Power Bright XR750-12 750 Watt 12 Volt DC To 110 Volt AC Power Inverter With USB Charging Port

I needed an inverter to power a compressor for winterizing my RV at the storage site. I calculated that my compressor uses about 480 watts of power so this inverter seemed like a good bet. It worked flawlessly to power my compressor when hooked to the RV batteries. The inverter never overheated or shut down during the process, which makes me think there was plenty of power to run the compressor. I figured that this was the latest technology from Power Bright since this was their newest inverter (with no ratings on Amazon at the time of purchase). Overall, I was not disappointed in it's performance. By the way, it's not made from graphite material. Not for the price. It's just a thin plastic case that has a graphite fiber design on it. Nice looking, however.

Save 21% Off

Motorola MS350R 35-Mile Talkabout Waterproof 2-Way Radio (Pair)

• Rechargeable pack.
• NOAA weather plus alerts.
• Vibrates, Flashlight.
• PTT power boost.

Just to give you some background, I have been an Amateur radio enthusiast for about 3 decades now. I collect radios and I am a member of a Disaster volunteer radio group. I have 2 Base Stations and dozens of professional and consumer radios of all brands spanning 3 decades.

Before I get to the radio review, I would first like to explain the advertised distances of any 2 way radio. In the packaging, it actually explains the estimated distances under optimal conditions where it is Mountain to valley, medium in a lake, and short distance of 2 miles in the city. Using this radio, I can reach the nearest repeater to me which is 36.8 miles away. They can hear me load and clear. In the city, my neighbor's son, to help with my testing, biked from our house and found a hill 2.9 miles away and I was able to speak to him when he stood at a specific spot.

The testing I did below was the same test I conduct every time and always following the same path so that it is constant for an accurate comparison. It does not mean you will get the same distance as I got below. You may get less, or you may get more, it really depends on the environmental factors. You should be happy when you can reliably get more than 0.5 miles in the city.

I cannot get more distance than these with any of my professional radios like Kenwood, Yaesu and ICOM. Unless of course I remove the antenna of those radios and mount an external antenna. I should know because I have an ICOM HT with me and I always use it to verify first before conducting each stage of the test.

Anyway, I really wanted to give you a very detailed comparison of these 2 radios, the Motorola MS350R and the MT352R. These radios are about the same size and are both the new radios from Motorola. So when I did my field test I was expecting the same performance out of both radios in terms of distance and clarity.

Here is my side by side comparison between them:

1. Menu Features They have very similar features. The difference is MS350R has the Repeater Channels in the menu and the MT352R has the Dual channel monitor menu option. Otherwise almost identical.

2. Repeater functionality The MS350 has the repeater function. I was able to communicate with 2 distant repeaters and they were able to hear me. I had to speak up a little but otherwise they said I sounded great.

3. Size They are about the same size. The antenna of the MS350R is slightly longer though.

4. Weather resistant The MT352R says that it is Weather resistant. It has an IP-54 rating. The "5" is the dust resistance and the "4" is the Water resistance. This just says it can withstand a dusty or rainy environment. Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment; complete protection against contact. Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect. The MS350R has a higher water resistance than the MT352R because it has an IP-67 rating.

5. Emergency Features They have identical emergency features. Emergency Alert, Flashlight and Weather stations.

6. Distance see test below

******Range Comparison: MS350 vs MT352R********

Scenario: I had my daughter stand in the front of my house and she had an MS350 and a MT352R. I walked away from the house and would radio in every .1 miles. I also had an MS350 and a MT352R. I would transmit first on the MS350 which she will only use her MS350 to receive and transmit. Then we would try to transmit with the MT352R. I live in an LA neighborhood so there are many houses and trees. I believe this would be a typical scenario for most. We were also transmitting on a GMRS Channel pressing the High Power PTT button. I do have a GMRS license.

Test: 0.1 Mile

1. MS350 Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends. Louder than the MT352R.

2. MT352R Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends. Clearer than the MS350R.

Test: 0.2 Miles

1. MS350 Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

2. MT352R Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

Test: 0.3 Miles

1. MS350 Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

2. MT352R Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

Test: 0.4 Miles

1. MS350 Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

2. MT352R Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

Test: 0.5 Miles

1. MS350 Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

2. MT352R Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

Test: 0.6 Miles

1. MS350 There was a little noise in the background but it was still very clear on send and receive on both ends. The MS350 was coming in louder than the MT352R.

2. MT352R There was a little noise in the background but it was still very clear on send and receive on both ends.

Test: 0.7 Miles

1. MS350 There was a little noise in the background but it was still very clear on send and receive on both ends. The MS350 was coming in louder than the MT352R.

2. MT352R There was a little noise in the background but it was still very clear on send and receive on both ends.

Test: 0.8 Miles

1. MS350 There was a little noise in the background but it was still very clear on send and receive on both ends. The MS350 was coming in louder than the MT352R.

2. MT352R There was a little noise in the background but it was still very clear on send and receive on both ends.

Test: 0.9 Miles

1. MS350 There was a little noise in the background but it was still very clear on send and receive on both ends. The MS350 was coming in louder than the MT352R.

2. MT352R There was a little noise in the background but it was still very clear on send and receive on both ends.

Test: 1 Mile

1. MS350 There was more noise in the background but we can still communicate. The MS350 was coming in louder than the MT352R.

2. MT352R There was more noise in the background but we can still communicate.

Test: 1.2 Miles

1. MS350R Her transmission was choppy. The transmission was very noisy. It was choppy on both sides. We both had to repeat ourselves several times in order to understand. I had to repeat myself fewer times with the MS350R.

2. MT352R Her transmission was choppy. The transmission was very noisy. It was choppy on both sides. We both had to repeat ourselves several times in order to understand.

COMPARATIVE SUMMARY:

They are both the same size and the features are almost identical. The MS350R is louder than the MT352R but the MT352R is slightly clearer. I believe it has to do with the fact that the MS350R is sealed because it is supposedly waterproof. I like the fact that MT352R has the power switch on the volume knob on top of the radio. It is easier to turn on and off. It is really difficult to choose between the two since they are so similar. So if you need the Repeater and waterproof features, then I would suggest the MS350R.

NEXT TEST: Waterproof Testing

1. I took off the battery of the MS350R and applied Petroleum jelly to the seal on the battery case back and all the rubber seals. I usually do this on anything that has a gasket that I intend to immerse in water. I pushed the back down with my hand as I tightened the locking screw.

2. I got a pail of water and dropped the MS350R into the bucket and left it there for exactly one minute. I took it out and wiped it dry, and used compressed air to be sure there is no water. I opened the case back and I did not find any water or dampness. I blew the back with compressed air and then re-inserted the battery after 30 minutes(of course I was scared that something might have gotten in).

3. After 30 minutes, I turned on the radio and tested it. It powered on OK. Menus worked fine and I was able to send and receive without any problems.

What I did find that when I reinserted the battery is that if you do not push hard on the case back as you are tightening the locking screw, it will not have a watertight seal as I could see a very tiny gap on the side of the case back. That could cause water to seep in and damage the radio. I strongly recommend using some for of sealant or some petroleum jelly to make it water tight. I do that for my underwater flashlights as well.

Also, I noticed that if I use Alkaline Batteries instead of the Battery Pack, there is less outward pressure on the Case back. The Battery pack seems thicker than an Energizer so it pushes outward on the case back more. So, if I ever go fishing or kayaking, I will use Energizers just to be sure.

Well, I hope my testing and experiments has helped you. Please read my reviews of the MR350R and the MT352R as well since there have been lots of past cases throughout the years. Just like the MT352R, I highly recommend this radio. I will continue to update this review so that you will see the reliability of these radios.

I do hope you get into 2 way radios, whatever you decide to buy. These are emergency radios and they are a must have for any Emergency kit or Bug-out-bag.

Buy Motorola MS350R 35-Mile Talkabout Waterproof 2-Way Radio (Pair) Now

I purchased these for fishing with the guys. To this point we have been using Midland lxt110 radios (I believe thats their number). I didn't mind using them in the water becasue I paid $8 per set. In real world use I feel we got a quarter mile from them and not always clear. One was dropped in the water and even after drying out did not work. They are very small which was nice.

