indicator lights up and it goes into maitenance mode. Unplug the charger, then disconnect the 2 clips from the battery.

The unit has a five (5) year warranty; very few electrical/electronic devices now have a warranty beyond 1 year. Even the big appliances like washers, dryers, dish washers now come with just 1 year - the manufacturer effectively increased the price by 10% which is about the repair rate for the 3rd to 5th years.

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This little charger works equally well when charging and maintaining both 6 and 12 volt automotive batteries. It's a good choice for maintaining batteries in cars which are driven only on special occasions.

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This charger works perfectly. I have had other chargers over the years and have borrowed chargers from friends and family. The last one I used was from a neighbor and, although it said that the two batteries I tried were charged, they would not crank the car or lawn tractor at all. I put both batteries through a full charge with the Schumacher and both came up trumps. Both the car and lawn tractor fired up immediately. I returned the neighbors charger and have not looked back. It was well worth the price as I would have had to replace both batteries. Highly recommended.

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It can charge both 6V and 12V batteries, with different amp selection. Different from some of the older style charger, this one will automatically shutoff when charge is full. So you can plugin, clamp on, turn on and walk away doing other things. Never worry about overcharge the battery.

It is light weight and great tool to have, if you have a lot of batteries around. We use it to charge and check the batteries for the large UPS power supplies in our office. Properly maintained battery can extend its life so much, worth many times the cost of this charger.

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Husky Liners Custom Fit Heavy Duty Rubber Front Floor Mat - Pack of 2 (Tan)

I've had these for nearly 5 months. They look and perform well. I think they are overpriced for what they are. Worth $25 for the pair, not $45 plus. My biggest complaint is that they emit a chemical off-gassing smell. I am not sure why (cheap plastic) but they still give my car an off oder after nearly 5 months of use. It is particularly bad on sunny days when parked car heats up.

Avoid unless you don't mind chemically oder.

Mats were advertised to be custom fit. They have to be cut down to size and do not fit at all. This should have been explained in the product description

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I was quite unimpressed with the quality of these floor mats for the money. They work, with quite a bit of trimming, but I will not buy them again.

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I've had several Husky heavy duty floor mats in the past. I prefer the Heavy duty to the Hskey liners in the front as they are less slippery and thicker. Normally they fit great and last forever. I bought this set for my 2004 Tacoma Double cab (1st Gen). The fit leaves something to be desired. Initially the driver's side was terrible, but there are pattern lines for trimming it down. After trimming with a razor, it's a good fit. I'm not sure if this is for multiple models, but I would prefer a fit out of the box. The passenger side needs to be molded differently on the bottom left corner, as it comes up over a bump in the floorboard.

Colour is great match. Materials quality is great, and I'm sure they will last as long as my other Husky's have. Just a bit disappointed in the passenger side fit. It's not terrible by any means, but not perfect as others have been. Driver side is perfect after trimming with a razor blade along the trim lines.

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These are NOT fitted mats for your BMW 3 Series. They need to be cut, trimmed, and fitted to match the contours of your vehicles floor. The product discription misleads one to belive these are custom fitted mats, not one word about cutting and trimming for fitment.

If your considering buying these mats, do yourself a favor and go to your local Big Box auto store and buy a set of $20 dollar generic mats as these are not worth 3x the cost.

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Brand New Kinetik Khc1200 Power Cell Car Audio High Current Battery

• All new Technology with Absorptive Glass Mat
• 1,200 watts
• Slim design fits almost any vehicle
• Completely air-tight and sealed
• Non-Spill able

I have one of these batteries under the hood of my 07 Focus. Works like a champ. No hesitations at all on start up anymore. I plan on putting one or two more in the trunk with the system. Planning on feeding all three of them with my current 240amp alternator.

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Worked when installed and keeps working like it should. Build quality seems solid and came with terminal adapters. . .

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This battery is everything u will need and more trust me. I got over 3000 watts pushing my system and there's no dimming of the lights. And i cant kill it, believe me I tried.

Husky Liners Classic Style Custom Fit Molded Front Floor Liner for Select Nissan/Infiniti Models (B

Installed these in a 2008 Nissan Armada. They (Husky) obviously didn't go the extra mile to customize these for the Armada. They are too short on the driver's side to full cover the carpet under the pedals with the end result that your foot catches on the edge of the liner if you have the habit of putting your brake foot on the raised part of the flooring (which is what it is designed for). Additionally, the liner has a raised lip, which if fine if the floorboards are recessed but the Armada's are pretty much on the same level as the door sill. End result you have about a 3/4 inch raised edge that your foot catches on when you enter the truck. Adding to that problem is the fact that part of the raised edge has these super sharp nubs to retain the liner on the carpet, these are exposed along the exposed raised edge...OUCH. If you have a Nissan I DO NOT recommend these.

