the auto charger is fine (of course I dont use it as often either) but the wall charger is alread starting to act up,like it wont make a connection,loose or too delicate wires.but i got it quick
Showing posts with label trickle car battery charger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trickle car battery charger. Show all posts
Car Kit Vehicle Charger + Home Wall Travel Battery Charger for ATT HTC Freestyle - ATT HTC Status -
the auto charger is fine (of course I dont use it as often either) but the wall charger is alread starting to act up,like it wont make a connection,loose or too delicate wires.but i got it quick
E-Stand SA-NEXUS7-BL-BLACK 7'' Portfolio Case with Removable Bluetooth Keyboard for Google Nexus
- Designed specifically for the Google Nexus 7 tablet
- Removable wireless Bluetooth 2.0 ABS keyboard
- Converts from case to Nexus 7 display stand for easy viewing
- Full access to all Nexus 7 controls
- Front and rear facing camera holes
As for the design of the case, I can see some pluses and minuses. Overall, very good. I really like how the keyboard has a magnet and easy attaches to the case. I'm not sure if this is possible, but I would also like to see something like this for the Nexus itself. the case is quite large due to having to carry the keyboard. It would be nice to have the ability to quickly remove the Nexus by itself.
Finally, by biggest issue with the case is the contraption to keep it closed. To keep the case closed, it often requires 2 hands. This is not ideal. I'd prefer to see the use of Velcro, a button or a magnet.We wanted some protection for out daughter's Nexus 7 Christmas present and she was very pleasantly surprised with this case. It protects the tablet and makes it easier to use and conserve battery life. The price was good and delivery was great, even though ordered late. Overall, a very good purchase, which will extend the life and enjoyment of the tablet.
RoadPro RPAT715 1RoadPro RPAT715 12V Rechargeable Jumpstarter Emergency System with Air Compressor a
- Emergency jumpstart with 375 cold cranking Amps
- 200W inverter output
- 260PSI air compressor with accessories
- Built-in DC to AC power inverter with single-grounded AC outlet
- Built-in work light, pressure reading gauge and voltmeter
The unit feels sturdy otherwise and the overall features are nice so I took a chance and sent it back for another one. It works like it's suppose to. Just have to be aware that this is not a "mechanic grade" unit. It should be fine for most of us casual users. Adding comment on compressor...it takes quite a while to get up to psi. Maybe 2 minutes to get from 38psi to 50psi. Really seems to be working hard during this time./ july 2011 been using this unit for a year now and compressor does not work anymore. Never really had enough power to do a car tire,just good for bike and sport balls. The jump capabilities is what i bought it for and works well except if the battery is completely dead. Might try a more professional unit.Never got it to actually jump a car because the battery was always dead. My old 3in1 worked better and the battery lasted. Finally the air pump broke and I throw it out. Got mine at Harbor Freight so I figured it was cheap but I see it on Amazon and thought I should pass on my bad experience. Do not recommend.
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UPDATE (Mar 2013):Okay, so I've had this unit for a couple of years now and I've finally had a real problem with it. It seems the switch for the compressor isn't designed to withstand the heat generated by the current flowing through it to run the compressor. I'd never used the unit to inflate a completely flat large truck tire and after about 20 minutes of continuous running, the compressor began stopping and starting randomly. When I felt the switch it was hot and completely "loose" and didn't seem to be positively controlling the compressor any more. I kept it going and after some more time the switch gave out altogether, rendering the compressor inoperable.
Now, this isn't recommended for everyone, but I ended up prying the panel off the front (with all the switches, gauges, and lights on it), and was able to "jump" the switch with a screwdriver to finish the job. The compressor never gave out, but the screwdriver got pretty hot. I now have a partially destroyed unit (the panel doesn't simply pop out and in I had to pretty much rip it off). In an emergency, it still has value, but clearly the switch was not rated for the current the compressor draws.
Otherwise, it still works for me and the battery still lasts a remarkably long time, even with heavy use. I would still recommend this product, but I would advise anyone using it to avoid using the compressor for more than 5 minutes at a time without a 15 minute "cool down" period so you don't burn up the switch.
Good luck!
~~ Original Review (May 2011) ~~
I was surprised at the other reviews on this product. I might have a different version because mine is red instead of yellow, but otherwise it's exactly the same.
