Drone Crash – Holy Stone HS720-4K Broken Arms

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Project Bolony

In just a split second my Holy Stone HS720-4K drone came crashing to the ground. Luckily, only 2 arms broke clean. I think I can fix it. The Holy Stone HS720-4K that I received as a gift is now broken. I crashed my drone by pressing the RTH(return home) button and the quadcopter drone caught the outer fringe of a pine tree limb and came crashing to the ground. Of course, you would think it would auto-correct and recover, but that is not the case in this case. I wonder if drones have auto-correct / auto-recover in some of the more expensive models from DJI, Autel Robotics, SHIYANLI, or YANSHU.

This SHIYANLI drone is $18,000. This drone is designed for work. Agricultural spraying and the like. I bet it has some serious programming to help with flying and NOT crashing.

Some of the more popular brands of drones have less costly versions that are not meant for commercial applications. Then they also have the big $$$ drones for photography and also drones for inspections. Peforming inspections with drones has become more popular in the last few years as the camera technology has improved on the drones. 4K is now a standard item on most drones.

The Holy Stone HS720-4K is more of an amateur drone that does have a pretty decent camera. That is along with ease of use setting up and flying. Besides all that it is a somewhat simple process of downloading the videos and photos. This is the part that I like, because saving the better videos and photos to use in social media and YouTube is what the camera is for. I use Android, but iPhone has to be even easier right? I wouldn’t know.

Flying a Quadcopter drone is much different than flying a helicopter or airplane from RC days gone by. The quadcopter drone is very responsive to the controls. It’s almost like playing a video game, except that you don’t get a new life or regenerate once you’ve crashed. I mean, unless it doesn’t break. Once that happens, you’re down and out until it get’s fixed, or you buy a new drone.

All in all, I am very happy with the Holy Stone HS720-4K. I don’t have any use for it in my job, but could see where it might come into play at some point. I believe, in order to use a drone commercially, you must be licensed by the FAA. I am not sure about that. Either way, the quadcopter drone is much more forgiving than when I tried to fly an RC airplane many years ago. The camera is also a plus. I still haven’t been able to get the 4K, but I think I know why and hopefully will be able to blog about it soon.

Entry Level Drone – Video Capturing Quadcopter Drone

Posted on September 13, 2020 by Project Bolony

The HS720 by Holy Stone is a great starter drone. This drone is very well built and seems on the heavier side as opposed to the other ones I have seen. Not nearly as expensive as a “Professional” rated drone like the DJI Mavic 2 Pro or the Yuneec H520 Multicamera Drone. This drone has many of the features a professional drone has, but may not be as precise. One of the features that is very forgiving to the pilot is the RTH or Return to Home function. This is the function that lets the pilot relax and by pressing 1 button the drone will return to where it took off. The HS720 also has an automatic RTH function when it gets low on power. There are many settings that can be customized within the flight application on your smartphone.

Holy Stone Search Page

So after connecting to the drone’s WiFi signal, the camera is then visible through the smartphone app. The phone is placed on the remote or transmitter and can be piloted by viewing the camera. Old schoolers, like me, will still look at the drone to see where it is flying. After going through the instructions and initially setting up the drone, 2 buttons put the drone in the air. Then it is a question of “where to we go now?” I like to go above all the trees and look around. The camera is also movable up and down from the remote, and side to side by turning the drone. Once you get used to flying it, it’s just like riding a bike. Except with around 50 more functions and settings.

The HS720 drone also has “follow me” and “point of interest” functions.

The “follow me” function basically follows the remote around. Seemed like it wanted to stay around 20 feet behind me, but may get confused after a couple of flights. I believe learning how to calibrate the drone is a must. I think that when it gets bumped around a bit, it needs to be recalibrated.

The “point of interest” is a little different. This function is also called “orbit”. Find a point of interest and place the drone 15 feet or so out from the point of interest, and the drone will orbit around this point. Now this is a customizable distance. So the camera then focuses on this point of interest and just keeps going around and around until you turn off the function. Then it just hovers where you turned off the function waiting for your command.

Definitely need some space to fly a drone. Buildings and trees around is not a good mix, especially for new pilots. What happens is the drone gets turned around and then you get confused and start making it go this way and that way and bump into something. It will just crash at that point.

Either way, this is a good entry level drone. The kit that I got had 1 battery and some extra blades, and a nice case. There are some other kits that have 2 and 3 batteries. The battery is said to last 26 minutes. This is plenty of time, but if you have a task ahead, you may want to get extra batteries.
 
They are saying the camera is 4K and there is a setting for 4K (3840 x 2160). I was only able to get 1280 x 720 resolution. Still decent resolution. The instructions say the video is stored on the TF card and in order to view the phone has to be connected to the drone’s wifi. I haven’t tried, but maybe if I plug in my phone to the computer in order to download the video while the drone is turned on and my phone is connected to its WiFi it will be available. I’ll have to put that on my list.

IR Illuminator Security Camera Floodlights – 4 Light Comparison

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Project Bolony

Recently I bought 4 IR Infrared Illuminators for my security cameras to compare and test in order to come up with one that I liked. I have a situation where the IR light my existing cameras does not have anything to bounce off of. This is due to them being 2 stories in the air and also there is space around my home. So I had bought another IR Floodlight for the security cameras that I wrote up here:http://www.tagnaples.com/improve-security-camera-night-vision-ir-illuminator-cctv/. The IR Illuminator floodlight really did the trick. Well, they stopped selling that particular brand so I had to come up with another one. I think I really like the Univivi IR Illuminator,850nm 12 LEDs Wide Angle IR Illuminator for Night Vision,Waterproof LED Infrared Light with 12V DC Power Adapter for IP Camera, CCTV Security Camera.

So the 4 IR Illuminator Floodlights I am comparing are :

JC IR Illuminator 12 LED Security Camera floodlight will definitely light up the area. This is a larger floodlight that looks similar to the other IR Illuminator floodlights that I received and installed in the past. This light is billed as a 90 degree angled light, but seems to be limited on scope once it has the space.

