Motorola HF820 Easy-Install Bluetooth Car Kit

Works very well, I haven't had any problems with connectivity, voice dialing, volume, sensitivity, etc. I've used it in rush-hour driving, and it's quite usable despite the background noise. (Quite useful if you need to have a conference call from your car!) Battery life is fine as well.

On the downside, the sound is a bit tinny (metallic, thin, and harsh). But perhaps that's what you get for the price. And I do find it annoying that it takes a different kind of charger tip from my Razr, and Moto includes only the car charger with this package.

(Perhaps some day the manufacturers will figure out that they don't really gain anything by having all these variant charger interfaces, and will standardize on one? Nah.)

Update Sep18, 2007:

I've occasionally experienced some problems with this item in the time I've had it, thought this info might be useful if you're considering buying this.

One problem is an occasional "hang" when dialing -you make a voice dial call, the phone says the name so you know it got the right number, but then nothing happens. Usually you give it a puzzled look after a few seconds, disconnect and try again, and everything works fine.

Sometimes however it's a real hang -the phone's waiting for the device, the device is waiting for the phone (probably some piece of the bluetooth protocol got dropped on the floor), and you can't disconnect, you can't power the device down, nothing. You have to get your phone out and disconnect the device from the bluetooth menu, then recycle the power on the device, then you can proceed again. I haven't figured out why this happens, or a surefire way to prevent it. Doesn't happen a lot, but it shouldn't happen at all, right?

It works well, I can hear people really well, and that they seem to not have a problem either, as along as the HF820 is on my visor and not too far away. Before I has it on my console between the two seats, but that wasn't working. But when I put it on the Visor (the side away from the side window to avoid car noise) it was easier for me and for others to communicate. The battery life is great, and it linked to my V555 Motorola phone with no problems. Before, I had a full hands free kit that had to be installed in my other car. but after having to pay $140 for the kit, $100 to install it, and $100 to get it taken out of the car. I figured it would be better to try another Hands free alterative. I hate ear pieces mainly because I just don't get enough calls to justify having a thing strapped around my ear for hours on end, but this was a good median between the two. It's also nice because I can use it in any car, without a hefty $100 installation fee.

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I had a Jabra SP100 and it was so bad I almost gave up on this type of device. This Motorola is SO MUCH BETTER it's amazing. The performance is adequate; that in itself is a real breakthrough for these things. Don't expect miracles; if you're at highway speed in something other than a Rolls or Lexus you're going to have to speak up, but it works OK. It's smaller and more versatile than the Jabra, too, which is nice, and its little clip dealie can double as a stand for desktop use.

Folks, if you're in the market for a bluetooth speaker, don't cheap out because if you think about what you're asking a bluetooth speakerphone thing to do it's amazing they work at all for this kind of money. You can probably do better if you spend a lot more, but this is a good value and really is the cheapest you're going to find that will actually work. In fact, this one is probably the best you're going to get without having to really shell out for one that will need to be professionally installed in the car.

My only gripe is, that as much as I was disappointed by the little Jabra, it at least came with an A/C wall charger, which this does not...and with its prorietary tip I'm prepared for having to shell out another 20 bucks for a wall charger. Motorola, if you're not going to include a wall charger at least give it a generic tip (I LOVE NOKIA FOR THIS, BTW) so it isn't a double-whammy expense.

Good piece. I recommend it.

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I have tried multiple wired headsets and the HS820 Moto Bluetooth ear piece for my Blackberry. They have all been either not loud enough or in the case of the HS820, bad sound quality. I decided to try the HF820 and it works really well. The volume is quiet good and the noise cancellation seems be quiet good as well as people I spoke to during my drive on the highway in my car, with windows up, didn't notice I was on the speaker unit.

I didn't give it a 5 stars cause I wish there was someway to control the tone or adjust it. If it did, it would get my last star! ;-)

So, I would definitely recommend it!

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I got this a week ago, and it is pretty good. I use it for my car. When you turn on the unit, your phone (mine is a Motorola V3) says "connected to Motorola HF820" and whatever sound comes from your phone now comes from the unit. So I press buttons on the phone and the speaker plays the same tones. It is loud enough for highway driving with the windows up, but not down. You have to turn off your music to hear people on it or to use the voice dialing. The voice dial is nice, I just press the main button on the unit and say a name and it dials. It uses whatever voice commands you already have in your phone. The 850 version requires install which you might be able to do. The advantages with that unit is that the music mutes when you get a call, and you don't have to charge it. It's also louder because it has a dedicated speakerbox or you can have it wired to the car sound system. But then again, that's more $. I like this for about $100 because I hate headsets and I almost got a ticket the other day.

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Uniden GMR 1636-2C 2-Way Radios, black, two radios

• Pair of FRS/GMRS family radios with 22 channels (15 GMRS, 7 FRS) and up to 16 mile range
• Auto-squelch for reducing interference; channel scan/monitor for easily finding available channels
• Power with three rechargeable AAA batteries (included) and recharge while in radio
• Call tone and selectable roger beep; keypad lock feature to avoid changing settings
• Bundle includes two radios, batteries, AC adapter, reference guide, and pair of belt clips
• 22 channels, including 7 FRS and 15 GMRS channels
• The AC charger conveniently recharges the supplied batteries in the radios
• Scan helps you find others in your area
• Can connect a VOX or PTT-type headset for private conversations
• Call tone will sound when calling each other and a roger beep lets others know when you finished speaking

Had a conference and needed to communicate quickly with others. Purchased 2 sets of these, and they worked great together with excellent range. Some other vendors had a similar idea but their units were not making the range of the conference area, so they ended up having to use cellphones every few minutes and had dead cellphones at the end of each day.

Very happy with this purchase.

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It can't work during charging. Don't buy it if you need this option. Support told me that this is by design...

