- Compatible with: iPod, iPhone
- Compatible with: iPod with docking connector
- USB compatible: USB 2.0
Showing posts with label black decker battery charger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label black decker battery charger. Show all posts
Philips Sync & Charge Cable for iPod/iPhone
Schumacher EC-25 25' Cable Connector Extension Cord
- 25 feet of extension cord
- 18 gauge cord
- Protective caps on both ends
- Use with Schumacher maintainers and trickle chargers
- Very user-friendly
Buy Schumacher EC-25 25' Cable Connector Extension Cord Now
Amazon.com suggested purchasing this accessory as part of my order of a Schumacher trickle charger. Using this cord, I am able to keep the charger near the power outlet and simply extend the cord out to the car battery. This is a nice convenience!Read Best Reviews of Schumacher EC-25 25' Cable Connector Extension Cord Here
This is a great product. The cable seems very well made. The end caps fit snugly, the connections to the charger and other cables are snug and secure, and the cord itself seems durable (this is just my impression I've only had it for a short while) and the length is terrific. I'm using it to get to a vehicle on the far side of the garage where there isn't an outlet. I would certainly also use it to charge / maintain a battery in a vehicle outside of the garage. It's long enough to do that and still keep the charger itself dry inside.Another great feature is that it works with Battery Tender brand charges as well. At least I think it does. I use it between my Schumacher charger / maintainer (bought from Tractor Supply Co.) and the Battery Tender 081-0069-6 Ring Terminal Harness with Black Fused 2-Pin Quick Disconnect Plug attached to my battery. Different company, but the plugs are the same. So, since it works with the other company's plugs, it seems it should oughta work with the other chargers. Nifty.
No complaints so far, and if it holds up like I expect it to it's earned a 5-star rating.
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I bought this to use with my sun force solar panels. Now I'm able to place the panels on my roof and still connect to my solar charge controller on my patio and keep my battery topped off.Save 17% Off
Great item. Would recommend that anyone that has a use for this item, go ahead and purchase one. Thank You!
Griffin RoadTrip FM Transmitter with SmartScan for iPod
- Compatibility: iPod touch, iPod nano 3rd generation, iPod classic, iPod with video,iPod nano 2nd generation
- Charge your player while listening to music through your car's stereo system
- SmartScan technology finds, memorizes, and selects the three clearest radio frequencies with the touch of a button
- The flexible steel neck and model-specific adapters create a custom-install look
- Built-in antenna and SmartSound Plus technology ensure clear sound
On the FM transmitter box, push the middle button (Function) and then press and hold the "Mode" button (the right one) for approximately 10 seconds. When you let go you will see a menu for "Us" "Eu" "Ja", select the middle button, "Eu". Let the device sit for a few seconds until it goes back to the main screen, then tune your radio and the transmitter to 87.7 87.9! Now you can use the device on the frequencies that will rarely give you interference (I have the best luck in St. Louis with 87.7).
Buy Griffin RoadTrip FM Transmitter with SmartScan for iPod Now
I have been looking for a car charger that will also work for the iPhone 3g that is FM transmitter, Dock/Holder all in one. Read all kinds of reviews on all kinds of sites.. THIS ONE I FINALLY TRIED AND WORKS AWESOME. you will however see the apple nag screen that it is not designed for use with this device but just click ignore and off you go.Sound quality is very good
Easy to use
Charging is Fast
Has swivle neck so i can put phone in portrait mode
THIS IS THE ONE TO GET IF YOU HAVE iPhone 3G.
Read Best Reviews of Griffin RoadTrip FM Transmitter with SmartScan for iPod Here
I know this type of device is known for having problems. Sometimes it's the product itself and sometimes it's the car you put it in. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the Griffin Roadtrip with Smartscan. I bought one for my wife. She uses it in a 2002 Nissan Altima with no complaint. On that basis I figured I would try it in my Dodge Dakota. Again, it works great. We live in the Atlanta area and I drive all over, north and east of the city. I am able to leave it set on one of the channels the device itself chose. 90% of the time I hear no interference. The rest of the time there is occasional hissing and, rarely, there is a big swoosh of noise, but only for a couple seconds. We are very satisfied with this product. We have tried some other brands and have not found one this good.Want Griffin RoadTrip FM Transmitter with SmartScan for iPod Discount?
I had been searching for a long time for a decent FM tuner that works with the iPhone 3G. I've tried numerous different products, but couldn't find one that provided a strong enough signal and managed to charge my iPhone 3G. It looks like this product does the trick. Well, it does the trick if you do the trick.First, before purchasing this product, make sure that your car stereo can tune to 87.7 or lower. The lower the better. Then, set the device to European mode: hit the "Function" button, then hold "Mode" for 10 seconds. Finally, select EU instead of US as the location. This allows you to set the device to transmit on frequencies like 87.7 which contain no radio stations in the United States. Now, plug your phone in, tune your radio to 87.7 and you should be jamming to tunes in no time. You'll only need to do this once.
One of the nicest features of this transmitter is that it has a semi-rigid arm for holding the iPhone/iPod, allowing you position it so you get optimal reception on your radio. Then it just stays there. Much better than other adapters that sit loose. Also, contrary to what I read before purchasing this, the transmitter does not shut off in EU mode when not in iPod mode. I had no problem listening to Pandora over 3G on a recent 150 mile drive. Although, you'll still get the periodic GSM "chirp/buzz", but that's an artifact of GSM and inherent to most GSM phones when not in airplane mode.