With items to shine and bounce light off, this light will do the trick with larger areas. This light did come with a Power Supply.

The JC IR Illuminator 4 LED Security Camera floodlight is a bit smaller than the other floodlights, but still puts out some light. I think this IR floodlight would be ideal in a tighter area. Also would work where the light just needed to be smaller.

This particular one did not come with a power supply.

The Univivi 8 LED IR Illuminator Security Camera floodlight is a smaller version of the 12 LED models. This light still puts out some light for its size.

It is another candidate for when size of the light due to spacing requirements is warranted. This light still compared to the 12 LED lights. This light did come with a Power Supply.

This light looks like a replica of the other lights.

The Univivi 12 LED IR Illuminator Security Camera Floodlight is definitely my pick from this purchase. This light really lights up the area and even from a distance. When there is much space to cover this light is needed to see movement. I am looking mostly for animals, but if people come through, I can definitely see some features. This light did come with a Power Supply.

The first post where I had originally tested 2 lights http://www.tagnaples.com/improve-security-camera-night-vision-ir-illuminator-cctv/

Youtube Video of the first testing – https://youtu.be/2iOsbcCX0F4

Youtube Video of testing 4 more lights – In Progress

Make Shade Where There is no Shade

Posted on September 30, 2019 by Project Bolony

When you are trying to find a place to put plants, sometimes you need to put them in the shade. If the shade is not readily available, there are products that you can purchase that will create shade where ever you want. One product that I use is Easy Gardener Sun Screen Fabric (Reduces Temperature Up to 15 Degrees, Provides 75% More Shade) Tan Shade Fabric, 6 Feet x 20 Feet

Here is a link to the amazon page with the search results of “Sunscreen Fabric” – Check it out. https://amzn.to/2oGPaoI

Owl Car Cam – Live View Dashcam Just Like Ring Doorbell and Spotlight Cam

Posted on August 17, 2019 by Project Bolony

The Owl Car Cam Dashcam is a unique product that is connected to the LTE network, same as mobile phones. Which means that it is connected and you can connect to it remotely. This is especially good when you are out and the car is not near a wi-fi connection.

If you are a fan of the Ring Doorbell Cam and Lighting Live View Products, then this dashcam is a similar concept. Just pull up the app and click LIVE VIEW and you can see right out of the windshield of your vehicle. You can also see the inside of the vehicle as the The Owl Car Cam Dashcam also has an interior camera to see what is going on inside the vehicle.

One downside that may not be apparent up front is there is a service fee after the 1st year of service, but if you don’t mind that then this dashcam is a great find. I was connected right out of the box, without signing up or creating an account. I would expect this to be the case for the first 365 days. So they must send reminders through the app when the year is coming up for renewal. We’ll see. Without the service, you don’t get the LIVE feature and connection to LTE Network. I would imagine the bluetooth and WiFi direct connections will then allow you to download clips as the video data is stored on the unit itself.

Screenshot of Owlcam App

The setup is very easy, the connection to the app is very easy. Very few settings to mess with and is recording right from the start. Once you have it installed and are getting use to seeing it on your dash you can start bookmarking clips. Say “OK PRESTO!” and it will sound and you can then say the name of the clip. On the app there is a clip section and this period of time will be saved in that section. Otherwise you can go to the History and see the past. I went back about 3 1/2 days. The camera does not record when the vehicle is sitting. If something hits the vehicle, or someone walks by the vehicle, then the camera trips and starts recording. Then you get a notification on your phone from the Owl Cam App.

The Owl Car Cam Dashcam connects right to the OBD outlet in your vehicle so the only real setup is hiding the wire, which a tool is provided to get the wire behind the dashboard as much as possible. Read up on the vehicles that the Owl Car Cam will work in to make sure it works in yours.

Owl Car Cam Download to Phone

There really is no direct connection to the Owl Car Cam to download videos. I was hoping to be able to download and store some footage, but it is sporadic. There is no SD card to take out as opposed to the Garmin DriveAssist 51 North America LMT-S and the Thinkware Dash Cams. The Owl Car Cam will only allow downloading of videos through the app. There is the ability to email, text, upload to Facebook, options for video clips among others. I successfully used the bluetooth function to dowload a clip or two. It is qwirky to use as you then have to plug the phone into the PC and get into the data files to retrieve the video. Then it will only save it as one name, so you can only do it for one video each time. There is a way to rename from the phone and store multiple videos at one time. The bluetooth function is a direct connect from the phone to the Owl Car Cam unit, but cumbersome to use in bulk.

Screenshot of a LIVE VIEW on the Owl Car Cam

The best way to download the named clips from OK PRESTO and the history clips is to use the download/share button from the viewing screen of the app. You just put the timeline where you want it and choose the 1 minute or 5 minute option. The video transfers to the phone by the LTE network. The videos are named uniquely and, in theory, can be as many as your phone has memory for. Retrieving them on Android is in Movies/Owlcam. Definitely easier than the bluetooth option.

A few words about the Garmin Garmin DriveAssist 51 North America LMT-S. This is a GPS unit with a dashcam built in. The dashcam footage is available by Micro SD Card. There is an app that connects your phone to the unit, but is more of an updating type of thing. This is a mobile unit and can be taken with you in whatever car you are in. I am thinking The Owl Car Cam Dashcam will as well, but the wire is buried and you have to connect to the OBD instead of the 12V receptacle.

The Thinkware Dash Cams are not so mobile, as they stick to the windshield with a receiver instead of a suction cup. Still uses the Micro SD Card for the video storage and has apps. Both of these units are an always on type of camera whereas The Owl Car Cam goes into Guard Mode when stopped for a while, then turns on the camera once movement is detected.

