this cable has now been installed for several months and never given any problems. it was cheap, but does what it needs to do.Bought a Samsung 3D tv last year from HH GREGG...... And a Yamaha digital receiver for my home theater system. Of course you need cables for these items, at only $30. each. Spent over $100. For 3 cables, including this one.... Returned them next day when I found them all on Amazon for less than $20. So I had to wait a few days to hook it up.... Cables work fine! Thanks Amazon, as always.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
15 ft Premium Digital Optical Toslink Cable
this cable has now been installed for several months and never given any problems. it was cheap, but does what it needs to do.Bought a Samsung 3D tv last year from HH GREGG...... And a Yamaha digital receiver for my home theater system. Of course you need cables for these items, at only $30. each. Spent over $100. For 3 cables, including this one.... Returned them next day when I found them all on Amazon for less than $20. So I had to wait a few days to hook it up.... Cables work fine! Thanks Amazon, as always.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Aposonic A-VM1080 Vehicle Dashboard Camera Recorder Full HD 1080P Sony 5MP CMOS/Built-in Microphone
Sunday, September 7, 2014
GPX DH300B 1080p Upconversion DVD Player with HDMI

- HDMI upconverts to 1080p
- DVD/CD/JPEG
- Progressive scan
- Composite output
- S-video output & digital output
- Full-function remote included (requires 2 AAA batteries - not included)
- Has output for HDMI, S-video, composite video, coaxial digital audio and RCA stereo audio
- Plays DVD/CD/JPEG
- Supports: 720p, 1080i, 1080p
Buy GPX DH300B 1080p Upconversion DVD Player with HDMI Now
I replaced my old GPX (maybe 2 years old) with this model. The old one just died one day and I had to disassemble it to remove the DVD. These thihgs happen, no big deal. The new one plays the DVD fine except the sound is very choppy. It is/was very annoying to watch a movie and all of a sudden the sound goes up and down. I replaced this GPX with a Samsung DVD player and have no problems and the remote control on the Samaung is much nicer.I would not recommend the GPX.
Read Best Reviews of GPX DH300B 1080p Upconversion DVD Player with HDMI Here
would not work dvd played until I stop it and then it would restart and would not play properly that's all.Want GPX DH300B 1080p Upconversion DVD Player with HDMI Discount?
In the 'Product Features' and 'Product Description' for this item, it states that it has S-video output, which is why I ordered it. This would have given the player a much better, sharper and clearer picture over the old RCA output which it has. It does not have S-video output! Amazon courteously sent me a prepaid mailing label to return it and promptly gave me a full refund but I had to make other arrangements for a different player which added to my frustration and waiting time without a player, plus all the mechanics I had to go through to get it repackaged and returned.Sunday, July 27, 2014
Sony SVR-2000 Digital Network Recorder

- Play, pause, fast-forward, or rewind "live" television broadcasts as you're watching them
- 30 hours' recording time; uses the TiVo hard-disk recorder platform
- Designed to work with standard-definition terrestrial broadcasts as well as with digital satellite systems and cable programming services
- TiVo service offers: recommendations for shows that match your interests, exclusive editorial programming that includes
- Monthly subscription to the TiVo service is available for $12.95;
- Lifetime subscription to the TiVo service can be purchased with a single payment of $299 [contact TiVo at (877) 367-8486 for more information]
It has completely changed the way I watch TV and it means I can watch what I want to watch WHEN I want to watch it (and skip commercials)!
While not recommended for everyone, I hacked my Tivo to be a total of 160 hours (two 80GB drives). I now have tens of shows available for watching whenever I feel like it. There's always something on!
My non-technophile wife even said that she was getting addicted to Tivo (a tremendous two-thumbs up from her!).
All in all, this ranks up there on my list of all-time coolest products ever.
Strengths:
Features of the service time shifting of programs, pause/rewind/fast-forwarding of recorded and live programs
Hard drive access is instant no waiting for tapes to rewind
Ability to create a video-on-demand system
Strong support of user community search for "Tivo Community" on the web for more information
Hackable!
Weaknesses:
Can be slow to load some screens
Best if you can split your TV signal to watch something else while Tivo is recording
Basic recording level is coarse I recommend Medium (about 20hrs of time on the SVR-2000)
Buy Sony SVR-2000 Digital Network Recorder Now
My wife and I became addicted to TiVo within 1 month after installing it. We have gone from watching 90% live TV/10% recorded (VCR) to 90% Tivo/10% live TV! We hardly watch anything anymore at its regular time. We simply pull up the "Now Playing" menu, which lists all the shows I have previously recorded, and watch whatever we're in the mood for drama (Law and Order or Once and Again), comedy (Friends, South Park), reality TV (Survivor, Fear Factor), or sports (Illinois basketball, cliff diving).There are so many cool things about TiVo, but these are my THREE FAVORITE things:
1) Season Pass, which once you set it up, allows you to record a particular show EVERY time it's on or all shows with a particular actor or subject,
2) Easy to record (simply choose the show, not the time and channel) and easy to find and play (scroll through "Now Playing" list of prerecorded shows and choose "Select" to play),
3) Record two shows at once (like Survivor and Friends, which both start at 8:00 on Thursday) with a DirecTV/TiVo combination receiver, which we have.
We started with the monthly subscription and moved to the lifetime after just a month (it's good for the life of the box, not you). We have a Sony model, and I've found Sony to always be reliable (two TVs, one VCR). I bought a 4-year warranty as a safety precaution (new technology and insurance against the lifetime subscription). DirecTV customer service is decent, but not great (they handle the TiVo side as well). The BEST resource for TiVo is the TiVo AVS forum, which you can link to from the Buzz section of the TiVo Web site. It's a "must read" prior to buying this unit. But I am not exaggerating when I say that this is the coolest, most liberating invention to come out since the World Wide Web. No joke! You will fall in love with your TiVo too.
Read Best Reviews of Sony SVR-2000 Digital Network Recorder Here
I bought a SONY SVR-2000 as a Father's Day present for my husband in June 2001 and set up yearly Tivo service. At first, we were very disappointed. We experienced recurring modem problems that rendered our recorder useless after two weeks (because the recorder was unable to update the program data) and had to have the recorder serviced twice within the first two months. In addition, we had paid for a year of service, and we did not think that Tivo would give us credit for any of our 'down time,' since it was due to SONY's recorder.But SONY and Tivo came through for us. In August, SONY offered to replace our SVR2000, and we accepted. We have had absolutely no problems with the new unit. Also, Tivo refunded the money we paid for the amount of time our recorder was out of commission. (I did not have to fight either company; both were great about setting things right.) So, after a rough start, we are very happy SONY/Tivo customers.
I bought Tivo thinking that I was purchasing an electronic 'toy' that my husband would love and that I would have no interest in. Once I experienced Tivo, however, I loved it too. Just as I would never go to back to changing the channel manually (remember having to get up and turn those knobs?), I would never go back to pre-Tivo TV.
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I instantly fell in love with my machine. I heard about it alot but it is helpful to actually see it work in order to get the full impact. It is essentially like a VCR on steroids and then some. Contrary to another reviewer, you CAN watch one thing while tivo records another you just have to split the signal. That is easy and the parts at radio shack will cost you (...) and the Tivo help line will guide you if needed. I called them 10 times in the first week and they were great. The ability to pause live shows and rewind has become a great feature for me where as at first it seemed a bit if a gimmick. I cant go into all the features there are many. Suffice it to say, it it breaks tomorrow, I would get another one. It is a bargain at twice the price. My only gripe is that the tivo remote does not have a TV/VIDEO button on it which you need to watch one show and tape another. This means I cant toss my tv remote away. Big deal I guess. Installation can be a bit tricky if you have a bunch of components like me, DVD/VCR/TV, but the customer service will be there for you. ENJOY. Hope this helped you.I have owned this unit for over 2 years. I am addicted to Tivo. The problem is Sony. You must understand that these units rely heavely on a working modem. If you modem dies, you can no longer use the unit and you cannot just open the unit and put in a new modem. You MUST send it back to the manufacturer. After one year of ownership, my Sony modem failed. I had to send the unit back to Sony for [$$$] repair. Now, last week, my modem failed again. Sony is no help whatsoever. I am guessing that this is the reason that Tivo has started to manufacture the hardware themselves. As luck would have it. I just decided that I would never do without my Tivo so before the subscription rates went up a few months ago, I switched to the lifetime service for [$$$]. (now about [$$$]). Now I am faced with paying [$$$] again to repair the modem or buy a new unit. Sony has offered no explanation as to the cause of the modem problems and has basically said tough luck. Tivo has agreed to transfer my new membership to the new recorder if purchased from them but that is another [$$$]. I have already layed out [$$$] for the past two years of Tivo, I don't know that I am smart to sink anymore money into this investment.Look really hard at the manufacturer and warranties before buying a recorder. Maybe one procuct worth the extended warranties. I liked Tivo so much that I bought one for my parents 2 Christmas's ago. I bought them the lesser Phillips, due to cost, and they have never had a problem.