I saw these MS350s on sale and figured I like gagets and it makes our outings more fun. I purchased 2 sets. I have performed a couple test situations so far but have not used them as I intend to. My tests had one in the garage, upright, with a voice recorder aimed at it. I drove with the other and listed off distances as I went comparing the high and low settings. I also did this with my old radios, making sure to pair it with the other old one.

For a base line, the old ones (lxt110) made it a half mile and were pretty shotty. The new ones (MS350r) made it a good mile and a half (they did go farther but you lose a lot of quality). I did not notice any significant difference between high and low power except for slightly less static. When it was out of range it was out of range. That particular run was up hill with about one-third tree cover. My other tests were in different directions from my house. Going south you quickly put a small hill (solid ground) between the units. This limited their usable range to roughly .75 to 1 mile with no tree cover. As I kept driving I did hear a blip from 2 miles away, but past that .75 to 1 mile mark it was so shotty you could not rely on it. I did not test my old ones, I figured they wouldnt keep up very well. On that note, the other day the midlands barely made it from the north to south side of our house (out side walls). I do hear wires and the steel of the car and house etc do have an impact.

I measured on a map where we fish and at most we would be .5 miles a way in dense forest so I have no concerns about these on range.

I had concerns whether I was buying the right radios for a few main reasons you may want to concider. First, you could buy 6 MR350s for the price of 4 MS350s, so even if you drop one in the water who cares. I have to assume they are the same radio in a different shell. I decided I liked the build of the MS350 better(though they are large and chunky but not heavy) and the fact they had the loop for a neckstrap (VERY nice feature). Plus you wouldnt want one to stop working when you are out in the woods. Second, I had concerns if the range of the midland 1050s would be worth it as they are advertised as 5 watt. From my research, that is not much to go on. 5 watts could be "peak" and not "the average". Also, as my tests show, the build of the radio seems to have more impact than the power (both my old midlands and MS350s on low put out the .5 watt or whatever). This could be from how effective the ant radiates etc. As another review pointed out, compare to the output of a cell phone. Again on this one, the power didnt change the range but only the clarity so I would not expect much different with the midland. The ease of use is also a big selling point as is the Ivox and obviously the TRUE waterproofness.

Yes they are expensive but since I dont buy these things much its ok with me. I am sure they will drop in price but once in a while its nice to have the newest product out.

Take home points

Pros:

adiquate/expected range .75-1.5 miles solid and clear communication with some trees and terrain (does work farther just not very well)

ring for a neck strap

waterproof

build quality

easy to use

cons:

large (but not heavy concider that this is 3AA betteries and the Midland 1050 is 4AAs)

no body should expect the listed range but still less static would be nice. (A hill or curve of the earth will block most any radioterrain is important. thats why they have cell phone TOWERS)

cost

Update -

I did some checking on the FCC website for some facts and figures. Although I cant remember the numbers perfectly, this radio can pump out roughly 1.92 watts erp (this I believe is about .5 more than the MR250r). THe Midland does radiate about 5 watts.

Most will say 1-2 watts is as much as is realistic as the terrain will become the limiting factor before you need more than that much power. Another thing to point out is that radios rated very close to the same wattage will have different ranges. This is in part due to better circuits and antennas as price increases. These are very important!! also pay mind to how sensitive the squelch is if you are stricktly going for distance.

I had concerns in the first week of using these radios as one would turn off when I tried using the high power mode, low power still worked fine. I WAS USING OLD BATTERIES AND KNEW IT. I figured I better try and put new batteries in and run them down before it was too late to return. Long story short, I have been trying to run these down using the weather reports, scan, standby, and transmitting for some time now and I am getting "frusterated" waiting for the batteries to die! I figure if its taken me this long to kill them, even if they work funny with low batteries, I am sure to get a lot of usable time out of them.

Read Best Reviews of Motorola MS350R 35-Mile Talkabout Waterproof 2-Way Radio (Pair) Here

Normally men don't read the manuals, we just wing it. Not the case this time. This radio has so many features, I was inclined to get the details. Being that I like to go camping, I was compelled to buy this radio as it's "waterproof" and has a "35 mile" range (as stated on the packaging). I charged these up and took them on their first camping trip. I configured them to both use FRMS as it's got more signal boost and logically more range. I handed my buddy a walkie and off he drove. Shortly after I hear "hello hello" and then silence. When I got home from camping, I re-verified my settings and tested locally. I managed to get about 2 blocks before I was out of range. That's right.. I said 2 blocks, not miles. This was in the suburbs, not a wooded forest. I promptly packed it all up and took it back for a refund.

Pros:

* Waterproof

* Built in flashlight

* Lots of features

Cons:

* More expensive than other GMRS/FRS radios

* Range disappointing

* Belt clips cheap. Broke one just clipping on.

NOTE: I told everyone using the radios to hold them straight up/down to get the best reception. Doesn't seem to have helped. In case you're wondering, I had it set to Channel 2, code 1 with the "quiet" (squelch?) feature enabled. Everything else was off. More hassle than I'd anticipated. :(

Want Motorola MS350R 35-Mile Talkabout Waterproof 2-Way Radio (Pair) Discount?

I have been doing many car show caravans, and being able to communicate between at least some of the cars is extremely beneficial when traveling with 20 to 30 cars. At one point, as the tail car, I must have been about 3/4mile behind the lead car, and he could still communicate with me. We were using the GMRS channel because I could up the output with the "high" power PTT (push to talk). As we started getting further stretched out, I lost comm with the lead car. I don't know if it was because he was using an older model with no high power PTT and I just could not hear him, or if he couldn't hear me to begin with. We never figured that out.

I also did a preliminary test with my co-workers who went walking during lunch. I was sitting in my lab, surrounded by high voltage equipment, in a typical metal frame building, inside metal framed walls (I do have a window wall as well). They were walking around the office park. I was able to still communicate with them clearly and they were about 1/2mile away.

I have not tried the same thing with my daughter going down to her friend's house yet.

The supplied NiMH batteries, at least fresh and new, can last for a long time. With minimal communications use, for an hour or so, with the weather alert mode enabled (but not actively listening to anything the radio is quiet) the unit lasted 10, maybe 15hours on the first charge. With heavy use for 3hours on the way to the car show, the batteries did not drain for a total of 8 total hours.

The units are also quite rugged. I dropped both of them from hip height, and they both still work fine, although one of them did complete reset itself.

I purchased this particular brand because they are both waterproof (not many two ways are), and they have the weather alert mode, which will really come in handy during camping / hiking trips. They can also work in the GMRS channels with the higher powered output. Repeater access is clever, but keep in mind, using any repeaters not only requires the FCC license, but even if you wanted to use them, your unit must be able to _transmit_ successfully to the repeater, which means it would need to likely be within that 1mile or so radius (I don't know if repeaters can pick up weaker signals better; I suppose if the tower is tall enough?), so even though the units can work with repeaters, I don't know if it really matters. The flashlight is cute, but probably completely unnecessary. And remember 35mile range is under absolute ideal conditions...I would suspect this is calculated if use in outer space, LOL. I'm happy with 1/2mile on the road.

I'm surprised that there are not more reviews for this model, given that they've been out for at least 2 years now?

Save 24% Off

I use these radios to teach PWC Rescue Operations on all water types. The radios have the ability to signal the other one so the operator knows someone is trying to contact them. When riding on PWC's it can be pretty loud, but the radios have a loop that you can clip a carabiner into and hang from your life vest. With it clipped to your life vest you can hear the radio over the engine noise of the PWC. This has proven invaluable in communicating from instructor to instructor to keep our students safe and learning through out the class. In addition, if you have to quickly jump from the PWC to perform a rescue or assistance, the water resistance makes it a no brainer to just jump off, help out and get back on the PWC and the radio is still working. I highly recommend these to boaters or other PWC operators.