Of course, it's not all rosy with this device. It takes a second to start when the power is applied, so I get a brief moment of static on the radio when I first start my car. Secondly, the volume levels output are much lower than what we get over radio -on my Mazda 3 we can listen to normal radio at volume level 7, but for the transmitter we need volume level 13 or 14. Finally, the plate that holds the phone/ipod in place blocks part of the home button on the iPhone. Not a huge deal, but kinda annoying. Finally, expect to run into standard FM transmitter problems -your signal may go wacky in tunnels as a result of other signals bouncing around. In my experience this happens reliably in one major tunnel in Pittsburgh, but not in the other major tunnel.
In any case, I've tried out about seven or eight different FM transmitters and this is the first one that I've been happy with. If you don't want to open up your dash to add in an aux line for your iPhone/iPod, this is a good solution.
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To get nice and clear sound, switch the device into the European mode and tune it to 87.7. It works fine as long as you listen to your iTunes music. A problem appears when you try to listen Internet radios like Pandora. Some weird European regulation says that you can't transmit continuously while not playing music (iPhone doesn't think it's playing music when it's not in the iPod mode) and the device stops transmitting after approximately 20 seconds. Pain in the butt since it doesn't happen in the US mode.Anyway RoadTrip is great for your iTunes music, just make sure it's in the EU mode and tune your radio to 87.7. Living in a big city (Houston, TX) I rarely get any interference.
Best transmitter for iPhone on the market for sure (tried a few returned all). Go for it.
Original Parrot Minikit Smart Universal Bluetooth Hands-Free Charging Holder PF290008AA
Test device: Samsung Epic, Android 2.2I've been keeping an eye on Parrot's product line ever since I got my Fit a few years ago as there wasn't an option for hands-free. I wasn't ready to drop a few hundred on one of the integrated systems, plus another hundred or so for installation, though they look to be the best way to go. I tried a product similar to the Minikit, which turned out to be a disaster as it was way too quiet and then fell apart. But, I decided to give the Minikit Smart a try anyhow, based on the generally good reviews of their other products. My hope was that it was better than my current solution, which was to plug the phone's audio out into my Fit's audio in and shout a lot.
Out of the box, I was mostly happy with what I saw. The Minikit feels pretty solid, and similar in weight to my Garmin GPS. The cradle snuggled up well with my Epic, with no interference with the Epic's side buttons. No way to use the Epic's camera though, as it's fully blocked when centered on the Minikit's back. That eliminates the use of augmented reality apps while driving. Honestly, I worry about the mic, which on a thin retracting cable. If I have this thing attached to another surface and the suction holding the main body in place lets go, I am not confident that the cable is going to survive. No option to export the audio either, so if that cable does break, the Minikit becomes a paperweight. The kit seemed to contain everything I needed to get it to work, though the manual leaves a lot to be desired. Not that I needed it, but I was a little surprised Parrot didn't include a charging cable for iPhones, given their popularity. Even without, the kit still contains two of the most common cable types for smart phones.
As indicated by the manual, I first went to get the latest update for the Minikit from Parrot's website. Let me tell you, what a pain in the @ss. Navigating around the Parrot site is frustrating at best, even to the point of switching languages on you. While the US version of the site doesn't have a compatibility list for the Minikit, which makes sense since it is advertised as good for all smartphones, the UK version of the site I was transferred to does have one, (add the following to the end of Parrot's dot com address: /uk/support/onlinehelpguides/parrot_minikit_smart/compatibility). The list isn't so full, and my phone isn't listed. Eventually, I was able to find the software update for the Minikit (Note: The Parrot Software Update Tool is not compatible with the Minikit Smart, you need to visit the UK site to the software and instructions for flashing.) Following the procedure went well, and in a few minutes, I was able to update.
For the charging to work, you *must* have the Minikit connected to a power source for this to happen. It will not charge up your device from its own internal battery. I used a standard USB cable and USB cigarette light adapter instead of the included adapter, as I wanted the extra USB port my adapter offered (allows me to charge two USB devices at the same time). The included micro-USB cable fitted my Epic with no problem. It's a pretty short cable, just enough to reach around the back and connect without too much strain on the connectors. As hoped for, it charged up my phone without a problem. I was also able to charge both the Minikit and the phone using a USB wall adapter. A tad over 2hrs and the Minikit was ready to go.
Pairing my Epic with the Minikit was smooth as silk. In short order it had synced all my contacts over and was ready for use. I placed a few test calls from within the house, a quiet environment where I thought it would perform the best for taking vocal commands and for me being able to hear it. Hearing was no problem at all, the 2W speaker more than enough in the dead silence. The voice recognition didn't do so well. Out of 5 attempts for 10 different contacts, the Minkit only dialed out correctly once, most often not understanding who I was trying to call. Trying various mic positions didn't seem to help. In contrast, I use the voice input on my phone often and it rarely has issues, even when I am shouting at it while driving along the freeway.
In the car, I mounted the Minikit to the dash on the same plate that I had been using for my Garmin GPS and connected everything up. It's not a clean look, for sure. Power cord to the Minikit so it can provide power to my phone. One cord from the Minikit to the phone to give it said power. Mic cord from the Minikit to where I mounted the mic. And one optional cable to pipe music from the phone to the car's sound system. Looks a bit like a spider perched up there on the dash. Staying within the laws governing obstruction of view and items hung from the windshield could be a challenge with this setup, at least if one wants/plans to use the Minikit's ability to keep their phone charged up.
On the road, the Minikit's base was quite steady, holding onto the dash without a problem. The base's swivel allows for angling your device just right for best viewing and it's pretty tight. The swivel can be tightened further, should it start loosening up over time or because of a weighty device. The mic surface mount included in the kit held the mic in place without a problem. The cradle holds my Epic firmly, and the phone did not shift in position whatsoever over the course of several trips. For me, it was too quiet to use properly (not much sound deadening in a smart sporty car). Around town it was ok, as long as I had the windows up, no music going, and the fan for the heat/AC wasn't on. Anything above 60mph and it was too difficult to hear. I eventually plugged it directly to my Fit's sound system, and that worked much better. Though I couldn't listen to the radio or a CD with it plugged in like this, I could use Pandora, Audible, and few other music related apps instead. Callers could hear me pretty ok, I only had to repeat myself a few times at a higher volume.
