There are number of factors that affect used car prices. Before buying a secondhand car, you have to check out the past performance of a used car that you are aiming to buy. It is always good to check secondhand car's performance, its manufacturing details and its history. If you will not do these important things, you will be risk out your money because you can only buy a good, descent used vehicle if you will do proper research about it.
Car History
One of the best and the most reliable way to check out the history and the true value of a used car for sale is to check it with DMV. You can take a VIN history report for just 30$ and with the help of VIN report you can easily find out whether the car has been used in any criminal activity or in an undesirable incident or not. The VIN history report will also show you, whether a used vehicle has undergone any serious repairmen or not.
Exterior Condition
Next to DMV report, the other important thing to check is, its exterior. Make sure that each and every part of a vehicle is in original shape. Make sure that the panels of the cars are aligned properly. Check out the durability of the doors of a used vehicle to make sure whether they are perfectly fit or not. Don't forget to check out the trailer hinges of a secondhand car because they will tell you about the history of a car that you are going to buy.
Car's Performance
In order to check out the performance of a car, check out the engine of the vehicle first. Carefully check out the odometer of a used vehicle. These days lots of people are unable to understand the odometer fraud. You have to consume extra bit of time in determining the efficiency and problems between brakes and transmission. If you are not a car expert and if you do not have professional level of knowledge about automobiles then you can take the help of a professional. You can pay an automobile expert for an hour and can have expert's opinion about a used vehicle.
Price Range
It is important to fix a reasonable price range to buy an old automobile. If you will fix $2,000 for a used vehicle then you will get a vehicle which can only transport you from one place to another. But, if you will fix a budget of $5,000 to $9,000, you can easily buy an automobile in fairly good working conditions.
Used car prices
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harry_P_Nguyen
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Car Reliability Rankings 2010 - The Best Small Cars
One of the most important criteria, if not the most important criterion, of automobile quality is reliability, that is, infrequency of serious problems, as few people want the annoyance, inconvenience, and expense of dealing with such problems. This article provides lists employing this criterion that will help guide consumers to the best small cars on the U.S. new and used car market.
The lists in this article include automobile models that are 180 inches (457.2 centimeters) or shorter in length. They include sedans, coupes, convertibles, hatchbacks, and wagons, but do not include sport cars. They also exclude those models with only a one-year data history, as a one-year data history may provide a poor guide of what a consumer may anticipate for more than one year.
The first list gives those small car models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 0-to-4 years. These small cars are:
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with a 2010 0-to-4-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Yaris Hatchback, with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xA, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xD, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Fit, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Insight, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion tC, a coupe with a GPA of 3.75,
The Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit, a 2-door and 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.67,
The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with a GPA of 3.50,
The Toyota Matrix, a wagon with a GPA of 3.50,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with a GPA of 3.50,
The Honda Civic Hybrid, a sedan with a GPA of 3.50,
The non-turbo Subaru Impreza Wagon, with a GPA of 3.50,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xB, a wagon with a GPA of 3.33,
The Ford Focus Sedan, with a GPA of 3.25,
The Hyundai Elantra, a sedan or wagon with a GPA of 3.25.
Of these 16, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 8 (50%), Honda Motor Company accounts for 4 (25%), and Volkswagen AG, Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru division, Ford Motor Company, and Hyundai Motor Company each account for 1.
The second list gives those small car models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 2-to-6 years. These small cars are:
The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with a 2010 2-to-6-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Yaris Hatchback, with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xB, a wagon with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Fit, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit, a 2-door and 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Matrix, a wagon with a GPA of 3.75,
The Honda Civic Hybrid, a sedan with a GPA of 3.75,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xA, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.67,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus IS300,IS350, a 4-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 3.50,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with a GPA of 3.50,
General Motors Corporation's Pontiac Vibe (a Toyota-engineered product marketed by GM), a wagon with a GPA of 3.50,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion tC, a coupe with a GPA of 3.33,
The non-turbo Subaru Impreza Wagon, with a GPA of 3.25.
Of these 15, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 10 (67%) (including the Toyota-engineered product marketed by GM), Honda Motor Company accounts for 3 (20%), and Volkswagen AG and Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru division each account for 1.
The third list gives those small car models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 4-to-8 years. These small cars are:
The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with a 2010 4-to-8-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xB, a wagon with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with a GPA of 4.00,
General Motors Corporation's Pontiac Vibe (a Toyota-engineered product marketed by GM), a wagon with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus IS300, a 4-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 3.75,
The Honda Civic Hybrid, a sedan with a GPA of 3.67,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xA, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.50,
The Honda Civic Si, a sedan with a GPA of 3.50,
The Toyota Matrix, a wagon with a GPA of 3.33,
The Mitsubishi Lancer, a 4-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 3.33.
Of these 12, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 8 (50%) (including the Toyota-engineered product marketed by GM), Honda Motor Company accounts for 3 (25%), and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation accounts for 1.
The fourth list gives those small car models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 6-to-10 years. These venerable, durable small cars are:
The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback and sedan with a 2010 6-to-10-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with a GPA of 3.75,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus IS300, a 4-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 3.67,
The Honda Civic Si, a coupe and sedan with a GPA of 3.67,
The Honda Insight, a 2-door hybrid hatchback with a GPA of 3.50.
Of these 7, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 4 (57%) and Honda Motor Company accounts for 3 (43%).
The final list gives those small cars with at least a 5-year data history which have achieved a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for all of their age ranges offering data. These both meritorious and venerable small cars, together with their overall 2010 GPA, are:
The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback and sedan with a overall 2010 Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with an overall GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with an overall GPA of 3.81,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xB, a wagon with an overall GPA of 3.78,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with an overall GPA of 3.75.
Of these 5, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 4 (80%) and Honda Motor Company accounts for 1 (20%).
James Bleeker has a B.A. from Carleton College in mathematics, a J.D. from Northwestern University, and an M.S. from the University of Minnesota in mathematics. He has practiced law, and taught Introductory Statistics, Calculus III, Business Calculus, Finite Math, College Algebra, Introductory and Intermediate Algebra and Foundations at various universities and colleges. He currently has two websites - Auto on Info at http://www.AutoOnInfo.net and Cars on Info at http://CarsOnInfo.net - which provide detailed auto quality information for cars and trucks sold in North America. For much of the 2000s, AutoOnInfo.net has been the dominant provider of auto reliability and durability information, some of it gathered from its own online surveys and questionnaires.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Bleeker
The lists in this article include automobile models that are 180 inches (457.2 centimeters) or shorter in length. They include sedans, coupes, convertibles, hatchbacks, and wagons, but do not include sport cars. They also exclude those models with only a one-year data history, as a one-year data history may provide a poor guide of what a consumer may anticipate for more than one year.