Tony Hargett

Aqua 7 Rescue

PWC Rescue Operations

Schumacher SE-3010 Fast Charge Starter Charger

The first thing you notice when this charger/starter arrives at your door is the weight. Yes you can carry it around but it is by no means light weight. At about 10lbs this is no plastic toy. Its got a heavy metal case, sizable clamps, and a plastic handle on top. The dial is a simple twist from 6v 30amp to 12v 10amp to 12v 30amp to Start 12v 200amp. The manual is a small booklet full of the usual warnings, a step by step on proper jumper placement, and a table to calculate how long to leave a battery on the device. It is manual and will not shut itself off so you can damage a battery with this thing. Of course it is manual so you don't get the usual faulty responses either (I consider this a pro).

Great no compromise charger!

Thank God we can still buy a MANUAL battery charger.I dry camp with no hook ups in the forest.I have a smart charger too but it resets its-self because of voltage varitions from the generator,

hence that is why I bought this charger.Fluctuations dont bother it.

Charger runs great.

Charges the battery great.(use must watch because charger doesnt shut its self off autatically) like the smart chargers do.

BUT heres the best thing. This charger packs as much punch as some of those huge up right chargers with wheels. Can you imagine carting around one of those camping?!

Anyways, its built tough except the handle (its plastic)The product was packed very well.

BTW good luck finding one of these locally. I looked everywere.

I got free shipping and NO tax to boot! gotta love the net!!

Thanks Amazon

Buy Schumacher SE-3010 Fast Charge Starter Charger Now

I really like this charger. It has a lot of power and it's much lighter weight then most others that have this amperage. Some are so heavy they need wheels, but the SE 3010 can be carried easily. I highly recommend this product.

Read Best Reviews of Schumacher SE-3010 Fast Charge Starter Charger Here

I know nothing about chargers but when I read albout what it does I got this for my

Husband for Christmas and he was thrilled just perfect for what he needed, automobiles,golf

carts, tucks and our R.V. ....So it was worth the money and investment....score one for the old lady!

Want Schumacher SE-3010 Fast Charge Starter Charger Discount?

Big, honking charger that will melt your battery if you're an idiot and don't understand how to work a bump starter.

Won't drive you crazy turning off and on so the above doesn't happen.

The charger for the manly man.

By the way, effortlessly starts my '71 John Deere 1520 after it's been sitting in below-freezing weather for three weeks.

Save 45% Off

Neiko Industrial-Duty 24-Volt 1/2-Inch Drive Cordless Impact Wrench - 350 ft-lbs Torque

Used this cordless impact in my finish mower to replace the blades and did not have to fight with holding blade still and leaving an imprint on my hands, Changing out the baldes was a snap, hit the switch twice, and the blade was off. I just happened to be away from a power source at the time and I really liked the ease of use in the field.

This impact arrived and was broken in two pieces and covered in oil.Had a nicely rusted set of four sockets too (didn't care,I have plenty of sockets) but the broken in two I wasn't happy about. I gave this two stars because the seller quickly and easily sent a new gun.Even then performance was poor,very short battery life,can't even change one tire before needing four hour charge.Friend was there with a tiny little Dewalt 12v impact DRILL and it seemed stronger and finished the job.

Buy Neiko Industrial-Duty 24-Volt 1/2-Inch Drive Cordless Impact Wrench - 350 ft-lbs Torque Now

Got the this impact wrench and was pretty excited to see it in action. When i reached home with it, I opened the box and unpacked everything. The charger is heavy but the impact wrench itself is VERY HEAVY. When I squeezed the trigger though, the battery seemed drained. So I plugged in the charger and put it to charge up. There was a review I read where a person said that this tool looks like a toy; I must stress that the Impact wrench DOES NOT look like any toy except for the battery though, the battery can have a toyish look; maybe depends on one's own view.

Anyways, the manual says a new battery from the manufacturer may take 2hrs to fully charge (That's if anybody who bought the tool read the manual), But the battery normally takes 1hr to charge after the first two initial charges. (I don't know why). Because of my anxiousness I didn't let the 2hrs complete. I pulled the battery from the charger and slapped that baby in and squeezed with great pleasure, pleasure to see this baby run. The power from the tool is really all or nothing (I have never, ever seen a variable speed impact wrench, never; only drills), the tool has a braking feature on complete release of the trigger.

The next day I reached home, I wanted something to test it out on (I don't have a car so I had to improvise). I have a hydraulic strut spring compressor with large bolts and nuts holding the upper assembly, so they became the victims.

Well, in the process of torquing and loosening the bolt & nut, I ended up destroying the threads one of the bolts and breaking it. The bottom line is once this baby is fully charged, it is a very powerful tool. I read a review where a guy left the battery charging for 2 days and found after that he has a dead battery, ordered another and did the same thing. (Apparently he didn't read the manual at all). The tool comes with a Nickel-Cadmium battery; these batteries are dead/damaged if they are overcharged.

For those who bought this impact wrench and was unable to remove lug nuts or cv joint nuts even though the tool was fully charged. There is an issue which affects the performance of the tool itself; When breaking any highly torqued nut/bolt, the impact wrench must be jammed firmly and held tightly against the nut/bolt you are trying to break; in other words, do not allow the wrench to move about when impacting a nut/bolt, you will loose impact power and fail to break the highly torqued nut or bolt you are trying to break.

Bottom line the tool is great once taken care of (especially for the price!!!). And it performs!!!

Read Best Reviews of Neiko Industrial-Duty 24-Volt 1/2-Inch Drive Cordless Impact Wrench - 350 ft-lbs Torque Here

The Spec's put this thing at 350ft lbs of torque, which is quite a lot more than the competition. I haven't tried torquing a bolt to 350ft lbs and testing it out, but I will say it's spun every bolt and lug nut off everything I've tried it on so far.

I can't give it 5 stars, as it's not a 5 star tool, but the value/torque ratio it'll earn 4. It feels cheap, but then again it is. Go figure. For a home garage or occasional use, it's all you need.

Spend your money on beer, not overpriced tools.

Want Neiko Industrial-Duty 24-Volt 1/2-Inch Drive Cordless Impact Wrench - 350 ft-lbs Torque Discount?

I have owned the cordless impact wrench now for some time and I love it and use it often. It isn't your brute force impact wrench so if you want to take off badly rusted nuts forget it. I keep it in the car trunk for changing tires but have used it for many things and it works flawlessly. Works best when completely charged. I highly recommend it if you know the limitations. Great tool.

Save 58% Off

Cobra MicroTalk CXT125 16-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GRMS Two-Way Radio

• 16 Mile Range
• 22 Channels
• 6 Rechargeable AAA batteries and "Y" wall charger included
• Belt Clip included for easy carrying
• Lead-Free Packaging

I bought the 2-way radio for our cruise we took. I bought it after reading about similar cobra products and liked the fact that batteries were rechargeable. After the initial charge the 2-way radio worked fine. We could communicate on the ship with each other to find where the other was, the voice was clear and crisp. One draw back was not having sub-channels on this product, as a result we could hear other conversations from other users. Even though the feature lists 16 mile range, I would say the maximum range was about 1 to 1.5 miles on an island without any major obstacles. The initial charge lasted a while but when the initial charge was gone, one of the radios would not recharge again and after a while the other failed to recharge. I tried charging for over 2 days but still no luck. I don't know where the failure was, whether it was the charger or the batteries themselves. I really like these radios but were useless without recharge so I ended up in returning to Amazon.

Buy Cobra MicroTalk CXT125 16-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GRMS Two-Way Radio Now

I bought this set of two walkies at Walmart for $24 and was attracted to the small size, simple design, and rechargeable batteries. I had intended to give them to my kids so when they hike about on our 25 acres of upstate forest, I can keep in touch with them. 16 miles under ideal conditions and 1 mile in the city according to the back panel. From the front lawn of our suburban home, without more than a few trees blocking, the signal faded after 1500 feet. By a mile, mostly static and largely inaudible. I would suggest that at $24, they are a great toy and within 1000ft, certainly as clear as a bell. Don't rely on them for anything over a mile especially if staying in contact is critical.

Read Best Reviews of Cobra MicroTalk CXT125 16-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GRMS Two-Way Radio Here

I also bought this at Walmart. Charged it up for 15 hours per instructions. The wall charger never even got warm. Indicator still showed less than 10% charge. Put in fresh AAA's, same deal. Boxed them back up and returned next day.

