12/31/2011

Lowrance 000-10233-001 Mark-5x DSI DownScan Imaging Fishfinder with 5-Inch Monochrome LCD and 455/800 KHz Transom Mount Transducer Review

Lowrance 000-10233-001 Mark-5x DSI DownScan Imaging Fishfinder with 5-Inch Monochrome LCD and 455/800 KHz Transom Mount Transducer
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Have had several Lowrance units and was moderately pleased. However, I purchased this unit because of the detail of the downscan images. Upon installing the unit I found there is not enough cable from the transom mount on an 18 foot boat to the consol. Amazingly Lowrance just happens to make an extension cable for an additional $30.00. So in order to complete the installation I had to order this cable. After not receiving a "your order has shipped" e mail they finally told me that they do not have the cable and won't be in stock for an additional 2 weeks. So for 1 month I have a unit that does not work and wires hanging under the console. Just wondering why Lowrance would not spend the additional 20 cents worth of wire so that there would be enough cable for the typical installation. The the actual cost of this unit is closer to
$350.00. Hope this review help someone else avoid this hassle and additional cost.

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12/30/2011

Humminbird 570 Portable 5-Inch Waterproof Fishfinder and Dual-Beam Transducer Review

Humminbird 570 Portable 5-Inch Waterproof Fishfinder and Dual-Beam Transducer
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I just finished installing the fish finder and took it out on the lake for the first time.
Installation was pretty easy. I had to read and follow the instructions but I had no problems. I will say I found it very hard to drill holes in a perfectly good boat.
On the lake, the GPS was great. The fish finder was very good also. It put me on fish, just not the right ones.
The only complaint I have is the fish alarm won't go off unless I show the fish icon. Maybe I just haven't figured that out yet.
Overall, it is everything I wanted and I am very satisfied.


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12/29/2011

American Telecom Expandable Cordless Phone With Base Station Review

American Telecom Expandable Cordless Phone With Base Station
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If you get it for nothing, as I did, or pay a couple of bucks for it, the 150 minutes of free long distance might make it worth getting, but the phone itself is not so hot:
1) When I first tried it there was a lot of hiss on the line. The noise mostly disappears once a connnection is made.
2) The ring tone can be changed, but the volume can't be adjusted. The ringer can, however, be turned off.
3) Every time you push a button it makes a loud beep. This cannot be turned off or adjusted.
4) The phone and base are cheesy, light-weight plastic--it's not going to last long.
5) The battery compartment is poorly designed. There's nowhere for the battery wire to go--you have to really jam it in to get the compartment cover to slide into place.
6) No ringer in the base.
7) The volume for the receiving party is super loud and cannot be adjusted, but this can be an advantage when communicating with the hard of hearing (sorry, I mean the aurally challenged).

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12/28/2011

Leviton VPM06-1LZ, Vizia + Digital 600VA (450W) Magnetic Low Voltage Dimmer, Single Pole and 3-Way, White/Ivory/Light Almond Review

Leviton VPM06-1LZ, Vizia + Digital 600VA (450W) Magnetic Low Voltage Dimmer, Single Pole and 3-Way, White/Ivory/Light Almond
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Purchased this dimmer for my under-cabinet lighting in my kitchen. As the title implies, there's not a lot to say. It was easy to install, it works fine. ONe neat thing is that this dimmer is "programmable" in that you can set the time it takes to fade in or out, the lowest level it will dim to, the highest level it will dim to, and a preset for when you turn it on. Other than that, it's a dimmer.

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Vizia + 600VA-120VAC Magnetic Low Voltage Dimmer for single pole, 3-way or more applications, with LED locator and brightness display. White face assembled on device, ivory and light almond faces included.

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12/27/2011

TrackStick Pro GPS Vechicle Tracking System Data Logger Review

TrackStick Pro GPS Vechicle Tracking System Data Logger
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Trackstick worked pretty well in Europe with our rental car, albeit messing with the software settings a little. It's not as difficult as it first looks, as with most new programs. The first time I used Trackstick the red map routes it created were a little jumpy, but I quickly learned that it was my fault for not giving it time to connect to the satellites. Just set it outside facing the sky for a minute or so until the light turns green and after that you're pretty much good to go anywhere. Just bought a new one after losing my other. It's definitely a good way to show off your vacation to people. I just love seeing all the squiggly lines going throughout the maps.
I also purchased the Super for its battery life, and must agree with the recommendation for rechargeables, which is mostly a common sense thing if you plan on using this a lot.
Also one of the nicest manuals I've seen for a product like this or any other. Quite graphical and easy to navigate.