The first list gives those small car models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 0-to-4 years. These small cars are:
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with a 2010 0-to-4-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Yaris Hatchback, with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xA, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xD, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Fit, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Insight, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion tC, a coupe with a GPA of 3.75,
The Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit, a 2-door and 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.67,
The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with a GPA of 3.50,
The Toyota Matrix, a wagon with a GPA of 3.50,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with a GPA of 3.50,
The Honda Civic Hybrid, a sedan with a GPA of 3.50,
The non-turbo Subaru Impreza Wagon, with a GPA of 3.50,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xB, a wagon with a GPA of 3.33,
The Ford Focus Sedan, with a GPA of 3.25,
The Hyundai Elantra, a sedan or wagon with a GPA of 3.25.
Of these 16, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 8 (50%), Honda Motor Company accounts for 4 (25%), and Volkswagen AG, Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru division, Ford Motor Company, and Hyundai Motor Company each account for 1.
The second list gives those small car models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 2-to-6 years. These small cars are:
The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with a 2010 2-to-6-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Yaris Hatchback, with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xB, a wagon with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Fit, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit, a 2-door and 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Matrix, a wagon with a GPA of 3.75,
The Honda Civic Hybrid, a sedan with a GPA of 3.75,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xA, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.67,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus IS300,IS350, a 4-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 3.50,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with a GPA of 3.50,
General Motors Corporation's Pontiac Vibe (a Toyota-engineered product marketed by GM), a wagon with a GPA of 3.50,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion tC, a coupe with a GPA of 3.33,
The non-turbo Subaru Impreza Wagon, with a GPA of 3.25.
Of these 15, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 10 (67%) (including the Toyota-engineered product marketed by GM), Honda Motor Company accounts for 3 (20%), and Volkswagen AG and Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru division each account for 1.
The third list gives those small car models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 4-to-8 years. These small cars are:
The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with a 2010 4-to-8-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xB, a wagon with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with a GPA of 4.00,
General Motors Corporation's Pontiac Vibe (a Toyota-engineered product marketed by GM), a wagon with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus IS300, a 4-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 3.75,
The Honda Civic Hybrid, a sedan with a GPA of 3.67,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xA, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.50,
The Honda Civic Si, a sedan with a GPA of 3.50,
The Toyota Matrix, a wagon with a GPA of 3.33,
The Mitsubishi Lancer, a 4-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 3.33.
Of these 12, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 8 (50%) (including the Toyota-engineered product marketed by GM), Honda Motor Company accounts for 3 (25%), and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation accounts for 1.
The fourth list gives those small car models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 6-to-10 years. These venerable, durable small cars are:
The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback and sedan with a 2010 6-to-10-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with a GPA of 3.75,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus IS300, a 4-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 3.67,
The Honda Civic Si, a coupe and sedan with a GPA of 3.67,
The Honda Insight, a 2-door hybrid hatchback with a GPA of 3.50.
Of these 7, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 4 (57%) and Honda Motor Company accounts for 3 (43%).
The final list gives those small cars with at least a 5-year data history which have achieved a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for all of their age ranges offering data. These both meritorious and venerable small cars, together with their overall 2010 GPA, are:
The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback and sedan with a overall 2010 Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with an overall GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with an overall GPA of 3.81,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xB, a wagon with an overall GPA of 3.78,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with an overall GPA of 3.75.
Of these 5, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 4 (80%) and Honda Motor Company accounts for 1 (20%).
James Bleeker has a B.A. from Carleton College in mathematics, a J.D. from Northwestern University, and an M.S. from the University of Minnesota in mathematics. He has practiced law, and taught Introductory Statistics, Calculus III, Business Calculus, Finite Math, College Algebra, Introductory and Intermediate Algebra and Foundations at various universities and colleges. He currently has two websites - Auto on Info at http://www.AutoOnInfo.net and Cars on Info at http://CarsOnInfo.net - which provide detailed auto quality information for cars and trucks sold in North America. For much of the 2000s, AutoOnInfo.net has been the dominant provider of auto reliability and durability information, some of it gathered from its own online surveys and questionnaires.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Bleeker
Monday, August 23, 2010
Boosting Power Through Car Tuning
There are several innovative ways to upgrade your car's performance in both the small and larger parts of your car. Car tuning can take on the different aspects of your car which can individually contribute to improving and upgrading your car, not to mention the safety and durability that it provides.
In the area of fine engine tuning, car engines can be retrofitted with a performance chip to give it a special boost. It can be adaptable to engines in their fuel injection or electronic control unit systems. This performance chip can easily contribute to better performance of the regular engines by as much as 10 percent, and to turbo engines by as much as 30 horsepower. In car tuning, a performance cam could also be installed adding another 12 horsepower to your engine boost. The fuel pressure regulator can be replaced with a power boost valve in the return fuel line to likewise increase the power of your car.
With improvements in the driving power, you can also introduce additional modifications to its stopping power through brake performance tuning. Actually, it is recommended that you equip your car with an upgraded braking system before introducing car power modifications. Although it is not considered a performance upgrade, the braking system helps in the performance and safety of the car. In car tuning, a direct way to enhance braking is to fit your car with high performance brake pads and brake disks which can withstand extreme heat during extreme braking conditions better than regular pads and disks.
Air filter tuning is considered the simplest in car tuning tasks. Air filters and air filter elements can be substituted with high performance air filters for a special power boost in your engine performance. There is also the option of using an induction kit to improve air flow in a fuel-injection system instead of using the original air box. This kit features a conical filter that can be installed directly over the air flow gauge and lead the air better into the engine, which effectively upgrades the engine's performance.
You can also improve your car's performance by introducing enhancements to your exhaust system. The less impeded the exhaust fumes are in exiting the car, the better the performance of the same. Larger exhaust manifolds and pipes can make for better engine performance. Another key area in car tuning is the suspension system. The key to better performance is to create a low profile for your car by introducing low springs, lower profile wheels and tires, and shock absorbers. With a low profile the car has less difficulty in maneuvering and cornering.
