Soundfly BT Ultimate Bluetooth Car Fm Transmitter WMA/MP3 Player for SD Card, USB Charger, iPhone 5

• Simple plug & play - Bluetooth Ver. 2.0: Hands-free, AVRCP, A2DP - Reads MP3 & WMA files
• Transmits on all FM frequencies (88.1MHz-107.9MHz) - Memorizes up to 7 FM frequencies
• RDS (Radio Data System): Caller ID and song information (works with only SD card) on your compatible radio display.
• Standard USB port for charging(5V 0.5 Amp), SD slot for music playback, external microphone & 2.5mm stereo output & input 3.5mm cable included
• Remote features: Answer/End calls, Volume Up & Down, Folder Shift, Fast Forward & Rewind, Repeat.

To get a bluetooth hands free device that also plays my music through my car's sound system for only 80 bucks I think is a sweet deal! I've had it for about a week, it's been working great and I love it! The sound quality seems the same as any other radio station. That includes the fact that when people call and I hear them through my speakers, they sound like someone calling into a radio station, which is kind of cool. :) Haven't made many calls using bluetooth yet, but so far the person on the other line says they can't even tell I'm using a hands free device.

Pros:

It's a great idea that works well.

The price is reasonable.

I love being able to play music from a flash drive or an SD card.

It remembers the last song that was playing when I turned the car off and picks back up with that song when I start driving again.

The music pauses automatically when a call comes in and it shows the number of the incoming call on its screen.

You can either clip the mic on to your shirt or seat belt when you want to use it, or it comes with a different clip that attaches to your visor so it's always ready to go. They provide two adhesive clips for the wire to fit into so you can guide the wire along a non-obtrusive path.

Cons:

You need to use your phone to make a call; pressing the call button on the device redials the last number, rather than activating voice command.

When playing from USB/SD card, it only supports 1999 songs and 20 folders. The music also must be in a folder named MP3 or Soundfly. This means that if you sync with Windows Media player, you will need to select the option for it to not create a folder hierarchy (otherwise it creates a folder for each artist) and then copy the songs from the root directory on the drive to the MP3/Soundfly directory.

It can't read songs with any digital rights info (though I think this is pretty common).

The users manual and packaging have a bunch of grammatical mistakes. The English was clearly either translated with some mistakes or written by someone who is not fluent.

Most of the buttons and functionality are through the remote, which must be pointed directly at the device (I don't find it necessary to use it very often, though).

I haven't found any of these cons to be a big deal, though, just minor things that leave some room for improvement. I would say this a great product, which I am recommending to my friends and family.

Buy Soundfly BT Ultimate Bluetooth Car Fm Transmitter WMA/MP3 Player for SD Card, USB Charger, iPhone 5 Now

Through the years I have used several FM modulators and I have used several Bluetooth devices, but the Soundfly BT is the first Bluetooth/FM modulator that is completely integrated. What this means is that you have one device that will allow you to play your iPod/iPhone over your car's speakers and also have the ability to make hands free calls. The Soundfly BT also comes with a handy little remote control that can help you change FM stations on the modulator, answer phone calls, and give you total control over your music.

Before we go into the review some people are not familiar with how a FM modulator works. What it does is that it transmits a signal form a device to a static-filled FM station. What this means is that you find a station that does not have anything broadcasted on it ...say... 87.9 (depending on where you live)... and you set both the FM Modulator and your radio to that station. The FM Modulator then *broadcasts* a signal to the previously static filled station.

A couple of caveats to this review. I am reviewing this exclusively as an accessory to an iPod Touch/iPhone (Gen 4). I did not try using the SD card for playing music...since I really don't have a need since we store all of our music on our iPods.

Features

+Excellent FM Modulator. While no FM modulator is *perfect* this one is the closet that I have come across.

+ The remote control offers a lot of functionality. It allows you to answer calls, change stations on the FM Modulator, change the volume (which is a neat trick), shuffle through folders, advance and skip songs. I am REALLY surprised at how often I use the remote

+ Sound quality for phone calls is very good. Much better than I expected. The person you are talking to knows that they are on speaker phone, but the interference seems to be minimal.

+ Well-designed everything seems to make sense such as the way the Soundfly BT can pivot to fit into almost every 12V power source.

+ It has a USB power source! This allows you to charge/power any device that plugs into your computers USB port.

Areas of Concerns

Don't lose the manual! I looked (briefly) and wasn't able to find a copy of the manual online... it may be there...if so could you leave me a comment?

About 25-50% of the time the Bluetooth does not seem to sync with my iPod. While my iPod shows that it is paired with the Soundfly BT I am unable to get music to play. I am able to solve the problem by powering my iPod off and back on. It is a bit of an annoyance, which is why I am taking off 1/2 star.

Not overly intuitive on how to operate (outside of the remote) or to pair the Soundfly BT with your iPod/iPhone. For reference press the *Green* phone key until you hear an audible beep over your speakers. Once the Soundfly BT is found by your device use the code "0000" to pair the devices.

I wish that the Soundfly BT had an integrated microphone. The wired microphone works well, but I prefer not having extra wires hanging around my dashboard.

Final Verdict While there are a couple of minor issues I am very happy with the Soundfly BT. There are tons of positive features with the Soundfly BT that makes it well worth the purchase price!

4 to 4 1/2 Stars

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I bought this product after seeing the review over here. I had VR3 USB-SD transmitter for over 4 years and was looking for new one after it broke.

First and foremost, the Satechi Customer service is excellent, very prompt response and prompt delivery. I Could give 10 stars for their support.

