Chamberlain WD962KD Premium Whisper Drive 3/4-Horsepower Garage Door Opener with Standby Power Review

Chamberlain WD962KD Premium Whisper Drive 3/4-Horsepower Garage Door Opener with Standby Power
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I didn't know what to expect when I ordered this garage door opener. I did a lot of research and new that I was getting a good product, but I have never installed a garage door opener before.
I received the product in a timely fashion, but it sat for a week before I could get to it. I recruited my brother and father to help me install it. The install was very easy. I had to improvise a bit since the installation requires additional lumbar and hardware that doesn't come in the box. That is acceptable though, since every installation is different.
Besides that, it took me about four hours to install. The product is AMAZING! Quiet, fast, and safe. Everyone who hears it, comments about how quiet it is. The sensor on the control unit turns the lights on when I walk into the garage. No need to reach for the light switch.
This unit came with a battery (in case of a power failure), and I was able to use it the other day when the power was out. How about that! No one in my neighborhood could open their garage door, except ME!!
I would highly recommend this to anyone interested.

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Capable of operation during a power outage, the Chamberlain WD962KD Premium Whisper Drive Plus with EverCharge Standby Power System provides dependable, smooth performance year after year. Compatible with HomeLink, an in-vehicle remote control system, this convenient opener boasts advanced safety, security, and monitoring features, whisper-quiet opening and closing, and durable construction. As soon as you take the WD962KD out of its packaging, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.
Whisper-Quiet, Smooth Operation Year After YearThanks to Chamberlain's exclusive Motor Vibration Isolation System (MVIS)--which eliminates powerhead vibration for reduced noise--the WD962KD provides the ultimate in quiet performance. No more grating, squeaking, grinding, or jarring mechanical noises every time your garage door is opened or closed.
Compatible with HomeLink, an in-vehicle remote-control system, and winner of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, the WD962KD is built to last. Its 3/4-horsepower motor offers steady operation and easy lifting year after year, while the enclosed gear case provides lubrication and protection for long life and smooth movement. Additionally, rugged steel construction guards against damaging wear and tear and the effects of temperature changes.
Fast, Easy Installation in Just 60 SecondsQuick and easy to install, this system arrives with three railing sections that assemble into one long piece. Clear, easy-to-read instructions guide you through the process step by step--in just one minute you'll have a completely assembled unit.
For added convenience, the WD962KD has a light that delivers 200 watts and has an adjustable time delay so you can enjoy illumination when you need it. It also comes with two three-button remote controls and a keyless entry pad for those times when your remote is not easily accessible.
Advanced Safety and Security Features Protect Against Accidents and TheftThe WD962KD is equipped with safety features that protect users from accidental closings, as well as from break-ins and theft. The included protector system features safety sensors with Rapid-Snap brackets that project an invisible light beam across the door opening and automatically reverse the door if anything interrupts the beam while the door is descending.
For added peace of mind, sensing technology will stop the door from closing if contact is made with a person or object and opener lights will turn on automatically if the infrared beam is broken.
To guard against unauthorized entry or use of your code, Security+ anti-burglary technology sends a new code every time you use your remote control. An added bonus, PosiLock theft protection ensures that once the door is closed, it stays locked.
The WD962KD motor is backed by a lifetime warranty; the belt is backed by a 10-year warranty.
What's in the BoxWD962KD with 3/4-horsepower motor and belt; two remote controls; soft-glow wall control; assembly instructions; and keyless entry pad.


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12/30/2011

D-Link DAP-2553 Air Premier N Dual Band PoE Access Point, Selectable Dual Band Draft 802.11n Review