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12/26/2011

Sanyo Katana II Prepaid Phone, Pink (Kajeet) Review

Sanyo Katana II Prepaid Phone, Pink (Kajeet)
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The phone itself is small, lightweight and stylish, if you like the cute pink color. It is made by Sanyo and is VERY easy to use and is nice overall.
*HOWEVER* the Kajeet phone service plan is WROUGHT with hidden charges. Here is a small sampling of what they will charge you: $.32 cents per day access fee (adding up to almost $10/per month) and this fee is always charged everyday, even if you don't use your phone all that day. Next, when you buy time, they charge you 5% EXTRA in fees, simply for adding time to your account! The 5% for adding time was NEVER mentioned before I purchased this phone and is only revealed when you actually set up your account and are trying to buy some time. These are just the fees that I know of SO FAR.
Also, I have experienced nothing but trouble and wasted time when trying to activate the phone online. After spending a half hour typing in various personal information and creating two separate logins and giving my credit card information, in the end, after all that time (and right when I thought I was done and ready to get my phone number and have my activation take place), I got an error message. Trying to go back and see what is wrong erases ALL of your information so that you essentially have to start over. After finally giving up on the online method, I called Kajeet customer service and was on the phone for another 20+ minutes, basically REPEATING all the info. I had just tried to complete twice online. After all of this, the agent says that the DEC id number of the phone is causing trouble and he has to create a "Trouble Ticket" for an engineer to look at the phone. He tells me that will take 24-48 hours to figure out. Note: This phone was purchased BRAND NEW from Amazon.com So, the bottom line is that if you do not mind paying lots of fees (and even hidden fees) to this company, as well as putting up with wasting an enormous amount of time trying to activate it, then this can be your phone! Buyer beware!

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The Sanyo Katana II mobile phone enhances the spirit of the original Katana with a sleeker shape, a radiant new pink fascination finish, and a host of kid-friendly features. This flip phone also features a 21 MB memory for storing downloadable ringtones and games, a VGA camera, Bluetooth connectivity for handsfree devices, voice dialing capabilities, and up to 3.5 hours of talk time. It works perfectly with Kajeet's kid-friendly pay-as-you-go service and it's GPS-capable, which provides compatibility with Kajeet's GPS Phone Locator Service as well as enable it to provide location information to a capable emergency service provider.
About Kajeet Kajeet was founded by three three dads figuring out how technology, kids and parents work best ("Kajeet" is an anagram of the first letters of the names of the company's founders' children). Kajeet's entire philosophy springs from a simple core idea: kids are smart. And they should be agile with technology, empowered and safe, and be able to respond with confidence to what's happening in their world.
Because having a cell phone is not just fun, it's a responsibility--a shared responsibility, Kajeet wants parents and guardians to be involved too. Thus, Kajeet is designed to incorporate a full suite of tools to help families customize and manage every aspect of their Kajeet experience. For more on Kajeet's pay-as-you-go charges and monthly voice and text plans, see the Kajeet Service section below.
Phone Features Measuring just 0.6 inches thin, the Katana II sports a bright 2-inch internal LCD that offers a 240 x 320-pixel resolution and 262K colors, which also features IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology for wide-angle viewing with superior brightness and contrast. It's supplemented by an exterior TFT LCD (80 x 80 pixels, 65K colors), which enables quick viewing of the time, caller ID, and more.
This phone enables you to store up to 300 contact entries with 500 total phone numbers, 600 email and 300 Web addresses. It has a call history of 20 outgoing calls, 20 incoming calls, 20 missed calls, 60 recent calls. A built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear, and advanced voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family, and associates easy (up to 30 entries). Simply say the name or number of the person you want to call and the number is dialed automatically without using the keypad. It also offers PIM organization applications (calendar, to-do list, world clock, calculator, and stopwatch), 4 distinct vibrating alerts, 72-chord polyphonic ringtones, and a 2.5 mm stereo headset jack.