The mats are for my 2004 Infiniti QX56. They look to be very sturdy with good grips on the bottom to keep them in place. They fit very well except for a lip on the drivers side that is a little high (you might catch your foot on it as you get it, I may trim it down not sure if I want to yet) otherwise a great purchase.

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LG Lucid VS840 Verizon Wireless Original Vehicle Mount (Retail Packaging)

This works perfectly for when I am on the go and need a mount so that I can see my gps. Would recommend to any of my friends.

Actually, Life just got better. This OEM part really was better than anticipated. I didn't know it placing the phone in the cradle activated Car Mode. That was pretty cool. However, a recent Verizon 'no-choice' update to the phone base software resulted ina delay of about 30 seconds for the Car Mode to kick-in. But Life if still Good.

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I was looking for a way to keep my phone handy when driving. I use a bluetooth for hands free talk while driving but I struggled to find a way to make it easy to interac t with the phone while on the move. This mount was the perfect solution, made for my phone the LG Lucid by Verizon. It mounts with a suction cup that has a cool lever to make sure the suction is solid and flip it to easily release it. Mounts toi the window or use the included dash mount (sticky back). And the cool part is that when you put the phone in the mount it makes the phone into a GPS unit. and with the bluetooth directions go right into my ear.

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Works perfectly. The added bonus of using this original holder is your phone recognizes when it's inserted into the holder and automatically goes into in-car mode.

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Battery Quick Connect Plug Kit from Driver Recovery Products

While the product is in fact Anderson type connectors, the ones you will receive only accept up to 4awg wire. I bought based on the description and planned to install 2awg wire. Of course, it doesn't fit.

The plugs work just fine. The cap protectors do not work so well though. They are manufactured too loose and fall off.

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Solid heavy duty piece of equipment. I know that these connectors are not compatible with the Superwinch connectors, however; I modified the Superwinch pieces slightly by removing half of the pole divider with a hobby knife and now they work great together. These are China made.

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I'm using these for an amp quick disconnect for when I need to use the back of the suv. Beast-ass connectors. NEEDS a special crimp tool or maybe bolt cutters because they are real strong. I used a torch and soldered the connectors. I found it tough to install the connections into the housing so I tapped them in with a rubber mallet.

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I used this for my winch application on my trailor. I needed something that could quickly connect and release from the bed of my truck to my winch on my trailor. The plug is a little too small to fit a TRUE 2 gauge, but still gives a clean look and full functionality. Overall, I'm pleased with the purchase.

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AIMS Power 300W Pure Sine Inverter

Always liked AIMS products, from their roof coatings,to their shovels. I hooked up the unit to my DC battery banks and found that if the banks where not topped off by my morning star solar system, it would sound an annoying buzzing alarm. I purchased this unit, #1, because it was pure sine wave, #2-because they claimed it produced AC power down past 11 volts. Not the case, with me. I've since gone back to my old Maxx power inverter . Average voltage for my banks are 12.6 volts with the old inverter running my computer. I'll give another go this week.

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Schumacher INC-700A Automatic Charger

If you are in need of steady power for programming or running diagnostic on vehicles & are tired of having to inhale carbon monoxide from running vehicles then this is what you need. This puppy is rock solid and hands down the most affordable "quality" power supply on the market.

I am an extremely satisfied customer and would recommend this charger to anyone. I purchased this battery charger about 1 year ago, and have waited until now to post a review because I did not want to mislead anyone. I can safely say this is one of the best products available on the market.