I got my unit for Christmas and since have used it multiple times for jumping, for lighting, and for filling tires. Since the original 48 hour charge, I have jumped my truck three times (yes I need to get a new battery for the truck), and one of the times I had left the headlights on so the truck's battery was completely dead. All three times it worked like a champ. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a tire was low and used the compressor to fill a tire from 15 psi to 35 psi no problem. Then, I noticed another tire was a little low and filled that as well (maybe from 25 psi to 35 psi). Today while driving, the 15 psi tire went completely flat so I pulled over and found a nail. I removed the nail (which of course let all the air out), put a plug in the tire, and used the compressor to fill the tire all the way from no pressure. It took a little time, but it worked perfectly. I was driving down the road 10 minutes after I stopped.
In all this time I haven't charged the unit at all (after the initial 48 hour charge), and a voltage check shows 13 volts, so it seems to last pretty well.
I have also used the inverter once to test a used wi-fi router I was buying from someone. Obviously the demand from a router isn't going to be very high, so I don't know how it would do with a hair dryer or microwave, but for my test it worked perfectly.
Overall, I've been extremely happy with my unit. It doesn't seem delicate at all except maybe the compressor hose which has a plastic connector. I'm just careful with it.
Perhaps I got the fluke "good" unit, or there is something different about the red version. If I can figure out the difference I'll repost.
HQRP 6W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel 6 Watt w/ Solid Aluminium Frame (Size of 5 Watt / 5W) 12 Volt 5
This product is being used on our fishing boat in the St. Lawrence river. We damaged our last panel and needed a replacement for our batteries. While the old unit was rated at 5 watts this new one has a rating of 8 watts which we needed as we are now keeping 2 batteries charged with the same panel. After 3 weeks of storms and weather the batteries had full voltage and charge despite running a bilge pump to keep the boat dry, (the boat does not have a weather cover). We are so pleased with this solar panel that we are going to be purshasing another one for the boat to keep battery number 3 charged. The small size made it easy to mount on the radar arch and most people don't know it's there. The only improvement I can see for this unit is a more streamlined frame to mount the panel in, but that is just cosmetic.Thanks for a great product at an attractive price, David J.
a small regulator for trickle charging my car battery.good product...aluminium frame..wires were connected backwards...cheap plastic wire housing but w/e...good qualiity glass top the wire off the back is 12''Needs good direct sun to put out decent wattage. Even covering 20% of the cell creates a serious drawdown of power. But if you have a good sunny location, this is a great low watt cell for your project. Mine is going to be running 2 12v case fans for a solar powered heater.
Motorola TalkAbout T6500R 10-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radios (Pair) (Black)
- Communicate from a distance of up to 10 miles away
- 22 channels to communicate from along with 121 codes per channel
- Comes with rechargeable batteries and drop-in charger
- QT noice filter to minimize interference
- NOAA weather channels with a weather alert feature
Seems the T6500 is "licensed knockoff" of the T5950 by Motorola's mainland-Chinese electronics manufacturer. The units look the same (except for the khaki face plate cover). The features are identical--as is the packaging. Only a small indication on the rear of the T6500 package discloses that the product is "Manufactured and sold by Giant International, Ltd., official licensee for this product." Furthermore, it is warranted and supported EXCLUSIVELY by the MANUFACTURER-NOT MOTOROLA! `Just ask a world-band shortwave radio hobbyist about "warranty service and support" from ANY Chinese OEM producer selling "direct" here in the states, and you'll run away...FAST!
Now...To the "differences"...and there ARE some-ALL performance related. While Motorola may license their name, logo, and design to an offshore OEM producer, you can be sure that they reserve their customer support AND several technical enhancements for models THEY specifically brand and market.
A side by side comparison between the genuine Motorola T5950 and its T6500 "imposter" reveals several performance issues. The T5950 has relatively good coverage (considering the communications class); audio loudness and clarity that are sufficient for reliable reception on a congested and "spotty" broadcast service; and NOAA Weather Station reception that is fairly good...even 30-50 miles from the desired station. I did not compare the T6500s transmit-receive coverage, but its audio quality and "punch" are WELL BELOW that of the "genuine" T5950. Furthermore, Weather Band reception on my T6500 sample (both units in the set) was very nearly NONFUNCTIONAL.
In conclusion: It is well worth spending a few bucks more for the "Real McCoy" genuine Motorola T5950 (I actually spent $4 LESS with a rebate here on Amazon). You'll appreciate the "domestic support", improved transmit audio quality, and a weather receiver that actually may save your life when you're out on the water!