Want Cobra MicroTalk CXT125 16-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GRMS Two-Way Radio Discount?

The actual walkie-talkies are not bad. They do not recharge. Quick review for a product that has wasted enough of my time. Got these for $15 in a store Now, I know why.

Save 20% Off

The radio is good for the price but the charger is very bad.

In my case the charger start only once.

EKLIPES EK1-110 Chrome Cobra Ultimate Motorcycle USB Charging System

Looks OK but its plastic, i hooked it up and plugged in my Android phone to the usb port, it worked for about 5 seconds and the red light on the usb port went out, i unplugged the phone and apparently the 5 volts no longer works, the 12 volt outlet still works, I'm very unhappy with this, it was a pain to take off my gas tank and run the wires and if i send it back i will have to do this all over again, i simply don't have the time to do all this, if i could get the manufacturer to just send me a new head piece with the socket i could just splice the wires into the harness.

I don't see that happening so i rate it one star.

buyer beware

BTW,the wiring is done correctly, a 6 year old could wire this thing together, i just go a bad product.

The system contains a quality battery connection harness and fuse. Unfortunately the USB port and the red 'on' light burnt out after one day with less than 10 Min usage time. The charger plug still works. Nice concept but

The unit itself is cheaply made from low quality plastic and low quality internal unit wiring. If it did fully work, I would give it 4 stars for the value, but in this case the overall low price is reflected in the unit's compromised quality

Buy EKLIPES EK1-110 Chrome Cobra Ultimate Motorcycle USB Charging System Now

I purchased this to charge my phone while riding my Harley.

Pros:

USB connection

Cigarette lighter connection if you need something besides USB

Chrome looking finish matches bike well

Cons:

Cheap feeling plastic

No padding between clamp & handlebars scratched the chrome on my handlebars

Rubber cover for ports flaps in the breeze when using this (minor annoyance)

In all, not a bad buy. I'm careful with it when plugging/unplugging things it is made of chrome colored plastic and feels cheap so I'd hate to break it.

Read Best Reviews of EKLIPES EK1-110 Chrome Cobra Ultimate Motorcycle USB Charging System Here

I purchased this "Chrome Cobra Ultimate USB Charging System". Never once did the info mention the unit is 14 carrot plastic. Looks better online than it

really is. I installed unit which is unusable in rain. I doubt the wiring is sealed water tight where it enters the unit itself. I expected better quality than I received. I would be afraid the female cigarette input would melt with any kind of load that some devices might pull.

Want EKLIPES EK1-110 Chrome Cobra Ultimate Motorcycle USB Charging System Discount?

Easy install, looks great and love the waterproof cover. Hardest part of the install was deciding which side to mount it on. Plugs in easily to my battery tender plug, no extra wiring.

Save 30% Off

Uni-Solar PVL-136 PowerBond PVL 136 Watt 24 Volt 216-Inch x 15.5-Inch Flexible Solar Panel

The Uni-solar panels have been on my aluminum roof for almost a year now and I am quite pleased with them. First, they are almost invisible unlike most other solar panels and they have performed well in this unusually cloudy spring we have been experiencing in Western Washington. My solar array is composed of 3.5 kilowatts of panels and, based on their first winter and spring performance, it looks like we won't need to worry about using more power than we produce on any than the darkest days of December and January. Almost every day our batteries are reading 14 volts by 11am.

Well we just leave Dakar today and go in the middle of no where to install flour mill and solar pumping, hope the solar panel will deliver all the power expected. The good point about those solar panels, you can bring them in the plane...

Thank you!

Pierre

Buy Uni-Solar PVL-136 PowerBond PVL 136 Watt 24 Volt 216-Inch x 15.5-Inch Flexible Solar Panel Now

Baofeng UV5RA Ham Two Way Radio 136-174/400-480 MHz Dual-Band Transceiver (Black)

• More Stubborn Case, More Rich and Enhanced Features
• Frequency Range: 136-174 / 400-480MHz; 25KHz/12.5KHz Switchable
• 128 Channels 50 CTCSS and 104 CDCSS; Channel Step: 2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/25KHz
• Dual-Band Display, Dual Frequency Display, Dual-Standby; A/B band independent operation
• Comes with all necessary accessories, backed up by 12 Months Seller Warranty

If you compare the Baofeng UV-5R to the latest offerings from Icom, Yaesu, and Kenwood, you wouldn't think it's a 5-star radio. But when you look at the price they're asking for the UV-5R, 5 stars hardly seems enough. This is a fantastic value. For under forty-five bucks you get a pocket-sized dual band radio, complete with earphone/mike and a desktop drop-in charger. Heck, Icom gets almost as much as this radio sells for just for the charger! NOt enough? It'll also cover FMRS and GMRS frequencies, receive the FM broadcast band, and there's even a built in flashlight!

So you've got to figure there's a catch, right? And there is: Programming this radio from the front panel is a royal pain in the caboose. After studying helpful web pagesnot the manufacturer's manualI'm now comfortable programming single frequencies and repeater offsets in, but I still don't seem to be able to put the in memory properly. The manufacturer supplies a program that's supposed to make programming easier, but the word is that it's as confusing as the front panel controls.

Luckily there's a fix. A group of dedicated hams have created a program called CHIRP that's available for Windows, OSX, and Linux that's as easy to use as a spreadsheet. Just type in the frequencies, offsets, CTSS, comments, etc., and hit upload. Unfortunately Amazon doesn't allow web links in reviews but you can find it by googling CHIPS and UV-5R. You'll also need the USB Programming Cable for BAOFENG UV-5R UV-3R+ Two way Radio With Driver CD to connect the radio to your computer, too. If you're interested in learning more about this radio before your order one, a good place to start is the user reference at miklor dot com slash uv-5r.

Buy Baofeng UV5RA Ham Two Way Radio 136-174/400-480 MHz Dual-Band Transceiver (Black) Now

In short: as of around mid December 2012, buy this one.

Best antenna for this: The Diamond SRJ77CA. Alternately, the Nagoya NA-771 SF if you are on a budget.

I was trying to figure out which version to get on here, frustrated by the reviews, so I decided to buy them all and report. I had read that the various versions are all the same radio, just the style and color vary: UV-5R, 5RA, 5RC, 5RE, 5R+, 5R Mk II, UV-E5, UV-5R Plus. This is true, so it comes down to which one is going to ship with the most recent firmware.

The firmware varies, but there does not seem to be much of a difference in performance. Holding "3" while you turn the radio on gets you the firmware version. I bought this mid-December, 2012 and got firmware version BFB295. I thought BFB293 was the latest but this is even more recent. The "UV-5R Plus" that I bought from Amazon for more money was BFB293, but I don't notice any difference at all in the functionality of the two.

For programming channels, don't bother trying to program directly to the radio get the programming cable. You can buy the cheap connector, search for CHIRP software, and navigate that with some frustration. If you would rather spend a bit more and skip the frustration, look into the RT Systems connector and software which works perfectly without any frustration.

This can transmit on Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) with no license required. It also transmits on General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) which technically requires a license. However, "bubble-pack pirates" persons who use GMRS without a license are common. It also transmits on the HAM bands and even some commercial and emergency frequencies, so be careful what frequencies you transmit on according to your licensing.

Construction? Much better than you're expecting. I have a $450 Yaesu VX-8DR, and this does 99% of what I used the Yaesu for day to day. It's not submersible, so don't take it into the bath tub with you, but at $44 it's practically disposable. The accessories are dirt cheap too. The volume can get much louder on a 5R than any other HT that I've used.

Update 12/28/12: I bought a second one, received on Dec-21-2012, this time it was the BFB293 firmware rather than the BFB295 that I received two weeks prior.

Update 1/4/13: I bought a different, earlier UV-5R variant that came with BFB297 firmware. These radios are all the same, it seems to be a crap shoot what firmware you'll get.