The Minikit Smart is a decent product, but, not without its drawbacks. I wish I'd opted for one of their systems that is fitted right to my car's stereo though. It doesn't look clean when installed, should be removed after every trip so as not to invite thieves, and if I get an extended life battery for my phone the cradle probably won't be able to hold onto my phone anymore. As well, it's still better than what I had. Maybe I'll resort to taking it apart and integrating it into my Fit a bit better.
2 ADD-ON Solar Charging Panel Extensions for ReVIVE Series Solar ReStore XL External Backup Battery
- ADD-ON Panels triple solar charging speed and allows the Solar ReStore XL to charge to 100% capacity by solar power alone!
- Fully charges the internal battery of the ReVIVE Solar ReStore XL within 4.5 hours in direct sunlight
- Quickly connects to your ReVIVE Solar ReStore XL by spring loaded pins
- 280mA solar charging efficiency - Guaranteed Quality ** 3 Year Manufacturer's Warranty **
- Compatible with Solar ReStore XL (4,000mAh), Solar ReStore XL+(6,000mAh), ReStore 9200 ReVIVE products
Buybits Ultimate Addons Angled Mini USB Direct to Battery Hard Wire Motorcycle Charging Cable for To
- High quality direct to battery hardwire charging cable. Useful Right Angled Mini USB plug - suitable for TomTom GO series, ONE series, XL series & START GPS SatNav systems.
- FUSED & WATERPROOF - designed for motorcycles. Incorporates an on/off power switch on the voltage regulator.
- Unlike many hardwire cables which drain your battery's power while your bike is stored, our cable allows you to switch the current off when you want.
- Use with TomTom, Garmin, Navman or any of the popular SatNav GPS systems which use a Mini USB connector.
- Water resistant, cable length 3m, fused, 1A current, 6-24v, CE approved.
On the Buybits website they have a nice video of how simple this thing really is.
Power Bright VC1000W Voltage Transformer 1000 Watt Step Up/Down 110 Volt - 220 Volt
I am deployed in Iraq right now, and this product was given to me. I thought I would share that it is working wonderfully. I have plugged an array of 110v things into it and they work great. It is heavy, well built, and does its job. There is no noise to it whatsoever, except when you turn it on, but that's normal to ALL step converters. If you are looking for a good converter, consider this product.
with voltage 220v so after I ordered him this transformer who convert
110v to 220v now he's happy because the power transformer is up and down and down to up
that mean can make work anything with some switches. good product
Buy Power Bright VC1000W Voltage Transformer 1000 Watt Step Up/Down 110 Volt - 220 Volt Now
I got this to use with some small appliances while I'm studying in Europe. At first this thing was completely silent. After a couple of weeks however, it started to make some noise. If I leave it on too long, or absentmindedly use it as a footrest it gets really REALLY loud.Also, a helpful warning for anyone using this, there are two outlets on the transformer, one for 120v and the other for 220v. Always make sure you're plugging your appliances into the right one. I did this and almost lost my coffeemaker.I bought this Transformer almost 4 years ago. It was a piece of junk. I plugged it in and it wouldn't work. I called the company and sent it back to them (paid shipping myself). They later returned it back to me telling me they are sending a new one but they were clearly lieing as I could see that it was the exact same one (from the way I had packed). TERRIBLE customer service. They were very rude in subsequent calls. I gave up after that as I dint want to keep throwing money in shipping back and forth.
I have been very dissappointed with Amazon.
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My Rotel HI-FIs arrived US this month and I can power them up but they are not working as expected.I checked manual and find that all my 220V Rotels need manual modification to suit the 110V input.
I checked with B&W and they confirmed that I can use the 220V transformer for my Rotels, then I bought
this 1000W Power Transformer. Today they arrived in good condition and it is of the right size on my table
and looks beautiful too :-)
But the best thing is the silence. When I power it on I hear no noise at all !
It worked as expected and silently and really deserve the 5 star!
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CTEK 56-329 Comfort Connect 7/16" Eyelet
- Quick connect
- Watertight
- For 1/4-inch eyelet
YIKING Plug & Play H.264 3 Mega pixels 180 Degrees Rotate Mini Portable Double lens Driving recorder
- 2.7¡± (16:9)high definition LCD,Images without distortion
- 2 lens:120 degree wide angle and HD 90 degree view angle,both can be rotated 180 degree
- Fast switching night shoot mode,over the overexposure problem,can shoot the license plate clearly
- High definition PC camera function,Avoid driving,Plug and Play
- SOS function:press the SOS button when emergency happened,The machine will automatically put the last 10 seconds and 1 minute after automatically saved as a file can not be deleted
DETAILS: I found my notes, so will leave my original review above and call it Summary, with my extensive notes next.
I made this handheld video test at midday of this Yiking camera right out of box as it arrived partially charged, though instructions say to charge it fully before use. Test produced huge MOV video file shown converted and reduced for upload in size to Mp4 with no loss in quality.
Instruction manual in box not English literate so it took me some figuring though many basic camera operations intuitive from its clearly marked buttons. Camera has TWO lenses that can turn to view different directions, such as main one (on left side) with its wider view can look forward over car hood onto street, while secondary camera (on right) can point into inside of vehicle with its narrow magnified view (yet not sufficient to catch clearly action outside rear window). I would use this secondary camera to record same direction as main camera or turn it back to view behavior of my passengers when I step out. Camera has ability to save final video file to replay (on its own display and on my LED tv or computer monitor) as a single screen, or (if I set BOTH CAMERAS to record) playback shows as two Vertical or two Horizontal screens. Depending on setting, my final video file plays back a movie in which objects such as cars appear stretched or squeezed. My attached video resulted from VERTICAL SETTING.