Pros on this product,

i) Bluetooth and MP3 Player with stereo FM transmitter

ii) The remote works for folder froward and track forward (lagged in VR3)

iii) Quality of FM transmission, constant stereo transmission with good signal.

CONS:

i) Limited folder level, Satechi should bring some Firmware to recognise more folders (VR3 has unlimited folder level)

ii) Remote power is weak, should plan to improve on this. works only line of site, maximum 3 feet away (in car it doesnt matter, but you have to have your hand pointed towards the unit, depending on model, could be painful).

iii) Not all the functions available in the unit, if you loose remote you loose,

Save or book mark option

A-B option

Folder switch option

When I received the product, I was surprised with the quality of the sound in FM, it was near CD quality, when I used VR3, I could see a huge difference in the audio quality using SD and USB disks. When I connect external source (cd player or computer and transmit, the volume is much better and the range of reception is about 35 feet with walls in between. I plugged this unit with wall power adapter, and used portable player to transmit, then I could receive signal in basement and second floor without any problems.

After 4 days, using bluetooth in car, the receiver could not hear me clearly and the remote I received I had to hold very close to the unit (literally less than 2 inches). I was little upset due to this considering the price I paid. (may be mine was one of the unlucky one's)

Sent a mail to support in Satechi, less than two hours, received prompt response, with couple of mails, then arranged for replacement unit. for some reason it got delayed, but the Customer serveice repsentative was curteous and helpfull tracking the package and made sure it is picked up on following day. Due to their response, I even kind of forgot on the issue and cooled down. was looking forward the new unit. It arrived two days ago and testing. So far so good, the MP is working really good and remote works about 3 feet from the unit (useful when I connect this at home). On bluetooth connectivity I am still need to test fully, so far it appears to be okay, the receiver is able to hear me okay. have to try during long drive and check. will update my posting soon on this.

Over all great product, if they over come the short falls (directory recognition and increased power on remote,) I would give them 5 Stars.

Compare to Vr3, much better product, there is very low interference and static. I would recommend this product.

As promised, I am updating my experience with Bluetooth

So far so good, when I drive in city the bluetooth quality is good at the receiving end, but when I drive in Highway at 70 to 75 MPH, the receiver complained I am breaking. It appears that mic is too sensitive and picking up the vehicle vibration, I am still trying to get an optimum location for the mic to reduce outside noise. Since within city limit, the quality is good I am not worried much.

Also, the sound quality on my radio in the car is really really good. So Bluetooth works for me. I am not planning to return this product, I recommend this to any one looking for great quality of sound and a versatile product.

On FM transmitter, the power is sufficient enough to suppress a moderate radio signal (88.5 is NPR station in Dayton, I am able to suppress this thru this unit). So as far as static is concerned it is virtually null if use free or moderate station channel.

Return on Cost is good compare to options I explored like Parot and other dealer supplied Bluetooth units.

Over all I will give 4.5 for this, giving room for other improvements suggested earlier.

Satechi, Great product, looking for advanced one in future from you. Your customer service Rocks!!!!!!!! Great and thanks a ton for a good product.

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Manual is horrible. Just says few things about basic operation.

Make two annoying loud bell sound (through your car FM radio) when you start the car (Assuming you left this device in cigarette lighter socket while turning off your car last time). Not sure why this is needed. Manual does not seem to say anything about it.

Bluetooth connects fine with cellphones equipped with bluetooth. Microphone picks up my voice fine. It is a wired microphone(provided) There is no built in microphone on this device. Place it near your speedometer panel (or visor). Do not place it near the car fan vents. You will have to run the wire using some tiny wire clips or glue. Without the microphone you can't use cellphone bluetooth.

DO NOT COUNT ON headphone out when using SD card or USB Port to play music. Headphone out is ONLY FOR THE BLUETOOTH usage from cellphone. I wrote to Satechi/Soundfly tech support to confirm this. It would have made a great device if I could play music from SD card and connect the headphone out to my car's AUX-in port. It WOULD have given me better quality sound than FM.

Customer support: They respond (but slow). They do not understand english well (or your problem well). Simple sentences and examples will get you answer in one or two sentences.

Looks well constructed. Display is complicated and takes time to learn.

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Before I get into the review, just let me say that I am a techie guy. I love gadgets. I love computers. I love cell phones. If this isn't you, you may have a different opinion of this device than I do.

I spent quite a bit of time looking at this (and other) devices to play MP3's in my car. I recently purchased little 2 seater that doesn't have much room and only a single CD player, but was use to having a CD changer in my Cadillac. I knew that I could get more music on an SD card than I could ever have in a CD changer and didn't want to replace the factory stereo in my car. I ran across several MP3 players that plug into the cigarette lighter and began to see who all offered them and what people were saying.

I read the reviews and then ran into this little gizmo that not only played MP3's but also connected to a cell phone via bluetooth. I looked at this and several other products for about two weeks before I purchased. Therefore, I was well aware of the pluses and minuses of this device.

The Good:

It plays MP3's well. I live in a rural area and the reception of the signal on my radio is great ... even if it is walking on a weak radio station signal. The only time I have noticed any additional static is when I am driving by one of those huge radio station antennas. Other than that, the sound is very good for being in a car. But, let's be honest: How good does the sound reproduction have to be in a car? There is road and wind noise most of the time while you are driving! In my case, I don't notice any difference between the MP3 reception and playing a CD.

The bluetooth implimentation has been flawless. The sound is great and the only time I have had difficulties having the person on the other end hear me well is when the my cell phone is flaking out.