How to Find Pitch of a Roof or Angle of Slope

Posted on June 20, 2019 by Project Bolony

When looking for the pitch of a roof or the angle of a slope it always helps to have the right tool. Although you can do it with a level marked at 12″, it is easier to do it with a pitch guage. You can find one on amazon here:Johnson Level & Tool 750 Pitch and Slope Locator

Improve Security Camera Night Vision – IR Illuminator CCTV

Posted on January 1, 2019 by Project Bolony

I recently was looking for infrared lighting for some videos and stumbled across IR Illuminators. So I purchased a couple from Amazon and tested out a few. I was looking for floodlights because I have a 2 story home in a rural area and there is a lot of space. This means there is not a lot for my existing security cameras infrared to bounce off of. I have a really dark spot that I was able to get good results from. The before and after picture is self explanatory.

The power to the lights is a 5.5mm X 2.1mm DC so it was able to plug right in to my existing cameras BNC wiring. I just had to get a splitter. I got some short splitters and also some longer splitters. You just have to see what your situation is, because the BNC will still be the same length. It might be wise to get a splitter and a short extension, instead of an extension on the splitter.

I tested a JC 210 (JC 210ft Infrared Illuminator, 20 LEDs 90 Degree Wide Angle IR Illuminator for Night Vision,Waterproof LED Infrared Flood Light Black). The JC 210 is the infrared light that is more the Spotlight.

I also tested a VIKYLIN IR (VIKYLIN Infrared Illuminator 850nm 15 LEDs 90 Degrees Wide Angle IR Illuminator IP67 Waterproof Night Vision LED Infrared Light for IP Camera, CCTV Security Camera). The VIKYLIN IR is the infrared light that is more spread out. UPDATE 5/25/19: The VIKILYN is no longer available I am recommending the JC Infrared Illuminator 12-Led 90°Wide Angle High-Power IR Illuminator for 850nm IP Camera CCTV Analogue Security Surveillance Camera as a viable replacement.

Both of these lights had the same specs so I thought one would be brighter or wider or something, but they were two totally different lights. The JC 210 is a spotlight, but has some serious power. The VIKYLIN IR is also powerful, but the light is spread out, which is what I wanted.

These are the 4 products that I bought from Amazon and tested. UPDATE 5/25/19: The VIKILYN is no longer available I am recommending the JC Infrared Illuminator 12-Led 90°Wide Angle High-Power IR Illuminator for 850nm IP Camera CCTV Analogue Security Surveillance Camera as a viable replacement. I still have installed the (VIKYLIN Infrared Illuminator 850nm 15 LEDs 90 Degrees Wide Angle IR Illuminator IP67 Waterproof Night Vision LED Infrared Light for IP Camera, CCTV Security Camera) permanently and will wait to see if I can find an application for the JC 210. I did and the JC210 is exactly that 210ft. So if there is a distance to cover, then this spotlight will work better. I will be writing up the application soon.

Also after installing a few more IR Illuminators around the property, I have an update for the power extension scenario. The short splitters and a plain extension are the way to go. The reason is that the power is already to the security camera. That is where the split needs to happen, then an extension to the IR Illuminator from there. An longer extension/splitter combo may work (2 – 10 foot depending on application), but it just depends on the distance the IR Illuminator ultimately is away from the security camera. Here are a few more options for plain power extensions.

IR Infrared Illuminators Best Sellers

Top 20 Most Popular Power Banks on Amazon.com

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Project Bolony

#1 selling power bank on Amazon.com
Anker PowerCore+ mini 3350mAh Lipstick-Sized Portable Charger

I have used power banks for several different things over the last couple of years. Keeping my cell phone charged on busy talk days is one of them. Another is powering my GoPro. I like to do time lapse videos and the battery won’t last all the way through, so I use the power bank to help with it. I can also plug the GoPro into a 110v house power supply, but it is easier to use a power bank. Digital cameras can also be charged with a power bank. If the unit has a USB port to charge, then the power bank should be able to keep it going.

Power banks are small and can be stored in a purse or a pocket. Some power banks are actually a phone case and become part of the phone. Versatility of power banks allows you to charge more than one item that you own. Some power banks have multiple ports and allow you to charge more than one item at a time. Some even have 3 USB ports.

Here are the top 20 best selling power banks on Amazon.com as of August 20th, 2016. As you are scrolling through, pay attention to the mAh as that is how much “time” the power bank will last, depending on what you are charging. More mAh means more time/energy stored in the power bank. The way I have this set up is a list of 4 full product names with Links to the Amazon.com product page. Then 4 image ads with the pricing, and again linked to the Amazon.com product page.

1 – Anker PowerCore+ mini 3350mAh Lipstick-Sized Portable Charger (3rd Generation, Premium Aluminum Power Bank) One of the Most Compact External Batteries, Uses High-Quality Panasonic Cells
PowerCore+ mini Portable Charger: A charging station in the palm of your hand.
Exclusive to Anker, PowerIQ amp-adjustment technology intelligently identifies your device to deliver its fastest possible charge.
High Capacity: Add over a full charge to an iPhone 6, almost one full charge to your Galaxy S6 or at least one full charge to most other smartphones.
Same Size, More Power: The original lipstick tube design. Now upgraded with higher density cells and efficiency 10% above most other brands to give you 6% more power.
Superior Quality:We use industrial grade materials and premium circuitry to ensure superior performance, reliability and safety.
What You Get: Anker PowerCore+ mini (3350mAh Premium Aluminum Portable Charger), Micro USB cable, travel pouch, welcome guide, our fan-favorite 18-month warranty and friendly customer service.Lightning cable for iPhone / iPad sold separately.

