Showing posts with label pulse battery charger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pulse battery charger. Show all posts

Monday, September 29, 2014

Brunton Freedom Solar Panel and 2200 mAh Battery

Brunton Freedom Solar Panel and 2200 mAh BatteryI purchased this device to try to charge my cell phone with the sun. The device was very well constructed, and easy to use. When the device is fully charged (with a USB cable and wall charger which wasn't included), it was easy to charge my iPhone (3G) by plugging the iPhone cable into the included USB slot.

Unfortunately, even after leaving this device out in the full sun for an entire day, it failed to even charge the internal battery over 25%. What this means is that if you plan to use this for solar power, you have to leave it in the sun for the better part of a full week in order to get enough power to recharge a cell phone.

That said, it works well as a portable battery. Just not as a solar panel.

My first backup pack was an Energizer, $70, and it was fine but pricey for me. I happened to run across this Brunton pack through Botach Tactical for $30 shipped, and I LOVE it!

Solar Panel: I understand that the solar panel is for EMERGENCY or minor supplemental charging, so I am realistic about it's capabilities. With that being said, I haven't tested it's spec'd capabilities.

LED Light: The description leaves out the fact that it has a built in LED for reading or rummaging through your bag it's not very bright, it's just right.

Adapters: The cord that is half-wrapped around the unit is USB 2.0 and Mini 8-pin USB, both male type. Additionally, it comes with a cigarette lighter adapter with a female USB 2.0 port, as well as a Mini 8-pin USB (female) to Micro 5-pin USB (male) adapter that allows you to plug in most Smart phones. At first having to use the adapter to plug my phone in was a gripe for me, BUT, I realized that a Mini USB is able to withstand more abuse than a Micro, so it works out. NOTE: When using your own charging cable (Micro to USB 2.0) be sure to completely unplug the attached grey cable from the unit. If you leave the Mini side plugged in, it will assume you are attempting to charge the pack, not your phone.

Charge Capacity: We own 2 of these units, 1 for me and one for the diaper bag. We charge them when they hit 50%, but have yet to fully deplete them even with heavy use. My Android was about to die while I was tweaking out on my Ebay app, so I plugged it in and it kept my phone juiced up AND even added charge.

Build: This unit feels pretty durable, and has handled the diaper bag abuse. The orange rubber lining is no-slip texture, and the unit is slim enough to fit in the back pocket of my Levi's comfortably.

All in all, I couldn't be happier, especially given the price. Even for the Amazon price, it's still worth the money for everyday use and just-in-case. Couple all the above mentioned with the "Plethora" of aftermarket attachments and chachkies (maybe a Brunton SolarRoll) and you got yourself mobile peace of mind.

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I bought this device for an upcoming sailing trip, and then read the reviews. I was very concerned that it would not work based on what I read, but it has been fine for me. It powered up on a sunny day, and is recharging my device perfectly. Let's see what happens over time, but I am not having any of the issues that other people had.

Read Best Reviews of Brunton Freedom Solar Panel and 2200 mAh Battery Here

Getting my supplies ready for hiking the AT I found myself feeling very fortunate to find a product such as this.

I use a bottom line Motorola Cell and a Bayer Contour USB glucose meter for my diabetic care.

Both of my devices charge in just more than an hour using this device. I find that funtastic.

I know the solar panel does little for those with high-end phone/toys. The small solar panel is only a half watt and that is in the best sunlight/condition ( 0.100a * 5V = .500W or 1/2 watt)(a*v=W). My devices are turned off during hiking/packing until I have a need and there is where this device works for me. During my few months on the trail the Brunton Freedom will be more than adequate for my charging. I also love the small dim led light built in.

If your going to bring a high-end toy on the AT you may want to buy a gas generator to pull behind you.

As I stated, Funtastic!!!!

Peace be to the journey!!!

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I have several of brunton products they by far always have exceeded my expectations!! I would recomend this product to everyone who can use good backup power.

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Sunday, September 28, 2014

Whistler XTR-130 Laser/Radar Detector with High Gains Lens

Whistler XTR-130 Laser/Radar Detector with High Gains Lens
  • Radar/Laser Detector
  • Brand: Whistler
  • WHIXTR130
  • Total Band Protection
  • Tone Alerts

After paying a couple of speeding tickets in my life, I learned that municipal radar traps are as much about revenue generation as they are about law enforcement. Especially in our town. After I was pulled over for a "blazing" 31 mph total speed (not in a school zone), I decided that radar detectors are about revenue preservation...mine.

For years I periodically used the very expensive wireless version because the dangling-wire options did not add anything to the new car interior view...but that all changed when I decided to run an experiment on a very boring long-stretch, open-road, speed-trap infested 100-mile trip which always triggered a series of alarms that are only less painful than my wife's objections to the "noisy things", but that's another story since I have long gone deaf in the right ear.

Anyway, in a side-by-side comparison, I kept noticing that the old wired-version little Whistler would let me know about a radar signal several seconds before the discrete, expensive wireless version of about the same vintage. I couldn't believe it at first because I paid almost 10 times more for the car magazine-recommended wireless one. Denial is a terrible thing, until you get zapped for not recognizing it. I kept testing it on the same trip that we make regularly...same verdict.

Finally, after my wife's last ticket when she did the trip solo without using it and my "reckless" 31 mph capture by the local cops, I pulled the stops out on the wireless one and "sprung" the cash for the under-$40 current version of my old Whistler, just to make sure I had the latest in proven technology. Then I bought the Whistler 140 Model series for my wife's car.

On our most recent 100-mile trip, the little Whistler kicked in on an open stretch with a strong alert from a police car that had already pulled someone over far ahead of us. As soon as I heard the signal and noticed the flashing Visibar from the cruiser, I hit my car's trip odometer reset to clear it to "0" so I could track the distance that the radar signal was detected. My estimate was a little short. The odometer clicked off 1-mile, 1.5, 2.0 and then I quit checking because I glanced over at the guy that had been stopped as we passed by, well within in the speed limit. It was over two-miles...open road...that I received the warning.