There are countless tuning equipment and supplies which could aid you in your car tuning needs and these are available over the Internet. Automotive spare parts can likewise be canvassed online to make your endeavor easier and more convenient.
In order to meet you car tuning requirements, it is best to familiarize yourself with the different aspects of car tuning. You may consult a trusted professional to get the information you need in order to have a high performance vehicle.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sagbee_C
In the area of fine engine tuning, car engines can be retrofitted with a performance chip to give it a special boost. It can be adaptable to engines in their fuel injection or electronic control unit systems. This performance chip can easily contribute to better performance of the regular engines by as much as 10 percent, and to turbo engines by as much as 30 horsepower. In car tuning, a performance cam could also be installed adding another 12 horsepower to your engine boost. The fuel pressure regulator can be replaced with a power boost valve in the return fuel line to likewise increase the power of your car.
With improvements in the driving power, you can also introduce additional modifications to its stopping power through brake performance tuning. Actually, it is recommended that you equip your car with an upgraded braking system before introducing car power modifications. Although it is not considered a performance upgrade, the braking system helps in the performance and safety of the car. In car tuning, a direct way to enhance braking is to fit your car with high performance brake pads and brake disks which can withstand extreme heat during extreme braking conditions better than regular pads and disks.
Air filter tuning is considered the simplest in car tuning tasks. Air filters and air filter elements can be substituted with high performance air filters for a special power boost in your engine performance. There is also the option of using an induction kit to improve air flow in a fuel-injection system instead of using the original air box. This kit features a conical filter that can be installed directly over the air flow gauge and lead the air better into the engine, which effectively upgrades the engine's performance.
You can also improve your car's performance by introducing enhancements to your exhaust system. The less impeded the exhaust fumes are in exiting the car, the better the performance of the same. Larger exhaust manifolds and pipes can make for better engine performance. Another key area in car tuning is the suspension system. The key to better performance is to create a low profile for your car by introducing low springs, lower profile wheels and tires, and shock absorbers. With a low profile the car has less difficulty in maneuvering and cornering.
There are countless tuning equipment and supplies which could aid you in your car tuning needs and these are available over the Internet. Automotive spare parts can likewise be canvassed online to make your endeavor easier and more convenient.
In order to meet you car tuning requirements, it is best to familiarize yourself with the different aspects of car tuning. You may consult a trusted professional to get the information you need in order to have a high performance vehicle.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sagbee_C
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Satellite Car Audio
A satellite radio or subscription radio (SR) is a digital radio signal that is broadcast by a communications satellite, which covers a much wider geographical range than terrestrial radio signals.
For now, satellite radio offers a meaningful alternative to ground-based radio services in some countries, notably the United States. Mobile services, such as Sirius, XM, and Worldspace, allow listeners to roam across an entire continent, listening to the same audio programming anywhere they go. Other services, such as Music Choice or Muzak's satellite-delivered content, require a fixed-location receiver and a dish antenna. In all cases, the antenna must have a clear view to the satellites. In areas where tall buildings, bridges, or even parking garages obscure the signal, repeaters can be placed to make the signal available to listeners.
Radio services are usually provided by commercial ventures and are subscription-based. The various services are proprietary signals, requiring specialized hardware for decoding and playback. Providers usually carry a variety of news, weather, sports, and music channels, with the music channels generally being commercial-free.
In areas with a relatively high population density, it is easier and less expensive to reach the bulk of the population with terrestrial broadcasts. Thus in the UK and some other countries, the contemporary evolution of radio services is focused on Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) services, such as HD Radio, rather than satellite radio.
Business applications
Satellite radio, particularly in the United States, has become a major provider of background music to businesses such as hotels, retail chains, and restaurants. Compared to old-line competitors such as Muzak, satellite radio's significantly lower price, commercial-free channel variety, and more reliable technology make it a very attractive option. Both North American satellite radio providers offer business subscriptions, though given the merger of XM Satellite Radio with Sirius, the future of XM for Business is uncertain. Sirius's commercial services are provided nationally by third-party partner Applied Media Technologies Corporation. Satellite radio has a large following within the truck driving community as well. The advantage of driving from coast to coast without losing signal is an obvious advantage. Both providers offer programming aimed at trucking professionals.
System design
Satellite radio uses the 2.3 GHz S band in North America and generally shares the 1.4 GHz L band with local Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) stations elsewhere. It is a type of direct broadcast satellite and is strong enough that it requires no satellite dish to receive. Curvature of the earth limits the reach of the signal, but due to the high orbit of the satellites, two or three are usually sufficient to provide coverage for an entire continent.
Local repeaters similar to broadcast translator boosters enable signals to be available even if the view of the satellite is blocked, for example, by skyscrapers in a large town. Major tunnels can also have repeaters. This method also allows local programming to be transmitted such as traffic and weather in most major metropolitan areas, as of March 2004.
Each receiver has an Electronic Serial Number (ESN) Radio ID to identify it. When a unit is activated with a subscription, an authorization code is sent in the digital stream telling the receiver to allow access to the blocked channels. Most services have at least one "free to air" or "in the clear" (ITC) channel as a test. For example, Sirius uses channel 184, Sirius Weather & Emergency.
Most (if not all) of the systems in use now are proprietary, using different codecs for audio data compression, different modulation techniques, and/or different methods for encryption and conditional access.
Like other radio services, satellite radio also transmits program-associated data (PAD or metadata), with the artist and title of each song or program and possibly the name of the channel.
United States
In the United States, two companies operate satellite radio services: XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, though these companies are merging. A monthly fee is charged for both services (as of 2005, Sirius also offers a one-time fee of nearly $500 valid for the lifetime of the equipment). Some XM music channels have commercials, while Sirius is commercial-free. Both services have commercial-free music stations, as well as talk and news stations, some of which include commercials. XM uses fixed-location geostationary satellites in two positions, and Sirius uses three geosynchronous satellites in highly elliptical orbits passing over North and South America, to transmit the digital streams. The net difference is that the Sirius signal comes from a higher elevation angle in the northern part of the U.S. and even more so in Canada. (This higher angle makes Sirius' signal less likely to drop out on cities, but more likely to drop out in parking garages, gas stations, tunnels, and other covered spaces.)
