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

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Motorola Vehicle Navigation Dock with Rapid Vehicle Charger for DROID BIONIC - Car Kit - Retail Pac

Motorola Vehicle Navigation Dock with Rapid Vehicle Charger for DROID BIONIC - Car Kit - Retail Packaging - BlackI'm in love with my bionic, maybe because I've had a BB Tour for the past nearly 3 years. But I like this dock, turns your phone into a gps basically... if you can't figure out how to use it, simply hit the voice recognition button (make sure its set to google voice search and not that verizon piece of crap voice search) and say "Navigate to New York, NY" and if you speak relatively clearly it will pop up a confirmation box, making sure thats what you want to do... Hit "go" and it will go into navigate mode, where it will act like a GPS... but its better because you can access street view (press the green area at the top where tthe directions are and click the little yellow guy that appears on the bottom right) and live traffic info. You can choose alternate routes and set preferences to avoid tolls / highways.

When I get in my car I tell my car where to take me and pop on pandora. I have it hooked up to my car stereo through an auxilary connection. When GPS instructions need to be given, it pauses pandora. Also, it acts as a speakerphone, which I love. Again, pauses your music with an incoming call. ROutes the callers voice into your speakers and still allows you to use the phones mic to speak. Everybody says they can hear me well! Maybe this doesnt amaze you, but my BB tour used to disable my mic when i hooked up any kind of 3.5mm audio to it, so I was super stoked when this phone worked the way I hoped! Although if you have Bluetooth in your car already, none of this matters.... lol

I had the original "OG" Droid by Motorola, and got very used to having the car dock up by the rear view mirror. Loved the automatic car-mode feature, which was ground-breaking for its time. There were one or two things that I thought could be better... which brings us to this one.

They fixed them all. This thing is GREAT!!

Pros:

A. Nice deep suction cup with a positive lock that holds *really* well!

B. Post-to-mount is a ball joint with a threaded collar to lock it totally adjustable.

C. Camera is unobstructed!! Create a "Camcorder" shortcut on the second screen and you've got driving videos/photos!

D. The BIONIC fits in this without taking it out of the case! (the standard Moto belt case w/kickstand) But, if you're a no-case/pocket kinda guy/gal there's an adapter included FTW.

Cons:

A. Zip

B. Zilch

C. Nada

Buy it. It's perfect. Everyone complaining about it is really complaining about the phone's dock software. There's not one thing wrong with this device.

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This item works as described and the navigation works far better than my Garmin Nuvi! The voice command and bluetooth also work well. The only problem I have had is with the music player for some reason I cannot access my full library from the custom home screen music option although I haven't ruled out user error as of yet. I haven't had a problem with the window mount coming detached and the collar to keep the swivel in place works fine on mine as well. Bionic also fits snug while bionic is in the case. If I find that the music library is just a setting in the phone I will add another star but overall I am happy with it and feel it was worth the forty bucks or so I paid for it. Oh btw it also reads text messages aloud if you receive text while driving or gives you an option to call the sender via voice command so you can keep your eyes on the road. I like to see a generic dock do either of those!.

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This is the version that comes with the charger and the USB cable. That is very important to pay attention to, because there is also a version that is just the dock (the Verizon one). Anyway, that USB cable is the only connection needed to the dock, cleaning up the look. No need to also plug in an audio cable, as the USB cable carries the audio and you plug the audio cable into that. The docking software has a few well-documented quirks (inability to rotate out of landscape view, phones volume control doesn't work through USB, etc.), but this is not pertinent to a review of the dock itself. The dock itself is very sturdy, the phone slips in and out smoothly, it DOES accomodate the extra capacity battery (I have this), and there is a sleeve that you can remove to accomodate a protective case (I don't have this). Very pleased with the dock so far!

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This is an OEM Motorola made for Bionic car mount/cradle . It includes a unique charger set up as well which is not very well described or barely mentioned , ANYWHERE ! So let me start there . The car charger is a dual USB style port which plugs typically into your car's cigarette lighter/12V power outlet just like any other ordinary auto charger . Only this one includes a special cable which is actually 2 cables in 1 ! The 1st is the USB to micro USB used for power / charging of the phone but it actually says to NOT use with other chargers or household outlet style chargers don't ask me why , thats just what it says . It plugs large side into the plug going into your cars power outlet and the other (micro) into the cradle assembly . The 2nd cable is a mini phono style cable which connects to the plug in your cars power outlet and leads out approximatley 12-15 inches and then leads to your vehicles auxillary input jack assuming you have one , if you do great , this is simple neat and easy for you but if you don't , no worries , the cable section is removable and the external phone speaker works fantastically ! Or if your vehicles radio is BT compatible then you could use that method ;) All this bundles up nice and neat with an included velcro wrap up which is a nice lil' bonus too . As for the cradle , it's far nicer than the Motorola cradle for the orignal Droid which i also had and liked , this one will accept the phone out of the box stock or with the extended factory battery or with a variety of silicone sleeve/covers and even the extended battery with factory VERIZON shell/holster what i currently use and it works with them all securely and firmly and allows for full access to all features of your phone as well as buttons and controls and when docked in this cradle unlocks and opens a new auto/navi feature i've never seen or heard of anywhere else and i won't even go into just how awesome and sweet this added perk is . The cradle can be mounted to your windshield via the included suction cup mount which is what i use and prefer or inverted with the included plate which can be adhered anywhere in your vehicle . There are a variety of booklets , instructions and pamphlets also included with this kit one of which was a 15% off on your next VZW in store purchase which worked out nicely for me since i wanted that extended battery and of course an apprpriate cover/sleeve for said extended battery pack equipped phone . Bottom line , if your going to use your phone in your vehicle and you have a BIONIC , GET THIS KIT !!! YOU WON'T BE SORRY !