Another test during dark of night showed it recorded adequately activity street traffic in front of it, though in washed out colors as expected for car cameras in this price point. When infrared switched on it did not show much more clearly; this IR effect noticed from closeup to about ten feet; IR made green foliage look purple and turned multicolored tree lights white. I inserted an old SDHC card in camera for test recordings and camera used it without requiring reformat. My video and photo tests showed camera produced good quality MOV files that played well when connected to my LED tv. I downloaded movs to computer and converted to mp4s, one shown attached (conversion to 720x480 MP4). I like the variety of specific function buttons with extended operations depending on short or long press or hold. After my hours of car camera
research including reading reviews and watching others' videos I bought this item listing in December 2012 at USD99, received it quickly, and tested it for my chief purpose of ticket defense against our county street cameras where it failed due to inability to show real color at night. I got better results using my cellphone's 5MP camera that produced similar widescreen video yet with more accurate street and traffic light colors at night.
Contacting Amazon for product return led to seller contacting me. I returned it on my dime after obtaining authorization directly to seller who refunded purchase price in about a week after emails where seller thoughtfully tried to help me get what I needed (precise color of lights).
During my research I found prices on internet about the same as here at Amazon, though I did find one significantly lower.
My likes included its light weight without a toy feeling, versatility as a car camera and still camera with photo and video, fast charge (though fast drain), use of SDHC card, full set of accessories, no need to install drivers to connect to computer, large display that can turn off during road use, swivel lenses though view of one lens dependent on angle of other, ease of operation with buttons and controls brightly marked, multifunction buttons, high quality MOV files, date and time (once set) appear on final recordings (though in awkward location).
My dislikes focus on nuisances: losing a full charge fast if not connected to external power; insubstantial dash/windshield mount failing to securely hold camera and permitting bounce or slip off (this problem fixed with cellotape); inability of secondary camera to turn in all directions making its current view totally dependent on angle of main camera; mov files too huge to send by email; date and time unreadable as shown in tiny white lettering in upper left of screen where daylight sky exists (see sample video and notice upper left how it will vanish); finally and mainly: inability to show colors of street and car lights at night (essential to ticket defense). No GPS.
MORE PLUS: seller (spelled both Hawaii Technology and Tecknology) has office In USA; responded quickly with interest in my product return and attempted to help resolve problem. I recommend this camera for medium cost buyers looking for a decent unbranded generic device. Although device listed above says Yiking, on several sites I found it unbranded.So far so good.
I've clocked over 8 hours recording time so far. Apparently some users had problems with the instructions but luckily I didn't need them. The menu seems pretty intuitive. My unit is configured to 720P dual but you have the option to use only one camera. Unfortunately the left camera (non zoom) seems to take longer to adjust to the lighting. The auto-focus takes a few seconds also but then ago it's not an expensive device. My 32 GB microSD can fit over 100 five minute files.
I originally wanted a GoPro HD but couldn't justify sending that much for a camera for my car. This seems to be a happy medium. If you're thinking about buying then ask yourself what you plan to use the YIKING for?This car recorder is light weight and easily use.
especially the double camera is wonderful!!!
Left camera shows the whole view.
Right camera shows the ZOOM-IN, magnify front car's licence plate.
Besides, the seller's reply is quick, figuring me out the specification before I place the order.
I do love this product!
Take a look at the video see if you want a car cam like this?
I have no thing to say because i do not have a lot of this car Cam.
But this is the one i love it!. Question free to ask!
with my webcam I can see light, cars, and the road in low to total black (with just the head lights on)
Delphi MyFi XM2GO Portable XM Satellite Radio Receiver with Home / Car Kits
- Illuminated six-line LCD shows station, category, and artist information
- Built-in wireless FM transmitter turns any FM receiver into an XM radio
- Rechargeable battery provides five hours of use
- Delivers more than 150 high-quality, XM satellite radio stations
- Receiver measures 2.8 x 4.5 x 1.2 inches (W x H x D)
First what's great about the MyFi:
1) I'm new to satellite radio and was very impressed with the variety of music available. I've discovered lots of artists that while I had my Ipod I never knew existed. Add to that the great live events, talk radio, and other content.
2) XM2Go works flawlessly. But for the limitations (below) it works flawlessly. Pop your MyFi in the cradle at night and in the morning you have 5+ hours of content. Note, the box says 5 hours but in reality if you record any of the more compressed channels (talk etc.) you will end up being able to record more than 5 hours! I believe when I record music channels I actually get closer to 6 hours of recorded content. Once you have your content you can easily scroll from song to song. Skip the ones you don't like. Replay the ones you do.
3) It is truly portable. I go from pocket (headphones), to car (FM transmitter), to home cradle (line-in to the stereo) without ever interrupting listening.
4) It comes with everything you need, including a remote control so you can easily switch channels as your MyFi sits in its cradle across the room (you can't say that about the Ipod). Further, what it comes with is great quality. I love the swivel car cradle not only do you not have to worry about plugging wires into the MyFi everytime you bring it into the car (they are plugged into the cradle), it makes reading the display a breeze for both the driver and the passenger (just swivel it between the two).
5) Replaceable battery. Unlike the Ipod the MyFi, like a cell phone, has a swappable battery. That means you can (eventually) either buy a replacement when the battery starts to lose strengh without conducting the surgery necessary on the Ipod (this is huge given the amount of use these devices get and the liklihood that batteries will only hold their full capacity charge for 6-12 months) or just have one handy to extend your listening time.
6) It's solid state. Unlike the Ipod you don't have to worry about a hard drive to go bad (like mine did in 8 months!)