Both services are available mainly via portable receivers in automobiles, but both have many accessories so one can listen at home through a home stereo, with a portable boombox, or online through a personal computer. Both services now have some form of receiver that is completely portable.
Satellite radio's chief asset is the fact that it is not localized: drivers can receive the same programming anywhere in the footprint of the service. A stop at any truck stop will demonstrate the popularity of XM among long-haul drivers. In addition, both XM and Sirius carry programming that is simply not feasible on commercial radio stations. Specialty stations cover things such as family talk, radio drama, classical music, and live events.
The footprint of both Sirius and XM is only the United States (including Alaska), Canada, and the upper third of Mexico; it does not cover Hawaii as satellite TV does.
Success so far
As of Feb 28,2008 XM claims over 9 million subscribers, while Sirius claimed 7.6 million as of October 30, 2007. One critical factor for the success of satellite radio is the deployment of in-car receivers. Both Sirius and XM have attempted to convince automakers to equip vehicles with their receiver. As of 2007, the following manufacturers offer satellite radio as original Sirius has an exclusive contract for VW and Audi vehicles from 2007 through 2012[citation needed]. Those brands previously offered both services. GM, Honda and Suzuki are all major investors in XM; Sirius is not offered as options in their vehicles.[1] Bentley and Rolls-Royce come not only with receivers and lifetime subscriptions for Sirius service. XM is featured in select Harley-Davidson motorcycle models, while Sirius can be heard in several brands of recreational vehicles and boats.
One of the challenges for satellite radio has been to move away from cars and into the homes of consumers.[citation needed] Several portable satellite radio receivers have been made for this purpose. XM satellite radio has developed the XM2go line of "Walkman-like" portable receivers, such as the Delphi MyFi, the Pioneer AirWare and Giant International's Tao. Polk Audio makes a component-style home XM Reference Tuner[2] and a tabletop entertainment system, the I-Sonic[3], with XM capability. Sirius has developed the Kenwood Portable Satellite Radio Tuner, Sirius S50, Here2Anywhere and the Sirius Stiletto 100.[4] The Pioneer Inno and Samsung Helix for XM were among the first portable receivers to offer the ability of recording live content for playback later. Thus allowing for satellite radio to compete more fully with MP3 players.
While key agreements with automobile manufacturers are still being made, both companies have made the leap away from satellite radio only in the car and into the homes of consumers. One bump in the road to becoming more widely used in the home was both Sirius and XM running into legal issues in early 2006 with the FCC about their internal FM Transmitters. This required Sirius and XM to pull several of their models off the shelf and fix the problem. The FCC was claiming that the emissions of the internal FM Transmitters were too powerful and needed to be lowered. With these changes any customer buying a new satellite radio receiver doesn't achieve nearly the broadcast distance as the old models. Since this is a key point in the ability to use a satellite radio in the home (i.e. by taking the signal received and then broadcasting it to multiple points throughout the home at the same time and avoid having to bring the satellite radio with them as they move around the home) it has led many subscribers to use an external Personal Fm transmitter like the Whole House FM Transmitter, C Crane, Griffin Technology, etc. to replace the lower powered internal FM Transmitter. Since these external FM Transmitters are Part 15 compliant they can broadcast the signal further than the new internal FM Transmitters now included in the satellite radios and still be legal. These external FM transmitters may prevent a slow down in the progress already made into the home consumer market for Sirius and XM satellite radio.
Canada
On November 1, 2004, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) began hearing applications for Canada's first satellite radio operations. Three applications were filed: one by Standard Broadcasting and the CBC in partnership with Sirius, one by Canadian Satellite Radio in partnership with XM, and one at the last minute by CHUM Limited and Astral Media.
The first two would use the same systems already set up for the U.S., while CHUM's application is for a subscription radio service delivered through existing terrestrial DAB transmitters rather than directly by satellite (although satellites would be used to deliver programming to the transmitters). The CHUM service is all-Canadian; the other two applications propose to offer a mix of Canadian-produced channels and existing channels from their American partner services.
A small "gray market" already exists for Sirius and XM receivers in Canada in which a Canadian would have an American order their receiver and setup.
On June 16, 2005, the CRTC approved all three services.[5]
In its decision, the CRTC required the following conditions from the satellite radio licensees:
A minimum of eight channels must be produced in Canada, and for each Canadian channel, nine foreign channels can be broadcast.
At least 85% of the content on the Canadian-produced channels (whether musical or spoken word) must be Canadian.
At least 25% of the Canadian channels must be French-language stations.
At least 25% of the music aired on the Canadian channels must be new Canadian music.
At least 25% of the music played on the Canadian channels must be from up-and-coming Canadian artists.
These conditions were an extension of the existing Canadian content rules applicable to all broadcasters in Canada. The applicants had until 13 November
2005, to notify the CRTC of their decision. Both companies managed to negotiate the standards a little to their favor, and in return, they would instead play 50% French content as opposed to 25%. Also, XM Canada succeeded in getting an extra five channels of National Hockey League Play-by-Play onto their platform, without an additional channel creation, by agreeing to cover every Canadian team's game during the season.
CHUM appealed the decision, claiming they would not survive if Sirius and XM [http://caraudiostuff.blogspot.com] both were allowed in the Canadian market, and that the licence conditions regarding Canadian content imposed on Canadian Satellite Radio and Sirius Canada were too lax. Canadian Satellite Radio and Sirius Canada countered that CHUM was simply trying to create a monopoly in the Canadian market.
In late August 2005, Heritage Minister Liza Frulla asked the Federal Cabinet to review the CRTC decision and possibly send it back to the CRTC for further review. Lobbyists complained that the CRTC decision did not require enough Canadian content from the broadcasters. The broadcasters responded by promising to add additional Canadian and French content.
After vigorous lobbying from both sides, the Federal Cabinet officially accepted the CRTC decision on September 10, 2005.
[http://caraudiostuff.blogspot.com]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Vida
For now, satellite radio offers a meaningful alternative to ground-based radio services in some countries, notably the United States. Mobile services, such as Sirius, XM, and Worldspace, allow listeners to roam across an entire continent, listening to the same audio programming anywhere they go. Other services, such as Music Choice or Muzak's satellite-delivered content, require a fixed-location receiver and a dish antenna. In all cases, the antenna must have a clear view to the satellites. In areas where tall buildings, bridges, or even parking garages obscure the signal, repeaters can be placed to make the signal available to listeners.