The VGA resolution digital camera can capture still at 640 x 480 pixels (sized for sending via email or uploading to the Internet), and it includes self timer, night mode, brightness, and white balance control features. Thanks to the built-in Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0), you can enjoy hands-free communication via optional headsets. Enjoy easy, hands free communication with a speakerphone that lets you hear callers loud and clear.
This phone has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging and Internet connectivity. Use the phone's built-in picture messaging capability to send text, graphics, and pictures to your friends. The phone features support for instant messaging applications, and there's a built-in WAP 2.0 Web browser for downloads and mobile Web browsing. T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit--a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.
Other features include:
Voice dialing for 30 entries lets you call a friend without even having to dial a number
Identify callers instantly by downloading ringers and assigning them to each number in your phone book.
Picture Caller ID: Identify callers at a glance by linking downloaded photos and other images to your phone book.
Call screening feature lets you listen to a caller while a message is being left on your phone
Voice memos up to 3 minutes each for up to 300 notes for yourself
Personal organizer tools include a calendar, ToDo list, a calculator, scheduler, stop watch and world clock

Vital Statistics The Katana II weighs 3.1 ounces and measures 3.7 x 1.9 x 0.6 inches. Its 1000 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.5 hours of talk time. It runs on the CDMA 850/CDMA 1900 frequencies for voice.
Kajeet Service The Kajeet pay-as-you-go service delivers a full range of customizable voice, text, instant messaging and data services that enable kids to stay connected with family and friends. While kids will love the phones offered by Kajeet, parents will love the affordability of the Kajeet pay-as-you-go service with no long-term contracts, no activation or termination fees, and no roaming or extra long distance fees.
The exclusive Kajeet Configurator offers easy-to-use tools for both kids and parents, with such budget and usage management features like WalletManager, TimeManager, ContactManager and FeatureManager that enable tweens and their families to tailor the service to meet their specific needs. Wireless network coverage for Kajeet is provided by Sprint on its CDMA-based Nationwide Sprint PCS Network (check out the nationwide coverage map).
Kajeet's GPS Phone Locator service helps both kids and parents find the kajeet phone. It uses satellite technology to help find your child's phone and gives subscribing families easy-to-use information regarding the location of their kajeet phone via Web-based maps. Parents can schedule automatic location checks at specific times of the day, so they know where their kid's kajeet phone is at any given time--whether the phone is in their child's backpack on the school bus or in their sports bag at soccer practice. Kids can also use the service to help find their phone. The GPS Phone Locator service is $9.99 per month.
With Kajeet, the money in your Kajeet wallet--paid in either as pay-as-you-go or as part of a monthly plan--can be used for whatever you want: texting, talking, games, ringtones and more. Plus, at no extra cost you get voicemail, caller ID, and some of the lowest talking and texting rates around. You can choose pure pay-as-you-go flexibility, and refill your wallet either online or using Kajeet refill cards (available at select retailers). You might also want to consider the value of a Talk and Text Pak plan. Each is good for one month, and if your kid uses it up before that, you can just pick up a new Pak and start fresh.

* Kajeet charges a service fee of 32 cents per day, which amounts to about $10 per month. This fee applies to pay-as-you go plans only. Monthly plans and bundles do not charge a daily access charge. This access charge guarantees you low rates for voice and messaging, and gives you access to the Kajeet Navigator (which provides downloadable ringtones, wallpaper, games and apps) and to the Kajeet Configurator (which enables you to personalize your kajeet service to match your specific needs).

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12/25/2011

Humminbird 408110-1 Fishfinder 596c HD DI Review

Humminbird 408110-1 Fishfinder 596c HD DI
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I just finished installing the fish finder and took it out on the lake for the first time.
Installation was pretty easy. I had to read and follow the instructions but I had no problems. I will say I found it very hard to drill holes in a perfectly good boat.
On the lake, the GPS was great. The fish finder was very good also. It put me on fish, just not the right ones.
The only complaint I have is the fish alarm won't go off unless I show the fish icon. Maybe I just haven't figured that out yet.
Overall, it is everything I wanted and I am very satisfied.


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12/24/2011

Samsung Seek M350 Phone, Cool Blue (Sprint) Review

Samsung Seek M350 Phone, Cool Blue (Sprint)
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Decent phone but I expected much more...I game up my Samsung Rant for this phone and now regret it. I had the Rant for years, never scratched the screen. This phone's screen has scratches all ready and I haven't had it very long. The internet is slow and it is more difficult to put music and picture data into it. One good thing is the text qwerty board is superior to any phone i've owned so far, and i text alot. I rate this phone a C- and wish to trade it in for something else.