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Saturday, September 13, 2014

Schumacher SC-200A Speedcharge Charger/Maintainer

Schumacher SC-200A Speedcharge Charger/MaintainerI purchased this unit two months ago, and I have used it twice since then. The first time, I used it to charge my Lincoln, which had a defective battery. I didn't think the problem was with the one and a half year-old battery, but it was. It took all night to charge it, and the battery seemed OK for a few days, but went dead again. I then replaced it.

The second time, I used it to charge my van. I inadvertently left the key in the accessory mode, and, when I discovered it, the battery was as dead, and I mean DEAD. It was as if there were no battery hooked-up at all. To my surprise, the unit charged my van in only a few hours. I expected it to take longer.

I, especially, like the added features: Auto Start (doesn't supply current to the battery clips until a battery is properly connected); offers three connector options; no problem if you mistakenly reverse battery connections; automatically detects and corrects a sulfated battery; and does not need to be monitored can be left connected practically forever. It automatically switches over to Maintain Mode.

All-in-all, this is a great little unit, and, because of the reasonable price, should be in everyone's garage waiting for that unexpected moment.

I have owned this model for over three years and have it connected to a pair of golf cart batteries I use for backup power. It has operated 24/7 all this time and the batteries perform like new. Even though this is listed as a trickle charger, it cycles on and off as needed to maintain a float voltage.

I have also connected this to my Watts Up Pro power meter and tracked cost of operation. Maintaining these 220 amp hour batteries cost about 30 cents per month at the .09 cents per kilowatt rate. I don't use this to recharge the batteries after running them down, as it would take far to long. Not sure why they call this Speedcharge, but it would work well for slow charging smaller batteries.

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I am writing my review not to describe the product so much (which is great) because the same reviews you just read before mine do that, I bought it because of those reviews. Rather I want to answer 2 questions I had that where not the clearest, or at least answered to my satisfaction.

Yes this works on cars. I plugged in my Lumina sedan that had a failing alternator and it charged the battery up over night. Went from 11.8volts to 12.7volts.

Yes you can charge your car by plugging it into the cig lighter port. As long as your port has constant power! That is, your car off and key out, you still have power there. Leave the charger outside the car though, you never know...

Just wanted to help others who may have had the same concerns I did before I could test it. And oh yes, this thing is tiny! Figure the same footprint of a paperback book.

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This Schumacher SC-200A Speedcharge Charger/Maintainer is exactly what I needed. The day it was delivered, I thought the guy had the wrong house because the package was so small I wondered what could this be? Did I forget I ordered something else? I was so ready for disappointment that I did not open the package until 3 days later. I finally said I may as well open it up because it cost too much to return it maybe I can use it for something else. So I took it out of its packaging, set this little box on my kitchen table, and it sat there for a week or more.

Finally, and with my grass needing cutting badly, I took the charger out of the box, read the instructions (so simple and easy), hooked the charger to my riding lawn mower battery, and to make a looong story short IT WORKED !!!!!

This charger is so powerful to be so small!!! Now I don't have to use my SUV to charge my lawnmower battery I have a Schumacher SC-200A Speedcharge Charger/Maintainer, and it is GREAT !!!! My riding lawnmower cranks NOW without being charged. And for extra battery maintenance, I keep the charger connected, at intervals, when I am not using my riding lawnmower.

Great investment !!!!

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I hook it up to my antique car and the battery is charged all the time. Thought it didn't work when I first bought it because it didn't charge the battery overnight. Takes a while the first time but will keep it charged after that. It was a bargain.

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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Husky Liners Classic Style Custom Fit Molded Front Floor Liner (Black)

Husky Liners Classic Style Custom Fit Molded Front Floor LinerThis product provides excellent protection. Though the fit is good, it's not quite as exact as I was hoping for. They are overbuilt and solid and will not move around. They have saved my vehicle from numerous outings that would have ruined the upholstery, caught full cups of soda and also the wrath of a 1year old. They will undoubtedly provide just about the best protection you could hope for. My only complaint is that the fit could be just a little better, and that they are a little smashed up when they are fresh out of the box. It will take a while before they return to their proper shape once installed.

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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

GTMax Rapid Car Charger w/ IC Chip + Home Travel Charger + USB Data Cable for Garmin nuvi 260W, nuv

GTMax Rapid Car Charger w/ IC Chip + Home Travel Charger + USB Data Cable for Garmin nuvi 260W, nuvi 260, nuvi 255W, nuvi 255 / Magellan Magellan RoadMate 2120T-LM, RoadMate 2120T, RoadMate 2036T-LM / TomTom GO 740 Live, GO 630, XL 340, XL 330 S, XL 325
  • This Combo Package Includes: 1x cable ;1x Ac charger ; 1x car charger

This kit has preformed well for my phone. I would recommend it to anyone who needs a charger set for home and auto

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Got for my GPS as it didn't come with them and they work great with it,keep in car so they are handy would say get if you need them or extra ones, I even got a set for a friend.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

iKross Car Windshield Large Black Mount Holder - IKHD17 + 2-Port USB Car Charger Adapter + Sync USB

iKross Car Windshield Large Black Mount Holder - IKHD17 + 2-Port USB Car Charger Adapter + Sync USB Data Cable for HTC First, One, One V Primo and More large SmartphoneI haven't tried the charger but I have the holder. It works wonderful--mounts quickly and easily, holds securely, releases at the push of a button. I leave the holder in the car while I can pop the phone in and out as desired. I need to purchase another one for the other car.

Works great with the Lumia 810's off--line maps guidance capabilities--works just like a Garmin.

