Sangean RCR-22 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio (White)

• Radio controlled clock automatically sets itself
• Separate weekday alarm
• 14 station presets-7 FM and 7 AM
• Adjustable separate nap and sleep timers
• Humane Waking System buzzer

I was looking for a high-quality alarm clock after about 12 years with an unimpressive Sony Dreammachine. This clock delivered on that front, and unlike most consumer electronics devices I've purchased in the past several years, it is clear that lots of thought was put into this device (and very little into the manual).

PROS:

There are tons of little nuances that the manual does not detail that I've discovered using the clock for a few weeks. For example the display can be dimmed with a dial on the bottom (which on my unit did not take effect until my alarm goes off the first time). The clock remains dimmed at your preset level, but goes to full brightness when the alarm goes off, making the clock easier to find. Combined with the pleasing blue light and the HWS (makes the alarm bell go from soft to loud) it's really nice to wake up to.

Another thoughtful touch is that alarm indicators only light within 24 hours of your alarm. Either alarm can be set to go off on particular days, with any combination of Su-Sa set for each alarm (i.e. alarm1 can be set for Monday, Thursday and Sunday, no weekday/weekend restrictions like some others). The alarm indicators however only light up when your alarm will ring the next morning. Very nice.

Other functions like the snooze, nap timers, etc. all work well. Like most alarms you need some time to figure out how it works, but after a few mornings most functions were intuitive.

The radio functions well, and pulls in way more stations than the Dreammachine. The speaker is fine, that is to say neither exceptionally good or exceptionally poor. If I want the ultimate music experience, I have an expensive stereo for that.

The clock is a true atomic time clock (not just a "preset" clock like many others). I don't know all the nuances of atomic cock synchronization, but the weather and location of the antenna seem to affect the two atomic clocks I have at home. Try moving the antenna towards the window if you have problems.

CONS

It is nicer than average plastic and construction, but still not going to win any design awards. I can't figure out why all alarm clock designs are frozen in 1992.

The manual was clearly written by a bunch of engineers. It is no nonsense, and explains how to set/use everything, but does not mention any of the usability features I noted above. For example if it's Monday and you set an alarm for thursday, You might wonder why the alarm indicators do not all light up. No mention at all in the manual. I thought the clock was broken since the dimmer did not function until the first time an alarm went off. Again, no mention in the manual of what turned out to be a very nice feature, and one I almost returned the clock for!

Another example is the unwieldly "Time Machine" antenna for the atomic clock. It is big and odd looking, but fits nicely to the back of the clock. Again, no mention in the manual save for a single line drawing.

When I initially plugged the clock in, all kinds of crytic numbers flashed on the display while it synced the time, again, no mention of what was happening or why in the manual. The manual does tell you how to DO everything, but does not explain WHY certain things work the way they do, or explain the various nice features someone clearly took time to think through.

Overal a great buy, especially for something you'll likely use every day for 5-15 years. I would like to see a better manual, autodimming of the display (it is BRIGHT when set to max), Sangean using a designer that is somewhat current, and perhaps a user manual rewrite, other than that, this clock works very well and will be on my nightstand for years to come.

I agonized over what to put on my nightstand (everything from Bose to Timex) and am very happy with my choice.

Buy Sangean RCR-22 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio (White) Now

As a previous owner of the Sangean RCR-1 I was a bit disapointed to see that many features were omitted. I realize that this clock is really based on the RCR-2 and not the model that I'm comparing it against. That said my observations on this clock are as follows.

1. The new clock display is a vast improvement over the old one. It's very easy to read from any angle and it can be manually dimmed. However I feel that there still exists room for improvement with the display. I feel that Sangean should have included a photosensor to automatically adjust the display brightness according to ambient lighting conditions. I've had this option on many other clocks costing much less and it's an awesome feature to have. I also feel that they should have kept the outgoing models display size. The larger display was able to show more information at a glance. For instance the RCR-1 and RCR-2 were able to display the date while the alarm's are active. The RCR-22 will not do this. With the new unit you must press the date button to display the information. Also missing is the dual color display of the RCR-1. When the alarm on the RCR-1 activated the display would change color from blue to amber. That feature no longer exists on this model which was a bit of a disapointment.

2. The lack of a battery backup is a serious oversight. I am aware that it has a super capacitor which will hold the time for up to an hour in the event of a power failure. However, a battery backup will hold the time for up to a year AND still be able to sound the buzzer alarm during a power failure. Sony has this feature as well as many other brands on the market today.

3. Another serious oversight is the lack of Humane Waking System (HWS)when the alarm is set to radio mode. This clock features HWS in buzzer mode only. My old RCR-1 has HWS in radio mode and I really miss having the radio volume gradually ramp up to ease me out of my slumber. This new radio simply turns on the radio to the preset volume and blasts you awake.

4. This clock now features a much improved method to activate or deactivate the alarm. You simply push the alarm button and hold it for a few seconds to activate the alarm. The button will illuminate red to show the alarm is active. It also has a redundant indicator in the display.

5. Sangean is known for their excellent radio reception and this unit lives up to the hype. It easily pulls in distant stations and delivers drift free reception. The sound quality is above average for a clock radio and will not disapoint.

Now for the items on my wish list for a future product.

