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

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Belkin TuneBase FM Transmitter for iPod with Dock Connector (Black)

Belkin TuneBase FM Transmitter for iPod with Dock Connector
  • Compatibility: iPod nano 1G and 2G, iPod mini, iPod 4G with click wheel, iPod color, and iPod video (includes docking adapters)
  • Built-in FM transmitter wirelessly connects to your car stereo; operates on multiple FM channels from 88.1 to 107.9 MHz
  • Four single-touch, programmable preset buttons; uses iPod display for quick and easy FM tuning
  • Flexible steel-neck construction that positions easily inside your car
  • Custom-designed swivel cradle for a secure and stable iPod connection

Strengths: All-in-one solution for docking, charging, and FM transmission; adaptable to all iPods and vehicles; versatile FM tuning options

Weaknesses: Sound quality issues typical of FM transmitters; no auxiliary audio input or output

Let's face it: using your iPod in your vehicle just isn't as simple as it should be. Unless you're driving a 2006 model year or later vehicle, chances are that your vehicle's stereo head unit doesn't provide any easy way for you to connect your iPod (or any other digital music player, for that matter). That means that you only have three options for listening to your iPod through your vehicle's stereo: direct connection to your head unit via an auxiliary input, a cassette tape adapter, or an FM transmitter. Most automobiles don't offer an auxiliary input jack on the front of their receivers, and connecting your iPod to a rear aux input--if your unit even has one, that is--is a complicated process that involves removing your receiver and (sometimes) part of your dashboard as well. So even though this setup offers the best sound quality, installation can prove difficult...or impossible. On the other hand, cassette tape adapters provide a far simpler and good-sounding method to connect your player, but they only work if your vehicle has a cassette player. So if neither of the above solutions are an option for you, then you have to begin considering either (1) purchasing an aftermarket, iPod-friendly head unit or (2) looking for an FM transmitter, and that's where the Belkin TuneBase FM for iPod comes into the picture.

If you decide to go the FM transmission route, you really can't lose with the TuneBase FM. Not only does it transmit the audio output from your iPod to an FM frequency you select, but it also provides a convenient dock for your iPod that even charges your iPod while it's in use. Many all-in-one solutions such as this are poor performers all around, but the TuneBase FM fulfills all of its duties superbly.

It goes without saying that the most important element of the TuneBase FM's performance is sound quality. After all, it doesn't do much good to dock and charge your iPod in the car if you can't listen to your music. As FM transmitters go, the TuneBase FM does an admirably good job getting audio output from your iPod to your vehicle's stereo, but it is plagued by the same sound quality issues that affect all FM transmitters. I live in an area that has a pretty crowd frequency spectrum; there are only a few frequencies that are relatively free of other transmissions. Despite this, however, the TuneBase FM still manages to transmit a clear audio signal to my receiver most of the time, although static can be a problem from time to time. I commute almost forty miles one way to work everyday, and I rarely have to switch frequencies, which is pretty impressive. Your results may vary depending on how crowded the airwaves are in your region. Compared to my last FM transmitter, a highly-rated iRock! BeamIt model, the TuneBase FM transmits a slightly clearer and more powerful signal. You won't get a much better FM signal from any other FM transmitter.

The TuneBase FM's other features are what really make it stand out from the rest of the crowd. Its docking solution, utilizing a flexible steel "neck" to support the cradle, is much more elegant, flexible, and pleasing to the eye than other solutions that use a series of thick, jointed plastic connectors. This allows you to position your iPod just about any way you please, and it also virtually guarantees that this dock is adjustable to fit just about any vehicle on the road. The dock is secured by inserting the base into a free power or cigarette lighter outlet, which is also how the device receives power for charging the iPod. Included in the box are plastic and rubber outlet adapters to ensure a snug fit in just about any outlet, and this seems to work quite well; even over bumpy roads or terrain, my iPod remains firmly upright in its cradle. It would be nice if the adjustable neck were just a couple inches longer (this unit includes a four-inch neck, the TuneBase FM for iPod nano includes a seven-inch neck), but a longer neck would likely be too flimsy to support heavier iPods such as the 60GB and new 80GB 5G video iPods.

The TuneBase FM automatically pauses and powers down a docked iPod when it the power supply to the device is interrupted, and it powers up the iPod and resumes playback when power is restored. One note about this: there is no on/off switch on the device, so it remains powered as long as the vehicle's power outlet is powered. If your vehicle's power outlets deactivate when you remove the key from the ignition, then this is not an issue. However, if your vehicle (like mine) powers your outlet(s) continually (even when the vehicle is off and the key is removed from the ignition), you need to remember to manually turn off your iPod when exiting your car or risk draining your car's battery.

Tuning to different radio frequencies with the TuneBase is a simple exercise. The device interfaces with the iPod through its dock connector, so it is able to display frequency and present information on the iPod's own display, which is much easier to read than a separate LCD readout. Tuning options are very flexible. In addition to four presets (which, if you sync with the presents on your vehicle's receiver, makes channel-hopping a breeze), the TuneBase FM allows you to to any frequency from 87.9 to 107.9, including broadcast-free even-numbered frequencies such as 88.8, 96.2, etc.

I only have a few minor complaints about the TuneBase FM for iPod. As I mentioned earlier, there is no on/off switch to accommodate vehicles with continually-powered outlets and cigarette lighters. I haven't experienced any difficulties with leaving my TuneBase plugged in for extended periods of time as long as I manually power down or remove my iPod, but it's an unnecessary extra step that I shouldn't have to take. It's also unfortunate that Belkin does not include auxiliary input and output jacks for direct connection to supported receivers or the ability to use the TuneBase for other digital media players and not just iPods. There's even a spot on the cradle specifically for an auxiliary jack; Belkin just decided not to include it with this model. That's really too bad, as I would have been more than willing to pay an extra five dollars or so for the added functionality of an auxiliary jack.

Overall, however, the TuneBase FM for iPod is an excellent product. If you have decided that FM transmission is your only option for in-car iPod connectivity, then this product is definitely worth considering and will perform admirably.

Buy Belkin TuneBase FM Transmitter for iPod with Dock Connector (Black) Now

This is an excellent FM tuner solution. Unlike other FM tuners I have used, the frequencies you can use are not preset and can be reset on the fly. In addition, the Tunebase charges your battery while the iPod is in use.

There are drawbacks to keep in mind: like all FM tuners, you will hear static if you are getting signal interference. This is going to be an issue if you tend to drive in areas with heavy airwaves. This was a problem I had with previous solutions but is less of an issue since the frequencies are not hardcoded into the device and can be reset manually. It can be a little work to find a clean frequency, but that's just the nature of FM tuners.

I had originally considered finding some direct input solution for my iPod but found that it would be impractical for my car as far as the investment of dollars and work went. Seeing as how my car is about three years old, most solutions involve either replacing the stereo or actually going in and messing with the wiring in my car. I got the Tunebase as an interim solution but I am so satisfied with it I think I'm just going to use it for as long as I have this car.