D-Link  DAP-2553  Air Premier N Dual Band PoE Access Point, Selectable Dual Band Draft 802.11n
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This would easily be a 5-star product with some minor improvements to setup documentation and configuration screens.
Pros:
* Great wireless range
* Compact design
* Reasonably fast re-boots as it is configured
Cons:
* In-box documentation is too skimpy for many people to set it up without a support call
* Configuration application lacks the supporting instructions supplied by other manufacturers (NetGear)
* A little pricey - but performance makes up for it
I use a LinkSys router in my home network, which has a default IP of 192.168.1.1. The DAP-2553 uses a default IP of 192.168.0.50, so have to change its IP to one that uses 192.168.1.x for it to work, and the in-box documentation does not tell you how do do this. Fortunately, D-Link's excellent product support got me going in a few minutes, and without grilling me about the product serial number or when I had purchased it (NetGear's support is a pain).
If you're setting up one of these on a LinkSys network, here's what you'll need to do:
* Connect your DAP-2553 directly to a computer using the enclosed Ethernet cable (with your computer's WiFi turned off)
* Manually set your computer's IP address to 192.168.0.54 (Go to Control Panel | Network | Change Adapter Settings, then right-click on Local Area Connection and select Properties. Select Internet Protocol 4, then Properties, then Use the following IP address. Put in IP, leave Subnet mask at 255.255.255.0, and set Default gateway to 192.168.0.50 to reach your DAP-2553). Hit OK.
* Open a browser and point it to 192.168.0.50
* Log in using the DAP-2553's supplied login info, and go to Basic Settings | LAN
* Set IP address to 192.168.1.50 (this puts it on the map for your LinkSys router)
* Set the default gateway to your LinkSys router's address - probably 192.168.1.1
* Select Apply
* Remember to re-set your computer's IP address back to DHCP, or whatever it was before (Assuming you were using DHCP - Go to Control Panel | Network | Change Adapter Settings, then right-click on Local Area Connection and select Properties. Select Internet Protocol 4, then Properties, then Obtain an IP address automatically). Hit OK.
* Disconnect your DAP-2553 from the computer and connect the DAP-2553 into your network.
* If it works, you should now find your DAP-2553 at 192.168.1.50 and be able to finish wireless configuration to your preferences.
* Rejoice.
Standard disclaimers apply. Good luck.

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D-Link Air Premier N Dual Band POE Access Point, Selectable Dual Band Draft 802.11n

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4-Room Wireless Intercom System for Home or Office Review

4-Room Wireless Intercom System for Home or Office
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At my company, everybody has an office, so we needed a quick, inexpensive way to communicate with each other. Our phones are not capable of handling intercoms, so we needed another option. This product works great for us. Setup was quick and easy, now when we want somebody to stop by, it's a quick push of a button. The reception could stand to be a little better, but for our purposes, it's just fine. I'm about to order four more for the rest of our offices.
P.S. I received a quote for installing a full wired intercom system that was over $3,000. So at this price, this intercom system is a bargain.

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12/29/2011

Lorex SG7530PK4 Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera with Night Vision 4-pack (Grey) Review

Lorex SG7530PK4 Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera with Night Vision 4-pack (Grey)
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I needed to expand a security dvr from from 4 cameras to 8, and these Lorex cameras were perfect for the job. The pack includes all the cables you need to connect the cables to your current system if it supports BNC (most do). The quality was perfect for what I needed, and the price was pretty darn good compared to other places I checked. All four cameras worked great out of the box, and connecting them was a breeze. If you need to expand your current system, these cameras are the perfect pack to make it easy. Although I have also purchased direct from Lorex in the past, ordering from Amazon allowed me to use Prime for quick shipping, and get a better price.

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12/28/2011

Fake TV Burglar Deterrent Review

Fake TV Burglar Deterrent
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I bought a Fake TV last year when we went to Florida for the winter. I also bought/installed 2 Barking Rex motion sensor alarms and installed 4 electronic light timers. The Fake TV I set up on an electronic timer.
We live on a private road with several summer cottages. While in Florida the neighor across the road (full time resident) and the one next door (summer cottage) got broke into. Our house was not bothered! When our neighbor came to check on our house he said the Barking Rex scared the crap out of him. I credit my passive security measures as keeping us from becoming a victim too.
The Fake TV and 1 Barking Rex was passed on to my son. So this year I bought 2 Fake TVs and 2 more Barking Rex alarms while we take an extended vacation. The new Fake TV now has a timer installed, new and improved. It can be on full time, come on at dark and stay on for either 4 hours or 7 hours. There is no need to hook it into a timer. Nice touch.
As a retired police officer I strongly recommend this to anyone that wants to imrove the impression someone is home. Set it up as instructions indicate to get the best benefit. Add Barking Rex and some light timers and only your neighbors will know you are not home. We are trying to keep the stranger from breaking in, we trust our neighbors. The stranger will see the lights coming on and going off, see the Fake TV lights in the window, and if they approach the doors hear a dog barking at them. Enough to make them move on to a different house.