7) Recording isn't limited to scheduled records. You can always nab a song here or there by just hitting the XM2Go button.
8) It feels solid in your hand. Yeah, it's bigger and heavier than an Ipod (think thick PDA, or perhaps the Dell MP3 player) but it's designed to fit in your hand well and works well for both left (me) and right handed people.
Now the things you should be aware of (though, knowing them I still would buy one):
1) Don't expect non-stop reception when you are roaming around. Even in metro areas you might drop a signal when you aren't using the home or car kits. I imagine it is difficult at best in non-urban areas to maintain a line of sight with the sats. Just expect that you will need to make use of the recorded content in those situations.
2) Don't expect the sound quality of a high-bitrate MP3 on the Ipod. I suspect that this has everything to do with the nature of Sat radio and nothing to do with the MyFi hardware, but, the quality is not the same. Although I would rate it great, you do notice that you are getting a compressed stream.
3) Don't expect to be able to control your content. Unless you save a recording session for days you won't likely get the same songs day to day (the playlists on XM are vast, rarely are there repeats) (notable exception is if you record the top 20 channel). That's a good thing if you like variety that's a bad thing if you like the comfort of always having your favorite tunes handy.
4) The AV cable is a bit short (nothing an extension cord couldn't fix).
5) I would like to see a more sophisticated recording scheduler. Currently you can only schedule 2 record sessions and it limits you to recording within the next 24 hours (unless you schedule a daily recording session). With all of the great XM content it would have been nice to be able to set up a recording session several days into the future.
6) I would like to be able to lock or protect songs or even whole sessions from being recorded over by new recording sessions. Currently, the way it works is just a simple first in first out method. Fortunately, it is smart enough to merely delete a portion of an overwritten section as opposed to the whole section.
7) It doesn't buffer like a TiVo/ReplayTV. It would be nice to pause and/or rewind live content.
8) Fianlly, I would love a computer interface so that that XM can distribute updated software to fix some of the above issues.
This product is great.
Buy Delphi MyFi XM2GO Portable XM Satellite Radio Receiver with Home / Car Kits Now
First let me say that I have only had the MyFi since Christmas (yes, my wife was one ofthe people who actually got one). I waited until now to write a review so that I could
get a good feel for the product. Some other reviewers on this page have laid out some of
my pluses and minuses, so I may be reaffirming their comments. First, the great-
1) The programming. XM has tons of stations. I listen to a wide variety of music, and I
was able to fill up the 30 available presets rather quickly. One form of music I
particularily like is techno/trance, and there are 3 channels that play some form of it.
Also, there are 3 comedy channels, and on 2 of them they run segments of stand-up
routines from pretty much any comic out there. Very funny. Also, I paid extra for "High
Voltage", which is the "Opie and Anthony" show. In my opinion, well worth the money.
Plus, XM has all MLB teams, Big Ten Football, and many other extras. I love the
programming.
2) The actual MyFi package itself is wonderful. It comes with 2 holders one for the
car, one for the home which you can plug the antenna, power source, and audio connector
into so that all you have to do to switch from car to home is pull the MyFi out of one
holder and drop it into another. Very easy, very smart. Plus, you get 3 different
mounting options for your car, headphones, a personal antenna for when you are using it
like a walkman, RCA cable for connection to a home stereo, tape adapter for the car,
cigarette lighter adapter, home power adapter, and various cases and clips, plus a remote control. I was
honestly amazed at how much comes with this package.
3) Ease of use. It took me all of about 10 minutes to figure out how to work the menus
and different options on the unit. It is extremely easy to set presets, change displays,
change channels, etc.
4) Recording. This is a truly innovative feature. I have a digital video recorder, and
this works pretty much the same way. You can set up recording schedules, or you can
record whatever you are listening to just by hitting the record button. Very cool.
Also, you can record up to 5 hours of programming, so if you are indoors (where satellite
does not work without external antennas) you can listen to the recording. For me, it is
great because I can record the whole "Opie and Anthony" show and listen to it whenever I
have some free time.
5) This is a small plus, but in this world of huge problems to get anything done, the
activation is very simple. You can log onto XM's website, enter your radio code, cough
up some dough, and within about an hour maximum your radio will be active. It took mine
about 7 minutes to be activated (much like a cell phone).
Now, for some of the not-so-great features
1) First, I have to complain about the audio quality. As another reviewer said, you can
tell it is compressed. Hopefully the XM people are working to resolve this issue, but it
is sort of frustrating. I have a very high quality Onkyo THX certified receiver, and I
can pick up very subtle audio imperfections. I would say the quality is somewhere
between a tape and a CD. Sometimes it almost seems like it is "wavering". The sound
will be amazing for 1/2 a song, and then it will be like a tape for 1/2 the song. I
suspect this has nothing to do with the MyFi itself, but has everything to do with the
stream coming from the satellite. Also, using a tape adapter for the car is pretty
frustrating. I am thinking about having mine hardwired, because using the tape adapter
ensures that the best sound quality you get will be, well, tape.
2) The headphones. What a joke. These could possibly be the worst headphones ever
unleashed on humanity. They suck. The sound quality is a joke, and they are the
in-the-ear style, but they actually cause pain having them in your ears. It is an insult
that they send out this wonderful product with such abominations for headphones. Mine
have already found the garbage.
3) The recording needs a buffering system, as another reviewer said. It would be nice
if it started recording as soon as you tuned into a station, like a DVR, but... I guess
we can't have everything.
4) I am also reaffirming another reviewer's comments, but XM or Delphi or whoever needs
to make the MyFi able to connect to a computer. I find it amazing that in this day and
age we can have such a sophisticated piece of electronics released without the ability to
connect for updates and such. Maybe it is coming.
