Category Archives: Gadgets

Gadgets, Product Reviews

Fairy String Lights

A Marketing Rep at LERTDAI contacted me through Facebook about reviewing a set of their battery-powered LED string lights. They come in a box of 16 lights. All turned and worked though one was flakey at first. Pressing the battery box flat seemed to fix it and it didn’t cause any problems afterward. Some of the LED bulbs do flicker/twinkle adding to the “fairy” or “firefly” effect.

A product photo on their Amazon page shows the lights in a glass of water. Their product specs say they are IP44 rated, which doesn’t mean they are resistant to spray jets of water. The first number in 2 number IP rating is dust penetration, the second number is its waterproof rating. An item has to be IP7 or IP8 rated for it to be classed as immersive waterproof. While I believe the LEDs and wiring is coated to allow them to be waterproof, the battery compartment is not, so I wouldn’t expose that part of the device to water.

The lights can be put in a bottle, vase, or jar to make a decorative centerpiece. Or you can wear it as portable holiday lights. It’s perfect for the season. Currently the entire box set of 16 lights retails for less than $15 on Amazon which makes them a pretty good deal.

AMAZON Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3kCTAXW

AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK https://amzn.to/3kCTAXW

Gadgets, Product Reviews

Blavor Solar Power Bank after 30 days

In a previous episode, bought and reviewed a Blavor 10,000mAh Solar power bank. Like similar products, it has a built-in solar panel to allow the unit to charge using sunlight. But I wondered just how many days would it take to fully recharge a unit using sunlight alone? I sought to find out.

I fully discharged my unit and left it on my windowsill and checked it daily. I was shocked to discover that after 30 days the unit was still only half-charged. I ended my first video at this point and continued the experiment. After 30 more days, here is the result.

Blavor Solar Power Bank on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jyTSyI 

Gadgets, Product Reviews

iJoy LOGO Bluetooth Headphones

iJoy Logo Bluetooth Headphones sell for less than $20 on Amazon. I tested their quality and sound and was pleasantly surprised that they weren’t bad, once you change the default EQ setting to something less bass focused. It offers a range of features including a built-in FM radio receiver, a Micro-SD port for playing MP3s, and the option for wired operation with a supplied 3.5mm audio patch cable. It suffers from an opaque user interface that doesn’t provide sufficient cues to its status or settings and a poorly thought through user experience.

PRO
• Good sound quality (in the FLAT EQ setting)
• MP3 player
• FM Radio
• 3.5mm wired audio option
• Confortable padding
• Folding headband
• Inexpensive

CON
• Poor documentation
• Unclear which EQ setting is selected
• EQ reset to default when powered down
• Inserting 3.5mm audio cable turns off headphone

Purchase from Amazon
https://amzn.to/3EB1bP0

Gadgets, Shooting Sports

Camolo Trail Cam

Camolo C0097 Wifi Trail Cam is a budget to mid-range wifi-enabled trailcam sent to me to review. It offers excellent High Def video footage and photos that can be triggered by movement as far away as 60ft. 

27MP 140º IR triggered digital trail cam. Water-resistant IP67. 6-month standby time powered by 8 xAA batteries. 

PRODUCT LINK

https://amzn.to/3wt3232

Gadgets, Product Reviews, Travel

Solar Back Up Camera

The Solarst rear view back up video camera kit was sent to me by MyGekoGear for this review. This is a solar powered wi-fi camera that fits on your license plate frame and allows you to wireless add a rear-view video camera to any vehicle. 

It’s an easy way to install a back up camera to a car, truck, RV or trailer without complicated wiring and professional installation. The license plate has a built in solar panel to recharge the battery powered camera which connections via WiFi to a 4″ LCD monitor that you install on your dash or windshield.

PRODUCT LINK

https://shop.mygekogear.com/products/solarst

15% Off code: MOONDOG15

Gadgets, Shooting Sports, Travel

Orbit 960 4K Dash Cam Review

I’ve been using a Veckle Mini 0906 dashcam for the last two years which I’ve been satisfied with but after using this Orbit 960, it’s blown my old cam away. The display had me a little worried because it didn’t look too sharp. But after I pulled the files onto my computer to review, the level of detail was amazing.

My only complaint is that the tail-gate and lane change warning features don’t seem to work. Or I couldn’t figure out how to make them work? One of its best features is probably the extra sticky suction cup.

Purchase this cam through Amazon through this link to help support us: https://amzn.to/3iSfTZx

Gadgets, Product Reviews

Huusmot wireless mic fails

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I’ve been on the lookout for a wireless mic system that could offer the audio performance of my Røde Wireless Go for less. Unfortunately, this is not it. The Huusmot Wireless Lavalier Mic system comes with two UHF wireless transmitters and is half the cost of a Røde Wireless Go. Seems like a bargain but its sound quality disappoints.

While not good enough for video/podcast recording, this budget wireless system would work perfectly fine for live performances and presentations.

AMAZON LINK
https://amzn.to/3uxeF8N

Gadgets, Product Reviews

Best Headset Under $10: Panasonic vs Koss

A head-to-head review of the Panasonic RP-HT21 and Koss KPH7G, two of the least expensive headphones in their lineup. Both headphones offer decent sound quality for under $10. I wanted to pick up an inexpensive set of headphones for my 12-year-old, who’s trashed some more expensive ones I’ve given her.

Annoyingly the closed-ear Bluetooth headphones she uses are too isolating. She doesn’t hear us when we call her and kids are apt to ignore you anyway; why give them an excuse. These old-school walkman-style earphones are on-ear and allow the user to hear more of the ambient world around them. Plus they’re less appealing to thieves (we’ve lived in New York City and San Francisco so street crime is real).

The Panasonic were the better performers in my audio testing. But the Koss’s lower volume output is much safer for younglings to wear (instead of damaging their hearing long-term with louder noise). In the end, I kept both but gave my daughter the Koss.

PRODUCT LINK

Koss: https://amzn.to/3pVJp24

Panasonic: https://amzn.to/2ROge4b