- CPU:Media Tek MT3351
- Built-in Bluetooth Hand Free for Mobile & FM Transmitter
- The Latest Map on 8GB Memory Card
- Wireless CCD CAR REAR VIEW CAMERA
- 7-inch LCD touch screen
X-gps S800hd MTK DVR + Wireless CCD CAR Rear View Camera 7.0 Inch 128mb RAM Bluetooth 8gb Gps & DVR
Black & Decker CP120B 20-Watt Power Backup Battery Pack
1) Charge unit until LED goes green (with a battery that needs to be cycled, it may show its charged after a few minutes. With battery that is in good shape and being dead, it should take around 4 hours to charge)
2) Unplug charger and turn on unit. It may go dead after a few minutes, thats OK. After it shuts itself off, wait 10 minutes.
Repeat the steps above and it should come back to life. The most I repeated the above steps were 4 times before it accepted a full charge, and all mine work now. Hope this helps someone if theirs does not take a proper charge...Two weeks ago I purchased this Black and Decker product from my local CVS store in California. Brand-new, out of the package it wouldn't work. I felt reassured that at least it had a two year warranty, and was a "name brand" of Black and Decker. I was shocked when I phoned the Black and Decker service center in Texas, the 800-544-6986 that was included with the warranty info, ...and they told me that since the item had been manufactured three years earlier (there was a 2007 date-sticker on product), and since this product had been discontinued by Black and Decker, they could not honor the warranty for repair or replacement.
I informed the Black and Decker service-center manager [Anita] that it was not legal for Black and Decker to claim "no responsibility" for their warranty, and they couldn't refuse to honor their warranty just because they discontinued the item, (particularly because I had just purchased it two weeks prior, & had my receipt). She then gave me a local Black and Decker service-center phone number in California, where the representative ("Dave") informed me that because the item was discontinued by Black and Decker, "I was out of luck", and there was nothing they could do. It was just suggested I return the item to the store.
Beware consumers! Black and Decker is setting new precedents in skirting their legal responsibilities regarding honoring their product-warranties. It seems that since the volume of complaints are so high regarding Black and Decker products, not much attention is being paid to this negligence on Black and Decker's part, (and who has the time and money to bring a "breach of warranty" case to court, for a $50. item?)
After this experience I will never again have confidence in the Black and Decker name, and I urge you to consider researching consumer-complaints about this company's customer-service, before purchasing Black and Decker products.
Tom, in Encinitas California
Buy Black & Decker CP120B 20-Watt Power Backup Battery Pack Now
I, too, think this battery pack works GREAT! I tried it for my Blackberry (I let it run down as low as it would go without it shutting off) and it charged my Blackberry enough for a whole day's use, and then some. A week went by without my charging up the B&D Pocket Power before I used it again, this time on my iPod. It was still able to charge my 80GB iPod. I use my iPod for music AND videos and, with the charge from Pocket Power, I even had enough battery power to watch my videos, which is energy-intensive. I have even tried charging my Canon EOS camera battery and it extended my use of the camera. I am buying another one for my trips to Europe -not every hotel room there is equipped with as many outlets as we enjoy here and a travelling family can only stay up so long in the evenings vying for outlets to charge their electronics. It's not that heavy or bulky to take. However, despite all my accolades, remember that the sole function of this is as a BACK-UP (note the emphasis on back-up!); you should keep it fully charged when you have the opportunity to (because it does take many hours to charge) for those times in a pinch when you need it to charge something else that you forgot or didn't have the opportunity to. Hey, life's a juggling act -it would be remiss of me to say that a little 5x3x1 box will end all our electronics charging woes!Read Best Reviews of Black & Decker CP120B 20-Watt Power Backup Battery Pack Here
This battery pack has a USB port that I can confirm works with the iPhone 3G.The battery is a 1200 mAh NiMH battery that should just about charge an iPhone 3G from 0% to 100%.
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This is an awesome product it charges super fast. I dont know what the other reviewer is talking about i can get 2 charges out of this even when i use my extended iPpod battery this is one product every person with an ipod should have.2nd Generation Audio FM Transmitter and Car Vehicle Charger for the Samsung Galaxy Tab - Uses Gomadi
- Smart technology circuit architecture provides precision voltage and resistor regulation specific to the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Protects the internal battery longevity by modulating the charge in a safe and efficient manner.
- Transmitters emit a powerful FM signal that is the maximum allowed by FCC regulation. Advanced signal isolation provides crystal clear sound quality.
- Full FM frequency spectrum is available and is user selectable in 0.1MHz increments from 88.1 to 107.9 MHz. Advanced Digital PLL sound coding maintains stable and high quality sound.
- Product is designed to last and is backed by our Gomadic Lifetime Warranty. Buy with confidence!
- Sophisticated power protection mechanisms keep your Galaxy Tab safe from power surges, overcharging and short-circuiting.
I am happy to say that this device works GREAT! As long as there is nothing electrical between this transmitter and the antenna of your car, the clarity of the signal is amazing! I turned down the sound of my Galaxy Tab 10.1 to see how much static I could here and pumped up the car stereo volume and I could barely hear any static!
I use it with a cup holder cigarette lighter power unit (it also has TWO USB power connectors) so I can power other music devices while using the 3.5 mm jack to port the sound through the car speakers.
Two thumbs up on this gadget!
Dagoof
Thor TH1500 1500 Watt Modified Sine Wave Power Inverter
- 1500 Watts continuous power output, with 3000 Watts peak power.
- 3 grounded recepticles, with 1 USB outlet; GFCI reset buttons, Smooth Start technology gradually and safely ramps up voltage.
