PAC Ground-loop isolator

Basic Info
Product name: PAC Ground-loop isolator
Model/Part #: PAC SNI-1/3.5
Website: http://www.pac-audio.com/productDetails.aspx?ProductId=193&CategoryID=31

Size: Wire approx 3-4 feet (.91m - 1.22m), box is roughly 2"x2"x1" (5.08cm x 5.08cm x 2.54cm)
Weight (from UPS): 0.185 lbs [83.9 g]
Retail Price (MSRP): $16.95 USD

Purchased From: Sonic Electronix
Cost: $13.56 base + $4.95 shipping = $18.51 total

Description
One of my favorite features of my car is the ability to listen to my audio player by means of the headphone jack in the center console. I've long since given up on trying to deal with the constantly shifting radio frequencies and interference and the frankly awful performance of those self-broadcasting iPod and GPS solutions. Even when you have a good signal it's awful.

So, when I got my car one requirement I had was an audio-in jack so I can listen to Radiolab and This American Life with some respectful fidelity.

What's that whine?
This works like a charm - until the fateful day that you happen to try to both the music player to the car for audio-in and to the cigarette lighter for power at the same time.

What you get - in this scenario - is what I would originally refer to as 'Engine Whine', and later found out is the effect caused by a ground loop. In this scenario, I would get a constant, high-pitched whine that would go over my speakers whenever I plugged in, regardless of whether the device is on or playing. This whine would also vary pitch in response to the amount of RPMs that the engine is producing; it would get higher whenever I stepped on the gas and lower whenever I would stop accelerating.

The sound, the effect caused by a ground loop, is (apparently) caused by having devices which are "competing " for ground, which I've read is caused by different potentials between the devices. I'm not versed in the Electrical nuances of an automobile, so I'm not sure how much the above applies, though.

Anyway, after googling around a bit, I was reasonably sure that the device that I needed was called a 'Ground Loop Isolator', which is supposed to filter out the condition that causes ground loops. Unfortunately, most of the devices appeared to be something that is added into the audio system itself, rather than an easy plug-in device, and most seemed to connect through RCA connections. None of this really helped.

A Potential Fix
Fortunately, I was eventually able to find a ground-loop isolator that had headphone-jacks at an online store called "SonicElectronix". Since the price was reasonably low (~$20 shipped), I elected to gamble on the effectiveness of the device and on this retailer. I made an order for the device. .

Thoughts - Retailer
Since this is a review on the device, I'll keep this to a short note to say that my experience with SonicElectronix was very positive. The device shipped to me fairly quickly and with minimal packaging waste. There were no issues whatsoever with the transaction.

Thoughts - Device
As soon as I got the package, I eagerly grabbed my keys and my iPod. I plugged it all in, started my car, turned the radio on, and pushed play on my device. What I got was the crisp, clear sounds of my Radiolab podcast, and not a hint of noise. Brilliant!

Overall, this device works wonders. It's worth every penny that I spent on it. I've since tried it on my laptop, which makes all manners of noise when plugged into the wall and into my receiver at the same time. Same thing. No ground loop noise, just the sweet sounds I was expecting. Suddenly the biggest problem with the isolator is where to keep it while the other one ships - in the car or in my living room.

The only negative item that I feel is worth mentioning is the fact that this is a very plain-looking device. As someone who fancies a Radio Shack or American Science and Surplus from time to time, this was of no great import - I've long since realized that most of the greatest electrical wonders come looking fairly boring. But if you're looking for items that looks slick and Monster Cable-ish or iPody, this device may not sit well.

Summary
Overall, I would highly recommend the device if you get noise in your car or home audio system, especially if it's noise that is correlated to some sort of work (computer operation or engine load), and one that goes away when you remove a power source and work off of battery. A ground-loop isolator is a very cheap and effective way to remove all that annoying noise.

Kuranda Dog Crate Bed

Basic Info:

Product name: Kuranda Dog Crate Bed
Website: http://kuranda.com/dog-crate-beds/standard-dog-crate-bed/

Size: Large 40 x 25 inches [1.02 x .64m]
Weight (from UPS): 10lbs [4.54 kg]
Fabric Ordered: 40oz Vinyl
Cost: $82.95 base + $11.51 shipping = $94.46 total



(image from Kuranda home page)


Description

When we first got our dog, we found ourselves at some odds trying to determine how to provide her a comfortable place to sleep at night and one which she would not utterly destroy in the process.