Not recommending that you get it to break the law, because no radar detector has a longer detection signal than the actual radar gun range. Just use it to responsibly to avoid the "Barney Fife" reruns in real life.

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The Whistler Laser/Radar Detector has been very reliable in alerting us to potential speed traps as we have traveled down the highways; I am very pleased with it so far!!! Thanks Amazon for shipping it to me so quick!!!! I really need that device here in central Georgia!!!!!!!!

Read Best Reviews of Whistler XTR-130 Laser/Radar Detector with High Gains Lens Here

paid under $40 for this radar detector. it has good sensitivity and range and covers all the bands plus laser detection...wny spend more?

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I gave this to my friend that drives three hours commuting almost three times a month. She loved this gift when I gave it to her. She told me the other day that she loves it and uses it all the time. It alerts her to slow down when coming close to an officer. I suggest this to anyone thinking of getting it as a gift or for yourself!

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Very happy with this product. This is the third one I have ordered. Came on time was packaged well. Happy with this order.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Rapid Car Charger with IC Chip for AT&T LG CF360

Rapid Car Charger with IC Chip for AT&T LG CF360the car charger is of very high quality and works very well it charges the phone very fast a great accessory to have in any car...thank you

Everywhere I looked this charger was at least $15+ So this was a great deal!!!

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Works fine solid connections to phone and car. Good accessory for the LG CF360.

Read Best Reviews of Rapid Car Charger with IC Chip for AT&T LG CF360 Here

This works for my phone (make sure it is a match for you). It is very inexpensive, yet works wonderfully! I got extra for my second car. Very happy!

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I bought this charger to use with my LG phone and it worked just like it was supposed to and it was a lot cheaper than going to a retail store!

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Gomadic Intelligent Compact AC Home Wall Charger for the RCA X3000 LYRA Media Player - High output

Gomadic Intelligent Compact AC Home Wall Charger for the RCA X3000 LYRA Media Player - 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 RCA X3000 LYRA Media Player (accurate to 0.1v!)
  • Advanced state-of-the-art internal circuitry protects the RCA X3000 LYRA Media Player 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 RCA X3000 LYRA Media Player).
  • Charger works on power voltage levels worldwide by supporting a wide input range of 100-240v AC / 50-60 Hz.
  • Uniquely engineered in a small, lightweight, and highly portable design, the Gomadic RCA X3000 LYRA Media Player Wall Charger travels easily, saving both space and time.

I got my charger very quickly undamaged. and was watching my Lyra that night, i was being to think that i would never find the cord again no one seem to know what the lyra is even thou its way better then the ipod any day of the week thanks for the quick turn around

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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX Vehicle Navigation Dock with Rapid Vehicle Charger - Non-Retail Packaging

Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX Vehicle Navigation Dock with Rapid Vehicle Charger - Non-Retail Packaging - BlackFor the most part, I am comparing this to official Motorola car dock for my Droid 1. This car dock for the MAXX is a GREAT improvement and shows Motorola can actually incorporate some good ideas.

First, I made sure to research docks before getting one. Which can be hard since this one didn't have a ton of user reviews right away. Quickly I did learn that what Verizon was pushing in their stores was not the same as could be ordered from Motorola and elsewhere. My biggest draw was the integrated audio. This is a great idea and, in my opinion, worth the premium over the Verizon (which doesn't have the integrated audio cable). My old Droid dock was just a holder for the phone. I had to supply the charging cord and the aux cable (which went to the 3.5mm jack in the phone). It got cluttered, but hey, that's the way is was 2 years ago.

This dock for the MAXX has the connector that slides in to lock the phone in place, charge it, and place audio. Only one cable that goes into the back of the dock. Very clean. 2nd USB port is also a plus. The "horn" that comes with this dock has the same size ball as my old Droid dock, as well as my old Garmin, so use which ever you like. I like my old Garmin because it is more compact and uses a smaller disk. I haven't had any issue with this dock losing suction, so I'm happy there. Also, just pressing the phone into the dock without inserting the USB/audio connector is easy and seems to keep the phone in there pretty well. It isn't to hard to pull it out, just watch for where the volume buttons are so you don't change them accidentally.

I have one gripe. I use a bluetooth device to [sometimes] talk when I'm driving. This device is also capable of playing music from my phone. With my old setup (Droid,dock), I would have BT broadcast enabled on the device, the music to BT option enabled, and a cable in the headphone jack going to my car stereo. I'm listening to something from my phone and it plays on the car stereo. When I get a call, it pauses the music on the phone, answers the call via BT device, I talk, hang up, music resumes over car stereo. Perfect. With the MAXX and its dock, I no longer need to plug anything into the 3.5mm jack while I'm in the car. The problem is when I have BT function enabled, music to BT option enable, and the integrated USB/audio connect inserted everything is pushed to the BT device. If I turn off the BT device or disable the BT function on the phone, then music plays through the car stereo. If I forego the dock and just use an aux cable going to the 3.5mm jack on the phone, then everything works great (as it did w/ the Droid). This seems like a major oversight and I would think that it is just a software issue (but hey, I didn't design this thing). Now, this is probably more a flaw of the phone than of the dock, but since Motorola makes both the phone and the dock and both of the items work exclusively with each other, I think people need to know about it. There is no reason the integrated USB/audio connector should affect the transfer of functions to the BT any differently than the 3.5mm jack.

I'll gladly edit if I find out anything new on the BT issue or if an update fixes it. Overal, great product at an acceptable price, with one oversight.

==================================================================================================================

Edit 6/8/12

I've noticed that over the past month the audio crackles when going over bumps and rough roads. It is the micro USB connection of the cable to the dock that is failing. When I hold the connection rigid or switch to using the 3.5mm jack then there are no issues. After looking at the micro USB side of the cable under magnification I can see that several of the metal prongs are flatter than others.

Now, I first have to admit that I do not drive on the smoothest roads, and even for Wisconsin I think these are some of the worst roads around. I would still expect better performance than lasting 3 months. I have taken the review down from 4 stars to 2 because of this. And to think that I was disappointed with getting only 1 year out of the bad retaining tab on the original Droid.... I expected better from Motorola. I don't think that expecting this to last more than 3 months was too high.