Buy Motorola TalkAbout T6500R 10-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radios (Pair) (Black) Now
I don't know what the fuss from other reviewers is all about. These radios work fine. Like the rest of life, have realistic expectations. They sell for $43.69. Why do people expect the performance of a short wave radio? That is a recipe for disappointment. If you want the performance of $1000 2 way radios, buy that flavor and do not buy the inexpensive one.I use them for skiing. So far, nothing else. They've been perfect. Compact size fits neatly into a pocket. Battery life is sufficient for a weekend trip. Nothe signal doesn't wrap around mountains or curve into valleys. But anyone who actually reads about the declared range should have noted that the proclamation is based on "line of sight". I can't see how this should be a surprise to anyone. So far they've kept me in touch with my party mates on big mountains without any letdowns. No, they don't reach from the summit to the pub at the bottom, but again that is a line of sight issue have realistic expectations for a $45 radio. They did however reach between the summits of Whistler and of Blackcomb. That seems like a reasonable range to me. Check out a map and see if you agree.
There's a comment in another review about them not seating well in the charger. This is true, but there is a super-simple remedy. There's a cradle for the handset that nests into the charger. If you remove the cradle, fit it on the handset, and then slide the two into the charger presto, problem solved.
One feature I really like that isn't made obvious in the description is that the rechargeable battery is the same size and shape if three AA batteries. This is a nice option if your battery dies on the road, and your charger is at home.
All in all, I am 100% satisfied with this purchase. So far, the quality has been exactly what I expected from inexpensive electronics. The Chinese manufacturer that licensed these from Motorola put together a solid product.I use my radios for back country hiking, cycling, paintballing, kayaking, amusement parks, car to car communications, and hunting.
I own four Motorola T4900 "3 mile" radios, four Motorola T5000 "5 mile" radios, and two Motorola T6500 "10 mile" radios. I have also owned earlier versions of Motorola radios. I am returning ALL of them. I have replaced them with four Midland GXT550 "14 mile" radios. Why? Because I was a dink and believed that Motorola would perform as advertised. NOT!
Because I was disappointed with the reception of the T4900s before I bought the "5 mile" Motorola's I called Motorola and asked, "If both the T4900 and the T5000 have the same wattage how can you double the distance with the T5000?" They said because of improved circuitry. I believed them and bought the radios. I was very disappointed with the T5000 so I looked for a better radio. I found the T6500 units and bought a pair two days ago. I have tested all three units for distance and clarity on the same route. All three units had the exact same distance. They all lost reception after 3/4 of a mile. I was using channel 16 which is GMRS 1 watt. I did not have a straight line of sight for this test. I re-tested the T6500 "10 mile" units on a 1 mile clear line of sight road on level elevation and got the same results. No matter how you cut it 1 watt is 1 watt. I have read several reviews about the Midland GXT400 where the users complianed about getting only 4 miles of reception while hunting in wooded and hilly terrain. If I get 2-4 miles with the Midland with a clear line of sight I will be very happy. I don't expect 14 miles, but 3/4 of a mile, to me, is just a joke.
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From cellphone and also the pager era I began my love affair with Motorola. Don't need to read much farther into my review to get to the meat of it. Sometimes companies make a lousy product even though they have others that are great! Don't Buy These! They fall into the former categoryI needed them quickly (to give my in-laws time to practice using them before we went on a cruise) so when I went to their house for the weekend I bought them from the hated "Best Buy". I am returning all 4! (2 sets of 2 handsets). Here was my experience:
I went in and saw the Midland and the Cobra along side the Motorola. Not knowing much of Midland, but recognizing Cobra from their history with low-end phones and electronics, I opted with the very stylish Motorola T6500R's. I know. Big Mistake! I am a computer programmer and very intelligent, but when confronted with products I do not undestand, I go for the brand name. Which is something that can be forgiven if, as now, you find out what the problem is and correct it.
I took them home and recharged them. First things first: The feel in your hand. EXCELLENT. They feel as good as they look. I purchased these to go on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera and to maintain contact both on the boat and in the ports: Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo san Lucas. We wanted to make sure we did not "lose" my in-laws (really! I mean it! No, really ....)