1. Add an HD Radio Tuner. HD radio is catching on and there are a lot of good stations that this can't receive.

2. Add Radio Data System (RDS) to the radio.

3. Add NOAA weather radio to alert you of possible severe weather

4. Photo sensor display dimmer to automatically adjust to ambient light

5. Battery Backup (Sangean this is a must have feature!)

6. HWS for the radio mode of the alarm

7. Larger display

8. Stereo speakers

9. CD Player.

10. Improved alarm programming to allow for different times to be set for each day of the week. This clock does allow you to program a random day pattern giving it more flexibility than most but it could be taken to the next level.

Heck as long as I'm wishing why not put all these features in a table radio and you'll have a winner.

Conclusion, This radio adds a much improved display that makes it easier to live with than the previous models. However several features have been ommitted that should have been left in place. For this reason I am unable to give it more than 3 stars. Most people will be perfectly happy with this clock radio as it is. As for me I'm always looking for that elusive clock radio that address ALL of my needs so the search continues.

Read Best Reviews of Sangean RCR-22 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio (White) Here

I checked out a lot of alarm clocks and this one stood out above the rest. What was initially important to me was an alarm clock that had a 'digital tuner' so the frequency wouldn't drift resulting in no alarm sounding. Not only does this clock meet this need, but it also will default to the buzzer if the station fades or goes off the air!

I also wanted a clock that had both an up AND down button to adjust time. This clock also meets this criterion, however, the capacitor backup, the self correcting time feature and its dual alarm system minimizes the need for adjustments. It also has a button to reset the clock to DST and back. Why doesn't every clock have this?

Soon after I received the clock, I could tell that a lot of thought had gone into its design. In addition to the features listed, I found some nice surprises. It's meant to be operated in the dark and by a sleepy head. When you want to put it in snooze mode, you can hit ANY button on the top to activate it. When you want to turn it off, you can easily find the 'off' button in the dark using the side 'posts' as a guide. Each alarm button will light when that specific alarm will go off within 24 hrs (along with displaying the alarm time) assuring you that all is set. And that's nice, because with it's multi-day and dual alarm system, you rarely need to set it.

The five minute snooze time is a bit short for me. An ajustable snooze time would be nice addition. I would also prefer a digital volume control versus the knob to avoid accidental volume changes.

But overall, it looks great, it out performs the competition and has my recommendation. I've actually invited a few friends to my bedroom to show off....my new alarm clock!

Want Sangean RCR-22 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio (White) Discount?

I've done a ton of research regarding all of the atomic clock radios out on the market. I can safely say, without a doubt, that the RCR-22 is the best atomic clock radio out on the market today, especially with the vast number of features that it has.

Below are some of the primary features that the RCR-22 has to offer:

Display Features

The display background is a dark blue color with white text the display makes for an easy read from a wide variety of angles. (The prior version of this clock, the Sangean RCR-2 Digital Atomic Clock Radio with Dual Alarms, which had an orange background and black text was very difficult, and at times impossible, to read at certain angles).

The RCR-22 also has an adjustable brightness level for the display screen.

Clock Features

The RCR-22 features an atomic clock that automatically synchs up the date and time every hour. Don't get confused with clocks claiming to automatically set themselves several clocks claim that they automatically set themselves, but it's not really the case it's just a gimmick. I, like several others, had been tricked into thinking that our clocks would automatically set themselves this was not the case when the new Daylight Saving Time rules took place and our clocks did not automatically set themselves. The RCR-22 really does set itself via an atomic radio signal.

Alarm Features

This clock features two independent alarms. Each alarm gives you the ability to select the days of the week that you wish the alarms to wake you (i.e. The first alarm could be set for Mon, Wed, Fri at a certain time and the second alarm could be set for Tue and Thu at a different time, etc.)

The alarm offers a Humane Waking System (the alarm gets progressively louder rather than jolting you out of bed)

Adjustable alarm buzzer sound level

You can wake up to the alarm buzzer or to a specific AM or FM station

Like most clocks, the RCR-22 offers a snooze function

Radio Features

Many of the clocks out on the market today seem include a radio just so that it can be called a clock radio often times the radio quality tends to be horrible and the reception tends to be not so great. The RCR-22 is a fantastic radio it sounds great and it has excellent reception (you should expect a good radio from a company that is best known for its radio products).

The radio offers 7 FM presets and 7 AM presets (not a lot of clock radios offer this feature).

Power Backup Feature

Most clocks tend to have a battery-powered backup system (to retain the time and alarm memories during power outages). The RCR-22 offers something quite different it offers a super capacitor that retains time and alarm memories for up to 1 hour (without having to use batteries). This is a very nice feature, however, it does have some drawbacks as I will explain further below.

Miscellaneous Features

Headphone Output Socket to privately listen to the radio using your headphones

Aux Input Socket to listen to an external CD player or MP3 player through the clock radio speakers

Adjustable Nap timer (10-120 minutes)

Adjustable Sleep Timer (15-120 minutes)

Drawbacks

The only possible drawback I could find regarding the RCR-22 is the Super Capacitor power backup if the power outage lasts for more than an hour, all of your settings, including the alarms and radio presets will be gone. Also, if by some strange coincidence, the alarm is scheduled to go off during a power outage, the alarm will not go off.