2 – Anker Astro E1 5200mAh Candy bar-Sized Ultra Compact Portable Charger (External Battery Power Bank) with High-Speed Charging PowerIQ Technology (White)
Astro E1 Portable Charger ?External Battery Power Bank
Charge your phone on the go.
From ANKER, America’s Leading USB Charging Brand
• Faster and safer charging with our advanced technology
• 10 million+ happy users and counting
PowerIQ
Detects your device. Delivers the fastest charge.
Exclusive to Anker, PowerIQ amp-adjustment technology intelligently identifies your device to deliver its fastest possible charge.
High Capacity
Charge your Apple or Android smartphone one to two times while on the move. You can even charge an iPad mini to about 80%!
Incredibly Compact
This thing is remarkably small. About the same size as a small candy bar, you simply will not find a more portable powerpack.
Superior Quality
We use only premium battery cells, together with the most advanced materials and cutting-edge technology, to ensure complete safety.
World Famous Warranty
At Anker, we believe in our products. That’s why we back them all with an 18-month warranty and provide friendly, easy-to-reach support.
For Optimal Use:
• Use your original cable or a third-party certified one (such as MFi).
• Compatible with the new 12 inch MacBook, 2015 (USB-C cable needed) Apple and Android smartphones, tablets (including the Nexus 7) and other USB-charged devices except for the iPod nano, iPod Classic, HP TouchPad, Dell Venue 11 Pro, Asus tablets and some GPS and Bluetooth devices.

3 – Anker PowerCore 10000 Portable Charger, One of the Smallest and Lightest 10000mAh External Battery, 10000mAh Ultra-Compact Fast-Charging-Technology Power Bank for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and More
The Anker Advantage: Join the 10 million+ powered by our leading technology.
Remarkably Compact: The smallest and lightest 10000mAh portable charger. Provides almost three-and-a-half iPhone 6s charges or three Galaxy S6 charges.
High-speed-Charging Technology: Anker’s exclusive PowerIQ and VoltageBoost combine to deliver the fastest possible charge for any device. Qualcomm Quick Charge not supported.
Certified Safe: Anker’s MultiProtect safety system ensures complete protection for you and your devices.
What You Get: Anker PowerCore 10000 portable charger, Micro USB cable, travel pouch, welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty and friendly customer service. Lightning cable for iPhone / iPad sold separately

4 – Anker 20000mAh Portable Charger PowerCore 20100 – Ultra High Capacity Power Bank with 4.8A Output, PowerIQ Technology for iPhone, iPad & Samsung Galaxy & More – Black
The Anker Advantage: Join the 10 million+ powered by our leading technology.
High-speed Technology: PowerIQ and VoltageBoost combine to deliver the fastest possible charge(does not support Qualcomm Quick Charge). Recharges itself in 10 hours with a 2 amp charger, phone chargers (generally 1 amp) may take up to 20 hours.
Fast Charging Technology: PowerIQ and VoltageBoost combine to deliver the fastest possible charge (does not support Qualcomm Quick Charge). Recharges itself in *10 hours with a 2 amp charger, phone chargers (generally 1 amp) may take up to 20 hours.
Certified Safe: Anker’s MultiProtect safety system ensures complete protection for you and your devices.
What You Get: Anker PowerCore 20100 Portable Charger, Micro USB cable, travel pouch, welcome guide, our fan-favorite 18-month warranty and friendly customer service. Lightning cable for iPhone / iPad sold separately.

5 – Anker PowerCore 5000 Portable Charger, Ultra-Compact External Battery with Fast-Charging Technology, Power Bank for iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy and more
The Anker Advantage: Join the 10 million+ powered by America’s leading USB charging brand.
High Capacity: Contains 5000 mAh of power. Enough to provide two charges to an iPhone 6s or at least one to a Galaxy S7.
Ultra-Compact: Remarkably small, tubular design slides easily next to your phone in any pocket or bag. Just 10cm tall and 3cm wide.
Fast Charging: Equipped with exclusive PowerIQ technology, it provides the fastest charge to any phone or tablet (up to 2A).
What You Get: PowerCore 5000, travel pouch, Micro-USB cable, welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty and friendly customer service.

6 – Portable Charger RAVPower 22000mAh 5.8A Output 3-Port Power Bank External Battery Pack (2.4A Input, Triple iSmart 2.0 USB Ports, High-density Li-polymer Battery) For Phones Tablets and More – Black
HIGHEST OUTPUT FOR 3 CHARGING DEVICES: 3 USB ports for a total current output of 5.8A (2.4A max per port). The Power Bank can charge two iPads and one iPhone 6s at once at their optimal charging speed with the iSmart 2.0 technology.
WEEKLONG 22000mAh: Charge your iPhone 6s up to 9 times, a Galaxy S7 up to 5 times, or an iPad Mini more than 3 times with a massive 22000mAh capacity. Save up to 60% of charging time with 5V / 2A or 5V / 2.4A ac adapter.
POWER EFFICIENT BATTERY: Invest in a high-density Li-polymer external battery pack that retains 70-80% of its capacity after 500 charge cycles. It’s the daily choice of Microsoft, Lenovo, Huawei, and Motorola.
NEW & IMPROVED iSMART 2.0: The new and improved iSmart 2.0 adjusts current and voltage to minimize charging time. Whereas, Panasonic Smart IC frequency technology provides a safer and higher current conversion of this portable charger.
EXCELLENT QUALITY IN & OUT: On the outside, a UL94 V-0 fire-resistant shell used by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and others for their luxury cars. On the inside, the same battery and the same quality control as the iPhone. WHAT’S IN THE BOX: RAVPower Ace Series 22000mAh External Battery Pack, Micro-USB Charging Cables (X2), Carry Pouch, User Guide and ★ LIFETIME Warranty Card ★

7 – Portable Charger RAVPower 16750mAh External Battery Pack + 2A Wall Charger (iSmart Technology, Dual USB 5V / 4.5A Output, Upgraded Capacity) Black
2A CHARGER INCLUDED: Recharge to full capacity in 10 hour with RAVPower 2A USB charging adapter included (worth $8.99 in retail)
POWERFUL & STABILIZED 4.5A OUTPUT: Highest output in the market, featuring a 4.5A total output capable of simultaneously charging 2 tablets, making it faster and more powerful than the rest.
EXCLUSIVE ISMART TECHNOLOGY: Charge faster and smarter than others, automatically detects and delivers the optimal charging current for any connected device- ensuring the fastest and most efficient charge.
HUGE CAPACITY: 16750mAh charges an iPhone 6 almost 6 times, a Galaxy S6 almost 4 times or an iPad Air once. Safely recharges with a 2 amp or higher output charger (most phone chargers have only 1 amp).
SAFETY PROTECTION: Ultra reliable A+ Lithium-Ion battery with over 500 battery charge cycles; Security protection design: short-circuit and over-current protection. This portable power bank will automatic shutdown if a short circuit or overload output occurred while unit is charging.