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I bought this for business use. We use them to notify our forklift operator in the yard that a truck has arrived and needs to be loaded. The talk time is only seconds but the radio is on all day. The batteries only last about 4 hours before they die. Thankfully there are two so I can use one before lunch and one after lunch.

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I am overall very pleased with this product. I use it as a property manager, in order to manage a 40 units apartment complex. The only downside is that the batteries (rechargable) that come with them don't seem to last too long. I need to charge them twice a day. Great otherwise!!

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I got these for a cruise and they didn't work. The battaires drained really fast and I charged them for over a day before we left. I wish i hadn't got them, i gave them to my kids to play with. Total waste of money.

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Powerhouse PH2100PRi 2100 Watt 125cc 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator With Remote St

Purchased generator because electric start feature, unfortunately any time the generator is cold or has cooled off, it will not start. I have to go out and push the prime bulb several times and crank with the starter motor and hope the battery will last long enough for it to start, but usually it won't. I end up having to pull on the rope starter 20, 30, 40 times before it will start. Once the generator is warmed up, it works as "advertised". I am well into my 60's and can't be pulling on a rope this much. If the manufacturer does not have a "fix" for this problem, I will be returning the unit.

After returning unit to service department for repairs still had starting issues. I replaced the start switch (twice) and battery (once), it continued to have the cold start issue.

Powerhouse has worked with me in trying to resolve the problem and decided to replace the unit with a new one. The new one is working as advertised.

My friend owns a Honda portable generator and I wanted to buy one based on his recommendation, but could not afford it! Anyway, I picked up this little baby for about $500 less than the Honda and truly love it despite the other review that says it's hard to start. We had no problem starting it at the RV dealership that I bought it from and I have never had a hard time starting it since. It basically starts like a lawnmower...you have to push that little button to prim the gas, but you need to use common sense here folks...don't push it too much! Anyway, it's very quiet, not as much as the Honda, but it's so hard to tell the difference, it's marginal at best. I use it at RV camp locations and it's great! Love this thing! I even use it to power my paint sprayer in my back yard when my extension cord won't reach the house! You won't regret buying it! I don't!

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Only ran the generator for about 5 hours total so far, and it runs fine. It does seem to be stubborn to start when cold. It takes about 4-5 attempts before it will run on its own.

Don't even try to think about starting it in economy mode. It must be in full rpm mode to warm up. It will start remotely when it is finally warm. Worked great at a campground with no hookupsfor 3 days. Not loud at all I watched a movie while it was running right next to the camper.

I did the: oil change after getting home. Hopefully it lasts a long time.

EDIT 1-31-2013:

Well , the generator is VERY hard to get started if it has been sitting. Fresh gas, properly stored, battery charged. Prime like crazy. It just takes a dozen or more attempts to turn over. It tries when there's a lot of gas primed into it, but just for a couple seconds, then stalls. Try again.... Eventually (10 or so minutes of trying ) it will start and warm up and work correctly, but really, it's BRAND NEW!! I will be taking it to a a small engine repair place to see if they can fix it so it starts correctly.

Based on my experience with it I would NOT buy another Powerhouse generator. I will pay the premium for Yamaha or Honda because I WANT IT TO START!!!

EDIT 2-7-2013:

So after paying $56 to a True Value Rental store, they claim that the hard satrting problems were simply caused some "debris" , water and varnish gumming up the carburetor jets and the bowl. I am not convinced, as the gas is always stabilized in my 2.5 gallon fuel can. My lawnmower starts with the same gas with one pull (Honda), and my 15 year old snow blower also starts right up first time using the very same stabilized gas... So in conclusion I think the Powerhouse Generator probably arrived with contamination already from the factory, and they didn't do a good job of cleaningit before shipping. It may have been in a warehouse for who knows how long before I purchased it in September 2011. Anyway, it started right up first try after getting it home, although it was still warm. I will let it sit a week and try again to see what happens.

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I've had this generator for a few months now, and I love it. I was looking at a Honda eu2000i as well, but this one has more bang for the buck for me. It starts up right away, it's quiet, and I like that it includes several accessories out of the box that you would have to buy separately for the Honda. I have no trouble running things like power tools, my refrigerator, or powering my popup camper. I have not tried running the 13,500 BTU air conditioner on my camper with it though, I suspect the startup current might be a little too much for it. One thing that surprised me about the Honda was that it has a rubber timing belt that's not easily replaced, and they have been known to break. This one has a steel timing chain. I also like that the manuals are well written, and if you're technically inclined, you can download the service manual from Powerhouse for free. That manual is also well written with plenty of photos.

Pros:

Good value for the price

Electric start

Quiet

Includes 12 volt charging cable, extra spark plug, screwdriver and spark plug wrench for routine service, and oil filler bottle

Clean sine wave output and good voltage regulation under load

Cons:

About the only thing I didn't like was the plastic strainer in the fuel tank. Once the fuel level gets below the strainer, you can't see how much fuel is left in the tank. Turns out there's a lot you don't see. The strainer is easily removed though.

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I wanted to rate this generator because there is not much out there in regards to reviews or other info. I am sure you are considering this generator because you are looking for an alternative to the expensive Honda and Yamaha generator. I was did the same thing and as of right now I am impressed.

This generator compared to the honda is a little louder but not so loud that it will keep you awake or upset you neighbors. The unit is heavier also by about 10-15 pounds, but the trade off for that is the higher output. The honda is a 2000 watt start up and a 1600 watt continious, where as this unit is 2000 watt continious with a 2100 watt start up.

The other upside to this unit over their competitors is the key start and wireless remote start. Both of these function performed flawlessly out of the box. The wireless function will work with the key in the off position as long as the remote switch is enabled. The ability to hook two of these units together to double the output was another feature that I liked, even thought the Honda offers the same thing.