The Bad:

It has been well documented in the other reviews that this product can only access 20 directories. However, it can see up to 1999 files. OK ... who really wants to put 100 MP3's in a directory? It would be great if there were more directories available, but I knew this going in. So ... if I want to organize my music by album (as is typical), I can only put 20 albums on an SD card. What CD changer does that? And, if I want to, I can always find space somewhere for a couple more SD cards in my car ... even if it is a 2 seater.

Also ... the battery on the remote was bad when I got it even though there was a plastic protector that had to be pulled out before use. I don't know how it could have been used up at that point, but I got another battery and it works great.

Everything else:

I have yet to try to use an MP3 player of any kind because that wasn't my goal. However, I do intend to try an IPod at some point in the future.

I put a little bit of velcro on the bottom of the remote and mounted it on my center console. It "almost" looks factory and works great there. I never have to search for it. The controls on the remote are much easier to use than to try to use the controls on the SoundFly BT itself.

I used the included sun visor mount for the microphone for the bluetooth, ran the cable behind the panels etc into the center console so the cord for the microphone is not visible except just before it goes into the SoundFly. Again, the sound is great and no one even knows it is there unless I point it out.

I played around with how I had my music organized and have come to a fairly good point with what I have on the card. Overall, I am very happy with the SoundFly BT. If lost it ... I'd buy another.

Power Bright ML1500-24 1500 Watt 24 Volt DC To 110 Volt AC Power Inverter

I've gone through three of these (via returns and warranty repair) and none of them has lasted for long. The first one operated perfectly for a few months, then suddenly it began to emit white smoke, the smell of burning plastic, and failed completely. There was no change to the load on the device, it simply failed. The replacement operated properly for a few days, then it began buzzing loudly. I suspect that the power it was putting out was not correct because some devices operated on the power it produced and others wouldn't. If it was put under any heavy load (200 watts) it would beep and show a red indicator light. The replacement for that unit showed an incorrect voltage on the display from the moment it was attached -showed 30.2 volts when the batteries were actually at 25.6 volts. It worked anyway for a few days then it's indicator light turned red, it beeped, and failed to operate.

Sadly a large number of these devices are defective in manufacturing or there's some fundamental design issue. Avoid these defective inverters. They are nothing but trouble.

shipping was great but that was all. I ordered to be back up inverter for a 13 foot refrigerator when I finally need it I hooked it up and worked nicely for seven days and then it went dead. The inverter light goes on to green but no power is delivered. I tried different things with this inverter and it will not work at all. Justj seven days of service is just awfull dont waste your money .

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LOVE THIS INVERTER..looks well made and heavy duty.. plan to use withe roll up solar panel 136 watt times 2 of them.272 tolal watts.4.5 amp each.each panel is 18 feet long..thin film made in U. S. A...THANK YOU FOR FAST SHIPPING..AND GREAT PRICE..

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This inverter is really a wise choice for those who need backup power. With 300 watts of solar power and 300 amp hour battery bank, this inverter works great. It runs quite and the digital display is really handy for monitoring the battery voltage. I would recommend it.

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The unit does work and seems built pretty well but when I turn the unit on it makes a constant buzzing noise. My main gripe with this unit is,you cannot properly use a LCD tv with it. When you plug in your tv to the unit, your tv will instantly start making a unhealthy buzzing noise. It makes the noise even when you have not turned on the television. The tv will turn on but you can tell it is not happy. I will be returning the unit and buying a lower wattage more expensive Pure Sine Wave Inverter. I took the chance that this would work for all of my electronics like the add says, but no dice. It does power my router, modem, cable boxes, lamp, Directv SWIM box, and laptop computer. Will find out if PURE SINE WAVE is worth 300% more than MODIFIED WAVE INVERTER.

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Cobra 29 LX 40-Channel CB Radio with Instant Access 10 NOAA Weather Stations and Selectable 4 Color

• Multi-Color display offers information on all radio functions, can be set to one of four colors, and can be dimmed for night driving
• Instant access and automatic scanning of 10 NOAA Weather Channels, emergency alerts for severe weather conditions in your area
• Automatically scan all 40 channels, searching for transmissions and stopping when activity is found; or scan 10 specific stored channels
• Radio Check Diagnostic Provides information on critical CB aspects such as battery voltage, RF power, and antenna condition
• PA Capability--use CB radio as a Public Address System with PA speaker; receive signals can also be monitored through PA
• Enormous Multi-Color display offers information on all radio functions, can be set to one of four colors, and can be dimmed for night driving
• Instant access and automatic scanning of 10 NOAA Weather Channels, alerts you to severe weather conditions in your area
• Channel Scanning - automatically scans all 40 channels searching for transmissions and stopping when activity is found.
• Radio Check Diagnostic Provides information on critical CB aspects such as battery voltage, RF power and antenna condition.
• PA Capability- Use CB radio as a Public Address System with PA speaker. Receive signals can also be monitored through PA

This Radio worked better than advertised!!! Our main purpose for buying this was to be alerted for severe weather during our crosscountry road trip durning the month of May. The biggest selling point was the fact the radio would turn on if a weather alert was transmitted in your area. The second day on the road we came out to the car after dinner to find the radio on and transmitting a weather alert. It saved us from heading directly into the upcoming storm. This was also very helpful to find out about traffic problems and we used it twice to alert fellow drivers of dangers in the road. I can not recommend this highly enough!!! I will always travel with this radio!!!

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this cb is awesome. lets you be creative and lets you have your own settings. easy to calibrate. love the weather scanner. cobra has done an excellent job even the mic is great and clear.