8 – KMASHI 10000mAh External Battery Power Bank, Portable Charger Backup Pack For iPhone 6s 6 Plus and more
10000mAh Power Bank :Smooth varnish allows you to power up in style, while 4 status LEDs keep you informed of remaining capacity.
Ultra-high density battery cells make this compact 10000mAh external battery. Use a 5V adapter (not included) for fastest charging.
Super-fast charge output through dual USB ports (5V / 2.1A and 5V / 1A) allow for simultaneous charging of your iPad, iPhone, Android, and more at high speed.Input: 5V/ 2A.About 6.5 hours fast charging.
Intelligent power manage IC, overcharge protection, short circuit protection.With such massive capacity, in such a compact package,perfect for flights, road trips or just any time you’re away from an outlet.
Package includes: 10000mAh 2A input Fast Charger External Battery,1 Micro USB charger cable(iPhone/Samsung Galaxy S5 Note 3 cable not included),1 user manual.

9 – Anker PowerCore 13000 Portable Charger – Compact 13000mAh 2-Port Ultra Portable Phone Charger Power Bank with PowerIQ and VoltageBoost Technology for iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy (White)
The Anker Advantage: Join the 10 million+ powered by our leading technology.
Upgraded Capacity: The successor to PowerCore 10400-identical compact size but packed with even more power. Charges an iPhone 6s 5 times, a Galaxy S6 3.5 times or an iPad Air 2 once.
Light and Compact: A super-high 13000 mAh capacity with two fast-charging USB ports is all contained in a portable charger smaller than a wallet.
Fast Charging Technology: PowerIQ and VoltageBoost combine to deliver a max speed charge to any device (up to 3A – Qualcomm Quick Charge not supported). Input: 5V / 2A.
What You Get: Anker PowerCore 13000 Portable Charger, Micro USB cable, travel pouch, welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty and friendly customer service.

10 – EasyAcc Monster 20000mAh Power Bank (4A Dual-Input Fastest Charge 4.8A Smart Output) External Battery Pack Charger Portable Charger for Android iPhone Samsung HTC – Black and Orange
20000mAh High Capacity: Charge an iPhone 6 7.5 times, a Samsung S6 5 times or an iPad Mini 3 2 times.
Life Saver: Unique 4A Dual ports input (charger adapter not included), can be superfast recharged in 6 hours, reduce the recharging time up to 50% than usual 20000mah battery.
Fast Charging: 4.8A Output with 4 USB Ports. Auto detects and changes its charging speed unique to your device for fastest charging speed up to 2.4A (2 times faster than a computer USB port). Charging 4 devices simultaneously.
Safety Protection: Effectively prevents your devices from overcharge, overcurrent and short circuits as well as conform to CE, RoHS, and FCC.
Just One Enough On-the-Go. The Top Rated Power Bank. Outstanding customer service provides 18 months warranty.

11 – KMASHI 15000mAh External Battery Power Bank, Portable Charger with Powerful Dual USB Output and 2A Input
15000mAh Power bank Monster capacity (15000mAh) 2A input significantly shortens charging time for your iPhone with ultra high capacity Lithium battery charging two mobile devices conveniently
Super-fast charge output through dual USB ports (5V / 2A and 5V / 1A) allows for simultaneous charging of your iPad, iPhone, Android, and more at high speed.
Smooth, classical black design allows you to power up in style, while 4 status LEDs keep you informed of remaining capacity.
Very Practical Charger: Perfect for indoor or outdoor activities like travel, camping or hiking, emergencies, commuters and families.
Package contents: 1*Kmashi 15000mAh External Battery, 1*Micro USB cable(iPhone/Samsung Galaxy S5 Note 3 cable not included),1*instruction manual,1 year warranty.

12 – [USB-C Type-C Input Qualcomm QC 2.0] Jackery Giant S Premium 12000mAh Dual USB External Battery Pack, Power Bank for iPhone, iPad, Galaxy, Android, and More (Orange)
QUICK CHARGE 2.0: Charges compatible devices up to 75% faster. Get up to 8 hours phone usage from just 15 minutes charging! Perfect for Galaxy S6 / Note 4 / Edge, LG G4, Nexus 6, HTC M9 and more.
USB TYPE C: World’s first external battery charger with USB-C input technology, support 3A fast recharge to Jackery Giant S, only take 4 hours to recharge Jackery
BATTERY PACK: Ultra high-capacity portable charger with dual USB ports of rechargeable battery power for simultaneous charging of your iPad, iPhone, Android devices.
POWERFUL PORTABLE CHARGER: Panasonic grade A Li-ion polymer cell and premium microchips create high-quality portable charger with 4 layers of smart safety protection circuit and lasts 500+ recharge cycles over the life of the battery.
EXTERNAL BATTERY: External battery package includes: Jackery Giant S External Battery, premium USB to USB-C cable.