The only semi negative thing I noticed about this unit so far, is the same thing another reviewer stated about the throttle. I noticed while in eco mode that the throttle seemed to surge a bit. Now to be fair with this review, the generator has only about 30 minutes on it and maybe a few ounces of gas burned. I did manage to get the throttle to stabilize by adjusting the mixture screw on the side of the unit. I will readjust after I do the first oil change at 20 hours.

Over all this is a great generator and provides the post bang for your buck. I do not regret my purchase and I will re review if anything changes. I plan on using the unit to power my camper this weekend.

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Generac 6179 400-Watt Portable Power Inverter

In the middle of Hurricane Sandy, this helped me get through life without electricity for a week. I ordered it days before the storm and it came two days after I lost my power. I was able to power my electronics devices, which was all that I really needed since I had a gas fireplace that worked.

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Portable Emergency AA Battery Charger Extender for the TomTom XL 340S - with Gomadic Brand TipExchan

• Integrated circuitry regulates output voltage specific to the TomTom XL 340S. Advanced logic maximizes overall charger efficiency.
• Built using the unique Gomadic TipExchange Technology that protects your investment by providing the ability to upgrade charging ports by simply swapping physical connectors.
• Specification: Input Voltage (4 X AA Batteries), Cable length (6 inches), Dimensions (5.0 X 1.5 X 0.75 inches), Circuit Design (TomTom XL 340S specific), TipExchange enabled (Yes)
• Safely engineered with reverse polarity protection, in the event batteries are accidentally put in incorrectly.
• Easy to operate. Simply insert batteries, toggle on/off switch and your TomTom XL 340S will start to charge.

I ordered this battery pack because my car lighter doesn't work. So far it works perfectly, I'm using rechargeable batteries which don't last as long as regular alkalines, but I got at least 8 hours of use before I had to change them out. I would have given it 5 stars, but the cord that runs to the unit is only six inches long. This affects how and where I'm going to mount the GPS in my car. If they had made it at least a foot long it would have been perfect.

Update: 2/27/12 I had a problem with the original battery pack, it had developed a loose connection somewhere and wasn't charging my GPS anymore. I contacted Gomadic and they told me the item had a lifetime warranty and they replaced it very quickly. I highly recommend doing business with this company.

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UPG UBCD5745 Sealed Lead Acid Batteries

• Used in UPS backup systems, spotlights, flashlights, exit lighting & other equipment
• 12V, 18 AH, UB12180
• This item is not for sale in Catalina Island
• Used in UPS backup systems, spotlights
• Length 7.13in,Width: 3.01in,Height: 6.57in
• Absorbed glass mat technology (AGM)
• Used in exit lighting & other equipment
• Weight of 12 lbs

After a shipping error...all Worked great.

These exactly fit Die-hard sears

portable jumper box's...200.71487

Ed Driscoll

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I purchased two of these for my Friendly Robotics RL800 mower and was disappointed with their performance. While initial run time with these batteries was nearly three hours, within a month that time had dropped to less than 10 minutes.

Friendly Robotics thought the mower was working correctly and that the problem was these UPGs were not up to the task. I bought B.B. Batteries EB20-12X which have been working fine and have also used the Werker WKA12-18NBs.

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After 4 years the batteries on my mower died. I ordered 2 of these and they work great. The only thing I had to do was drill the hole just a bit bigger so the bolt would fit through. I'm pleased with the purchase.

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After about 5 years or so, the battery pack in my B&D CMM 1200 24V mower died. I live in Canada, and bought the mower at Home Depot, so I went there and they don't sell the replacement batteries. I went to the B&D website, and was redirected to DeWalt, (they merged), where I found their replacement batteries. They were around $150 plus shipping, and also stated "backordered". The cynic in me thinks that this is suspicious, since B&D just came out with that sexy new 36V mower, so maybe they aren't going to support the older 24V anymore--"Can't get a battery? Darn, better buy a new mower........" Anyway, I found these batteries after reading a mower blog (who knew there were mower blogs?). They work just fine. There have been some comments that the posts are different, and that is correct, but I didn't need to modify anything. The factory batteries in my mower didn't have external terminals, but rather had screw holes with the wires secured by screws which themselves formed the posts. These new batteries have two terminals with a bolt going through them as can be seen from the photos. So, the wires are held on with screws in both systems, but the screws face in slightly different directions. There may be different variations of this B&D mower, so maybe in some there isn't any slack in the wires, but in mine it worked just fine.

So, if you can get them (maybe not anymore) the factory batteries will cost you about $150-$160 plus shipping, and two of these together were $82 shipped........ I don't know how long they will last, but even if they only last a year or two, I still didn't have to spend over $400 for a new mower yet! I had to pay some brokerage fees to bring the batteries into Canada, but would have had to with the factory battery as well, so it all comes out in the wash.

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The title of this review says it all.

This arrived timely, and was EXACTLY the battery I needed to replace one in a booster pack.

Good thing, because there was about 1-2 mm tolerance on each side of the space into which it had to fit.

One "down-side" kept me from giving it a five star rating -the packaging wasn't "robust" enough (especially for a lead-acid battery) and there was a resulting crack in the battery case.

The crack was NOT in such a position as to cause the battery to leak acid -but it might easily have been.

Hey, seller: I'd be willing to pay a buck or two more for more substantial packaging!