Read Best Reviews of Belkin TuneBase FM Transmitter for iPod with Dock Connector (Black) Here

This is solution for your traveling iPod! The unit includes adapters for many different iPod models. It also includes fitting to ensure a snug fit into your 12-volt car power adapter. The fit is tight enough that the plug will not rotate with the weight of the iPod.

Sound quality is great. It holds your iPod quite securely. You can position your player where it is most convenient and visible!

I have two complaints:

1. As high volume, you can hear the electronic whine of the charger. This is unavoidable but less at lower frequencies. It may not be noticeable with some music but I am an audio-book listener so I can hear it.

2. The controls are little limiting and awkward. Adjusting the transmit volume, which you admittedly do only once, is quite awkward requiring you hold the unit, hold two buttons down while pressing a third. However, selecting a different station is very easy and one-handed.

Overall, I am quite please with this and recommend it.

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I, like many, used those old fashioned tape adapters when I first bought a portable CD player. The sound on that old device is far superior to the quality of this Belkin product.

My fiance & I recently purchased a 30GB Video iPod and wanted to get something so we can listen to it in my 04 Accord and her 04 Cavalier. We agreed getting a radio transmitter was the best idea since we could switch it between cars when we wanted. We got this Belkin product from a local retailer for a relatively good price.

The flexible arm was nice, we could maneuver the iPod to face us and still be within reach to skip songs or change playlists. It also displayed the station we were using on the iPod itself, instead of on the Belkin device, this too was a pretty neat feature.

But from there on out, it's all downhill. We found an empty radio station in our suburb of Chicago, 88.3, and used it. The sound was ok, but I had to turn my radio up pretty loud in order to hear it. With that came a lot of static and high pitched whirring noise that was actually a little louder than the music itself. I didn't notice the noise / static too much when we listened to pop, rock, or R&B but when Classical or Vocal music played, you'd hear static instead of silence. Also, as we'd accelerate the noise would worsen!

We got used to the static and said, we'll deal with it. However, we drove into the city recently and experienced a plethora of other problems. As we'd drive on the highway, someone would pass us. Coincidentally some of them had radio transmitters on the same station as us. We'd hear their music crystal clear as if it was being played in our CD player. After they passed us, we'd go back to our staticy sound.

A little later on, the static starting getting overwhelming and it turned out there was a weak broadcast on that station in the city, so we switched to a different empty station 88.1, and we still couldn't hear. So we tried another, and another... we didn't hear any music for the rest of our day. NO station worked.

On the way home we stopped at my fiance's parent's house, and they said we should try their DLO Transpod. We plugged it in and tried 87.9 (which they recommended) and it was crystal clear. We decided to try 88.1 and 88.3 too since they were what we used earlier that day. As expected, they worked perfectly. I've now driven for days with this new device all over the suburbs and in the city. It's like night and day compared to the Belkin device. We are returning ours today.

To sum it up, FM transmitters are rather expensive and an imperfect solution to the iPod / car issue. But if you're gonna shell out your money on a device, you expect it to work. On top of that, you don't just expect it to work "ok", you expect it to work great. The Belkin achieved a nice sleek design and ease of use, but beyond that the product is worthless. DO NOT BUY THIS DEVICE!

If I could rate this a 0 out of 5, I would.

I have owned the itrip, which was convienient, because you could take it anywhere (being cordless) and play it on any radio. But the sound was absolutly awful, and it drained the baterry. Then I bought the Transpod, which was an improvement, b/c the sound was a little better, and it charged the ipod. However, It was ugly as junk. Anddd after just a month of owning it, it broke. All It did was sit in my car. You can tell it is very cheap. So now I bought the belkin tunebase fm...ANDDDDD......This thing is amazing. The sound is serously BETTER then a cd quality (if you beleive that) I serously have never heard the bass in my car hit so sharply. It also charges it, and the tunebase is pretty small and holds the ipod without any ugly cords. You need to find a station that doesnt have reception for it to come in perfectly clear, and at times I do notice the ringing noise the other reviewer mentions, but I rarely notice it. I give the itrip 2 stars, the transpod 3, and this thing 5 stars by far. I don't know how it compares to the other new fm transmitters, but compared to the older ones, it is in another league. I highly recommend it.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

POWERSTATION BATTERY CHARGER & ENGINE STARTER

POWERSTATION BATTERY CHARGER & ENGINE STARTERWorks great for small duties, but I can't start my car with it with a semi-dead battery!

Good for price, you can use many 12v devices with it.

i finally got a chance to use this item pre charged for aprox.24-30 hr hooked it up to car and nothing.i charged 5 more hours still nothing, i removed the back to check for loose wires, what i found was a battery thats 6years old. i would not buy this if i were you. it looks good but you know what they say about looks.this charger is way below my expectations!

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

New Combo Rapid Car Charger + Home Wall Charger + USB Data Charge Sync Cable for AT&T Samsung Galax

New Combo Rapid Car Charger + Home Wall Charger + USB Data Charge Sync Cable for AT&T Samsung Galaxy S Skyrocket / i727Of course, if you're buying these, then you're probably buying them for the price and the fact that it's a convenient combo. My original Samsung AC adapter and charging cable were fine, I just needed a separate one to keep elsewhere and a charger for my car too.

In that regard, they work well enough as extras. I would have given these products five stars for doing what I need them for, but my rating went lower because of the AC charger. To start, it doesn't charge as quickly as an AC charger should. I tested it extensively and it seems to charge at the same rate as plugging your phone into a computer USB port -to get to the gist, it charges slowly. Whereas the original Samsung AC adapter would charge from 5% to almost 100% in two hours or so, this AC charger would take 4-5 hours to do the same (i.e. USB port rate).

Furthermore, and this is what really brought the score down, it appears there is some sort of glitch related to the AC charger. When charging through the AC charger and using the phone at the same time, the responsiveness of my phone (the Galaxy Skyrocket) would go down dramatically. Often, I would be completely unable to enter my lock-screen pattern or I would have to touch the screen several times before my touch registers or simply that my touch would register after a 2-3 second delay. I have to unplug the phone from the charger to make the phone responsive again.

I haven't tested whether this same issue is there on the car/USB charger, but AC charging is my primary method of charging, so this is a big downer. If the above issues I listed are not a problem for you, then these offers a great extras to what you already have. If the above issues do present a problem, I'd suggest buying something of a higher quality to ensure a good experience.

This was a sweet deal and I am so glad I purchased it when I did. I can now charge my phone anywhere at home and in my car at anytime

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These are not a bad product for the pri ce, but the car charger and wall outlet have to be just right or they will not charge.

Read Best Reviews of New Combo Rapid Car Charger + Home Wall Charger + USB Data Charge Sync Cable for AT&T Samsung Galax Here

First had a problem with car charger It ok now the car charger working but got a replace meant and it work ok now

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This item was great, just as described. would do biz again. Plan to in the near future! I have recommended to friends. Thanks

Saturday, August 16, 2014

LG Optimus GT540 Cell Phone Car Charger

LG Optimus GT540 Cell Phone Car ChargerService from this company is great. They sent out my charger promptly. The charger itself is so poorly made, first time I pluged it in to use, it charged good. The problem is when I went to unplug it, the thing literally flew apart. So disappointed. Just not happy with this charger at all. A real waste of money.