13 – [Upgraded Capacity] Anker Astro E7 Ultra-High Capacity 26800mAh 3-Port 4A Compact Portable Charger External Battery Power Bank with PowerIQ Technology and Premium Panasonic Battery Cells
The Anker Advantage: Join the 10 million+ powered by our leading technology.
Exclusive PowerIQ Technology: Detects your device to deliver its fastest possible charge speed up to 3 amps per port or 4 amps through three ports.
Giant Capacity: Charges the iPhone 6 ten times, the iPhone 6 Plus or Galaxy S6 over six times or the iPad Air twice. Safely recharges with a 2 amp or higher output charger (please note most phone chargers only have 1 amp).
Superior Quality: Premium cells, cutting-edge circuitry and a sturdy gloss exterior ensure reliability and safety. To activate the LED flashlight, hold or double click the power meter button.
What You Get: Anker Astro E7 Portable Charger External Battery Power Bank, Micro USB cable, travel pouch, welcome guide, our fan-favorite 18-month warranty and friendly customer service.

14 – EC Technology Portable Charger 22400mAh External Battery Pack, High Speed Power Bank with 3 USB Output for iPhone 6 6S Samsung iPad – Black and Red
2nd Gen 22400mAh External Battery with higher efficiency rate delivers its fastest possible current. Portable size at 6.2 x 3.1 x 0.8 inch, 0.99lb.
Rapid input charging: DC 5V 2A input (2A charger not included), twice as fast as normal 5V 1A input power banks, saving 50% of your time.
4 Integrated LED indicators show Power status. Built-in 3-modes LED flashlight makes it easier in the dark: SOS/bright/average modes.
Constructed with lithium-ion battery cells and built-in microchips to ensure safety use and long lifespan. 500+ recharge cycles over the life of the battery, after 24 months still maintains unrivaled performance.
3 USB charging Port (2.4A for iPad, 2A for Samsung Tab, 1A for iPhone) for charging 3 devices simultaneously. 3 USB ports are compatible with almost all smart devices with an input of DC 5V.

15 – Jackery Bar Premium 6000 mAh External Battery Charger – Portable Charger and Power Bank with Panasonic Battery Cells and Aluminum Shell for iPhone, iPad, Galaxy & Other Smart Devices (Sliver)
TRAVEL BATTERY CHARGER: Perfect portable travel charger for long flights, road trips, or whenever you need to charge your iPhone, iPad, and other smart devices.
SMARTPHONES & TABLETS: Battery charger and power bank adds 2-3 full charges to your iPhone and 1-2 full charges to Samsung Galaxy.
COMPACT PORTABLE CHARGER: External battery travel charger is stylish and compact to easily fit into your bag to provide instant power to smartphones and tablets.
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY: High-capacity battery pack and portable phone charger with 6000mAh battery capacity for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.
POWERFUL BATTERY PACK: Panasonic grade A Li-ion polymer cell and premium microchips combined into a premium aluminum case to create a high-quality and powerful portable battery charger.

16 – Polanfo M20000 10000mAh External Battery Power Bank for Smartphone & Tablets – Gold
Polymer cell with Aluminum alloy shell, there is no other design more safer than this. Buy it now! 18 months warranty, address your worries for the future.
You won’t like a brick-like power bank. Even if you put it in your bag, what if it crumple the file? But our power bank, the deluxe metal body is only 0.5 inch at its thickest point; slim as your phone, you can put it into your pocket easily.
If the charging speed is as slow as a sloth, you may want to drop your cell phone; luckily Polanfo provides 2.1 amp output, to full charge your phone within 1.5 hour.
It must be a burden to carry a heavy power bank!! However Polanfo only weighs 7.2oz, lighter than 90% other power banks in the market.
If you are calling your family, your mobile phone has run out of power, how distressed it is! Polanfo can charge your phone 5 times, providing extra 48 hours of talk times.

17 – Anker Astro E3 Ultra Compact 10000mAh Portable Charger (2nd Gerneration, Classic External Battery Power Bank) Slim with PowerIQ Technology Black
The Anker Advantage: Join the 10 million+ powered by our leading technology.
Exclusive PowerIQ Technology: Detects your device to deliver its fastest possible charge speed up to 3 amps.
Ultra-High Capacity: Charges the iPad Air almost once, the Galaxy S5 two and a half times, the iPhone 5s four and a half times and other smartphones multiple times.
Most Compact: Slim, sleek, smartphone-like design featuring a 4-LED power meter. Recharges in 6 hours with a 2 amp adapter (not included) and the included Micro USB cable.
What You Get: Anker Astro E3 Portable Charger External Battery Power Bank, Micro USB cable, travel pouch, welcome guide, our fan-favorite 18-month warranty and friendly customer service. Lightning cable for iPhone / iPad sold separately.

18 – [26800mah Huge Capacity + Powerful 5.5A Output] RAVPower Portable Charger 3-Port External Battery Pack with iSmart 2.0 Technology Power Bank for iPhone, iPad, Galaxy, Tablet and More – Black
MIND-BOGGING CAPACITY: 26800mAh of pure energy – charge an iPhone 6 Plus or Galaxy S6 over six times or an iPhone 6 ten whole times.
5.5A HIGHEST OUTPUT CHARGING: Three USB ports with a combined 5.5A output means you can swiftly and simultaneously charge three devices at once. Plug in and instantly charge – no buttons or on-switch required
RAPID INPUT CHARGING: DC 5V 2A input (2A charger not included), twice as fast as normal 5V 1A input power banks, saving 50% of your time
NEW & IMPROVED iSMART 2.0: The new and improved iSmart 2.0 adjusts current and voltage to minimize charging time. Whereas, Panasonic Smart IC frequency technology provides a safer and higher current conversion.
SAFETY PROTECTION: Ultra reliable A+ Lithium-Ion battery with over 500 battery charge cycles; security protection design: short-circuit and over-current protection. The battery pack will automatic shutdown if a short circuit or overload output occurs while unit is charging

19 – PowerCore 10000 with Quick Charge 3.0, Anker’s First Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Portable Charger, Backwards Compatible with All Versions of Qualcomm Quick Charge, For Samsung, iPhone, iPad and more
The Anker Advantage: Join the 10 million+ powered by America’s leading USB charging brand.
Quick Charge 3.0: Up to 4x faster than standard chargers, able to charge compatible devices to 80% in just 35 minutes. Backwards compatible with all versions of Qualcomm Quick Charge.
High Capacity: Enough capacity to charge most phones at least three times and most tablets at least once (10000mAh).
Remarkably Compact: Much smaller than other high-capacity portable chargers. No other charger packs this many recharges at such high speed into such a small space.
What You Get: PowerCore 10000 with Quick Charge 3.0, travel pouch, Micro-USB cable, welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty and friendly customer service.