I thought of getting a car mount and got this product because of my NOKIA lumia 920.

Except for the 2-port USB Car Charger none of the products worked. I contacted the seller about the Sync USB DATACABLE and they did send me another one. But I had the same problem it worked for 5 minutes. I don't know whether its the Sync cable's fault or my phone's but when I connect it to wall charger it charges for few seconds and disconnects and charges again for few seconds and disconnects.... this cycle goes on and on.

And finally the WindShield Black Mount Holder. The suction wont work anytime for me. I use my mobile for directions all the time but this holder doesn't hold itself on the windshield.

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I needed a car charger for my new Nokia Lumia 810, and for the price of most car charges I got this car charger,USB to mini USB cord, AND a windshield mount. The Lumia 810 is a BIG phone and the windshield mount holds it securly, even on these bumpy, frozen Minnesota roads!

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I thought I was killing three birds with one stone not the case.

The plastic holding the sucker assembly snapped off the very first time I removed it from my windshield (using the "sucker release" lever, no less; nothing rough), and the cable is the only one of my three that will not keep the phone connected to a PC. It also charges at ~1/3 the speed of the wall charger or any of my other cables.

Bleck.

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I love this product, it's very sturdy even though it very light weight. It has never come loose from my window and it's been there for several months now. It's easy to use. The price was right. For me it's perfect. I'm so glad I got it.

I can't think of anything I would change about it. And I use the accessories that came with it too. Very happy.

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Thursday, August 7, 2014

Jump Start Automotive Battery Jumper Cables, 12' - 10 Gauge

Jump Start Automotive Battery Jumper Cables, 12' - 10 GaugeThis product is a good quality cable and the price is a deal hard to beat. In fact, I have found out that occasional upgrades are delivered (not guaranteed subject to availability) so one can receive this cable with pouch.

After some glitch and very quick contact seller resolved minor issue. I recommend the service to anyone.

Outstanding. I would buy this item again if needed. It fits just right with no problems at all. Buy It.

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For the price, these are great. They aren't super rugged, but how often do you use your jumper cables? They will be fine in an emergency

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Arrived early than I expected.

It look really nice when it come.

I ordered both of them for my parent and I use when we really needed.

My parent really love it

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Well they are not the best quality out there but they are the cheapest I've been able to find including shipping so if you're looking for a cheap functional set of cables I would recommend these.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

New 3 Buttons Keyless Remote Key Shell Case for GMCCanyon Isuzu i-290 i-370 Hummer H3 Chevrolet Col

New 3 Buttons Keyless Remote Key Shell Case for GMCCanyon Isuzu i-290 i-370 Hummer H3 Chevrolet Colorado No Chips
  • DELPHI:10335582-88 CANADA:34321021779 FCC ID: L2C0007T
  • 3 Buttons Lock Unlock And Panic
  • This is just a Key cover shell, there is NO interior(remote/electronics/transponder chips) inside
  • Package include:1x 3 Buttons Keyless Remote Replacement Case/1 x cross screwdriver

I thought I was going to be forced to have to contact the dealer for a brand new key or at least to program a new remote, we all know how expensive that is! I'm so glad I stumbled on this item, so easy to use and works like a charm!!

Buy New 3 Buttons Keyless Remote Key Shell Case for GMCCanyon Isuzu i-290 i-370 Hummer H3 Chevrolet Col Now

i WAS THRILLED TO RECIEVE MY NEW CASE IT WORKED BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL CASE.i WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE WITH A HUMMER H3

Read Best Reviews of New 3 Buttons Keyless Remote Key Shell Case for GMCCanyon Isuzu i-290 i-370 Hummer H3 Chevrolet Col Here

this is the answer buy a shell! its much less than buying a complete unit, just swap out your inside parts and off you go!

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It was very easy to set up the old remote components inside of it. Came with everything needed and looks so much better than the old remote.

Great deal on this. The one I had broke.

Glad I found it on eBay, saved me a lot of money.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

GTMax Black 3.5mm FM Transmitter Car Charger for Google Nexus One

GTMax Black 3.5mm FM Transmitter Car Charger for Google Nexus OneI purchased the FM Transmitter Car Charger for the Nexus One phone.

I had problems with the item initially, and contacted the seller.

They were very nice and friendly and helped my replaced the product.

Although it took a while for the replacement item to reach me, there was a significant improvement.

However, although improved, there is still more static/feedback than desired.

But if you're on a budget, I think the quality matches the price.

Friday, March 14, 2014

RoadPro RPAT-774 Rechargeable Emergency System with 12V Power Port and Air Compressor

RoadPro RPAT-774 Rechargeable Emergency System with 12V Power Port and Air CompressorI am so pleased with this item I am grinning. I have had two other portable battery charger/air pumps in the past and within six months they both became useless because their internal battery would not take a charge. These not only charge up fine but hold their charge riding around in the trunk or the car for months. I use them for pumping up bicycle tires and have jump-started three different vehicles using the item. I like it.

I've never been really happy with this unit from the very start. Inflating car tires is extremely slow, slower than my manual pump. It can handle high pressures but not because it is strong but because it does not push much air through. For bicycle racing tubes of 90+ psi it really struggled too. The only time I used the jump start function it failed. Soon after one of the clamps broke. And couple days back, the motor burned out while pumping the first of four car tires. Two instead of 1 star really just because it survived 4 years of very light use and the price was not bad. I am going for a pricier studier unit next time.

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I've also carried this around in my trunk for several months. When I needed it, it still had a charge. I really like knowing I can air up a car tire if necessary as well. Plus, there are boat towables, air mattresses, etc., that it will come in handy for. Since it's portable, I can also take it down to the boat if needed.