Read Best Reviews of Baofeng UV5RA Ham Two Way Radio 136-174/400-480 MHz Dual-Band Transceiver (Black) Here

Purchased this HT hoping it would deliver as advertised and it did. 5RA with new 293 firmware. All items advertised,(including headset) were included in package. Could program this via USB cable(not included) by CHIRP and BAOFENG VIP software from my laptop with no problems. USB programming cable was ordered also on Amazon from other vendor for around $7 with $2 shipping China Post. Ordered radio and cable on same day and they both arrived on same day (china post shipped cable only took 6 days to East Coast USA). I am very pleased with this item and vendor. ... One note, the metallic front speaker piece in pictures looks silverish but when looking at it in person it is anodized, shiny black like the rest of the HT's frame. Very stylish!

ONE IMPORTANT NOTE: You need a license to use this HT on any of the frequencies it is approved by the FCC to transmit on. Ham frequencies part 97 and FCC reg. part 90 only. Even though it will transmit on FRS/GMRS and many other frequencies it is illegal to do so and interference to licensed users may result in confiscation, fines or imprisonment by the FCC and other authorities depending on what you do & how bad you tick them off. For more details see my comments section.

**EDITED UPDATE:as per comments for my review I will add that the picture shown has changed from a 5RA to 5R but the description has stayed the same. Hopefully it is just a mistaken picture. I also know a lot of people say it is hard to program by hand but after a week of daily use it is quite easy to remember what is what but I still use CHIRP and/or VIP software for major changes and frequency updates. I have no problem with my USB programming. I thought I did at one point but it turned out to be software related and not the HT's fault. After about 2 weeks now of use this HT is working just fine but I haven't looked at its harmonics yet. From what I gather, bad harmonics on TX is hit and miss to the individual radio. After two weeks of use, I can comfortably upgrade my 4 star to 5 star rating but will add an aftermarket antenna. With stock antenna I was able to pick up an Amateur satellite within an hour of first programming out of the box. PLEASE READ ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BY CLICKING COMMENTS TAB, THERE'S A LOT MORE INFO ON THIS RADIO AND PROGRAMMING CABLE SOURCE.

Want Baofeng UV5RA Ham Two Way Radio 136-174/400-480 MHz Dual-Band Transceiver (Black) Discount?

This is an amazing little radio and an amazing value. You get the radio, 1800 mah battery, drop-in charger, and ear-bud/mic headset for less than you might expect to pay for the battery alone! The radio is packed with features mostly useful, some amusing. Note that it is primarily a ham radio transceiver and you must be a licensed ham to legally transmit on ham frequencies.

The user manual that comes with the radio is useful but scanty. It only scratches the surface of how to set up and operate the radio. Out of the box, you can't do much of anything without some programming. An experienced ham can figure it out, but a new ham buying his first radio will likely be frustrated. This could be the radio for a new ham, but only with some help, preferably from an experienced user that already owns one. For example, frequency steps must be reduced to enable setting popular frequencies, and repeater offsets (not just +/-) must be specified. Fortunately, this radio has an enthusiastic and extremely helpful user group. Before buying the radio, I strongly recommend checking out miklor dot com slash uv5r. If you do buy the radio, you will really appreciate this resource!

A programming cable (purchased separately) is almost a necessity. The cable you buy will probably need an older driver to work. The previously mentioned resource will help you here also.

In sum, these are highly capable, highly quirky units that can provide lots of entertainment and useful operation once you figure out how to set them up. My ham radio group bought a bunch of them for go-kits.

UPDATE: About a dozen of these radios have been purchased by hams in my locality. Every one of them operated properly out of the box. One has been since damaged by dropping it on a hard surface. The radio itself was fine, but the supplied antenna suffered internal damage (resolved by replacing the antenna with an after market antenna). In terms of programming the radio, about half of the users had someone else program the radio using an optional programming cable. Note that one cable can program any number of radios, the caveat being that you need the proper driver on whatever computer is being used. Also note any programming cable for Baofeng, Wouxun, and Kenwood handy/talkies will work. One industrious ham made a programming file that includes all the area ham repeaters, GMRS, FRS, Marine VHF and NOAA weather frequencies. This file was shared by several, and had the added benefit of identical memory channel numbers. As suggested elsewhere, programming the radios manually is somewhat challenging and the "newbies" needed help. After many new radios and quite a bit of use, no one in our group has been disappointed by their purchase.

Save 68% Off

Just as a background, I have 30 years of radio experience and have several dozen radios of all kinds and brands. I routinely test these radios just to compare them to give you an idea of how well they perform compared to a similarly priced product.

I am going to use 3 radios for this test. This is the scenario:

Test Equipment:

1 Baofeng UV-5RA

1 Motorola MS350Rwil be used as the Base station for testing

1 Motorola MT352R

Test Environment:

My wife will stand outside our house with an MS350R as I walk away. Every 0.1 miles, I will do a radio check. I have set all the radios to the same frequency and Privacy code.

Distance Test:

0.1 Miles

1. Baofeng Crystal clear on send and receive.

2. MT352R Crystal clear on send and receive.

Test: 0.1 Mile

1. Baofeng Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

2. MT352R Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends. Louder and Clearer than the Baofeng.

Test: 0.2 Miles

1. Baofeng Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

2. MT352R Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends. Louder and Clearer than the Baofeng.

Test: 0.3 Miles

1. Baofeng Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

2. MT352R Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends. Louder and Clearer than the Baofeng.

Test: 0.4 Miles

1. Baofeng Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

2. MT352R Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends. Louder and Clearer than the Baofeng.

Test: 0.5 Miles

1. Baofeng Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

2. MT352R Crystal clear on send and receive on both ends.

Test: 0.6 Miles

1. Baofeng There was a little noise in the background on receive but it came in crystal clear on the transmit.

2. MT352R There was a little noise in the background but it was still very clear on send and receive on both ends.

Test: 0.7 Miles

1. Baofeng There was a little noise in the background on receive but it came in crystal clear on the transmit. The Baofeng was coming in louder than the MT352R.

2. MT352R There was a little noise in the background but it was still very clear on send and receive on both ends.

Test: 0.8 Miles

1. Baofeng There was a little noise in the background on receive but it came in crystal clear on the transmit. The Baofeng was coming in louder than the MT352R.

2. MT352R There was a little noise in the background but it was still very clear on send and receive on both ends.

Test: 0.9 Miles

1. Baofeng There was a little noise in the background on receive but it came in crystal clear on the transmit. The Baofeng was coming in louder than the MT352R.

2. MT352R There was a little noise in the background but it was still very clear on send and receive on both ends.

Test: 1 Mile

1. Baofeng There was more noise in the background on receive but had some noise on the transmit. The Baofeng was coming in louder than the MT352R.

2. MT352R There was more noise in the background but we can still communicate.

Test: 1.2 Miles

1. Baofeng Her transmission was choppy. The transmission was very noisy. It was very choppy on the receive side. She had to repeat herself several times in order for me to understand. I had to repeat myself a couple of time with the Baofeng as well but a little better than the MT352R.

2. MT352R Her transmission was choppy. The transmission was very noisy. It was choppy on both sides. We both had to repeat ourselves several times in order to understand.

Features of the Baofeng:

Pros:

1. Audible menus I love that this thing talks to me as I navigate the menus.

2. Emergency flashlight and strobe light If you are stuck somewhere you can turn on the strobe and it makes you more visible.

3. Tiny size.

4. Removable antenna You can connect this to a mobile antenna.

5. Very long battery life Out of the box, I used this radio for 3 days straight without charging it.

6. FM Radio This is an awesome feature in such a small radio. You can listen to music when you are outside. And if someone talks in one of the channels you are monitoring, it turns of the FM and switches to Handheld radio mode.

7. Inexpensive.

Cons:

1. Not for the novice user. It took me a few hours to figure out how to program all the features on the keypad.

2. Not as durable as an Icom, Yaesu or Kenwood. Then again, those cost a lot more.

COMPARATIVE SUMMARY:

The Baofeng's removable rubber duck antenna and 4-5 Watts of power seems to be a little better in clarity in the longer distances. The Motorola is definitely louder and clearer in distances less than 0.5 miles. The Baofeng is really intended for Ham Licensed Operators since it handles Ham Frequencies and requires programming on the front keypad or by computer using an optional external cable and software. I did not bother with the software as I am used to programming radios all the time. A novice will have great difficulty understanding how to use this Baofeng as the User's Guide does seem to assume you are a Ham Operator.