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The stylish, 3G-enabled Samsung Seek messaging phone for Sprint features a touchscreen, full QWERTY slide-out keyboard and customizable menu system, making it easy to keep in touch via messaging and e-mail wherever you roam. The Samsung Seek is also the first phone to feature recyclable packaging that allows you to easily repackage and mail used cell phones for recycling with the enclosed postage-paid mailing label and Seek box.

In addition to fast 3G speeds from Sprint's high-speed EV-DO network, you'll enjoy GPS navigation capabilities for accessing the optional Sprint Navigation turn-by-turn direction service. You'll also be able to access all your personal e-mail as well as work e-mail and calendars from corporate servers via the Sprint Mobile Email Work and Email Work Calendar services (see more details on optional services below).

Other features include easy access to social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, a 1.3-megapixel camera for still photos, Bluetooth for hands-free devices, microSD memory expansion to 32 GB, mobile Web browser, digital music player, voice commands, and up to 5.8 hours of talk time.


Key Features
Fast 3G connectivity thanks to Sprint's EV-DO, Rev 0 network
GPS using Sprint Navigation for turn by turn directions, and points of interest searches
Customizable menu system
Instant access to social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace
2.6-inch LCD screen (240 x 320 pixels)
Side-sliding full QWERTY keyboard makes messaging a snap.
Dedicated keys for quick access to popular applications
1.3-megapixel camera for still photos with digital zoom (no video capture capabilities). Shoot and share your digital photos instantly with Sprint Picture Mail (additional charges applicable).
MP3 player
Bluetooth connectivity (version 2.1) includes profiles for communication headset and hands-free car kits
Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 32 GB.
Threaded SMS text messaging allows you to see the full conversation for each contact in a chat-like interface. Never send a reply to the wrong person again. Organized conversations make it easy to go back and see the history of any conversation.
Sprint Mobile Email provides simplified access to your favorite personal e-mail services including AOL, Yahoo!, Gmail --now with Google Calendar--and MSN/Windows Live Hotmail. Additionally, you can access many other e-mail providers through the software's support of POP3 and IMAP.
Access to instant messaging via popular IM services from AOL, Yahoo! and MSN. Use the same screen names and contact list features that you use on your PC, view which members are online or when someone joins, and Maintain multiple conversations and chat with groups.
Mobile Web browser
Speaker-independent voice dialing enables you to say the name of any entry in your phone book and the number is dialed automatically without using the keypad. This feature is speaker-independent, so there is no need to train the phone to respond to any one person's voice. Receive an audible status report of your phone/s coverage and signal strength.
Airplane mode allows you to listen to music while the cellular connectivity is turned off
Wireless Backup to manage contacts list in the event that the phone is lost, stolen or damaged
Downloadable games and applications
Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC) with M4 rating
TTY compatible

Vital Statistics The Samsung Seek weighs 3.9 ounces and measures 4.1 x 2.1 x 0.6 inches. Its 1000 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5.8 hours of talk time. It runs on the 800/1900 CDMA/EV-DO Rev. 0 frequencies.
What's in the Box Samsung Seek handset, rechargeable battery, charger, quick start guide

Sprint Services
Broadband-like 3G network: Supporting the EV-DO Rev. A high-speed data standard, this phone enables you to download and stream high-quality video, straight onto your phone. Where coverage is available, EV-DO Rev. A connectivity provides average download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 Kbps, with peak rates up to 2 Mbps.

Access Personal and Corporate E-mail: With Sprint Mobile Email, you'll get easy access to your favorite home e-mail services including AOL, Yahoo!, Gmail, and MSN/Windows Live Hotmail and more. Additionally, you can access many other e-mail providers through the software's support of POP3 & IMAP. And Sprint Mobile Email Work enables you to access e-mail from corporate servers, including Microsoft Exchange 2000, 2003, 2007 and Lotus Notes Domino versions 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0 (with the latest software update).

Sprint Mobile Email Work Calendar: Have instant access to your work calendar almost anywhere. The Sprint Mobile Email Work Calendar tool lets you sync directly with your work calendar in Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes. Enjoy one-click access to your calendar, plus the ability to add new events and get reminders when they come up. The best way to stay connected virtually wherever you go.

Sprint Family Locator: Locate family members anytime, anywhere from your phone or the Web without disturbing their activities. With Family Locator, you can locate your kids with interactive mapping, automatic Safety Check and a secure texting feature.