Lastly, there is the issue of reception. I did not include this in the great or
not-so-great categories because it is neither. I live in a suburb of Cleveland, and I
have had very little reception problems. However, since the stream is coming from a
satellite, I do not think that where you live has anything to do with reception. I think
that some of the reception issues raised in some reviews may be user error, as opposed to
the radio not working. XM is pretty clear about where to put antennas, and if you follow
those guidelines, you should have no problems. Now, that is not to say that the
guidelines aren't kinda dumb. They want you to put the home antenna in a south facing
window with no obstructions to the sky. My stereo is about 45-50 feet from any south
facing window, and the cable on the antenna is only about 25 ft. However, XM is happy to
provide and extension (for a ton of money I assume). I put my antenna in an east facing
window with a house obstructing the sky, and I have had no reception problems, so take
that for what it's worth. In the car, the antenna cable is more than long enough to run
from the front of my Tahoe to the back, out the liftgate, onto the roof, and still have
about 3 extra feet. There is basically no car the antenna can't fit in. It is magnetic,
and it stays put. Reception while traveling around was great about 95% of the time.
However, just like my GPS, when you are in an area that is obstructed by trees or other
objects, the reception fades. It is somewhat annoying that the people in charge of
coming up with this technology couldn't figure out a way for satellites to beam signals
through things. This has always irritated me with my GPS. Maybe in the future.
I realize this is a long review, but I hope it helped. Overall, I wouldn't trade this
for any regular radio. I love it, and I believe the technology and
sound quality can only get better, and it is pretty good right now.
2/10/05 Update Well, I have now had the MyFi for about a month and a half now and I have read some of the VERY negative reviews here, and I feel the need to comment.
First Reception: I have had virtually no problems at all. I have used the MyFi in my car, my home, and as a "walkman". The only time I have had reception issues are when I am in my car and there is very heavy cover blocking the sky. I have used the MyFi almost everyday walking around Cleveland State University and I have never even had one single fade-out. I have even been able to go deep into buildings before the signal fades. Now, according to XM and Delphi, the unit will not work when a roof is over your head, but I have proven that very untrue. I have been able to listen to to the MyFi uninterrupted in a classroom with no windows. This may be a fluke, but take it for what it's worth.
Second Audio I mentioned this in the original review, and there have been many negative reviews about the audio quality. I have noticed, just within the past 2 weeks or so, that the quality has gotten much better. The "wavering" that I talked about is still present, but it is now only there about 25% of the time. I have been very impressed with the sound quality as of late. One reviewer said that talk shows sound like the people are talking into cans attached to a string, and I noticed this as well with "Opie and Anthony". However, both Opie and Anthony have been complaining about this problem, and the problem is coming from the studio that they broadcast from. They routinely complain about this during their program, and I have noticed a better sound lately on their program as well, most likely because O & A had a meeting with the XM engineers.
Overall, I would now give this unit 5 stars, whereas I gave it 4 before because of the audio quality. I do not have any complaints at all. Maybe I am unique in my experience, but I just don't get what any of the negative reviewers are complaining about.It would have been 5 stars except the personal antenna is awful. I bought a different personal antenna from the XM Fan Store and it works great.
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Yesterday, the mailman delivered my long-awaited MyFi. I quickly got it up and running. I then took it to the gym for its first big test. Overall, I like this product. It fits in the hand nicely, the layout is very simple to use, and it certainly comes with a ton of extras. The sound quality is as good as any other satellite radio I've seen.My problem though is in its portability, which is the main reason I paid for it. First of all, I live in Walnut Creek, CA which is a small town in the San Francisco Bay Area. When I'm not plugged into the home antenna, I get NO reception anywhere. When I went to the gym, I got nothing. I even put on that stupid looking external antenna. Even if it would have worked I don't know if I could have gotten a good workout with two different wires hanging down from me. But, despite that the external antenna has never done anything for me. So, if you are getting this unit and don't live in New York or LA, don't plan on using the live mode much, unless it's plugged into the home antenna. I have not hooked it up to my car yet, so I cannot comment on that aspect of it.
That being said, the only saving grace is the 2go feature. I did record two sessions last night, so now I have 5 hours of songs on it. So, now I can carry it around wherever I want to go. But, you can only record two sessions, so that is only two stations. I would love to be able to switch to news, sports, comedy, or other stations while I'm walking around. But, because of the reception issue I'm stuck with the recorded songs, which ain't bad. I also like how you can record a single song as it comes on the radio, if you like.
So, if you want to buy this thinking it is the long awaited portable satellite live radio solution, you'll be disappointed because you probably are not going to be happy with the reception you can get. But, if you get it realizing it that you'll mostly be using it to listen to recorded songs, you'll be very pleased. I'd recommend it, but I strongly stress waiting for the price to drop, because it's very overpriced right now for what it does.
Pros:
Battery: This little beauty has about a 5-hour battery life (conservative estimate, as far as I can tell). This means that even for car trips, taking the dog for a walk, and any normal use, it has enough battery life to last. During our long car ride on the trip, I didn't really need to use the car charger, which was one less wire to hook up. I hate having a gadget that needs lots of random junk hanging off, and the battery capacity really cuts down on that.
FM Modulator: This is one of the major plusses to this little unit. Again, like the above, this means that in the car, you don't have a cassette adapter or wired aux jack. It may cut down slightly on sound quality, but it's still higher than standard broadcast FM radio. In addition, this had a special added benefit in the hotel. Usually a hotel has a clock radio, but not much else. The FM transmitter gave me the ability to broadcast to the clock radio, which was the only way to get tunes in the room.
Accessories: If you've bought the SkyFi, which is the unit I have for the truck, it comes with nothing. You need to buy a car adapter kit, then perhaps a home adapter kit, then worry about installation, and when all is said and done, the $100 SkyFi costs closer to $300 or more. This unit comes with *everything*. Car kit, home kit, headphones, belt clip, protective case, it's all there. Sure, the unit itself costs $350, but for a portable unit that's not bad.