I would buy the Tivo product if starting now. At least you have leverage with getting them to fix the unit so you can continue with their service.
Bottom line: Tivo is Great! But pass on the Sony recorders...
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Sony Ericsson T226 Unlocked Cell Phone--U.S. Version with Warranty (Pacific Blue)
I had this phone for about 8 months and the inside of the screen cracked out of nowhere.. The graphics on it are terrible. The only thing it has going for it is that you can record music on it and then use that for your address book when people call but then again the sound sucks also so IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY SAVE THE HASSLE AND BUY A BETTER PHONEWhy settle for less, or commit yourself to a specific cellular provider and service plan, when you can get a complimentary unlocked top of the line Motorola RAZR v3i cell phone that works with any cellular service provider and any SIM card. I got mine free at this web site: ilikethis.info/razrv3iBuy Sony Ericsson T226 Unlocked Cell Phone--U.S. Version with Warranty (Pacific Blue) Now
Friday, July 11, 2014
Panasonic VIERA X1 Series TC-P50X1 50-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV

- 50-inch plasma 720p HDTV with three HDMI inputs
- 600Hz Sub-field Drive produces crisp, focused images for sports
- VIERA Image Viewer lets share digital photos
- VIERA Link Panasonic DVD recorder, Blu-ray Disc player, home theater sound system and HD camcorder
- Contrast Ratio: 30,000:1 Native; Infinite Black Panel
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I was going back and forth between the 720p and the 1080p and I could not see a difference, they had both side by side, and for the $700 difference it was not worth it to me. I bought the TV at best buy because they matched a competitor online price and that also brought the 4 year warranty down to only $159! Once the tv was delivered (free!) and my HD from directv was set up (free!) I was blown away by the quality. Great color and sharpness, I have it hooked up via HDMI and it is great. My brother has the samsung 1080p and I can't tell the difference. The connections are conviently located on the left side of the back of the tv and the sd card slot which is a great addition is on the left side of the tv along w/ some more inputs. It took me about a week or so to finally customize my own picture setting, I did not like the preset ones that much, either to dark or the vivid is to bright and contrasty. There is no VGA input but I got the pc hooked up via the s-video. Only downfall is if you use the SD card slot to view pictures it is very very slow at processing them, I suggest using the usb slot or the cords that came with the camera. Overall I would definetly suggest this tv especially for the price, you cannot find a better deal on a new release plasma tv.Read Best Reviews of Panasonic VIERA X1 Series TC-P50X1 50-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV Here
I love these Panasonic Plasmas, you can't go wrong. I tried this 720P version this time. I have a 46" Viera in 1080P plasma and this 50" has the same picture quality, I cannot tell the difference and I have great vision, and am very picky about picture quality. This is a great product and you can't beat the price.Want Panasonic VIERA X1 Series TC-P50X1 50-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV Discount?
I purchased this from amazon. Initial delivery was scheduled for 7 days after I placed the order over the weekend. First call from shipper moved the delivery up 3 days, second call moved it up one more day. Delivered on Wednesday, just 3 days after placing the order.Truck showed up with just the driver. Was expecting two people, but one was enough to get the job done. Brought it in and unpacked it. I had the wall mount ready to go, so he attached the brackets to the TV and hung it on the all mount. He hooked up the cables from my Dish Network receiver and checked it out. Very happy with the whole procedure, and tipped the driver $20.
I was a little disappointed at the initial picture quality. On both Fox News HD and CNBC HD the faces looked a little muddled, like the resolution was not exactly right. Movies on HBO HD looked ok, but still not a good as I thought they should be. I thought about putting my 32" LCD beside it to see if I could see a difference, but never got around to it.
After two day of viewing, the picture is now perfect, just what I was hoping for. The only change I made was to switch to Cinima mode for the TV settings, but I don't think that is what made the difference.
Not sure why it took a couple of days for the picture improvement, but all the problems I noticed initially are history. I couldn't be happier with this TV, especially the price and delivery. Best Buy had this TV for $989, but free delivery only applied to $999 and above.I write this so someone esel can feel safe taking the plunge on PLASMA, and feel safe about a 720p as well.... this TV is fantastic so far.
Ok, so I used to sell Mitsubishi back in the day when plasma was new, and yes they were nice, but they were also ten thousand dollars. The cinema experince of them was great tho, so much more depth than the new LCD, and much better black levels. And believe me, that makes a HUGE difference in overall picture quality.
Well I have run 1080i on my Vizio 37" LCD tvs now for a few years, and was extremely satisfied with them. The picture was very vibrant and colorful etc.
This TV is a FIFTY INCH.... and it blows the DOORS off the 1080p Vizio 37 inch I had in its place. The viewing distance didnt change, so its actually TOO close for a 50 inch, and its still just stellar. The red is a bit bright, but I know TV images and there is ZERO blooming ( fuzzy glow) to the reds ot other high contrast images like whites and reds. Imagine white credits on a black screen... if they are hazy, contrast is bad, if they can remain very bright but still have crisp edges, you have yourself a very nice TV. Like this one. There is full adjustment to picture and color temperature, the sound is pretty good, def nothing to complain about. Its a classy TV, piano black etc.
I was VERY concerned about the 720p issue, and I have to tell you, the fact that its plasma seems to completely soak up that fact and make it disappear. Again, the look of PLASMA is far better than what I percieve on the 120Hz LCD models. I was completely ready to have a bit worse picture quality to have a 50 inch in my living room, and it far surpasses my other tv's/ I seriously go to sleep watching my 1080i 37 in the bedroom ( hooked up to full hi def mind you) and it looks like im watching a mobile audio sytle LCD monitor in the back of a car headrest in comparison. And just a few days ago, I thoght it was just great.
Complaints? It is HEAVY. Big time heavy. Its do able as one person, but Im a pretty big guy... otherwise its a 2 person gig to move it. Keep the box as you will need it to move it to a new place etc. And the fact that the cables attach behind the tv all the way to the left side sucks..... hard to hide cables that way.
Im not a fan of the remote, but this TV is sick.
ALSO: the SD card viwer.. very cool. It somehow ( I never read manuals anymore) blows up the images and displays my phone pictures ( 3.2 m pixel) in 50 inch with amazing clarity.. dont know if its upconverting them etc.. but they look friggin hi def too.. crazy.
I looked hi n low, this was THE best deal avail, in town or otherwise.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Toshiba SD-V392 DVD/VCR Combo , Silver

- Progressive-scan DVD player/4-head hi-fi VCR combo unit; 17 x 4 x 10 inches (W x H x D)
- Plays DVD-Video, DVD-R, video CD, audio CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA, and JPEG formats
- 192 kHz/24-bit audio digital-to-analog converter delivers warm, rich sound
- Component, S-video, and composite outputs for video connection, plus coaxial and optical digital audio outputs
- MTS decoding, Dolby Digital and DTS outputs, and virtual surround sound
I was also scared off Sony and Panasonic after reading many bad reviews, and had locally heard good things about Toshiba.
-The unit is reasonably easy to hook up to tv and satellite dish.
-The sound on the TV improved after unit installed.
-Everything works so far, recording, dvd player, etc. Haven't tried special effects on DVD yet.
-The TV image while viewing a VHS tape or a DVD is good.
Cons:
-The VCR only records in SP and SLP, there is NO LP (4 hours on a tape) SETTING! This is the setting most people use, and the most efficient, so why are all the manufacturers dropping it??? The new Panasonic units also do not record in LP, they also
only use SP and SLP.