Anyway. Charged them up and turned them on. They come with a plastic-encased group of 3 AA rechargable batteries that fit nicely (and only one way--they are keyed) in the dual-purpose battery compartment. This is nice: if you are out and running around and your charge goes down, simply buy 3 AA alkaline batteries and go on your way. There is no problem if you forget you have the NORMAL NON-RECHARGABLE AA batteries in the case if you put it in the charging stand. Unlike other units, the physical metal conductors to charge the battery pack are actually built into the pack, not the handset. If you put it batteries, the charger makes no connection to the handset. If you put in the rechargable battery pack, 2 silver contacts from the battery pack contact the charging stand and VOILA the unit charges. Fitting the handset into the recharger is a nightmare, though! It must be generic and able to fit several different Motorola products (production outsourced to Giant Int'l Ltd--so if you thought this was a genuine Motorola built item, you are mistaken. The entire Talkabout line are outsourced for production) as the dual-compartment charger has 2 inserts in each compartment and no indication of which one to use for the T6500R's. I am a smart person though so I chose the one that looked like it best fit and inserted it. Then I attempted to insert the T6500R's. I say attempted because the bottom of the handset is rounded and thus does not seat well in any direction. After you get it to EXACTLY the right position (look on the charger to watch for the LED to light up) the the hard part (of charging, that is) is over.
Next item: Bad red LCD backed screen. Hard to read in ANY light and impossible in the sunlight. Settings were easy enough. Channel, sub-channel, vibrate, NOAA broadcasts, etc. However, the advertised QT (ensures no one can talk through your handset unless they are using a compatible Motorola handset) does not work unless you hit the PTT (push to talk) button (or the CALL button), wait about 3 seconds and begin speaking. My in-laws are new to technology and are used to experiencing walkie-talkies when their kids were young. Therefore this is unusual. They automatically want to push the button and talk. So, the first part of what they say is immediately lost.
I say "first part". I am assuming I actually caught a portion of what they said. This brings me to the second major flaw. This unit contains a HORRIBLE speaker. If the volume is too low then you can't hear it. Too high and it is garbled beyond your ability to understand it. We were really hard-pressed to find a happy medium. AND, in a noisy room, it would've been impossible to hear anything.
Some merchants list these as 5 mile radios. The packaging says 10. The 1 watt GMRS suggests about 5-10. We got less than 1. Directly over a lake. In vehicles on the I-5, we drove less than 2 miles from their house (which is DIRECTLY ON the interstate) and got no signal.
I got back to my house in San Jose (on top of Communications Hill...the largest "hill" in the area) and could not communicate to my spouse less than 1/2 mile away while he was coming up our road!
Since the weekend, I have spent all my extra time on Amazon.com and Consumer Reports reviewing all the offerings. (the latter, Consumer Reports' reviews are from July in 2002!) So, I think I am going to return these and purchase the Midland 5 watt GXT500's from Amazon. Remember, doubling the wattage (in this case MORE than doubling) does not give double the signal. As another others have stated, increasing wattage increases only another portion of the distance--ie: 2 watts to 4 watts does NOT double the distance the signal can reach.)
Hope this reveiw helps you.
Schumacher SP-200 2.4W Solar Battery Maintainer
- It is environmentally safe
- No electricity needed for operation
- Amorphous technology allows charging on cloudy days
- Rated for indoor and outdoor use
- Complete with battery clamps and 12 Volt plug
UPDATE: In response to other comments; yes, if you're charging (maintaining) large capacity batteries such as automotive or marine, a controller may be unnecessary. Caution due however with smaller batteries.
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The charger works as advertised. The only thing I found lacking was a status light indicating that current was flowing to the battery when plugged into the cigarette lighter. I had to use a multimeter to check contacts at outputs for voltage 19.2 volts. It appears well made, price is reasonable, and shipping was speedy.Read Best Reviews of Schumacher SP-200 2.4W Solar Battery Maintainer Here
I use this one on the battery in my RV in the Mountains. I have used for two trip so far and the battery is alway fully charged when I get to the camper and open up slide out. Great product with no out of pocket expense once you have purchased.Want Schumacher SP-200 2.4W Solar Battery Maintainer Discount?