Sound Quality: Again, XM is closer to CD-quality than FM. It won't meet the standards of the audiophiles out there, but it's not bad. I'd place it about as high quality as 128kb bitrate MP3. As long as you have decent satellite or terrestrial reception, the sound is pretty good.
Variety: This, of course, is what separates the MyFi from an iPod. Ever since the RIAA started suing people, I haven't been downloading any MP3's. And without good radio, I don't keep up to date on music anyway, so I wouldn't download music. So, I leave the music programming to professionals. XM has enough stations that unlike local LA radio, there is always something I want to hear, and unlike local LA radio, I don't flip through 6 presets of commercials. The really cool feature is that the name of the artist and song title are displayed on the screen, so I actually know who I'm listening to!
Neutral:
Reception: From what I could tell, reception was great in some areas, and not so good in others. At one of my hotels, I had southern exposure facing Atlanta. Connected to the home kit, I had three bars (of three) on both satellite and terrestrial antennas. Yet at my hotel in Montgomery, AL, I didn't get any reception. There were no terrestrial antennas in Montgomery, and my room didn't face south. Likewise, in my apartment here in California I have a lot of restriction as to where the antenna is placed to get reception. In the car, the reception is pretty much uniformly good. During most of my trip, I had the external antenna up on the dash, and got great reception. I've found from installing the car-specific antenna in my wife's car that this is even better, but once that is installed and the wire routed, it is something you don't want to remove. In the car, though, using the standard personal antenna is fine. Walking around, however, the reception can be spotty. While this is intended as a portable device, it doesn't 100% live up to its billing. I put this as neutral rather than a con, though, because in most situations it meets my needs.
Stored Content: The MyFi has the ability to store 5 hours of music content. It is billed as a major feature, but after the above reception issues, I believe it is added as a crutch because of some of the reception issues. That being said, if they had implemented the record feature better, it would easily have moved up to a pro for this unit. The main problem is twofold. First, the XM SkyFi2 buffers content, so that if you're listening to a song and want to pause/replay the song, you can do so. This is not available as a feature on the MyFi. Second, it has two recording slots, each with a 2 1/2 hour maximum. You cannot schedule it to record 5 1-hour slots on 5 different channels. You can't schedule it to record a 3 1/2 football game on one channel, followed by a 1 1/2 hour program on a second channel. I think that purely from a software programming standpoint, they could have fixed this easily. Last, I it needs to be in the home kit to record. I'd prefer that it be able to record easily on-the-go, so that if I wanted to leave it in a car overnight recording, I could do so. Alas, no such luck. However, even with all these problems, the record feature is a plus when traveling. I got no reception on an airplane, and the saved content was a lifesaver when I needed something to listen to.
Cons:
Antenna Compatibility: The personal antenna plugs right into the side of the unit. The car and the home antenna, however, don't. They don't plug into the unit at all. They plug into the car or home kit. I didn't think this would be too much of a problem, but in my wife's car, the optimal place to put this unit is in the cupholder. If the car antenna plugged directly in, I could do so. However, the car antenna only plugs into the car docking station. Which doesn't fit into the cupholder. If the antennas were interchangeable, it would be helpful.
Conclusion:
All in all, if I had to do it all over again, I would still buy this unit. I had read the Amazon reviews, and the reception exceeded the limited expecations they had given me. The ease of use for car usage makes it simple to take in and out of the car, and since I already have XM in my truck, my wife might start getting some use out of the XM as well. I've said before that I'm not a major gadget guy, and I usually look for gadgets that will improve my life, rather than just buying gadgets to own them. The Delphi MyFi meets that criteria.
Rapid Car / Auto Charger for the Garmin StreetPilot C330 - uses Gomadic TipExchange Technology
- Charger provides a full 10W (2,000mAh) of available current in a small form factor a little over 1 inch long. Flexible, straight cable measure 50 inches in total length.
- Gomadic TipExchange Technology protects your investment by providing a means to change/upgrade your charger by simply swapping the physical charging tip. (Charging tip for Garmin StreetPilot C330) included with additional tips sold separately)
- Intelligent circuit provides precise output voltage and resistor configuration specific to the Garmin StreetPilot C330. This ensures battery is safely and efficiently charged without affecting battery longevity.
- Generous input voltage range of 12-24VDC, supports a wide variety of DC charging ports from cars and trucks (both foreign and domestic) to boats, planes and RVs.
- Uses latest state of the art advancements in charging and surge suppression technologies to deliver a unique product in an unbelievably micro-sized form factor.
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My power cable broke on my Garmin, which I learned is almost impossible to get fixed, other than by sending the device back to the factory. This product was an excellent work around, allowing me to power my Garmin through the mini USB port.
Wagan Power Dome EX 400-Watt Jump Starter with Built-In Air Compressor
- 600 cranking amp auto jump starter
- 260 PSI high power motor air compressor; Has 2 AC Outlets and 1 DC outlets
- 400 watt AC power inverter, high intensity LED light
- Built-in AM/FM radio with iPod™ input
- This item cannot be returned and has additional shipping restrictions
UPDATE!!STILL GOING STRONG!!!
I have been using this for two and a half years now to jump cars and even for lights during power outages and it still works great..Im sorry some had had trouble..but mine is great ..I did have to tape on some decals that were falling off..but other than that it is still working..
Im glad I have it..