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The scan feature is great, the display looks more "modern" and the controls are fairly easy to use. The only thing this CB is missing is side band capability. However the black face/chrome looks great in any interior and works well. The NOAA weather channels work fine with a simple push of a button. Have not tried the PA function yet. The built in speaker is plenty loud for me, I rarely have the volume up past 50%.

There are a couple issues, one the power/volume knob is tiny, makes it hard to switch on depending on where you mount this. The other issue is the unit is pretty long, finding a mounting location that can fit this entire unit is hard if you're trying to integrate it into a vehicle dash.

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I have mine in my Chevrolet Silverado, which I use for personal and business it works good and I love the weather bands when traveling out to Louisiana ,when I first installed it I used a 4 foot Fire stick antenna and could not get the swr,s to match so I put a 4 foot Francis on it swr,s matched perfect after that I also run Francis on my company semi also with a Cobra 25 all souped up, overall I like the radio and would recommend it to anybody trucking or personal.

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Seems like it will be a nice CB if I can get one that works properly. The first one I got had a problem with the mic. As soon as I plugged it in it automatically keyed itself. I'm glad I had the Antenna plugged in or it probably would have cooked the transmitter right then. Second I think it had a short because as I was trying to move it on my dash it came on even though the volume/power knob was completely off. At first I thought I might have bumped it but I was able to repeat the same thing by holding it at a slight angle. I was also getting SWR readings all over the place. I would check it one minute and would read .75 without any adjustment to the antenna or anything else I would key the mic and get readings as high as 4. Thanks to amazons return policy I should have another one tomorrow and hopefully I will be able to give a better review.

*Update* *Update* *Update*

Got my second unit in and it works like a champ. Cobra really needs to work on their quality control because their bad units and subsequent bad reviews will likely start impacting sales very soon if not already. The second radio functions flawlessly and sounds crystal clear transmitting and receiving.

I gave it 4 stars for the first unit being bad. I would have left off 2 stars but amazons return policy made the return and receiving of the second one nearly painless.

XScorpion Multi Output 24K Gold Finish Battery Terminal With Protective Snap on Cover

• Features one 0 or 2 gauge output, one 2 or 4 gauge output and two 8 gauge outputs
• 100 percent solid brass construction
• Includes adaptor to fit both positive and negative terminals
• Very heavy duty and can be used for audio, marine and any underhood wiring and uses Allen type screw terminal to hold wire securely
• Finished in 24K gold plating for maximum power transfer and snap on protective cover

This is a wonderful quality product with excellent cable and battery terminal post gripping abilities. the cover is somewhat flimsy, and the screws on the top of the unit look like their quick to get striped but no fear they grip well with minimal torque. I would buy this item again!

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The XScorpion Multi Output 24K Gold Finish Battery Terminal is a work of art and is a game changer when it comes to wiring up your boat. I love these lugs and purchased two sets for my batteries and another set for a third backup battery.

Great product guys and is a must have for your electrical boating needs...

Cobra MicroTalk CXT225 20-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio

• 20 Mile Range, 22 Channels & 121 Privacy Codes
• 10 Channel NOAA radio & Hands-free operation (VOX)
• 8 Rechargeable AAA batteries, and a 2 port desk charger included
• Maximum range extender and belt clip included for maximum efficiency and carrying ease
• Lead-Free Packaging

We purchased these to use on a cruise we were taking. When they first arrived there were several things I was grateful for. They fit very nicely in your hand and are easy for kids and adults to use. The charging plug uses one outlet but charges both devices at the same time (which is huge on a cruise ship with limited outlets).

Trying them out around town and they worked great. I sure wasn't going 20 miles but had no trouble going a couple of miles in the suburbs. On the cruise ship I was surprised at just how well they worked. We were unable to go from the top deck to the very bottom deck but could get pretty close. It made the whole trip much easier with less planning.

They provide lots of functions with a wide variety of channels and we never had an issue. The lock feature was nice so the kids didn't accidentally change channels but you do need to remember to unlock it before you are able to turn it off.

Overall, a great value for the cost, if your looking for long distances you will need to spend more.

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First off, anyone who knows radios knows no radio of this size and output can achieve the range they claim in the city, mountains, or forested areas. If you are on a lake, you can expect very good range. Anywhere else, forget it. So, I didn't expect anything else from these.

These are my third pair of Cobras. I bought my first pair 8 years ago and they are still working well. I keep them for emergency communication for our neighborhood's disaster preparedness committee. In our last mock exercise we used them to coordinate neighbor safety checks up to a range of two miles. They worked quite well.

Cobra is a well made radio. My only dislikes in the 225's are:

#1the volume control button. I prefer the kind with a volume knob on the top to turn the volume up and down with a twist of a knob, like my first and third pair have, and these radios are a little small for my big hands. Other than that, they are as good as any other I have had.

#2Cobra has downsized the batteries from AA to AAA making battery change-outs more frequent than before.

#3The rechargeable batteries are useless, in my opinion, especially in the field where recharging is not an option. First, they take way too long to charge in-radio, and they die quickly. I use alkaline batteries exclusively. I buy a brick of batteries at Costco. Much better in my opinion. If you insist on rechargeables, then buy another set and a charger for them to keep on charge while you wear down the current set in less than 8 hrs (standby time).

#4Unlike some (much) more expensive hand held radios, you cannot use your Cobras while they are on the charger. That's too bad because these radios make excellent VOX operated "baby" monitors. Our ten year old granddaughter recently had back surgery requiring her to stay in bed upstairs for several days. The batteries always died overnight, so she had to wake up and send her little sister downstairs to get her mother or dad. Plugging them in renders them useless, so again we resorted to high quality alkalines.