PROS:

Accurate power display

Versatile charging settings

Compact design for easier storage and relocation solutions

Large low gauge wiring for both the charger leads and electrical outlet plug

High volume twin ventilation fans and heat dissipating fins on body

CONS:

Battery clamping jaws may be too large for some applications

Somewhat hard to understand automatic charging logic

No cranking assist

Working in a dealership, the shop provided chargers were completely unreliable and had no advanced charging functions. All it took was one failed charger mid programming, and I ended up spending 3-4 hours to fix a job that ended up paying 0.6 hours. I then decided that was enough and I needed to buy a heavy duty charger of my own. I wanted something compact that could fit in my tool box drawer for security reasons, and to make sure nobody would use it when I wasn't around. I also needed something with flash program functions to keep the voltage steady. This charger answered every need of mine and more. I am not sure who is the real manufacturer of this charger, but I have seen it rebranded under OTC and other automotive specific tool brands. It also uses a very similar charger function interface as the roll around Snapon EEBC500 unit, which is what drew me to this charger. But this charger's main advantage is the flash programming mode which allows the user to set the voltage from 13.0V and higher and the charger will automatically adjust amperage to suit, from 0 to as much as 70 amps. The large fans keep this unit cool which will aid in it's life and the low gauge wiring appears very strong and will hold up. There are sometimes the jaws will not fit on the battery itself and can only be used on the jump start terminals, so depending on different vehicles this may be an issue but it has not been for me as nearly all of the vehicles in the brand I work for have jump start terminals. It is likely possible to switch out the jaws anyhow. One odd thing is the automatic charging function which sometimes I don't understand. I am not sure if it uses the battery's internal resistance or is aiming for 12.6 volts 15.0 volts or what the case is, however I am confident it will not overcharge and "cook" a battery if left alone for hours. Overall I am very happy with this purchase, it is a tool that I feel is reliable and will last a long time as I use it almost everyday. Many technicians in the shop I work ask where I got the charger from as they can see by the build and functions this is a high quality product. Amazon has the most competitive price I found around and the purchase went smooth.

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Best for the money automatic charger and power supply. One of the best power supply for programming. The charger is ok to.

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We saved several hundred dollars by buying this unit and the cart only takes up more room. Must have for programming BMW and other cars that require a stable voltage while programming.

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I bought this charger to replace the expensive and fragile German made chargers and so far have been pleased. If it is connected to a car and run on battery charge setting, it tends to supply overvoltage, as much as 15.6 volts and has caused overvoltage faults in control modules. If it is run on flash reprogram setting, I set the voltage to 14.8 and have had no problems. The fans are a little noisy, but in a busy shop, not too noitceable.

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CyberPower CPS150BI AC Mobile Power Inverter/Converter, 12VDC to 120VAC, 150W, Bottle Mount

I purchased this product with the intention of using it for charging my laptop while on the road. According to the product's spec sheet, it is rated to supply 140-watts of continuous power (and 150-watts peak) and it is marketed as being a suitable power supply for laptops. Unfortunately, when I plugged my laptop (which uses a 90-watt charger) in to the unit it would overload and trip the surge protection after a few seconds. I was thoroughly unamused.

Additionally, I found this nugget from a review on Newegg:

"The problem with this unit is that neither the hot or the neutral plug on the unit are referenced to ground. In other words, the neutral actually has a potential of 60v above ground. This can lead to some shocking situations. The ground leg of the inverter is just a dummy hole -there is no actual ground.

In layman's terms, the electrical design of this unit is very poor and would never achieve household electrical standards. I can't figure out how they are allowed to manufacture and sell this unit especially when they advertise it for use with laptops."

And upon further inspection, I can confirm that this is accurate, which could possibly be the reason why my laptop charger overloads the unit despite the fact that the unit is supposed to be able to supply 140-watts continuously.

This unit does seem to work well for small electronic devices, but I cannot recommend this unit for any electrical device that draws much power or uses a 3-prong connector.

great!

This item came in very handy after we experienced a hurricane. Power was out for a couple days and this little thing charged everything. Laptops, phones, PSP, I worked my juice blender from my car!

plus, there is also a fan inside that keeps the plugs cool to the touch. A bit noisy because of the fan, but the power and convenience far outweighs that.

I definitely recommend!!

Buy CyberPower CPS150BI AC Mobile Power Inverter/Converter, 12VDC to 120VAC, 150W, Bottle Mount Now

When I took several electronic items on the road (including my laptop), I was glad to have this small device along. It allowed me to work while my husband drove, and ensure that if I wasn't able to charge my laptop at night, I could quickly plug it in while traveling.

I keep it now as a handy "emergency" back up plan ... and will carry it with me next month when I am on the road again, although most of my electrical charging is done through USB chargers now my iPad has replaced my laptop for road trips!

What I enjoyed most about it was that it flexes, allowing you to angle it in a way that makes plugging your device in easy.

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I got this, thinking I could power my laptop from the cig lighter...but it doesn't have enough current capability. I don't know what I'd use it for now....a fishing lure?