-Most of the internal components are plastic now, my old 1995 Panasonic weighs at least five times as much as the new Toshiba, as on the older unit most of the internal parts are metal.
The salesman said that on the newer VCR's they have at least a 30% return rate in the first three months, due to broken plastic components.
Buy Toshiba SD-V392 DVD/VCR Combo , Silver Now
In the past I have always spent big on DVD players, TVs and other home cinema equipment as watching movies etc is one of my favourite things to do. In the past I have happily paid over$1500 for a DVD player and home cinema kit (was back in England so with currency conversion it was more like $3000) this was about five years ago when the things were still fairly new on the market.
However I recently married and moved to the states we are furnishing our first home from scratch so we have had to budget accordingly. Having recently purchased a $40 DVD player for a friends birthday and been impressed with it I was willing to risk buying my own first "low-price" player. And I do not regret it.
The playback for both formats is awesome and it records as well as VHS is going too, the sound quality is great (but that also depends on what you are playing it back through for us its a low end sansui TV and its still ok. It looks sharp with nice lines and it doesnt feel cheap. Its much smaller and lighter than the first wave of combo players too.
It is quiet whilst operating, the buttons are all clear and easily accesible. The player and remote have all the features you would expect and was all tuned in when hooked up. It also has RGB hook-ups on both front and back which I like i can have the permanent cables from the back and out of sight and we can then quickly attach games consoles etc to the front when needed.
Its a small thing but I actually really like the fact that this player has a clock its something that most DVD players dont have and not many combo players have either.
For $80 this really is a great little combo player would have been a great little DVD player on its own for that price too so the VCR is a bonus.
My one complaint about the model though is that it is one of the few (in hindsight as are most Toshibas) DVD players that cannot be "remote control hacked" to make it multi-region. I have a stack of DVDs I bought from the UK and I just cant watch them!
Read Best Reviews of Toshiba SD-V392 DVD/VCR Combo , Silver Here
I've had this unit for several months now. It's always been picky aobut the DVDs it will play. Some skip badly, some won't play at all. Yet these same disks play just fine in other players.This unit takes forever to power up and come on. The disk drive eject time can be measured with sundial (very slow).
Tonight the whole unit just quite working. It freezes and then powers off. Of course, it's out of warrentee now....
Don't buy.
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Pros:Really great image for the price
Works great with the ''original'' stuff
Cons:
Didn't have any problem until I tried some DVD-R and recorded cassettes. On the VCR, there were some white lines on the TV. When I tried DVD-R product, the image froze, paused, etc.
Bottom line: I couldn't watch DVD-R with this, even if the DVD is supposed to be able to read them. I read some reviews on the Internet and there seems to be a lot of ''compatibility'' problems with the DVD-R and DVD in general. So be careful.I've had this DVD/VCR combo for about 2 1/2 months and it has performed quite well. It was very easy to set up and connect (first for cable and then for satellite). It has worked very well for VHS playing and recording. The DVD player is excellent for the price.
The only downside that I see (or can't see) is the remote control configuration which is quite hard to read and use, especially in the dark.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Sony 91HR Digital Voice Recorder
Some issues about the digital recorder that disturbed me are that it is not 'user friendly' and doesn't have an OFF button. However, the recorded sound quality is great and the battery life is exceptional. We use ours in an area where it is checked out / loaned out, and so it's important to have equipment that is easy to use. from 1 to 10 I give this one a '6'.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
CIB CUC7281 700TVL Outdoor CCD Bullet Infrared Day Night Security Camera w/ S...
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Mojo MP3/FM Player 256MB USB with voice Recorder & Headphones

- SD/MMC Expansion Slot
- FM Tuner with 20 Presets
- FM and Voice Recording Capable
- Supports MP3/WMA Formats
- Text to speech software - listen to documents when reading isn't convenient
1) the USB connection cover is annoying to get off.
2) yeah, the expansion slot is wide open; they should make a cover for it. but...
3) it's expandable! that's 256 + up to 512 via SD or MMC! this feature is pretty hard to find in a player this size.
4) comes with cool text-to-voice software. converts your text files into audio files so you can study on the go.
5)sound quality good; earbuds stay in your ears.
6) very lightweight. size is also quite small and convenient.
7) i was wary of its USB 1.1 max capability, but was surprised at the speed of transfer. probably doesn't make too big of a difference at capacities this low.
8) jog dial is very convenient. in general, button placement is smart.
9) transferring software is also pretty good. uses a file-tree interface, so it's easy to locate files you want to tranfer.
10) FM reception is surprisingly excellent! 20 presets available, which is more than enough where i live.
11) you can create your own folders and as many of them as you like. this feature is usually limited in other players.
12) upgradeable firmware.
13) sleep timer.
14) plays mp3, wma, asf, adpcm, and vbr mp3!
15) macos compatible, for those of you who care. it's got an itunes plugin, but i don't know whether or not it works for windows itunes.
16)features, size, and button placement make this an excellent mp3 player for exercising with.
i've done a ton of research on flash based mp3 players, and ended up getting an iaudio cw-300 for my friend. that is also a great product, with three advantages over this one: 1) *excellent* sound quality (signal/noise. not sure what the tdk one is, so i wrote tdk but never heard back. still, it's decent enough) 2) the battery lasts well over 30 hours (compared to 12 for the MOJO) and 3) it has USB 2.0 (the difference of which, as i implied earlier, you may not even notice). one disadvantage, sorta, is the earbuds, which, although of excellent quality (i opted for the mx400 sennheisers), fall out of your ears easily and make a weird squishy/squeaky sound when you run.
this player, on the other hand, is a great bargain. you get a lot of bang for your buck with the convenience of expandibility. it's not bad looking, either. i got a forty USD MIR and sixty USD IR, making it a great bargain indeed! i've only had it for a few days, so it remains to be seen whether or not it's reliable. i'll keep you updated.
Buy Mojo MP3/FM Player 256MB USB with voice Recorder & Headphones Now
the bottom line on this player is that it has two features that most players in this price range do not:1. expandable memory. by ading a 512M mmc / sd card, you can bring the total memory up to 768M. no players in this price range are expandable. in fact, i don't see that any newly produced players are expandable.
2. fm radio. a few other models have this, like the creative rhomba. but they dropped this feature on their new models. sometimes i simply get tired of listening to music and want to hear the news. it is very nice (indepensible for me) to have this option. the radio is quite usable.
the user interface, ergonomics are adequate. i think most mp3 players have a nice user interface so this isn't really a selling point. it has a nice display and lots of options on the player.
complaints ...
the players seems to be of pretty high quality, except as the buttons feel cheap. i wonder about the life span of these.
the unit comes w/ a case, wrist strap, and belt loop. that's great, but for me, i use this exercising so i'm never going to hold it in my hand. also, most workout clothing does not have a belt, so the belt loop is useless in this regard. i wish it would have had a belt CLIP or better yet, an armstrap.
the battery life is quoted at 12 hours. for a mix of about 40% radio and 60% mp3, it looks like i'll get around 8-10 hours life. i expected this though, it's typical to overrate battery life.
Read Best Reviews of Mojo MP3/FM Player 256MB USB with voice Recorder & Headphones Here
This is my second MP3 player and it has almost all I was looking for in an flash player. Sound quality is high, esp. compared to my first player, though I've never tried an iPOD so can't compare it to other high end players.Good quality headphones, clear (but not crystal clear) with a natural balanced frequency response and better than Sennheiser MX500's I also own (MX 500's have better instrument separation, more forward midrange, but a very thin midbass sounding odd).
The thin form factor easily fits in your palm. The button setup is easy to learn. The design is attractive, the metal faceplate exudes quality, though the back seems cheaper than a $210 list price would imply. It has a whole range of gee whiz features, though how often do you use them, and an FM Tuner.
3 problems: 1) Tuner reception is poor. 2) buttons would be too small for large fingers, esp. with the case that comes with it, and 3) the case blocks the mic for the sound recorder. The case is really nice looking, though it wasn't well designed in a sense for the player.
I got a great price for it, enjoy it and can recommend it if you can get a discount and don't have large fingers. Though at the list price, I'd spring a few more dollars and get an iPOD.