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I have been using this product for a while, and it is working fine, except for the range is no where near the 20 miles. I would say it works within 1 mile, and that's about it. Otherwise, it is a good product with no other problems.

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I received these only yesterday, and tried them out right away. I'm impressed by their look and feel. They're very compact, the buttons are all rubber, and the screen is clear and easy to read, especially when its' display light is on. This radio is very easy to figure out. The mode/power and channel buttons are used to change almost all of the settings. When broadcasting, a volume setting of about 6 (out of 8 max) is loud enough to hear my broadcasts from other radios very well. The wx band has MUCH higher volume than communication bands. Do yourself a favor, and before switching to the weather band, TURN THE VOLUME DOWN. I almost broke my eardrums by leaving the volume on 8 while switching to wx.

After 10 seconds of no communication, these go into battery saver mode. The manual says they go 8 hrs on a full charge. I read 10 hours on a review posted by an owner. The only thing I don't like about these radios, is the fact that there is no battery life indicator. The only thing it has is a low battery level indicator. So until the included rechargeable AAA batteries hit that low power, you have no idea where they're at. The batteries take 15hrs to fully recharge.

I tested the range of these only slightly. I communicated to someone in my house while i walked approximately .4 of a mile on a winding road down a very steep hill , with tall trees, terrain, and apartment buildings as obstacles. In other words, in no way was it line of sight. My voice was clear for the person all the way on both frs and gmrs channels.

Finally, the length, including the antenna, is about 5.75 inches. The body alone is about 3.90 inches, and the width at its' widest point is 2.50 inches. I would definitely recommend these radios, as they are inexpensive, and surpass my expectations. I plan on using these for shopping trips with family, and while caravanning.

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Edit after 1 week of use: I've upped my rating from 2 stars to 3. Read on for details...

As others have mentioned, these radios, like all other FRS radios, won't communicate further than 2-3 miles in hilly terrain when used in FRS mode (note that these radios do have a more powerful "GMRS" mode that will probably allow communication over greater distances, but which requires an FCC license to use!)

The rechargeable batteries (300 mAh each) included with these radios are pitifully weak they do not last a full day when the radio is used continuously. I have ordered a set of Eneloop Batteries (800 mAh each almost 3 TIMES the capacity of the originals!) to replace them, but suspect the radio's charger probably won't work with the eneloops, due to a sensor contact in the battery compartment to sense only the ORIGINAL batteries. I will update this review once I find out for sure.

Setting these radios up to work with other FRS radios is not as complex as I had originally thought, PROVIDED YOU READ THE MANUAL IN DETAIL! The trick is understanding that there are TWO DIFFERENT TYPES of privacy codes (CTCSS codes and DCS codes)! Setting up channel 11 to use digital code 27 is not enough; you have to be sure the 27 you've selected is the same privacy code TYPE used on your other radios!

The squelch on these units should be adjustable. Granted there's a way to manually disable the squelch, but it's clunky and a squelch adjustment would be much better.

I don't like the fact that the charger plugs into the headphone jack! So you cannot use/listen to these radios while they are charging!

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I have two pretty significant gripes with these radios for use on the FRS band that you'll definitely want to consider before you make your purchase. Note that I did NOT use the radios on the more powerful GMRS band.

I bought these radios to use while skiing with my parents and brothers families. We like to be able to ski separate trails, then hook up back at the bottom, and FRS radios are GREAT for this. Both brothers and my Dad already had various other FRS radios, so I bought these assuming they'd be easy to set up to the same channel and code as everyone else's. Bad assumption. The instructions are not super-clear, and there's a single "Mode" button that forces you to cycle through every setting just to make a change to the setting you're interested in. Add to that the fact that the instructions are very brief, and there's nothing explaining how to match these radios to other FRS radios and you can plan for this to take at least an hour and probably more time than that (if you're ever able to get them to talk to the other brand radios)!

After much frustration I finally managed to get them working with everyone else's. I then plugged the radios in and charged them overnight (about 12 hours). In the morning when I left to ski, my radio indicated a full charge. By 3 PM the radio was nearly dead. But not quite dead... I could still receive, but could not transmit; instead of transmitting, the radio double-beeped at me whenever I pressed the transmit key. As a result, I was unable to hook back up with my ride at the end of the day, and had to resort to paying $11 at the base lodge ski shop for 4 AAA Duracels with which I was able to connect back up and get a ride home.

One other annoyance is that when the radios are in "Locked" mode (which prevent accidentally changing the settings) you can't tune to the weather band you have to "unlock" the radio to listen to the weather.

I'm charging these radios again tonight, this time with them turned off (I think they were on while charging last night)... so we'll see if they last any longer... but until I find out for sure, I'm carrying my $11 spare Duracell AAA batteries with me...

Custom Accessories 11160 Digital Clock and Calendar

This is the perfect size for my dashboard. It's short and doesn't stick up very far. It seems well-made. The numbers can be see from any angle and are the perfect size. The buttons are all on the front and easy to use. Don't know yet how it will do in the heat of the summer, but I have a carport. I really got it for the day/date/calendar, but find that having the time keeps me from having to hit the time/station button on my radio to switch between time and radio station display. I did not want to stick anything to my dashboard so I got one of those dashboard sticky pads (that magically stick to your dash and you can put cell phones on them, etc.) and then I used velcro to stick the clock to the sticky pad and it works great. The only thing I wish it had was an on/off switch for the backlighting. The light only works when you push the button and the light doesn't stay on but a couple of seconds after you release the button. So for a couple of bucks I bought a swimmer's nose clip so at night I put the clip on the button and it stays lit up until I take the clip off. I make sure to remove the clip when I get out of the car to save battery. I would highly recommend this product.