03-12-2012

Dock arrived in "non retail packaging" as described, which means it comes in a plastic bag instead of a box (still includes directions, individually packaged cords, etc.) It works perfect. When I plug my phone in, launches the custom navigation mode. This mode is customizable.

Construction of the mount is solid as well. Cords are quality.

I will be updating after a few uses.

UPDATE 03-31-2012

After using this dock numerous times in the past few weeks, I'm still pleased with it. Motorola also has a car finder app that when you unplug your phone from the dock, it automatically launches to save your location for easy car location. This app must be downloaded separately from the Google Play Android Market.

Dock Plug cord: definitely worth the extra cash. The dock plug integrates an MP3 cable INTO THE USB. It works flawlessly. This makes it so instead of having a cord plugged into the phone's headphone jack as well as a usb cord plugged into the dock, there is only one cord, the usb cord, plugged into the dock. Instead, your headphone/mp3/auxiliary cable plugs into the usb cable at the other end near your cigarette lighter. Very convenient. This allows for easy phone removal with NO CORDS unplugging from phone.

Stability: I have had no app stability problems during the several hours of use. App launches when phone is docked and closes when phone is un-docked.

Features: Features are simple (navigation, podcasts, music, internet radio). Outside of these, not much here. HOWEVER, this makes it easier to use with less complication.

Voice Features: a little lacking here; only allows you to say "read message" when receiving a text or "make call" in response to receiving a message. These features work and both reads and makes calls to voice commands: however, these features are only activated when receiving messages/calls. I wish they would be available outside these situations. Perhaps a future update will provide more.

*More to come

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I won't reiterate what has already been said about the actual product, but I would like to discuss fit. Please be aware that this navigation dock only fits the Maxx WITHOUT a case. I have a hard plastic case on my Maxx, and it does not fit into the dock unless I remove it. Having to remove the case every time I want to use the dock is quite the nuisance and I wish the dock would've been designed to allow for some adjustments. If anyone has input on alternative docks or a way to manipulate the Maxx dock to fit with a case, please share.

Read Best Reviews of Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX Vehicle Navigation Dock with Rapid Vehicle Charger - Non-Retail Packaging Here

OK, so I bought this for traveling to use the navigation and it works well. The only thing that doesn't really work for me is the charging. It works to a degree, but not as I had hoped. So to explain a little further, when I use the navigation, and the battery was charged down to say 40 or 50 %, I have it plugged into the lighter socket and the battery doesn't deplete, but it doesn't increase either. I used to to drive about 2.5 hours and it stayed at 50% the whole trip. On the way home, I used the navigation and radio app at the same time, and the battery actually drained as I used it. I was hopeful that the charging would be better. Still haven't decided if I want to keep it or no because of that.

Please note that the audio on mine playing thru the provided jack and into the Aux in of my car works flawlessly. The sound is awesome. Maybe I got a bad charger part and other got a bad audio jack.

The suction works perfectly for me. Didn't fall off once.

Also, sometime when I dock the phone and try to lock in the charger part, it doesn't go in easily. I have to carefully press, release, press, etc, until it goes in.

And, no, for those asking, you cannot use any case when using this. You must remove it from the case. I have a few easy ones to remove, so that isn't a problem for me.

I know that using navigation, especially in junction with i heart radio or Pandora, will use more battery life, but I thought since it was plugged in to charge, and yes the charge icon is showing charging, I figured it would still charge somewhat.

I will try to use the phone by itself without any apps or anything running, to see if this charger does work. But I haven't traveled anywhere since that trip other than a short trip to work and back. Last time I tried this, for about a half an hour, it went from 20% to 21% in 30 minutes. My standalone charger was much quicker than that. Just mentioning this so you know.

I still recommend this, but if it isn't to your satisfaction, you can always return it.

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Unfortunately, the USB cable that was included in the packaging was NOT the USB cable pictured in the description. The CORRECT USB cable has an additional dongle with a 3.5mm audio jack, so only one cable is connected to the dock itself and both audio and 750Ma of charge are carried by it. The cable that was included in the sealed box was the run-of-the-mill motorola USB cable that would only carry charge (and probably was a data cable limited to 500Ma, although I don't know that for sure).

I contacted Amazon Customer Service to see if the correct cable could be exchanged, however the ONLY remedy was to return the entire item and re-order. Customer Service was unable to assure that the next item shipped to me would not have the same issue, so now I play the waiting game to see if this was a simple packaging oversight or a systemic issue. Based upon my reading of recent reviews, it looks like others are receiving the correct USB cable, so here's hoping!

Oh, and the price jumped $12 since I ordered it... Fortunately I noticed while still in live chat with customer service and they issued me a credit to make up the difference.

If the next box arrives with an incorrect cable, I will NOT be a happy camper. However, if the next box arrives with the proper cables, I will revise this review and rate as appropriate, although I will still knock off one star for the hassle.

EDIT 10/09/2012 Received new shipment of this product, the correct cable WAS in the box this time! Will further update once installed.

EDIT 10/14/2012 Installed, works quite well. I have love/hate relationship with Motorola... I dislike how they have handled software issues (Motoblur, Music Player on DroidX2, Bionic/Atrix upgrade fiasco, locked bootloaders, etc.), but I have to say from a hardware perspective their stuff is first rate. The ability to have a single cable to the car dock with audio and charge carried by it is great! Motorola has clearly put a lot of thought into accessories for their phones.

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Monday, July 28, 2014

BMW USB Charger

BMW USB ChargerLet me just say one thing: this will charge your iPhone 4S and iPad! The other product have not enough power (mA) to charge iPads. This looks good and functions well. It fits into outlet next to ashtray in 3-series but you won't be able to close the lid. I use it in the outlet in the armrest.

Buy it you will be happy.

For the 3 series E 90, the ciggar lid does not close with the plug in place so you have to take it away.

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While this charger will cost you a little more than a Belkin or similar, it's worth the extra cost. Looks good in my car and is low-profile enough to fit in the socket next to my ashtray and still be able to close the compartment door! Charges my phone and other devices perfectly! Added plus is the flip-up handle for easy removal.