20 – iMuto 20000mAh Compact Portable Charger External Battery Power Bank with Smart LED Digital Display and Quick Charge for iPhone 6 6S Plus 5S, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Smart Phones and Tablets (Black)
20000mAh Capacity and Compact Size: Taurus X4 is smaller than iPhone 6 Plus, and charge iPhone 6 almost 8 times, iPad Air almost 1.7 times, Galaxy S6 almost 5.7 times, Galaxy Note 4 almost 4.8 times. For New Macbook, please buy another USB to Type-c Cable, X4 can charge New Macbook almost 1.2 times.
Smart Power Technology: Both USB ports detect your device intelligently and deliver the faster charge. 2USB ports (2.1A & 1A) charge 2 devices at the same time.
Smart Digital Screen shows remaining power in digital format, and it’s hidden until activated. Taurus X4 fits for almost all USB-powered devices. With built-in LED flashlight.
Multiple Smart Protection System: keeps your devices safe from over-charging, over-voltage, over-current, and short circuit.
What You Get: Taurus X4 Portable Battery External Battery Power Bank, Micro USB cable, Travel waterproof pouch, User guide(Back of outer paper), our 24-month warranty and friendly customer service.

If all else fails here is a link to the list of Best Selling Power Banks

Waterproof Digital Camera – Coleman Duo 2V7WP Dual Screen

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Project Bolony

The Coleman Duo 2V7WP Dual Screen Shock & Waterproof Digital Camera is one of the most inexpensive I have found. I am always looking for waterproof digital cameras for work and play. This digital camera has a small screen on the front of the camera as well as the back. I guess the “selfie” is real important now, and is a feature on this digital camera.

The Coleman Duo 2V7WP Dual Screen Shock and Waterproof Digital Camera Comes in 3 Colors

The Coleman Duo 2V7WP actually comes in 4 colors, but this great deal with the camera, 16GB micro SD card, Micro card reader, card case, 4″tripod, and Micro-fiber cleaning cloth only has 3 colors available.

The reviews on Amazon.com are a bit mixed. This is not a high end digital camera. It is a low end digital camera that is waterproof. I think that there are many cameras that are much better, but this camera is $70. I bought 2 of them for work so that my employees would have a way to document their workday. We have went through waterproof cameras from $130 – $299 and we just keep breaking them. They last a while, but in the end the job kills them. So I thought I would try a more inexpensive approach.

It is a great starter camera for children or for people that do not use a camera much. The low price is attractive.

After reading some of the reviews. I have answered some of the complaints.

The power button has to be pressed for 2 seconds or so to turn on and also to turn off.
The USB cord plugs in the same place where the batteries are. After plugging in the USB cord, press the power button to turn the camera on and your PC will read what is on the card.
The camera only option does come with batteries, but does not come with a MicroSD card. The kits below that are available in 3 different colors do come with a MicroSD card. This is an add-on that Amazon put together for this product.
There are photos available that I took on each setting 3M, 5M, 8M, and 14M, then each zoomed 4X. Scroll down past the camera images and details.
The battery/SD card door is hard to open, but it is a waterproof seal. It should not be too easy.
The front selfie camera is in 3M and does not appear to switch to anything as the settings don’t work on the front. I did not find that the camera resets or anything like that. The front camera does switch to video and will record video.
The camera turns itself off after a minute or so, if it is left on.
I haven’t found the flash a problem, but I am usually taking photos without flash anyway. The few pictures that I have taken indoors seem to have turned out ok.
I am finding the zoom a little grainy. Even in Super Fine setting.
I am not finding the date reset after the battery door is open for a few minutes. I know from past experience on other cameras that if the batteries are dead for too long then the internal memory battery will only keep the settings for so long.
I am thinking that some of the negative reviews were from several years ago, and maybe some of these complaints have been resolved.
My phone takes better photos too, but I am not going to give someone my phone to take pictures with all day.

You can read the reviews here

Coleman Duo 2V7WP Dual Screen Shock & Waterproof Digital Camera

GREEN

KIT INCLUDES 6 PRODUCTS — All BRAND NEW Items with all Manufacturer-supplied Accessories + Full USA Warranties:
[1] Coleman Duo 2V7WP Dual Screen Shock & Waterproof Digital Camera (Green)
- 14.0 Mega Pixels Max Resolution Waterproof up to 10 ft – no additional case needed!
- Large 2.7″ back LCD Screen. Also features a 1.8″ front LCD
- Camera features a built-in 120 Degree wide angle lens and takes video in VGA mode
- 8x digital zoom; shock resistant to 3.2ft
- Includes camera pouch, 2 AAA batteries, wrist strap, USB cable, instruction manual, image editing CD and 1 year warranty
[2] Transcend 16GB microSDHC Card +
[3] PD Flexible Table Mini Tripod +
[4] PD 8 SD Card Memory Card Case +
[5] PD SD/SDHC MicroSD Reader +
[6] Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