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So many things are great about this player -the size, the ability to expand using SD, the sound. But it is ruined by the horrible software. I am so tired of it freezing up, that I don't bother any more. I just change music on my SD card. I keep looking for a fix from TDK, but there never is one.I picked the Mojo up recently (...). With its expandability options via SD/MMC, it's no doubt a great player for the price I paid. Don't get me wrong, I like my mojo alot and don't regret buying it, but it has some drawbacks to keep in mind if you're going to pay full price for it.Not so good:
** the 256F Mojo is actually a rebranded MPIO FL100 with a different casing, you'll find this posted in several forums (the Virgin mp3 player also falls into the same category and is also based on the FL100). What this means is that TDK doesn't actually write either the Unify software or the firmware for it. In fact, my unit has old firmware on it but I can't upgrade it because the newer firmware (9/29/03) on www.mpio.com seems to perform hardware checks to see if my mojo is branded as a TDK model or a real MPIO model and TDK hasn't posted any firmware updates. MPIO's FL100 current firmware also supports 1GB SD Cards.
** the Unify software that comes with it is a good example of poor programming. The application locks up pretty often requiring you to hard shutdown. The TDK version also doesn't work with Windows XP SP2. For that you'll need a few files from either the MPIO Yahoo Group or from www.mpio.com. I'd suggest just downloading the MPIO version of the mp3 management software called MPIO Manager, which is updated frequently and is identical in every way to the TDK version except for the abscence of the TDK logo.
Friday, March 28, 2014
New Arrival! - kdLinks HD210 Full HD 1080P Multimedia Digital Signage TV Media player
I haven't written an Amazon review in a looong time.I felt compelled to write one mainly based on the excellent customer service this retailer offers.
Although the product is shipped from Amazon warehouses (making it qualify for Amazon Prime! shipping),
the seller is a really nice guy (Eric) and has answered every random question I've thrown at him within a few hours.
I had originally purchased another player, the NBox V3 which is a really popular player on here as well.
It was a really nice product with lots of options and features but I was having problems with some of the newer MKV files.
The encoding was not being read by the Nbox. Eric was prompt to offer me a return and suggested the kdLinks HD210 because
it does a bit better with MKV files. Sure enough... this thing plays everything I've thrown at it with ease, huge files, small files, all formats.
It's great if you watch TV series or anime, like everyone's been saying. You can't even get something like this without paying way over a 100 dollars.
I have an Apple TV at home which i love for the whole iPhone remote capability (typing on YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix, etc), but I couldn't do my personal
computer files that i watch in my room. I wanted to see the files the way they were meant to be seen (in 1080p in my TV in the living room).
Sure enough, this player delivers in price/features balance and excellent customer support. And you just can't beat that.
Highly recommended. If only for the customer service alone. Enough said!Been using my kdlinks for the past 2 weeks on a constant basis. It plays tv shows, movies, etc...with crystal clear video and sound that is perfect. There is NO need to burn a dvd anymore. I have a nice thumb drive plug it in the back of the KDlinks, I put my movies on it, and watch them on my hd tv in 1080P via an HDMI and it is amazing. Make no mistakes that the KD links WORKS and works great. Have ZERO misgivings about buying it. Oh and the shipping is very very fast, which is great, because once you own it, you'll be wondering how you lived without it.
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The HD210 plays almost everything. The cool thing is on the left side of the player, it has a hidden vertical stand to pull out and rotate for 90 degrees.This is a piece of junk and the seller is highly suspect as well. Take a look at all of the reviews preceding mine. The vast majority of them have never reviewed another item on Amazon. These are probably fake reviews written by or on behalf of the seller.The player itself freezes constantly when you try to use any of the modes during play. When you try to load a file (MPEG2 and AVI), you're lucky if it will read every other one. When it doesn't, it needs to be re-booted. Additionally, SDHC's formatted in NFTS may not work at all.
Expect to see numerous accusations against my review as a result of the seller mustering his forces to discredit this legitimate review.
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The unit is very easy to use and the remote works well. I am impressed with the quality of the video that I see on my TV screen. The unit plays video that I had problems playing on my Apple iMac and give better quality presentations. The remote is easy to use and all of the functions work properly. I use the HD210 with a Western Digital HD and have not had any problems. I would recommend this to a friend.Thursday, March 27, 2014
DIRECTV HR34 Home Media Center DVR

- may require 2 YEAR extension of contract,monthly fees will apply by DirectTV
- may also require to be activated as a "Leased Receiver" as per DirecTV policy change
Overall, the DirecTV Genie (HR34) is a very good HD DVR and the five tuner feature makes it a must have for those who share a DVR and are willing to pay a premium. As a standalone DVR, it is a five star product. However, due to bugs and performance issues with the Whole-Home DVR feature (recording on one DVR and playing back on another), I can't give it five stars overall.
Detailed Review:
[Updated: February 1, 2013]
I've been waiting for years for a DVR with more than two tuners and the HR34 has finally delivered. If you've shared a DVR, then you are probably familiar with the "Live TV Conflict" screen that appears when you want to watch something but all of the tuners are in use. I used to get this screen constantly with the two tuner HR24. I've had my HR34 for six months now and I can only remember seeing the conflict screen once. This alone makes up for the extra cost.
I ordered two upgraded units from WeaKnees.com. Technically, I believe the order is considered a lease, not a purchase. The upgraded model is the same as the regular HR34 except with a two terabyte hard drive, which is double the capacity of the standard model. The standard one terabyte model will record up to 200 hours of HD.
After getting the units, I had DirecTV send a couple of techs to do the install. Normally, I would install it myself, but to get the extra tuners to work, the wiring needed to be upgraded. I've read that you need to have a SWM dish and SWM power inserter, but that wasn't an issue because I already had those. I've also read that you may need to extend your contract with DirecTV for two years if you add this unit to your account. However, when I added the units I received from WeaKnees to my DirecTV account, they did not require me to extend my contract. I did order an HR24 separately straight from DirecTV and that did require a two year extension.
When the unit was first powered up, it had the outdated DirecTV software installed, so it was running the old DirecTV menus. After a few hours, the new version of the software loaded (with the new black menus.) The interface was slow for the first day or so; I was told that was due to updates and program data that it was downloading. After that, the software (the menus, etc.) has generally run at a good speed.
For those familiar with DirecTV, the HR34 is functionally similar to the HR24 except with more tuners, more storage, and a larger case. The software appears to be a variant of the software used to power the HR24 and seems to be functionally the same (menus, search, etc.) I read in a previous review about recording reliability problems; so far, my HR34s have recorded reliably. Perhaps the software has been patched since those reviews were posted.
This DVR has a nice menu system, good search functionality, and some cool extras like sports scores on certain channels. If you go to ESPN, wait a few seconds and then press the red button on the remote, you'll get a menu with sports scores and, if it's a live event, you can drill down and it will show you what channel(s) it is playing on with an option to instantly switch to that channel. Very cool!
The Whole-Home DVR service is where I've run into trouble with my HR34s. Playback of content recorded on one HR34 from another HR34 usually works until I want to pause, rewind, or fast forward, at which point the picture usually freezes. The workaround is to exit the recording and resume it again from the playlist. I've also run into a problem with the DVRs not communicating with each other. The solution was to unplug the units and then power them up simultaneously. These bugs are very annoying, but at least there is a workaround for both.
To use the On Demand features that use the Internet (e.g., HBO On Demand), the tech installed an adapter (DECA) that connects the DirecTV via Ethernet to my router. The On Demand works well but it is limited by the speed of the Internet connection. So if you want to watch a movie or TV show from On Demand, start downloading some time in advance of when you want to watch it. Also, the On Demand downloads expire after a certain amount of time (I've seen as short as two weeks.)
Overall, I'm happy with this DVR. If I were using this as a standalone DVR, it would meet all of my expectations. I really want to give the HR34 five stars, but it's not quite there yet because of the aforementioned bugs and performance issues with the Whole-Home features. Hopefully, future software updates will make this a five star product. Although it's not perfect, of all of the DVRs I've used over the years (including TiVo), the HR34 is my favorite.