- Noise free technology eliminates horizontal lines and static that can appear on TVs.
- Manual reset if inverter shuts down, and powerful cooling fan.
- Dimensions in inches: 13.77 x 7.67 x 3.34
Schumacher XC6 SpeedCharge 6 Amp Battery Charger
- 6 ampere engine start for emergency starting
- Self-adjusting, variable charge rates for everyday charging needs and maintaining your battery in peak condition
- Charges and automatically desulfates and restores car, truck, RV, farm equipment, AGM, gel cell and deep-cycle batteries
- 6 ampere fast charge and 2 ampere slow charge
- The charger automatically determines whether the connected battery is a 6 volt battery or a 12 volt battery
The manual covers several different models but shouldn't confuse most anyone.
A red light comes on at the battery connection symbol to show you have it connected correctly
A yellow charging (lightning bolt) light comes on once you select a charge rate (turtle/rabbit symbols).
A green battery level light comes on once the battery is fully charged. It won't light up until it is finished charging.
I let the battery charge overnight and it indicated a full charge the next day. Battery has been working fine in vehicle for a week since charging.
It has a built-in fan that kicks on while charging. Not loud, but does make audible sound.
I picked this model due to good reviews of the Schumacher brand, and the fact that it has temperature sensor and will go to a trickle charge when the battery is full thanks to the microprocessor control. I certainly didn't want to boil out what was probably still a good battery with an old style "dumb" charger. Automatically desulfates the battery which is good too.
I hope to get many years of occasional use out of the device.
I'd recommend it.
Buy Schumacher XC6 SpeedCharge 6 Amp Battery Charger Now
All my battery chargers were lent to son-in-laws who never returned them. This time I was glad. I lucked out and got this one for $21 at Walmart. Supposedly if you put the clips on the wrong terminal nothing will happen or it you touch the clips together. Well I am not brave or stupid enough to try it so I do not know.If the clips are on the right post you will get an idiot light telling you so. It is only when the clips are on properly that it will start supply juice to the battery. The charger does the usual charge and shut off when done or maintain the battery. You can select between different batteries by pushing the button. I charged a lawn tractor battery. It shows red when it is dead, and green when it is good to go. It is pretty idiot proof for this idiot.
Read Best Reviews of Schumacher XC6 SpeedCharge 6 Amp Battery Charger Here
so far it has worked very well i keep one of my vehicles on it non stop during cold weather it seems to be working flawlessly. i have also used it to charge to of my group 31 batteries for my plow truck took a little longer then i had hoped but did the job well.ask me in a year if i am still happy with it. the one it replaced was 12 years old.made it 6 months before it died and it never really fully charged batteries was able to keep them alive in the coldWant Schumacher XC6 SpeedCharge 6 Amp Battery Charger Discount?
I've been using this product for about 6 months and it has performed each time I used it. I do quite a bit of fishing and the batteries I use need to be recharged as close as possible after their use to keep them in peak shape. The charger has 2 modes, a slow and a fast charge. I use both modes and each perform as I need them to. I would recommend this product to those RV'ers, boaters and the like.Early AM two coughs and no start. That night after two great Jake's Wayback cheeseburgers, went to buy battery at 10pm at an open Walmart, lowest was over $80 dollars.Saw this Schumacher XC6 on the shelf there for under $30.00, and they have a 90 day return policy.
In the morning, saturday, connected it to my battery. My neighbor does lots of work on his car, and told me I could safely leave the battery fully connected to the regular wires in the car, while charger is attached. It's the original battery on the 1993 BMW that has 230,000 miles on it already. The manual of the charger said it would take 3 to 4 hours on the speediest setting, which I used since I figured I might have to have the car towed to mechanic, or such. Checked it after just 90 minutes. Wow, all done!
Everything was just fine, the charger lights showed power on, and that the battery was ALREADY done charging, with the green done indicator. I unplugged all, put the key in and turned the ignition. The battery cranked loud and fast and the car started up beautifully.
Don't think twice, buy it, enjoy it. This thing is cool. Thank you Schumacher for making this great, and affordable. Thank you Walmart for stocking it and staying open late. Walmart owners give almost nothing in charity compared to great owners like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, and Mayor Bloomberg who works for $1 a year and gives millions and millions to worthy charities. Walmart owners should wake up and give back to the US.
Go to your library for DVD: WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price , buy it on Amazon)
That's it. The XC6 is truely a great car battery recharging charger.
BESTEK 75w power inverter car dc 12v to 110v ac inverter dc adapter laptop charger notebook adapter
- We have noted the image of a single USB inverter that a user has posted. Please be advised that the pictured device with a single USB is the OLDER model. We have since upgraded to a DUAL USB inverter, and thus no longer ship out inverters with ONE USB for this listing. This listing is for a 75w DUAL USB inverter
- Converts 12-volt DC power from a vehicle battery to 120-volt AC power. Simply plug the inverter into your vehicle's DC outlet, and connect your device to the inverter's AC outlet or USB port.providing on-the-go household power in the vehicle. Rotatable cigarette lighter .
- Short circuit,overload,overheat,low battery voltage,over battery voltage Protections, Full protection features and Auto-shutdown keep your appliance and car from damage of overheating, over load , low load, short circuit, low voltage and over voltage.
- High tech achieved: Input & Output Isolation avoid electric shock ! Built-in fuse ,Resum working after protections.
- For DC12V and Car ONLY, not applied for DC24V and airplane use !