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Wireless Motion Alert Kit-600' Max Range Review

Wireless Motion Alert Kit-600' Max Range
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This is the fourth remote driveway alarm we have tried. The others ranged from a $70 GE unit to a $250 unit that supposedly worked "up to four miles." They would either not have the range needed (about 100 yards) or would stop working after a few days. Replacements were tried for all, and all had the same failures or problems.
This one, however, has now been working flawlessly here for two weeks. It has been through a major rainstorm and several extremely foggy mornings. Temperatures here have been as high as 94 degrees.
Other pro's:
Worked out of the box with both receivers. The default settings were fine and setting switches was not necessary.
We like the ability to choose the alarm sound. We chose the short musical selection for the house. The workshop/garage has the sharp whistle tone, as there is often other loud noise going on.
Con's:
Like most infra-red receivers, it does occasionally pick up dogs, deer, and even a crow that flies close enough. It does not trigger on trees or leaves, even in high wind (and where we have it mounted, there is a small forest across the driveway.) I suppose that would be possible, however, if the tree/leaves were in the sunshine, and thus hotter than the surroundings. BTW, although called a "motion sensor," the manufacturer says an object must be a minimum of six degrees warmer than the surroundings to be detected.
Suggestions:
We found that vehicle pickup is more reliable if the sensor is pointed somewhat down the driveway rather than directly across it.
Setting it higher off the ground reduces the triggers on dogs, but also makes it possible to miss some vehicles that do not produce a heat signature that high off the ground. We set ours at about four feet. It still picks up medium and larger dogs, but has not missed a single vehicle. It does not pick up cats, skunks, etc.
If you get false alarms, especially at similar times of day each day, try changing the transmitter and receiver subcode. One of your neighbors may be using the same unit.
Update, 2009:
Well, it's still working fine almost two years later. It does occasionally miss a vehicle, and we have noticed that almost all of the ones it misses are painted white. Maybe that has something to do with the temperature difference requirements. Maybe mounting it a little lower would help.
It has stopped working once. That was one of those so-foggy-everything-is-soaked mornings. I brought the transmitter indoors and removed the battery. Then I set the opened case in front of a small fan for a couple of hours. After the drying it again worked fine, and has since. Still highly recommended.


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12/27/2011

Intermatic HA101K Home Settings Wireless Kit Review

Intermatic HA101K Home Settings Wireless Kit
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I was really looking forward to this kit since I am in a wheelchair, which at times makes controlling lights and some other devices a difficult proposition. I must first say that it was not a user-friendly installation. I found the instructions that came with the device were not as clear as they could be. So after a couple days of trying to use the instructions provided, I went to their Internet website. The manual on their website walks you through the setup process with helpful illustrations. I love technology and find building a computer easier than learning to program your first module. But after that it gets easy.
Once you are able to get the system setup, a frustrating experience at first, it works quite well. I was finally able to get the remote dimmers to work easily once you learn to get the module recognized by the master controller. Now it is easy to add modules onto the system. I have a couple of medical devices I plan to add to the system that would make my life much easier. I plan to purchase additional modules. I removed batteries to see if changing them out would be a cause for me to have to reprogram the system. I am happy to report that the system remembered all its programming.
The master controller has an astronomic feature so that you will not have to reset any timers for the daily changes in sunrise and sunset times. Each zone can have its own time options based daily, weekly, weekend, weekday or random timing options. The controller has twelve channels that can each control up to sixteen devices. I do not foresee the day I use the max abilities of the system. But we will see. So even with the initial frustration, if you were looking for a wireless solution, I would recommend this system.