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The pros: Can record 5 programs at once. Connects to whole home Directv service. I have 3 other DVRs, an HR24 and two HR22s and now I can record 11 programs at once and watch them on any of the 4 TVs. Only 1 room can watch the same recorded program. If someone is already watching a show, you can watch other shows but not the same one. Can access on demand shows via wifi internet connection. Larger capacity to record than other DVRs.The cons: Its expensive. No optical output for audio. HDMI and Digital Audio Coax outputs only. Picture in Picture is hard to use but its there after all these years of no PIP. Need the SWM dish. This is a lease and not a purchase so you must return it to Directv is you discontinue service. Requires a 2 year service agreement and the penalty for early term is $20 for each month you leave before the 24 months is over. Youtube feature is primative compared to smart TVs (no fast forwarding, hard to search).
DTV can offer a credit if purchased from them. Whole home DVR connection needs an installer to come out which can be arranged by Directv.
LOWERING TO 2 STARS
SOMETIMES DOES NOT RECORED PROGRAMS FOR NO REASON; ESPECIALLY THIS WEEK WITH GEORGE CLINTONOPOLIS. HAD A REPAIRMAN COME OUT AND HE WILL REPLACE IT THOUGH IT SHOWS NO ERROR CODES. FAST FORWARDING THRU COMMERCIALS IS VERY DIFFICULT; IT EITHER GOES TOO SLOW OR TOO FAST.
Read Best Reviews of DIRECTV HR34 Home Media Center DVR Here
If your setup is HDMI based and especially if you have a slightly older A/V receiver between this unit and your TV then steer clear. You can finagle it to where the HDMI handshaking is only a problem between 1080i and 1080p program/resolution changes but for what you are paying for this unit, you should not have to "settle" for a problem only 15% of the time. If you don't make the adjustment to turn Native off or set it to only one resolution then every other channel change will cause you to lose the video. The only way to get it back is to turn off either the HR34 or your receiver so that they re-sync...or change your settings. This is the only DirecTV unit which causes this issue as all of the older models work just fine with an A/V unit via HDMI and Native "on". Search for HR34-700 and HDMI to get clear picture of just how big of a problem this is... Unfortunately most people are improperly identifying the issue as something else but the issue is only the HDMI handshaking between this unit and your receiver/TV which reoccurs continuously as the resolution changes from channel to channel.Want DIRECTV HR34 Home Media Center DVR Discount?
Maybe because it's a new product it needs some tweaking. I almost sent it back after using it a couple of days. If you are coming from using one of the old Tivo HR 250's to this prepare for some adjustment. I would say it has some bugs. There are times I programed it to record something and it didn't. There are more steps to go through to record, more buttons to hit on. If you hold down the guide button for a nano second too long it will yip right through the listings in a blur. Fast forwarding through commercials is a knack. One and two seems to go very slow, three is okay but if you hit four, you will miss some of the program. It's just not a Tivo :-(( Better than nothing I guess. I've been using it now for several months and becoming familiar with how to work with it's quirks.As DIRECTV customers for more than three years, we got our "free" upgrade to the Genie system. When it works, it's great, but we found out that it is tempermental when recording some programs. They show up as being recorded, but when we attempt to play them, the only thing that appears is a frozen picture of the channel we were watching. We had a technician come out and do a software upgrade. The problem happened again within a few days. We had another technician come out and he replaced the unit. Everything was fine for a week, but now the unit has an issue with recording programs from our local ABC channel. I am now trying to get service for a third time. We have an older HD-DVR and it records and plays things flawlessly. But the Genie has issues. I did talk to a technician and the thought now is that there is an issue with my in-home cabling. Would I recommend the Genie to anyone? No.February 23, 2013 Update The freezing picture issue I had earlier stopped happening a few days ago. But I wasn't going to cancel the service call that I made a week ago for today. The service technician came out and replaced a few cables and connectors. One thing he noticed was that I had the cable running from the wall plate into my surge protector and then into the Genie. The technician said that most surge protectors aren't usually made for satellite reception (they might be available now, but my surge protector is several years old). We had a computer get affected by lighting through a phone line several years ago. That spooked us enough to have the surge protector for our TV cable as well. I was a little hesitant to forgo the surge protector. He updated some connectors at the wall plate and provided two new cables with blue connectors (something about the frequency they can handle). The cables replaced the older, suspect (suspect to him anyhow, I have no idea) cables and still allow me to keep using the surge protector. He said if the problem still persists, then I should bypass the surge protector. I'm not ready to increase my rating on the Genie just yet, but if this freezing picture issue is in the past, my rating will be much higher.
April 5, 2013 Update Well there was another freezing picture issue a while ago and I bypassed the surge protector. It worked for about a week and the freezing picture came up again. A technician from Case Management came out to my house and replaced basically all of the wires and connections between the dish and the house cabling. This included the 16 channel single wire multi-switch, a power inverter and a couple of signal splitters. In order to bypass any problems with internal wiring, I asked the tech to run the cable directly from the SWM installation right to the Genie. We had success, but I was cautiously optomistic as I've had my hopes dashed before. It's been three weeks since the service call and everything works great. We do enjoy the whole-home DVR and the ability to watch anything recorded from our two DVRs on a third TV.
So, do I recommend the Genie? Yes, I recommend it but if your house is more than ten years old you might have some issues.
Monday, March 3, 2014
EYEMAX DT-632V - Effio-ETM STORM® IP68 Dome - 700TVL + Sony Super ExView HAD II + 2.8~12mm AVF + I
This is the second effio-based Eyemax camera I have purchased from the folks at ESS CCTV. Delivery service was superb (receipt in 2 days). Product is as described. Installation was pretty simple. As with the IR Eyemax camera(ID-6335V) I purchased earlier, the 700tvl resolution is readily apparent and superior to the 600tvl camera it replaces. Since this camera is near an entry, the outside light provides more than adequate illumination for night visibility. Other than mounting screws, and tweaking the zoom and focus (manually), the default settings on the camera provide a superb image which did not require messing with the built-in OSD. Highly recommend both the camera and ESS CCTV.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Toshiba Excite LE AT205T32I 10.1-Inch LED 32 GB Tablet Computer - Wi-Fi
I've been a 1st generation iPad user for the past couple of years now and have been fairly content with it. With the new releases of iPad 2 and the new iPad, I haven't found anything exciting enough about it to warrant the upgrade. In fact, I've been using my iPad less and less as it basically fuctions exactly the same way as my iPhone. I've been pleased with my Toshiba laptop so I decided to give their tablet a try. This tablet is super thin, and I am very pleased with its sleek design. It's incredibly fast and easy to navigate. With the graphics and processing speed, I am able to use this tablet just as I would a laptop for browsing the web, checking email, etc. whereas I was limited to these things with the iPad. The only downside for me so far is the learning curve involved of learning a new OS in the Android system. The more I use it, the more I am starting to buy into it. In fact, I am finding that it allows for more personalization and more options in general.The Excite 10 LE AT205-T16I, this thing lives up to it's name. I love this tablet it's slim design is great. Touch screen responds fast and the picture and color clarity is top notch. The built in browser is excellent and has all the features of my laptops Chrome browser. Even the built in Toshiba apps are pretty useful.This tablet is faster than both my android phone and my PC. Browsing the web is super easy and quick with this thing. The buttons for the tablet are nicely integrated in to the design and hardly noticeable and positioned for ease of use. The speakers are surprisingly powerful and clear as well. The inputs for USB, Micro SD and HDMI also add to the sleek design of the device. Now I can hook up my external hard drive or external Blu-Ray drive and watch movies on a beautiful screen that fits in to my hand. I an also very excited to download books to the Kindle app and start using it to read e-books. Overall I do not have any complaints and so far am completely satisfied.Buy Toshiba Excite LE AT205T32I 10.1-Inch LED 32 GB Tablet Computer - Wi-Fi Now
I just received my tablet yesterday. I was very suprised that it functioned much like my Toshiba laptop in the way of browsing. If I didn't need my laptop to do WORD documents, I would have no need for it. This tablet is truly state of the art.I am glad I decided on this one after careful reviewing of several other tablets
Linda
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I love this tablet... It's my first tablet purchase and has been waiting and hesitant for quite a while. This tablet is super thin and sleek. The system is fast and simple enough to navigate. I've had the system for several days now, using it mainly for internet, emails, and pic/videos and has been very pleased. The camera did come below my expectations, the pictures did come out grainy. However, the speed and graphics are excellent, which are primarily my purpose for purchasing this tablet... for its portability to browse the internet, play games, and view pictures and videos. I've loaded several games that I have in my phone and been enjoying the bigger screen and the better graphics. Excite did it for me, it has the size, speed, graphics and portability.Want Toshiba Excite LE AT205T32I 10.1-Inch LED 32 GB Tablet Computer - Wi-Fi Discount?