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I bought mine in a retail store back in 2008 (for over $30), and love it. Never had a problem with it not handling the load of my laptop and other devices in my car, and for long periods of time. However, yes, it is noisy.

Wanting to get another one, I've had this in my cart for a while, watching the price go down and up and down again, and today discovered that some peeps have had problems with it not being grounded and tripping off. I suspect there was a stretch of poorly assembled units, but if this issue is resolved by the manufacturer, I can attest that this is a pretty nifty device to keep in your car for all kinds of needs and particularly emergencies, such as if your mobile phone dies and you're a long way from home--you can keep a car charger in your car for your mobile, sure. Or you can have something like this that works for multiple uses.

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For Garmin Nuvi 200 / 200W / 205 / 205W / 255 / 255T / 255W / 255WT / 260 / 260W / 265T / 265WT GPS

• Combo include : Rapid Car Charger + USB Data Charge Sync Cable

This basic USB connections links to PC to download software to the garmin from websites. The car charger was an added plus. Our Garmin 255WT has a car charger/FM transmitter antenna. The is just a simple extra car charger. It's rarely used.

Goal Zero 12301 Nomad 7M Solar Panel

I have purchased, used and tested every lightweight solar charging device on the market that I could find. The Goal0 nomad 7 and Guide 10 set is the only one that works sufficiently that I can be completely off the grid with my backpacking devices and have no need for extra batteries. See below for solar panels tested. I have been testing portable solar panels for several years now, and the Goal 0 products are the best.

The Nomad 7 is the only solar panel that has the capability to charge an adequate battery pack, my headlamp AAA's, AND my smartphone/GPS all in the same day in full sunlight. It is the only panel that has reserve capacity to charge my devices in less than full sun (shady/cloudy). No other panel has the output of the Nomad 7. Its closest competitor is the Brunton panel. The Brunton weighs 20% more and is rated to output 30% less than the Nomad 7 (Brunton = 5 watts, Nomad 7 = 7 watts). In my testing the lower output was verified. The off-axis performance of the Nomad 7 is superior. It maintains full output to a greater angle of sun than any other panel I have tested. The Nomad 7 is the only panel, in my knowledge, that uses the more efficient mono-crystalline panels. It does seem to give it an edge in real-world usage. As far as flexibility, that characteristic has nothing to do with panel efficiency. Another of the well-thought out features of the Nomad 7 is the connection options. The Xpal SP-2000 and the Solio both rely on many different tips to connect to different devices. The Nomad 7 has three great options built in: 6.5 volt fast charge for the Guide 10 charger, 5 V USB connector, and a port that the included 12V female car lighter adapter plugs into. Every portable device has the option of an inexpensive car power adapter, and the Nomad 7 nicely offers that ability.

The Guide 10 charger works to its rated specifications, unlike most of the other solar devices I have used. It charges AA and AAA batteries. It charges them faster with the Nomad 7 than any other solar panel/charger combination that I have tested. The Goal 0 batteries that ship with the Guide 10 are the best of their type I have tested. They are low-discharge, like the Eneloops, but much better. The Eneloops are rated at 2000 mAh, but charge only to about 1900 mAh capacity. The Goal 0 are rated at 2000 mAh, but charge to 2200 mAh. The guide 10 has some very well thought out features, including the LED flashlight, the function switch and the built-in hanging loop. These touches all demonstrate that the designers are users, and thought well about how these devices would be used.

All is not perfect, though. The Guide 10 does have an overheating problem, but only in very strong sunlight and under certain conditions. This is a known issue that is being fixed as I write this. This brings me to one of my most important experiences; customer service. Goal 0 has the best customer service by far than any other of the solar panel manufacturers I have tested in this group. Immediate phone contact, responsiveness to questions and warranty service are far and away some of the best I have experienced.

Following is a list of the solar panels I have tested, and short comparison comments on each.

1. Powerfilm USB + AA: This one has a great form factor, is flexible and very durable, and is the lightest weight and most compact of all the solar chargers. Its fatal flaw is that it simply does not put out enough power to be practical in extended backpacking. It does not fully charge the AA batteries when it indicates a full charge, and is not nearly as flexible as the Nomad 7 for connection. The unit was replaced on warranty, but the replacement performed exactly the same. I tested a total of four of these, and all performed the same. Customer service was good, after spending weeks trying to get their attention, and this happened several times.