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Essential Gomadic AC /DC Charge Accessory Bundle for the iRiver Clix 2 (Clix2 / U20). Kit includes t

• This Gomadic Car charger has a wide input voltage range of 12-24vDC to support all vehicle charging ports. Works in cars, trucks, planes, boat, RVs and more (both domestic and international). Available output current is an impressive 10W/2A . (Twice most competing products!)
• Gomadic Wall Charger is built to support worldwide voltage input levels ranging from 100-240vAC /50-60 Hz. High output 10W /2A transformer provides output voltage and resistor configuration specific to the iRiver Clix 2 (Clix2 / U20).
• Gomadic TipExchange Technology protects your investment by allowing you to change/upgrade either charger by simply swapping the physical charging tip. (Charging tips for iRiver Clix 2 (Clix2 / U20) included with additional tips sold separately).
• The Gomadic "Power Sleep" feature limits power consumption when chargers are not in use. Both car and wall chargers will draw less than 0.1W of power when in "ready state" (e.g. not connected to the iRiver Clix 2 (Clix2 / U20)).
• A select best-selling product bundle from Gomadic Corp, one of the leaders in consumer electronic charging accessories since 2001.

I bought this product and had good success with it. Then discovered a compatibility problem between the clix2 and my computer (XP Home Ed 2002 sp2 wouldn't recognize the MTP function of the clix2). Bummer--had to return the clix2. When I called Gomadic to ask if the chargers would work with the new MP3 player I was going to get the gentleman helped me to understand what was needed (he talked at MY LEVEL i.e. simple), and then gave me some other very valuable info that I would need with the new MP3 player, THEN said he would send the new conversion tips FREE OF CHARGE (and the product was even out of the warranty period!). AMAZING. To me, "it don't get any better than this."

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FOM Lip Gloss 2500mAh Universal Mobile USB Portable Power Bank Charger-Pink

My cell phone and iPod constantly die from repeated use. I can easily carry this device around in my pocket and charge them. It is a great product! No flaws!

Gave as a gift to my neice. She used it for a few months. Loved it so much that she wanted to give them out to her freinds. Wanted to know where I got them. Sounds like a good product to me.

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I gave this charger to my girlfriend for Christmas because she always talked about how her phone dies constantly. I was so excited and she loved it when she unwrapped it! She used it for the first few days and it worked fine. But then today, December 31st, it stopped working. You have to hold the charger cord into the charging box in order for it to work. It's really loose and it hardly keeps a charge anymore. I'm really disappointed with this charger and seeing how disappointed she was when it stopped working was terrible. I wouldn't recommend buying this product. My girlfriend is very careful with things and treated the charger very well. There's no reason why it should have stopped working so soon. I would recommend paying the extra 10 dollars and buying a stable one from best buy or another one off of Amazon. Really disappointing product.

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Roadpro 7 Liter 12V Cooler / Warmer with Cup Holders

• Manufactured for holding beverage cans and cups
• Constructed from sturdy material
• Ensures durability and longevity
• Ergonomically designed to fit inside the vehicle
• Easy installation

From a starting ambient temp. of 75 degrees it heated up to 110 in 10 minutes and cooled down to 50 degrees in 20 minutes from that 110. Not sure what others expect but this seems quite satisfactory to me. It is built real sturdy with a nice carrying strap and the lid locks open for convenience. Obviously the cup holders are convenient while the power cord stores under these cup holders if so desired.

Keep in mind this unit is NOT a refrigerator or an oven as some reviewers have expected it to be. Pre chill or heat the items and this unit works marvelously all day long.

I also like the fact it only uses 2-3 amps since I plan and using it at times with a remote 12 amp hr. DC power source. This easily gives me a full 3 hours plus of heating or cooling without recharging. I also like that it's 8 1/2 inches tall on the inside for the taller bottles. This also works out great for the primary reason I bought this unit, to heat/cool 20 oz. CO2 tanks for my air rifles/pistols.

I haven't researched all the units or compared all the features but for $40 this Roadpro 7 liter cooler/warmer definitely is a good value regardless. I liked mine so much I purchased another one.

kd

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We are very pleased with both Roadpro and their cooler. However, our experience did not start out so well. We received the Roadpro 12V cooler for Christmas 2009, and were so busy we did not have a chance to try it out until after Amazon's 30-day return policy had expired. The first unit we received did not cool at all. We contacted Roadpro through their website, and were pleased with their reply and instructions on how to return the bad unit for a replacement. We did so, Roadpro followed through with a new unit, and it works great. We keep it powered through a "Koolatron Battery Saver" in the car, which prevents the car battery from running down overnight. We also keep a blue cool-pack in the cooler, too help keep it cool when the battery saver turns off the power.

The unit holds a 6-pack of canned soda, or any equivalent amount of drinks or food. We recommend the Roadpro company, the Roadpro 12V Cooler, and the Koolatron Battery Saver.

Read Best Reviews of Roadpro 7 Liter 12V Cooler / Warmer with Cup Holders Here

Well, I ordered this for a long road trip we've just returned from and have to say I'm definitely disappointed. While it works, as in turns on and off, it doesn't actually "work," as in keeping beverages all that cool. Is it cooler than, say, the ambient temperature of your car? Definitely. Is it as cool as a cooler? Not even close.

The unit's power connection also seems to loosen frequently with the jiggling motion inherent in a moving car, so that's another downer. Fortunately (????), it's quite loud (fan), so you can tell when it's jiggled itself loose, again, and fix it quickly. I will also note the cup holders on the top are NOT as pictured here, but are instead shallow slots on the top of the unit that are almost too small for a can of soda. At any rate, you wouldn't put a full can in as you have to wiggle the can to get it out and, therefore, spill it all over; which we did, several times. (Also, in case you're wondering, the cup holders are not cooling/heating.)

To sum up, if you put cold from the fridge cans in this unit, they'll say moderately cool as long as the unit is on, but not as cold as they were when you put them in. But this unit will NOT cool warm soda, even after it's been in there for hours, and the top layer of cans (they have to stack on top of each other to fit in 12) doesn't get any cooling at all, necessitating a constant shifting of drinks in order to use it. If you're trying to put in odd-size bottles or anything else ... Well, good luck with that.