My only suggestion for future generations of this clock is extend the super capacitor time to 3 hours (this should keep most of us feel calmer). Also, more importantly, have the alarm go off during power outages.

If Sangean takes care of the suggestions above, they would not only have the best atomic clock radio, but arguably the perfect atomic clock radio.

I'm a very proud owner of the RCR-22 the best atomic clock radio out there right now.

I got this atomic clock because I wanted to replace my older clock that would automatically adjust to the OLD Daylight Savings Time schedule.

Well, I wasn't disappointed as this radio adjusted to the new schedule with no problem.

The only problem I have is that you have to turn up the brightness on the display during the daytime in order to see the time from across the room. But then at bedtime, the display brightness is then too high and has to be turned down again. A reviewer mentioned that he wished the clock came with a photo sensor (auto dimmer). Now I know what he was talking about.

Every other feature about this radio is great as mentioned by the other reviewers.

Here's some additional info that I don't think has been covered yet:

The atomic signal sensor "capsule" has a 32" extension wire so that you can mount it away from the radio if necessary.

The radio has a 41" external FM antenna wire.

To test the "super capacitor", I unplugged the radio for 3 hours and to my surprise the radio still kept my alarm and tuner settings!

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Onkyo TX-NR808 7.2-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black)

• 135 Watts per Channel at 8 ohms, 20 Hz?20 kHz, 0.08%, 2 Channels Driven, FTC
• HDMI (Version 1.4a to Support 3D and Audio Return Channel)
• HDMI Video Upscaling to 1080p with Faroudja DCDi Cinema
• Certified with Windows 7 and DLNA Version 1.5
• Front-Panel USB Input for Memory Devices and iPhone/ iPod Models (Enables Display of Album Artwork)

I previously bought a 1120k receiver and returned it for this one. Please see my companion 1120k review and the LSI15 review (right speaker even though I bought both) if you're curious.

I used this amplifier to drive 4 ohms speakers. Most audiophiles will tell you to get external amplification to drive them. I am usually skeptical of these claims.

Myth: You will need external amplifiers to drive 4 ohm speakers. False. I pushed these with an Onkyo 808 135 watts at 8ohms, not sure about the 4 ohms spec as Onkyo doesn't advertise it. There was absolutely no clipping at ear blistering level. No harshness whatsoever from the LSI15 that I heard from the C-5. At high volume, the Energy C-5 gave me a headache. However, the LSI were still extremely smooth. Those speakers (LSI15) are 89db efficiency at 1 watt, so if I push it to 110db, it would require only 128 watts to push. 110db is far louder than comfortable for most living rooms. I guess if you like listen to it louder, then external amplification would be needed. Most normal people wouldn't. Tip: Don't set the receiver to 4 ohm mode. Leave it at 8 ohms. The 4 ohm mode only serve to cut the power output to protect the receiver. My receiver has two fans that I never noticed turning on. Onkyo got smart by inserting fans. Previously, they were hot enough to cook eggs. Would external amplification improve sound quality? I have my doubts. I am a firm believer in amplifiers used for extreme volume only. Normal listening level does not require an amplifier to improve quality (relative to this receiver, lesser receiver may have issues). However, if anyone has an amplifier and wants to prove me wrong, I'm ready to be a believer.

The Onkyo 808 is a huge beast with a very hefty heat sink with dual fans. It has every single high-end adjustable settings you can think of. The only thing I discovered is that the noise correction caused my Netflix stream to ghost. However, that may be due to the noise correction algorithm coupled with the 120hz mode on my TV. Turning off the noise correction fixed the ghosting for me. The quality of the up conversion is good but perhaps a little soft for SD. I do not have an A to B comparison with the Pioneer so I can't be sure which is better. If the Marvell is better, I didn't notice it. However, I would not suggest buying an audio receiver for the video processing chip. Most SD look bad regardless of up conversion, and most high def source look best at native resolution of your TV. I've been reading on the Internet that the Marvell chip is so much better than the Faroudja. There is definitely an improvement on up conversion for either chips, but you can't make SD look HD no matter how hard you try. At least for me, DVD's looked like crap (in comparison to HD) on both the Pioneer and the Onkyo receivers. Therefore, I chalk up conversion as tie for both = equally crappy.

The HDMI is good. My PC picked up the receiver as an output source quickly.

PROS:

135 Watts

Drive 4ohms speakers well

OSD for volume

Excellent Internet radio functionality

Regular cable for IPOD

Dual fans to cool heat sink

Per input level gain

Per speakers cross-over

Dual subwoofer output

Trigger

Firmware upgradeable (make sure you update right away)

CONS:

Warmer than the Pioneer

Update 12/10/10: No dialogue enhancement

No Iphone App

This receiver is actually very good. I returned the Pioneer even though I got an extremely good deal for it. If you don't need the 135 watts, I recommend the 708 instead. However, at the current $70 online price difference between the 708 and 808, I would get the 808 for insurance. Who knows, you may want to buy 4ohm speakers later on =) and you'll save yourself the upgradeitis agony. The Pioneer 1120k is currently about $100 cheaper than the 708 street price. It's an excellent receiver if you only need 110 watts and no trigger. However, if you want Internet radio functionality, volume OSD, and per input volume gain, per speaker cross-over, pick the 708 or 808 instead.