Read Best Reviews of RoadPro RPAT-774 Rechargeable Emergency System with 12V Power Port and Air Compressor Here

What I was planning to do with it:

Jump start a small vehicle (900cc motorcycle)

Inflate vehicle tires

After five months of use:

Jump starting a vehicle: Poor. No go. Power was enough to slow crank the engine, but couldn't get it started. This was a mid-sized motorcycle, 900cc, with 12V battery. Emergency charger dropped about three inches and the clamp broke (see construction).

Tire inflator: About average speed and noise for battery operated inflators.

I have no real complaints about itIt did it's job.

Construction: Poor. The battery casing itself seems sturdy enough with for the price paid. However the jumper cable clamps are not well designed or constructed. Clamps are a cheaply molded plastic with riveted copper teeth. In more expensive sets, copper clamps are covered with insulation, though not in this case. In other words, this is not designed to last very long.

Overall: If you're looking for something that will last you more than a year to eighteen months, find something else.

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Works good but the alligator clamps are cheap and broke right away. I would not recommend this to buy, but it worked o.k. other than the clamps!

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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Husky Liners Custom Fit Second Seat Floor Liner for Select Subaru Forester/Impreza Models (Black)

Husky Liners Custom Fit Second Seat Floor Liner for Select Subaru Forester/Impreza ModelsPros: Good fit. Tough plastic.

Cons: Not a huge fan of the look but that is all subjective. S

I've always had weathertech floor mats in my previous car and decided to take a chance on these. Overall these are a better fit than the weathertechs that I had. They do a nice job keeping all the dirt in.

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Monday, January 13, 2014

1.5" LCD Full HD 1920x1080p Vehicle Dash Board Camera Video Recorder Car DVR (30FPS 5.0MP, H.264 Co

1.5' LCD Full HD 1920x1080p Vehicle Dash Board Camera Video Recorder Car DVR
  • High-speed high definition 1920¡Á1080P full HD camera, can watching while shooting, advanced H.264 video compression technology.
  • Build in GPS logger, record traffic speed£¬driving track(Optional), 5M CMOS-sensor and Google map, Maximum 32GB or even bigger SD high capacity storage device.
  • 1.5" LTPS TFT LCD; 120 degree ultra wide angle lens, focus range from 10cm to infinity; 4X digital Zoom, ranges from 12 cm to limitless distance.
  • Auto/Manual LED on/off, Automatically start recording when ignition start-up, Cycle recording and section recording, Motion detect recording functions.
  • Equipped with special auto suction cup holder, conveniently fix and use, support HDMI/USB2.0/TV output, 5 resolution forms can be changed for video flow

I paid a lower price for mine and feel it was a good buy, so shop around for best price. This is definitely the dash cam you have been looking for. Most car DVR's have really bad video quality. This one is pretty good. There are plenty of sample video of this DVR on you tube before you buy. The video quality is similar to a Droid Eris phone, which is not great, but definitely ok and perfect for a car cam. The specs on this thing are amazing. Aperture of F2.0. That is a very bright lens. You will need a micro SDHC card, I got a 16GB, but wish I went for a 32GB. I only get 1 hour 50 min set on 720p. You also need class 6 if you want to use full 1080p HD. My class 4 will not work for the highest resolution.

My guess is, lens and sensor are more important and the difference between 720p and 1080p will be minor, and you will just be using up more memory for no reason.

Cons: needs a longer cable for some car installation.

If there was more competition out there for car cams, I would give this 3 or 4 stars, but there are few choices and most of the other ones are not that good. So I give it 5 stars.

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waste of money this item dint work from the time the box. dint hold a charge after overnight. computer wouldnt recognize device. and cd with device drivers was blank

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Bought this " 120 degrees 1080P Car dash Vehicle HD DVR cam recorder with 1.5 inch colour TFT LCD screen" from Amazon and can't make it work. No CD or instructions was provided with this device. I feel I bought a "pig in the poke". Waste of time. Be warned.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Husky Liners Custom Fit WeatherBeater Floor Liner for Select Dodge/Chrysler Models (Tan)

Husky Liners Custom Fit WeatherBeater Floor Liner for Select Dodge/Chrysler ModelsI purchased both these and the fronts four our 2011 Town and Country and am disappointed in the design of these.

The way they are designed, the second row seats need to be pushed as far back as possible and will not allow you to move them forward at all. This causes the third row seating to loose too much legroom. A redesign to allow for SOME forward movement would be very helpful.

Material quality seems very good and they should definitely last for the life of the vehicle.

The fronts fit great.

I wouldn't mind if the floor mat was a bit tight and needed trimmed but this thing is nearly 10 inches too wide from front seat to back seat. I purchased it as a gift for my wife. I didn't give it to her until the return time expired. The box clearly stated it would fit a 2008 Town&Country. It doesn't! The website said it would fit fine. Unless my van is some weird off market version there is no way this should thing would fit any van of the same style. Buyers be warned.

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Excellent fit for the van. It keeps the floors clean. I received it in a timely manner as well. I am glad I ordered it.

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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Bulldog Deluxe 500 Two-Way Remote Starter with LCD Remote

Bulldog Deluxe 500 Two-Way Remote Starter with LCD RemoteIts the first time I am installing an autostart, that too on my 1984 VW Rabbit GTI. Since there are no adaptors for such an old vehicle, I had to splice all the wires and manually install everything, but thanks to their fairly well written installation manual, it was all done successfully.

I gave it only 4 stars, because the range is nothing like what they advertise. My building is just 400 feet away and it still has difficulty, like if I face towards the direction of the car with the remote antenna pointing towards it, it works, but if I simply turn around pointing the other direction, it does not. Inside building is totally out of question. I have no tested it, but I sincerely doubt their half a mile range even if you are in an open field pointing it towards the car.