-treyrgI already own a Tripp Lite 375w inverter, but it's bulky and noisy. So I decided to buy the Bestek 75w.
My test:
The USB and AC outlet both worked well to charge my cell phone. But when I plugged in my MacBook, it wouldn't charge. I thought something might be wrong with the Macbook cord, so I tried it on the Tripp Lite, and it didn't charge either! The Tripp Lite worked previously so I was almost sure the Macbook or its cord had the problem. When I got back home the Macbook charged fine on my home AC. So I went back to the car and plugged the Macbook into the Tripp Lite charging light comes on! Then the Bestek no light. Tripp Lite again no light! I waited a few minutes and tried the Tripp Lite again light comes on! The Bestek was doing something strange. I then use my Kill-a-Watt on the Bestek. Turns out the AC frequency fluctuates wildly during my short measurement I saw it briefly dip to 40 Hz. This is way too low and was probably causing issues with the Macbook (Tripp Lite was more stable and my brief test didn't show it dropping below 50 Hz). Power couldn't be the issue the Macbook adapter is rated at 60w max, so even if I add 10% as the Bestek instructions recommend, it's still below 75w. I have a 3rd gen Toyota Prius but I assume the DC ports act just like non-hybrids.
Note that other laptops probably would work, but mine didn't. Bottom line is that the low frequency is not acceptable because the standard is 50-60 Hz. I wonder if the other Bestek inverters have the same issue.
Other thoughts:
I like the compact form factor and the swiveling body; the latter helped with plugging it into confined DC ports like the one in the console box between the seats in the Prius. The AC outlet seemed a bit tight; when the Bestek was in the DC port and I wanted to remove an AC device, I was afraid my pulling would eventually damage the DC connector, or worse yet, the port. USB port was just the right tightness.I purchased the PROMOTION BESTEK 75Watt 12 Volt DC to 110-120 Volt AC Power Inverter With USB Adapter MRI711C-3 on a Thursday and it arrived on Saturday. I got this product for an inflatable bed I use when camping. I have not gone camping with it yet but I did inflate and deflate the bed I use two times in a row and it worked great, just as good as the wall outlets in my home. The unit was slightly warm to the touch after about ten minutes of continuous use but not warm enough to warrant any concern. Thus far this product has done what I got it for and it has done it well.I bought this charger for two reasons
1. I need an AC connection for attaching an electronic pump to blow up air mattresses for camping trips
2. To charge two iPhones/iPad on road trips
This charger does both very well! As I noticed in some other reviews, I did notice a faint electrical smell immediately after plugging it in, but that went away after a few minutes and I haven't noticed again. I highly recommend, especially for the price.Quick shipping and reasonable price are always a plus. Works as intended to plug in the wall charger for an off brand bluetooth headset for which I could not get a car adapter. Everthings good so far!
FM Transmitter & Car Charger with LCD Screen - for Apple iPod / Iphone / Itouch / Nano - High Qualit
Like they say you get what you pay for. There was only one review so I really had nothing to go on when I ordered this, but I figured for $14.00 I would take a chance.
I got the item and it looked good, quality.
Unfortunately it doesn't work as great as it looks, which is obviously much more important!
It does plug in, has power... it does charge my ipod and I can play my ipod through basically any channel.
However the engine interference noise that it sends through my speakers is enough to make me not use it unless I am desperate.
Also the sound quality of the music is by far less than good.
When I use my old battery operated FM transmiter the sound is above good.
When using this transmitter the sound quality is below average.
I wish I would have spent the money and just purchased a more expensive transmitter with multiple good reviews.
OH... also I have tried using this on high channels, lows channels, in between channels to see if the intereference would go away or sound quality would improve, it did not.I have a 4th Gen. Ipod Nano. Had been using an FM transmitter by Griffin, with the 4' cord and the control module in the mid-part of cord. Didn't like it cuz wouldn't charge my ipod and didn't like the long cord laying all over the car getting in the way. So I searched a lot and settled on this model, have now used it for several hours, and am very pleased because:
1) it does in fact charge a 4th Gen. Nano
2) fits snugly in cigarette lighter
3) blue back-lit display looks cool, visible day or night, easy to reach and operate from driver's seat
4) easy to work the simple controls, which are always stationary since not-mid-cord
5) cord is nice and short and has coils, not sloppy and loose
6) my Nano sounds *great* on my FM stereo as transmitted by this unit
7) seller shipped it fast, packed it right nice job!
TIPS:
1) be sure to try a lot of FM settings to get away from static and interference. I tried many before settling on 95.3 here in No. VA., which was significantly better than any other frequency sounds excellent
2) i use little velcro squares ($3 @ Home Depot) to attach my Nano to my dash next to my A/C controls, about a foot above cig. lighter...keeps cord out of way, and easy to work Nano dial with Nano pressed against the dash, and velcro barely noticeable when take Nano out of truck...put velcro also on back of transmitter part that plugs into Nano, and attach that to the velcro on the dash when Nano out of truck keeps transmitter from flopping down to consoleI got this for my car to use with my 3rd generation Nano. It works great, I have no problem getting a clear channel and it charges the Ipod as well. Well worth the 15 dollars.Works great with the iphone 3g and 3rd generation ipod. Sound is excellent throught the radio. It charges and plays at the same time.My existing FM Transmitter from Monster works great with my iPod, and it charges and produces very clear sound. However, it would not work with the iPhone so I went to look for a new item.
I was expecting the same results from this product. It charges as expected, which is what we really needed for our car. However, the sound is pretty disappointing on the radio. I am not an audiophile, but it sounded "tinny", lacked any bass, and wasn't really worth listening to. We tried multiple channels, looking for a better FM frequency, but nothing really seems to work. My other FM Transmitter works fine with my other devices, so it might be the amount of power that this device transmits with.