I receive item quickly and intact. It worked fine, have only used one time while traveling. I can't speak for how durable item is or if it completely charges a run down battery. I only used once to partially charge my battery. Have not had opportunity to try more than once.

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Friday, August 1, 2014

Fosmon Car Auto Charger Adapter for Nokia N9-00

Fosmon Car Auto Charger Adapter for Nokia N9-00I thought that I have solved my charging problems but I was wrong, this charger can't charge my phone, I left my phone charging for more than an hour but it was still low battery. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Great product, good price, and worked well during our one month trip. Works for other Nokia phone and devices too.

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I found it good purchase and a must to charge the mobile in the way, . . . . .

Read Best Reviews of Fosmon Car Auto Charger Adapter for Nokia N9-00 Here

Thursday, July 17, 2014

White Compact High Output Dual USB Port Car Charger DC Plug in Adapter for Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 (7.

White Compact High Output Dual USB Port Car Charger DC Plug in Adapter for Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 - Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 - Includes a Accessory Hard CaseI used this for about 1month charging ny iPhone 5. No problems. Then I plugged in a second device, a Kindle Paperwhite. Now it doesn't work at all. Any amount of money you spend on this trash is money wasted.

I'm sorry but I can not say anything about this article because at the moment I have not received. I hope that I'll receive it as soon as possible. Please could you say me Why is it delaying? Thanks

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Bought this to make a travel kit for my Grandson. He like's being able to use his tablet while traveling. Nice little case too.

Read Best Reviews of White Compact High Output Dual USB Port Car Charger DC Plug in Adapter for Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 (7. Here

Monday, July 14, 2014

OEM Car Kit Vehicle Plug in Adapter + Original Home Wall AC Travel Charger + USB 2.0 Data Sync Conn

OEM Car Kit Vehicle Plug in Adapter + Original Home Wall AC Travel Charger + USB 2.0 Data Sync Connect Transfer Charge Cable for T-Mobile LG G2x - T-Mobile LG Optimus T - US Cellular LG 220C Cell Phone - Premium Combo PackThanks for this great kit--got everything I need to get going with my new LG840g smart phone! The price was excellent, service fast and products all work--car charger and connector to computer didn't come with the phone I bought on Amazon.

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Monday, June 30, 2014

2 Pair COBRA CXT225 GMRS/FRS 2-Way Radio Walkie Talkies

2 Pair COBRA CXT225 GMRS/FRS 2-Way Radio Walkie TalkiesI like the radios, good range however the batteries that it came with do not hold a charge for more than about 4 or 5 hours. Not very conveniant when kids take them to sports event and need them and they go dead.

These performed well for us at Disney, just no good betwen Disneyland and the Adventure park just too far apart.

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You would think that they would have thought about this..Go figure..Made in China. The batteries ran out in 4 hours.

Read Best Reviews of 2 Pair COBRA CXT225 GMRS/FRS 2-Way Radio Walkie Talkies Here

Se trataba de un regalo para mi hermano. Toda las expectativas respecto del producto y de la celeridad en la atención y en el envío fueron satisfechas.

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Thursday, June 26, 2014

USB Car Charger with Ic Chip for Apple Ipod Mini, U2, Shuffle, Nano 1st 2nd Gen, Video ( 30GB, 60GB

USB Car Charger with Ic Chip for Apple Ipod Mini, U2, Shuffle, Nano 1st 2nd Gen, Video, Photo Iphone, Creative Zen, Microsoft Zune, Sandisk Sansa Mp3 Music Player
  • LED power indicator . Vehicle Lighter Adaptor. (12v DC) Note: Needs to pair with a USB charging cable(comes standard with iPhone or iPods originally). Additional USB charging cable is available for purchase separately.
  • Plug never heats or overcharges the battery.
  • Built-in charging circuitry protects car against back-flow current and iPod from excessive electrica
  • Simply plug-in USB charging cable (sold separately) to charge your device.
  • .Apple iPod®, iPhone®, or iPad® are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc. Products are Apple compatible and not endorsed by Apple, Inc.

Buyers beware this will NOT work on the iPhone, I even called them to double check and they said "If it is in the description it will work." This is the 3rd one of these I have bought that didn't work. I wish these retailers would know their products better.

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its worked well for me you have to use the cable that comes with the device i have only had to use it a few times but seems to work fine.jim

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Rapid Car Charger with IC Chip for Motorola RAZR2 V8, V9, V9m, Q9, Q9h, Q9m

Rapid Car Charger with IC Chip for Motorola RAZR2 V8, V9, V9m, Q9, Q9h, Q9mI have never reviewed a company that I really felt sorry for, so here goes, I ordered this for our Q9's we have 4 in the house, I actually wanted 2-3 so I didn't have to keep switching it, so I ordered this one, and when it showed up it was the wrong kind of charger, so I posted about it and they asked if they could send me another of the right product I said sure, then a few days later I recieved a wall charger, not what I wanted still......so I contacted them and they asked if they could redo again and asked for a pic of the phone and the port for the charger, so about a week later I recieved another charger that was a wall charger but it did actually fit my phones, I was ok with that, but bless this poor guys heart when he asked I said no it wasn't what I ordered I wanted the car charger, so he said he will try again, so he sent me another car charger, but it doesn't work on any of the phones but charges all my tablets really well!!! So as long as we have the tablet I can connect the phone to the tablet then the tablet to the charger. LMAO I feel so bad for this guy he worked so hard at getting me what I ordered but after 4 attempts it still wasn't right!!! I am giving him a 3 because he worked so hard trying to make me happy, not because the product was so great :(

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Sunday, May 18, 2014

Black & Decker PAV1200W 12-Volt Cyclonic-Action Automotive Pivoting-Nose Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

Black & Decker PAV1200W 12-Volt Cyclonic-Action Automotive Pivoting-Nose Handheld Vacuum CleanerThis thing is perfect! The things I looked for when shopping for my first auto vac were:

1) Length of cord plenty of legnth. DON'T EVER GO FOR A WIRELESS AUTO VAC! The suction power dies, and eventually, you'll have 5 minutes of good suction per charge. The cord for this vac is too long and that's a good thing. Of course you'll need a cigarette lighter input, which all cars should have. I am able to reach the back of my Scion tC with ease and extra cord available. And if you know anything about tC's, they are small cars so you big car owners should have no problem at all.

2) Suction power Since this is a wired-type, there's no need to worry about loss of suction power. With 12V, this thing will clean up your car pretty nicely. For those stubborn pieces of dirt, hair, cloth, etc. that stick to your car fabric, the brush attachment does wonders.