Radio services are usually provided by commercial ventures and are subscription-based. The various services are proprietary signals, requiring specialized hardware for decoding and playback. Providers usually carry a variety of news, weather, sports, and music channels, with the music channels generally being commercial-free.
In areas with a relatively high population density, it is easier and less expensive to reach the bulk of the population with terrestrial broadcasts. Thus in the UK and some other countries, the contemporary evolution of radio services is focused on Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) services, such as HD Radio, rather than satellite radio.
Business applications
Satellite radio, particularly in the United States, has become a major provider of background music to businesses such as hotels, retail chains, and restaurants. Compared to old-line competitors such as Muzak, satellite radio's significantly lower price, commercial-free channel variety, and more reliable technology make it a very attractive option. Both North American satellite radio providers offer business subscriptions, though given the merger of XM Satellite Radio with Sirius, the future of XM for Business is uncertain. Sirius's commercial services are provided nationally by third-party partner Applied Media Technologies Corporation. Satellite radio has a large following within the truck driving community as well. The advantage of driving from coast to coast without losing signal is an obvious advantage. Both providers offer programming aimed at trucking professionals.
System design
Satellite radio uses the 2.3 GHz S band in North America and generally shares the 1.4 GHz L band with local Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) stations elsewhere. It is a type of direct broadcast satellite and is strong enough that it requires no satellite dish to receive. Curvature of the earth limits the reach of the signal, but due to the high orbit of the satellites, two or three are usually sufficient to provide coverage for an entire continent.
Local repeaters similar to broadcast translator boosters enable signals to be available even if the view of the satellite is blocked, for example, by skyscrapers in a large town. Major tunnels can also have repeaters. This method also allows local programming to be transmitted such as traffic and weather in most major metropolitan areas, as of March 2004.
Each receiver has an Electronic Serial Number (ESN) Radio ID to identify it. When a unit is activated with a subscription, an authorization code is sent in the digital stream telling the receiver to allow access to the blocked channels. Most services have at least one "free to air" or "in the clear" (ITC) channel as a test. For example, Sirius uses channel 184, Sirius Weather & Emergency.
Most (if not all) of the systems in use now are proprietary, using different codecs for audio data compression, different modulation techniques, and/or different methods for encryption and conditional access.
Like other radio services, satellite radio also transmits program-associated data (PAD or metadata), with the artist and title of each song or program and possibly the name of the channel.
United States
In the United States, two companies operate satellite radio services: XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, though these companies are merging. A monthly fee is charged for both services (as of 2005, Sirius also offers a one-time fee of nearly $500 valid for the lifetime of the equipment). Some XM music channels have commercials, while Sirius is commercial-free. Both services have commercial-free music stations, as well as talk and news stations, some of which include commercials. XM uses fixed-location geostationary satellites in two positions, and Sirius uses three geosynchronous satellites in highly elliptical orbits passing over North and South America, to transmit the digital streams. The net difference is that the Sirius signal comes from a higher elevation angle in the northern part of the U.S. and even more so in Canada. (This higher angle makes Sirius' signal less likely to drop out on cities, but more likely to drop out in parking garages, gas stations, tunnels, and other covered spaces.)
Both services are available mainly via portable receivers in automobiles, but both have many accessories so one can listen at home through a home stereo, with a portable boombox, or online through a personal computer. Both services now have some form of receiver that is completely portable.
Satellite radio's chief asset is the fact that it is not localized: drivers can receive the same programming anywhere in the footprint of the service. A stop at any truck stop will demonstrate the popularity of XM among long-haul drivers. In addition, both XM and Sirius carry programming that is simply not feasible on commercial radio stations. Specialty stations cover things such as family talk, radio drama, classical music, and live events.
The footprint of both Sirius and XM is only the United States (including Alaska), Canada, and the upper third of Mexico; it does not cover Hawaii as satellite TV does.
Success so far
As of Feb 28,2008 XM claims over 9 million subscribers, while Sirius claimed 7.6 million as of October 30, 2007. One critical factor for the success of satellite radio is the deployment of in-car receivers. Both Sirius and XM have attempted to convince automakers to equip vehicles with their receiver. As of 2007, the following manufacturers offer satellite radio as original Sirius has an exclusive contract for VW and Audi vehicles from 2007 through 2012[citation needed]. Those brands previously offered both services. GM, Honda and Suzuki are all major investors in XM; Sirius is not offered as options in their vehicles.[1] Bentley and Rolls-Royce come not only with receivers and lifetime subscriptions for Sirius service. XM is featured in select Harley-Davidson motorcycle models, while Sirius can be heard in several brands of recreational vehicles and boats.
One of the challenges for satellite radio has been to move away from cars and into the homes of consumers.[citation needed] Several portable satellite radio receivers have been made for this purpose. XM satellite radio has developed the XM2go line of "Walkman-like" portable receivers, such as the Delphi MyFi, the Pioneer AirWare and Giant International's Tao. Polk Audio makes a component-style home XM Reference Tuner[2] and a tabletop entertainment system, the I-Sonic[3], with XM capability. Sirius has developed the Kenwood Portable Satellite Radio Tuner, Sirius S50, Here2Anywhere and the Sirius Stiletto 100.[4] The Pioneer Inno and Samsung Helix for XM were among the first portable receivers to offer the ability of recording live content for playback later. Thus allowing for satellite radio to compete more fully with MP3 players.
While key agreements with automobile manufacturers are still being made, both companies have made the leap away from satellite radio only in the car and into the homes of consumers. One bump in the road to becoming more widely used in the home was both Sirius and XM running into legal issues in early 2006 with the FCC about their internal FM Transmitters. This required Sirius and XM to pull several of their models off the shelf and fix the problem. The FCC was claiming that the emissions of the internal FM Transmitters were too powerful and needed to be lowered. With these changes any customer buying a new satellite radio receiver doesn't achieve nearly the broadcast distance as the old models. Since this is a key point in the ability to use a satellite radio in the home (i.e. by taking the signal received and then broadcasting it to multiple points throughout the home at the same time and avoid having to bring the satellite radio with them as they move around the home) it has led many subscribers to use an external Personal Fm transmitter like the Whole House FM Transmitter, C Crane, Griffin Technology, etc. to replace the lower powered internal FM Transmitter. Since these external FM Transmitters are Part 15 compliant they can broadcast the signal further than the new internal FM Transmitters now included in the satellite radios and still be legal. These external FM transmitters may prevent a slow down in the progress already made into the home consumer market for Sirius and XM satellite radio.