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12/23/2011

Garmin Astro DC-30 GPS Dog Tracking System Review

Garmin Astro DC-30 GPS Dog Tracking System
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Double UPDATE - Garmin has now introduced the DC 30 dog collar + gps transmitter. It fixes many of the bugs in the old design. It uses a metal backplate behind the gps instead of plastic. The gps is black instead of orange. The antenna is longer and more flexible allowing for better range and less breakage. And since the GPS hangs DOWN by default, the new dc-30 puts a tiny GPS antenna into the dog collar itself that faces UP towards the sky. Overall it works better, in the country it adds about 2 miles to your trackign range if you are using the car mounted antenna. Those 2 miles could mean finding your dog. The new kit is sold with the DC 30 and costs about $60 more than the old model (this one) which will most likely be discontinued as my dog has broken one antenna and two plastic mounting plates. Note however that the new collar has no rings for attaching tags or leashes. This means your dog will wear 2 collars when being tracked, but gone are the days of broken parts and tracking down your GPS unit without the dog attached.
Update - I ordered the car mount antenna and found the range boost phenominal. In CITY range went from .7 miles to 1.7 miles, almost the full 2 mile rating. In Country range went over 4 miles. It is the best $25 spent plus amazon's price on the accessory is heavily discounted over garmin's. If you think you may have to use your 4WD to find your dogs, start using the external antenna accessory option from the beginning.
I got my Astro about a month ago and from the start the 2 mile range wasn't there (more like .33 miles maximum). I checked it with a pulse wattmeter from HP/agilent and it was outputting only 0.45 watts for .38 seconds, not the 2W rating (and the battery lasted alot longer than it was supposed to for some reason!). I shipped it to garmin, got it back and it was now putting out 2.2 watts. Range was still disappointing at 0.6 miles (city - granted - but my rino's do far better and they aren't digital!)
Next, I found that there are 5 channels Astro can use of which 2 of them are used by every jobcom radio in construction etc (154.57 and 154.600 are the worst and are in use all over the place) - my unit was on one of those channels which was almost always in use, so using another RF tool (spectrum analyzer) - I found a much better channel and suddenly the in city range went up to 1.5 miles which wasn't bad.
Mounting -
You get 2 mounting options - a screw bracket that will mount the transmitter to the dog collar which works really well, or a velcro pocket to put the transmitter in, strap it around the dog's breast and put a tab under the dog collar to keep it upright. I tried the vest option first and when the dog came back, the whole assembly was swinging around the dog's neck (and velcro fills up with hair if your dog sheds - the gripping effectiveness goes to zero).
The collar I thought would be better because the tags are always at the ground, but now the heavy part is up high. My guess was to put a lightweight fishing sinker in the dogtag strap which would keep it verticale - without that weight the dog comes back with the collar rotated sideways and the antenna horizontal, which hurts your range again.
Once factory adjusted to full power, put on a clean freqency, and mounted with a counterweight it works really well - 1.5 mile range in the city and 2.0 mile range or better in the country are not uncommon. I found my dog had gone on a 5 mile chase one time from the truck.
There is a problem in the few bits that garmin uses for "dog status" like "treed" or "quarry", etc - when the gps has moved a bit they are meaningless so I ignore that and leave it on the doggie detail page which tells you how far away your dog is, where it is, and the battery level/gps coverage in the dog's GPS, along with the radio signal you are getting. I would have preferred "moving" or "stable", which you can get from the map if the signal reaches.
You can get a nice VHF (marine type) antenna if you become car bound and unscrew the garmin antenna and connect the outdoor antenna which more than doubles range or better right away - great for end of the day searches for the dog. Both the dog and user antennas are SMA and removable unlike the rino which by law must have a permanently attached antenna unless you are good at soldering on external jacks yourself, which allows you big outdoor antennas and high power amplifiers on one radio. Dog transmitts at your programmed time interval, the handheld transmitts when only when you need to adjust the dog parameters, making it a 2way link temporarily on the AA batteries.
The GPS(s) in both the dog and handheld use the highly sensitve SIRF chipset (which is dirt cheap because the entire gps is in one chip, but because of the indoor usability of it garmin sees fit to charge almost 2x more e.g. the rino520HCX is also using the sirf chipset for gps, which costs them less!) - it trades sensitivity of getting a signal for accuracy compared to their old 12 channel receiver garmin made (like putting a ford engine in a corvette). Anyways they are very sensitive, the handheld allows you to load 2GB of map data on a micro-SD card like your cellphone uses so there are alot of nice features in the set, plus you can use the handheld without any dogs.) I've put highway and topographic mapping data for the western USA, along with the entire roads CD. I have GPS mapping in my car and garmin really has a poor algorythm on this one - it will insist you drive 5 miles backwards to get on the freeway, to drive 5 miles forwards to the destination 1/4 mile ahead. It's better for 4wd or marine navigation than on-road accidents. ON-Road navigation probably is a feature to avoid.
MY ONLY "STRONG" NEGATIVE is that they use 2-AA batteries in the GPS handheld. Worldwide there is a push away from disposable batteries due to price - countries like Germany and Switzerland charge more than the battery for a disposal fee - if you are caught putting them in the trash look for $500 fines. Most of europe has adopted this, hence the move to li-ion standards. I've been evaluating some 3000-3500 mah prototype AA cells in my lab from a battery company. The combination is really good - better in all cases than alkalines. I'm accustomed to the Li-ion cells on the Rino radios I use which last forever. Garmin could have fit some sort of Li-Ion pack into the battery area making it charge from both the dog charger (which is li-ion) and the dog's car-charger (included in the kit). But alas, we are stuck with kids' toys AA batteries.
The waterproofness will outlast any rainstorm and the worst weather - for both you and the dog. Overall, knowing what direction and how far my dog is is great information. I have not found any geo-fencing yet which would be nice to keep your dog out of problem areas on the map like traintracks or highways.
In summary you are getting 2 really sensitive GPS units (one rechargable and one AA powered) that communicate one way their location. To top off the system, Garmin gives you a nice hard case to seal it all up and keep the wet soggy stuff out of the dry stuff with a clever X strap holder on the outside of the case
Be sure to get it working good in the city before going on a hunt with it - you'll know what buttons shortcut to where, and what limitations are in the unit, and what the beeps decode to.
Happy Hunting!