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Choose Intermatic HomeSettings Products for Affordable Home Control Reliable safety, security and convenience are no longer luxuries reserved for millionaires and tech-heads. Intermatic is a leader in developing a reliable home control system with a reasonable price point, exceptional effectiveness and real ease-of-use that integrates seamlessly into any household.
About this Lighting Control Starter Kit With the HomeSettings lighting control starter kit, you can experience all the benefits of home automation for a fraction of the cost. This kit gets you started on Z-Wave lighting control, so you can manage multiple lights and appliances in and around your home. By using Radio Frequency (RF) technology, Z-Wave components require no wiring, and since each module includes a repeater function, adding more modules to your Z-Wave network actually improves the system's reliability. The Z-Wave Starter Kit includes a master controller and two lamp modules, everything you'll need to start your radio-frequency network.
In case of emergency, the master remote's ALL ON/ALL OFF buttons can warn would-be intruders away, and the integrated timing functions offer a variety of options. Set the Astronomic feature and you'll never have to reset the timer for day-to-day changes in sunrise and sunset times, or take advantage of multiple time options. These options include programming possibilities that will set your lights all week, 5 days, weekends, or individual days. Or, before you leave on vacation, activate the random timing option to give your home a lived-in look. There's even an automatic Daylight Savings Time function.
The master remote is easy to set up, with an attractive design which blends into any decor; you can set it on a table or mount it on a wall, whichever is most convenient. It controls up to 12 channels at once, and each channel controls up to 16 devices.
HomeSettings uses advanced Z-Wave technology -- a wireless mesh network that delivers reliable control of countless applications throughout your home. This outstanding system was voted Best Emerging Tech by the editors at CNET magazine in 2006; and it's exactly the sort of home protection measure that's recommended by the Burglary Prevention Council.
Master Remote's Key Technical Specs: 8 dimming levels Requires 4 AA batteries (not included) Temperature operating range: 0 to 60 degrees C 12 programmable channels; 16 devices each channel Low battery indicator
Two plug-in lamp modules are also included in the starter kit, in order to control floor and table lamps up to 300 watts. Installation is easy, and two-way feedback confirms that each device is set up and working properly. Once set up, you'll be able to turn incandescent lights on and off or dim them using the master controller. Or, if you prefer, you can take advantage of the manual override function to turn the lights off at their source.
Lamp Module Key Technical Specs: Controls ordinary lamps using remote control Wireless control up to 100 feet On/Off and dim settings Manual override function 300 watts 120V AC, 60Hz Temperature operating range: 0 to 60 degrees C
Warranty These products are covered by a limited 6-year manufacturer's warranty.
Intermatic's 113-year-long Tradition of Quality Whether you're an electrical contractor, homebuilder or homeowner, Intermatic is the only name you need to know for increased levels of convenience, safety, security and electronic protection.And now, in addition to the new HomeSettings products, Intermatic recently unveiled its line of professional quality home controls for electrical contractors, homebuilders and custom installers. Intermatic also manufactures a line of insect control products called the Mosquito Freedom line as well as Malibu Low Voltage and Solar outdoor lighting, industrial and residential surge protectors, timers and photo control products. High quality products, outstanding service and a world-class organization are hallmarks of Intermatic's 113-year success.
What's in the box: Intermatic master remote control, two lamp modules.

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X-10 Door/Window Sensor DS10A Review

X-10 Door/Window Sensor DS10A
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Compared to the ones by Ademco or the other big boys, the DS10A is almost free. I have installed six X10 security consoles. Although X10 systems are not very secure compared to name-brand systems with remote panels, they are an awesome deterrent for very little money. If you shop very, very carefully you can put together a viable system for perhaps $70. And that system will have a DS10A on every window and door!
I have installed about 60 DS10As and with one exception, they all worked perfectly. The one troublemaker now works but I do not know how I fixed it.
The case is a bit large but that is mostly because these use inexpensive AA batteries. You'll want to use alkaline batteries. You can sometimes find alkaline AAs at dollar stores for 25 cents each. If you are installing a household of these sensors, you will buzz through a lot of batteries during installation.
You can also wire multiple normally-closed switches into on DS10A by putting them in series with the reed switch. You can even use normally-open devices by wiring them up to the test switch (soldering required.)
The DS10A is a reliable addition to inexpensive Radio Shack (some) and X10 security systems.

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12/26/2011

Logitech WiLife Digital Video Security Indoor Add On Camera Review

Logitech WiLife Digital Video Security Indoor Add On Camera
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I currently ordered this indoor camera from Directdeals and when I first got it it worked fine for the first 5 hours.Then for some reason it died and I had to return it.I talked to the guy from Directdeals and they where nice.So they sent me another one for exchange.I was happy to hear I was getting my camera replaced.When I got my replacement it didnt work so I called wilife and we trouble shooted everything turns out the camera is bad.So that made me think why is the second camera bad too?So I dont think I will get my money back and im going to have to waste my time and call them again and ask for another exchange.In my opinion when you buy something online as a customer you expect to have everything there and working.So im giving this a thumb down.