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This is a fantastic unit and the price is on par with other brand units.Pros:
It has a charge indicator, FM/AM radio with aux. audio input jack as well as a USB power supply port for those suckers who own an IPOD, the LED light is bright enough, the presence of an air compressor is a plus and the hose is a decent length but doesn't appear so at first glance, 2 AC outlets as well as 1 DC outlet should provide ample space to plug in anything, and of course the jump cables for car starting which, like the air hose, is longer than it appears in the picture (about 2.5 feet)
The reason I gave it only 4 stars:
the power switch for the AC outlets on mine is a 2 stage switch, meaning it has off, 1, and 2 settings. The 1 does nothing and the 2 powers the outlets. Based upon the pictures, it is clear that a simple ON/OFF switch was meant to be there and probably is in most units but for whatever reason, mine has a different one (no biggie). The air compressor works fine but I have a problem with the fact the dial goes to 260psi. Who is pumping that much air into something? Because of that, I need to look closely when I am filling tires because the distance from 0-35/40 is very small. The tips for the air hose come loose so they will get tossed or lost easily. Lastly, the speaker for the radio is not the greatest, it would have been nice to have a built-in amp and an audio out but i guess this thing can only do so much.
Overall, it is a great buy and should do the job well for most people.
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This is my third Wagan and each one has been a dud. This latest one I bought PowerDome EX won't charge up even when I've plugged it in to its maximum alloted time. I've done this three times and still, won't work. The outside looks new but I wonder if they stuck an old battery in there. It's such a pain to get it replaced. The one I bought last year PowerDome 2354 lasted one month and the charging receptacle broke on the battery side. The Wagan customer service guy said there's nothing they could do about it! He told me to take it apart and fix it myself. The first unit I bought several years ago, only lasted one year. The third time's it. No more Wagans. Overall, I'd say if you're going to review a product, better to give it some longevity rather than reviewing it shortly after you buy it. My experience with three over four years should give you a pretty good idea of how poorly made these power supplies are.Want Wagan Power Dome EX 400-Watt Jump Starter with Built-In Air Compressor Discount?
Quick review: Functions as advertised as a jumper, do not use as a power device for extended periods of time.Extended review:
This product came to me functioning properly except for the work light (which was a loose wire and I fixed it easily). I followed the instructions for charging and then used its power inverter to charge a few small electronics I have. Everything worked great. I then used it to power a laptop pc and it lasted about 45 minutes. I re-charged it again and left it sit for about 2 months. My car battery died because I hadn't driven it in 3 weeks so I brought the power wagon out, and it functioned exactly as advertised. Of course it advertises that you can let it sit for 6 months, but it still has a great charge level after jumping the car so that is a good sign. I wouldn't recommend this product to anyone looking for something to run larger appliances (even if they are within the advertised range of wattage) off of for more than a minute or two. If you're looking for a portable battery jumper/light/pump/radio or a little extra power to charge mp3 players or phones (the usb power function is great) while away from civilization (and weight isn't an issue) than this is a great product for you.
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This unit is a high quality unit. I am very pleased as to how well it is made. It does everything that I expected of it and more. I don't need a radio or a compressor but it is there and it works well. I probably will order a higher wattage unit from Wagan which does not have all the frills.
Progressive Dynamics PD9105V Lead Acid Battery Charge Wizard
- Size: 2 inchL x 2 inchW x 3/4 inchH
- Cable Length: 6 feet
- Feedback: Charge status indicator light
- Activation Switch: Automatic with manual override button
I love how it conditions my RV batteries and will help extend their live. I couldn't be happier with this product and my only complaint is that it should have been stock with my RV charger ;-)
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Like so many others, our 2004 motorhome came equipped with the "dumb" (set voltage) charging program built into their standard converter, which provides 12-volt DC current to the coach when plugged into shore power as well as charging for the house battery bank.When I had to replace the house batteries recently I decided to go for Trojan T-105's, and wanted to provide a better charging profile to help them work better and last longer. Our camping experience to-date had not supported a need for an inverter (which typically come with an advanced multi-stage charging program), so I was curious about an alternative to just buying a new "smart" charger.
Progressive Dynamics offers this line of "Wizard" plug-ins as an after-market application to enhance the charging capability of their popular converters (why, for such a relatively small expense they don't just make it part of the OEM package, I have no idea...I guess the RV builders just prefer to trim the few extra bucks from their building costs). Plugging it into a port in the converter changes it from a single stage charger to a three stage, with a "float" mode and a "boost" and "desulfation" mode (the last kicks in for 15 minutes every 21 hours).
The charging profile does not exactly match Trojan's recommendations, but it's a lot closer than the stock converter. Hook-up is plug-and-play, but the plug is fairly large, so, like in my case, because I wanted to mount the Wizard inside the coach, I had to cut the plug off and then splice it back on to prevent having to drill overly large holes in my cabinetry (and the cord is only about 36" long). But with the device inside, I can monitor the tell-tale diode that blinks at different rates to let you know which mode the charger is using, and if I feel I need to manually change to a different charge rate, I can do that with the button on the face of the Wizard.
Again, not perfect, but a pretty convenient (albeit compromise) solution for a little bit of cost.
As a footnote, over the winter I left the motorhome at a campsite in Florida, where it sat plugged in but unattended for a couple of periods of 3 and 4 weeks at a stretch, and when I got back the batteries were fully charged and had not lost a measurable amount of water. That's not too bad, in my opinion.
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Installed this last winter, simple installation and seems to be working as advertised. Previous owner of RV said to disconnect the batteries when not using it or they would boil and go bad. Since installing I keep them hooked up and the RV plugged in 24 / 7 with no issues.Want Progressive Dynamics PD9105V Lead Acid Battery Charge Wizard Discount?
Great product . . .does exactly what it says it will do. Saved the cost of purchasing a new (and more advanced) charger/converter. For the price, I can't understand why Progressive Dynamics does not just build it into their 9100 series chargres/converters. EASY to install . . . just remove 1 screw, plug it in, and replace the screw.