3) Attachments It comes with three attachments a brush attachment, a rectangle-to-circle attachment to attach the brush, and a tube attachment to reach those hard-to-reach spots. This vac comes with a pivoting action end which is, in my opinion, genius. It really helps to access under the seats and under the side-ends of the back seats.

4) Convenience It's lightweight, and comes with a bag, so you can carry it around for travel.

All in all, this is the best auto vac solution. Don't worry about the price this thing is worth every penny.



I like this vac, but I can't say I love it. If the suction were a bit stronger, I'd be giving it 5*. Although it doesn't have the more powerful suction that I'd hoped for, it is still strong, and certainly much, much better than my previous auto vac. I will also add that I would probably do a better job when not holding the pocket cam in my other hand, so take that into consideration as well. That said, I am pleased with the performance and the features.

AIR WATTS= 11 Bowl Capacity= 11.8 oz.(350 ml)

CORD LENGTH= 16 ft. Replacement filter= PVF100

Volts= 12V 2 Year Warranty

The pivoting arm also has a smaller arm that extends out from the end if you choose to use it for the extra reach. While I was able to get the arm down next to the seats, it couldn't go all the way down, which is what I will use the hose attatchment for. The arm did excel at getting in between the rear seats as I could hold the unit at such an agle as to easily reach deep in between the seat and back cushion to get all the crumbs that get pushed there over time.

I haven't used the rounded brush yet, however the small brush that fits onto the very end of the pivot arm extender is very useful in that it helps agitate the debris in the carpet fibers giving a much better pick-up than using the arm alone. The hose I have used once, and it works fine, however I found that I lost a bit of suction with it attatched.

Emptying the unit is a breeze. You just flip up the lid, and dump it right into say, a plastic bag that you keep nearby as I did. The cord which plugs into a cigarette lighter wraps around the unit and has a clip on the end to keep it inplace. The 16 ft cord length is actually a very beneficial feature as I was easily able to reach the back of the car to vacuum the trunk. I like the fact that it's corded also, because it seems to me that the cordless models would have less power to begin with, and that power would decrease as it's in use; as well as the fact that you can only use them for a limited time before the need to recharge them. No such issues with a corded vac such as this PAV.

You also receive a neat carrying case that is roomy enough to fit the vac and all attatcments inside without having to cram them or figure out the secret to making them fit back in like some other items that come with cases often do.

There is no way to plug it in the home, and though I do see adapters that are marketed to use with this, the reviews on many of them say that they are not strong enough to power the vac. Originally, that was my plan, but I've since decided to just buy something else small messes in the home, ie a mini 2hp shop-vac.I will also post some pictures of the unit/accessories above as well.

**Update**7/27/11-I found another way to clean deep along both sides of the bucket seats up frontI went to WalMart to purchase a micro tools kitSHOP VAC MICRO-CLEANING that is actually for a shop vac that Shop-Vac 5895100 2.0-Peak Horsepower AllAround EZ Series Wet/Dry Vacuum, 1.5-Gallon I also just purchased-and sure enough, the attatchments fit on the Black & Decker too, as they're for any 1.25in hose. I also used the mini brushes to get into the vents and other tight spaces throughout the car. This discovery makes the Auto Vac even more useful.The kit is available on Amazon, but I checked Walmart online first, and found them in stock, as another reviewer said they were cheaper there. (If you do go to get the micro toolsthey're in the tools dept. by the shop vacsnot the vacuum aisle; or so they were in my area)

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It's the third vacuum cleaner I have experience with. First one was cheap and useless even it was plugged in cigarette lighter it never could pick up any dirt, the second was the same but wireless with 3 minutes of full suction and 2 minutes of slow death (30 min to recharge). I'm done with cheap (around $12) stuff. It was all wasting of money and I always ended up with brush cleaning. Even gas station vacuum cleaners with their nasty hoses never could done the job what I done with this fine product: Black & Decker PAV1200.

It was my first expression after I just started cleaning: "WOW!!!" and the same when I was done "Impressive!!!".

I came with two brushes, hose and adapter for hose connection. But it also has a nice feature as moving and extensible nozzle. You can adjust its position for your convenience and after you done you can fold it what makes whole unit is compact. If you look at the picture of cleaner you can see the red tip on the end of nozzle. That one is extensible to about 4-5". And its tinny so you can reach all slits.

I used one brush on this tip extending nozzle and I was done with cleaning of my minivan in 10 minutes reaching all spots including carpet mats, under pedals, under seats, between seats and decor. I got everything: fluff and hair with brush tip, dust and crumbs with cleaner suction which is pretty decent.

Cord is pretty long and easy to reel on back after you done.

Cleaner comes with nice bag with handle, so all parts including the unit you can keep together and it does not take to much room.

I Highly recommend this unit for everyone who got tired of search of decent vacuum cleaners and want to keep his car clean.

P.S. I cleaned with car engine running (did not want to waste my battery)

Read Best Reviews of Black & Decker PAV1200W 12-Volt Cyclonic-Action Automotive Pivoting-Nose Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Here

Excellent item! I recently purchased a new BMW and was looking for a small, handy vac, that I could power/stow in the car, to pick up lint and dirt. Although the vacuum seems a little bulky at first, the nozzle extends to get between and under the seats. The attachments are nice, and the filter is easy to empty. For the price, it's a must have.

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This is the best handheld vac I have ever owned. Cord is long enough to reach from the cigarette lighter to the back of a Honda Odyssey. All tools store nicely on the unit or in the included carry bag. This vacuum uses the cylonic action to trap the dirt. This keeps the dirt out of the filter and makes for easy emptying. Excellent vacuum that you can store in your trunk.

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Sunday, April 13, 2014

Schumacher SE-8050 Manual Charger With Tester

Schumacher SE-8050 Manual Charger With Testergreat product. mine got banged up bad. i blame shipping. gonna suck it up. dont want to return a 50 lb product.

If I could do it all over again I would have not bought this battery charger. I mainly bought it for the high amperage boost application to start vehicles with weak or dead batteries. What I found is that the machine cranks up the voltage on the 300 amperage settings to alarming levels. I noticed this when my Mid 70's Pontiac Volt gauge got pinned during a boosted start. Turns out 30amp and 60 amp is enough for most starts anyway and the voltage is not crazy at these levels. I also wish I would have bought a automatic charger instead of having to baby sit this thing. It asks for using a hydrometer for calculating charge times(good luck with a sealed battery). I ended up buying a cheapo automatic Menards charger to compliment this charger. The battery load test/charge test seems to work ok. Only two stars from me. Please rate this review if it was helpful.

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I bought this battery charger mainly to take with me on camping and RV trips. I have A 6.0 Ltr. diesel that I use as a towing vehicle. and I thought with this 300 amp boost I could jump start my pickup if ever I needed to. And yes while out on a trip, my pickup wouldn't stat one very cold morning. ( Low Batteries )I hooked up the charger to my batteries,pluged into the campground current, put it on boost and she started right up. I keep it in my RV now.