So to you Ham guys out there, this is a nice radio. I am even building a Repeater using this Baofeng, just for fun. But for you guys that just want a working radio that you can talk on the GMRS/FRS frequencies, the higher powered Motorolas will do just fine.

Targus PAPWR005U Mobile Power Inverter

I successfully used the Targus PAPWR005U power inverter on a 400+ mile trip to power my Mac PowerBook G4 (to watch DVDs) with the kids. Unfortunately it only made the one trip. The next week, on another 400+ mi car ride, the inverter started beeping constantly and then went into shutdown mode, I'm assuming because it was drawing too much power and was overheating. At 90 Watts, the power output matched the power draw from the Mac PowerBook, but didn't have enough umph to spare. I'd caution everyone to check the power rating on their laptop power bricks first before using it with a power inverter. Get an inverter that is at least 1.5-2x the power rating of the device you want to use.

I have had this item for about 6 weeks. Haven't used to a lot, but so far I like it. This power inverter is smaller and looks nicer than my old one, which was stolen out of my car along with a few other things.

It has one electrical outlet, and above that is a cigarette lighter outlet, so if you have other devices that need that kind outlet you can use them while this power inverter is plugged in.

The plug fits kind of loosely in my cigarette lighter outlet, but I don't know if that's the plug or the outlet on my car.

The only thing I don't like about this item is the "no tangle" cord. Its one of those coiled up cords, like a telephone cord (look at the picture of the item). The cord is long enough that it could stretch to the backseat, but if I were to try this it would pull the plug out of the outlet. Its coiled so tight that I couldn't really put it anywhere that would require the coil to be stretched. It just annoys me that they call it a 36" cord. For practical use not more than probably 18", but I don't have the item right in front of me to measure it.

I'll still give this item 5 stars. 4.5 if Amazon allowed 1/2 stars.

Buy Targus PAPWR005U Mobile Power Inverter Now

The first and only time I tried using this for a legitimate need was when I plugged in my laptop to it. It started a long, continuous, high-pitched signal and flashing a light. What does that mean? I stopped using it immediately, since it probably couldn't mean something good. Was it drawing too much from it? There are no instructions to tell you what this means. I tried going to the web site for insight on this, but just got the same info as what was on the package. No help. Nice concept, now only if it worked. I'm returning it.

Read Best Reviews of Targus PAPWR005U Mobile Power Inverter Here

Borrowed my daughter's to test it out before buying one for myself. Plugged my Compaq R4000 notebook in and got about 10 minutes worth of computing done before the inverter's yellow light started blinking and the "shut me down" alarm started chirping. I removed the plug from the cigarette lighter and the metal was hot enough to burn me.

Not recommended.

Want Targus PAPWR005U Mobile Power Inverter Discount?

I have bought 4 of these. One was destroyed by connecting it to the wrong terminals of my 12 volt battery. I had bought an adapter that gives me alligator clips, but it only takes one mistake to ruin this inverter. When the fuse blows there is no fixing it. Other than that these do the job!

Save 70% Off

EMPIRE Motorola DROID RAZR HD Car Charger (CLA)

I love this for the money!!! It charges fast, and I like the cord not being so long it gets tangled up. I am constantly on the job, and my truck is my office, this charger is well worth the price.

3 star because it seems to take longer then I would expect to do its job. Would recommend to others

Buy EMPIRE Motorola DROID RAZR HD Car Charger (CLA) Now

Garmin Zumo 550 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

• 3.5-Inch Screen
• High-Sensitivity GPS Receiver
• 10,000 Point Tracking
• Bluetooth-Enabled For Hands Free Calling & For Sending Audio To Compatible Helmets
• High Bright Display For Sunlight Readability & Uv Resistant

People complain about the Zumo not having a built in speaker. Well, you wouldn't be able to hear it while riding your bike it if it had one, so it's a bit of a moot point.

On a side note, I think there are some features the unit lacks that can be somewhat annoying. First, and definitely the most annoying for me, the elevation by which you view your position on a GPS determines the amount of detail you see, i.e. POI's, street names, distance of road to travel, etc. The units I have used previously (factory nav in a Honda, other Garmins and the Mio 310 to name a few) had the ability to select zoom/elevation from the main nav screen allowing you to choose your "view" of the road so to speak, at anytime. With the Zumo, you cannot change elevation/zoom from the main nav screen, you can only adjust it while in map mode searching for a destination. The second you go back to the main navigation screen you loose the elevation you chose and go back to a default level of zoom, which for me is real irritating.

Another annoying feature is the keyboard for text input does not offer a QWERTY layout. I have not had to type on an ABCDEF style keyboard since the invention on the PC. In fact, I have a Garmin IQue 3600 that's 4 years old and it has a QWERTY keyboard?

Also, the search function on the Zumo is relatively slow at times. I once waited 4+ minutes while searching for a popular restaurant. It found it eventually, but for a while I thought the unit just froze up. I happen to be sitting in my driveway so it was only a minor annoyance, but if you were parked on the roadside with cars buzzing by it would seem more like an eternity.

One other issue, the built in hard drive is pretty much full with maps right out of the box, which isn't that big of a deal with the open SD slot. The SD slot lets you slip in a SD card for expanded memory capability (MP3 storage etc.), but when loading routes from your PC (which is a great feature I'll touch on below) you must save the data directly to the units hard drive in order for the Zumo to be able to read it. Well, that's going to be an issue when the hard drive fills up from firmware updates, etc.

While I'm at it, I think the icon that marks your position on the map is annoyingly large. It makes your car or bike look the size of a lake, or some other large map detail.

On the plus side, I believe that all of the issues I mentioned are correctable via a firmware update and a few bugs are to be expected to some extent given this is the 1st generation of a new model. Although, you can also argue that with the price this thing sells for combined with the experience Garmin has building GPS devices there is really no excuse for the Zumo lacking anything.

A nice feature, which is common on Garmins top units, is that you can map out routes on your PC, load it to the Zumo (again, on the built in hard drive though not the SD card) and away you go. This comes in handy if you're in sales for example and need to hit a few clients on a particular day or if you're going to be cruising on your bike and have a bunch of places you want to stop at during the trip. Rather than having to wait and program destinations one at a time as you make your stops, you can knock them all out the night before on your PC so you're entire trip is planned before it's even begun.

Also, the Bluetooth feature is sweet and works flawlessly. Pairing the Zumo with my Blackberry was a breeze. The Zumo was able to read my address book and displayed the contacts on the phone screen so there was never a need to touch the Blackberry once paired. When in the car, the speaker worked well and people on the other end seemed to have no trouble hearing me. I disagree with the one reviewer that said the mount looked weak. I think the mount would successfully support a cinderblock on rough road.

Installing the Zumo on my ZZR1200 took me about 30 min. It takes some time to run the wires and connect to the battery. You will need to crimp connectors (that are not supplied) on the end of the wires that go to the battery. The Ram mount is real solid. The Zumo does not move once you're locked in and on the road.

Now for the justification of the 4 star rating given I beat the Zumo up quite a bit. The build quality of this thing it second to none. It is literally built like a tank. I'd bet it would outlast anyone who buys it. Again, firmware updates will likely take care of all its shortcomings over time. And last but not least, Garmin tech support is second to none. No matter who you speak to they are knowledgeable, professional and will provide answers to anything you can throw at them (and I come up with some good ones) all without making you feel like you're annoying or a technological moron.

Therefore, I don't think you can go wrong with any Garmin, if you can swallow the price of the unit.