This is my first tablet, and I believe I chose the right one. I believe I have had adequate time with the Excite. I am still become more familiar with it though. I have used tablets of friends and tested in stores, but the speed of this tablet is amazing. Video streaming is smooth. The apps that I chosen to run have had no issues. I use the Amazon Kindle app on it and really enjoy it. The biggest con would be the price, but again, its one of the best on the market and the thinnest at that.Saturday, February 1, 2014
Yamaha BD-S1900BL Blu-ray Disc Player

- Virtual package for new entertainment possiblities with USB memory
- For all HD formats
- 1080 playback for DVDs, photos and personal video data
- Yamaha SCENE compatibility
- On-screen display GUI
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I was supplied this Yamaha BD-S1900 because our supplier could not get an OPPO in time.Build quality looks good and the unit feels solid.
I require RS-232 control and Network and both these are present.
I powered on the unit, and waited.... and waited.... finally I was able to open the drawer and insert my BD disk.
Closed drawer, hit play, and waited.... and waited.... and waited.... nearly THREE MINUTES later the BD menu appeared.
This is the slowest BD I have had the misfortune to meet; it is so slow that the users will surely give up and report it as broken.
How anyone can roll out a 'new' product with such dismal performance escapes me.
Disk replay is good to very good with particularly good audio quality. Response to IR remote is sluggish.
As for RS-232 control; I'm still waiting for the RS-232 control codes from the dealer... they are unavailable on the www and apparently unknown to the dealer.
Why sell a BD player as RS-232 enabled if you cannot supply the control codes???
Totally infuriating product (and service from our supplier). This unit is going back. I will NEVER use one again; in fact I will be avoiding all Yamaha BD products.
Avoid this player.
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Why Yamaha has stopped building high end video and audio components? I am confused! I own all Yamaha equipment due to its quality and performance. Features, I am not so into the extraneous itemseg, Netflix, Rhapsody, etc. I am looking for a quality machine, and I found it. The performance is great and its firmware can be updated. The new 3D, hey I could care less, who wants to wear uncomfortable glasses and watch TV, not me at least. What does it boil down to? If you want Yamaha quality with NO useless features, this is a Blu-Ray for you.Want Yamaha BD-S1900BL Blu-ray Disc Player Discount?
Simply fantastic. We use it all the time with our Yamaha high end receiver. Quality is so good. Recommend highly.I love watching movies on BD, shame it is not multizone. It has USB and Ethernet connection, it is best to output 7.1 soundYou can supplement with receiver for maximum entertainment.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Lexar Media 128 MB Memory Stick
Bought a Sony 64MB stick for 69.95 when I first purchased my Clie 760, soon needed more storage space so bought the Lexar 128MB for $10.00 less! Performance is same, holds hundreds of spreadsheets, several apps or around 50 mp3's. And there is absolutely no difference in performance!You can't go wrong!Please, buy it, you will be satisfied and dont worry, my SONY DSC-S70 works perfect.
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I own a Sony digital camera that I wanted have more storage for. When I saw the price on this Lexar branded stick of 128meg media, I knew I had to try it out. Popped it into my camera and it works perfectly. The camera recognized it instantly and I was up and running in no-time. Considering it's ... less than other 128meg sticks, it's a tremendous deal. It's nice to have extra sticks around when I need to take some shots. I highly recommend it.Read Best Reviews of Lexar Media 128 MB Memory Stick Here
Why waste those extra dollars purchasing a Sony memory stick when, you can get this stick for almost HALF the cost!! I own a Mavica FD97 and use SEVERAL Lexar memory sticks in it! You'll find NO DIFFERENCE between these sticks and the Sony. The only thing you'll notice, is HOW MUCH more money you'll have left over after purchasing the Lexar sticks.So, whether you shoot photographs for business or are just a weekend warrior, thses memory sticks should serve you very well!!Great price, great value, works perfectly in my Sony camera.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Zmodo PKD-DK4216-500GB H.264 Internet & 3G Phone Accessible 4-Channel DVR with 4 Night Vision Camer
If youre looking for hi tech crystal clear images and detailed images, move on. If you just want a basic, easy to install CCTV system this is great. Its as easy as mount the cameras with 3 screws, plug the cameras into the cables, run the wires to the unit and plug them in. Its easier than the average surround sound system.the night vision is OK, works well in darkness up to about 10 feet; the images are black & white though. The overall image quality is OK, if someone is within about 15 feet the image is clear enough to recognize a stranger by the photo. Past 30 feet you'd have a hard time distingushing between Jessica Simpson and Hillary Clinton. When you attempt to 'zoom' the image it gets very grainy, so forget that idea. The field of view is fairly narrow, so if you are using it in a small space (10x10 room) the view is limited.
Overall, its a breeze to put in and use, just dont expect the best image quality. if youre a small business or a homeowner, its fine though.
UPDATE 2/13: here we are less then 18 months later and the system is not working properly. First, one camera developed issues with the image and rolling lines. Then a second camera did the same thing. Now the images freeze on the screen every few minutes for 30-45 seconds and it stops recording while this happens. I tried to contact Zmoto with no luck. For being less then 18 months old and only used inside a climate controlled store, I am disappointed. Pass and pick another better quality setup.Do your research. I've seen a lot of bad reviews for Zmodo DVR's on other websites from people that don't know anything about CCTV IR based camera systems...
I own 2 of these DVR systems, in my experience they are the best. For years I struggled with PCI based DVR solutions, (SAMS club specials to) they ALL SUCK. The software for all PCI based cards is the same Chinese garbage. No support, no updates, short operational life.
Out of the box the Zmodo systems work very well and without hassle. Couple of points to this...
#1 Camera quality, for the price you can't expect the best. The most important feature here is the DVR and these are worth the price (cameras). These don't have much range, they are too small you really need to tailor cameras to your environment. Buy a larger one for distance visibility at night. Do your research. You can't expect these to see a license plate 15" away.
#2 To improve image quality use coax and not the dual cables provided. Lot of quality loss in these but it isn't practical for companies to sell these with large coax bundles shipping would eat you.
Only complaint I have is the manual is bad engrish.
Regarding the actual DVR, it's fairly easy to use, the interface isn't the best but it is better than other systems. The IE software is like all IE software, its buggy. This one isn't compatible with mac but you can use vMEye on your iPhone to view it remotely. There are other options for Mac, I don't ding the DVR for bad third party integration. DVR should be standalone and work on its own anyway. The newer model is mac compatible. As for upgrades, there are non, but its pretty rock solid as is. Would be nice to be able to shell into it to play with the linux build on it. Again I wouldn't ding this product for the lack of upgrades when you compare it to the rest of the low end DVR market.
Lastly support. I had some issues with the last one I ordered missing parts and having a mixing issue (maybe woot issue). The support was very surprising. I hadn't needed it before. Make sure you call the US support, don't email or use web chat it goes to China.This system packs a massive load of value for the price paid. If you're looking for a basic camera system with decent camera images, then this is what you're looking for. By no means is it a commercial level feature packed system that can produce "High Definition Images". It cannot see fine detail, but produces usable images to see mischef around your property or business. For example, if you want to know which neighbor is messing with your car or who's dog took a crap on your lawn, you can probably identify someone you've seen before. The closer you can get a subject to these cameras the more detail you can see.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS:
The DVR looked exactly as I intended. It was a good size and included a Western Digital 500GB Green Drive with a very recent manufacturing date. The cameras were smaller than I thought. No problem with that. All metal construction. Looked perfect for my installation. Everything was packed well in China!!
INSTALLATION:
I had already wired up my house with Siamese RG59/power cabling. I used no crimp BNC connectors and cut off the power plugs that were on the supplied bundles of camera cables. I spliced the plugs to the power cabling at the camera end and DVR. (Note: I used crimp caps with a little corrosion compound for the connections outside) If you're going to do this make sure you dont damage the conductors while stripping. Use the proper strippers and crimpers!! The supplied power wire is very delicate (looked like 30awg wire). I mounted the cameras on the underside of my roof soffits. I won't get into much detail on that. Every application is different. I can say the supplied brackets worked out well. I had to mess with the cheap ball socket to get the camera to hold the position I wanted. I'll try to post a picture of how I mounted them.