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It' came out of the box damaged because it so heavy the bottom has a bulge in it. The end caps for the wheels were missing and had to go to home depot for the parts. Once assembled, it looks fine. I've not had the chance to use it yet so I just hope it works. I just hope the company will stand behind the product if it fails to charge or operate as intended. They need to find a better packaging system to protect their product for transport.

Regards,

Tim Terlecky

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This is just a replacement, probably never have to use it on a car but its good to have in any case.

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Thursday, March 27, 2014

X3000 2.7" 140° Dual Lens dash board camera car dvr black box video recorder + gps logger

X3000 2.7' 140° Dual Lens dash board camera car dvr black box video recorder + gps logger
  • Video and Audio recording
  • 2.7 "TFT LCD Panel or TV Out, TV Out support NTSC & PAL
  • Dual Lens Camera,1280 x 480 30FPS (2CH Record), 640 x 480 30FPS (1CH Record)
  • Support Memory Card :SDHC Class 64GB ~ 32GB, proprietary file format
  • GPS module support ,G Sensor Support

My requirement for this product was being able to export GPS tracking logs and the HD camera. Honestly, having two cameras was a bonus.

Good:

1. This product was very easy to use and install. It will start when it senses power on and will automatically shut down after power-off. Minor issue was the device initially powered on with Russian as its default language, so there was some difficulty in understanding the on-screen dialogs.

2. The proprietary program does a good job of exporting the videos and a Google Earth KML file of the track logs.

3. The fields of view are quite wide and clear at the edges.

Bad:

1. The proprietary viewer program is the real downfall of this device, especially as exporting is the requirement. The camera will format the SD card and then install the viewer program onto the card, which will then allow viewing the files. However, the program requires a minimum 4 GB card and will format it with a hidden partition, which is where all of the data is stored. Thus, the proprietary program is the only way to get to the data.

2. The micro SD form factor is difficult to find suitable cards locally and even harder to keep track of.

3. There are two cameras on this unit, one facing forward and one facing the interior of the car. Each captures a 640x480 image and this device is "HD" only in the sense that both images displayed together make it HD. Thus, the saved, exported output is only an AVI file with its own manipulation problems.

Improvements / Wish List:

1. Get rid of the proprietary program and allow generic output formats.

2. Improve the GPS system such that an external antenna is no longer required. This is problematic in final installation with hiding the cable.

Bottom line:

I would recommend this device, given it limitations, and rate it at only three stars because of that proprietary program limitation. Otherwise, the device meets my requirements.

Cheers!!

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this item dont work right, sometime it work sometime dont, also even after recorded , some time can see it on pc sometime not. sucks.

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I got this item 3months ago but display time does not match with zone even you set as local time.

i called 4 times to fix it but never inform to me answer but tried avoid issue. this item is designed to use in China area not in USA. so do not waste your money ($100).

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Does what it is intended for.

Proprietary viewing interface.

For the price, it's adequate.

Why are 6 more words required ?

Adding to the last review, I figured a way to extract the video files off the SD card. The video files are AVI and stored in a "unseeable" partition that windows will not display. Using a free file recovery software ( I used TestDisk ), I was able to pull all the videos off the disk. The are stored in 2min blocks, with numbering that increases.

Overeall this unit works great for what I need it for. The windshield suction cup mount is huge and in my opinion, is a vision impairment so Im working on a "homemade" mount that will put it up by the rear-view mirror and out of the way.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Cellet Micro USB Retractable Car Charger for Samsung, HTC, Motorola, LG, Pantech, Nokia, Blackberry

Cellet Micro USB Retractable Car Charger for Samsung, HTC, Motorola, LG, Pantech, Nokia, Blackberry, and other Compatible SmartphonesI ordered two of them and they both work fine. My only complaint is they are packaged with the cord partially extended. This puts a kink in the cord which keeps it from retracting fully until it straightens out.

I tried using this to charge my Samsung Galaxy Skyrocket. It charged my phone as long as I wasn't using it. But as soon as I used the Navigation software, my power started draining. The charger wasn't even able to keep the battery charge level.

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it's a perfect charger for in the car. The cord is retractable so it doesn't get all tied in knots.

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I bought this for use with my Samsung Galaxy S Captivate phone, although it should work with any phone that charges via micro-usb (most Android phones do).

So far, I'm very pleased with it. The retracting system has not failed once, and is activated by simply pushing a button. As soon as you push it, the cable flies into the charger surprisingly quickly.

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I like this product. It arrived without a kink in the wire and has worked good since I have been using it. The only thing I am not excited about is the charger gets very warm when it is in use.

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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

WFCO WF9855 Deck Mount 55 Amps Converter Charger

WFCO WF9855 Deck Mount 55 Amps Converter ChargerWas exactly what I was looking for and worked great in my camper.Good price great ship time. Easy tranaction. :-)

Has worked like a champ for over 6 months now and that is with the RV being loaned out to friends to live in while their house's were being remodeled. Can't ask for a better product.

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We had just purchased our camper and of course first night out, all appliances including the heat, just stopped.

It had ran the battery down. We purchased another battery before realizing the converter had went bad.

Ordered this one, installed it and have been using every since. We were worried for ordering an electrical

part online, but it has worked great. We wil even go out and stay in there over the weekend and just play

cards and watch TV and pretend we are away from the real world lol

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Sunday, January 12, 2014

2nd Generation Audio FM Transmitter / Internet Music Adapter plus integrated Car Charger for the T-

2nd Generation Audio FM Transmitter / Internet Music Adapter plus integrated Car Charger for the T-Mobile myTouch 4G with Gomadic TipExchange2nd Generation Audio FM Transmitter / Internet Music Adapter plus integrated Car Charger for the Motorola Droid X with Gomadic TipExchange

With a power hungry myTouch 4G you need to be close to a re-charging capability. I was glad to see this product because it seems to meet my needs, has the correct cables, and does not have to be mounted anywhere. The only problem is, it also needs to work.

The first one came dead on arrival (DOA). When I plugged it in, the Channel display was just dark and blank (with or without my phone plugged in). When you plug the phone in it is obvious that no charging is going on. Just to be sure, I tried plugging it into my auxiliary plug and my other car's plugs. My old T-Mobile charger works in all these outlets... I just do not use that phone anymore.

Gomadic's customer support was excellent. They sent me a replacement and I got it in two days. The only problem is that the unit has exactly the same problem as the first one. I wonder if they got a bad lot from the manufacturer. Hopefully, they will test the next one before they ship it to me.

Update: The third time was the charm. Gomatic provided yet a third device and this one worked! Sound is excellent through my car FM radio with little or no static. I do have to turn the volume on my phone up almost all the way and turn the radio volume up a little higher than I would on a normal FM Station, but the sound is excellent. Also the charger seems to quickly add a boost to the phone so even a short charge seems to help me make it through the day.

One thing potential customers should be aware of is that this unit is not intended to be a hands free device as it does not have a built in mic. You will need to use a bluetooth headset to make phone calls, but when you make a phone call the media volume mutes so your call is clear. When you finish your call the music is back...