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If you own a BMW then you cannot go wrong in ordering this item. It is small, semi flat and not in the way as most chargers on the market. Some thought was put into the construction of this tiny very cool device. The letters BMW are on it ( FYI) and it has a green indicator light that comes on and stays on as long as the device is inserted. The light as stated stays on unless you remove itIt will stay lit even when your car is off. I have no issues with this, just a mental note:-) . I am pleased with my purchase and the seller. Thank You.

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Great build quality with one big flaw. The bright green LED is constantly on with or without anything plugged in. It's on when you exit the car, it never shuts off. Annoying but if you can live with it, this product is for you.

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Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Belkin Dual USB Car Charger for iPod, iPhone, Android, and all USB Devices

Belkin Dual USB Car Charger for iPod, iPhone, Android, and all USB Devices
  • Belkin F8Z280TTP Dual Auto Chrg F/Iphone/Ipod

Actually comes with Ipod/Iphone charger cable and mini-USB cable. Wasn't expecting these, but nice to have extras. Adapter design is compact, and two cables plug in with no crowding (assuming they have standard USB plugins). Jacks on the side work great for center console comparements where top jacks might create issues for closing the compartment lid.

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This adapter does delivery what promises. Good finishing, complete cable set sent with the product and the 2 USB ports are really handy as I had cell phone, iPad, GPS and iPod to be used at the same time.

Read Best Reviews of Belkin Dual USB Car Charger for iPod, iPhone, Android, and all USB Devices Here

This USB car charger is great. It works perfectly for my Motorola Atrix and my girlfriend's iphone. It puts out a good amount of power, I don't know too much about electrical, but I does charge both our phones pretty quickly. And it works with other things like our cameras, and gps, etc. There's smaller versions of these chargers out there made by other companies, but I knew Belkin makes good quality product. One thing I read about a lot of the other smaller ones, were that they don't put out enough power, this one doesn't have that problem.

I would highly recommend this charger

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This comes with two cables. This works well with my I-Pod with the included cable. It also works well with my Verizon phone, but neither of the two cables that came with the product would work with the Verizon LG phone. I guess the phone cable is for an I-Phone). However I can use the plug in cable that came with my LG Verizon phone, I just need to remember to bring it along.

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I bought one for my wife and she loves it. She can charge my daughters Fire and her iphone at the same time. Great product.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Swiss+Tech BGCS81 BodyGard Survivor Self-Powered Radio with Emergency Hammer, Seatbelt Cutter.

Swiss+Tech BGCS81 BodyGard Survivor Self-Powered Radio with Emergency Hammer, Seatbelt Cutter.Swiss+tech crank Flashlight Test Results

It's not heavy, but is big: 9.5" tall and 2" thick at the top part. Will take up some space to store.

Used stopwatch to time this.

1. After full discharge 1 minute crank

Flashlight: About 4 minutes, lost 70-80% intensity, in 5 minutes full discharge. Good enough (compared to other such flashlights which do far worse), so I find this reliable.

Is useful in many ways: for checking engine, tires, power failure at home etc

2. After full discharge 1 minute crank

Emergency red beacon (blink/siren) (without siren as volume was kept on zero)

At about 28 minutes, started loosing intensity. At 41 minutes, quite dim, 46 mnts really low, 49 mnts still blinking but really low not usable. So I'll stop here.

3. After full discharge 1 minute crank

Radio volume at mid level, good until 9 minutes, then volume goes down and in a few minutes stops.

This I think is a unique device, with siren, beacon, flashlight, radio, hammer, seat belt cutter.....

I find this reliable and will keep in my center console in my car where I can blindly reach it in case of emergency.

I wanted a car-escape tool that also had a flashlight and a dynamo crank to recharge it. This was one of three I found and I went with this one because it looks flatter and easier to store. The radio is a nice addition so it can double as a disaster situation news source. I also really like that the rechargeable batteries are removable AA batteries so if you already have other methods to recharge the same type of batteries, you can recharge them with other rechargers and then put them in this tool. It can go the other way too, if you feel like cranking for two hours, you can fully recharge two AA rechargeable batteries for other electronics :). There's an optional AC adapter you can buy and connect to this tool to recharge the batteries that way or run the lights/radio off AC power. I couldn't find the adapter online for sale so probably have to call swiss+tech for it. Everything that I tested works. I didn't test the hammer on any windows but it looks solid. I didn't test the seat belt cutter on anything other than paper so not sure how sharp it is. I didn't test if backup batteries would work.

Minus 1 star for the dynamo causing lots of static/interference on AM radio, so you can't crank while you listen to AM radio. But FM radio, lights, sirens work while cranking. Also it is 10 inches long, which is bigger than I expected but it still fits in the center console of my '98 Accord. But that's more of a mark against the seller/Amazon for lack of information on its dimensions.

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this works better than i would have believed, thet price is great and it does so much, good for emergencies. a must have for all who camp, have emergency kits or own a car.

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For the money this is a nice tool to keep by my driver's seat for emergencies. I bought one for each car because the price was good. Admittedly, it doesn't do any one function like a dedicated tool (radio, flashlight, etc), but it does everything well enough for me to be confident using it stranded on the side of the road. The fact that the hand-crank is easy enough for my three year old to operate and powers everything sufficiently, is fantastic. Now I occupy her attention in a stressful situation.

I only wish the flashlight was a bit brighter and that it received NOAA weather channels. But if any event occurs big enough to be on NOAA here in Hawaii, I'm sure the public FM/AM channels will be reporting as well.

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I purchased four of these units as presents for relatives. First, I was forewarned by other reviewers about the large size of these devices. I still didn't expect them to be quite as large as they were. The window breaker is something that needs to be kept immediately to hand, and frankly, I'm not sure where in an average car these devices could be stored and still be to hand in an emergency. But that isn't why I returned them.

On opening one of the packages and testing the device, I found that the radio did not work at all. This was not a battery problem. I had put in a set of fully charged Eneloop batteries. Finally, fiddling with the volume control intermittently caused the device to emit distorted audio. Obviously, the volume control potentiometer was faulty. Next I tested the flashlight, about which the most charitable thing I can say is that it is slightly brighter than a glowworm.