Update (11/15/10): After having used it a few weeks, I have not discovered anything wrong with it since I updated the firmware immediately when I received it. The firmware updated pretty easily over the Internet (make sure its in USB mode first or you'll get an error). The Internet radio is very cool and works flawlessly. You do not need conventional radio with this option since most radios networks have an Internet versions online. I found some online Internet radio with 256k quality as well as radios from around the world.

I had to adjust my input to +6db to my UVerse box and +3 to my HTPC to make it the same level as the PS3 (which is always louder for some reason). I don't suggest anyone purchase any receiver that lack this feature. My old Denon had it and this one has it. I missed it immediately when I bought the Pioneer. The online display shows both volume level as well as the input label as well so I don't have to look at the receiver through the glass door which is a plus. I have not heard the fan come on yet so I believe the dual fans may be installed as a precaution rather than a necessity (then again, it's not Summer right now).

All in all, I'm very happy with this receiver. I originally wanted a Denon 3111 as a replacement but Denon is not budging on MSRP right now which means it would have cost me almost twice as much as this one. There are currently no other receivers on the market that has the comparable features as this one at this price range.

Update 12/10/10: Added the two Cons. I do miss the dialogue enhancement and the Iphone app was very cool on the Pioneer.

Buy Onkyo TX-NR808 7.2-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black) Now

I bought the ONKYO TX-NR808 to replace my aging 10 year old Lexicon DC-2 pre-amp and Carver Professional amps. The Onkyo powering Miller and Kreisel THX 750 5.1 speaker system.

I figured that after 10 years I could use a audio update even though the Lexicon is still a amazing piece of equipment but I didn't want to spend $6500 this time around.

I wanted a receiver that had all of the newer DTS and Dolby surround formats and could power the 4 ohm M&K speakers (8 vs 4 ohm setting in the setup menus).

It sounds great I love the video switching and the great on screen display of settings.

I have a Netgear 9150 Digital entertainer Elite hooked to it with only one HDMI cable. Being able to use the HDMI really cleans up the cabling since it can also send the audio over the same cable. Same thing goes for my HD cable box, HDMI no seperate audio cable needed.

I haven't had any problems with the Ethernet not connecting, even though I did let it update via the internet. The streaming off connected networked computer is nice also, without any problems. Pandora works flawlessly.

For the price and features it cannot be beat.

Also Amazon has it for the lowest price.

UPDATE: 07-02-11

Still no problems. I now have a HTPC hooked up running WMC and Boxee.

Awesome product for the money.

Read Best Reviews of Onkyo TX-NR808 7.2-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black) Here

So I purchased the TX-NR808 to replace my Onkyo TX-SR800 mainly just for the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA decoding, but man was I blown away by the overall sound quality improvement with standard DD, DTS, and stereo as well! I am a very expianced home theater installer, and I am ashamed to say that I didn't realize how much of a difference 35 watts per channel would make. I have a 7.1 speaker setup featuring Polk Audio RTi10 tower speakers and a Velodyne 10" powered sub, which have always sounded great, but let me tell you that these speakers have never sounded so amazing as they do now with this receiver! WOW! Any source that i've run through it(CD, DVD, iPod, or Blu-ray) has resulted in a sonic explosion! Highs, mids and lows all are perfectly represented by the 808. So.... the real question most people want to know the answer to is.... "Does Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD sound better then standard DD and DTS?" The answer is ABSOLUTELY YES! I watched Kung Fu Panda to compare the difference and it was immediately obvious that the Dolby TrueHD trumped the DD track in every way. Then I put in "Crank 2" to hear what a DTS-MA HD 7.1 mix could do. Let me say that once the DTS logo started I was left absolutely speechless until the credits ended! Sonic power and clarity is all I can say. With either format you get improved ambiance, harder hitting bass, and amazing dynamic range which creates an unequalled movie watching experiance! No movie theater can even come close the the sound quality I now have in my home theater!

I will now list some of the other improvements that this receiver does that my old one didn't.

1. I now have the volume displayed on my screen via the HDMI out on the receiver. Very handy since my components are in the room behind my theater room!

2. I can connect it to my home network and play all my music from my computer instantly!

3. The receiver programs the remote for you after you tell it what components you have. Awesome!

4. It takes any video input whether it's composite, s-video, or component and sends it to your TV, upconverted to HD through the HDMI out!

To summarize. . . with all the features that this receiver has for the low price that I paid through Amazon I couldn't be happier with the TX-NR808! This is bar none the best receiver that I have ever heard for under $1,500!

Want Onkyo TX-NR808 7.2-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black) Discount?

I bought this 135W A/V receiver to power a 5.1 set up with JBL speakers including 890's for the fronts and 830's for the surrounds. I needed the 1.4 HDMI capability to connect with a Samsung 46C8000 and I wanted more power than my prior A/V, a 100W Sony, was capable of delivering because, even though the JBL's are great, they need a lot of juice to bring them in to full blossom.

The set up was easy and the sound clarity, accuracy and other performance criteria were met superbly. The receiver's 1.4 HDMI's 3D performance (Monsters and Aliens) was excellent. On 2D, I ran the first 15 minutes of a BD Master & Commander through the initial battle scene. Holy cow, the cannon balls were hitting me in the chest, my deck (floor) was shaking and shrapnel was flying from every corner of the room.