2. Solio Classic: This one has a nice form factor, but the unit simply does not charge its internal battery nor a connected device at all adequately. Just in case, I had it replaced on warranty and the replacement performed exactly the same.

3. Xpal Power SP-2000: Same as the Solio. Internal battery rated at 2000 mAh, only charges to about 1100-1300. Not enough power overall to be practical. Very good customer service.

4. Brunton Explorer: A good panel, but not enough overall power. Weighs 20% more than the Nomad 7, output is 30% less.

Since there isn't a lot of detailed info out there about this product, I'll give the obligatory novel-length review.

I actually purchased this on sale for $60 elsewhere, which was quite the steal (it's gone up in price since). I received it yesterday evening, so have had it less than 24 hours and just tried it today about an hour ago on my lunch break. Got it primarily for use with my iPhone 3Gs when camping and hiking this summer. Frankly, I didn't think it would work out of the box for my iPhone because Goal Zero states on their website that the Nomad 7m may or may not work directly with the iPhone and it's best to just buy a battery pack and charge from there. Their documentation also states you should let the panels warm up in the sun a bit before trying to charge anything.

I decided to try worst case scenario and plugged my iPhone in directly right away and stuck the Nomad in my car's front window on a very cloudy, rainy day in Seattle. Nothing happened. No charging, no messages from the phone. Let it sit with my iPhone plugged in for about 15-20 minutes and still nothing, so I unplugged the phone and let the panels continue to warm up in the car window. About 10-15 minutes later, the lower, darker clouds blew away and it was still quite cloudy but noticeably brighter, so I plugged the phone back in and got an error message that the phone didn't support charging from this device (which made me happy because at least SOMETHING was happening). I tried a few more times, got the same message, then decided to let it stay plugged in while I drove back to work. And, LO! About a minute later, I heard that blessed "buzz buzz" the iPhone gives off when it's been plugged into a charger.

My drive back to work was only about 5-6 minutes long and I'd say the charger was only directed toward the sun (still quite overcast) about 2-3 minutes, but the battery went up 1%, so I'm calling that a win. Every time the panels go out of the direct sun, it's the equivalent of unplugging your wall or USB charger, so I'm thinking that investing in the Guide 10 battery pack to harness power is a good idea if you can stand the extra weight. The battery pack itself is the size of an iPhone and the Nomad 7m is just a bit smaller than an iPad and a little over a 1 lb. in weight, so a backpacker might have a hard time justifying carrying around all of this gear.

One commenter asked if the cells were bendable and the answer is no. There's a slight amount of give so that it's not what I would call fragile, but the panels are, presumably, breakable. The case it comes in is sturdy, so I would think you'd have to be pretty rough with it to break anything. Like other reviewers have noted, the case it comes in is well made and there's lots of little hooks to attach it to whatever. Plus, it comes with a small, light caribiner which is handy.

I obviously haven't had this long enough or tried this in enough conditions to give an accurate star rating, but I'm giving it a tentative 4 because I'm pleasantly surprised that it worked directly with my iPhone in such crappy weather conditions, but wondering if the "warm up" time is a first time issue or a consistent issue. Having to wait almost an hour before it starts charging would be kind of a bummer. I may update my review after I know more. Going to try this with an iPhone 4 as well and will include an update if the experience with that is any different.

UPDATE:

Originally gave this 4 stars, just bumped to 5. Finally got a relatively sunny day yesterday and it charged my older generation iPod in 1 hour. Successfully charged an iPhone 3Gs AND an iPhone 4. Note: You have to take the bumper off, or the connection isn't good enough for the iPhone 4 to even recognize the device. It still took warm up time (about 20-30 minutes), but that was with cloud cover coming in and out on a cool day in Seattle. It's incredibly efficient when the sun is beating right down on it. Love this thing. Going to order the Guide 10 battery pack next.

Buy Goal Zero 12301 Nomad 7M Solar Panel Now

I've been using this SOLAR panel for a few years without any problems. There seems to be alot of mixed reviews for the SOLAR panel and I'm not sure why. To clear up a little confusion for the SOLAR charger I've listed the most common complaints and explained them below. As you can see, SOLAR panel will be in caps for the duration of the review for reason...

#1 It is a SOLAR panel. Many customers are upset that charging stops when the sun goes away. It is NOT a SOLAR/Cloud charger. While it's possible for the sun to penetrate thinner clouds and continue charging, it's quite possible the speed of such charging will decrease.