I don't think we'll search for a different one, because this was a pretty inexpensive charger for the car. In a pinch, we can listen to iPhone tunes, but we'll stick with our iPod/Monster solution.
2nd Generation Audio FM Transmitter and Car Vehicle Charger for the Sony Walkman NWZ-E354 - Uses Gom
- Full FM frequency spectrum is available and is user selectable in 0.1MHz increments from 88.1 to 107.9 MHz. Advanced Digital PLL sound coding maintains stable and high quality sound.
- Transmitters emit a powerful FM signal that is the maximum allowed by FCC regulation. Advanced signal isolation provides crystal clear sound quality.
- Smart technology circuit architecture provides precision voltage and resistor regulation specific to the Sony Walkman NWZ-E354. Protects the internal battery longevity by modulating the charge in a safe and efficient manner.
- Gomadic TipExchange Technology protects your investment by providing the means to change/upgrade your charger by simply swapping the physical charging tip. (Charging tip for Sony Walkman NWZ-E354 included with additional tips sold separately)
- Comprehensive input range of 12-24VDC to support a wide variety of vehicles (both foreign and domestic). Works great on boats and RVs too!
Cobra Walkie-Talkie microTalk CXR925 35-Mile 22-Channel Two-Way Radio
- 35 Mile Range, 22 Channels & 142 Privacy Codes
- 10 Channel NOAA Radio
- Rewind-Say-Again Digital Voice Recorder
- 2 Rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries with desk charger
- Lead-Free Packaging
IMPORTANT REVIEW NOTE / CUSTOMER FOLLOW-UP FOR THE ABOVE REVIEW: This is a follow-up to the above review by the myself, the author. I sent the above mentioned 2 radios back to Cobra's factory repair services per instructions from their repair department shortly after writing this review. Within a couple of weeks, my 2 radios (the same ones I sent back) were returned to me and the previous volume issue with both units was completely corrected. Both units are now working perfectly and at volume levels that are more than acceptable. Great customer support!
THANKS COBRA for standing behind your product and repairing these radios to my satisfaction!
Buy Cobra Walkie-Talkie microTalk CXR925 35-Mile 22-Channel Two-Way Radio Now
I received these in the mail yesterday, and charged them overnight. The next day I was a little skeptical whether or not they would function properly. They both work perfectly, and the sound quality is great. It is also nice because the radios have just the right amount of functions. You can get done what you need to, withought being dragged down by an insane amount of worthless functions. I tested them today and I was able to get a mile and a half range out of them while I was in my house and my sister was in a car. We were both in a city and it was rainy (I actually don't know if rain would affect it). On the box Cobra states that you can get 35 miles on a mountain (with perfect conditions), 17 miles in a forest, and 3 miles in a city. Overall this is definetaly worth its price. Great buy.Pros
lightweight (can be a con)
VOX works well
Just the right amount of functions
Sound quality is good
Comes with rechargeable lithium batteries
1 year warranty on the radios
Cons
You don't have these amazing walkie talkies
Read Best Reviews of Cobra Walkie-Talkie microTalk CXR925 35-Mile 22-Channel Two-Way Radio Here
We are so impressed with these radios that we bought a second set -the clarity of the voices is so much better than the old Magnavox radios we had before. We got these primarily to go skiing with so the family can stay in touch. We haven't had a chance to use them for that, but we have tried them out. My husband drove down our road approx 2 miles from the house and we had no problem hearing each other. They are easy to use. We predict these will work great in the mountains skiing.Want Cobra Walkie-Talkie microTalk CXR925 35-Mile 22-Channel Two-Way Radio Discount?
I've owned and operated many many FRS/GMRS radios of different brands and types, and these definitely are the best. They have a range of 1.5 miles in our city (don't expect the outrageous claims of any of these radios). If you live in a mountainous area, perhaps they would work 35 miles peak to peak. Anyway, these have higher power and can reach out better than other radios. I'm very pleased with them. They work even better than eXRS, which I had not expected. I still think ham is the best way to go (most of my family are ham radio licensees), but this is the next best thing (also maybe eXRS). For GMRS, you need to spend $85 for the license and then $50-$60 depending on where you get the radios. Ham isn't much more. It can even be cheaper. It's $14 to take the test and $100 for a basic radio. The only difference is that you need to take a basic exam. For me, it wasn't that difficult. You have a huge world open to you through ham radio, with thousands of repeaters around the world to use, IRLP, and hundreds of other types of emphasis you can get into. Another route is eXRS. It has 10 billion "channel" possibilities (using spread spectrum frequency hopping technology). It, too has a shorter range than ham, only about 1 mile, and there are a couple of down sides to it. They can get "out of sync" with each other and then you have to turn the radio off and back on again. They eat batteries faster than anything imaginable. Notwithstanding some of the cons, I still love eXRS. But if you don't want to get involved in ham radio, I would say this (GMRS) is the next best thing, or eXRS (eXRS, especially if you want to have privacy).These were purchased to replace a pair of Motorola radios, mainly because of the rewind feature and the longer battery life. With out car club, we always carry radios when we are meet up for a run so we can communicate between cars and keep the group together. These radios work GREAT for that! As more and more people start using these radios, we are trying to put one or more of them at either end of the group as the range for these radios will allow conversations back and forth. The rewind feature is awesome to have because you can be focused on driving and the navigator can just hit rewind to hear what you missed.The only negative that I can report is that the quality control from Cobra seems to be a little lacking. We are the fourth couple to buy a set of these radios and 3 out of 4 pairs came with a defective radio (2) or a defective battery (1). Amazon and/or Cobra have both been very responsive in providing replacements so the issue is partially mitigated. We still recommend these radios to friends and we are 100% happy with the performance, charging, battery life and overall user friendly features of the radios.