The Onkyo is pretty big and heavy though, measure your expected positioning carefully.

All things considered, it does a great job and you could spend a lot more and get no better performance.

For a $1099 product, Onkyo needs to hire a bunch testers instead of taking advantage of consumers for testing.

1. Network connection issue keep initializing forever

2. Not working with iPhone 3G OS4.0

3. Not working with iTune m4a files

4. Picky USB connection ok with Seagate Freeagent Go 500gb drive, but not working with WD Element Portable 500gb drive

Above is my free bug report. For details, go to avsforum. (This is definitely my last time being a free beta tester for Onkyo. I quit.)

Edit: After 08/13/2010 firmware update, the network "Now Initializing" issue is NOT fixed. I have to unplug and replug my network cable each time to workaround the "Now Initializing... Forever" bug. However, the sound quality is improved after firmware update though. Better image, deeper sound stage and tighter bass in stereo. More detail and alive in movie.

Edit: After 10/27/2010 firmware update, the network "Now Initializing" issue is finally fixed for my old Netgear router. Moreover, the sound quality seems getting even better on network streaming after update. The treble is more detail and alive. Very happy with this product today and will give it 4 stars.

"With a USB drive and bunch high quality flac files (or streaming over network), the sound beats $1000+ CD players in the old days."

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GE 45601 Z-Wave® LED Handheld Remote

• Please see the above description.

I first bought an Intermatic HA09C remote but after being unimpressed I got this GE 45601. The GE remote is WELL worth the extra $18 and is currently now the primary z-wave controller in my house.

Pros:

1) Can individually control 18 devices with a shift key and 9 rocker switches

2) Can control 9 timed events (on + off are 1 event), which means it has an internal clock/calender, timed events can be enabled/disabled, events can trigger groups/scenes/individual devices

3) Can create groups and scenes, which I don't believe have to be the same as the 18 direct rocker controlled devices (you can add devices not assigned directly to a rocker)

4) Has a small text lcd to help in programming and labels (programmable) for devices.

5) Can set custom device options, like dim ramp rate (you need to know the technical details of the option, like set device option 1 to a value of 2)

6) Controls thermostats

7) Instructions are WAY better than Intermatic HA09C manual

Cons:

1) lcd is not backlit

2) No details when error occurs, for example I tried to program a scene for a non-scene capable device and it just would say "fail"

3) Can't query state of device and display on lcd

Buy GE 45601 Z-Wave® LED Handheld Remote Now

First, the display is not backlit (-1 star), nor are any of the buttons. Forget working this device in the dark. Second, the remote has a quirk that may make you think that the remote (or a device) is not working! It's not really broke, though, so hold off on returning it ...

Here it is how I 'fixed' my remote:

If the remote does not recognize a module, "removing" the module on the remote WILL NOT WORK. You need to "DELETE" the module. "Delete" and "Remove" are NOT the same. "Reset" will NOT work. I was about to return the remote and the module that I bought, totally convinced that one or the other was broke! Follow the directions for "deleting" a device, and then try adding the device again.

A second tip holding down the button on a module/device will NOT do anything positive. Press it once, and release it immediately. Do not think that "maybe a really good press will help".

Now that I have "fixed" my remote, I like the product. The remote can be used to set up timed events like turning lights on or off automagically at specific days and times. The remote and z-wave network are really very sophisticated. Each module can function as a repeater to extend the range of the network. A Z-wave network is a real timesaver, but it is not for idiots. I almost did not make the cut for "smart enough", and I'm plenty bright. Good luck for the average Joe who'se VCR still blinks "12:00"!

I will eventually buy at least two more lighting controls. I am looking forward to installing Z-wave power strips and controls throughout my apartment.

EDIT 10/28/2010:

If you program "events", the range for timed events is different than the range for the buttons (my experience). The buttons have a really good range. I can use the remote buttons to turn lights on or off from the sidewalk. Timed events only seem to work reliably when I leave the remote within two feet of a module. This could be due to interference, but I do not know.

Read Best Reviews of GE 45601 Z-Wave® LED Handheld Remote Here

This item deserves five stars because it is a fantastic way to control zwave lights around the house. When I installed one to my ADT Pulse network last spring, it was painless: You went into the website's "system", "manage devices" and then chose "install inclusion controller." Once done, I was able to control 18 different light fixtures around my house with the remote and also preset lighting combinations such as which lights we want on at a certain dimmer level while we were watching television. That truly made both the remote and ADT great companion products, as we could control lights intricately with the remote but could also control lights with our alarm system.

Alas, we lost one of the remotes and tried to install a new one this week. After hours of thinking we had a technical problem with the install, we finally realized from ADT that they no longer allow customers to install these remotes as "inclusion controllers" on their system. Thus, when you go to manage devices, and install on the website, inclusion controllers have been eliminated. Add insult to injury, ADT did not even have the courtesy to remove the installation instructions from their online manuals which resulted in many wasted hours of fruitless attempts trying to install. Most staff in the Pulse technical department when I called for help were unaware that the problem was simply the items are no longer supported.