Canada
On November 1, 2004, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) began hearing applications for Canada's first satellite radio operations. Three applications were filed: one by Standard Broadcasting and the CBC in partnership with Sirius, one by Canadian Satellite Radio in partnership with XM, and one at the last minute by CHUM Limited and Astral Media.
The first two would use the same systems already set up for the U.S., while CHUM's application is for a subscription radio service delivered through existing terrestrial DAB transmitters rather than directly by satellite (although satellites would be used to deliver programming to the transmitters). The CHUM service is all-Canadian; the other two applications propose to offer a mix of Canadian-produced channels and existing channels from their American partner services.
A small "gray market" already exists for Sirius and XM receivers in Canada in which a Canadian would have an American order their receiver and setup.
On June 16, 2005, the CRTC approved all three services.[5]
In its decision, the CRTC required the following conditions from the satellite radio licensees:
A minimum of eight channels must be produced in Canada, and for each Canadian channel, nine foreign channels can be broadcast.
At least 85% of the content on the Canadian-produced channels (whether musical or spoken word) must be Canadian.
At least 25% of the Canadian channels must be French-language stations.
At least 25% of the music aired on the Canadian channels must be new Canadian music.
At least 25% of the music played on the Canadian channels must be from up-and-coming Canadian artists.
These conditions were an extension of the existing Canadian content rules applicable to all broadcasters in Canada. The applicants had until 13 November
2005, to notify the CRTC of their decision. Both companies managed to negotiate the standards a little to their favor, and in return, they would instead play 50% French content as opposed to 25%. Also, XM Canada succeeded in getting an extra five channels of National Hockey League Play-by-Play onto their platform, without an additional channel creation, by agreeing to cover every Canadian team's game during the season.
CHUM appealed the decision, claiming they would not survive if Sirius and XM [http://caraudiostuff.blogspot.com] both were allowed in the Canadian market, and that the licence conditions regarding Canadian content imposed on Canadian Satellite Radio and Sirius Canada were too lax. Canadian Satellite Radio and Sirius Canada countered that CHUM was simply trying to create a monopoly in the Canadian market.
In late August 2005, Heritage Minister Liza Frulla asked the Federal Cabinet to review the CRTC decision and possibly send it back to the CRTC for further review. Lobbyists complained that the CRTC decision did not require enough Canadian content from the broadcasters. The broadcasters responded by promising to add additional Canadian and French content.
After vigorous lobbying from both sides, the Federal Cabinet officially accepted the CRTC decision on September 10, 2005.
[http://caraudiostuff.blogspot.com]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Vida
Friday, May 21, 2010
How to Make Money With Your Car - Find Out How to Make Easy Cash by Driving Your Car!
As the cost of living continues to soar, more and more people realise that what they make from their regular jobs is not enough. If you are looking for ways to earn an extra income, then car advertising may be the best solution for you.
Car wraps is a great way for a company to get lots of exposure, without spending much money on advertising. The auto wraps are usually very colorful and attract lots of attention. A car wrapped in advertisements can be seen by thousands of people in a single day. Especially people, who are stuck in traffic, will certainly see the wrapped vehicle alongside them.
Drivers are paid on average $700 to $900 per month to have their own car fitted with the wrap. Some companies also offer free cars (wrapped in ads) to people who agree to help them gain more publicity.
If you are interested in participating in the "get-paid-to-drive" programs, here are a few requirements that you need to be aware of:
* You have to be over 18 years old and be a licensed driver.
* The companies usually choose drivers who live in high-traffic, urban areas. This means that if you live in a small town, it might be more difficult to get accepted. However, if you travel a lot they might make an exception.
* Your chances of getting selected can vary depending upon the target demographic the companies want to reach. For example, if the company wants to target college students, it might select a candidate who is a college student himself or lives near college campuses.
* Getting lots of speeding tickets, being involved in accidents or being accused of reckless driving can get your contract revoked.
* You will have to agree to drive a set number of miles per month in your given area (usually about 400 miles) and park the vehicle where it can be seen by many people.
* You have to keep the car clean and well maintained. If something happens to the automobile or if the ad becomes damaged, you must report it to the company.
* If you have points on your driving licence or if you haven't had your licence for very long, your chances of getting selected are rather slim.
* Some companies will state in the contract that you must answer questions about the product, if someone asks you.
* Certain companies may even want to install GPS on your car, in order to know how many miles you drive each month. However, you can find companies that don't use this tactic.
Do you want to GET PAID TO DRIVE? Just Click Here!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ethan_G._Williams
Car wraps is a great way for a company to get lots of exposure, without spending much money on advertising. The auto wraps are usually very colorful and attract lots of attention. A car wrapped in advertisements can be seen by thousands of people in a single day. Especially people, who are stuck in traffic, will certainly see the wrapped vehicle alongside them.
Drivers are paid on average $700 to $900 per month to have their own car fitted with the wrap. Some companies also offer free cars (wrapped in ads) to people who agree to help them gain more publicity.
If you are interested in participating in the "get-paid-to-drive" programs, here are a few requirements that you need to be aware of:
* You have to be over 18 years old and be a licensed driver.
* The companies usually choose drivers who live in high-traffic, urban areas. This means that if you live in a small town, it might be more difficult to get accepted. However, if you travel a lot they might make an exception.
* Your chances of getting selected can vary depending upon the target demographic the companies want to reach. For example, if the company wants to target college students, it might select a candidate who is a college student himself or lives near college campuses.
* Getting lots of speeding tickets, being involved in accidents or being accused of reckless driving can get your contract revoked.
* You will have to agree to drive a set number of miles per month in your given area (usually about 400 miles) and park the vehicle where it can be seen by many people.
* You have to keep the car clean and well maintained. If something happens to the automobile or if the ad becomes damaged, you must report it to the company.
