Electronic Devices

myBlue-T

My Blue-T by Weatherhawk is sensor that you can use for your android or iphone smart phone.  I downloaded the app for my android phone and I quickly connected to two of these sensors. I was having trouble with my refrigerator keeping cold. I figured what better way to try it.  The sensors I put one in the refrigerator and the other in the freezer. I was amazed that I could pick up the sensors. I could read the temperatures on my phone and I could also see the history of the temperature range. I knew from the data I collected  that I had to replace my refrigerator.

There are endless possibilities where to use them. I put one outside my house and the other inside and I can see the different in temperature.

The my Blue-T are easy to use. They have a included battery and all you have to do is press the only button on it and it will turn green and it on. There was no trouble connecting to them.

The sensors are waterproof up to one meter. 

Magellan eXplorist 710

First of all it uses two AA batteries which according to the manufacture last 16 hours. I would caution that is estimate and if you are venturing out in the woods make sure you start with fresh batteries and a couple of spares batteries. If you use the eXplorist 710 in a vehicle, I would recommend you purchase the car charger and the gps holder.

The unit will function with turn by turn instructions but it hits stride, when you take it with you on a hike. The ability to take pictures while you out on trial and have the gps information attached the photo it is quite useful. The unit has a camera which is 3.2 megapixels, microphone, and speaker. The unit takes decent photos. I can see plenty of uses for documenting your adventure and even for work sites.

 The eXplorisit 710 has a compass feature, which does come in handy.

One feature which I like using is the touch screen. Magellan has designed the unit for ease of operation.  The user only has to tap on the screen and the menu for the device will be displayed.  I found it easy to navigate thru the different setting of the device. The eXplorisit 710 has two buttons on the side that you can program for a favorite feature you wish to easily access.

The map software works well and you can zoom in on your area. On a hike, you can set wave points to help you record and plot your trip.  There are different ways to display maps, you can display in either 2d or 3d.  An option for either pedestrian or driving should be changed based to your activity. The display will either show an icon of person or a vehicle The screen also displays a battery life remaining indicator.

 The eXplorisit 710 weights 6.9 oz. it feels lighter than my smart phone. It is handy unit to have with you. I took it with me one a hike and it worked fine.

The only change I would make is to make the belt clip compatible with a bigger belt. I wear a wide belt and the belt chip is too small. I was concerned it would fall off. It would be also useful if they came out with a way to attach it the MOLE system or a way to attach it your vest or backpack. The eXplorisit 710 is a well-designed unit and is powerful gps system.

Epson WorkForce 645 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer

I just spent a couple of months using the Epson Workforce 645. Printer. I used it in comparison with a Epson 810 Artisan which I use as a backup. I have previously used other brands of printers. 
One of the great features is the large paper capacity. Epson states the tray will hold 250 sheets of 20 pound paper. My experience shows it runs better with about 200 sheets of paper or less. Paper has a tendency to curl up when exposed to humidity and changes in temperature. To work around this just simply put less paper in the paper tray. . I had to print out some invitations on some heavy stock paper . My Epson 810 would not pick up the heavier paper but the Workforce 645 had no problems.
I found the Epson Workforce only uses four ink cartridges which is two less than the 810 model. This makes it easier to keep the ink cartridges in stock. The user has the option of using either 126 or 127 ink jet cartridges. The 127 cartridges have double the capacity of ink so you won't have to replace them as often and the ink goes a long way.
Making copies is quite simple. There is a large LED screen and you just simply follow the prompts. The printer easily makes two sided copies with no problem. The user simply puts in the paper in the paper feeder and presses the copy buttons.
The software that Epson provides is easy to install and found my printer the 645 printer was added to my wireless network. The workforce 645 has the ability to use Google Cloud Print. The Workforce 645 gives you the ability to email the printer when the software from Google and Epson communicates and your document is printed out. I sent a Excel file to the printer and it was sized properly on the paper. I was impressed when I emailed it from my smart. phone miles away from my printer and when I came home my document was printed out.
There are a few things I would like to see changed. The Epson paper trays are very flimsy and part of the tray broke off. The printer was serviceable but it was just a annoyance. The printed documents sometimes would end up on the floor. However If you need a durable printer for your office and one that won't break the bank The Workhouse 645 is for you. The printer retails for $ 149.00.