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The Garmin Astro GPS Dog Tracking System lets hunters and sportsmen spend their time looking for game, rather than looking for their dog. This unique dog-tracking system pinpoints your dog's position and shows you exactly where he is, even when you can't see or hear him.
This system includes a bright, color-screen handheld Astro 220 GPS device and a wireless transmitter, called the DC 20. Simple and easy to use, you just take the Astro outdoors and turn on both units to acquire a GPS satellite signal, then attach the DC 20 to your dog, either via the included neoprene harness or by threading it onto an existing 1-inch e-collar, and you're ready to go.
The DC 20 transmits your dog's position to your handheld every five seconds, showing current location as well as where he's been on the Map page. The Dog Tracker page shows you a compass that points to your dog's location, and lets you see your dog's current status, such as running, sitting, on point or treeing quarry. The Garmin Astro can even sound an alarm to let you know instantly when your dog goes on point.
The Astro 220's high-sensitivity GPS receiver can track your dog's position even in the densest cover, and lets you track up to 10 dogs at one time, up to five miles away in open territory. The Astro features a Covey Counter, which lets you place a special waypoint that tells you the exact location, time of day and elevation where you found your prey, as well as the number of birds flushed and taken from that location. The Astro also lets you save other important waypoints, such as Truck and Lodge, and choose special icons to represent food plots, tree stands and other hunting-related items.
The full-featured Astro handheld has all the same functions as Garmin's top-line handheld outdoor devices, including a barometric altimeter, a microSD card slot for maps, celestial information and an area calculator, as well as optional detailed city street maps, over 6 million points of interest, and exact turn-by-turn directions. This unit has an extremely rugged construction, with an IPX7 waterproof exterior that can withstand full immersion in water up to 1-meter deep for up to 30 minutes, and a revolutionary 3-axis compass that works no matter how the handheld is oriented.
What's in the Box Garmin Astro 220 handheld with VHF antenna and DC 20 wireless transmitter with VHF antenna, a neoprene harness, a collar attachment plate, a carrying case, a lithium-ion battery pack for the DC 20 transmitter, a vehicle power adapter and AC adapter for the DC 20 transmitter, a trip and waypoint manager CD, a USB cable, a wrist strap, a belt clip, an owner's manual and a quick reference guide.

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12/22/2011

Philips CD1553B/17 DECT Series Tri Expandable Cordless Phones with Digital Answering Machine Review

Philips CD1553B/17 DECT Series Tri Expandable Cordless Phones with Digital Answering Machine
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Great phone, love having 3 phones. Sound quality is good. Each phone can have it's own ring.