* If you have points on your driving licence or if you haven't had your licence for very long, your chances of getting selected are rather slim.
* Some companies will state in the contract that you must answer questions about the product, if someone asks you.
* Certain companies may even want to install GPS on your car, in order to know how many miles you drive each month. However, you can find companies that don't use this tactic.
Do you want to GET PAID TO DRIVE? Just Click Here!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ethan_G._Williams
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Learn How to Drive a Car With Manual Transmission
Learning how to drive a car with a manual transmission is tricky at first, but will become natural just like riding a bike. Getting accustomed to the physical feel of the stick shift, the brakes, and the clutch is mandatory when you are first learning how to drive. The mind needs to be trained to use the left foot while driving; this is essential in order to depress the clutch for shifting. A driver that is accustomed driving an automatic transmission type car will find driving with two feet strange and uncomfortable, because it is natural to rest the left foot while driving.
Learning how to drive a manual itself is confusing as well to the new learner. Sitting in park in a neutral place like a parking lot and practicing shifting from first to second and second to third, and so forth, is the best bet for learning the structure of the stick shift. The driver needs to practice pushing the clutch in while shifting gears is essential to learning how to drive a manual car. Eventually, clutching will become second nature as well. Once a person has a handle on how the clutch and the stick shift function together, it is time to hit the road.
Starting a manual transmission requires putting the car in neutral, depressing the clutch and turning the ignition. The emergency brake must be disengaged at this point in time if not before. The car should be put in first gear or reverse to start out, and then let up off of the clutch slowly. Some cars will want the gas to be pressed on a bit to start moving, and others will start driving as soon as the clutch is loosened. Removing the foot off the clutch too fast will result in a stalled car, and then the whole process must be started again. Getting familiar with the car is all part of driving any car, not just the manual style cars.
But, given the car didn't stall; driving is fairly simple at this point. Just like driving an automatic, depress the gas in order to gain speed. Once the car reaches the point where it seems to need a little more power, remove the foot from the gas pedal, push in the clutch, and switch the stick into the next gear. Let the clutch out while concurrently pressing the gas. Generally, the best time to shift the car up to the next level is at about 3000 rpm's. When it is time to slow down, the car can be stopped at any time by pressing the brakes. But, there will be a point where the car will want to be shifted to neutral in order to stop, otherwise it will stall and require to be restarted.
Driving a manual transmission is more about learning the principle of how to use the different parts. Once that is understood, getting the hang of it is just a matter of practicing in safe environments. It will not be long before driving the car is second nature, just like riding a bike.
Copyright (c) 2010 by Hellen Krotsova
Hellen had a really difficult experience trying to learn how to drive a car with manual gear shifting. However, she finally did it and now she is a proud owner of a manual transmission sports car. So, if you are still a beginner willing to discover more about the real secrets of driving you should check her website. Hellen has been recently writing about how to safely drive a car. Highly recommended content folks!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hellen_Krotsova
Learning how to drive a manual itself is confusing as well to the new learner. Sitting in park in a neutral place like a parking lot and practicing shifting from first to second and second to third, and so forth, is the best bet for learning the structure of the stick shift. The driver needs to practice pushing the clutch in while shifting gears is essential to learning how to drive a manual car. Eventually, clutching will become second nature as well. Once a person has a handle on how the clutch and the stick shift function together, it is time to hit the road.
Starting a manual transmission requires putting the car in neutral, depressing the clutch and turning the ignition. The emergency brake must be disengaged at this point in time if not before. The car should be put in first gear or reverse to start out, and then let up off of the clutch slowly. Some cars will want the gas to be pressed on a bit to start moving, and others will start driving as soon as the clutch is loosened. Removing the foot off the clutch too fast will result in a stalled car, and then the whole process must be started again. Getting familiar with the car is all part of driving any car, not just the manual style cars.
But, given the car didn't stall; driving is fairly simple at this point. Just like driving an automatic, depress the gas in order to gain speed. Once the car reaches the point where it seems to need a little more power, remove the foot from the gas pedal, push in the clutch, and switch the stick into the next gear. Let the clutch out while concurrently pressing the gas. Generally, the best time to shift the car up to the next level is at about 3000 rpm's. When it is time to slow down, the car can be stopped at any time by pressing the brakes. But, there will be a point where the car will want to be shifted to neutral in order to stop, otherwise it will stall and require to be restarted.
Driving a manual transmission is more about learning the principle of how to use the different parts. Once that is understood, getting the hang of it is just a matter of practicing in safe environments. It will not be long before driving the car is second nature, just like riding a bike.
Copyright (c) 2010 by Hellen Krotsova
Hellen had a really difficult experience trying to learn how to drive a car with manual gear shifting. However, she finally did it and now she is a proud owner of a manual transmission sports car. So, if you are still a beginner willing to discover more about the real secrets of driving you should check her website. Hellen has been recently writing about how to safely drive a car. Highly recommended content folks!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hellen_Krotsova
Monday, January 25, 2010
iPhone Blue Tooth Car Kits
There is an unlimited list of cool add-ons for iPhone owners. There are few that are as important or as useful as the blue tooth hands free car kits out there. As it turns out in some states it is actually illegal to talk on the phone while you are operating a motor vehicle, so the iPhone car kits seem to be a must have accessory for any iPhone lover. We will talk about some of the coolest features of our favorite car accessories for you iPhone here.
Top Features To Look For in a iPhone Car Kit
1. Reception - Well not all blue tooth accessories for the iPhone are of the same quality. Some get better reception and this does come into play even in the car. Of course you phone will never be very far away from the receiver if you are using a hands free car kit. The noticeable difference between a cheap and a good quality hand free set for you car is going to be the quality of sound. Some cheap Bluetooth car kits will give a very static signal that makes it hard to hear you callers, so you will want to make sure you find a good quality set.
2. Speaker Volume - Some of the models available have a very good sound quality and some use very small speakers that are not very loud. This will be a big problem if you have car with loud exhaust or a car that creates lot of road noise, like a big truck. If the sound level inside the cabin of your vehicle is minimal, you can get away with most any blue tooth car kit for your iPhone.
3. Display - Some of the iPhone car kits do not even have a display and if you have your iPhone on a dock in the car so you can see it's screen these are fine. Some people do not want to have to take the iPhone out of their pocket, so the heads up display may be very important to them. Some displays simply show callers, but other Bluetooth car kits may actually let you browse through your phone book and access other advanced features like this.