Casio XJ-A246 2500 Lumens WXGA DLP Projector

When I was stationed in Iraq as a procurement officer, one of the items I purchased for military units were projector bulbs. The projectors were nicknamed "one eye" but when the bulb burned out they were pretty much useless. The soldiers would take care of the projector letting them cool off with the fan from the projector so the bulbs would be able to stay cool , but running on generators did not as afford that luxury. I know when giving a briefing it is embarrassing when the bulb burns out when the commanding officer is giving his presentation.
I was surprised to find out that Casio makes a line of projectors called the Green Slim which use a laser and LED to project a image instead of a bulb. The picture is very clear with no distortion. I recently let me 17 year son Michael set up a "Green Slim" in the backyard to watch a movie on a white sheet instead of a screen. He and his friends quickly set it up and with the automatic 'KEY" corrected the picture. If you never used a projector you want the picture to have four 90 degree corners otherwise your image will be distorted. The Casio projector does that automatically and quickly.
Casio projector A246 is easily connected to a DVD, VCR, computer or any other device that sends a video out. There is also a HDMI input which my son used to connect. There is sound on the projector but you may want to add additional speakers depending on your audience and setting.
The CD that comes with the software has several programs: Wireless connect 3, EZ converter, software for converting power point slides and movie files into a form to play on the projector. The reason you would want to convert your files is that you can save them on a USB device and then plug it into the projector. With this conversion you don't need to bring a laptop or other device into the conference room.
The wireless connection Software 3 is a feature that allows you to connect a wireless device like a smart phone or a laptop to the projector. The Casio A246 projector then becomes access point. I was unable to get my newer laptop to connect. My theory is I am using a 64 bit version of Windows 7. However my old laptop which runs on XP with Service Pack 2 connected easily. I also had a minor problem was with my antivirus protection which kept asking if it was okay to connect. Once, I was connected it was amazing to see the same image on my desktop was also displayed by my projector. The projector allows up to four wireless devices to be connected at one time which then divides the screen into four sections.. This would be useful for a conference and running a Operation Center. What a cool way to impress the boss by showing four different people's presentations at the same time.
What was remarkable was that I had the ability to see the imagine on my laptop as well as a projected image. I was unable to display both imagines when I used a HDMI connection. My laptop graphics card adapter was unable to display two images at once.
My next big test is to try it out on a fund raiser with over 100 people who are coming to see a film projected on the screen/ The projector is light weight 2.1 pounds and small size 11.7 x 1.7 x 8.3 inches. The projector MSRP is $1,400 . I have not yet tried out all the many capabilities of the Casio Projector A246 unit yet but it is pretty extensive in its capabilities.

UNC Ultrapak Tour

I recently went on vacation to and one of the things I brought with me is the UNC Ultrapak tour

It is a portable battery with some incredible features.  The Ulrtapak tour takes 100 minutes to fully charge and on there is a display on the battery which displays he percent charge and whether it is charging or discharging. The battery is very fast to charge, which I found helpful. I like the two usb charging ports one is for 1 amp and the other 2.1 amps. 2.1 amps is great for tablets and your smart phone. I would grab the battery and put it in the car and charge my smart phone and my wife cell phone at the same time. It was definitely handy as if used a car charger I could not have my gps on. The battery charges faster than their competitors.

The battery holds 10,000 mAh and to give some reference an iPhone battery is 1,400 mAh and some simple math you can it recharge it numerous times.

Another feature which I did not use too much was it built in flashlight. But in case you need it there. The unit is only 9.9 oz. in weight and the size is 5.36x 2.78 x .69 inches. To give some prospective on size if you can picture a Samsung Galaxy S5 in a outer box the battery is a little shorter in length. It does not take much room in your carry on.

I can see plenty of uses for it a long plane flight, in an all-day conference, or out in the field. This model retails for $ 99.00 and a smaller unit is retailing for $ 59.00.

With today electronics demanding more power and onboard batteries lasting only finite time this Ultrapak tour will keep them up in running.

It is a great product and the price is very competitive. I recommend one.

Dometic CFX65DX        

I have been using the Dometic CFX65DX from AC power for several weeks now as a secondary refrigerator/freezer. There are three different compartments inside the DFX65 and the user can choose to make it all a freezer, all a refrigerator, or even both. To make it a combo unit there is a removable plastic wall and a cover on the freezer part on the left side.  When testing the temperature, I got readings showing the freezer was below negative zero.

The middle and the other compartment on the right are the refrigerator compartments. I noticed the right side is about 10 to 15 degrees warmer. The right side is above the compressor and I believe there are no cooling fins. Because of that, the cold air from the middle compartment flows over the right side. The unit can be set for Fahrenheit or Celsius. The controls are very straight forward and the operator can choose to set the temperature to his desire level. When using DC power from a car or boat, the DCFX65DX has a setting that will allow it to turn off if your car/boat battery gets too low. There are LEDs that will give notify you of the status of the compressor or any fault in the device.

The manufacturer has designed this to be used on boats in addition to a cabin, household, or in a RV. The CFX65DX is designed to be operated up to a 30 degree tilt. Also, it has a built in light that turns on when you open the latch. In case you need to there is a USB port to charge your phone or other electronic devices. The weight of this approx. 51 pounds empty.  The unit capacity is 65 quarts. The Dimensions are  18” x 22” x 26” in

 If you are going on a camping trip and you plug the unit into your car, your food will still nice and cold without ice. This is a well-built unit that is very quiet and energy efficient. Some standard things the user should now: Just like your own refrigerator, it is best to minimize leaving the door open. You should cool off the items before you put them in the Dometic CFX65DX.

I found if you put a beverage in the freezer compartment for 30 to 45 minutes and then move it to in the refrigerator compartment it will become cold in a short amount of time. If you need a portable refrigerator/freezer that really cools and freezes this is the one.