OEM Car Kit Vehicle Plug in Adapter + Original Home Wall AC Travel Charger + USB 2.0 Data Sync Conne
Clarion CX609 2-DIN CD/MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver with USB Port
- CD-DA/CD-R/RW Ready Built-in Bluetooth Handsfree and Audio Streaming MP3WMA and iTunes AAC Compatible with ID3-TAG Display
- USB Digital Media Streaming Capability 18 FM/ 6 AM Presets USB Audio for iPod (Rear) Front 3.5mm Aux Input
- Volume Control BBE MP for Compressed Audio Sound Improvement Beat EQ for Sound Adjustment Built-in LPF/HPF
- 728-variable Color Display & Illuminated Keys 13 x 10 2-Line High Visibility LCD SAT Ready 4ch RCA Output (F+R/SW)
- 50W x 4 Built-in Amplifier Sirius Satellite Radio Ready XM Mini-Tuner Direct OEM Steering Wheel Remote Ready Handsfree Microphone
The main reason I bought this unit was for the Bluetooth abilities, and because in addition to hands free functionality, it also supports A2DP Bluetooth audio streaming, so I can play music from my phone right through the stereo with no wires. I am really impressed with this technology. I did some testing with a CD burned from MP3s, and with the original MP3s streamed via BT. I honestly can't hear the difference. When connected, the HU controls the phone by changing tracks, pausing, playing, stopping, and it also can FF/RW through tracks, which is something my BT headphones can't do.
The CX609 works well as a hands free unit as well. When a call comes in the HU pauses the music and rings through the speakers. I ran the microphone up through the A pillar and headliner and popped it out next to the map light/sunglass holder. This is about where a stock MIC is found on a Frontier with factory BT, and it works fantastic. Everyone who I've spoken to says they can hear me better on the HU than on my phone. The MIC gain can be adjusted easily from 1-5, but I found the stock level of 3 too soft, and my preferred level of 4 is just a bit too sensitive. I just need to speak at a normal conversation levels rather than "yelling" into the BT which is what I often tend to do. Once connected, the stereo is ready to take calls in any mode. To initiate calls you are supposed to be able to browse your phonebook on the stereo (I haven't loaded mine yet, and might not bother), or you can enter numbers directly, or of course use the phone, which is how I do it.
However, all is not perfect. My major gripe with the HU is also Bluetooth related. The HU can be set to auto connect to the phone, or do it manually. Autoconnect works great, and if you want to listen to the phone right away, it handles everything for you. The problem is that if you are listening to any other source, it goes to Bluetooth mode every time you turn it on as soon as the phone connects, and you need to switch back to your old source. If you shut auto connect off, it stays on the previous source, but to connect you need to switch to BT and go through a menu to select the phone as there is a disconnect button, but no connect button. If you don't connect it, you don't get hands free capabilities if you get a call, so its kind of a no-win. For now I just let it connect (which it does VERY fast) and then switch to another source if I don't want to listen to the phone.
The attatched USB cord is very cool and allows you to connect your ipod up without an adapter (haven't tried it), or plug in your thumb drives and stream music off of them. I plugged a Kingston 4gb micro SDHC chip into a thumbdrive adapter, loaded up some albums, and plugged it into the cord (which I snaked into my glovebox), and it works great. The read speed is almost instantaneous, and it navigates folders easily. Very cool.
The stereo works fine, although as the less than stellar FM sensitivity specs would suggest, it doesn't pick up stations quite as well as the stock stereo, but out on the road its fine. In my basement garage I was able to pick up all the stations I would expect, although 1 came in scratchy until I pulled outside. It does not have RDS or HD radio, which would have been nice, but you can program station titles which in a way is better because you don't end up with your stations named incorrectly the way many RDS receivers do it.
CDs play fine. I haven't tried an MP3 disc yet since I have the phone and USB port, but it does read track titles off my CDA discs... cool.
Overall sound quality is good. I still have stock speakers so I can't say for sure how good. The preset sound schemes didn't please me, but the custom function works well. You can set your low, mid, and high levels, and for each you can select the frequency center and Q ratio (I believe this means how wide your adjustment is). I believe lows can be set at 50, 100, or 200. mids at 500, 1000, or 2000, and highs at 5000, 10000, or 15000. Q settings are .7, 1, 1.4, or 2 for each. I prefer smaller Qs. While it's nowhere near as nice as the 12 band EQ I had in my last vehicle, it does work pretty well. It also has a Bass Expander and BBE processing but only for CDs and MP3s. I wish you could use BBE on everything.
The display is ok but not as high end as it could be. The color on black screen looks good in some of the colors, but not all. My interior lighting is amber but the amber looks bad on the display, so I set it to Red which I find is easier to read. Ford owners with green illumination would like the green, and blue looks cool but it doesn't match my car. You can customize your color (R0-8, G0-8, B0-8), but most colors are pre programmed. My HU is mounted right at 30 degrees, so I need to crank the contrast to be able to read it at that angle... but it works.
The remote that comes with it does enough, although it wont navigate menus which might be more useful than anything. Warning... when installing make sure you plug the MIC into the correct port. It also fits in the remote port which is the same size. I made that mistake and only figured out the problem after the MIC and IR remote both didn't work. This suggests to me that the IR remote may not function if you hook up a steering wheel adapter... although I can't be sure.