We never tried the "keep warm" function but, all in all, I'm sorry I wasted my money and will stick with my $5 cooler and an ice pack from now on.

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I purchased this cooler for my Mother who is a diabetic...mainly for her to keep her insulin in when she is traveling. She loves it and it is meeting our expectations. She recently attended a quilting retreat and brought it inside and plugged it in right beside her table. Not only did she have her medication nearby when needed, she had cold drinks as well. It is not a refrigerator so cool your beverages before putting them into the cooler. As far as I know, she hasn't used the warming feature yet.

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This is a very nice cooler and keeps foods and drinks cold for a long time.

I purchased this for my grandson who is a truck driver. The other coolers

he purchased did not retain the cool temperatures for the long time he required.

The only thing that would make it better is that it could be a little larger.

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ReadySet 15-watt Solar Power System

• Complete kit includes ReadySet battery in rugged enclosure, 3W LED light, 15W solar panel, USB Li-ion battery charger, grid charger, and USB Universal Battery Charger that allows you to charge any 3.7-volt Lithium battery (for phones, cameras etc.)
• Charge a wide range of devices with solar power including smart phones, cameras, radios, tablets, ebooks, speakers and more...
• Charge battery with solar panel in as quickly as 6-8 hours of full sun, or from the grid in 4-6 hours. Powers accessories while charging.
• Stores 54 watt-hours of energy - equivalent to charging up to 10 iPhones or powering a 3W LED light for 15 hours on a single charge.
• Designed originally for Africa.The ReadySet is rugged, portable, and easy to use.Now available in the US to power a tailgate, camping trip, or for use in case of an emergency.

First things first, I'm a gadget geek and have been looking for a renewable charging solution for my gadgets including my smartphones, tablets, cameras, and laptops. Up until this point, these type of off the grid solutions costed in the thousands if you wanted a quality kit and powerful enough solar panel.

I originally purchased my ReadySet by being a Kickstarter backer last year and in turn received my unit ahead of the public release. I'm going to repost a review I did on a blog site I post at www.tech-recipes.com since it makes no sense in rewriting the same review. :)

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Back around July 13th, I stumbled upon a very interesting Kickstarter project by Fenix International, the ReadySet Solar Kit. The purpose behind this project was to develop a quick, easy, and durable charging solution. Such a kit would be extremely useful during natural disasters when power is limited. I donated and helped fund the project; and thus, I have received early access to the kit.

Being a tech geek, having an off-the-grid charging solution has been my holy grail. Solar technology up until the last 2 years was promising but lacking in efficiency rates. However, progress recently in solar cell technology has helped advance solar development tremendously in the portable realm and has sparked the recent rise of the social funded projects. Kickstarter is helping to crowdfund several of these projects.

Contents, Packaging, and Build Quality

I donated $225 for the project and therefore received the standard kit. My box contained the following items:

ReadySet Intelligent Battery (12V, 9000mAh battery)

15-watt Solar Panel

AC Electric Wall Charger (USA plug)

3-watt High Efficiency LED Light

USB Universal Clip Charger

User Manual

The packaging is excellent and even sported a thoughtful handle. Everything is packaged securely. The solar panel has a peak rate of 15w. I have yet to fully test it since it has been cloudy this whole week. I will post an update to this when I get some sunny days. The ReadySet team says it takes 8-10 hours in direct sunlight which seems very acceptable. The panel is very solid feeling and a bit heavier than I expected. It has two power leads that easily connect to the main ReadySet battery unit.

The ReadySet charging unit feels durable. It has 2 x 12 volt front car charging slots, 2 usb ports, several led lights, and a single button. The underside area has two leads that let you connect your AC charger which allows full traditional on-the-grid charging in 4-6 hours. Additionally, there is a Velo bike kit available that allows you to use a bike to recharge the unit's battery as well.

Recharge Methods:

1. On-the-grid via an AC Adapter

2. Solar panel (included or other types)

3. Velo bike recharge kit (not yet released but coming soon!)

The device is not fancy, but I believe that is the way it should be. The device is no way unattractive, and all items feel solid and sturdy. The solar panel can be exposed to rain and water but should be stored in a dry area. The ReadySet unit itself appears to be rugged but should not be put in direct water or wet areas.

Charging

The ReadySet states that once charged it can charge an iPhone about 10 times. For my first test I charged an iPhone 4 from dead to 100%, and I was able to charge my Dell XT Laptop from dead to 50% before I depleted all the juice. I used a portable AC inverter to charge my laptop so that too would be drawing power. Getting a fully powered mobile phone and half charged computer from a solar charging system seems exceptional to me.

There is also an included LED light bulb that plugs in and allows you use the ReadySet for 10 hours worth of light.

Conclusions

Having the three various charging methods make this kit powerfully useful. For example, I plan to use this kit next summer while camping to keep my mobile devices and radio powered. It will be an essential component of my emergency stores.

Availability is still limited to early Kickstarter backers; however, availability should open up within the next few months to the public. Once it does, I believe this project will be very successful. If you have ever thought about having an off-the-grid charger or just an emergency portable charger, this is a great and versatile kit.

I strongly recommend it!!

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I just returned from a week long camping trip in Joshua Tree and finally used my ReadySet. It was awesome! Super easy to set up and use, which is important for someone who doesn't like to read directions. I charged my camera and phone batteries, used the light (incl) at the campsite and in tent. So rad. So simple. So efficient. Feels good. I need to get some attachments to accommodate other devices, and then I'll be set to go off the grid for good. :) Or atleast while I'm off exploring the wilderness. My little orange ReadySet will now accompany me on every camping trip. Plus, now that I now how easy it is to use, I plan to use it as my main charging station when I'm at home. Or maybe I'll use it to light the storage space. Hmmm, decisions, decisions...