I now give it a three but mostly because of Nomadics customer suppport.

Thanks Nomadic Customer Support.

Order this product for my wife for christmas she loves it. Easy operation. The only thing keeping me from rating this product a 5 star is becuase of the sound. I can hear interference in the speekers at a lower volume.

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decent quality when the charger is not connected but when it is poor quality. And the 3.5 wiring is garbage barely lasted a 1week and a half... Good charger tho thats all it does now!! Dont waste your money.

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Friday, December 13, 2013

2-Piece Value OEM Original Combo Pack Of Samsung SGH-T809, D820, SGH-T509, SGH-D807, SGH-T519 Trace

2-Piece Value OEM Original Combo Pack Of Samsung SGH-T809, D820, SGH-T509, SGH-D807, SGH-T519 Trace, SGH-T629, SYNC SGH-A707, SGH-D900, BlackJack SGH-i607, SGH-T629, PH-M610, SCH-U420 Vehicle Cigarette Lighter Power Charger with IC Chip CAD300MBEB + StereJust to warn people, I ordered this and it doesn't fit with a BlackJack 2

The OEM equipment pretty much works as expected. As mentioned elsewhere, the button on the headphones allows you to hangup, which isn't as useful as having it function as a mute or volume adjustment. I had no problems with the fit of the earbuds.

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Monday, November 11, 2013

Gomadic Intelligent Compact AC Home Wall Charger for the Garmin Nuvi 660 - High output power with a

Gomadic Intelligent Compact AC Home Wall Charger for the Garmin Nuvi 660 - High output power with a convenient, foldable plug design - Uses TipExchange Technology
  • Gomadic Powerful High Wattage wall charger for home or travel use. Customized circuit design is based on the latest in power regulation and is tailored to the precise output voltage and resistor ID requirements of the Garmin Nuvi 660 (accurate to 0.1v!)
  • Advanced state-of-the-art internal circuitry protects the Garmin Nuvi 660 from power surges, overcharging, and short-circuiting, to significantly extend the internal battery lifecycle.
  • Power Sleep"" feature reduces vampire power draw 99%. Charger will consume less than 0.1W of power when in ""dormant state"" (e.g. not connected to the Garmin Nuvi 660).
  • TipExchange Technology protects your investment, by providing a means to change/upgrade your charger by simply swapping the physical charging tip. (Charging tip for Garmin Nuvi 660) included with additional tips sold separately)
  • Uniquely engineered in a small, lightweight, and highly portable design, the Gomadic Garmin Nuvi 660 Wall Charger travels easily, saving both space and time.

The product was exactly like it was advertised and it was sent to me very quickly and all the process was first class.

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Unless your car doesn't have a readily accessible power outlet, or unless you use this outside of the car (i.e. walking, biking), this accessory is not really needed. I've used it only a couple of times.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Car DVR-2.7'' or 2.0'' LCD screen Rotating Dual Len Vehicle DVR Road Dash Video Camera Recorder Tra

BOOMYOURS 2.7' TFT 270°Rotating Dual Camera Lens HD Car DVR Vehicle Blackbox DVR with G-sensor & GPS Module & SD SlotWhile I agree the manual is horrible! I had to guess on how to set the Timezone. There is a config text file that is created on the memory card when you format it. Then put it in your computer and run the JPlayer app which will create a file called Default_Folder. If you go into that file and add a line [TimeZone]=-4 (for Eastern Daylight Time) your offset may vary, that will set the timezone to Eastern Daylight Time.

The video can only be viewed using the app that comes with the device and shows the x,y,z sensors. You can export the video to an .avi file but the sensor graph does not export the x,y,z sensors or the speed. Those are two big flaws.

Works very well so far, I like the GPS option. Download video to your computer and it shows your speed and route, pretty clear video at night, it's extremely dark where I live, no street lights, but works well with just headlights on. Night vision cam for inside vehicle not the greatest but works, overall it's a good dash cam

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I admit, the initial start up is a little painful because the manual has been poorly translated to English. This makes initial formatting of card and language selection a bit of guesswork.

However, aside from that just insert a 6 speed or above, 4-32gb mini SD card and youre rock and roll. The menus are simple to interface and adjustable while recording.

As far as the product being cheaply built...eh maybe not Sony standard, but it's effective and works. I think it's more of perception based on its simple design.

I've had mine operational for over a month now and not a lick of problems.

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As a gadget freak, I didn't really read the manual and I set everything up just fine. I guess people who actually read manuals are not happy with the instructions.

Pros:

two lenses

very reasonable price

GPS

not tested the G sensor yet

image is decent quality. Anything better will cost at least a couple of hundred dollars at least.

the software shows Google map GPS location while it plays. that's pretty neat.

Cons:

Card got stuck in unit inserting the micro SD card I was too lazy to unmount the suction cup and tried putting the micro SD card in, and it missed the adapting bracket, got stuck all the way into the unit. I had to remove four screws and pry it open a bit and shook it out.

SD card formatting a little untable: I'm using a 32G micro SD card and it works fine. At first I formatted the card using the camera, and it had a little flashing warning sign on top. and Mac OSX wouldn't read the card. So I went to a windows machine to format the card and the warning sign is now gone.

The last file is broken and needed repair: i didn't try repairing so i don't know how good it is, but it's spooky. say you have an accident and the unit loses power, leaving the accident clip in a abruptly cut off file that needs repair. not peace of mind. but for the price, this will do.

For the price I paid, and I'm not willing to pay 200 bucks, this works quite nicely with many features, with a lot of features. But it does take a bit of a techie if you run into minor issues.

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Some reviewers say they could read license plates, some say no. I say no. Even when viewing on a reasonably large PC monitor. When turned on the first time, it started up in Russian, with a prompt and two buttons. One I could tell was Yes (in Russian), the other I have no idea what the button said (it wasn't nyet). After trying a few different buttons, got it to English. Some of the icons on the menu weren't real obvious, but there's one that sort of looks like a head that's the language menu. Viewing software is actually pretty cool, and surprisingly small. From some of the reviews, I thought maybe it was possible to point both cameras forward and combine them. This is not the case. All in all, kind of neat, but you won't be using it to get license plate numbers.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Cobra Vedetta Ultimate Detection Systems Series, SLR 650G Radar/Laser/Camera Detector

Cobra Vedetta Ultimate Detection Systems Series, SLR 650G Radar/Laser/Camera Detector
  • Supercharged Performance Radar/Laser Detector, provides phenomenal detection range on all radar/laser speed monitoring devices
  • Quad-level IntelliShield lets you choose from 4 levels of city filtering modes for improved false signal rejection
  • 2.4 inch, High-Def color display gives you a bright and easy to read/operate screen in any lighting situation with touch-point controls, choose from 6 user-selectable color themes
  • VoiceAlert provides user with human voice band annunciation
  • Internal GPS receiver and lifetime AURA camera and driving hazard database alerts users to speed and red light cameras, known speed traps and dangerous intersections

I was trying different radar detectors in my country and no one could detect the Multaradar CD that operate in K Band here... so I saw that Cobra was releasing the new Vedetta Series with supercharged detection, so again I give a shot like my last hope and again unfortunately this is another detector that could not detect the Multadar CD.