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Galaxy G20 Keyless Entry Car Alarm with 4 Buttons Review

Galaxy G20 Keyless Entry Car Alarm with 4 Buttons
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Okay, not that I have a wealth of knowledge on car alarms, but I recently had my car broken into for the last time. In my apartment complex I had my car picked clean including spare change and gum about six times. At first I thought it was me. Perhaps I forgot to lock it. But the sixth time, I knew I locked it. Somehow they still got in. And that was it. I wanted to get an alarm and leave my door unlocked and let the little snots get surprised. I went to craigslist of all places and a dealer was advertising this unit for 110 dollars fully installed. Considering that was the best price I saw anywhere of the big box retailers, I was skeptical. So I enquired. This particular installer used to be a "Head installer" for best buy and he stumbled opon this one a few months ago. He too was skeptical, but it had a limited lifetime warranty while most of the alarms in that price range only had one year. So he tried it out. Immediately he began getting good feedback on it from his customers.
So i went with it. He set it up so that the door would automatically lock once the door was closed and the key was out of the ignition. And he hid the flashing blue light under some black electrical tape and said "if they get in, this puppy will go off." He charged 110. 40 for the unit, and 70 for install, plus tax. I went to a friends house and asked for his empty xbox cardbord packaging and packed it up nicely and left it on the back seat. Then I went into my apartment, hoping for a little noise and action. I dressed in running shorts (am in hawaii) and left my shoes on, ate very light and purposefully sat in a chair close to the door, leaving the door and screen open, not latched for easy egress.
So, fast forward 2 hours and watching the news, getting ready to grab a book. I am sitting and low and behold my horn and siren go off. I Exit my apartment just quick enough to catch a glimpse of the culprits hoofin it down the street. I left the siren running, slim jim in the passsenger front door still flapping, door ajar and called the cops by cell while running after them.
saw them go into an apartment, waited for the cops, and kids were arrested. That complex had sixteen police reports in the last year for car breakins and they got fingerprints to compare to, these kids are screwed im thinking . I just finished giving my statement to the police and wanted to put this review up.
The only bad thing about it is I think the siren is a bit soft. I would liked it to be a bit louder, but it was loud enough to draw attention at 11pm at my complex.

Also I do believe the alarm remotes could have been faster reacting. I used to push my factory remote button quickly and it would lock my door. This unit, you have to hold the button down a "tad" longer to get the chirp. That might be why the previous poster was having issues. I would have to say it takes double the amount of time to press the button. If factory remotes were a 1/4 second solid push to lock the door, this took 1/2 second. really not much, but noticeable. Other than that, solid unit so far and the price is right (esp if you can install it yourself). Also I am able to chirp it from at least 25 yards away. I play golf and I am pretty good at pacing off steps and guessing distance. I haven't tested it farther as of yet.
Also dont let the photo fool you. The remotes are smaller than the factory GM remotes and are nice. I would suggest (based on the manual specs) buying spare batteries and keeping them handy as it says it only has a "6 month" life based on average usage. My factory remote from 2004 is still working on original batteries so not sure what that means.