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I live in NJ, and recently we've been losing power a lot. Rather than spend a fortune on a generator, I picked up a ReadySet for the important stuffkeeping our cell phones, hotspot, and iPad charged, and a light for the bathroom. Most often the outages last a day or so, but when they go for more than a week, it's great to have the solar panel to keep the battery topped off.

I also keep the USB battery charger in my backpack at all times for charging my camera and phone batteries on the road without lugging around a bunch of extra chargers.

For a fraction of the cost of a generator (and without the maintenance or hassle of dealing with gas cans) I can maintain my digital life, and more importantly my marriage (by not missing the toilet in the pitch black) when the power goes out. And it's "green" too!

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I received a ReadySet a few weeks ago and it's awesome. Now I can use my laptop and other mobile devices for longer periods of time when I go camping or whenever else I'm off the grid. At the same time, it's currently providing renewable energy in many parts of Africa and helping small businesses grow. A++!

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Clarion CMV1 DVD/CD/MP3/WMA Receiver with USB Port

• AM/FM Radio, DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-DA, CD-R/RW, MP3/WMA/AAC, DivX, iPod marine receiver
• Watertight flip-down control panel, sealed stainless steel chassis, coated PCB; meets ASTM standards for salt, fog
• 50 Watts x 4 internal amplifier with six 2V preamp outputs for system expansion
• 3.5-inch widescreen TFT display with 480 x 234 pixel resolution; two video outputs for external monitors
• Features USB direct iPod control; Clarion add-ons available for Bluetooth, wired remote, iPod video

Product was as described and advertise arrive on time or within the promise arrival time , totally satisfied with my purchase , Price was good

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Needed to replace the stereo in our 20 foot boat and waterproof, awesome. Also bought the dashboard extension.

Works great. Only downside only four speaker hookup, so will be adding amp in the fall for extra speakers.

We use it with the Sirius boat subscription and clear signal, works great.

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Active 10 TREK

• Easy to use, hand-held sports GPS
• Plot routes, POIs (Points of Interest) and view key statistics
• Long battery life and offers the most power options of any GPS
• Mapping is available on SD Cards

I debated before purchasing the Satmap for myself and my Dad, did I really need yet another device? We're both keen hikers and wanted something to help us explore some less well known trails in the Bay Area. Just a few days in, we're both enamored with the ease of use and the quality of the product. The mapping from Nathional Geographic is detailed and the size of the screen is a bonus when navigating. My Dad isn't that techie and he loves it. Definitely worth the investment if you are outdoorsy.

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This GPS Unit is £400 in Britain that's $628 in America,but even at this cheap price it's still way over priced,it's as if it's a prototype so could be good someday,but not now,for instance it's claimed to have an IP rating of 65,but using this thing in even slight rain isn't advised as water gets behind the back cover and behind the screen,also they quote up to 120 hours battery life,when you're lucky to get 12 hours out of it and it's very tedious to use without a computer,speaking of computers it only works properly on a PC and the online mapping service together with maps cost a fortune,personally I wish I bought a cheap GPS or a car type SATNAV than this.

Read Best Reviews of Active 10 TREK Here

This GPS looks like a great product. It has exactly the features and map detail I desire for day hiking. Unfortunately, SATMAP has only 12 National Geographic State Map cards currently available for the device (and none of them are where I live).

In addition, the National Geographic State Map cards cost $99.99 per state. If you are like me, and hike in five separate states (Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina) then the cost of the map cards becomes excessive.

I own National Geographic's TOPO software for my home PC, and use it to produce my own detailed trail maps. National Geographic bundled multiple states in their TOPO software (Georgia, Alabama, and Florida are together); I am waiting to see if they will do the same with their SATMAP map cards.

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Schumacher SE-5212A Automatic Handheld Battery Charger

• Handheld battery charger with fully automatic 12-volt battery charger
• Prevents overcharging of batteries
• Fast charging capacity charges in 3 to 5 hours
• LED helps keep driver informed of chargers operation
• Works with 50, 10, and 2-amp applications

This jewel is very light to pack a 50Amp punch. I connected it to a battery insufficient to turn over the starter. The guy working on the house left his light on in the truck bed. I connected the charger to the battery while in the 2Amp mode, then plugged the battery charger into the 120VAC receptacle. I then switched it to the 50Amp selection and allowed to charge the battery for 4-5 minutes. While the charger was still connected to the battery, the guy was able to start his truck. Man was I blown away. Following the instructions, I changed the charging selection switch to the 2Amp mode, disconnected the charger from the 120VAC receptacle, and then disconnected it from the battery. How sweet no arcing, no sparking. This is a must have!!! Excellent value and quality.

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I would have given it 5 stars, but did not have the opportunity to evaluate the 50A charge/start mode. Overall this unit functions perfectly, and its light weight and ample AC cord and battery cable length make it easy to hook up and use. I have used other chargers previously, but none had the automatic shut off and trickle charge modes.

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I purchased this to replace the Schumacher battery charger that I had for 30+ years when I discovered that the leads had gotten hard and cracked exposing both the 110 v. and the 12 v. wires. I did a lot of research and found this to be the best value, free shipping and no sales tax in addition to a low purchase price. It is now on the shelf for use in next emergency situation.

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This unit works completely as advertised, and I couldnt ask for any other features at this price. This will keep a battery in your classic car ready at a moments notice with no worry of over charging. Connect it and forget about it until the car is needed. A great charger at any price. I highly recommend it.

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I bought this charger 3 months ago and it failed this morning when I plugged it in. There was no load on the charger as the alligator clips were well separated and definitely not short circuited. Being an engineer I took the cover off, traced the circuit diagram and ohmed-out the transformer to find that the transformer had failed. It is not repairable.