Pros:

This detector looks really nice, better than any another one that I tried before including the Escort 9500.

Is a lot smaller than I thought, that was my concern after seen the pictures, but the detector is nice built and really small.

The screen is nice you can change the colors scheme, for colored or mono color to match your car dash, I really liked that function in my case I use Blue Scheme.

This detector is really smart on false alarms, when you are just moving slow the detector doesn't emit any sound just screen alerts, that is really handy when you are on the city.

The design, the looks and the material used in the construction is really higher than the ones used on other detectors that I did try before.

Cons:

In my case can't detect the Multaradar CD K Band.

The support is ugly like the Garmin ones, I didn't liked, so I used velcro on my dash to mount (Velcro Included).

The cord is not coiled, is just the regular cord, so you have to use something to wrap what is left, is too long for my taste.

Very poor information online about this device, the box came with just a really small mini manual, they should put online the tech info about this device.

To resume my experience I felt really bad when I just stopped my car and put the detector face to face with the Multaradar CD and it not even beep!! the cops just gave me the smile and said to me 'How your 300 bucks detector could beat our 50.000.00 machine?" actually he was really nice to let me try my detector so close!!! and no, don't even beep!! this, the suction cup and the poor information available online about this device is the reason that I give 3 stars...

If you have any doubt about this detector, fell free to ask me before you purchase!

UPDATE 08/21/2012

I just received an e-mail from Cobra and they confirmed that they radars can't detect radars operating at K band 24.100 Ghz, however on the radar documents they did send me, that clearly says that the SLR 650G can detect on K band between 24.000 Ghz and 24.250 Ghz. So 24.100 Ghz is inside the range. That is the reason I removed 1 star more.

Cobra claims to detect any threat, any band more than any another one, but unfortunately that is not true so Buyer be aware if you pretend to use this detector to detect low powered K band radars.

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This is the second Cobra radar detector that I've owned. The first Cobra XRS 9960G Voice Alert 15-Band Radar/Laser Detector with 1.5-Inch Full-Color Display, GPS Locator, and Red Light/Speed Features one worked OK but had a weird GPS dongle hanging off the side of it. Unfortunately the display became permanently dim after a couple years. I no longer use it.

The Vedetta has a completely different display which is larger than the display on the previous unit. In addition it offers much greater flexibility in viewing angle and mounting since it swivels and pivots. You even have the ability to electronically flip the display upside down in order to facilitate mounting the radar detector in the way that best fits for your particular car. The Vedetta has an integrated GPS so that means no external GPS module hanging off to one side of the unit.

Power is supplied to the Vedetta via a power port/cigarette lighter plug. It was disappointing to me that the Vedetta does not have a USB power port on the unit itself but uses a proprietary plug. This may be due to its power requirements but I'm not sure. It would certainly be more helpful to have a USB power plug since most other GPS's and other devices have migrated to that and it makes it less cumbersome to be able to use the same USB power cord that many other devices use.

The Vedetta starts up automatically when power to the unit is provided. There is a power button to turn the unit off. The power button serves another purpose as well; if held for a few seconds, the display flips upside down. This helps you to position the unit more easily on your windshield.

The windshield mount provided is the best mount I've ever used. The disc is sticky and uses a suction mechanism. The combination provides a "won't let go" attachment to your windshield that is superb. I've never had the mount loosen and fall off the windshield in heat, cold or any circumstance. It's the best!

The screen is characterized as having "touch-sensor controls" which is not to be confused with an actual touch screen. It's not a touch screen such as an iPhone touch screen. In this case the controls are operated by touching designated areas on either side of the actual information display. In my case, the right side "buttons" or sensors worked easily whereas the left side "buttons" required a more definitive press that I could only accomplish by using two hands. A simple one finger touch to the sensor area was not enough to activate it.

The screen is very glossy and has no anti-glare properties whatsoever. At times it is impossible to see the display due to the glare. Why don't electronics makers utilize anti-glare screens especially when the device is going to be in a situation where external light will always be hitting it? I just don't understand this.

The Vedetta allows you to set filters that determine at what sensitivity the audio alert for radar/laser will activate. I normally keep mine on the highway setting which lets all alerts through since I live in an area with few false alarms. If you are in a dense urban area, you'd probably not want to keep it on highway setting as you'd be picking up all sorts of random signals from automatic door openers, etc.

The Vedetta seems to have a great range of picking up radar. In one instance the Ka alert went off a mile in advance of where the police car was sitting on the side of the road. In another case, I had slightly over a mile advance warning of a speed limit monitor device that was parket in a residential area.

I've had the unit indicate several "speed trap" areas in my area. I'm not quite sure how these areas are added to the AURA database or how frequently the database is updated, but I update my Vedetta weekly if I remember to. One concern for Mac users is the unfortunate reality that you cannot update the AURA database on your Vedetta if you use a Mac. The software is only available for Windows machines. Come on Cobra. that's not acceptable.

I personally do not like the graphics of the display. They are clunky looking and remind me of a cheesy circa 1978 video game or something. I do like the indication of compass heading and speed, I just don't like how that information is presented. There is also an unneeded animation at the bottom of the display that serves no purpose other than to provide some eye candy that you will quickly tire of looking at. It cannot be disabled.

Overall, this is a well-functioning unit. One feature I like a lot is the ability to easily change the radar sensitivity from highway to city by a simple, single button push. But If I had one wish it would be that it gave an indication of what direction the radar signal is coming from. Valentine radar detectors provide this feature. It is more helpful knowing where the radar is coming from. The excellent windshield mount makes this secure on your windshield in all conditions. The sensitivity seems great and lifetime updates to the AURA database are included. Too bad Mac users can't update their Vedetta's AURA database though. That's a big oversight that Cobra should address.

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The Cobra Vedetta Ultimate Detection Systems Series, SLR 650G Radar/Laser/Camera Detector is the ultimate in automotive gadgets. Features wise, there isn't another Radar/Laser/Camera Detector like the SLR 650G at this price point. Cobra calls the SLR 650G their top of the line radar detector. Performance wise, it isn't perfect, but performs very well. I tested it side by side with a low end Whistler unit, and a high end Escort unit. Here's my results and observations:

Out of the box, the SLR 650G's build quality seems a little mediocre for a high end unit. It's completely plastic, including all the moving parts. The windshield mount is quirky, and the suction mount not only relies on suction, but is extremely sticky. My guess is this is to also work on dashboards. Once everything was unboxed, I registered it online, and downloaded the update program. The update program installed easily on my Windows 8 computer, and it updated the SLR 650G's database in a few seconds. Cobra claims the database is updated as often as twice a day, but updating it that often obviously isn't necessary.