POWER UP:
I had everything connected including an old CRT monitor I had laying around. Everything worked and I was up and running with images on my screen. I adjusted all the cameras. A lot of back and forth, up and down. I got a workout. I started clicking around the menus. I've never used any other CCTV DVR before but I found no problems figuring out the menus. The included instructions were not that great. I just used them for reference. If you struggle with any type of menu system, you're probably have difficulty. I use all different types of menu structures for the type of work I do so I didn't have any trouble. I found it very intuitive.
NETWORK SETUP:
I am not a network setup expert. If you know nothing about networks, have someone else set it up for you. The instructions are not very good for someone who doesn't know what an IP address is. Once I figured out what IP address my router gave to the DVR I was up and running on another networked PC in my home. It did take a little tweaking of the settings within Internet Explorer to get it to work. Make sure it prompts you for unsigned Active X. The Zmodo website has information on this. There are also videos on youtube on this subject. For some reason, it only works on IE. I can't get access on Firefox, Opera, or any wireless device in my home. I need to consult with someone else on that. My router also opened up the ports I needed automatically because it had that feature. There is a setting in the DVR that you need to enable for that to work. I did get remote access on my Android phone with the IP Cam app. You need to know what INTERNET IP address you are by going to whatismyip or log into your router. Because I don't have a static IP, I need to use the DNS Service suggested in the information supplied. I won't go into this. It's too complicated and like I said, I'm not an expert. I can figure it out but can't explain it very well. I know it will work once I get it all set up.
OTHER COMMENTS:
I setup basic stuff like time/date, recording, motion, without issue. It may take a little messing with different settings to figure out how it all works. I'm very happy with the features of this DVR. I like how you can search for specific camera recording with motion marks. This way you don't need to watch hours of video. You can go right to where it saw motion. You can fast forward or manually go back. I've read other reviews of comparable DVR's in which you can't do that. A definite plus!! I'm still discovering other features the more I mess with it. Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase. Amazon currently has the best price. It was delivered without issue as usual.
***If you're not interested in remote access or home network access, this system will still work great. You can view everything from a monitor connected to the DVR and use the included laser mouse. You'll be up and running and love it!!
I hope this in depth review helps others decide what system to buy.If you are looking for a basic surveillance system, this one will do just fine. The picture is OK, not crystal clear but good enough. I love the motion detection, night vision, and snap shots via email that you can set to receive in 1-10 min intervals. As to the installation ... If you have no IT background, you can probably still get through the basic installation fine. However, if you are going to try to set up the remote viewing feature, be warned that the instructions are not clear, and the pictures included with the instructions are not readable at all. Yes, you can call the tech support, but prepare for a LONG hold (and only during business hours no weekends, no evenings). I was on hold for 67 minutes and spent another 1.5 hrs on the phone with the tech who helped me with the remote and iPhone set up. I thought to myself: this is a person who does it for a living, and it took him 1.5 hrs to set it up, how is someone like me without any IT background supposed to do that? The tech I spoke to admitted that the instructions are written very poorly and impossible to understand for a layperson. The set up still has some glitches even after the tech call, so I need to call again and go through another waste of a couple hours, but at least all the basics are installed now. So, if you have IT knowledge (or know someone who does) or a lot of patience and time, you should be ok. Otherwise, this will likely be a very frustrating experience.My car was keyed about a month ago and I was looking for a good surveillance product to prevent the vandalism from happening again. After doing research for a couple of hours and reading reviews, I thought this would be a good product to go with.
When I had first opened this product, I was skeptical because some pieces had been missing. For example you are not given a VGA cable even though it requires VGA output to display the channels. There are no screws provided to mount the camera's while they decided to give you the plates to attach the cameras to. Furthermore upon hooking up the camera I had noticed that one was not functioning. This was already a bad start as not only did the company who made this decide to be cheap and not give you the VGA cable, but one of the 4 cameras was already faulty. Needless to say I decided to keep on setting up giving the product a chance.
I am disappointing to say that the night vision on the camera is horrible as you cannot see a single thing in the dark. The field of vision is extremely limited and small meaning that if you are expecting to see the front of your residence it will require all four cameras positioned very far back. Let's just say you won't be able to even recognize who is walking around if they decide to vandalize something. Not only that but the camera's would turn on and off by itself from time to time when recording. I found this out when I was reviewing the video log.
The menu's for the device are really slow and the playback settings are even worse because the fastest setting you can set for the playback is 16x. This entails to fast forwarding half a minute a second which means if you are attempting to review 1-3 hour videos you will be there for a very long time. Honestly browsing the menus are extremely frustrating because it feels like running today's applications on a Pentium 1.
When it came time to put this product to good use it failed me as my car was vandalized a second time two weeks later. At the most crucial moment when I needed the surveillance most, the camera's turned on and off throughout the night. There is no way that they were disconnected as they were hidden on the roof of the home. The night vision didn't help because it doesn't actually work (You can't see anything let alone recognize anything).
Needless to say, save your hard earned money and find a different surveillance product.
Had this product actually worked, I would have been able to catch the culprit who vandalized my vehicle but unfortunately not only did it fail but it costed me dearly.
I will never buy from Zmodo ever again and would suggest everyone who reads this to stay away.
Very disappointed!!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Evertech EV-CDM368IRV CCTV Security Camera(White)
Ok, so I have a very simple Zmodo 8 channel home security dvr and I noticed that the cameras that came with it really sucked. That was about 2 years ago and ever since I have been on the hunt for better cameras for my dvr.The first camera I ordered was the 600 tvl Videosecu Dome Camera (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YZXQXG/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00). When the camera arrived I was so excited that I did not even realize that I had actually received was an AVUE AV666s (http://www.amazon.com/AVUE-AV666S-Varifocal-distance-adjustment/dp/B00564VGK8/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t). I was amazed by the variable zoom and variable focus on the camera that I did not even care that it was the wrong color and not the actual product that I had ordered. Plus the image quality far surpassed that of the current Zmodo comers that I had. So without any questions I installed it and have been happily using it ever since.
So, I finally saved up enough money to get a second camera and not remembering that Amazon had sent me the wrong camera the first time I reordered the 600 tvl Videosecu Dome Camera. Needless to say Amazon did not screw up twice and I was significantly disappointed when I actually received what I had ordered. I should point out that the Videosecu camera is about 2/3 the size of this Evertech Camera, but believe me when I say the features on this Evertech more then make up for the size difference. So, what led me to send the Videosecu Camera back was the night vision view. I installed the Videosecu and eventually the Evertech Cameras on the overhang of my roof next to my garage. The camera is pointed almost horizontally to capture the concrete apron in front of my garage, the driveway and most of my front yard. Unfortunately when I positioned the Videosecu Camera roughly 5 degrees down from straight horizontal I realized that the LEDs for the "night vision" where actually reflecting into the camera lens and washing out most of the picture. Well that made the camera utterly useless. So I returned the Videosecu and started looking for a similar camera to the AVUE AV666s.
Enter the EVERTECH 700 TVL Camera!!! Stat wise this camera dwarfed both the Videosecu and the AVUE AV666s cameras. With 700 TVL instead of 600 TVL I get better resolution (although I should note that my sub par Zmodo DVR only records up to 420 TVL resolution), with 36 LEDs I get 16 more LEDs for better night vision then the Videosecu camera and with a 2.8-12mm zoom lens I get the best of both wide angle and zoom lens capabilities in one camera.
Okay, so lets break down some of the features.
The 700 TVL. Again this is far superior resolution then I got with the original 380 TVL Zmodo Cameras. I mean it is night and day difference even in the daytime, and at nighttime I can actually see what is in front of the camera where as with the Zmodo cameras I could just make out movement but not actually know what was moving. Compared to the 600 TVL resolution of the AVUE camera I can just slightly tell a difference when looking at the live feeds. Again, however, when looking at the recorded video it is the same since my Zmodo DVR limits the recording resolution on both cameras to 420 TVL.