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Pioneer CD-INCAR2 Car Kit for Pioneer GEX-INNO2BK Inno 2 Portable XM Radio

The main reason for this kit (instead of the INNO1 version) is because the FCC forced Pioneer to reduce the FM transmitter strength. This means that to get the signal to your car's antenna you have to use an extra cable that runs from the in-dash mount, OUTSIDE YOUR CAR, and is clipped directly to your car's built-in antenna.

There are problems with this approach:

1. The first time you go through an automatic car wash the clip-on cable will be stripped right off.

2. The clip-on portion only works with extremely thin "whip" style antennas. My wife's car has a short, thick "aero" style antenna (in the center of the very rear of the roof) that is totally incompatible with this kit. They don't tell you that before you buy it.

3. Who wants a cable strung through your car for passengers to trip over? Who is going to rip out dashboards and upholstery in a new car to run this underneath? Maybe a professional installer, but this kit was aimed at the home user, supposedly.

In my case I finally tried running the "sure connect" cable under the floor mats, into the back cargo area, and then ran it in a large loop around the inner edge of the rubber seal around the hatch back, leaving the clip-on tip dangling where it wasn't obvious. The only reason this kit gets two stars instead of one is that worked: the signal is strong enough to reach the external antenna without any wires going outside the car.

If you're going to use your INNO2 in a car, be warned, and you probably should save the $70 and give it to a professional installer who'll jack it into the back of your existing radio's FM input--except I bet you have to buy the kit anyway, to get the FM transmitter enabled through the cradle, don't you?

You need to buy this item to active the "FM Modulator" that is built into the Inno Radio. But that is a joke because the only way that you are going to get sound thru your radio is if you plug the sure connect into the antenna which make the Idea of the availability to keep it simple and cheap a waste of time and money. Most cars don't have an antenna that you can get to let alone getting to the radio itself to make this work. $60.00 for this extra gadget and another $100 to have a professional install it correctly. Bottom line THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A WIRELESS FM MODULATOR, WIRED YES, WIRELESS NO!

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The main point of my review is to point out that this product works for me with the Samsung YX-M1Z Helix XM2go Portable Satellite Radio with MP3 Player.

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Having just gotten a vehicle with XM radio it's hard to understand that this many wires are required to adapt an Inno for car use. My wife doesn't want this many wires in her car. In an age where we have Bluetooth it's pathetic to have a primitive kit like this, it's not cheap for what it is. I won't be fitting it and it's a pity I discarded the packing or else it would have gone back to the store.

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I was already miffed at having to purchase this product because all of the Pioneer Inno's literature touted its having a "built-in FM modulator." But, according to XM Radio tech support, the FCC prohibits the use of the FM modulator without the car kit, so it is only activated when attached to the car cradle. When I received the product, I tried it in three different vehicles, a dozen different FM stations each, and never got even the faintest XM signal to broadcast (note that I had 3-4 bars of reception during this trial). This is an awfully expensive product to perform so poorly. To make matters worse, I returned the item for a refund over THREE WEEKS ago, and have not heard a thing (even though I used Amazon's own pre-printed return shipping label and package insert label, Amazon customer support claims it cannot give me a status of this return; the only way I will know its final outcome will be when the refund posts to my credit card). Needless to say I am extremely dissatisfied both with the product and with Amazon's return processing.

Sunforce 7 Amp Charge Controller

Bad:

Really cheap quality. Included instructions don't provide enough information. Website is just as un-informative. Cheap connector wires (low current), and is not equipped with screw-on terminal junctions.

Good: Product works as advertised. Amazinlgly "regulates" the voltage to the required amount so as not to overcharge the battery. Beware though, in order to test the actual output voltage, you must apply a load on the battery end of the controller BEFORE. Failing this, the output can register volts as high as 20 volts !!! Apparently applying an actual load causes the controller to output the correct voltage range lucky me, cause I bought 4 units ! The LEDS alternately flickers (fast for good voltage input and slow for low to no voltage on solar panel). The manual did NOT state the order of LED flashes.

(1) Fast LED flashes good voltage/current

(2) Slow LED flashes low/no voltage/current

(3) steady Green fully charged

(4) steady amber possible no load OR really low voltage/current

I recommend you go out and buy 'em. The are a really good deal and does the job at the best price ! I use them in Jamaica, to provide my appliances with power during power outages (very frequent here). Used with solar panels and DC to AC inverter, of course. Considered using a generator, but too many accidents here with generators, too noisy, too bulky, and during hurricane aftermath, fuel is a problem. Solar is freely available, so it was the BEST option all round.

Hope this helps all readers !

This unit is simply an electronic switch, it is either on or off. The problem with that is that when it is on the full force of a high current is applied to the battery and if the battery is almost charged the battery voltage quickly rises to the cut-off voltage (14.2v). When current is cut off the battery voltage quickly falls to the turn on voltage (13.1v), and the unit turns the current on again. This can happen several times a minute when the current is high and the battery is almost charged. Also, in operating this way, the battery never gets fully charged, which requires a small constant current.

I strongly recommend that anyone considering this unit spend another $10 and buy the vastly superior HQRP 10Amp controller or something similar which controls the amount of current, rather than just switching current on or off.

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Two wires to the battery and two wires to the solar panel. It doesn't get much simplier than that. Worked flawlessly out of the box. Yellow LED indicates charging while green LED indicates the battery is charged.