Once you install the ZWave light switches and use the remote you will never want to go back. I am now perplexed what to do because I have had the ADT Pulse system for less than six months and would have definitely considered a competitor's product if I had known the company would take away this level of compatibility.

If you are shopping for an alarm system that makes full use of ZWave technology, you may want to consider brands that compete with ADT and make more sophisticated use of the technology. You can start by doing a web search along the lines of "adt pulse not compatible with inclusion controllers" to find internet postings about this problem and other home security systems in the market place.

For anyone simply using the Zwave technology without the home security system, this GE remote is fantastic.

Want GE 45601 Z-Wave® LED Handheld Remote Discount?

I still don't know if I can get this to sync with my TZ45 Z Wave thermostat since it is already synced to my iHub and I'd have to unpair it in order to attempt that, but it works with lights and it is super cheap! I spent hours trying to figure out how to get this to work with my ADT Pulse Z-Wave system. The instructions don't explain that. It explains how to add lights and devices, but not how to sync it with existing hubs. Here are the steps.

1) Place the iHub and the remote near each other.

2) At the Web Portal, use the Add Device wizard to add an inclusion controller.

3) On the GE/Jasco Remote, press and hold SETUP until the display reads LGHT SETUP.

4) Use either Arrow key to scroll until the display reads TRANSFER.

5) Press OK and the screen will display PRIMARY.

6) Use either arrow key to scroll until the display reads RECEIVE,

7) Press OK and the Screen will display RECEIVING.

8) When screen displays SUCCESS you have successfully transferred the information from the iHub to the inclusion controller.

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Despite its basic appearance, the GE 45601 easily controls my Trane thermostat (interactively shows you the current setpoint and mode, and lets you alter them), and it's capable of doing transfers to a secondary controller, such as a PC based Z-wave controller.

Setup was very intuitive. I didn't need to look at the instructions.

The only negative is that it's not backlit. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to turn the lights on if I need to read the display. :)

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Logitech Pure-Fi Elite High-Performance Stereo System for iPod (Black)

• Robust sound system designed for rich audio playback directly from any iPod
• Integrated dock charges iPods with dock connectors while you play music
• Includes digital FM radio and backlit remote control
• 3.5-mm auxiliary input for older iPods and other MP3 players
• 2-year limited warranty

The Pure Fi Elite is the Audiostation from last year with a few minor tweaks and a major quality control issue addressed, mainly the horrible button controls from the Audiostation that didn't work in the first few batches of that earlier product. The Audiostation units got a terrible rep (especially at Best Buy) and many retailers stopped carrying the product and / or steeply discounted it. The revised Elite is therefore hardly a great surprise, but be reassured that the button issue is now fixed.

The Elite's main strength is as an Ipod dock system, and it does a credible job here. The twin 4" woofers and 1" tweeters do a nice job of producing clear and well-differentiated sound, and the 80 watt power of the system means it will be able to get loud enough for most users. There is no distortion even at high volumes, but there is also virtually no stereo separation. The stereo expander DSP does very little, but doesn't hurt anything either. The stereo expander in Altec's IM600 is a lot more effective at increasing the soundfield.

Speaking of comparisons, the $130 Elite sounds roughly similar to the Griffin Amplifi ($100). The Griffin has better bass, while the Elite offers better treble detail. These tendencies are directly related to driver design, with the Amplifi's 2.75" drivers muddying treble a bit but with it's 5" woofer giving better bass extension that the Elite's 4 inch drivers. The Elite has a lot of extra features though and can get a bit louder. It also charges your Ipod even when turned off, a feature which the Griffin lacks. Both units have minimal stereo separation effect, and the Amplifi has no stereo DSP, while the Elite has one that barely works at all.

The Bose Sound Dock ($300 list) generally sounds a bit louder and stronger in mid-tones than the Elite. The bass sounds roughly comparable, and the Elite gets the edge in treble. The SoundDock has much better perceptible stereo separation and the remote also works more reliably and at longer distances, though the Elite has many more feature. The Elite also has a huge price difference, at least in "real world" prices.

The Elite has many unique features. The remote has access to both shuffle mode and up to 6 playlists. It does not offer full Ipod menu control, but unless you have the eyes of an eagle, you probably can't see the Ipod screen details from more than six feet away anyway. The Elite has a sleep timer, a video pass through for most Ipods, an auxiliary input jack, and adjustable bass and treble level. The remote is adequate with access to most features, and a pretty good range, though it needs to be aimed precisely.

What does the Elite lack? The radio sadly is a miserable effort, really an afterthought. The tuner is grade D quality and can barely tune in even strong FM stations and I could not get any AM at all. (This in NYC, admittedly a tough interference environment, but this hardly explains the incredibly bad tuning performance.) Even when you can tune in a station, the reception is usually not clear with annoying hiss and static bursts. A $20 clock radio can tune in more stations. My own Panasonic clock radio can indeed tune in far more stations more clearly, as can my stereo receiver, my Tivoli PAL, and my Sangean table radio. The Elite's tuner is truly incompetent in comparison. As far as dock radio combos, the Altec IM600s tuner is far far better, and the two units go for roughly the same price.