Overall, the build quality was very low. I have lived in Switzerland and can say that, based on personal experience, the Swiss are absolutely superb at anything to which they aspire to excel. I commend the sense of humor and irony that caused the manufacturers of this device to call themselves Swiss+Tech. Nevertheless I returned all four of these enormous, impractical and defective devices.

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Friday, June 13, 2014

Schumacher WM-12 Cable Connector for Battery Charger/Maintainer

Schumacher WM-12 Cable Connector for Battery Charger/MaintainerI recently bought several battery charging products to get ready for winter, including a Schumacher SEM-1562A (bought at the local Tractor Supply Co.), the Schumacher EC-25 25' Cable Connector Extension Cord and this extra connector cable.

The charger works great. The extension cable works great. This connector works great as well. But....

I was a bit disappointed in the over all design of this connector, tho. I was expecting it to be the same as the one that came with the charger, but it falls short in at least three ways. It's shorter, the cable is less robust (it may be the same gauge of wire, but it feels flimsy compared to the original and doesn't have as good a plastic sheath around it), and it doesn't have a cover for the plug to keep dirt and grime out. As the point is to leave this attached to the vehicle year round, it seems like the chances to get gunked up are pretty good.

For the price, I think this is a swell product. However, for a couple bucks more (which in this case I grant, is close to 50%) you can get the Battery Tender 081-0069-6 Ring Terminal Harness with Black Fused 2-Pin Quick Disconnect Plug which has none of the drawbacks of this connector that I mentioned above. It's by a different company, but the plugs are identical and it hooks right up fine.

So, in short, this is a fine product that does what it claims but there are better products out there.

Very timely receipt following my order. The Schumacher WM-12 Cable Connector is well made, fits perfectly onto my battery tender, and allows me to maintain the battery on my Harley without having to remove the seat. Thanks a bunch!

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Got this for a lawn tractor, so I could quickly hook up to a charger I use for everything with small batteries (U1 and under). I was stunned when it arrived with a captive plug cover (the illustration doesn't show one), maybe they forgot to mark the present production as "new and improved" or something of the sort. Still, it's a welcome addition to an already extremely useful battery-charging accessory.

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i have on 4 motorcycles saving charge hook up time. this one was my last purchase and has plug protector as others 5-6 yrs ago did not. long enough to clear batt bx and then zip tie in place.

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Bought the cable to allow me to permanently attach battery pigtails to a second motorcycle's battery. I can now easily share a single charger between two motorcycles. No complaints, the product is exactly the same as what comes stock with the Schumacher SEM-1562A 1.5 Amp Speed Charge Maintainer.

Monday, May 5, 2014

Satechi iPod Touch G1,G2,G3,G4, iPod Classic, iPod Nano G3, G4, G5 FM transmitter with LCD Display

Satechi iPod Touch G1,G2,G3,G4, iPod Classic, iPod Nano G3, G4, G5 FM transmitter with LCD Display
  • Made for iPod - Broadcasts your favorite tunes wirelessly from your iPod to your FM car/home stereo.
  • Charge your iPod Touch, iPod Nano, iPod classic - includes car charger adaptor
  • Easy to use - plug it in to your iPod and tune it (88.1MHz - 107.9MHz)
  • Cord-free - listen to your iPod without getting tangled in earphone wires. No batteries.
  • Compatible with iPod Touch I/II/III/ IV gen, iPod Classic, iPod Nano G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6

iPhone and iPhone 3G Fm Transmitter with LCD Display

Buy Satechi iPod Touch G1,G2,G3,G4, iPod Classic, iPod Nano G3, G4, G5 FM transmitter with LCD Display Now

This is hands down the best FM transmitter I have bought for my iPhone 3G. I have bought about 5-6 of the more known companies products only to return all of them because they were terrible. The best part about this transmitter is that it broadcast on 87.9FM which has always given me the best reception in my car.

Yeah its form isn't the best, and it doesn't blend beautifully with my iPhone but it does what it is supposed to do. It lets me listen to Pandora, or my music in my car.

BTW, I have no affiliation with this company, it took me a lot of trips to and from Target, Best Buy, and the Apple store returning bad products to find this device. Just trying to save people the frustration.

Read Best Reviews of Satechi iPod Touch G1,G2,G3,G4, iPod Classic, iPod Nano G3, G4, G5 FM transmitter with LCD Display Here

Bought this item because of it low price. I have purchased similar items at a much higher price with disappointing results. This transmitter works better than others 2-3x the price. Iv been using it with an iPhone and really like the low profile design, no wires or pieces hanging off it. It does pop up the little "not iPhone compatible" message but causes no interference, even when iPhone is kept out of airplane mode. The signal is strong enough to overpower weak FM signals and works well in metro areas with high FM traffic as well as the mountains and rural areas. A really great value!!

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This is a great product that interfaces beautifully with my iPhone and car steroe. I use it primarily to play podcasts through my car stereo. I also use it at the gym to watch video podcasts while wearing standard FM radio headphones, and no longer have to worry about yanking on my earbud cord and knocking my iPhone to the floor. The sound is remarkably clean and clear, but sometimes I will get some static, necessitating that I change the frequency (easily done with the up and down arrows)to find a frequency that has no weak station broadcasting on it; this usually clears up the sound. The transmitter draws power from the iPhone and comes with a cigarette lighter adapter for long trips. In summary, a great product, sleek, well-designed, and at an affordable price.

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I bought this unit, and it does EXACTLY what it should. I have a 2001 Toyota that has no "line-in" on the stereo. So with my new iPhone 3G, my options were limited. I plugged this thing in and set the station and it worked immediately. There is a small amount of static between songs, but i've found that ALL of these transmitters do that. When the music is playing the sound quality is very good (better than radio, not as good as CD's) keeping in mind that iTunes sound is far from CD quality. Further, it responds to your changes with the EQ settings, both on the iPhone and on the stereo itself.