This does not work to charge my battery in my car because when the ignition is off there is no connection to the battery from the power port (cigarette lighter). Instead I have a spare car battery that I charge with the alligator clips and use with a power inverter to use as a power back up in case of a black out.Save 41% Off
Have a truck I don't drive every day but alarm drains steady power and after 4 days dead. Not only does that kill a standard car battery but makes it inconvenient to get the truck started. So after my research, went with this solar maintainer because its very simple and well made. No need to worry about overcharging a car battery since its so low of wattage. The one downside or warning is don't start the vehicle with this still plugged in because it suppossedly will backfeed from the alternator and fry the unit. I wish there was a way where I just hardwire this in and not worry about it truly, still researching if a controller will prevent that. By the way mounted on my dash with some doubleback tape.
Combo Rapid Car Charger + Home Wall Charger + USB Data Charge Sync Cable for Samsung DoubleTime, Cap
i was not expecting much since it was so cheap i just wanted a car charger for emergency. But i have to say the house charger works as good as the one that came with the phone. the car charger i tried 0nce it worked. delivery was fast...
Old World Automotive Prod PKC0J6 "Peak" Jump Starter With Inflator - 12 Volt 600 Amp
- "PEAK" JUMP STARTER WITH INFLATOR
- 600 amp
- 8 AH AGM sealed lead acid battery
- Low charge alert
- Battery test reading
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This was the only product I bought on Black Friday 2012. Days later my neighbor rang my bell after leaving her car light on overnight and I brought it over to jump her Honda SUV. It delivered enough power to cause the engine to turn over a bit, but not enough to start it. Useless. Strangely, the nationwide store where I bought it also advertised it as "with inflator." It definitely doesn't come with the inflator. According to the box, the next model up has an inflator, but the inflator also gets poor reviews.
BaoFeng UV 5R 136-174/400-480 MHz Dual-Band DTMF CTCSS DCS FM Ham UV-5R Two Way Radio Transceiver an
- Dual-Band Display, Dual Freq. Display, Dual-Standby
- extr Baofeng UV-5R Battery
- Channel Step: 2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/25KHz Frequency Range: 136-174 / 400-480MHz
- 128 Channels 50 CTCSS and 104 CDCSS
- One Year Warranty by Etekcity
Yes, you can modify (on your own) the Extended Battery so it will fit the UV-5RA (or the other series of UV-5R radios with modified faceplates), but if the "distributor" lists the UV-5R (but then switches your order to whatever they have in stock instead of what they have listed) and then ships (in the same order) a generic clone Extended Battery that isn't the actual Baofeng AND doesn't work/fit with the radio they shipped, why is it your job to modify their items to make them work?
In addition, when you (as an Amazon customer) point out their multiple listing errors (shipping a non-Baofeng battery, shipping a less than advertised 3600mAH model (vs. the actual Baofeng 3800mAH model that was advertised on the listing), and shipping an Extended Battery that won't work on the UV-5RA radios that they switched your order to and shipped with them in the same box), they claim that:
a) Baofeng doesn't even make an Extended Battery (funny since I own several already with Baofeng Electronics' label on the inside of the case and Baofeng's name imprinted into the back of the plastic battery case), and that
b) if I'm not happy I should pay to ship my order back to them (this is how they treat a customer that ordered multiple radios, extended batteries, and programming cables all at once and paid over $117 in shipping fees)?
None of these issues may bother some folks, especially those that either don't care which model of radio they get and/or never plan to get an Extended Battery as an accessory, but I wanted folks to know what customer service issues you may face in dealing with this Baofeng "distributor" in KY.It does what is supposed to do. Had a fellow ham use the software and cable to program it and it works great.Supplied instructions are lacking, help is available at the Baofeng UV-5R Yahoo Group. and . Be careful about transmitting before you reprogram it. So good you'll buy another one!I really like it a lot, the only complaint I have is the keys are wearing out rather quickly, Great radio otherwise for the money.
AIMS Inverter Cable 1/0 AWG, 6" - 200 / 300 Amp
- Use with 12 Volt 3000 Watt inverters or smaller
- Both ends lugged
- Cable diameter is 9/16"; Lug diameter is 5/8"
- Extra flexible conductor with soft drawn bare copper
- "CT" Approved; FT4 Rated
BaoFeng UV-5R 136-174/400-480 MHz Dual-Band DTMF CTCSS DCS FM Ham Two Way Radio
- 25KHz/12.5KHz Switchable
- Channel Step: 2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/25KHz
- Frequency Range: 136-174 / 400-480MHz
- 128 Channels 50 CTCSS and 104 CDCSS
- Dual-Band Display, Dual Freq. Display, Dual-Standby
You definitely will need the programming cable as the included directions are not enlightening for programming the radio with the keypad. The programming software for the radio is a minimal spreadsheet program. There are better free aftermarket alternatives (there is an active Yahoo group devoted to this radio, there are plenty of Youtube videos, and there is an aftermarket programming package called CHIRP which is a better software program). Make sure that you firmly attach the cable as failure to attach the cable properly will lead to frustration.