Because of the lame tuning capability, the RDS feature is rendered useless. To get RDS info, you need to have a strong clear FM signal, and the choppy tuning of the FM tuner on the Elite meant that I could get no RDS info at all from the stations in the area that broadcast that program info. Scratch one special feature!

Finally, the presence of a clock and the absence of an alarm indicates feature stripping by Logitech to make sure that you need to spend extra money to get their separate overpriced Ipod clock radio. Not sticking a basic alarm function in a >$100 system which already has a clock is just pure cynical "product differentiation" of the most annoying sort.

Anyway, if you want a decent performance Ipod dock, the good detailed and amply loud sound of the Elite recommends it. The terrible radio tuner will frustrate and disappoint those who want a multi-function unit, and the lack of stereo separation in the sound is an expected though unfortunate deficit. This is definitely a better bargain than the Bose SoundDock, but the Amplifi is a tough competitor, especially since the radio function on the Elite is so poorly implemented. The Griffin has a somewhat less loud sound though richer bass, and is also about 20% cheaper. The Amplifi sounds better with rock and electronic music. The Elite is more stylish and has a few more useful features on the remote like Shuffle and Playlist and also sounds better with classical and acoustic music.

One caution though: the list for the Elite is in theory $300, and paying anywhere near that level would quickly evaporate any of the Elite's advantages. Get the Elite for $150 and you'll be happy, but pay $200 or more and you will probably be paying more than the system is worth, especially with the Griffin consistently selling at or near the $120 price point.

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THE GOOD:

This product works with any kind of iPod. Logitech includes a set of adapters that snap on to the docking port. My mini works in it beautifully (although you do have to remove any clip attachments or covers you have on your iPod first).

Set up is pretty much idiot proof and takes about 5 minutes.

Includes a "sleep" function so that you can set it to go off when you want. Sadly, there is no alarm feature.

Light enough to carry from room to room if you want to.

All iPod functions work either through the iPod controls or with the remote, which is really clear and easy to use.

AM and FM radio antennas are included. You'll need a fairly strong station signal for them to work. I live in the hills so I can't get most stations, but at least 3 stations I like I can get, which is more than I can say for my regular stereo unless I add an antenna.

Display is clear and easy to read. Adjustable for brightness in both "on" and "off" settings, for 12 or 24 hour clock, iPod backlighting level and language. Displays RDS station and song info where available on FM stations.

You can adjust the treble and bass (see "the bad" for discussion of sound quality) and can turn on Logitech's propietary "StereoXL" feature which greatly improves the sound when you get more than a few feet away from the unit.

Can be used with an A/C power source or connected to your computer port.

Has video pass-through feature so that you can display photos/video on your t.v. if your iPod has these capabilities (mine doesn't, so can't say how good that feature is).

THE BAD:

The sound is about what you'd expect for a "bookshelf"-type stereo system. Not horrible, especially considering that the input is an iPod, but all the adjusting in the world can't keep it from sounding muddy. it would have been nice if there had been a midtone setting in addition to bass and treble. In other words, this won't replace your regular stereo system, but if you buy songs by download and have no other way to play those, or can't afford a full stereo system, or just need something to take to parties, the office or rooms that aren't hooked up, this is pretty sweet.

THE UGLY:

The smell! Has a nasty chemical/plastic odor that will give a headache to those senstive. Hopefully, this is going to fade pretty quickly. Otherwise this is going to be my outdoor stereo.

CONCLUSION:

Overall, I quite like this unit. It won't replace my CD collection just yet, but it's a nice addition to my bedroom, which doesn't have room for a stereo system and isn't wired up to run off my main stereo. This is great for playing podcasts before bed and definitely good for parties. Anyone can take turns loading in an iPod. Overall, a pretty darn good product if you need the kind of flexibility a player like this can give you. But it certainly isn't a replacement for a full stereo system or even a good set of computer speakers and iTunes or internet radio.

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Right out of the box, you realize there's nothing flimsy about the Pure-Fi Elite. The unit is heavy relative to size. It's a sleek, solid black. The display pictures show it without the speaker covers. You don't see the woofer and tweeter when you're looking at the actual unit. The front of the base is at a 30 degree angle, which makes it easy to see the controls and the display screen. The display is large enough to see comfortably with either white on black or black on white, depending on your angle.

The Pure-Fi Elite is a docking station with some nice features and a few gaps. When the iPOD is in the docking station the base charges the iPOD. To hear your music, use the iPOD's menu to select the songs you want to hear and press play. The Pure-Fi Elite will turn on the iPOD, switch to iPOD input, and start playing music. Navigation buttons on the base or the remote control will let you move through your playlist. You can also make six of your playlists into presets. There is a video pass through feature to connect a video output jack (not included) from the back of the base to a TV to display photos or video from the iPOD, too.

The base has a Universal Dock and comes with nine separate adapters, so you can use it with 4th and 5th generation iPODS. There is a chart that shows you which adapter fits your model. If you have a 1st, 2nd or 3rd generation iPOD you'll need to use the aux input connector on the back of the base. (1st and 2nd generation do not have a dock connector. 3rd generation are not supported by the Universal Dock.)