#2 Some are upset at the output. It is a small, compact unit designed to take hiking/camping or other places where space is of concern. It is not designed to charge a 12 volt battery. You cannot jump start your car with it. Use common sense when attempting to charge larger items. Which brings us too...

#3 It WILL charge a battery assuming your device is not currently using more power than it can provide. Again, this seems like common sense, however, some underestimate the power draining features of modern phones/tablets such as backlights, screensavers, GPS, WIFI, Bluetooth and networks. Turn your phone off if possible or dissable some or most of those options.

#4 Many people use this on the dashboard of their car. While it is a portable unit, there is a faster and more efficient method. Most vehicles, even old ones have at least 1 12 volt cigarrette lighter output. You can purchase a USB adapter for about $5 to charge your phone, ipad, etc.

#5 It is not durable. I have dropped this off a mountain side, into water and left it in zero degree weather for some time. It shouldn't work....It still does.

Please excuse the sarcastic tone of this review but I believe this product and company deserves some respect and praise for designing such a wonderful SOLAR panel. Thank you!

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I bought a Nomad 7 last year. Love it. It makes great power in all conditions.

I liked it so much I decided to pick up a second one to keep in the car. I went through two of them. The first wouldn't make power in full sun (obviously something wrong). The replacement for it, would charge my cell phone (via 12V cigarette lighter adapter) in direct full sun, but not in full sun sitting on my dashboard (something my original Nomad 7 has no problem with). Apparently the glass is reducing the light enough that it cannot get the power high enough to charge.

Needless to say, both were returned and I guess I am not going to get a second one. The first one is great, but the power output of the subsequent ones has been all over the map. A better job of QC needs to be done before the panels ship out to make sure they perform consistently.

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This is bar none the best portable solar charger I've come across. It charges basically anything smaller than an iPad. I've charged countless toys in little amounts of time during hikes in / or fly fishing. Amazing piece of technology. Secondly, their customer service is polite, know their products, and respond quickly to emails / phone calls. This company and their gear couldn't be more highly recommended. It's the best I've found.

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XM XPMP3H1 Portable Satellite Radio and MP3 Player (XMp3i)

• Pause and replay up to 30 minutes of XM programming
• Record songs while you listen, or schedule recordings of your favorite shows
• TuneSelect and GameSelect find your favorite artists or sports events on any XM channel
• Upload and manage MP3/WMA files with the included XM2go Music Manager software
• 2 GB on-board memory, expandable via the microSD card slot

Anybody who is reading these reviews for the purpose of buying this product should be aware that a portable satellite radio is not based on the same technology as a Walkman-type radio sold back in 1980s. Satellite radios work by line-of-sight, which requires an unobstructed path between the receiver and its signal source. When properly installed and used, the XMp3i works great for recording and listening to live XM/Sirius broadcasts. However, you must ensure the unit is receiving a strong signal to make it work. If you plan on using it mostly in an automobile (with a live signal), that means purchasing an additional car cradle/antenna. If you wish to use it mostly indoors, you'll need to install the included home dock/antenna properly.

I've had a good experience with the Xmp3i so far. In fact, I was able to listen to live XM/Sirius radio while biking over the weekend with very little interruption. I also used the home dock to record some of my favorite shows for playback later. I believe it is the ability to record programming which is this unit's strong suit. You can record up to five channels at the same time, so getting vast amounts of music/talk on to the device in a timely fashion is easy; provided you have correctly installed the home dock. The playback is flawless and is much more convenient than listening live since you can skip songs, commercials, etc.

The interface seems a little sluggish at times and is not the most intuitive, but it works. Thanks to the microSD slot, you can load up your MP3 library and play your own tunes as well. I was impressed by the overall sound quality from both the satellite feeds and my MP3 files.

The Xmp3i is best-suited for users who will pre-record their music/shows to bring along in the car for playback. It also works well as a standalone device for plugging into your home stereo system. Do not buy this if you want to listen to live XM/Sirius broadcasts when you take the subway to work, or while you're hanging out in mom's basement waiting for some laundry to dry. Though it has a built-in antenna for live reception, the manufacturer clearly intended that to be used in outdoor-only situations.

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This is a great little radio. Reception is great. I love the recording of XM stations feature. BUT, as of this writing, the enclosed software DOES NOT work win WIN 7. So if you have WIN 7, you will not be able to copy mp3 recordings on this unit. Why they (XM) have not fixed this is beyond me. I called XM about this, and they are useless. Cutomer Service immediatly claims no responsibility whatsoever. They tell me to call Microsoft! Unbelievable. WIN 7 has been out for almost a year now. Come on guys!

