westislandweather.com

   Note: Most of this gear is standard WIWS equipment and  rigorously tested 

WIWS SKYWARN SPOTTER CAMERA

 

Product Description
Water-resistant housing lets you capture beautiful underwater scenery to a depth of 17 feet. Includes built-in microphone and external controls for power, zoom, record, and photo capture.

Product Description
PRODUCT FEATURES:Provides water resistance down to depth of 5 meters Compatible with wide range of Handycam models allows full control of main camera features: power on/off, mode select (movies, still images, video playback), REC start/stop, photo recording, variable speed zoom Shoulder strap included

 

 

GMC MOUNTAIN BIKE

a Truck on 2 Wheels

Product Features

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Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
The GMC Topkick 21-Speed Mountain Bike features a full-suspension, strong aluminum frame that utilizes a floating beam suspension design that is mated to a Zoom suspension fork with elastomer/spring technology. The Topkick's drivetrain starts with Microshift push shifters. These shifters control Shimano's tried and true TZ-30GS derailleur. The drivetrain finishes up with a strong aluminum wheelset featuring V-shape rim profile and high-flange alloy hubs. Stopping is handled by Promax disk brakes on the front and rear. These brakes are vastly superior to rim brakes, especially under adverse road conditions. True to it's GMC roots, this bicycle is rugged, good looking, and built for the long haul.

GMC Topkick Mountain Bike Specifications

• Frame: 26-inch full suspension aluminum MTB frame
• Fork: Zoom CH-386 suspension fork 65mm travel
• Shocks: Kind Shock adjustable 650 pounds
• Chain: KMC Z 51
• Crankset: Alloy ISA 335P 28x38x48 L170mm
• Front Derailleur: Falcon MF 31 T
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano RD-TZ30GS SIS 7SPD
• Shifters: Microshift TS-50 ADII index L3/R7
• Brake Levers: GP 30 AP aluminum
• Brakes: LCHI DSK-320 disk brake 160mm
• Rims: Alloy black 26-inch X1.5
• Tires: Kenda black with yellow band 700X25C
• Stem: A-head TDS63K-8 EXT:100mm 15D
• Handlebar: HL-MTB 153 W: 600mm R:30mm
• Sadle: Velo black padded
• Seat Post: Alloy micro adjust 27.2 X 300mm with quick-release

 YouTube Description

This rig is a GMC Mountain/Trail bike with heavy duty suspension w/21 speeds. It has all Topeak cargo gear which includes a front handle bar bag, portable cell-phone pouch, and a slide-off rear pack. There are front and rear rack mounts, tire pump & gauge, portable Kestrel weather station, 2 on board cameras (Vado units),and a Garmin GPS receiver.
Other features include: a high powered lighting system with hi-lo rechargeable dual headlights, and 2 rear programmable red strobe lights for the road. One of my favorites is the self sealing tire tubes (about 5 bucks each from Wal-Mart)and they work great! Also included is a Hikers First-Aid kit, 4 1-liter water bottles, 2 heavy duty locks, wireless speedometer, bike tool kit. The bike is powered by a vintage 1957 motor: ME. (with 8" Chippewa Steel Toe Loggers)
I usually try to ride at least 100 miles a week to stay in shape hauling this rig around. I keep tire pressure at 40lbs and have added weight in cargo bags. It's harder to pedal around, but I consider this "reserve" energy. When I increase tire pressure to 60lbs and lighten the load my endurance is longer and faster if need be.

 

YouTube description

This GMC Mountain Bike lost June 13 in the backwoods of the West Island State Reservation was mysteriously located on Causeway Rd West Island, MA, at the mailboxes-8 months later- intact! The bike belongs to the West island Weather Station. Hats off to GMC bikes and Topeak gear for the ultimate durability test! The bike was exposed to dozens of snow storms, rain, and salt air. All gear and bike are in remarkable condition. All aluminum = NO RUST. I only replaced tubes and restored with WD-40. Rode it same day! All gears and brakes OK.

  

  West Island Weather Station GMC Trail Bike found after 8 months lost in reservation.

 

 

COWON Q5 SUPER MEDIA PLAYER

 

After being in the TV business over 25 years-I've seen it all. The COWON Q5 is the media player of fantasy. It simply is the best rig all-around. High screen resolution, superb audio quality and features yet undiscovered that will never let you get bored with it. This rig is a 3x5" screen personal media player on steriods! One of the many features that caught my eye was its ability to interact with several video formats. See complete details on the product description. Note: The first rig shipped to me came DOA. The charging system was corrupted in the COWON itself. Amazon came through quickly with a lightning fast replacement. I am always-ALWAYS-confident in Amazons superior customer service. So this return issue was fast and easy.
There always will be features you'd like on any piece of electronics. It would have been awesome to plug in my ATT wireless internet module into the USB and get it to work. The COWON is also built tough-but still would use caution in any high shock environments. After all this is a hard drive unit and can get placed into a lock-up (reset required) event with a variety of minor and/or major consequences. You will not be disappointed with the COWON Q5.[...]

 

 COWON GPS CRADLE - BULKY, HUGE BUT GREAT ADD-ON

 

The bulky size of this Cowon cradle justifies the convenient user friendly features right at your finger tips. I like the easy access buttons and audio control. The suction-cup mount means business once to place this baby on your windshield. Just to add a cautionary note: In cold weather the cradle does not stick to the windshield-I guess the condensation from a heated car and then the cold makes for a hazardous situation for both driver and the COWON rig if it falls off. (It has fallen off twice in just the past 2 days!)