UL approval requires that the hot wire of the power line first go to a circuit protection device (fuse or circuit breaker). There is no visible fuse or circuit breaker in the 120V circuit. The hot power wire goes directly to the transformer, which is a gross UL violation, unless there is a fuse inside the transformer, which I cannot determine since it is a sealed unit. The neutral wire goes to a switch which chooses different transformer taps for different output current settings. Thus, it appears that the 120V circuit must be protected by the house circuit breaker.

A small point, the 50 amp. output is unlikely since there is a 35 amp. 12 volt breaker in series with the negative DC output lead. This, of course, does not protect the AC side of the circuit.

Be very careful with this product as it may be a fire waiting to happen. If you own one I suggest that you place it on a concrete floor far away from any combustible materials. Do not place this unit on a wooded work bench while plugged in to AC power.

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Kinamax Wireless Mini FM Transmitter for iPod nano 2G (White)

• Compatibility: iPod nano 2GSupport Inquiries - Support@kinamaxcom

so it looks good and fits nice and is small. nothing else good to say, this product stinks. HORRIBLE reception in any condition...inside, outside, standing on my head...did not matter. waste of time and money, fortunately I got a full refund.

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I am no fan of FM transmitters -all that I've tried do not perform with reliability and clarity. This one is the worst I've tried. I tried this instead of my Kensington cigarette-lighter-powered transmitter. It was much worse with way too much static.

My main purpose of buying this, though, was for when I'm mowing with my WorkTunes Peltor WorkTunes AM/FM Hearing Protector headphones. I hooked it up to my Nano and the receipt was poor, quiet, with some static. However, the worst part was that the transmitter kept falling out of the iPod because it is not clipped in like most good accessories.

Also note, there is no brand name to be found; no website, no phone number, etc.

[UPDATE 4/2/09] It has now failed. I decided to try to use it with a shower radio, but that only lasted a few days. Plus I had to put it so close to the radio, I practically had to wrap the antenna around the iPod. I bought this and it actually works across the room and you can hear it!

Kensington 33365 Pico FM Transmitter for iPod 5G and Nano (Black)

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I have bought numerous transmitters trying to get one that works with clarity. This transmitter is the best of all. The only problem is to connect an iPod charge line to it, does not fit. But, I just charge it overnight on the computer or disconnect the transmitter for a short time to charge the iPod. The main thing is the reception of the transmitter and that is great and the best one of four transmitters tried.

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Ipod Charger, Iphone Charger, USB Charger - ION

• For Apple iPOD Charger, For Apple iPhone Charger
• Works with most mp3 players, PDA devices, etc. that can be charged via USB.
• It is CE certified and is RoHS compliant.
• The ion works anywhere in the world - no more voltage conversions.
• Includes flat pin convertor for U.S.A.

I was very particular about finding a good charger for my iPod and iPhone; I did not want something that could spoil my expensive gadgets. I found that the ION charger is well designed and met my needs really well. I have been using it for about a year and it has been fabulous. It is well-suited for international travel and can charge my Apple devices without any other voltage conversion device being necessary. The charger is smaller than it looks in the picture. I love my ION charger would absolutely recommend it!

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AeroVironment Residential EV Charger, 15' cable (Level 2 EVSE-RS: 7.2kW, 30A)

• The original UL-listed electric car "fueling" station for the home; charges your Electric Vehicle or Plug-in Hybrid in 2-8 hours
• The choice of thousands of drivers and the preferred charging partner of the Nissan LEAF, BMW Active-E and Mitsubishi iMiev
• 15-foot cable lets you refuel multiple cars and install close to your power source, minimizing installation costs
• Rated safe for indoor/outdoor use and compatible with all major EV models
• 3-year warranty provided; industry-leading installation warranty also available

I install chargers and I needed a low cost option that was exterior rated. This product has always been great, but it used to be pricey. Now it is almost as low priced as the other brand of interior chargers and it works great!

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I've seen several charging units and this is one of the better quality designs. We have it on the outside of the building and the seals are very tight.

Read Best Reviews of AeroVironment Residential EV Charger, 15' cable (Level 2 EVSE-RS: 7.2kW, 30A) Here

Does a great job, well built, but very expensive for what you get. Easy to modify for portability and built to with stand travel.

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Having recently purchased a Nissan LEAF I was in need of a home charging station since they don't recommend routinely using the 110 volt trickle charger that comes with it. After looking at a range of units at varying prices I decided to not take any chances and go with the unit that Nissan recommends and has worked with. The price on Amazon is attractive (cheaper than other sources). I did my own installation since I am comfortable working with electrical installations. The only thing one must recognize is that you will probably have to install a new 220 volt service dedicated to this device circuit breaker and wiring. Pulling in a new 8 gauge cable is a challenge if you have to go very far and might be best left to the pros. My installation is adjacent to the C/B panel so was not too bad. So far the unit works great and I am fully charged up in no time.

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Nature Power 40019 2-Watt Solar Powered 12-Volt Battery Maintainer

This is a clever product. I bought it to use on camping trips. Although it worked ok, the battery took a very long time to charge and the lights are just not that bright.

Received the solar panal and is was not the size listed. It was 4 inches wide not 8 inches.Returned it.

It looked very sturdy and well made but was just to small.

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This is a very well made product and works as stated. It is nice to see this quality at such affordable prices.

Read Best Reviews of Nature Power 40019 2-Watt Solar Powered 12-Volt Battery Maintainer Here

dig it so far. the real review should be over the next few years. so far so good. shouldn't ask customers to put a minimum word amount. let us right what we want.

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Peak PKC0BF-01 300 Amp Jump Starter

• High impact resistant rubberized housing
• Jumpstart system power switch
• Reverse polarity indicator
• Battery status check button
• Battery status indicator

Worked perfectly, and priced right.