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My XpressRC screen went out, and I needed a replacement. While I tried every way under the sun to find a current radio not made my Audiovox, I couldnt, so decided to try this one, since I dont own an MP3 player, I figured it would be a nice backup when I wanted to listen to something different.

First, this is a satellite receiver. Anyone that expects a satellite receiver to work 100% like an FM radio, doesnt understand the concept. While more forgiving than DirecTv or Dish, you really need to be able to see one of the two satellite locations for uninterrupted reception. Im not going to fault the radio because it blanks out inside a house. It needs an outside (or south window) mounted antenna (included) unless you happen to live where there is a terrestrial repeater (I do).

The radio needed two firmware updates when received. They took about 15 minutes. Added several features and fixed several bugs.

XM audio quality on the included ear buds is good. Much better than I expected.

Sound quality through the powerconnect FM transmitter in my work truck is much better than the previous clip on your FM antenna device. No issues at all in driving around out in the country out of repeater range. Usual dropouts going through tunnels, or under gas station awnings I had with the XpressRC.

The MP3 section is great. Audio quality is excellent. Needs a MicroSD card to store more than 7-10 albums at 256K rate.

Havent tried the song or station recording feature yet. 30 Minute buffer works fine.

Easy to navigate. Now if the screen doesnt burn out like my XpressRC did, Ill be very happy with this receiver. I do plan to try to buy an extended warranty for it though.

It claims 4 hours for XM live, and 16 hours for MP3's. Ive been playing MP3s for 6 hours and the battery indicator hasnt moved yet.

The documentation claims you shouldn't have the radio in an environment over 95 degrees as it will limit the lifetime of the battery. Its 5 degrees warmer than that here in the shade, so I figure 120+ in the truck when its parked.

Might need to keep a spare battery in the fridge :)

If the product holds up to daily use, Ill be a happy camper.

EDIT TO ADD: 02/08/2012 Have had the radio running almost 2 years now. Works perfectly. The powerconnect to the vehicle electrical system gives interference free reception. Recording works great, and Ive built up quite a library, as well as put all my mp3s on a SD card. No issues with the radio at all after almost 2 years. Pops out to bring home on weekends, and plugs into the home cradle with an outdoor mounted antenna, although Ive stopped doing that and just use their internet service at home now. Good radio. Highly recommend.

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I just purchased this product and was pleasantly surprised by its features, small size, and sound quality. It activated quickly and worked very well with good reception hand-held outside as well as indoors with the accessory antenna (included) in a window. Unfortunately, it is now fairly useless because I made the mistake of upgrading the firmware from v1.29x to v1.31x. This upgrade inactivates the control wheel of the device which means you can't use it -you can't selected items like channels, categories, set-up option, etc. The warrantee says the product should not be returned to the retailer from whom you purchased it (Amazon) -but should contact XM radio. XM radio technical support said they can't help, I should contact Audiovox. Audiovox said to leave an email on their website. I'm waiting for a response. Searching the web, others have had this same problem. I'll wait and see if any fix comes along soon, otherwise I'll return to Amazon. Glad I bought it here. I'll update this when and if I get more info.

Update: Spoke with XM again today. Even though the packaging that came with the unit has an insert that says in capital letters: If you experience problems DO NOT RETURN THIS PRODUCT TO YOUR RETAILER but instead call XM Radio. The XM technician says they now have a solution -"Please return your unit to Amazon, buy another unit, and don't upgrade the firmware." Clearly that will work, but I think I'll wait until I hear back from Audiovox.

Final update: Audiovox's response was:"We don't provide customer or technical support for our XM radios; you must go through XM." So, I used Amazon's wonderful replacement service and was sent a new radio by overnight FedEx with Saturday delivery, printed out the return slip and sent the old one back. The new radio works just as well as the original but with a working control wheel. I love it. Downsides: every time I open XM2GO software to manage books and MP3s on the unit, it tells me my firmware is out of date -but I'm sure not going to update the firmware again. This unit is currently running firmware version 1.29x. If a firmware version appears that is higher than 1.31x, I might consider trying it, although I'd do so with some trepidation. I'm going to change my rating to four stars if Amazon will let me.

Final, final update: Thanks to a comment received to this review (feel free to read), I have now upgraded my new unit to firmware version 1.31x and after following the commenter's advice to remove the battery and wait a while -it works and works just great. Hope this helps others.