Buy Garmin Zumo 550 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Discontinued by Manufacturer) Now

I just wanted to comment on the Zumo 550 with current software. I purchased this unit about 3 weeks ago and before I got it I was a little disheartened by some people's reviews on some lacking features. However when i got the unit and upgraded to the latest software (that was available as of 4/15/2007) many negative comments seem to have been addressed (if I'm understanding the commented issues correctly). First the views of the unit seem very flexable and I don't see the limitations. You can select between 2-D top down views for the people who are used to that view or 3-D. The unit has multiple levels of zoom/un-zoom from the big buttons on the outside as well as on the touch screen... I'm just not seeing any limitations. You can also taylor how much detail you want to see on the screen ( more or less). The only thing I do agree with is the Icon's used to show your position (you can choose between about 6 or so) are kind of large. Would have been nice to have the choice to alter that but I chose the 'wedge' and it works nicely with the screen size. Second, definitely a software upgrade was the addition of two different compus views.. .one small indication on the main map screen and a full 360 degree compus graphic with ELEVATION on a separate screen (selectable from the big rubber buttons or through the menu). The unit is unbelievable compared to earlier units I've had .. I can litterally stand in my family room under cover and turnaround and move 1 step (sometimes 2 is needed) and the unit will reflect the change in direction! I use this with a common motorola razr phone and a Scala Rider helmet bluetooth unit (on a shoei rf-1000 helmet) and everything works perfectly. Also, as far as weatherproofing the manual indicates it can be kept under 1 meter of water for 30 minutes! Great mounting hardware and super easy to use.. definitely a fantastic unit with the latest software upgrades. Thanks.

Read Best Reviews of Garmin Zumo 550 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Discontinued by Manufacturer) Here

The 550 works very well. Specs say it works between 32 & 140 degrees. I ride all winter so far it works at 15 degrees F. Surprisingly easy to use with heavy winter riding gloves. The motorcycle mount is much cleaner than I expected. Very flexible, allowing the unit to tuck in close and not look dorky. The car mount is clean with an acceptable albeit not great speaker. It's VERY easy to move between vehicles. I was somewhat disappointed at first about the lack of a built in speaker, but if I need to walk around with it, it's no big deal to use your cell phone Bluetooth with it. Maybe that's the price you pay for a truely waterproof unit. While riding, you can hear the alert tone using a cell phone Bluetooth, but cannot understand the audio. I plugged in iPod ear buds into the bike mount and it sounds great without being obvious about being "plugged in" (I ride a half helmet). If you use a full face with built in speakers you will be very happy with the audio.

Others complained about the lack of things like a real compass and satellite acquisition display and built in speaker. I have addressed the speaker issue. The compass displays eight points (like the one in the rear view mirror of your GM car). That's all I really need. Showing the satellites it has acquired is neat but what do I really care the thing is very sensitive. I get 5 of 5 bars IN my house. The MP3 player does work well although it does not have play lists. You can at least sort by album, artist and genre. To listen to decent quality audio, you will need ear buds. Displaying pictures looks good but the response is a little sluggish.

Storing up to 50 routes is great and being able to download them to Google Earth and visualize them is very slick (it does take Google Earth Plus a $20 annual fee to support this feature).

Overall I am VERY pleased with this unit it does exactly what I need (and then some) looks great very sturdy.

Want Garmin Zumo 550 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Discontinued by Manufacturer) Discount?

The new Zumo 550 is a big step forward in ease of use, but sacrifices some of the flexibility of previous units (Streepilot series, x76C series). The touch screen display and integrated buttons on the left side of the unit are easy to use even with riding gloves, and the new locking mount is a big improvement. GPS reception also seems to be GREATLY improved; not getting lost under dense tree coverage. The display is relatively big, bright and clear; but difficult to read in really bright sunlight. Also, much of the screen is used for large display items and touch "buttons", so the actual map display is fairly small. The built in battery is an improvement over the StreetPilot, allowing the unit to be used when the motorcycle is off. The battery also allows the unit to be connected to a PC without an AC adapter.

The new operating system is easy to learn and use, but lacks some of the flexibility of other units. Long time GPS users may feel restricted by the fixed display formats, but new users probably won't notice. The operating software still has a few bugs and route guidance prompts need some work, but Garmin does a good job of making updates available (with WebUpdater) and has already released v2.3.

The MP3 player is simple to use but does not support playlists and still seems to have software bugs.

I have linked the ZUMO to a bluetooth helmet (Dainese) and phone (LG-VX8500) and it seems to work very well. Although told that the MP3 would not work over bluetooth, it does in my set-up.

In summary: even with the display restrictions and software issues this is a great GPS for motorcycle use.

All the write-ups suggested this Zumo 550 was going to be impressive. They weren't wrong. The BIG positives, from my perspective:

1. Satellite acquisition must be seen to be believed. In my basement it took less than 15 seconds, out of the box, first power-up. That performance has been repeated every time since, with the exception of first-power-up after upgrading the firmware to 3.2. Thereafter it went back to sub-20 second acquisition.

2. Its built like it should be, like you wanted it to be. Solid. Its going to spend time on my Harley ElectraGlide and in my Corvette and I wanted someting that matched their image. I got it.

3. Firmware upgrade was a 5 minute affair, no hassles, no fuss, no tears. Several nice new features were added, for my 5-minute investment.

4. Interchangeable top and bottom plates, in contrasting black, are a nice little extra. They even included the Allen wrench for the 3-minute task.

5. There's no need to buy extra (read, "expensive") accessories. This was the biggie, for me. This unit ships with a bike mount, complete with hard-wire power connector, AND it ships with a car-mount, with its own power connector. The fact that Garmin includes BOTH mounts with this unit was the deciding factor for me. The fact that both docking cradles with each mount are thoughtfully designed to allow super-quick, super-solid on and off mounting of the GPS unit itself, is a nice added plus. Also, the voice quality and volume of the built-in speaker in the car mount is impressive.

6. Bluetooth pairing of both my Blackberry 8700 and my Jabra BT800 was simple and flawless. Thereafter, when the BB and the Jabra were on and the Zumo was insereted into either the bike mount or the car mount, the Zumo automatically paired back with each unit, within 30 seconds of being mounted. I love technology that works. The real zinger was that the Zumo synched the 400-odd contacts in my BB8700, inside of 45 seconds.

7. For me, simply put, Garmin hit a BIG homerun with the design, execution and packaging of their new Zumo 550. Is it expensive? Not really, considering I didn't need to go out and scrounge up the expensive extras Garmin included for free. And the little things, like designing a magnetically-positioned weather cover for the bike's connector pins, is just icing on a big, well-decorated cake.

Bravo, Garmin.

HQRP Car Windshield Cradle Suction Cup Mount / Holder and 12V Car Charger for TomTom One V3 3rd Edi

• HQRP™ Car Mount and Charger plus HQRP™ Universal Screen Protector;
• Type: Mounting Unit; Designation: Automobile;
• Type: Car Charger; Designation: Automobile;
• Plug in this spare car charger into the cigarette lighter and charge the battery of your GPS;
• Compatible with Li-Ion , Ni-Cd and Ni-Mh batteries; 200 days warranty.

Worked as well as the factory unit which I left in a rental car. Much better price than the factory unit. Plus this bundle came with the power cord which I already had from my TomTom. Just the factory mount or charger cost double what I paid for both at the time.

Rapid Car Charger + Generation X Antenna Booster for Nokia 2600, 1680, 6300, 1208, 6301, 5610, 5310

product is very cheap but cheap is expensive at the end...it stopped working after a week...it seems to me this is a cheap scam

I ordered three items for my cellphone,a car charger,"(that was perfect")a leather case with magnetic strip "also fantistic",and a couple sets of ear plugs (they were the wrong size,I was given a complete refund for the ear plugs.I was completely satisfied with all the help I was given!

Buy Rapid Car Charger + Generation X Antenna Booster for Nokia 2600, 1680, 6300, 1208, 6301, 5610, 5310 Now

Cheap purchase, fast shipping, can't beat it. It's funny to me that some people will go to the cell phone store and pay $35 for this charger I just got for $2.50.

Read Best Reviews of Rapid Car Charger + Generation X Antenna Booster for Nokia 2600, 1680, 6300, 1208, 6301, 5610, 5310 Here

This is a fantastic car charger. The price was very reasonable, too. It charges my phone fast, and I have had no trouble with it. I am very happy with my purchase. The included antenna booster is silly, or course, but it was free with the charger.

Want Rapid Car Charger + Generation X Antenna Booster for Nokia 2600, 1680, 6300, 1208, 6301, 5610, 5310 Discount?