At first, we were naive enough to select a thin, soft, comfortable dog cushion. We assumed that the young pup would snooze her night away on this luxurious pad and that we would find her lying there comfortably when we retrieved her early the next morning. That didn't last long.

Over the next few weeks, she would be treated to a varying salvo of sleeping options, from a "tough" bedding to a bunch of towels to the sterile plastic bottom of the kennel - all resulting in the same outcome: utter destruction.

She chewed the bottom out of her kennel	The remnants of a comfy bed we tried	El destructo herself

So, at this point we thought it would be prudent to consult our good friend, the internet, for some possible solutions for "Problem Chewers".

Enter the Kuranda

After some searching, we found the Kuranda dog beds, along with their claim of being "chewproof". In looking at comments about this product on other sites, it seemed like this claim was not always the case, but it was clearly a step in the right direction. So, with that, we ordered.

Since our dog sleeps in her crate at night, we elected to order the "Crate" version of the bed, which is the same bed as the normal variety, but with shorter legs to provide the pup some additional head room.

We placed the order on a Wednesday, and after the order was placed, we received a confirmation email. In this email, it was noted that it takes around one week to ship an order, which was a timeframe that was accurate to when it was actually shipped. We received a notification again once the product was shipped.

Product Description and Assembly
Note: It's been a bit since we have received the bed, so my details may not be 100% accurate, but I'll try to recall it as best as I can.

The bed arrived in a long, thin, tube-like box, roughly 9"x9"x4' (22.6cm x 22.6cm x 1.21m), which we found to be unexpected for the product. The package contained the bedding material, various pvc tubes, and a few nuts and bolts. The package included two sets of legs so the height of the bed over the floor can be adjusted.

The vinyl sheet contains rods sewn into each edge and there are four pvc pipes with an inset circle running along one side. The main assembly involves sliding the rod in the bedding material into the circles on the pvc pipes. This is a bit hard to describe, so I would say that it's very similar to the way puzzle pieces fit together.

Once the four pvc pipes are on the sides, four pvc corner pieces are secured via the included nuts and bolts. These pvc sides completely cover the edges where the vinyl is secured. This means that the dog can't get to the actual material in order to chew it. Overall, this design seems like a really great idea, as the material always seemed like our dog's first line of attack.

Once the corner pieces are secured, the legs and floor protector are simply inserted and the bed flipped over. I would estimate that it took longer to find where I lost my screwdriver than it took to set up the bed; it probably took 20 minutes or less once all pieces were out of the package.

Packaging
While it's sometimes hard to estimate whether or not the packaging choices were made by the manufacturer or the end-seller of a product, this was an order direct from a manufacturer. As such, I was pleased to see that the product was shipped in a reasonable container and contained no unneeded padding or filler, making this a fairly good purchase, in terms of eco-friendliness.

Initial Thoughts
Once in the kennel, our dog was a little apprehensive about stepping on the bed. I think it was based on the fact that bed was a bit higher than anything else we've put in the kennel and the fact that the bed was suddenly a bit 'springy'. That said, a couple of treats and an extended tummy rub seemed to be all she needed to feel comfortable settling down.

After this initial session, it was fairly easy to get her into her kennel for bed-time. As a fairly finicky dog, this was actually a big surprise.

Long Term Thoughts
Our dog weighs approximately 65lbs (29.5kg), and when we set up the bed, we opted for the shorter legs and were a bit concerned that this may be too low for a dog of her size. In fact, after roughly six months of use, the bed has exhibited almost no sagging after the initial bit of adjustment to the dog's weight.

In the time we've had the bed, our dog has not been able to do any damage to it - none. At the same time, I think that the bed has provided her more comfort than before, and that has done equal if not more to curb her destructiveness when in there.

Summary
Overall, we have been extremely happy with the bed and it has definitely been the key to her biggest issue when crated. If we find anything that seems off with the bed in the future, we'll make note, but overall, I have to say hats off to Kuranda!