The remote control uses two AA batteries (included). The remote is slim and fits into a holder that can be snapped onto the back of the docking station. I found it much easier to program this from the remote than from the control panel on the front of the unit. You can set the time with either a 12 or 24 hour clock. There is a sleep timer, but no clock/radio or clock/iPOD wake up feature. Radio and iPOD navigation is easy with the remote. You can also adjust the bass, treble, or Stereo XL for your own sound preferences.

The base has AM/FM radio, which is easy to navigate and external radio antennas are included. There are six presets each for AM and FM. If your FM station utilizes RDS, you can see the station's call letters and slogan as well as the dial number. With the external antennas in place, one or two FM stations came in beautifully. Other local FM stations didn't come in very well at all, although they sound fine on other radios around the house. None of the AM stations came in very well. The radio isn't the main attraction of this unit, but since it's included it would be nice if it picked up the stations better.

I played the Pure-Fi Elite at full volume and it did fill the room without sound distortion. At full volume on the Pure-Fi Elite doesn't seem as loud as it does on other units I've owned, although it beats ear buds hands down.

The unit comes with a power cord, power supply, and wall cord. It's an awkward arrangement that I've come to accept on laptops, but I was surprised to find it on a small stereo unit. The power supply seems unnecessarily large and heavy it's only slightly smaller than a brick. I unplug devices when they aren't in use; when I plugged the base back into the wall outlet a day later, I found it had lost the time and other presets.

The Pure-Fi Elite would have been perfect if the radio came in better, if it also functioned as a clock/radio, or if it didn't lose the time and presets when unplugged. I think it's a three and a half star unit, but since we don't have the half star option, I'd round it up rather than down. Overall, this is a solid piece of equipment. It's easy to set up, and music from the iPOD fills the room with good sound.

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Off the bat I am an audiophile and this unit delivers superb sound.

Since I am such a stickler for good sound, I did a LOT of research and finally narrowed it down to the Bose-sounddock and the Pure-Fi.

I was toying with shelling 3x more for the Bose-sounddock which I must admit sounds superb as well a friend of mine owns one ... I am very happy that I went with Logitech.

I also own a pair of Logitech Z-2300 speakers and love Logitech quality when it comes to sound.

Now the Pure-Fi will not shake your floor like the Z-2300 does, but it packs a lot of punch and I mean a LOT. ( I love bass and this unit reproduces bass very well). It is heavy for its size and in speaker world that is usually very good.

For those who want to know the power adapter is 110-230V compliant which is a big plus for me since I travel a bit. I could not find that information anywhere online!

Only con I can think of is that the adapter is a brick and I mean it! its quite big but that is not a big deal for me.

Pure-Fi vs Bose Sounddock no-brainer the Pure-Fi wins hands down.

Sound same

Remote better (Love the playlist memory functionality)

Design same ( I prefer the Pure-Fi)

Value for Money NO brainer there!

I'm now two weeks into a very positive experience with the Logitech Pure-Fi Elite High Performance Speaker System. If you're of the age that remembers vinyl LPs and table sized stereo systems (not table top systems, but table sized) like me, you'll be blown away with the Logitech Pure-Fi Elite High Performance Speaker System's capacity to fill the room with rich sound! Using your iPod as the music source, the Pure-Fi Elite almost... almost... renders the multi-disk CD player obsolete. Play lists and genre lists give you all the flexibility that you need. But then, that's nothing new to the iPod owner, right?

Where my enthusiasm comes from is the fact that my Pure-Fi Elite System frees me from the curse of the ear buds. I like being able to listen to my music without tuning out the world around me, a situation that my wife appreciates as well. I considered the little speakers that can be added to an iPod, however I had yet to listen to any that provided adequate sound quality. That's where this system excels! The tonal quality is excellent in every room we've tried it, even outdoors (albeit with limited volume, a pleasing aspect to any neighbors). Yes, it's light enough and portable enough to move from room to room as you please. No, it's not truly portable in that it does not work off of batteries, so if you're a hard core mobility person you'll still need your ear buds or boom box. Once curious design quirk in that regard is the fact that the Logitech Pure-Fi Elite High Performance Speaker System has the type of power adapter usually seen with laptop PCs. I'm not sure why, and I'm sure that Logitech had a very good reason for using that, but maybe they can fix that with a future version.

A perfect player of this sort would feature a remote control that can completely duplicate the iPod's menu capability. Unfortunately the Logitech Pure-Fi Elite High Performance Speaker System isn't perfect in that sense. It's good, but not ideal. Selecting a play list is best done through the iPod itself, although you can assign your play lists to preset buttons on the remote. That just requires a little bit of effort in the setup.

The remote does however take care of the most important functions though; power, volume shuffle etc. It also controls the AM/FM radio that is built in to the unit, which provides excellent sound reproduction although not on par with the iPod (surprise... surprise).

Setup is so easy that it barely qualifies as a setup as far as I'm concerned. And getting back to the unit's semi-portability aspect, one of the nicest design features is the considerate use of a little extra plastic to provide a holder for the remote control. I appreciate little things like that!

First and foremost though, the sound quality is excellent within it's power limits. For party background music this will do fine. If you want to power a dance floor, hire a DJ with some more powerful equipment. But if you want to fill the common areas of your home with whatever music you like (in my case an eclectic collection of rock, folk, pop and classical), I would suggest that you'll be well satisfied with the Logitech Pure-Fi Elite High Performance Speaker System

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