 

 

 AUDUBON MONOCULAR SMALL-COMPACT

This monocular is better than or equal to my full size binoculars. Its compact and I find I carry it more often. Its a big hit with my fellow trail blazers! [...

 

 

 

 PORT AUTHORITY DENIM JACKET

I found the perfect replacement for my "old friend" with this Port Authority Jacket. I'm not a business suit kind of guy. I need heavy duty wear for my excursions out back near The West Island State Reservation.

I am very pleased. The value and quality made this a great buy. Port Authority gets 5 stars!

 

 

 PHILLIPS DJ STYLE HEADPHONES 

 

These headphones are satisfactory for a spare set that is expendable. The audio quality is OK. I wish they could hug closer to my ears-with a little pressure against my ears they make all the difference.

 

 

 SKS 18 FUNCTION MOUNTAIN BIKE TOOL

  This tool kit is a carefully engineered masterpiece. The practicality in craftsmanship makes this a must have for the serious bike enthusiast. The number of tools compacted in the case about the size of a pack of cigarettes makes for easy storage in a small bike pack or even a shirt pocket. MLBaron westislandweather.com

 

 

         BOLTEC PORTABLE LIGHTNING

                            DETECTOR STRIKES OUT

 

 

AMBIENT WEATHER OFFERS ALMOST ANY WEATHER RELATED PRODUCT YOU'LL EVER NEED. THEY ARE A VENUE FOR SOME OF THE BEST TOP-OF -THE LINE WEATHER VENDORS IN THE WORLD. FROM A SIMPLE START UP WEATHER STATION FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS TO A $5,000 RIG.

I RECENTLY OBTAINED THE "THUNDERBOLT" HAND HELD LIGHTNING DETECTOR FOR $539.00 AND "KICKED THE TIRES" AND GOT A BLOW OUT:

FIRST OF ALL-LETS GET TO THE RIG ITSELF. IT'S A GLORIFIED WEATHER PAGER ON STEROIDS.,and about 4 times the size!

The unit boasts a receiver that can detect lightning storm events from about 75 miles away. There are a few alert features that are appealing. I like the SCAN feature where the unit is scanning for lightning storm activity.  It did go off several times for a "signature" off in the distance that was uneventful. Its sensitivity can be adjusted from high to low. I had a lengthy conversation with some technicians for the THUNDERBOLT at Spectrum Communications out of Georgia. The first thing I asked was this unit simply a pager getting specific weather info. They stated it's not and it is indeed a receiver that detects low frequency spikes  from lightning events. The unit cannot be laid on its side but can be positioned straight up or flat down to work properly. 

Right off the bat this thing is getting on my nerves. But wait it gets better. I wanted to have this device to alert me when I'm out and about  particularly in the woods if a thunder storm is brewing. That way I could head back and prepare with my weather gear. The unit I bought was the industrial version which came with a yellow carrying case that contained the Thunderbolt "pager" a small instruction pamphlet,belt case, power supply adapter and a 9 volt battery. These added features cost around $100 more than the base price of around $350.00. You've got to be kidding.  

The belt strap was a nightmare from hell. It simply didn't function AT ALL. The strap had 2 cheap snaps to hold the unit in place. The belt strap was over 6 inches long so the unit dangled upside down from my belt. Clumsy to the point it could not be worn on a belt. Even if it did the flimsy snaps could not be trusted to hold this expensive $500. device. In fact it couldn't be placed anywhere feasible., not even a pocket on a large jacket. Too big. So you end up having to hold it with the strap if you dare.

The odds are mounting at this time to justify the large amount of money for this thing which had less features than some baby monitors. The flashing  red alert light at the top remains green in the idle mode.  The small LCD indicator screen was hard to see outdoors, and as small as a pager display. For a unit this size it certainly had the real estate to accommodate a larger display. It also lacked a back light. Another missing feature was a battery status indicator. The power supply unit was NOT a charger. Only conventional batteries can be used. This alone was enough to send this thing packing back to the store.

The audible alert beeper only had no distinctive ring for certain alert levels. So you never know if its beeping for a storm 75 miles away or something nearby. Another nail in the coffin. The manufacturer stated that it was not completely weather proof. I wonder, how much?  

The overall concept of the THUNDERBOLT is still very appealing. But they have to work out some rudimentary bugs. Some more user friendly features such as a drop in charger/power supply, a better heavy duty belt strap that works, distinctive ring tones for certain storm levels, a battery status indicator, size and shape of unit, better display including back light, and a computer interface logger and unit programmer-that would be really cool. In other words they have to make these changes to justify charging such a high price for a rig that is missing some basic features. And they should redesign the THUNDERBOLT-it looks like a giant glorified pager on steroids. I tried talking myself into keeping the unit and see if I could get used to it's nuances but it didn't happen. 

The guys at SPECTRUM said one of their engineers would get back to me, in other words., "Don't call us, we'll call you." 

In the meantime, I'll listen to my dogs, they can perceive and hear lightning signals that humans can't. They don't need a drop in charger or a belt clip and are great to be around when they aren't being my natural born lightning detectors.

UPDATE: 05/24/08: JUST RECEIVED A CREDIT FOR RETURNING THIS ITEM-THEY WHACKED ME WITH A 15% RESTOCK FEE-. I SHOULD HAVE WROTE THE REVIEW AFTER I GOT THE CREDIT.