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Works great as long as you are standing in the middle of an open field and holding the radio over your head. If you live in a big city, XM does appear have the Clear Channel Repeater System backing up their satellite signal. I am guess that is where the good reviews are coming from. I live in a rural area. Took it to the ball park (no trees) for a morning jog. I could only get a signal while jogging in certain directions. It does work OK at the house hooked to the home dock with the external antenna but that is not why I bought a portable radio.I am boxing it up now to return.

Listen Up Personal Sound Amplifier

• DON'T DISRUPT ANYONE AGAIN
• YOU'LL NEVER MISS ANOTHER WORD AT CHURH OR THE MOVIES

My wife has dementia and has lost 2 hearing aids. OUCH!! She is

now outfitted with a Listen Up amplifier and Sony WO8L earbuds with

headband. The aaa battery used is a rechargeable. The combo works well

enough; of course a hearing aid is somewhat better, but 50 times more

expensive. A new Listen Up is a high gain low noise amplifier with no

limiting and no automatic gain control. Two that I bought broke down and suffered from self oscillation after s few months of use. I've not

seen a competing device, and the units are cheap enough to be dispensable.

Unfortunately you can't buy them in quantity and get a cheaper shipping

price. The box that one unit is shipped in could hold many units.

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This is by far the worst product I ever purchased on a TV pitch. It does not work without holding it up (tiring) and even set at full blast, it was still not enough to turn down the TV sound enough to not bother anyone else in the room. Save your money buy something better.

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You get what you pay for. This is a cheap unit that amps up everything, across the board. As such, you will not be able to use it for anything other than point-source amplification, as in sitting in an almost sound-proof room listening to a TV with one speaker. If you live in a "normal" home, and try to listen to TV with this unit, be prepared to hear the AC hissing loudly in your ear, your friends using the restroom and their flushes bringing the thrill of Niagara Falls to your den! Don't cough while using this unit, or you'll knock out what little hearing you may have left!

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We buy this product for my special needs who is deaf. It's very loud and holds up pretty well considering he is very rough with it. This item has

always arrived on time with both amplifier and head phones in working order. So listen up and hear well.

I have owned the (Listen Up) for more than three years, it works better than a lot of hearing aids, when I first tried it I was setting on the front porch and I could hear the crickets, (I had not heard the crickets in years) I also can hear the birds singing and a lot of sounds I have not heard in years. ( Great device.)

Rapid Car / Auto Charger for the SkyGolf SkyCaddie SGX - uses Gomadic TipExchange Technology

• High output Rapid Charging adapter fits cigarette lighters in both foreign and domestic vehicles
• 12 - 24 VDC; 1000 mA high output current for faster charging; full lifetime warranty
• Advanced internal circuitry prevents device from power surges; overcharging and short-circuiting
• TipExchange Technology protects investment providing means to upgrade charger tips at lower cost ( SkyGolf SkyCaddie SGX Tip Included )
• Charging adapter works with both foreign and domestic car lighter ports

When I purchased a Skycaddie four years ago with the thought of sharing it with my husband little did I know how impractical that turned out to be for us! We Each needed one! It took this realization four years before it dawned on me the answer was a Skycaddie for Each of us! Of course in the meantime the technology for Skycaddie improved and my husband and I are having a fun time learning the new whistles & bells....and my husband won't have to run over to My ball with the only Skycaddie to tell me my yardage after he's taken his own -from the opposite side of the fairway of course! And, of course, the Rapid Car / Auto Charger in Each of our cars was the next logical move. Amazon was also our most logical source. We're both charged and loving it!

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Works great and charges fast, handy as i forget to plug the unit in at home between rounds and I can plug it in on the way to the course.

High Grade Verizon Wireless Casio G'zOne Commando Robust 360° Adjustable Seat Bolt Car Mount Vehic

Pros:

I don't have to use adhesives on my leather to mount those suction cup things.

Cons:

It will not bolt easily into my SUV because of the way my Dodge seat bolts are oriented. It would be great if the neck were longer so I could actually reach my device (phone, MP3, GPS) if used as recommended. Also, it's not very stable ... bounces around with road vibrations, making it hard to read your device. Definitely not good for GPS since it locates the screen too far away & you have to take your eyes off the road.

this product was easy to install, easy to adjust to proper angle, holds the phone securly, simple yet very effective, my phone even has the rubber case on it.

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