Overall, for $230 + $25 in harness and antenna adapters, this radio is an affordable unit that really does the trick, especially if you want to maintain a stock look. You can get much flashier units in a single DIN, or go with a touch screen DVD player for more money, but to have a radio that looks like it came in the vehicle, but does stuff that most factory radios cant, look no further!
Buy Clarion CX609 2-DIN CD/MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver with USB Port Now
I've had mine for two weeks and have really learned to like it. Unfortunately, it does not have a way to initiate voice dialing from the head unit. As a consolation prize, it is pretty straightforward to transfer my phonebook from my phone (Note I use the 'selected categories only' option from my Blackberry so I only transfer over about a dozen. Any more than that and it gets tedious scrolling through the entries and dangerous.)Pros:
Nice double din size to fill the dashboard
Can change display color more fun than I expected
Bluetooth telephone and Bluetooth audio work great
USB connector from rear of unit allows iPod to be stored in glove compartment.
ISR Button allows 1 button to select favorite radio station
Can enter radion station names into headunit.
Navigation through the Bluetooth Phonebook and iPod Playlist is easy.
Incoming Bluetooth phone calls will activate the unit even when it is in 'off' mode (note car has to be running or in ACC mode).
Cons:
Can't initiate voice dial from head unit
Also another quirk is that if I initiate voice dial from phone, subsequent voice dial attempts are muted. Voice dial still works, but you can't hear the prompts (Resets itself next time you get in the car.) Odd, but consistent.
If Bluetooth Audio is set to autoconnect, then the unit will automatically switch to it as the source when you start your car. If you were listening to the radio and stop your car and get out, when you get back in a start the car, you will hear the radio for about 5 seconds, then the Bluetooth audio will connect and automatically switch over. Again, odd but consistent.
Display screen is execellent when viewed straight on and loses contrast when viewed from angle. Driver and front seat passenger generally have an angled view that can make the display difficult to read depending on your car/seating/dash configuration.
I would definitely buy this unit again. Sound is great. Bluetooth is easy and reliable. If voice dialing could be initiated from the headunit, this would be a 5 star system.
Read Best Reviews of Clarion CX609 2-DIN CD/MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver with USB Port Here
Overview the great Blue-Tooth sound quality, the nice factory look, and ease of basic use (due to button layout) are the main reasons why I would recommend this product.I basically wanted to add Blue-Tooth, USB, and MP3 player AUX in to my factory stereo, and this unit did the job (it says that it can control an I-Pod plugged into the USB input but I have not yet tried this). This unit looks just as good as a factory installed unit in my Toyota Sienna. The basic operations are easy to use (because they provide enough actual buttons that you are not constantly stuck reading a context-sensitive-menu while you are trying to drive).
Music audio sound quality is fine, I did not need a unit with a huge amp, (I still have the factory speakers installed) so this unit is great for my purposes.
Blue-Tooth My mic is placed next to my garage door opener and the phone quality when using Blue-Tooth is great (all cords were completely hidden so it looks professional). The pairing process was a bit clunky, I had to read the manual as it is not intuitive. I have only 1 phone paired to this unit and so far everyone I talk to says that it sounds good from their end, and I can hear them perfectly.
Playing MP3 songs via the USB input is very good, this player displays the folder name when you select a folder which makes it easy to pick what folder of music you want to play (the no-name brand stereo in our boat does not display folder names, so I really appreciate this unit in this respect). We removed MANY of our CDs from our car since we already have them loaded on our USB stick, that will help keep our CDs from getting scratched.
Radio Sounds as good as my factory radio for AM/FM stations. One neat feature is the ISR (Instant Station Recall) button, program your favorite station to this button and you switch to that station with a single button press (as opposed to doing "source select" until you are at radio, then pressing "Band" to choose AM/FM, and then choosing your preset 1-6), so this is a nice shortcut for the 1 station that you listen to the most.
The display one of the nice features about this unit is also its worst feature. The good part is that it lets you choose from many different display colors so that it will go nicely with any vehicle, what a cool feature. The bad news is that the display is simply not bright enough, this is the reason that the unit did not get 5/5 stars. During the bright daytime the display appears washed-out, and I ended up picking a bright display color instead of the display color that matched my vehicles color scheme.
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I began shopping for a new headunit with Bluetooth handsfree calling and to listen to music from my iPhone. The Clarion unit specs seemed to fit the bill at a very reasonable price.The radio reception on this unit is worse than the stock one it replaced. Weaker FM stations that were clear with my old headunit now have slight background static.
Although the Clarion works more or less as advertised, it did run into a few minor issues with my iPhone 3GS. I can't tell if these problems are due to Apple's operating system or Clarion's iPod control implementation.
First, the Clarion unit doesn't always charge the iPhone 3GS. There have been multiple reports on the internet of the 3GS phones not always recognizing a charger that works perfectly fine with the 3G. I never had a 3G, so I can't comment on whether the CX609 charges the 3G perfectly. Whenever I plug the 3GS into the Clarion, I'll always get one of two messages on the iPhone. The first possible message is the "may interfere with this device, do you want to switch to airplane mode?" The second, and more ominous, message is "doesn't support charging from this device and may interfere, do you want to switch to airplane mode?" Which message I get seems random and if I unplug/plug a few times, it'll eventually charge. Not sure if this is an Apple OS problem or Clarion problem. Once charging, I just choose "No" to airplane mode and everything sounds fine without any interference.