I callled tech support to ensure if I mounted the antenna right and there is no problem there. I do not also have tinted glass to cause a reduction in range.

Tech support was reached very promptly and they answered my questions.

Okay, after having read some other reviews here, I need to comment. I have installed 3 Deluxe 500 units and several other models of Bulldog starters on my own vehicles. I have used Bulldog starters on my vehicles for 10 years. I am confident in saying that the Deluxe 500 is better than any other remote starter on the market. However:

if you are not electrically/electronically savvy, don't purchase this

don't purchase and expect your local shop to install it

don't purchase and expect your buddy to install it

depending on your vehicle, for 1st time installers, anticipate at least 16 hours to fully install the unit and program all options

the remotes can die after a few years, keep an extra on hand

get the T-harness

research and be sure to get any additional relays and security bypass units needed for you vehicle as prescribed on the Bulldog website

solder connections as prescribed in the instructions, don't use crimp connectors

recommend having the shop manual with wiring diagrams available for your vehicle, wiring harness colors don't always match between the Bulldog documentation as car manufacturers can change their wiring scheme within a specific make/model/year

don't expect tech support to bail you out

Having said all this, I work in an office with 12 other people that have remote starters. My Deluxe 500 is the only unit that will start my vehicle without walking out the parking lot. The unit is fully two-way, many starters claim to be two-way, but don't fully communicate to you when they are in range and when the vehicle has successfully started. The remote is labeled by function with images. Competing products often have remotes with buttons labeled "1", "2", "3", etc which means you have to memorize the functions for each operation.

Finally, I have had several other brands of remote starters in used cars that I have purchased. Without exception, I have ended up pulling those units out and replacing them with Bulldog units.

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This remote starter worked well for three weeks. Then the keychain remote went haywire. Attempts to contact tech support using the phone numbers provided repeatedly failed. There is no e-mail address for contact. The web site for ordering new remote is down for construction. Bottom line is the product is probably a good product; the company deserves thumbs down for their tech support (or lack thereof).

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I have read a lot of your reviews and about 3 yrs ago I installed one of these for a friend. They do take a while to install. Bulldogs wire schematic for your car may not be exactly right and I'm pretty sure they tell you that. If you have a newer car or an older one with PASSLOCK or VATS you WILL have to buy extra stuff. Also depending on the options you want from the starter there maybe more relays and accessories to buy. If I'm not mistaken Bulldog does market the 500 on their website to professional installers. It is not part of the D.I.Y. line. If you got one that was defective its sux I know but those sorts of things happen. I have installed a lot of Bull dogs starters over the years and I've installed other brands as well. I can tell you for sure that features and quality for price nothing beats a bulldog. On a final note if you thinking of buying this for a newer car, say 2005 or newer, please do your homework first. There is likely to be at least a couple resistors you need to get it to work. It has also been my experience through no fault of bulldogs' that these newer cars are difficult to install in. There are several new models that don't even have a "hot" wire under the dash in the steering column any more. By all means consider this starter, it's a great starter just keep in mind if your not mechanically inclined this starter maybe difficult to install as it is not a D.I.Y. unit.

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I received this item as an x-mas gift, and have been attempting to install for well over three weeks. The install instructions, DVD, and parts are fairly comprehensive. I had a problem where I would remote start the vehicle, then when I went to open the door to enter the vehicle, it stalls and dies. Several calls to customer service later, no one can explain the neccessity for the door trigger wire, nor can they explain it's proper function. In addition, the unit will not hold programming, and the remote start function is hit or miss. I also noticed today that the keyless entry feature is no longer functional. After several promises by tech support to have a "supervisor" call me back, I got a response from them. They issued an RMA to "inspect the unit" for me. Of course I have to pay to ship it to them, and they have no ETA on when I will receive the unit back.

One other note on "customer service". Of the six times I called, I only got one person that was willing to listen and try and help. Everyone else said "reset to factory defaults and call back if it's still not working". They would tell me this even after explaining that I had reset to defaults multiple times already.

It's an attractive product at an attractive price, but I would only purchase it if you were just wanting to gamble before dropping the $$'s on a quality unit.

UPDATE 1/11/2008:

After having this for over a year, it's held up. I did finally get the company to ship me a new unit. After installing the new unit, it's worked great. I minor design issues still, but the unit has served well the past year. I'm still not sure it was worth the pain of the installation.

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Monday, December 2, 2013

Parrot MKi9000 Advanced Bluetooth hands-free car kit for iPod

Parrot MKi9000 Advanced Bluetooth hands-free car kit for iPod
  • Made for iPod
  • Made for iPhone
  • Wireless Remote Control
  • Hands Free Driving and Music Streaming
  • Integrates with your Car

It works flawlessly for hands free calling and Bluetooth stereo music. I use it with my iPhone 3GS. Have been using this for 3 days now. I picked this over Parrot MKi9200 Advanced Color Display Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit and Parrot MKi9100 Advanced Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit because we did not want a display sticking out on the dash. If you are planning to install this by yourself I would recommend don't try without Honda Bluetooth® Wiring Harness Integrates Bluetooth cell phone kits with factory stereos in select vehicles, 2003-up or a similar product.

Pros:

Easy to install

Good quality microphone (it is hidden in the bin below the stereo and still picks up voice from the rear seat)

Voice dial is great

Spoken caller id (no need for a display)

Bluetooth stereo

Ports for your MP3 players

Cons:

None major I can find at this point

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One year prior to this purchase, I bought the MKi9200 for my Honda Accord. I love it. But I found that I simply didn't use the video screen for anything other than firmware updates. I purchased the MKi9000 for my 2005 Pilot. The only difference in the 9000 and 9200 is the display unit. Without the display I flashed the firmware on the 9000 without any issue. The device will 'speak' to you through each option. Would buy this again.