The 36 LEDs. These can be both a positive and a negative. If you are going to use this camera for relatively close quarters or small, enclosed spaces I have to say I think your nighttime images could be washed out due to overpowering LEDs. However, if you're going to use this camera for outside recording like I do the extra LEDs really help illuminate almost the entire recorded image even at the widest setting of 2.8mm. Again at the 2.8mm setting on the camera the LEDs reach past 50 feet with ease but start to fade in intensity beyond 75 feet.
The 2.8-12mm Vari-focal lens. This is probably the second best feature behind the resolution (700 TVL). If you have any question in your mind how close or how far away your camera needs to be from what you want to record, or how much of a particular area you want to record you should definitely get this camera. The 2.8-12mm lens means you can zoom out to one of the widest lens settings that security cameras come in, 2.8mm. With the camera set to 2.8mm I can view approximately 50 feet from one side of the image to the other at a distance of only 15 feet from the camera (hope that makes sense). So at 2.8mm I can see almost an entire semi-truck trailer (not including the cab) with the trailer placed only 15 feet in front of the camera. But if I zoom the lens in all the way to 12 mm I can see approximately 20 feet from one side of the camera image to the other, or about the length of a pickup truck. That's a lot of zoom from one lens and makes this camera very versatile and for picky people like me allows you to be able to capture exactly what you want with this camera! The other aspect of this lens is the Vari-focal. That means that as you zoom the lens in and out you can also refocus the lens. Needless to say that is mandatory because the image is completely unrecognizable if you left the focus at the correct focus point for the 2.8mm setting and then zoomed in even to the 5mm lens setting. The point I'm trying to make is that you are able to focus the camera on what ever you want and you are not out of luck of the manufacturer's focus setting gives you a slightly unfocused image.
The exterior of the camera is almost identical to the picture; the only downside was that my camera came with the logo MGI screen-printed on the front of the base. Yes, I did order the camera from MGI as it was the cheapest seller of the camera, but I did not expect them to put their logo on a camera they did not manufacture. More of a minus to the seller though then the camera itself. The other interesting thing that was not in the description of the camera was the small five-way controller that is physically built into the camera's cable. I still have not fully figured out what all the small remote can control, but after one minute I was able to find controls for the camera itself that allowed me to mirror the image, adjust the color contrast, brightness, sharpness and, if memory serves me correctly, the white balance of the camera. All very sophisticated controls that I was not expecting, but was pleasantly surprised by, especially since the camera was only $69.43, read cheaper then both the Videosecu and AVUE cameras!
All in all, I could not be happier with the camera and not only would I recommend it to anyone looking for this type of camera, but I am going to be purchasing two more as soon as funds allow, as I do not think there is a better camera out there for the money. Hope this wasn't too long and helps some of you on the fence about this product. If you have any questions please ask and I will try to answer them promptly.I have tried and looked for wide angle cameras on Amazon and this is the best camera for the money, hands down! The other cameras that I have tried just didn't have the wide angle even though they stated they were. In my situation I have used the cameras that were bundled with my DVR but I was disappointed with the overall view, for instance I wanted to get the view of the front and rear yards.
Most bundled cameras can only cover 1/4 to 1/2 of 25 foot wide yard, meaning that I would need at least two of these regular cameras to cover these areas. I was impressed that with this camera I was able to see the entire yard with only one camera, I haven't even tried adjusting the zoom and focus because the factory settings worked great. With the help of the Metal Halide yard light this camera displays in full color even at night. The one that I installed for the front yard has a great picture too, it covers the entire 25 foot yard and sidewalk/street area. It too is in color but less so because the only lights in front are the street lights. With my other cameras when it got dark outside I basically lost the picture because of the low lighting, the night vision on these cameras give a great picture, I even get a good picture before the street lights kick in.
The only two cons was the mounting system and the different models that I received.
I ordered one camera on 9/11/12 and it was fulfilled by CCTVONE and I received the model listed on this page (EV-CDM368IRV), the 2nd one I ordered on 11/25/12 was fulfilled by Evertech-USA and I received Model # EV-CDM368IR V.7. The main difference is that the EV-CDM368IR V.7 has the the on screen display (OSD) so that you can make many adjustments to the camera such as back lighting, and picture adjustments (Brightness, Contrast, etc.) which works great. So if you want this feature then choose Evertech as the seller when order and hopefully you will get the EV-CDM368IR V.7 model. this model is also easier to mount because after you install the base to the wall it has a large outer ring that screws onto the base which is much easier. With the other camera model the outer ring is attached to the base with 3 small allen screws which can be a pain when you are trying to hold the camera and tighten the screws.
Overall this is a great camera and I highly recommend it
Buy Evertech EV-CDM368IRV CCTV Security Camera(White) Now
"It provide you with the clear high resolution image" is simply not true. Also there is NO disassemble or mounting instructions I scratched it up simply trying to disassemble the ball/ring for mounting, so much so I didn't think I could return it.The outside (larger) base is 4.75" diameter. It has 4 mounting screw holes, each opposite pair is 3.75" apart. This base holds (pressure inserted NOT THREADS) a free-wheeling inner base that holds the camera ball. With much difficulty the camera ball can be rotated such that it eventually pops out of the inner base.
A sticker has the words:
Model: EV-CDM368 V.7-W
Lens: 2.8-12mm
System: NTSC
Power: DC 12V/450mA
It was a real pain to pop up the camera ball so I could mount it. For others reviews I imagine that the white paint had 'melded' between the ball and the inner base. I KNOW the black rubber spacers melded because when I first tried to manipulate the object the outer base and the ball moved as one. I gently pried the rubber from the ball and then it became to move. I suspect over time (outside) the paint and/or rubber will meld again making it rather difficult to adjust.
Compared to my existing Defender camera (http://www.amazon.com/review/RDIH1ENE8UL5N/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B007ULV8I0&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=) this camera's colors are 'yellow' (there is no in-cable or camera adjustments) I wish I could attach a .jpg to show you the contrast.
For me the only advantage is the depth of field and focus, but it doesn't seem worth it for the difficulty in mounting and adjustment. I will not be buying one of these again.
Edit: Figured out how to add a pic. Mine is the one with 4 camera images. Bottom Left is this camera.
Read Best Reviews of Evertech EV-CDM368IRV CCTV Security Camera(White) Here
With the specifications on this camera, I would expect more. If you are putting the camera in a room with outside light coming in, forget it!. I really can't recommend this camera to anyone.Want Evertech EV-CDM368IRV CCTV Security Camera(White) Discount?
Great product works as discribed. Only one problem does not work well in the dark. I live in mountains with no street lights and camera is pitch black but over all it works well. Seller evertech is what made this 5 stars. Great seller went out of his way to get me missing part. Honest and fast service. Will buy again.Monday, December 16, 2013
Loftek 4.3 Inch TFT LCD Screen Adjustable Monitor For Security CCTV Camera And Car DVR

- Highly prevent accidents to save you from unnecessary loss or troubles while driving in reverse by avoiding children, traffic, pedestrians, toys, and pets
- Small and lightweight enough that you can carry it everywhere for instant video play:CCTV camera or even video games
- Delicate design, stable performance, clear picture and excellent color effect.Anti-glare blue mirror to make safer driving
- The monitor can be stick on your cars firmly and stably. Easy installation without damaging to any parts of the car
- Can be adjusted to the best view angle with the 360°swivel stand. Low power consumption
i recommend it if you want to use it on your car or office !
Buy Loftek 4.3 Inch TFT LCD Screen Adjustable Monitor For Security CCTV Camera And Car DVR Now
This was bought as a portable video viewer to run a video cable out the door to help with aiming security cameras. It doesn't have to work in direct sun, so that is fine.It will also be kept at the DVR for quick views instead of having a full-sized monitor. It is fully compatible with the camera supplies and worked great with 60ft of cable. If I try it with a longer run, I can update.This is the second one of these small monitors I've bought and neither of them work. Maybe I am just one in a million and have bad luck. I think I will give up on them and try to find something better.This monitor was great for the price! I would recommend it again to anyone with price in mind. This is a great monitor.You get what you pay for when it comes to electronics. Every now and then you get something that performs better that the price. However this monitor works well and has a good picture. It feels cheap but then again it was only $22.00. If the function of the devise is what you want then this is a good deal.