4. Power - This is more of a preference than a feature that is a necessity. Some of these iPhone hands free blue tooth kits require batteries and some actually draw power from your car itself, so this is another feature to keep a lookout for while shopping around. There are many sources for iPhone accessories and more information on iPhone accessories, so make sure to take you time shopping and find the add-on goodies that are right for you!
There are a lot of very expensive setups for the iPhone if you are looking to go hands free in your car, but many of the best models are not over 200 dollars. You can get away cheap if you are just trying to "get legal" and in some cases can get a good working iPhone blue tooth car kit for under 50 dollars. These are just some of the things you should keep in mind when looking for the perfect iPhone accessories for you and your needs.
Rather you own the original iPhone or a newer iPhone 3g or 3gs you will love to extend your iPhones capabilities with cool iPhone accessories that rock. So take a look around the web and see what you can find, there are a lot of cool ones out there to choose from!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Simpson
Top Features To Look For in a iPhone Car Kit
1. Reception - Well not all blue tooth accessories for the iPhone are of the same quality. Some get better reception and this does come into play even in the car. Of course you phone will never be very far away from the receiver if you are using a hands free car kit. The noticeable difference between a cheap and a good quality hand free set for you car is going to be the quality of sound. Some cheap Bluetooth car kits will give a very static signal that makes it hard to hear you callers, so you will want to make sure you find a good quality set.
2. Speaker Volume - Some of the models available have a very good sound quality and some use very small speakers that are not very loud. This will be a big problem if you have car with loud exhaust or a car that creates lot of road noise, like a big truck. If the sound level inside the cabin of your vehicle is minimal, you can get away with most any blue tooth car kit for your iPhone.
3. Display - Some of the iPhone car kits do not even have a display and if you have your iPhone on a dock in the car so you can see it's screen these are fine. Some people do not want to have to take the iPhone out of their pocket, so the heads up display may be very important to them. Some displays simply show callers, but other Bluetooth car kits may actually let you browse through your phone book and access other advanced features like this.
4. Power - This is more of a preference than a feature that is a necessity. Some of these iPhone hands free blue tooth kits require batteries and some actually draw power from your car itself, so this is another feature to keep a lookout for while shopping around. There are many sources for iPhone accessories and more information on iPhone accessories, so make sure to take you time shopping and find the add-on goodies that are right for you!
There are a lot of very expensive setups for the iPhone if you are looking to go hands free in your car, but many of the best models are not over 200 dollars. You can get away cheap if you are just trying to "get legal" and in some cases can get a good working iPhone blue tooth car kit for under 50 dollars. These are just some of the things you should keep in mind when looking for the perfect iPhone accessories for you and your needs.
Rather you own the original iPhone or a newer iPhone 3g or 3gs you will love to extend your iPhones capabilities with cool iPhone accessories that rock. So take a look around the web and see what you can find, there are a lot of cool ones out there to choose from!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Simpson
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Car Washing Tips
Rather than taking it a costly carwash, in addition to saving money, washing a car by hand is sometimes considered a therapeutic activity and can put your mind at ease.
Washing a car isn't as simple as taking a bucket of soapy water and wiping the automobile down. The following tips will make your car shine and cause heads to turn as you cruise down the highway:
• Many drivers tend to wait until a thick layer of dirt and grime builds up on the exterior of a car before washing it. Usually, the buildup contains chemicals that will eat away at a car's wax and paint. It is important to rinse your car regularly to prevent the cars exterior from rotting away.
• Car soap is designed specially to clean automobiles. Many people often make the mistake of using household cleaning agents like dishwasher detergent and hand soap. Car soap has a mild formula that won't damage a car's paint job.
• Fully rinse the car down before applying any soap. This will remove any excess dirt and prevent scratching when wiping down the vehicle with a soapy rag.
• When hosing the car down after applying soap, rinse from the top to the bottom. This will help the soap suds drip to the ground and prevent any unnecessary pooling of water. Additionally, use a hose with a nozzle rather than a heavy flow to avoid any body damage.
• Allowing a car to air dry will leave noticeable watermarks all throughout. Instead, use a soft towel to blot the water, rather than dragging it over the vehicle. This will prevent streaking and leave the car looking as good as new.
Washing a car by hand is a great alternative to using an auto wash service. Yet, no matter which cleaning method you choose, remember that cleaning your car often will not only protect its exterior, but also will leave your car looking great for thousands of miles to come.
Washing a car by hand is a great alternative to using an auto wash service. Yet, no matter which cleaning method you choose, remember that cleaning your car often will not only protect its exterior, but also will leave your car looking great for thousands of miles to come.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kyle_Boatner
Washing a car isn't as simple as taking a bucket of soapy water and wiping the automobile down. The following tips will make your car shine and cause heads to turn as you cruise down the highway:
• Many drivers tend to wait until a thick layer of dirt and grime builds up on the exterior of a car before washing it. Usually, the buildup contains chemicals that will eat away at a car's wax and paint. It is important to rinse your car regularly to prevent the cars exterior from rotting away.
• Car soap is designed specially to clean automobiles. Many people often make the mistake of using household cleaning agents like dishwasher detergent and hand soap. Car soap has a mild formula that won't damage a car's paint job.
• Fully rinse the car down before applying any soap. This will remove any excess dirt and prevent scratching when wiping down the vehicle with a soapy rag.
• When hosing the car down after applying soap, rinse from the top to the bottom. This will help the soap suds drip to the ground and prevent any unnecessary pooling of water. Additionally, use a hose with a nozzle rather than a heavy flow to avoid any body damage.
• Allowing a car to air dry will leave noticeable watermarks all throughout. Instead, use a soft towel to blot the water, rather than dragging it over the vehicle. This will prevent streaking and leave the car looking as good as new.
Washing a car by hand is a great alternative to using an auto wash service. Yet, no matter which cleaning method you choose, remember that cleaning your car often will not only protect its exterior, but also will leave your car looking great for thousands of miles to come.
Washing a car by hand is a great alternative to using an auto wash service. Yet, no matter which cleaning method you choose, remember that cleaning your car often will not only protect its exterior, but also will leave your car looking great for thousands of miles to come.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kyle_Boatner
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)