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Philips CD1553B DECT cordless phone offers a clear sound that makes phone conversations crisp.Phone can hold up to 50 names giving you the convenience of storing phone numbers for friends and family in one place.Alphanumeric display screen lights up allowing names and numbers of incoming calls to be seen easily.Included are 10 different ring tones enabling you to match specific rings for family and friends.Use the speakerphone to enjoy the convenience of talking on the phone hands free.Docking station has handset locater button to help you locate a lost phone.Tri Pack includes three phones with docs primary phone dock includes digital answering machine with 18 minutes recording time.

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12/21/2011

Viper VSS5000 SmartStart Security Remote Start System Review

Viper VSS5000 SmartStart Security Remote Start System
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I got a great deal on the SmartStart and security system at Best Buy. As far as I can tell they did a great job installing it into my Ford Fusion. There was one hang-up on the doors needing an extra part to invert the door sensors, but other than that things went well. The install was about 8 hours for a very knowledgeable seasoned installer.

Trouble begins when we try to activate the smartstart system. First the webform crashes when testing the system. Apparently the actual module never got signal due to the Viper SmartStart system being down. I signed up for the service, paid with my credit card. The installer and I figured the system would be up sometime tomorrow. So I waited.
I waited overnight to see if the system would work in the morning.
The morning came; the system did not start working....
The next day I called customer support (four times), once in the morning and was told the system was down and would be up "soon". The other three times I was on hold for at least 10 minutes each time before being disconnected. Their phone menu support structure is out of order, and needs to be refined.
Once I finally got to a tech support rep after being transferred, my system was finally talking to the network... However the account I already signed up for- the service I already paid for- would need to be done again. So, reluctantly I gave up my credit card information and paid for another year of service on a system I haven't even had for a day. That was the only solution that Directed Electronics' tech support had for me to make it work.
I was then told to call back tomorrow with the receipt information for the service I previously paid for to receive a refund. Hopefully this is all I will need to do.
To sum this all up, the system is super cool once it works, although the lag times between your phone and car are very slow (and the app interface is clunky and slow to begin with), and I'm really worried about the service coming up and down now. Should I always carry my fob just in case? Can I really rely on the SmartStart service?Edit: About two weeks later, its a little bit more reliable but still works only about 30% of the time I try it. Peak hours are almost never reliable.

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12/20/2011

Humminbird PiranhaMAX 150 Fishfinder Portable Review

Humminbird PiranhaMAX 150 Fishfinder Portable
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The 150 PirhanaMAX Portable is a great product. The transducer has a 3" diameter suction cup, the display is wonderful and shielded, the battery is contained in the case and takes minimal time to charge. The 150 Portable has a small battery charger that plugs into the wall. The main difference between the regular and Portable 150 is the suction-cupped, removable transducer. It also has different modes and the simulator mode helped me understand what I would see prior to actually using it. I love this product. 5 STARS


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12/19/2011

Panasonic KX-TGA560B 5.8 GHz FHSS GigaRange® Expandable Digital Cordless Handset Review

Panasonic KX-TGA560B 5.8 GHz FHSS GigaRange® Expandable Digital Cordless Handset
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Bought this to add a 4th handset to my KX-TG5633. Initially, after reading the technical specs for the 5633 at the Panasonic website, I wasn't certain that the 560 would work with my system; the Pana website says "Multi Handset Compatability: up to 3 handsets". "Did the 3 include the base handset too," I wondered? Yet the amazon info for the 5633 suggested that it could take 4 handsets. After digging out and consulting the 5633's manual, I was satisfied that I could take a 4th handset and ordered.
After receiving the 560, I was pleased to see the back of its box listed graphically all the systems that it would work with and also numerous ones that it would NOT work with. I've scanned the back of the box and posted it as one of the customer product images. Hopefully this will save you a lot of time in figuring out whether the 560 handset works for you.
Otherwise, it was easy to integrate with the rest of the system. Open box, insert battery, let charge overnight, hit the "register" button on the system base until it says "H4" (handset 4), hit the OK button on the 560 and you're good to go.