Black Limited Edition Camera Bag Carrying Case with Extra Accessory Compartment for Canon Power-Sho

I love this case. It holds everything, and I mean everything. I can now easily carry my camera, the charger, two spare batteries, the USB cord and a small tripod. I love it.

I like this camera case because it holds my Canon Power shot, the cable that goes to my printer, extra battery, SD card and the charger, all with not having to stuff it all in !! It all fits nice and perfect. I bought another one for my son too. He likes it as well. Great Case, Great price !!! Also , it comes with a cool little , flexable tripod as well.

Buy Black Limited Edition Camera Bag Carrying Case with Extra Accessory Compartment for Canon Power-Sho Now

PowerLine 600mA Universal AC Adapter with Compatibility Tips 0900-91 (Bi-lingual)

Equivalent item was twice the cost at a local retail store. I bought two of these to provide power for two Harbor Freight Driveway Sensor Receivers. It functions exactly as expected. I tested it with some additional items around the house success all around. The adapter gets a little warm but not hot.

Pros:

1) LED light turns green when the Adapter is plugged in and drawing electricity.

2) Good variety of tips.

3) Tips fit snug, no worrry of them accidently coming off the cord.

4) Storage case for spare tips.

5) Cable tip is marked to ensure proper polarity.

6) Exceeds value expectation in relation to it's relatively cheap price.

Possible Cons:

1) Product is very light if you abuse it it might have a very short service life.

2) Not really designed for commercial environments or applications. More like a "light to medium" usage item. Definitely not "heavy duty". Then again, you get what you pay for and it was very reasonably priced.

I have been using them for a week so far without any issues. Therefore, I am unable to comment about long term durability.

I have been able to use this with several electronic gadgets that either didn't come with adapters or that came with adapters that were later lost. The build quality isn't the best, but you can select your voltage AND your tip. And the price is awesome.

Buy PowerLine 600mA Universal AC Adapter with Compatibility Tips 0900-91 (Bi-lingual) Now

Its a good to use charger. I bought it for my light that I lost the charger for and it works.

Read Best Reviews of PowerLine 600mA Universal AC Adapter with Compatibility Tips 0900-91 (Bi-lingual) Here

this little gem is proving to be mighty handy. our cats chewed thru 2 phone lines and my cordless drill charger. this is perfect

Want PowerLine 600mA Universal AC Adapter with Compatibility Tips 0900-91 (Bi-lingual) Discount?

I purchased this power adapter to supply power to the "Petmate Le Bistro Portion-Control Automatic Pet Feeder" which I also purchased from Amazon. Works great! This adapter should work great for you if your device has the round jack on it. With the six voltage settings and different tip sizes, chances are that it will fit your device.

Something that is not shown in the product photo is that it comes with a storage canister for the compatibility tips. The canister attaches to the side of the adapter so you will have the tips handy at all times.

Rapid Car Charger w/ IC Chip and Home Travel Charger for Palm Treo 700w Treo 650 TX Tungten T5 T2 L

This charger is absolutely horrible. The first one I ordered never worked. The LED on the wall charger would not even turn on. I emailed the seller and got a new wall charger. To my frustration, when I charged my phone, the plastic at the charging end got stuck in my phone and I cant take it out. The charging end only has two metal parts sticking out. Every time I need to charge my phone, I have to carefully insert these metal parts into the phone (which already has the plastic piece stuck in it). Thus the car charger is of no use, unless I carefully break it to remove the plastic part from the charging end, and let the metal prongs remain.

I guess, you get what you pay for.

This traveling charger is a life saver. So many times I forget to charge my Palm 650 TX and when I go to retrieve information from it while away from home, the battery is very low. With this charger, I plug it in and in no time I can retrieve all the information that I need. This is a durable charger and I wouldn't leave home without it.

Buy Rapid Car Charger w/ IC Chip and Home Travel Charger for Palm Treo 700w Treo 650 TX Tungten T5 T2 L Now

Retractable Power Pack (Car Charger & Travel Charger) for Palm Pixi Plus

I have the Palm Pixi and when I plugged it into the wall with this charger and tried to use my phone it went crazy! Sometimes it would register that I was touching the screen in three places at one time but mostly it registers about one inch to the left of where I'm really touching making it very hard to unlock the phone. My biggest concern is it might dial a emergency call when I'm just trying to unlock it. As soon as I disconnect the charger the phone works fine, in fact it works fine while charging on the palm charger that came with it and chargers designed for other similar smart phones just not with this charger. The charger charges the phone just fine but don't expect to be able to use the touch screen while doing so. I haven't yet use the car charger yet so I can't say it's any better or worse but my expectations are very low.

Save 29% Off

4GB 800 x 272 7-Inch Color TFT Touch Screen Car GPS Navigator with Bluetooth AVIN 708

The GPS is very slow and everything on it doesn't work and the holder is not heavy enough. Mine is broken already. Can I get a new holder please and thank you

Works awesome! Gave me one or two wrong directions, but I love it! Thank you! It's big and is very easy to use!

Buy 4GB 800 x 272 7-Inch Color TFT Touch Screen Car GPS Navigator with Bluetooth AVIN 708 Now

Good customer service. Had a problem with item and was able to return it. Their customer service was good in helping with that issue

Read Best Reviews of 4GB 800 x 272 7-Inch Color TFT Touch Screen Car GPS Navigator with Bluetooth AVIN 708 Here

The GPS is ok , but it has a hard time to start. It freezes and I have to reset it . The audio player is ok, but the video player is bad. Pictures player is verry slow.

Want 4GB 800 x 272 7-Inch Color TFT Touch Screen Car GPS Navigator with Bluetooth AVIN 708 Discount?

Schumacher PSW-7700 DSR ProSeries 300/70/35/30/15 Amp 6/12/24 Volt Manual Wheel Battery Charger/Sta

I own a car shop and the item is robust, and its capabilities described are the same as the ones the item has, maybe the only disadvantage is the union between the cables which will be better if they where more compact. also no where to stand by the clamps and the cable

Great Product, I am very pleased with the quality of this product. I highly recommend it to others. A+ +

Buy Schumacher PSW-7700 DSR ProSeries 300/70/35/30/15 Amp 6/12/24 Volt Manual Wheel Battery Charger/Sta Now

OEM Verizon Car Charger w/ USB Port for Casio G'zOne Rock C731, Brigade C741, ROCKDUALVPC

This item is described as being for a Casio G'zOne Rock. It is not. This charger uses a micro USB plug and those of us who own the Rock know that it uses a proprietary plug (the only thing I don't like about it).

I was excited to find a car charger for this phone as Verizon states that there are not any in the entire state of Montana.

The description for this item should show that it is a Universal charger (even says so right on the box).

I wish companies paid more attention to detail so that this doesn't happen.

I had just about given up on locating a usb cord I needed for this lil phone. When I did locate them on Amazon.. I was a bit hesitant. I had already purchase another usb cord for this phone but, unfortunally... they sent the wrong item, when I contacted them about the problem, they wanted me to send pictures of how it would not fit. when I got to the end of my rope, trying to get the product or money back, i took this one on the chin. I finally let them know I thank them for the lesson in on on-line purchases and that they could keep the money. the needed it worse than I.

Finding them at Amazon... SWEET! it works great. Amazon, I know the product will be good. the shippong cost did hurt a bit. The product is good and the service, always better than expected.

Buy OEM Verizon Car Charger w/ USB Port for Casio G'zOne Rock C731, Brigade C741, ROCKDUALVPC Now

It works well. However, plugging it into the phone is not the easiest thing to do. I also question the durability of the connector to the phone. I am not sure how long it will last.

Read Best Reviews of OEM Verizon Car Charger w/ USB Port for Casio G'zOne Rock C731, Brigade C741, ROCKDUALVPC Here

If you need a car charger for your Casio G'zOne Rock C731 handset, this is it. It's the same charger Verizon sold originally when the Rock came out.

Want OEM Verizon Car Charger w/ USB Port for Casio G'zOne Rock C731, Brigade C741, ROCKDUALVPC Discount?

The charger can not be found in stores. This one is tough and works great. Also, a great price! You can not go wrong !

Save 68% Off