ORANGE

KIT INCLUDES 6 PRODUCTS — All BRAND NEW Items with all Manufacturer-supplied Accessories + Full USA Warranties:
[1] Coleman Duo 2V7WP Dual Screen Shock & Waterproof Digital Camera (Orange)
- 14.0 Mega Pixels Max Resolution Waterproof up to 10 ft – no additional case needed!
- Large 2.7″ back LCD Screen. Also features a 1.8″ front LCD
- Camera features a built-in 120 Degree wide angle lens and takes video in VGA mode
- 8x digital zoom; shock resistant to 3.2ft
- Includes camera pouch, 2 AAA batteries, wrist strap, USB cable, instruction manual, image editing CD and 1 year warranty
[2] Transcend 16GB microSDHC Card +
[3] PD Flexible Table Mini Tripod +
[4] PD 8 SD Card Memory Card Case +
[5] PD SD/SDHC MicroSD Reader +
[6] Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

PURPLE

KIT INCLUDES 6 PRODUCTS — All BRAND NEW Items with all Manufacturer-supplied Accessories + Full USA Warranties:
[1] Coleman Duo 2V7WP Dual Screen Shock & Waterproof Digital Camera (Purple)
- 14.0 Mega Pixels Max Resolution Waterproof up to 10 ft – no additional case needed!
- Large 2.7″ back LCD Screen. Also features a 1.8″ front LCD
- Camera features a built-in 120 Degree wide angle lens and takes video in VGA mode
- 8x digital zoom; shock resistant to 3.2ft
- Includes camera pouch, 2 AAA batteries, wrist strap, USB cable, instruction manual, image editing CD and 1 year warranty
[2] Transcend 16GB microSDHC Card +
[3] PD Flexible Table Mini Tripod +
[4] PD 8 SD Card Memory Card Case +
[5] PD SD/SDHC MicroSD Reader +
[6] Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

BLUE – CAMERA ONLY – THIS OPTION DOES NOT COME WITH MICRO-SD Card

14.0 Mega Pixels Max Resolution Waterproof up to 10 ft – no additional case needed!
Large 2.7″ back LCD Screen. Also features a 1.8″ front LCD
Camera features a built-in 120 Degree wide angle lens and takes video in VGA mode
8x digital zoom; shock resistant to 3.2ft
Includes camera pouch, 2 AAA batteries, wrist strap, USB cable, instruction manual, image editing CD and 1 year warranty

This link is for the camera only, but you can choose one of 4 colors. Once you go to the Amazon product page, you can choose which color you want as the products are all the same, except for the color.

Here are the pictures that I took. I took them all of the same place for comparison. I have tried to upload the photos in their entirety for comparison. On the web page they are smaller. Just click on each image for the actual image. Most of the photos are on the “fine” quality setting. I did take 2 on “super fine” just for comparison. The sun was over the trees to the left.

Coleman Duo 2V7WP Dual Screen Shock and Waterproof Digital Camera

3M fine

3M fine 4X zoom

5M fine

5M fine 4X zoom

8M fine

8M fine 4X zoom

14M fine

14M fine 4X zoom

14M super fine

14M super fine 4X zoom

The Coleman Duo 2V7WP Dual Screen Shock and Waterproof Digital Camera is an inexpensive choice if you are just wanting to snap some photos and possibly underwater. If you are wanting to enter a photo contest, maybe this camera is not the best choice.

Cordless Blower – Comparing DeWALT DCBL720P1 and DCE100B

Posted on August 14, 2016 by Project Bolony

Cordless Blowers
DCE100B and DCBL720P1

I recently purchased both the DEWALT DCE100B 20V MAX Compact Jobsite Blower and the DEWALT DCBL720P1 20V MAX 5.0 Ah Lithium Ion XR Brushless Blower. Both of these cordless blowers are of the 20v MAX variety. They both are very powerful, but each has unique qualities that may determine which one you purchase.

DeWALT DCE100B 20v MAX Compact Jobsite Blower

This blower is small, compact, and light. It has 3 speeds for more control. It can be used for many different applications. One application that it is not recommended for is leaf blowing. Even though this cordless blower can blow leaves and yard debris, the other larger blower is better for this. With the three speeds, this blower can be taken many places and used without making such a mess. Sometimes that is what is needed to get a large job done quicker, especially in a warehouse or work environment where a little dust kicked up doesn’t matter so much.

Just the airflow amount looks really different

Also, this blower comes with a inflator/deflator attachment. This can come in real handy when it is time to blow up that inflatable pool or air mattress. Then again when it is time to deflate.

I purchased the tool only option, but this cordless blower can be purchased with the charger and battery in a kit also – DEWALT DCE100M1 20V MAX Compact Jobsite Blower Kit

The DEWALT DCE100B 20V MAX Compact Jobsite Blower has a 100 CFM rating. It also has 3 speeds and variable trigger for added control.

I used this cordless blower to blow off a small driveway and it took 5 minutes. Check out the video below to see how the DEWALT DCE100B 20V MAX Compact Jobsite Blower did blowing off the driveway. Then the other blower is after.

DeWALT DCBL720P1 20v MAX 5.0 Ah Lithium Ion XR Brushless Blower

This cordless blower is larger than its cousin, but is still light. The DEWALT DCBL720P1 20V MAX 5.0 Ah Lithium Ion XR Brushless Blower is a real good choice if leaves and debris are on the list. This cordless blower will power through larger areas and remove debris just like a blower that is plugged in.

At 400 CFM it has 4 times the air flow as the smaller compact jobsite cordless blower. It also has a variable speed trigger. This cordless blower has punch in its power.

In another post I used this blower to blow off a roof and a long driveway and it did great. I am not sure exactly how long it took, but the 5Ah battery that came with it lasted all the way through and still had 1 full light left on the power meter on the battery. You can see that post here – http://www.tagnaples.com/cordless-blower-dewalt-dce100b/

I used this cordless blower to blow off the same small driveway and it took 2 minutes. The video below starts at 2:50 if you just want to see how the DEWALT DCBL720P1 20V MAX 5.0 Ah Lithium Ion XR Brushless Blower performed blowing off the driveway.

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