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12/25/2011

Add-on Wireless Portable Intercom Review

Add-on Wireless Portable Intercom
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SUMMARY: These are the best wireless intercoms I have ever used. They are not perfect, but they are very good. With just a few tweaks (outlined below) this design could be improved to create the perfect wireless intercom system. I don't regret this purchase at all. I would buy this system again as I expect to get a lot of use out of it before something better comes along. However I still feel that I need to keep my eye out for an even better system that is truly worthy of 5 stars.
=========
THE GOOD:
=========
+ RANGE: I have 5 of these scattered around a 2 story home. Range is not an issue through multiple walls (drywall construction) and a ceiling. The manufacturer claims 1000' range which seems reasonable given the performance I am seeing in my home.
+ INTERFERENCE FREE: These use 900MHz radios which is no longer a popular frequency for consumer electronics leading the less interference. I have not noticed any static or other interference issues with my dual band 802.11n 2.4GHz/5GHz router, any of my 2.4GHz bluetooth headsets, my microwave oven, etc. My DECT 6.0 (1,880-1,900 MHz) cordless phones and cellphones are also not an issue. You only need to watch out for older 900MHz digital cordless phones that use the same radio frequency.
+ VOICE QUALITY: Voice quality is decent. The speaker holes on the outside make it appear that the speaker inside is very small, but it actually is an 8ohm speaker with a 2.5" diameter cone on the inside. Sound quality could be improved, but I can clearly understand voice through these units. The volume level can be set to be quite loud. There is almost no audible distortion even at high levels.
+ MONITOR MODE: Press and hold the monitor button for a second to enable monitor mode where all the units in your house set to the same channel can listen in on the audio from one room. This is handy for baby monitoring or for PC gaming with 4 of these (see full duplex note below).
+ WALL MOUNTING HOLES: Mounting holes for optional wall mounting are a nice addition.
+ FLEXIBLE CHANNEL ASSIGNMENTS: Each unit can be set to speak and listen on any of 4 dedicated channels or they can all speak and listen to every unit on a 5th broadcast channel.
========
THE BAD:
========
- ANNOYING BEE-BOOP & 1 SECOND DELAY: Each time you want to talk on the intercom you need to press and hold the TALK button for 1 second (while continuing to hold the TALK button while talking). During this one second you need to listen to a loud and annoying bee-boop sound. This is really a bad design choice and one of the main reasons why I would not rate this with 5 stars. All other intercoms I have used let me talk immediately to the system as soon as I touched the TALK button. These other systems support fast real time communication between two people without forced delays. There is no good reason for adding this delay and forcing the user to listen to such a loud beep tone (the tone itself is not sent over the intercom, but it is so loud that you can hear it throughout the house warning you that someone is about to start talking). Also the this beep gets louder as you increase the volume to hear others speaking. There should not be any beep, but if there has to be one then it should be set at a fixed quiet volume level that is not so disturbing.
- BLUE LED BACK LIGHTS ARE TOO BRIGHT AND CAN NOT BE DIMMED: The units power off their LEDs automatically when running from batteries, but when using an external 12Vdc power supply, the lights always stay lit. In a bedroom they are way too bright! These LEDs are biased to support seeing them in direct sunlight. This is great for outdoor use, but these units are not waterproof and clearly designed to be used primarily indoors where direct sunlight should not be their primary use case. I had to keep the one in my bedroom upside down on the night stand until I can take it apart and mount *** 8 sheets of paper *** over the LEDs on the PCB inside to dim them enough. It takes a lot of light to still be visible through a stack of paper 8 sheets thick! If you aren't that type who enjoys taking products apart, then you could just run your bedroom units on batteries if you don't want to be bothered by the bright blue lights that can otherwise not be dimmed.
- BLUE LED LIGHTS BLEED BETWEEN BUTTONS: The LEDs are so bright that they bleed onto adjacent buttons. For example, when a unit is set to use the broadcast channel all 4 channel lights are lit. This creates so much light that an adjacent "monitor" light also appears lit as does the TALK button. A better internal light guide design could solve this problem.
- LACK OF NON-VOLATILE STORAGE: These units need to be paired together to form a wireless network of intercoms that can communicate between each other. I was a little disappointed to learn that after the units are paired together, they don't store the pairing data in any permanent non-volatile storage (such as an EEPROM or Flash). Instead the pairing data is in RAM and the units need to be paired again each time the units loose power (when you move them or have a power outage without batteries installed). Not that big of a deal, but for such high quality units I expected this $0.20 upgrade to have been included.
- NO POWER: Batteries are not included (uses 4pcs of AA). The manufacturer claims 1yr battery life, but I do not want to deal with weaker performance as my batteries age. Therefore I decided to use a wired AC/DC power adapter. The manufacturer does not include enough info in the product packaging to help you decide what adapter you need to use. I am an electrical engineer and I would recommend using the "Genuine LINKSYS POWER SUPPLY AC-DC 12V 1A AD12V/1A-SW" power adapters work great with these units:
http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-LINKSYS-POWER-SUPPLY-AC-DC/dp/B002RVT6M8/ref=cm_cr_wr_img
- NOT FULL DUPLEX: I searched all over the net looking for good quality full duplex wireless intercoms so that my wife and I can talk to each other at the same time while playing multi-player PC games together. Sadly thee units are only half-duplex (only one person can speak at a time). However I have enough of them so that I can move a second unit into each of our offices, set them to different channels, enable monitor mode and effectively get a hands free full duplex speakerphone connection between rooms when we are gaming. I really wish manufacturers would add the term "full-duplex" or "half-duplex" to their manual spec pages to help us figure out what we are getting before it shows up in our mailbox.
- INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: The ID is certainly more modern looking then the previous designs from this manufacturer, but it still looks overly bulky and a little cheap at close inspection. The 4 x AA battery compartment waists quite a bit of space, but even with batteries this design could have been a lot slimmer making it look much more modern.