Once it was updated, I hooked my other 2 test units, along with the SLR 650G, and took test drive. The Cobra unit looks great on the windshield. The screen is bright and clear. The menus are self explanatory. Volume is not very loud even at the max setting. Living in the New York City area, I have no shortage of traffic light cameras, radar speed signs, and city cops on patrol. My first test was several known red light cameras in my area. The SLR 650G performed flawlessly. It recognized all of them in plenty of time. Next up was a test on a couple of speed zone signs using K-Band radar. My Escort slightly beat out the Cobra in range, but not by much. The Whistler unit was a distant 3rd. I took a ride to NJ, and passed several State Troopers using Ka-Band. Again, the Escort picked them up first, but the Cobra was only a second or so behind. My other observation driving around was that the Cobra was very good at not false alarming. It was as good as the Escort. All the units were set in "Highway" mode. The SLR 650G also has 4 different "City" modes, but I always leave mine on highway, with no extra filtering.

In the end, the Cobra SLR 650G passed all my tests. It easily outperformed my low-end Whistler Radar Detector in all areas, and was only a step behind my high-end, top rated Escort Detector. The addition of GPS Camera Detection, and touch screen controls make the SLR 650G a great gift idea for the guy who likes to have a lot of "toys" in his car. It's loaded with features, performs well, and detects the most common bands currently in use.

Pros:

Loaded with features

Good performance

2.4" touchscreen

Free lifetime database updates

Easy to use menu system

Cons:

Mediocre build quality

Low alert volume

Low quality, non-coiled power cord

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I had recently purchased a Cobra XRS 9970G for my new car, and it started out alright. I really liked the GPS function speed trap areas, photo enforcement areas, even a user selectable area it could guide you to. But about the time the Amazon return period was up, it went batty. There's a "smart power" feature that monitors car voltage and turns it off if it senses the battery not charging properly. And on my brand new car, where I can see the voltage on the display, it kept shutting off. Nasty alarm sound and then the voice saying "Car Voltage Low". Drove me nuts because I knew there was no voltage issue. Even *DISABLING* the feature which should have prevented it from happening made no difference. So clearly the unit is bad. One of their higher end units and it was junk inside a month or so. Their support said I should mail it to them to look at, and I may do that now.

So when this one came up on the Vine program I thought it was worth a shot. I loved the looks reminded me of my days in the Air Force, looks almost like some stealth technology with the shape... I liked the looks of the display. I would be giving up my GPS feature, but if it worked without sounding an annoying siren and powering off for no apparent reason, it would be worth a shot.

Shipped quickly, got it unboxed, and it's larger than I had expected. I didn't look at the measurements, but it's considerably wider than the previous one it's replacing. The included mount ONLY works when used on the top hanging from the windshield, because of the shape, There is no way to use the mount on a dashboard pad because of where the slot is in the back and how the mount can only fit the one way. If you want to use this with a dashboard mount you'll need your own mount and velcro.

My other Cobra this is replacing was a dashboard mount because the window mount was such a piece of junk two small nasty suction cups that barely held it to the window, and it kept falling. So I ended up with a dashboard base and a different mount to secure it. This one, though, will stay on the window I believe. It's a very nice mount, and unlike all other suction cup window mount items I've used before, this one isn't just some stiff rubbery plastic, it's a much softer material that actually has its own sticky surface that held the unit to the window before I even flipped the lever to engage the suction. The only downside is that there's so much weight at the far end away from the mount that even just lightly bumpy roads make this thing bounce around a bit. VERY bumpy roads were enough to make the unit break the tension in the ball joint and tip straight down until it was touching the dashboard. The mount stayed, but the "rear" end with the display pivoted down until the dash kept it from going any more. So I may end up using the dash mounted base with this if I can't get the plastic ball joint to stay tight enough.

If you have a Cobra unit, you'll know the voice and the sounds. This is almost identical to my Cobra I pulled out of my car. The display is a thing of beauty, very crisp and clear, even in light, and pivots easily. The touch spots for the settings and volume are lit spots on the outer edges of the screen, and they can be a bit of a pain The screen itself is NOT a touch screen, just those points outside of the display on the sides. I had inconsistent responses with them though when working through the menu settings. Fortunately it's something you only really have to deal with once. The power button is just a button, easily hit on the left edge of the main base unit. With the default setting it automatically powers on with the car anyway, but unlike the others, It's not a rotating volume / power dial.

The unit appears to be at least as good as the unit it's replacing I know all the "normal" places that make these go off on my normal drives around town, and this one is picking them up sooner than my XRS9970 did. And the large display showing what it is in addition to the voice is a much nicer option than the touchscreen one I had previously. It is also sensing the instant on triggered by other cars down the highway in front of me a little farther than the other one did. It also has a smart power feature, but where the other one was reading my battery below 12V (which was clearly wrong) this one is reading everything above 12 and up into the 13v range. Hopefully my "smart power" problems are a thing of the past. But as with all detectors, it's good to have a "rabbit" out in front to flush out any law enforcement people with radar, since no detector helps you with the instant types, that transmit and read the speed in 1/10th of a second not nearly enough time for the detector to go off and you to adjust the speed. But you may catch those brief signals when you have that rabbit a bit down the road in front of you, so you can know to watch your speed ahead where radar might be operating.

There's a green bar across the bottom where it lights up and "sweeps" left to right imagine a Cylon eye slit with a green light rather than red...

The one thing I miss already is that my other Cobra unit showed my speed in the display when it was detecting something this one does not. It shows frequency or pulse rates... I'd find my speed a much better number to display, to save me from glancing back down at the speedometer (which on my car is off about 3 MPH anyway, one reason I liked having another readout of it).

The unit easily comes off the mount for hiding when you're parking and don't want it tempting anyone.

The power cord is a LOT longer than the other Cobras I've had, and is not coiled.

If I were going to buy one I'd probably spring a bit more for the next version up with the GPS. But this is certainly my favorite radar detector I've had so far.

Edit 6 months later on 6/25/13

The bouncing from a normal road finally took its toll today on the mount it snapped the plastic mount clean off. The ball that is mounted in the clamp that secures the detector to the window mount has a plastic rod that is molded into that suction cup mount. And it totally sheared finally after 6 months of the violent bouncing up and down that this always suffered from. And like another user, I get the random ghost button presses, so suddenly I'll hear "Volume" when I haven't done anything. The volume is very, very low as well still, so even at full volume it can be missed with just talk radio on at a relatively low volume, let alone if you have music going. I've dropped my rating from a 4 to a 3.

Edit 6/27/13

Yesterday I emailed Cobra support with nothing more than the model and what had happened and asked if they've seen failure in the mount like this before, didn't even ask for a replacement. One day later they replied they're shipping out a replacement and that no, they hadn't come across this problem. So I have to give Kudos to their support for sending me a replacement mount without any hassle.

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Suction cup is super sticky. I stuck it right to the plastic face of my dash. Downloads speed traps from web very easily. Makes a subtle chime sound rather than irritating buzzer. Easy to use,