Would recommend to anyone who travels.

Does not take up much space.

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I bought this for my 80 year old Mother. It is light weight and easy to pick up and use. Easy enough for a little old lady to use to jump start a bad battery. Recommended for anyone wishing to have a standby battery.

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Digicom iPod Car Charger (White)

Brand new rapid auto car charger with replaceable fuse for Apple iPod/ Mini iPod ideal for enjoying continuous music on the road.

Specifications:

* High quality generic (non-OEM) rapid car charger

* Compact design and coil cord for easy storage

* Will not overcharge the iPod device

* Replaceable fuses design allows user to replace the fuse

* Built-in charging circuitry protects your iPod against excessive electrical loads

* White high-impact plastic

* LED power-on indicator

* Fits into any 12V ~ 24V car lighter jack

When I ordered this item, I presumed I could use it only in my car. But when I received the item(s), it wasn't exactly like the one in the picture. What I received was an USB iPod connector plus an USB cigarette lighter connector. This means I can also use the cable to charge my iPod with my computer at work (no iTunes necessary), as well as in my car. A nice bonus. The USB iPod connector will allow syncing with iTunes, and the material seems to be on par, if not better, than Apple OEM connector (the cable is rubberized like Apple OEM cable, but less rigid).

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I purchased the Digicom iPod car charger and it arrived before the date it was expected and it worked perfectly. We were camping and I plugged it in and sooner than I thought my iPod was ready to go.

Read Best Reviews of Digicom iPod Car Charger (White) Here

For the price you can't go wrong.

and it does exactly what you want it to do, charge your ipod.

the only down part is the cord is a little short from what I would like.

Its not super short, just 5 more inches would of been better.

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Products do what they're supposed to for 10 cents on the dollar that you would pay at radio shack, circuit city, etc.....

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Kensington 33164 Stereo Dock, Charger, and Transmitter for iPod, iPod Mini, iPod Nano, or iPod Photo

• Simultaneously charges your iPod in its cradle as it transmits your tunes in high quality
• Includes a handy infrared remote that lets you operate your iPod from up to 30 feet away
• Features five simple buttons for controlling your iPod, and a long-life battery
• Comes with everything you require to get running straight out of the box, including a power adapter
• Compatible with any iPod with a dock connector, and is backed by Kensington's 5-Year warranty

I bought this three months ago to use in a BR where I have a small JVC component system. Set up is simple you power up the dock using the provided power supply, connect the dock to the auxillary input on your stereo and away you go.

The one warning I have is to make sure you turn the "DOCK" volume all the way up using the supplied remote (the Kensington remote controls the dock and the ipod). After the volume of the DOCK (and Ipod) are all the way up, use the stereo remote to control your listening volume and for other stereo functions if desired. If you don't do this you may think you're not getting any volume/power from the stereo dock.

In short, it sounds great, looks good, and is perfect for my needs. Higly recommended.

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This has good quality sound and works great for my color 60GB Ipod but it has seperate volume adjustment for the DOCK! At first I thought it was broken because I couldnt get any volume out of the dock port. I read the review left by a previous poster that said the supplied remote controls volume for both the dock AND the ipod volume, he said make sure both are up all the way and then control the volume with your stereo but he didnt say how to adjust the volume on the dock. If your Ipod is docked the remote only controls the ipod volume. So before you insert the ipod aim the supplied remote at the dock and push the volume + button on the remote. It may seam like nothing is happening but this is adjusting the dock volume. Then once youve done this for a while and you're certain the volume is up all the way (there's no way of telling what the volume setting is so just do it for a while) Then plug your ipod in and push the volume + button to turn your ipod volume up. The manual doesnt say anything about this so I'm not giving it 5 stars but other than this strange volume setting is figured out it works great and looks good.

Read Best Reviews of Kensington 33164 Stereo Dock, Charger, and Transmitter for iPod, iPod Mini, iPod Nano, or iPod Photo Here

I bought this item thinking it would work with my iPod, that's what the item discription says (iPod, iPod Mini, iPod Nano or iPod Photo). After receiving the item and hooking it up to my Onkyo receiver, the sound was terrible and the included remote did not work. I then further examined the instructions it stated that it was only compatible with: iPod Mini, 3rd generation iPod (15, 20, 40GB), 4th Generation iPod (20, 40GB), and iPod Photo 40GB.

My suggestion is if you have a 30GB or 60GB iPod, look elsewhere.

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The Kensington stereo dock, a nicely styled and engineered iPod accessory, conveniently does the double duty of connecting your digital music library to your stereo system while at home,and simultaneously recharging the iPod battery for the next outing. With the audio transfer through the dock connector, the sound quality is uncompromisingly excellent. One notable downside that I discovered is that with the earlier, non-clickwheel iPods, functionality of the Kensington's Remote Control is limited to volume adjustment.

I got this for Christmas along with a Logitech Harmony 520 Universal Remote (5 STAR must have!!!). I had my iPod hooked up to my receiver with a simple y-cable (available anywhere) but if you do that a lot it becomes quite a pain to have to get up out of the chair to skip tracks, etc (I know lazy so-and-so!).

I was all set to return it as I couldn't hear it unless I plugged the cable directly into the iPod and bypassed the unit altogether which seemed like a waste! That is until I read the reviews here about adjusting the Kensington unit's volume by using the supplied remote controls volume up button without the iPod dockedWOW that did it!! Only comment is that you need to point the remote at the dock (with the iPod undocked) for about 30 seconds to ensure the volume is at max. Seems like a long time but works great when you then dock your iPod!! As mentioned in other reviews 4 out of 5 stars only because the only way you would figure this trick out is by reading the other customer reviews here!!

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