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I have this unit connect to two automotive 12V batteries with three 15W panels connect to it. So far the charger works as advertised by preventing battery drain when the sun goes down and charging while the panels are producing at least 13 volts. It is pretty much an install and forget item. Additionally I have those same two batteries tied into one of my trucks 12V power points so that the batteries charge when the vehicle is running by way of the alternator. Even with this double charging set up, the charge controller appears unphased and shows a charge light in the daytime and has on two occasions indicated a fully charged green light.

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As a few others have posted, in here, the quality control on this Chinese unit is poor. The wiring on my unit was reversed. Once I set things right, the unit worked correctly for about four months before complete failure. My battery died in the bargain, due to the unit failure that allowed my battery to drain completely with no load on it except this unit and the solar panel. I'll try one more and then update this review. Update: I just ordered: KINTREX SPC0601 Solar Charge Controller 7Amp, 100 Watt,... At just $10, on this site, it's a far better deal and has an extra indicator light for low charge condition. The connectors should mate up perfectly if the pictures are accurate. As far as the reversed wiring goes, in all electrical applications with connectors, an exposed contact is normally the ground, coming from a power source. The hot side is recessed and/or shielded to keep you from grabbing it and then a grounded object or contact, which would result in a shock. This scheme is reversed, obviously, in the non-powered side of the circuit, ie., the thing you're sending the power to that mates with the connection just described. When I called Sunforce's rep, in Canada, and spoke with him, he denied knowledge of any other incidents of reversed wiring. That's really curious, as others have posted about the reversals, as I mentioned, above. UPDATE: 4/2011The Kintrex unit works flawlessly. You are well-advised to go with it and leave the reviewed unit, as above, alone. It costs much more and is inferior.

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Lisle Battery Carrier

I deliver car parts daily and have to carry 10+ batteries a day, new and cores. This is perfect for lifting those annoying batteries that don't have handles. I haven't had a battery slip out of it. I do keep my feet out from under it just in case.

this is the second one that my sjop has had in the last 8 years. What makes this one the one to go with is the fact that it stretches open a lot farther than all others so you can pull some batteries out by grabbing it on each sides instead of grabbing it from the front and back of the battery.some cars i noticed that that makes a it lot easier. although the remaing batteries u just grab the normal way from the front with no problem.

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Have to admit that I was looking for the strap-type which slips over the terminals when this popped up. Glad it did because it works even better, especially on the newer batteries with newer-style terminals.

If you need to replace a car battery yourself this is just what you need.

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Plug-2-Go:Car-To-Car Charging System

The provided connector is too small for standard American auto cigarette lighter plugs. Therefore it does not make a sufficient reliable pressure contact to enable the intended use. It did not come in manufacturer wrapping but was instead wrapped in bubble wrap with tape and a twisty.

I bought one of these for every car we own because they are small and can be stored easily. I came back from a trip and went to my car in the airport parking lot only to find I had a dead battery. I flagged down another motorist for help and in 2 minutes I was up and running. easy to use, never need to raise the hood of the car where the dirt lies.

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received it, used it, works well, safe to use and very convenient

suggest you get one for each car you have

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This product did not work for me. It wouldn't stay in the charger in the car, kept coming out. This did not charge the car at all. I didn't feel like going out to send it back with the trouble of packing it back up and wasting my gas going to the post office.

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I tried this product on several occasions. It failed each time to start the car. A piece of junk. Having paid very little, I still did not get any value for my money.

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Schumacher XC12 SpeedCharge 12 Amp Battery Charger

So I bought this because 1) it could do 6V and 12V and 2) it had a digital display for voltage and percent charge. It chooses automatically between 6 and 12V fine. The display however, seems quite off. The voltage is ~0.2V off vs a multimeter, but to be fair the resolution is only 0.1V so its hard to say exactly how off it is. The percent charge, which I was most interested in, appears way off. I had a 6V motorcycle battery that sat all winter, read ~3.5V before charging. I hooked it up, on the slow trickle charge setting recommended for small batteries, and it read 90% state of charge to begin. The SOC rose quickly to the high 90's, where it sat for quite awhile until fully charged. I understand there are a lot of battery types and sizes out there, so this may be hard to calculate, but I thought everyone should have a proper expectation about it. I like to monitor this type of information, which is why I elected for this model with SOC display (I didn't really need the 12A). Now I wish I would've just went with a more basic model.

Other Good:

It does kick out automatically to a maintenance mode once fully charged, and automatically start charging after a power loss.

Other Bad:

The fan is loud, and there is no on/off switch (you must unplug it). Also, while charging, the display switches between the SOC and the voltage setting(6 or 12). It would be more helpful to see an actual real-time voltage instead of what setting it is on. To check voltage status with the unit, you must abort charging and put into testing mode, then go back to charging.

fairly fragile construction. but worst thing was that it failed to charge at the 2 amp setting after only a few days.

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This charger is fully automatic and will charge and maintain all types of 12 volt batteries. It also has a small footprint to fit into tight spaces. The only con is that it is rather noisy at times.

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Very reliable machine . It shows how much charging of the battery. fully automatic. worry free. I recomond it .

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Scytek - T5 - 5-Button Replacement Transmitter Remote, 433MHz - Compatible With Astra, Galaxy, Bare

Works great on Galaxy 5000RS remote start and alarm system. Just have to make sure your old remote says 433MHz. on the back and not 303MHz., since there are two frequency version that were made (usually 303 is red or green LED; 433 is usually green or blue). Also, yours might look different (have an antenna sticking out), but it makes no difference. Also, the remote I got from Car Alarm Depot was the new style Astra remote, bigger buttons and better feel so more durable probably.

I bought this to replace a remote for my Command Start 2000RS that went bad. (Fortunately, the original product came with two remotes so I still have one that works.)

