Gadget Dose

Motorola really went the extra mile on this one, (pun intended). This 2 way radio set can transmit up to 18 miles! 11 Weather channels with weather alert feature - handsfree communication mode and a vibrating alert will page you if someone is trying to reach you.

There are many times when these would come in handy, for instance finding your wife in the mall - (thats my favorite). You could use these hiking or camping, or just to stay in touch while your out walking the dogs.

* Delivers a range of up to 18 miles (under optimum conditions)
* 22 channels, each with 121 privacy codes for 2,662 combinations for clear, uninterrupted connections
* Dual power, works with 3 AA batteries (not included) and rechargeable NiMH batteries (included)
* Approximately 32 hr. alkaline or 11 hr. NiMH estimated talk time
* iVOX for speech-activated, hands-free communication
* 7 NOAA/Environment Canada weather channels and 4 marine weather channels
* QT (Quiet Talk) interruption feature helps eliminate interference
* Backlit display for readability in low lighting conditions
* Companding technology to help filter out static between words
* LCD battery meter for charge indication
* Digital Signal Processing to help provide consistent sound quality
* VibraCall vibrating alert Other features include: audible low battery alert, battery save feature, keypad lock, time-out timer and a choice of 10 unique call tones.

Wow - these are awesome! - Another really nice Christmas gift for the gadget lover in your life.

They retail for $69.99 and the product page is HERE

Once your phone is activated, use MyTicTalk.com to set up parental controls. Enter phone numbers that can be called anytime and phone numbers that can only be called during permission-based times. Choose what times the phone can ring. Send your child a reminder message. And, you can enable or disable features on the phone whenever you like.

So you can set this phone to only dial mom and dad - and maybe an emergency phone number if you want. The phone has presets - so your child wont need to remember dads number at work.

The phone plan itself is a pre-paid plan so its good for the younger ones as an emergency communications link. This , I think would not be for the teens.

With 8 hours talk time and 100 hours of standby - this just might save you when the bus dosent come or if the kid gets out of school early and you werent aware of the earl dismissal.

I’ve got no definite word on price but Ive heard its less than 100 - heres the manufacturers page

How many time have you been on the road - saw someone driving like an utter idiot and thought.. “Man, I wish I had a camera - I’d turn this guy in.”

Or on the other hand - when you get into an accident and its purely your word against theirs.

With this dash mounted video camera all that can be a thing of the past - and if you want to take the camera out of the car to record something - pop in 2 AA batteries. Wherever your car is ….you are likely to be as well - so you’re never far from a video camera.

You can record up to 5 hours of video on a 2gb flash card - and to record more - just slap in a second card. - It records in .avi format so its very easy to work with on a Mac or PC.

Imagine your insurance companies surprise when you tell them not only was it not your fault, but you got the whole thing on tape.

and its only $79.95 Product Page

One thing to keep in mind is there is no built in transfer port so you’ll have to pony up 20 or so bucks for a flash card reader.

Charge-up the internal battery and take it on the road to power virtually any device from the two built-in AC wall sockets. You can run a TV for 5 hours or a PS2 for 8 hours… the Power Dome can even jump-start your car. Want continuous juice? Jack it into your car’s cigarette lighter and it will run your AC powered devices indefinitely (or until your car runs out of gas). You also get a built-in 275 psi air compressor, and a handy utility light.

Thats a whole lot of functionality on one device - you can find ‘em over at the ever-wonderful Thinkgeek for only $99.99

Gadget, Generator, Inverter

This excellent device shows alerts you to thunderstorms and cloud to ground lightning up to 75 miles away. It also gives you ETA of the storms arrival. Very handy if you work in the field or golf, camp out - really any outdoor activity.

The detector uses a highly-sensitive ferrite antenna that detects the low-frequency radio signals, or sferics, emitted by lightning as they travel through the earths ionosphere. Its built-in microprocessor and software analyzes the waveform and voltage the antenna detects to tell you how far away a lightning strike was, which indicates the presence of approaching storm cells and squall lines, and provides you with storm approach speed, estimated time of arrival, distance, and more.

While not cheap - $429.95 - it might just be a lifesaver, so you can’t really put a price on that.

You can find it HERE

Gadget, Lightning Detector

What with the warnings that this year will be an above average Hurricane season. I thought this gadget might come in real handy.

Whats special about it? It uses the new “NOAA SAME Technology” - Meaning that if there is a weather warning in your area - be it hurricane, tornado, flood or whatever … You’ll get it right on the weather station as its issued.

Aside from that this unit comes with just about every accesory a weather watcher would need -
Included sensors:
• Anemometer measures wind speed and direction
• Rain gauge measures rainfall amount
• Thermo-hygrometer measures temperature and humidity
• 200 weather records without PC connection
• PC software (included) and USB port
• Operating range from 100 feet (30 meters) up to 328 feet

With the PC Software you can log weather trends and details over time.

Its also got a sunrise/sunset display - moon phase - weather forecast - barometer - and indoor/outdoor temp and humidity.

With this gadget you could be your own weather station. Truly a cornucopia of weather watching goodness.

The manufacturers page is HERE it’s also listed at
Amazon for $349.99

Gadget, Emergency, Weather, NOAA Alerts

Great deal today over at Surplus Computers - These little modules activate on the sound of a smoke alarm ( so you have to have those installed), and lights up shining blinking arrows through the smoke to the floor pointing out exit points.

They are reduced from $19.99 to $3.99 so get ‘em while they last!

Surplus Computers Laser Fire Escape Buy HERE

Gadget, Laser, Fire Escape

This portable unit is equipped with a weather radio, power inverter, and detachable flashlight. When the power goes out, the StormStation’s “Find Me” light automatically turns on. Use its 25-watt inverter to power small, essential appliances, like a clock or a cordless phone to keep lines of communication open. Or charge your cell phone via the 12-volt recharging port.

And the best thing about this particular gadget is its amazing price reduction. Originally listed at $168.00 - its now reduced to $54.60 ! If you live in an area prone to power failures - this unit could come in handy. Buy it HERE

Gadget, Emergency, Light and power source