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Short version: I'm a very happy user of the Parrot MKi9000 hands-free car kit.

Long version: After trying cheaper bluetooth products based on FM radio transmitters and such for my older 2004 Honda Pilot, I finally needed to find a higher quality solution that would work correctly all the time. Looking at various hands-free kits, I settled on the Parrot MKi9000. As I was doing the installation myself, I also bought the Metra BT-1721-A Aftermarket Bluetooth Integration Harness for Honda/Acura 1998 and Up available from Amazon as well.

Self installation was a bit of a challenge. First, loosening and removal of the headboard and dashboard panels on my Pilot to install the microphone and route it to the center console was not easy and probably outside the capabilities of most people. Without access to the service manual for the vehicle installation would have been too difficult for me. Second, the Parrot and the integration harness came with very sparse documentation. Clearly the manufacturer assumed most people would pursue professional installation. However, with the harness, it's not too difficult to figure out how things should connect to the existing radio. Everything just plugs together without a single wire needing to be cut. Wiring the Parrot was the easiest part of the job, messing with the dashboard panels without damaging them was the hardest. Also, in addition to the microphone, the auxiliary inputs to the Parrot need to be routed to a convenient location -the center console in my case.

Once installed, the Parrot unit works perfectly. It immediately sync'd with my iPhone's phonebook and speaks the names on incoming calls. People on the other end of a call can hear me loud and clear. The unit will properly silence my radio on incoming calls or when I'm listening to music or audiobooks on my iPhone. In addition to bluetooth connectivity which is great for short car trips, it does have three auxiliary ports: iPod/iPhone, USB and standard audio jack. The iPod/iPhone port will let me keep my phone charged on long trips and utilizes the full audio capabilities of the iPod interface. The USB interface is cool in that it lets you throw some MP3 audio files on a USB flash drive for listening while driving. The audio jack will plug into any headphone connector so any device will play audio through the Parrot on your car speakers.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the Parrot MKi9000. With it, it's as if my older Pilot included Bluetooth as an OEM solution. I'm also happy I opted for the simpler Parrot model as I don't need the display on the higher end units. The voice based menu system is perfect for my needs.

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I have been using the Parrot MKi9000 in my 2004 MDX for a week, I love it. I am so impressed that my I Phone contacts are automatically stored on the Parrot without manually loading it. This is the best bluetooth hands free car system for any car. No more pulling off the road to talk. It also has capability to hook up your I-Pod to listen to I-Tunes using your car stereo system.

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I bought this bluetooth for my wife's new Honda Pilot and had it professionally installed by Parrot certified installers. They could not get the unit to work after trying for 3 hours. I had to purchase a second unit because the installers said they only needed the brain box and it was not recommended that the whole unit be removed. Amazon sent my the second unit, and this one works as a phone bluetooth but it will not work with an ipod or any other accessory that it is suppose to be compatible with. All in all a big disappointment.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Griffin 7265-TRIPUNB iTrip Universal Play any MP3 Player On Your Car or Home Stereo

Griffin 7265-TRIPUNB iTrip Universal Play any MP3 Player On Your Car or Home Stereo
  • ¿ Plug and play for any portable audio player
  • ¿ Streams your music to any FM radio
  • ¿ Quick set-up and easy frequency selection
  • ¿ Self-powered by a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery

Here's my opinion of the Griffin iTrip Universal. I have a 4th Gen iPod Nano, which I love. I looked at the "old" style of the iTrips specifically designed for Nano, but there was not a 4th Gen one out yet. I decided to go ahead and purchase the iTrip Universal, that way if someone was in my car with an MP3 player other than an iPod, it would still be able to be used. I was extremely excited once I received it and thought the charging mechanism (via USB) was brilliant since you wouldn't drain your iPod battery using it. However, the excitement quickly faded when I went to use it the first time. I charged it fully and a few days (4 days tops) later went to use it. It was completely dead. I had assumed I had done something wrong, since I hadn't used it yet. I recharged it later that day and used it the next day. I drive a fairly small car and have used FM transmitters before without issue. With the iTrip universal however, there are 2, maybe 3, places in my vehicle I can set my iPod/transmitter and have it transmit without a ton of static. I tried multiple frequencies and all had the same result. My trip to work is about 20 minutes, by the time I was there, the battery indicator had already dropped from 3 bars to 2. I didn't use it the next day, and when I went to pull it out to use it the following day completely dead again. If I want to use it, I have to make sure I have had it plugged in to charge within the last couple of days or else it is dead and I can't use it. I gave it the benefit of the doubt, that maybe it had to charge and drain a few times in order for it to be able to have the battery operate at full capacity. I have had it coming up on 5 months now and see no improvement whatsoever. I plan to purchase a replacement (most likely the iTrip Auto for iPod). My only problem is that I will have this iTrip Universal that I spent good money on that does not work well, and I don't feel right about selling someone something that I find only works halfway.

I just wanted to let you know my review and tell you that while I love most Griffin products, I was/am highly, highly disappointed in the iTrip Universal. It will work, but not well, and I just can't give it a great recommendation like I had hoped to.

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I've owned and used this product for close to a year now. Bought it as soon as it came out. That was a mistake. It is cute and is good in theory, but not in practice. Here's a quick summary after using it many times in many situations:

* Short shelf life for battery. To charge battery you must connect it to a USB port of computer. Good in theory. But after a charge, if you don't use it soon afterward, when you go to use it, the battery is dead and you need several hours to charge it up again. Who is going to keep it constantly attached to a USB port?