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Swann SW211-STY StyleCam Security Camera Review

Swann SW211-STY StyleCam Security Camera
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I needed a basic camera for my attic to see what type of critter has been visiting in the wee hours of the morning. I didn't want to spend a lot of money. I heard that Swann was better than the other brands. The camera setup is really easy and I was able to get the system running in 30 minutes. (Most of the time was spent screwing the base of the camera to the rafter.
Video quality with room-level lighting is fine. Near darkness, the image switches to B&W and is pretty grainy. I may buy an additional IR light source if my critter friend decides to show up at night only.

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12/24/2011

Panasonic Dect 6.0 Dark Grey Cordless Phone with Answering Machine (KX-TG6433M) Review

Panasonic Dect 6.0 Dark Grey Cordless Phone with Answering Machine (KX-TG6433M)
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When I bought this set, it replaced a clunky Motorola cordless 2.4 GHz set that too often got interference or fade out. I liked the look, feel, and sound clarity of this set.
But my wife started complaining of strange dropped calls. She would be in the middle of the call, and if she tried to put the caller on the speaker phone option, or if she got another call and wanted to "flash" the call, the phone would stop transmitting. The info-screen says "phone not registered to base." Pick up one of the extensions and there's your caller, blithely talking away--nothing has happened on their end.
I ignored her complaints--it never happened to me. Then I saw it happen to her and it started happening to me, too.
With three phones and only two of us in the house, you wouldn't think it would be hard to "register" the phones to their locations. So I did it, and took the step of putting a nail-polished 1, 2, and 3 on phones & bases.
Nice try, but no cigar. The drops still happen. And recently, talking to a friend in Chicago, the phone sounded dead on my side. I was about to hang up when my friend came back on the line. He said, "sorry, I just got these new Panasonic 6.0 phones and I keep getting a "phone not registered to base" error that acts like it drops the call.
Yeah, I know.
Oh, they have a ton of great features, especially that you can program the extensions not to ring at night, and the call clarity is excellent. But when they make the phones too much smarter than the users, they've lost me.
I'm headed to the store (or through Amazon) to pick out some new cordless phones. And no, they won't be Panasonic.

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Panasonic KX-TG6433M Dect 6.0 Cordless Phone with Answering Machine

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12/23/2011

Cisco-Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router Review

Cisco-Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router
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The Linksys WRT54G and WRT54GS routers have been the number one most popular wireless router devices available for the past few years. So this begs the question why Cisco would snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by needlessly changing an almost perfect product. The fact is that versions 1 -4 of the G and the GS (with Speedboost) versions of this router were fantastic. Those earlier routers run a flexible and powerful Linux based firmware that has been perfected for the past few years a numerous updates and tweaks. However, the earlier WRT54G product has now been replaced with a less powerful wireless product (version 5) that has had its onboard flash RAM chopped in half from 4MB to 2MB and its system RAM cut from 16MB to 8MB. Instead of the flexible, reliable and powerful Linux firmware the new WRT54G version 5 routers run the licensed VxWorks firmware instead. There is nothing wrong with using VxWorks and over time Cisco will probably work out the bugs but for now the newest wireless routers are not reliable.
Why would Cisco do this to its most popular Linksys brand of wireless routers ? Apparently it might be a case where the first four versions were too flexible for their own good. The open source Linux firmware with the large amount of flash and system memory was attractive to many third party independent software developers that were turning the WRT54G and GS routers into powerhouse micro Linux wireless computers with a functionality approaching and often surpassing the $600+ wireless routers that Cisco sells. There might also have been an excess number of product warranty returns for the WRT54G routers due to so many people flashing them with non-Linksys third party firmware that sometimes can "brick" a router or make it unusable.
Your solution is to either look for a previous version of the "WRT54G" router before version 5 or purchase the "WRT54GS" (SpeedBooster) version 4 which as of the posting of this review is still available in the stores and it still uses the popular Linux firmware. You will pay $20 more for the GS model but compared to the version 5 of the G model it is worth the extra money. The GS models 1 - 4 are all good with GS version 3.0 and 3.1 reportedly being the most flexible of the bunch and GS 4.0 being the latest. If you want to use third party firmware you may want the GS versions 2.0 - 3.0/3.1 since they have the most flash RAM while still having newer Broadcom based processors. Finally, if you do plan to flash your WRT54G with third party firmware the ones before version 4 of the WRT54G wireless routers are supposed to be easier to work with.
How do you find which version you are looking for? Look on the bottom of the box near the scan tag for the serial number of the router. For the WRT54G wireless routers look for CDFA or a CDF9 or lower (CDF8, CDF7, 6, etc.) Any serial number with CDF5 (v2.0) through CDF9 (v3.1) are the most flexible for use with third party firmware. Unless you want to use a more risky third party firmware I recommend that you read the manual instructions on how to carefully flash these older router models with a newer Linksys firmware which is designed for that specific router version. The latest official Linksys firmware for each specific version of router can be obtained from the Linksys support site. Completely avoid the WRT54G routers with the "CDFB" (v5.0) serial numbers since those are the buggy VxWorks versions. You could also simply purchase the WRT54GS (v4.0) routers that say Speedboost on the box. You will see the "CGN6" serial numbers on the box and as of this review these were still using Linux firmware with software based SpeedBoost enhancements but the RAM and hardware inside seems to be essentially the same as the older WRT54G (v4.0) version 4. The WRT54GS v2.0 (CGN3) through v3.0 (CGN5) are also good and will have more flash RAM available if you want use the wireless router with third party firmware. I would like to note that flashing the router with firmware other than an official Linksys releases obtained from the Linksys support web site will void the warranty and can result in a "bricked" or damaged router.