I would, however recommend that you "level" your music on your iTunes (if you haven't already) so that all songs will play at the same volume. If you don't there can be some volume "surprises".

For the price, this unit is Fantastic. There are some that will find fault with it i'm sure. But those people aren't usually happy with anything in their lives anyway.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

CableForge 12v Vehicle Car Charger (Glows blue) for Samsung Galaxy Note i9220 cell phone coiled str

CableForge 12v Vehicle Car Charger for Samsung Galaxy Note i9220 cell phone coiled stretch power charger micro USB 4ftI ordered two of these for our car....one broke within two weeks.....not sure what my husband did to it because the quality seemed like the ones that came with our phones. We still have the other, so ??

i love the length of the cord and it was working fine at first but all of a sudden it stopped working

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works great for my note 2 no complaints here! recommend it for anyone, cheap and i can use my phone as i lay in bed

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I order two of these and only one works now. They both take forever to charge the phone. I would not waste your money. The longer cord is very nice but they do not work than its not worth .01 .

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good enough product for the price my husband is pleased with this long charging cord! only thing is it wont work in his truck to play the music out the usb connection so it is used as his home charger.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

BestDealUSA Nice Pink USB Data Sync Charger cable For Apple iPod iPhone

BestDealUSA Nice Pink USB Data Sync Charger cable For Apple iPod iPhone
  • Update your iPhone, iPod at high speed with the latest music and data.
  • Dock Connector to USB Cable offers 400mbs throughput for quick transfer of your data.
  • Compatible with the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPod Nano, iPod 3rd&4th Generation, iPod Video and iPod Mini.
  • Cable can charge or hotsync while being used.
  • Color: Pink

Cool gift to buy to your girlfriend (if she likes pink)! It comes handy especially when people steal your iphone cable. This time you will notice it!

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I bought this a little less than a month ago... It lasted till about now and the charger cord is starting to fall apart and not work well. Guess you get what you pay for :)

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i was very pleased with the product it really fits the purpose no complaints about this product at all thanks

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It works fine, I love the color, It is different from all the other WHITE USB cables in my house,not only is pink my favorite color, but since my USB is the only pink UBS if somebody in the family borrow it I know that it is mine, they cannot say "that's not yours"

It may not be as high quality as a real ipod charger but it's going the job and for the price it's tough to beat.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Clarion MiND 4.8-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator (Black)

Clarion MiND 4.8-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
  • Portable Internet-connected navigation/entertainment device in black with for GPS turn-by-turn directions and multimedia playback
  • Pre-loaded with Navteq maps and 2 million POIs for U.S. and Canada; send Google Maps information to device; 2D and 3D map views
  • Store music, movies, and photos on 4 GB internal memory or on optional MicroSD memory cards; pre-installed MySpace and YouTube software
  • Connects to the Web via Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) or through Bluetooth-connected cell phone; access to email; PDF viewer
  • Includes car and AC chargers; rechargeable battery provides up to 1.3 hours of continuous use

6/3/2009 Update

I've been using the device for a few weeks now. It has a lot of potential and things can be done, but many applications/features lack the quality of a mature product: inconsistent and unfriendly interface, missing features etc.

Major issues:

1. Small POI database. Only 2 mln POIs, and so far, no way to buy or import additional POIs. Big problem for me, and no easy way around. Finding missing POIs using Google at home takes longer than on a regular GPS unit with built-in POIs. You cannot use Google on the road (or it is much more difficult). Some GPS devices have 6 or more millions of POIs; you can really appreciate it after using the limited 2mln Clarion's database.

2. POI search speed can be from 10 seconds to 3 minutes!!! depending on user's entry. 3 minutes it is just an absurd number. It must be fixed.

3. No Bluetooth hands-free calling. (The GPS is supposed to work with a phone. Why not hands-free calling? I need a BT headset? How many more electronics should I carry?)

4. Bluetooth dial-up network (DUN) doesn't work with my phone. I was surprised because it was one of the major selling points. Clarion provides only a list of compatible networks and my network is on that list. No list of compatible/supported phones.(My phone's DUN works with my other devices)

My hope is that Clarion will keep releasing updates and improving its functionality.

Written before 6/3/2009

The great:

1. Integration with the Internet:

a) You can send POIs from the Internet to ClarionMiND. Even with good GPS units finding POIs may be difficult: you either don't find it or you find too many. ClarionMiND lets you plan your trip on your computer at home using Google Maps, and send POIs to the device. Great feature!!!

b) Great desktop-class Internet browser. You will be able to do everything you can do on your desktop at home, including Flash videos.

c) Google search, and it is integrated with navigation.

2. Navigation (I will update this review on route quality after I use the unit more):

a) So far routes look good.

b) Lane assist. It shows which lane on a multi-lane road you should take.

c) Nice job with voice directions. For example, it tells you something like, "go to the right side of the road" in order to prepare you for right turn.

d) All info needed for navigation is on the screen: compass heading (N, NE, E...), arrival time, distance, next and current street.

e) auto-zoom.

3. POI

a) Very fast search

b) You can preview POIs on the map. This is something nice and unique. You can select a single or a group of POIs and see them on a temporary map.

4. Address entry

a) Very fast.

b) QWERTY keyboard

c) Predictable entry. Only valid keys are active. As you keep entering data, it shows what was found at the top of the screen.

d) It remembers previous entry, and lets you re-start search from any level: state, city, street.

5. Hardware:

a) Gorgeous, high-resolution, large screen

b) Touchscreen works well. It is responsive.

c) Dedicated hardware buttons for Home, Top Menu, Music/Sound.

d) Great to hold in hands

6. Free Internet traffic. So far, I didn't find if it is integrated with navigation. There will be an option for radio traffic which, most likely, will be integrated.

7. Internet weather, news, email etc

8. Fast GPS lock. Less than 30 seconds.

The bad:

1.POI database is small. I couldn't find retail stores like, Walmart, Target, Costco etc

2.The car mount is awful. It is a few 100s dollars device with a "$1" mount. Very difficult to mount/dismount.