* Signal strength is weak. From back seat of minivan or sedan, static is present while music is playing unless you hold the iTrip just right. Have had several other transmitters that have much greater range. In a house, maximum unobstructed range is 15-20 feet.

* Cord to connect to headphone jack of music player is ridiculously short. Like 4 inches long. Why so short??!!

* Display is monochrome and very tiny. No backlighting. Battery strength indicator is too small.

They need to do a version 2 on this thing. The concept is good. I like how you can tune it to any FM frequency to broadcast, and how it turns on by itself when it detects a device, but it falls way short of the basic functionality of a good FM transmitter.

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I have purchased the iTrip MP3 player basically to play in my stereo the music I have stored in my computer. If you find a clean FM frequency, the device will transmitter properly. However, some interference may remain depending on how the transmitter is placed (beside the computer or on it, for example). For this reason I found that the cord to connect to headphone jack of music player should be much longer. A longer cord may also improve reception.

The battery drops faster than what the seller says (about 4-6 hours). Moreover, it drops even without use.

All these drawbacks may make this device useless for use in your car, but it still worth for use at your home.

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We've had this transmitter for about a month and we really like it. It does have it's faults thought, but they can be overcome.

1. As others have said, you need a longer cord. The one provided with it is much too short. Using a longer cord will improve it's reception significantly.

2. This device does not work though the cigarette adapter. This is a good thing for us because we can give it to my son and he can play his iPod from the back seat. This leaves the cigarette adapter free for when we need to use the GPS. So this turns out to be an advantage for us.

3. The battery doesn't last as long as the manufacturer says it does. I think we've gotten 4 hourse of use out of it at one time. Charging it is easy, but you have to remember to bring it inside the house and attach it to a computer!

4. You can hear a little bit of static with quiet music. This is not an issue with load music. The sound is clear and it wasn't difficult to find an open frequency, even in downtown Boston.

These issues aren't a disadvantage for us, but you want to consider them when purchasing.

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Short cord given is to reduce static. Works with another 1/8th in. cord to reach USB on keyboard with minimal noise. Turn off time is short about 60-90 seconds, so if signal pauses, you may get radio fuzz depending on the stereo. Great for the price. I use it to stream music from my computer to my stereo over FM wireless, so I don't have a cord to trip over between them. Works fine for movies also.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Intelligent Dual Purpose DC Vehicle and AC Home Wall Charger for the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS980 - Two

Intelligent Dual Purpose DC Vehicle and AC Home Wall Charger for the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS980 - Two critical functions, one unique charger - Uses Gomadic Brand TipExchange Technology
  • Broad input voltage range of 12-24VDC and 100-240VAC respectively. Permits charging via vehicle and home outlets worldwide!
  • State of the art, advanced circuitry prevents the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS980 from being damaged by power surges, overcharging and/or short-circuiting.
  • Intelligent circuit tailors precise output voltage (including resistor configuration) specific to the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS980. This ensures battery is safely and efficiently charged.
  • Charger provides a full 1 AMP of available charging current. Flexible, straight cable measures an ample 42 inches in total length.
  • Non-coiled, straight cable design allows for easy routing around your vehicle trim for a more professionally installed look. Durable construction is built to last.

The wall charger that came with my headset never charged beyond 50%. This charger works great! I can go multiple days without needing a new charge. I also love the flexibility to either plug into my car power point or into a standard wall receptacle.

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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Bravo View MICRO2.1B 2.1-Amp Compact USB Car Charger

Bravo View MICRO2.1B 2.1-Amp Compact USB Car Charger
  • Plugs directly into your Cigarette Lighter or 12V accessory socket
  • Charge iPod, iPhone, iPad and many other USB devices
  • Aluminum Handle for easy removal
  • 10 watt USB port (5 volts @ 2.1 amp)
  • USB Cable Not Included

I liked its a great buy I thought it was going to be a regular crappy charger but turns out it workes so good it fully charges my phone in 20 minutes

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Powers up all the devices I have plugged in so far. I haven't used a device with it that needs 2.1 amp yet. The pull handle fell off the first time I used it. The blue LED indicator light is very bright to the point that its distracting when driving at night. I may put some black tape over the light. Not worth the effort to return it since it performs its basic function.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Coleman 72002 CL-600 9-Watt 17 - 24 Volt Solar Panel Battery Charger / Maintainer

Coleman 72002 CL-600 9-Watt 17 - 24 Volt Solar Panel Battery Charger / MaintainerThis Coleman unit is rated at 600ma and a total power of 9 Watts. Buyers will be pleasantly surprised. The fair price for weatherproof solar panels is $10/watt...so this one qualifies although has been discontinued. My lack of a full five stars is because Coleman seems to overrate their panels by about 20%...or else they take it down to the equator to measure the power.

The unit is more or less what I expected and appears to be working well for my application as a trickle charger for my deep-cycle marine battery operating an ornamental iorn entry gate. This unit DOES NOT work with the Sunsei Solar Grip bracket which is listed as working with the Coleman Solar Panels (both are ICP Solar products); the bracket extexsions are not long enough. I was able to frabricate a simple clamp for the panel which did work with the bracket however.

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I ordered one Coleman panel to see how good it was. I am a long time Coleman collector and this fits just right! Brand power at its best! I have had it about 2 weeks and have it connected to my campers battery. The camper has a stereo system which requires a "hot" lead to maintain memory so this creates a drain on the battery. After this panel, no more worries about the drain! This panel in full sun is putting out 22.65volts and drops to 17.3 on a cloudy day, even when it was raining!I ordered two more and expect them to arrive tomorrow. I will build a frame to attach the panels to and hook all of them to my battery bank (3 D/C NG27). I expect to be able to use them for a generator (less) week of camping next month! If it fails then expect me to update this review! I think ICP could have had a better way of connecting multiple panels though. Coleman dosen't supply the gang plug, so I have to cut the plug ends off and hardwire them together. Not too much of an issue though.