Second, the iPhone can't export it's phonebook into the headunit. This results in the headunit always displaying "unknown caller" even if you dialed from a contact in your iPhone.
Finally, the Bluetooth mode for the iPhone 3GS only supports play/pause control. Not really an issue with the CX609, it's more an Apple OS deficiency.
For people having trouble navigating the CX609 menus, the Bluetooth pairing is actually pretty straightforward once you choose to ignore the user manual. Here are the steps from memory:
1. Switch source to Bluetooth by pressing source button
2. Hold down DISP button until menu options displayed
3. Press right arrow until PAIRING menu
4. Press Play/ENT to select PAIRING
5. Press right/left arrow to choose memory slot (1 through 5 devices)
6. Press and hold Play/ENT to go to SEARCH/WAIT menu
7. Press down arrow to select WAIT
8. Set phone to search for Bluetooth devices before proceeding
9.Press AND hold Play/ENT until WAITING is flashing on the headunit
10. New device should appear on phone and use phone to complete pairingSeveral folks have commented about Bluetooth auto connect issues, particularly that the unit automatically switches to Bluetooth as soon as the phone connects, interrupting the source that you had been listening to.
There is another alternative with Bluetooth connectivity. If you set up Bluetooth for the phone only (not audio) then the autoconnect will not occur every time you turn on the phone. You can turn your phone on and continue to listen to the current source. If you get a call, it will automatically switch to Bluetooth. Of course, this won't help much if you're planning to use your phone as a music source.
The reason the HU automatically switches to Bluetooth when you connect your phone with Bluetooth audio enabled is that it views it as a new audio source that you want to listen to now. It works exactly the same way as it does if you connect a USB device or insert a CD.
Hope this helps clarify the issue.
Battery Tender 021-1164 10W Solar Charger
- Built-in 3-step microcontroller for precise charging
- Waterproof and sparkproof for outdoor installations
- Easy, do-it-yourself installation
- Built-in temperature compensation sensor
- 12V nominal voltage 540 mAmps
Previously, I needed to use a battery charger every couple of weeks and now, unfortunately, that chore has returned.
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the "charger" works great to maintain a charged battery for exteded periods of non use but did not work to charge a low battery.Read Best Reviews of Battery Tender 021-1164 10W Solar Charger Here
I like to know the required mounting dimensions however, main product photo, as it appears to be rectangular shaped, how can this render to 17x17x3? 3 inch depth? are you searious? do i or someone need an eye exam posting their oem products with sloppy details? it seems oem resellers are becoming sloppier time after time and liquidate their last holding inventory...After one month my 1979 Ford Pickup being stored in a lot started up on the first click as if it had been started and ran the day before.Not completely happy with the cheap plastic corners which arethe mounting points. However I installed this on my travel trailer where I run 2 batteries anddo allot of dry camping. It keeps my batteries fully charged.Veho VPP-002-SSP Pebble Smartstick Emergency 2200mAh Portable Battery for iPhone/Blackberry/Samsung/
- Will charge most popular cell devices including iPhone, iPod,Blackberry, Samsung, Nokia, HTC
- Packed with 2200Mah emergency battery power for a whole charge of most popular smartphones or cell devices
- Comes with 4 connectors iPhone/iPod, Mini USB, Micro USB, Nokia, 2 charging cables and stylish carry sock
- Blue and Red LED Charging indicators for re-charge notification
- Available in 4 super sleek and stylish colours (Black, Silver, Pink, Purple)
This charger meets all those criteria and more. It comes with a multitude of different charging adapters and it can be charged from your laptop or a USB plug that are becoming more and more common these days. Once charged stick it in your pocket or your bag with the relevant adopters and off you go.
the only negative thing I can think of is that I would have prefered the pouch to have a fastener at the end so that it doesn't fall out.I do use this and appreciate having the extra battery source on hand and portable; however, it is not enough to charge my phone completely only about 70% charge when it quits charging my phone. (Razr M)I bought one of these because my mom had one from another brand. I love it, it does what it is suppose to. My boyfriend used it all the time so I bought another. It's sleek and people always think its really cool. Only con I can think of is the little pouch it comes with is useless, I use an old small soft camera case to carry mine in my purse.The first time I used it it charged my iPhone 4 to 100%. I recharged the Pebble for the next day's adventure. When I needed t the next day, I used it and it charged my phone to 76% and was dead. It got me through the day but...I had hoped for more for my money.I love this handy dandy little device. I enjoy knowing that when my phone is dying I don't have to go on a scavenger hunt for a wall plug I can just plug it up in my purse and go!
Whistler XTR-145 Easy To Read Display Radar Detector
- Radar/Laser detector provides 360-degree alerts for all radar and laser signals
- Patented VG-2 cloaking technology makes you invisible to radar detector detectors
- Brilliant icon display indicates power, city mode, radar band identification, and signal strength
- 3 City Modes and Highway Mode for reducing false alerts
- One-year warranty
- Total Band Protection
- Icon Display
- Exclusive Low Profile Periscopes
- 360° Maxx Coverage
- Alert Priority
CONS: unless on sale, better value can be found elsewhere in the Whistler lineup
This XTR-145 is a no-frills, good quality detector. As someone who goes only 5-10 MPH at most over the speed limit, I wanted something that would give me a heads-up about speed traps -and thus far, this detector has met my expectations.