PROS: The most popular, flexible, reliable and highly rated wireless router on the market before the WRT54G version 5. Previous versions could be flashed with powerful third party firmware. The latest WRT54GS v4.0 routers can still be purchased and except for the SpeedBoost software enhancement (including a different version of Linux based firmware) they are essentially the same as older WRT54G v4.0 routers.
CONS: The latest version 5 has less Flash and System RAM and uses a buggy non-Linux based firmware. There is no rumor of this yet but in the near future Cisco might also release a newer WRT54GS router non-Linux based router (WRT54GS v5.0 ???)
CONCLUSION: With all the changes to the memory and the firmware this latest G model is really a very different product and Cisco should have changed the model number altogether. Neverless, I hope that Cisco works out the bugs in their current version so that the G version can at least partially return to its glory days. There are rumors that a still newer model popular Linux based router might be re-released with the model name of WRT54GL but until that happens we can still purchase a very good WRT54GS v4.0 Speedbooster model.
THE BOTTOM LINE: I give five stars to the older WRT54G models and five stars to the latest WRT54GS model. But I give only one star for the newest WRT54G version 5 which averages the score to only 2.5 stars (rounded down to 2 stars since v5.0 is the newest and most abundant WRT54G model that you can find in the stores).

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The Linksys Wireless-G broadband router is really three devices in one box. First, it's a wireless access point, which lets you connect Wireless-G or Wireless-B devices to the network. There's also a built-in four-port full-duplex 10/100 switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices. Connect four PCs directly, or daisy-chain out to more hubs and switches to create as big a network as you need. Finally, the router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection.
To protect your data and privacy, the Wireless-G broadband router can encrypt all wireless transmissions, and it supports the industrial-strength wireless security of 802.1x authentication and authorization. The router can serve as a DHCP server, has NAT technology to protect against Internet intruders, supports VPN pass-through, and can be configured to filter internal users' access to the Internet. Configuration is a snap with the Web browser-based configuration utility.
With the Linksys Wireless-G broadband router at the center of your home or office network, you can share a high-speed Internet connection, files, printers, and multiplayer games with the flexibility, speed, and security you need!
Wireless-G is the 54 Mbps wireless networking standard that's more than four times faster than the widely deployed Wireless-B (802.11b) products found in homes, businesses, and public wireless hotspots around the country. But since they share the same 2.4 GHz radio band, Wireless-G devices can also interoperate with existing 11 Mbps Wireless-B equipment.
Because both standards are built-in, you can protect your investment in existing 802.11b infrastructure, and migrate to the new screaming-fast Wireless-G standard as your needs grow.
For more information on the differences between an access point and a router with access point, see the following table:

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