I followed the instructions for programming my alarm system to recognize my remotes, but the system does not recognize this new remote. (It does recognize the old remote, so I know that I'm correctly following the procedure.)

I'll be contacting the seller (audiovideo4me) to see if they can help, but I waited a couple of months before trying the programming procedure so I may be out of luck. I'll update this review depending on what the seller does...

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Keyless Entry Remote Fob Clicker for 2002 Honda Civic With Do-It-Yourself Programming (ALPS version

Awesome! Easy to program, works great, even my "beep" that indicates the car is locked is louder. So nice to have a keyless remote again. Really cheap too!!!

After four months still works as advertised. Straight forward explanation of how to program.

Very good. Would order again.

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APC Air/Auto TravelPower TeleAdapt DC to AC Power Inverter (75W DC/AC, 120V)

This is a auto/air power adapter that inverts DC power into a standard AC power receptacle.

I picked up this adapter after being unable to find a tip to use on my Compaq900 notebook for use with a universal adapter. This product is truly universal. But it doesn't seem to have enough power at 75watts and the special power save feature is annoying. It also means more stuff out of your laptop bag as you still need you regular power supply to plug into the adapter. But if it worked the whole flight it would be great. The problem is that it doesn't.

It works fine in a car. But I purchased it for the air. On a flight out to SFO (A321) to CLT, I plug in the unit. Then I plug my notebook power supply into that. All is great, the notebook shows AC power and I'm off battery watching a DVD. About 1.5 hours into the flight the unit shows a red light and now refuses to charge. I tried another outlet but no luck. Now my wife is in a seat ahead of me using a regular auto/air adapter with her Thinkpad and it is working fine. But mine will not deliver power. You see the unit has this "smart" feature that makes it refuse to draw power if the source supply drops below 11.5WDC. So it cuts off. It blinks and charges for like 10 mins about 2 hours latter. Luckily, between the first hour on power and the battery I am up and working the whole trip but I was very disappointed by how it would stop.

On the return flight, again on a USAir A321 it does the same thing. About 1.5 hours into the flight it stops working. And again my wife's cheaper unit is working fine. (BTW, I was 1st going out and Coach on the return and I noticed on the return that the entire plane had power ports, not just 1st. So don't let people tell you that the power ports are only in first.)

Now, I don't know whether or not to blame the plane, the unit, or my notebook for drawing too much power. But it is obvious that something isn't working right here.

Purchased item to power my laptop over 22 hours of air travel between Alaska and North Carolina and back. Unfortunately, none of the three different types of planes that I flew on had outlets on the seat arms so the unit stayed in my backpack. While camping over a weekend on that trip I did find the adapter handy for use with an air mattress that needed to be plugged in in order to inflate. I was however disappointed that it would not power a 4 cup coffee maker that I brought with me.

I have tested the adapter with my laptop and find that it works as designed. In airplanes that actually have power points in the arms of the seats, this product would be indispensable for laptop users on long trips.

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I bought this many years ago. I have switched to a Hybrid car which came with a 110V outlet. However, I remember with my previous car, this adapter is very useful to connect my laptop, GPS and so on.

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Included with the inverter is an airline adapter, which plugs directly into an airplane's (American Airline) seat power receptacle, and an automobile adapter, which plugs directly into your car's cigarette-lighter receptacle. I can go to any where with my notebook, this is a super best item, A++++++++

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Included with the inverter is an airline adapter, which plugs directly into an airplane's seat power receptacle, and an automobile adapter, which plugs directly into your car's cigarette-lighter receptacle.

Includes 3-prong AC outlet, airline adapter, automobile adapter, and status indicator LEDs Air/auto DC-to-AC power inverter/adapter 75 watts continuous output power capacity

Automatic shutdown prevents car-battery drainage; Built-in circuit protection guards your equipment against power spikes and surges.

It is a bit large for travel, however, who could ask for anything more at such a great price?

Husky Liners Custom Fit WeatherBeater Front and Second Seat Floor Liner for Select Ford Explorer Mo

Fit perfectly in 2013 Explorer XLT. My Brother has the WeatherTech liners in his Trailblazer and likes the fact that the husky liner covers the whole left "foot plate" on the drivers side. Says water gets behind there on his WeatherTechs.

Bought for my 2012 explorer limited. Very nice. I had WeatherTech liners in my previous truck and I don't see why one should pay more unless you need something (WeatherTech) more rugged and tolerable. If you're really hard on the liners then it may pay to get Weathertechs, but if your just everyday in and out of a family vehicle, these will do. I really like the 2nd row liner. It's one piece and goes over the "hump" between the 2 floorboards. That place always attracts more dirt and liquid than you think it will. Overall, I'm very satisfied with making the "cheaper" decision for my level of usage.

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These fit my 2013 Explorer XLT perfectly! I especially like that the 2nd row covers the hump in the middle. Driver and front passenger fits to a "T." About $45 cheaper than the weathertech.

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The floor liners were installed into a 2011 Ford Explorer Limited. The liners look good and cover up to the door sill. Item was delivered on time.

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The custom fit Husky Liners fit my 2013 Ford Explorer just fine. The only improvement I might suggest would be for the outer edge to extend to the door .

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2.5mm Hands-Free EarBud Headset + Car Kit Vehicle Plug in Charger for Verizon Samsung Intensity 2 U

This was a great buy because it came with a car charger!! The only thing I thought it had but it doesn't is a button right on the headset to answer and end your calls. It is still an awesome deal! It keeps me from getting tickets for answering my phone while driving and that's why I bought it!!!

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