The stock antenna is ok if you live under a repeater. For those not living under a repeater an aftermarket antenna is a good upgrade.
For operational purposes the radio transmits and receives quite well and will operate for quite some time on the rechargeable battery that is included with the radio.
For $62 you also have a radio that if it should fall into a lake, get lost or some other calamity strike you can replace it.
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The Baofeng UV-5R is not an APX7000, so if you're expecting that, you're not going to be impressed. If you want a good, reliable inexpensive dual band HT that is in fact a COMMERCIAL (it IS FCC part 90 certified) Radio, this is for you. Out of the box, it comes complete with a good 1800mah lithium ion battery, belt clip, hand strap and drop in charger. If you're familiar with commercial radios, you'll feel at home programming the UV-5R with the free software, but you'll need to purchase a USB cable if you don't already have one (this radio uses the same 2-pin Kenwood LMR style cable that Wouxun, TYT and many others use). The cables are less than $20.You get 128 channels with any combination of VHF or UHF channels. Another plus is the radio ACTUALLY SUPPORTS NARROWBAND, INCLUDING SPLINTER CHANNELS. This is a HUGE plus if you want to use the radio to listen (or transmit, if you're authorized) to public safety after 2013 when the FCC mandates narrowband on VHF and UHF. Many agencies are also going to channel steps most ham radios cannot properly tune (e.g. 154.8225). The UV-5R uses DSP, so it has great audio on both transmit and receive. Reports I got about my transmit audio were great, and I noticed if I spoke loudly, the DSP did a good job of attenuating the voice to a tame level.
The display is fairly easy to read, and for it's size the keys are easy to press. What I really like is the large volume knob with integrated power switch, no accidental turn off of buttons! The PTT key is easy to actuate and you don't get fatigue for long conversations. Speaker is loud, though I don't think it has the 1 watt of audio the specifications state. It is loud enough to hear in a crowd or driving down the road with the window open. Construction of this HT is solid, does not feel like a $50 radio, more like a $150 radio.
The only downsides are the poorly written manual, but hey, this is a $50 radio not a $500 radio. If you've used LMR type radios, you'll be able to get around in the software, the menu system also lets you control many of the radios' features. It does have an FM radio, which actually has great sensitivity, and the flashlight feature is easy to actuate using the lower side button and actually comes in handy.
All in all, this is a great ham HT that has the unique ability to LEGALLY operate on part 90 (commercial) frequencies (for those duly authorized), has great performance, and a long battery life. For the price, you cannot go wrong with it. I would buy another and probably will.You get what you pay for. Not for a newbie when programming since the instructions are half a step above useless, and definitely translated. Some of the voice prompts are still in Chinese (low battery). You can get help from some internet user groups specifically for this radio. Programming the repeater offset in memory mode is not what I expected, and not in the instructions... you program the channel twice, once for receive, another for send. You really need to program the channels from a computer. I spent the extra money to get a USB programming cable to match, and downloaded the programming software from one of the user groups. From what I read it was worth getting the genuine cable. Some others commented they bought cheaper versions that turned out not to be compatible with the USB drivers.
I do like the voice prompts... you can use it in the dark, or one-handed without looking at it.
I wanted an inexpensive backup, and that is what it is. Seems to be sturdy, and does the trick, but my 25 year-old Kenwood still outperforms it on 2M.
So far, I am still glad I bought it for a backup.
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Excellent handheld!I disagree with others on the complexity of programing, I would characterize it as different.
If you know what repeater offset is, then you'll have little difficulty programing this unit.
If you don't, then just use it in simplex mode, the way it came out of the box.
Other makes are more automated, however if you know what settings you want the features are clear and present.
All of this at the price point of the competitors battery.
Five stars is not enough!
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I'm no expert on HAM HT radios, but for the price, this is a fantastic little radio. I have another common Chinese brand and I think this one beats it hands down. It is smaller\lighter and looks better. Sound is clearer\louder. Reception is stronger. And it has better features. I would highly recommend it. But, purchase a programming cable and download the PC software. That is a much easier way to program the radio.