3.After you mount the device, it automatically limits its Internet functionality. Result: you cannot use the Internet in your garage when the device is mounted. You have to dismount it 1st, check the Internet, mount it again. AWFUL!!! If they wanted to make it safe, they should detect vehicle speed from the GPS.

4.Addresses are not displayed in the American format (number street, city zip), but as zip city street number.

5.Keyboard

a) Inconsistent keys. Sometimes, it is character-only; sometimes, characters and digits.

b) Inconsistent behavior: to accept, sometimes you have to click "Back", sometimes "Enter"; sometimes something else.

6.Too many keystrokes needed to see the route overview.

7.Current time is not displayed during navigation.

8.The device gets very hot.

9. Video player doesn't accept many video formats.

The bottom line:

It is a great navigation device: very fast, detailed spoken commands, plenty of details on the screen, great map, good routes. The device could be a perfect GPS but they have to add more POIs, BT hands-free calling, and polish the interface. ClarionMiND works very well with the Internet: it will have more or less of a practical meaning for different people.

Buy Clarion MiND 4.8-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator (Black) Now

Overall as a GPS I pretty much agree with "Stan Matofu's" review of the device above. However, I purchased this device in December primarily as a portable media player for my car. Everything else that this device offers was extra, especially considering that I purchased this device for a shade over $100. After having it for a couple of weeks and hacking on it for a while, I would say that I am pretty pleased with the device. Firstly, the device has an Intel Atom Z530, Intel GMA500 (Poulsbo) integrated graphics and 4GB SSD, which is pretty "standard" netbook/UMPC class hardware. With the standard USB port that is built in, one can attach a thumbdrive of practically any size for an infinite amount of music on the go. Additionally, by plugging in a USB keyboard, and switching to virtual console 3 (Ctrl-Alt-F3), you can login as the root user and hack the device to your pleasure (default password is '1234'). Wifi support is pretty rock-solid. DUN support over Bluetooth works well with my Blackberry Storm, which is great because I can use this device as a quasi-internet tablet while in the car(parked of course :) ) The device itself is based on Asianux Midinux Linux which is a offshoot of Fedora. Ubuntu's netbook remix also runs on the device. Installing whichever OS you want on the device is pretty simple, as the USB ports are 1st in the boot order of the device. Heck, even Windows XP runs like a champ on this device. The hardware, according to its specifications, supports up to a 4GB microSD card. I've happily been using a Transcend 8GB microSDHC card with this device to store my music. At its original price of ~$600, there would be no way that I would have bought it. As a ~$100 GPS unit, it is quite serviceable. It has its quirks as all devices do, yet it has some pretty nice features, especially if you can connect it via PPP over Bluetooth so that it gets Internet in-vehicle. Finally, as a portable Linux based computer, it is very much worth the cost alone. I am purchasing a second one, just because it is so hackable.

Read Best Reviews of Clarion MiND 4.8-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator (Black) Here

I have used this unit for a few weeks. The navigation part is excellent. Google search is useless without Wifi. POI is a joke...it cannot even find Walmart down the street. In order to get any usefulness in searches, I had to setup Wifi in my car. Traffic integration is awful. The traffic applet cannot zoom. You have to switch screens to see traffic. This cannot be done if you mount the unit. Mounting the unit switches it to car mode. The traffic receiver NK1U works okay if you get a signal. See my review. Overall, the unit is still very rough. I am hopeful that with software updates, traffic can be updated via Wifi instead of the Docking station. I had a Dash Express prior to this unit, but it got stolen. The Dash Express had better traffic information...I miss my now stolen and dead (company is on skeleton crew) Dash Express.

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1st off, I use this device primarily as a "MID not a MIND"; can do without the GPS navigation, I know my directions well nuff and can still actually read a map.

1. What I find are its outstanding qualities:

Amazon price for this product for what's basically a miniature surfing computer spells out as a nice little cheap toy!

Wi Fi connection, this machine seems to instantaneously hook up faster than my laptop or hard rive.

Browser, surfing, e-mails, etc. as described; works just like a larger laptop or desktop. I understand you can surf with most smart phones now, but their screens are still way to small for my taste.

File manager and RealPlayer software for storing some important pics, those good enough that you can use for your Clarion wallpaper choices, other so-so pics can stay in the flash drive.

Good enough size LCD screen, clean picture resolution, vibrant colors. Audio good enough for this small device.

Real Player software good enough to use for watching MP4 movies while sitting around in a plane plus opening your picture files.

2. Good: 4 GB internal memory only, however, I am always using USB 2.0 flash drives. One of my 8 GB flash drive hold ups to 6-7 full length DVD movies, MP4 files that is.

3. Sucks: Battery life, charged and re-charged this a few times and I feel like I'm only getting 30-45 minutes life out of it. This in mind, I usually keep it plugged in while monkeying around with it in the sofa. I am getting a Duracell 100 watt mobile power source to use, see if this'll get me an extended 2-3 hours more when I can't find an outlet.

Bottom line, for a $129 mobile internet device with Free Amazon Shipping, what's not to like about this?! Gave this a 5-Star, discounting battery performance which I believe is totally independent of this device's useful capabilities.

It is a great device. It would be much better if it was able to hook up to any available wireless or Wi-Fi connection automatically. Also the GPS is not as accurate as my Navigon unit. Maybe with a few firmware updates it can be an excellent all around GPS and internet device. It is a great device for the new price.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Travelon Luggage 12 Volt Usb Charger

Travelon Luggage 12 Volt Usb Charger, White, One SizeI bought this item because it was the only such device I'd seen thus far that doesn't require either a magnifying glass or locating some remote marking on the device to figure out what port supports an iPad. Given that both ports of this device are 2.1 amp rated, both USB ports would support an iPad so it would be just a matter of arbitrarily picking a port to plug into and you're good to go. Why this is not the case with most other 12V and AC USB adapters I will never understand. A nice mechanical feature is the flange that would make an excellent grip to remove it from the 12V outlet, assuming a minimum average finger width of length between the flange and the 12V outlet's bezel. So on the surface, this should be an excellent device. Seems, though, that these days the product designers take all too many shortcuts to improve the bottom line. In this case, the overall length of the device is much too short. I have come across a few shallow-well 12V outlets that this may work with, but they are a very rare exception. This would not work with about 99 percent of the 12V outlets that I've used/encountered. With the 12V outlets on my vehicle as well as the multi-port 12V adapters that I have, the flange bottoms out against the outlet's bezel before making electrical contact inside. It was both electronically inoperative and it was very hard to remove due to the lack of a gap between the flange and the outlet bezel. Unfortunately I can't speak to it's electronic abilities since it would not work in my 12V outlets. With some redesign this could be a good product, but for now it goes back to Amazon.