Over the Labor Day weekend, it snuffed out a couple of local cops hiding out. In both cases, I got a short one or two bar warning in the K/Ka band. The first instance was over the crest of a small hill in a residential section (virtually no false alarms here), and the advance warning was no more than a a few hundred feet. I suspect the hill decreased the range significantly; fortunately, my speed up the hill was well below the limit, so no problem there. The second case occurred on a busier local thoroughfare, flanked by stores on both sides. There were scattered false alarms from the automatic doors (switching to City II mode, which doesn't detect X-band -more on that later -helps cut these false alarms), but a quick burst of the K/Ka alert gave me a 1/2 mile warning about a cop car tucked away in a speed trap. That was enough time for me to slow down to the limit.
I just had two highway alerts tonight -in the first case, it warned me 1/2 mile in advance of a cop driving in the opposite lanes while tailing and pulling over a car. The warning illustrated the XTR-145's 360-degree detection, i.e. not necessarily your course of traffic. The second case was also a 1/2 mile in advance, this time a cop who had already pulled over a car to the shoulder in my course of traffic.
As noted earlier, the City modes can cut down detection of X band, but this is problematic in states like NJ and OH, where cops still use X band radar (sticking to Highway mode is likely the best bet there). And this unit, like most of its peers across the price range, will detect laser, but this feature comes with a catch: any laser warning likely indicates your car has just been tagged, so hope for their laser gun to malfunction as you hit the brakes. This gaping hole in laser "detection" is why radar detectors in general are not a free pass for speeding.
But the XTR-145 does provide a little more cushion and advance warning about many imminent speed traps. Higher priced detectors seem to have far better sensitivity and may be more useful for the leadfooted folks. But for those who speed 5-10 MPH over the limit and like useful gadgets, this fits the bill.
FYI, I found the Handstands Jelly Sticky Pad to be perfectly sized and capable of holding it on the dashboard. This allows you to avoid using the more obvious suction cup mount. And the power cord for this unit is a thin, straight cable. At first, I thought this would be a disadvantage (more expensive units use a coiled cord), but I've found the thinness of the cable to be less obstructive to the center console controls.
If you shop around, the XTR-145 can be an excellent value. I found it for $25 at another electronics/computer site (with vowels removed, N-w-gg). But at the current price of around $40, definitely get the XTR-265, which is around $10 more. It seems to have the same detection circuitry, but with a much better feature set.
Buy Whistler XTR-145 Easy To Read Display Radar Detector Now
First, I bought one Whistler Xtr-265 and one Xtr-145, just to compare these two models. I put both on at the same time, going to work and driving a family member to school. Xtr-265 was being too sensitive to every single, mostly are false alarms. Xtr-145 model only alerted you when there was real police radar guns or strong electronic wireless traffic cameras.Both models are easy to operate and do not cost much money to buy. Like many previous reviews, I don't speed but just want to get warnings ahead. Just because state or city politicians could not get their budget balanced, they are now trying to overwork the police force to get every penny they could from the local residents.
At the end, I returned the Xtr-265 and bought another Xtr-145 for my family. My colleague just got a speeding ticket this morning: $165.00. Every one can afford to buy a Xtr-145 around $40 just to slow down and save yourself a fine and a traffic course. Keep driving and keep yourself safe.
Read Best Reviews of Whistler XTR-145 Easy To Read Display Radar Detector Here
The laser has never worked and I use it every day to travel to/from work on the freeway. I've seen plenty of motorcycle police with laser on and it has never made a single sound. There is also one point on this freeway that, every single time for about two miles this thing gives a high pitch/low pitch (high-low-high-low-high-low-pause-high-low-high-low-high-low-pause) that is not listed as a feature. While it is doing this, it doesn't notify of radar (as I can tell).It does work for detecting radar quite well, but I just don't feel confident using it. If this is all you can afford, it'll probably work for you, but if you can get something better, go with that instead.
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A well-rounded device...I Recently owned the Xtr-105 and it stopped working. This one is a great upgrade. Much louder alerts, lights will definetly get your attention at night time, not much justice during the day, but the alert sound still gets your attention if you're riding with the windows down or moderate radio volume. This is definetly a good product. Note: State troopers speed radars aren't detectable by mostly any radar or laser detector we can purchase.Does not recognize any radars!I travelled more than 500 miles saw at least 5 pointing at me by the side road and NOTHING!
And keeps beeping for everything that are not radars!
Do not recommend
Power Bright APS1000-12 Pure Sine Power Inverter 1000 Watt 12 Volt DC To 110 Volt AC
Good, clean power. Strong build but the end panels flex when you tighten the battery connections so be careful.
I wish I had bought the larger model but this one keeps my dual-6v series batteries from draining too fast.
I will comment again in six mths. I bought this for emergency (quiet) backup power in my home.Needed and inverter to power Oxygen Concentrator while out on the road in the RV. First try didn't work. Modified Sine wave will not power Medical Equipment. This one works like a charm.
Buy Power Bright APS1000-12 Pure Sine Power Inverter 1000 Watt 12 Volt DC To 110 Volt AC Now
I bought this to power our refrigerator/freezer and our storage freezer in case of a power outage. The unit performed perfectly and didn't even get warm running both compressors. I tested it with a fluorescent lamp, laptop, and iPhone charger and everything worked perfectly. This is a pure sine wave inverter that does exactly what the manufacture says.Be sure to buy the right gauge cable. A minimum of AWG 6 is required even for a short 2-3 foot run. The manual provides detailed instructions and accurate advice. You can download it from PowerBright's website.
If you buy a battery be sure to research the benefits of a AGM deep cycle battery, they are much safer compared to flood batteries. I recommend no less than 80Ah.
If you plan to run it from your car please consult an automotive electrician.