Wagan 2402 200W Smart AC USB Inverter
- Powers laptops, mobile appliances and other AC and USB appliances
- Comes with one USB port and two AC 120 volt outlets
- Overload protection, short circuit protection and built-in surge protection for car start up and shut down
- Can operate with the engine turned off
- Continuous Power: 200W; Peak Surge Power: 500W; DC Input Voltage Range: 10-15V DC
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Very nice, I use it in my SUV, then hook my notebook up to it, runs a little hot but not too bad, I also charge my cell phone off it, small, and has an on/off switch with a green power light, I like it.Read Best Reviews of Wagan 2402 200W Smart AC USB Inverter Here
I don't really see how you could get a better product. I took it cross country MA to CA and back, it worked like a charm always for all my charging needs. The USB is really handy for cell phones leaving two ports open for larger plugs like laptops or cameras.Want Wagan 2402 200W Smart AC USB Inverter Discount?
We went through two of the Wagan EL2402s. The first arrived and a piece of solder fell out of one of the vents. May have been extraneous, but better to be safe than sorry, Amazon was great and overnighted a replacement. At best I can only give mixed reviews. The is supposed to be able to handle 200 Watts with a peak of 500 Watts.. Fairly substantial in print. In reality, things like battery chargers, cell phone chargers, etc., all seemed to be fine. Where the problems began were on more "specific" devices. We wanted the device for my wife to run a 35 Watt Chi hair straightener. It would not even turn on. The description says power tools, so I thought I'd given a try to a couple. First a sabre saw, again well under peak and normal wattage to be handled. Nothing, a blip when I pulled the trigger, then nothing. A Dewalt hand drill... well kinda sorta.. If you started out VERY slowly on revolutions and worked your way up, you could get to full speed. I didn't try that under a load, but I assume it would work to a point.I called Wagan, and they assumed some of the failures cames from the fact that AC devices are used to and built for a sine wave output. The Wagan (and I assume some others) don't produce the exact same sine wave (calling it a modified sine wave). So, your own mileage may vary. Some Notebook AC Chargers may be more sensitive than others, so you probably can't be sure. Again, I don't know that Wattage alone is the delimiting factor. It may that your particular device just won't work.
My advice, read the reviews.. If you have a particular device or devices you are thinking about running, perhaps check with the manufacturers of these different inverters. Remember electronics are pretty sensitive devices when it comes to power. While I may be willing to try a Chi hair straightener, I may not be as comfortable with a notebook.. Best bet there is to see if your manufacturer has a DC supply (Car/Airplane) adapter.
Update July 2012. The unit gave me no problems for 2 years. Then I plugged an ungrounded 2-prong Dekcell universal battery charger with a laptop battery attached to it, and the unit fried. I had used that same Dekcell charger with the unit before, but I hadn't done it for 2 years. I don't know what happened. Maybe has to do with the order in which you plug things in. The unit has a perfectly good 20A fuse inside it, that didn't blow. What's the point of a fuse if it won't protect the unit from trouble? Which direction was that fuse supposed to protect from, I wonder?
So, since it died, I can't rate it as more than average. I'm shopping for something else. One thing positive I will say for the Wagan, it's quiet. Lots of units I'm finding in retail stores have noisy fans. I can't stand that and keep returning them.
SOLARBAK stand alone Solar Panel, charges mobile devices, attaches to car window etc. , 3.6 Watt, 50
my wife thinks im nuts. will take tto the field. keep my phone and gps charged. i get lost a lot. I leave the collector in camp but put the battery in my pocket. gives me longer time to call when i get lost.
Cobra CXR875 30-Mile GMRS/FRS 2-Way Radios
- Up to 30 Mile Range - Extended range capacity provides up to 30 mile range. (Range will vary depending on terrain and conditions.)
- 3124 Channel Combinations - Available when the 22 channels are combined with the 142 privacy codes (38 CTCSS/104 DCS), these combinations prevent interference from other radios.
- NOAA Weather & Emergency Radio - Be prepared for storms and emergencies with the built-in NOAA radio receiver providing coverage of all government operated weather channels.
- VOX - The user's voice is detected and the radio transmits without the need to press any buttons, freeing hands for other tasks. 5 VOX sensitivity levels allow the user to select at which point the radio will detect their voice.
- Patented VibrAlert - Provides a silent alert for incoming calls. Ideal for noisy or all-quiet environments.
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