I can charge two iPads at 2100 mA simultaneously. Charges my iPhone at its max 1 amp (iPhone limits its charge at 1 amp). I only have iOS devices so cant comment on android or others. Have been using it for about a month and no issues. Love the compact size in my Toyota as it is flush with the socket I can close the cover on the charging port. On my Volvo, it sticks out a few millimeters.

Would definitely recommend.

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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

New OEM Verizon Micro USB V9 Car Charger with USB Port for Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx

New OEM Verizon Micro USB V9 Car Charger with USB Port for Motorola Droid RAZR MaxxI usually refrain from writing a bad review and so far amazon has given me very few reasons to do so. But this product turned out to be a very cheap quality. Just after opening the package the small gray cover on the top fell apart and I could see the LED inside. The cover was sticky on the back so tried to stick it back in place, did not work. I just put a tape around it to hold it together which not to mention looks bad. I connected to my car battery output and tried to charge the cell phone and it worked, the led inside, however, did not turn on. I chose to buy this charger because they advertised it as an OEM and verizon product, which usually tend to be robust and sturdy, but I was disappointed.

This charger was a mess.

Exposed wires, a plastic piece covering the internals had melted off.

Didn't even consider plugging my phone into this.

Go retail, or elsewhere.

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Having read other reviews I was concerned about ordering. The charger was new, in original wrap, just like the one I purchased at the Verizon Store.

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I received the exact Verizon product in the original packaging with a $29.99 sticker. The VerizonWireless package says "Power to fully charge 2 phones at once!" "Vehicle Charger with USB port" and "Universal -Fits most Micro USB charging ports."

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It does exactly what it's supposed to do. It's made of good quality materials and meets my needs 100 percent.

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Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Motorola Micro USB Travel Charger - AC Plug

Motorola Micro USB Travel Charger - AC PlugI tried several off-brand chargers with my Droid. Some don't charge the Droid and some make the touchscreen impossible to use. This is the only charger I found that charges the Droid and allows the touchscreen to work while it is plugged in.

I bought two of these as backup work chargers for our Droids. The ones we received do charge the Droid fine, though at about half the rate of the OEM wall charger that Motorola included with the Droid. Going from 25% to 100% takes about 4 hours, versus about 2 with the OEM charger.

A couple things struck me about the charger compared to the OEM model. The cable is very thin, though longer, which is nice for out of reach plugs. The build quality is mediocore, and definitely below that of the OEM charger.

My conclusion is the chargers work and are a good value compared with buying from the Verizon store. If you are looking for a quicker charge, it probably is worth getting the OEM model that came with your Droid. But for a backup charger it's hard to beat the value on this offering.

One other suggestion. If you already have a Motorola mini USB charger for an older phone, you can simply buy the OEM mini to micro adapter (about a 2" cable) sold by Amazon. Works for both wall and home chargers.

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I don't know how it would work on someone else's Motorola Droid and not mine... but I couldn't get any charge at all from it. My Droid is new, I bought it just a few weeks ago. The cable is a nice length, I wish it would have worked for my Droid.

Read Best Reviews of Motorola Micro USB Travel Charger - AC Plug Here

I ordered 2 travel chargers from Orion Gadgets. One of the chargers had its micro USB pins damaged, so it did not fit into my cell phone; the other simply did NOT work, it was a dud. So, neither of the 2 were functional.

I contacted the seller to return the items, and they placed several conditions on me: 1) write order number on outside of package, 2) include a note as to why I'm returning (my email wasn't enough for them), 3) include all original packaging materials, 4) ship via trackable method. With these conditions to return, it isn't worth my time to get $10 back. Instead, I'd rather throw them away and forget the $10.

In short, do NOT order from Orion Gadgets. Their products are extremely poor quality, and I am disappointed that Amazon would do business with them. Looks like I'm going to Monoprice.com for travel chargers instead.

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My original quit working and I didn't think I would be able to find a replacement. This one works great and so glad I found it on Amazon.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Kenwood TK-3130 4-Mile 2-Channel UHF Two-Way Radio

Kenwood TK-3130 4-Mile 2-Channel UHF Two-Way Radio
  • 8 pre-programmed 'star' frequencies
  • 5-mile range
  • 38 sub-channels
  • NiMH battery pack/charger
  • Backlit LCD screen

No doubt about it, this is an expensive radio. For the $140 it costs for one of them, you can 4 consumer cheapo radios. But you get what you pay for. This is a pro quality radio. Give it the knuckle rap test. This thing is solid like a brick. It doesn't feel like a cheap TV remote control like most consumer family radios. When I first got it, I was disappointed because it was so small. It's about the size of all the other family radios. I thought great, I just paid a fortune for another dinky family radio. Don't be fooled though. This is best made, well built radio of it's size you will find short of $500+ professional gear. It's speaker gets way louder than you'd expect for its size. I also use it with an external speaker mic and it works superbly. The range and signal quality are hard to beat. The only better built radio you'll find is in the pro radio class, like a Motorola HT1000 which costs 3 times as much, is bigger, heavier and you have to have a professional program it for you. If you want one of the best made consumer GRMS/FRS radios that works out of the box, this one can't be beat. The battery life is awesome too, I could ski for two days without charging it, maybe longer. I'm sorry I underestimated it by its size, in the real world it's a winner.

**UPDATE** This review is for the GMRS consumer version of this radio. This listing is the business/commercial version of the radio. Still a great radio for business use, but if you're looking for the GMRS version, it may have been discontinued or you may have to find it somewhere else, I don't see it on Amazon now. Which is too bad.