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12/18/2011

Humminbird 345C 3.5-Inch Waterproof, Portable Fishfinder and Dual-Beam Transducer Review

Humminbird 345C 3.5-Inch Waterproof, Portable Fishfinder and Dual-Beam Transducer
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The Hummingbird 385CI Combo is a great value for the money. It replaced my sonar only unit and the GPS features were most welcome. It performs well and is relatively easy to use. Instructions for installation could stand some clarification. And, GPS map upgrades are too expensive as currently offered.

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12/17/2011

GE 6-in-1 Universal Remote Control Review

GE 6-in-1 Universal Remote Control
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I have more than a dozen universal remotes of all kinds and prices. I bought this one for under $5 somewhere, mostly for the 'finding' feature.
I know more about setting up and programming universal remotes - and this one simply does not work.
I have a drawer full of 'mistakes' in buying inexpensive remotes that I never returned (or would bother to) but after the amount of time I spent trying to get this one to work - I realized it didn't and actually returned it 'on principal'.
Even if you get it to work - the 'beep' or sound that is used to "find" the remote/key fob is so soft with a fully charged battery is is not likely you will be able to find it.
I strongly suggest NOT buying this one (the fob was also really big - it would be crazy to be on a key chain)

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12/16/2011

Whistler Rlc-100 Red Light-speed Camera Detector Review

Whistler Rlc-100 Red Light-speed Camera Detector
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The Whistler RLC-100 Red Light/Speed Camera Detector comes with one year of free updates. After one year if you want to continue updating there is an annual fee but I couldn't find any mention of it on the Whistler web site. I finally called their 800 number to learn that the fee is $19.95 per year. Sounds rather expensive for such limited info.

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Whistler's RLC-100 is a compact, full-featured red light/speed camera warning system. The device compares your vehicle's current location (using GPS) against an on-board database of thousands of known red light camera and speed camera locations. Free updates are included for one year, installable via USB on your home PC, and you can manually enter in up to 100 of your own custom locations. Plenty of bonus features are also included, such as speed alerts, a tripmeter, and a digital clock.

High SensitivityGPS Antenna Compact, high efficiency antenna receives GPS signals.
Updatable Camera DatabaseThe RLC-100 is shipped with the Verilight camera database (Red Light and Speed cameras) preloaded. This unit can be updated with the latest database anytime by connecting to a PC. In order to update the unit, you will need to download the Software program from Whistler�s website first. You must also register the unit before any updates can be downloaded.
Free Updates For One Year Free updates will be available for up to 1 year from the date of registration and software installation. After 1 year, updates can be purchased.
Seven-Segment Digital Readout The RLC-100 features an easy-to-read display indicating time, speed, and distance to camera. Choose between bright/dim modes based on preference, time of day, etc.
Current Speed Reading With MPH/KPH Option Choose from MPH/Yards or KPH/Meters for your units of measurement.
12 Volt Power Out JackProvides a 12 volt, 1.5 amp output to power other devices.
Enter Custom Locations The unit's Manual Entry function allows for storage of up to 100 user locations.
Digital Clock Keep track of time with th ebuilt-in clock. Select a "top-of-the-hour" alert to be reminded as each hour passes.
Selectable Speed Warning Select a speed warning threshold to keep your lead foot in check. When exceeded, the unit will announce, "attention, reduce speed now."
Built-in Speaker Provides distinct audio warnings for Red Light, Speed Camera and user entered locations. You may adjust alert volume to your preference.
Camera Alerts When a camera location is approached, the unit will announce the type of alert (Red Light Camera, Speed Camera, or User Selected), for example, "Caution, red light camera detected." The display also counts down the distance to the camera.
USB Port For connection to a PC for updates. A mini USB cable will be required to connect the RLC-250 to a PC.
Stay alert The Stay Alert feature provides a reminder to stop for rest after 2 hours of travel. It can be turned off in option mode.
Mounting the unit The unit can be mounted using the included magnetic dash disk, or the non-skid pad.
What's in the Box RLC-100 Unit, Power Cord, Non-skid Dash Pad, USB Cable, Magnetic Disk Mount, Alcohol Pad

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12/15/2011

EZ-Find New Design 2 Tag Pack Accessory Review

EZ-Find New Design 2 Tag Pack Accessory
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I was absolutely not impressed with this unit! Sometimes the handheld locator worked, sometimes it didn't. The range is horrible. Within two weeks of owning this item, I lost two of the battery covers and batteries! It's already in the garbage after less then a month. I wish I had boughten this at Walmart, cuz I would have immediately returned it........WITHOUT hassle! DON'T BUY THIS!

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