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This is my first solar panel, as soon as i received it I wanted to verify the power it said it could generate by solar light, when I exposed it to day light its built in blue LED lighted and I checked the output voltage, it was more than 15VDC (open output), then I measured the shortcircuit current which indicates should be 600mA, I obtained almost 400mA, under a very sunny day. Quite good I think, I can use it to adapt to some small appliances's charger.

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I just got this panel. Put it out in the Georgia sun, and its putting out over 22 volts. As with everything I get from Amazon, it came on time and in perfect condition. So far I'm very happy.

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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Retractable Car USB Kit for Samsung Rogue U960

Retractable Car USB Kit for Samsung Rogue U960I bought this 2-piece set for the versatility of use as both a car charger and as a PC-USB data/charger cable at home. It works well for both purposes.

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Friday, July 5, 2013

CTEK 56-674 Battery Charger

CTEK 56-674 Battery ChargerA long time ago (3 years whoa) I bought a ctek 3amp charger/maintainer and used it for my genset so it would always be ready to go (it's an autostart but does not have a battery maintainer). I was amazed at how well the battery was maintained by the little 3A charger.

EDIT: 12/2012

I've had my 25000 for a couple years now and a few people have emailed me with questions I did not answer previously. I'll summarize them here

1 reliability like a charm. Unlike the 7000 series (7A), the 25000 (25A) series has an internal ducted cooling fan which only comes on during high current charging for long life.

2 featurs it has the desulphation mode like the other chargers, but can handle larger cells. Other than that it does NOT have the ability to select SLA (gel cells), wet cells, or marine cells

3 temperature sensor unlike it's smaller cousins, there are 3 wires at the end of the fixed cable (which does not work with their accessory system as it does not have the required connector) the 3rd wire is a temperature sensor designed to be held close to the battery during charge so that voltages are adjusted for cold or hot weather and battery temperature. This helps protect the battery from overcurrent or overcharge. To sum it up in one word its a very fast charger, and safe at the same time NOTHING like the old crank up the timer based on the voltmeter chargers.

Those where the 3 questions I was asked now everyone knows. BTWI just ordered another one of these as I loaned mine to a friend who uses ctek's smaller units and he was so impressed he gave me the money to buy a new one as he liked mine so much.

back to the original review now

I later bought 2 of their 7002 series chargers these were 7 Amp capacity and had extra features for dealing with a wider range or chemistries like the spiracell optima batteries I use in many applications. I even installed the under $20 dash mount charger interface in a spare din opening in my dash it was a 30 minute job but gave me the convenience of a plug in for my charger without having to pop the hood and clip it on just plug the charger into the dash outlet, and it included a battery guage of blinking leds red for discharged, yellow for discharging, and green for full. They blink all the time and use very little power

Since amazon does not carry the 25000 I became involved in discussions with CTEK and was shipped a unit for evaluation of my battery banks that are paralleled from multiple 12VDC cells. the 25000's closest relative is the 7002 and it features many of the same "stairstep" leds for indication of how the charge is progressing.

At 25A, it is the most powerful CTEK charger to date, equivalent to about 3.5 7002 chargers and priced at about 3.0 7002 chargers, so it's more economical if you have a battery bank. I am very pleased that they kept the battery desulphating features that ctek is known for in the 25000. The extra current is nice to have when you have 4 100AH cells in parallel for a 400 AH battery bank that occasionally needs topping off or desulphating. Ctek has always been at the forefront of chargers and accessories to go with them they are rated for wet environments and mine have been rained on more than once without a failure. If you have multiple batteries such as an RV with 2 deep cycle 12VDC cells and 1 engine starting battery, this is the ideal charger when you find AC. And with 25A, it most likely can power your 12VDC low power devices without draining your battery bank. When I say MOST that excludes the microwave, big screen TV but includes the 12VDC lighting inside the RV and a small TV set. The advantage to you is when you pull into an RV park with AC power you can recharge your deep cycle cells and run the inside lighting off the CTEK 25000 at the same time with 25 amps of supply current.

I borrowed the flir microbolimeter from the lab becuse the unit gets warm, but checking the ctek connectors they stayed relatively cool for running a 25 A current through them. That's impressive in and of itself.

I would highly recommend this to RV users, solar users, or anyone with a battery bank of 12V cells in parallel. Its rated for 50-500 AH storage capacity and represents the top of the line in CTEK power chargers.

Charges fast and is smart enough to extend the life of my batteries. So called automatic chargers don't do the same things this one can do. The auto float is an awesome feature. Other chargers will continue to "cook" your battery.

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I've used three other chargers and the "Multi US 25000" is the best! It saved three of my expensive AGM batteries. Sure, I wish it had a digital readout 'cause I like eye-candy but I'm not too lazy to put the volt meter on the battery(s). Nice heavy cables/clamps and soldered too. Temp sensor on the positive clamp. I do wish they had made the battery cable in such a way that I could reach further than 31 inches between the positive and negative battery posts (battery bank). You can charge up to 500 amp hours worth of batteries at a time.

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I received this new CTEK US25000 and it worked for 1 day! I contacted the seller and he said he would get back to me, so far not a word in 6 months!

I have used CTEK battery US3300's and never had a problem, as in most first runs probably just working out the bugs, as for the seller, not good customer service.

Thanks, Ron

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