*** An Honest Review ***
I was given this as a gift to test out and review - here is a simple pro/con of the key finder :)
PRO's:
- Batteries included! nothing else to add to this, works out of the box
- All mounting hardware (keychains and double-sided sticky pads) are included
- Range is actually better than I had hoped
- VERY LOUD, no doubt you'll find whatever the receivers are attached to
CON's:
- There's no radar telling you where to look for the beeping :P Not really a big deal, you'll find them anyway
I wasn't expecting to find any other uses than keys for this, but tucking one of the receivers in a toddler's backpack works like a charm, no more searching every corner for where it's dumped - beep beep - it's right there!
Overall, this item meets expectations. I do however have a couple of small complaints.
First, and this is clearly depicted in both photos and description, the receivers (actual key tags) are quite large to include on a key ring. Short of someone who already has a huge mess of keys, you're going to notice this in your pocket. That being said, these would be great to toss in a bag, put on a pet collar, or stick to a frequently lost object (mounting tape included in package)
My second complaint is one of build quality. Each receiver has a slightly different tone and volume. This in itself doesn't affect the operation of the system, but to me it's an indicator of an inconsistent build process. Again, i'm nitpicking.
On the positive side, these are plenty loud to locate something in the same room or even in the next room over. The stand for the remote is a nice touch and overall the remote isn't ugly enough to feel the need to hide it.
I admit I rarely loose anything and this would be useful if I often did. I keep my keys in the same spot no matter what and all my items stay in their designated spot. However, I wanted to put this to the test so I hired my two kids to push this thing to the limits! We hid the fobs all over the house and saw how fast they could find them. I think record time was when I hid it in my sock drawer and my son found it in 30 seconds from across the house! The range was pretty good and I love the design, but I admit I probably wouldn't have these hanging on my keychain. Here are some results of my tests:
- The fobs come with a battery which is wonderful!
- they beep loud enough to find, but if there is any ambient noise (fans, tvs, music) it is hard to find them. Especially if there is anything covering the little hole where the sound comes out.
- Keeping one in your bag or purse is great, but other than that I couldn't find any real place to put them other than on a key chain. I did slip a few into my kids pockets and had fun pushing the buttons when they put on their clothes!
- The red one stopped working sometimes (this is why the 4 stars). I hid it and forgot about it and couldn't find it for a while even though we were pushing the button. We double checked all the connections and it just goes on and off by itself.
- Range is 10 meters, but we had sometimes more and sometimes less.
- Great that they include 4
- I continue to find ways to use them other than item locators. For example, we gave one fob to each person and if we need to get together (dinner, talks, family home evening, etc.) we know who has which color and can call them.
- In the end my kids love these and play with them way more than I use them.
Pros: Price. It's pretty well priced for having 4 locators. Battery Type. The locators take CR2032 batteries.... very common among small electronics. The remote takes triple A-s. Not just for keys. You can use this to locate anything. I put it on the back of my remote control because I lose that ALL THE TIME. Volume. Very high pitched. A little hard to hear if you lost your keys IN something (a couch)
Cons: The distance. I think the furthest away I was when it lost signal was about 10 yards. It's rate for 30-40 yards in an open space but homes are not an open space so I got about 10 yards. Still useful at this distance but just not as far as I had hoped.
Neutral. The Size. This isn't a pro or a con because it seems fairly common with other key locators It's a little smaller than a Key FOB. I like my keys to be as unnoticeable as possible and this just adds to it. So I just wish it was a little smaller. Volume.
Summary: Great product. Does what it's meant to do. Good Price.
The Esky wireless locator is a cool little device. I used three of the fobs (which included batteries) and put them on my kids keys. We tested the reach of the remote by having the kids go to the different levels of our home (we live in a three floor house) and I remained on the main level using the remote. I was pleasantly surprised that the signal from the remote was sting enough to activate the beeping sound on the key fob. The package dos come with little adhesive strips to attach the fobs to other things, but I found them not to be strong enough to stay adhered to anything. I would mainly use the fobs on items you can attached to using a key ring.
I actually put one of these on my cat's collar to help locate him in the house. It works! The other ones I used for my keys, and fastened one to my TV remote control(s). What a handy device to have. No problems with obstacles or other electronic devices interfering either. Nice device.
I rarely misplace items -- but leave it to my 8 year old and my husband to misplace everything. I have used the locators for finding a tablet, remote control and a camera. So far, it has been such a help. Saving me much time and worry!
It works great for my wife's purse and car keys. I wish they were a little bit smaller. It is slightly too big for the smaller remotes that my youngest son likes to play with and get lost in the couch cushions. Overall good product. Works well and range is good.
The Esky Wireless RF Item Locator Key Finder is great for finding those items the couch ate, under the table, or it’s beside you and you thought it was a snake (haha). We have all missed placed our keys or the remote a time or two. Well no more! Here comes the Esky Locator to the rescue. Just clip or stick the fobs to your keys, the remote, or anything else you misplace constantly. Going on a trip and want to find all of the little ones running around, put a fob in their pocket and know more looking for little Johnny.
Each fob comes with a battery, something usually you have to buy extra. The fobs are color coded to match the controller. Press the color key on the controller and the corresponding colored fob begins beeping. Loud enough to hear but not so load its annoying. The fobs are about the same size as most automobile key fobs. The range works great around the house and even better outside (about 30 feet).
So, if you are constantly misplacing items, this is a great way to help find them.
This is a great product. I have used two of the key chains -- one for my keys and another for my backpack. When I first received this product, I was worried that there would not be enough range or would not function without line-of-sight. I have purchased some low-quality off-brand versions of this product that work with an IR signal. These work, for the most part, but do not function if there is not a viable line between the keychain and the remote. This is not the case with this product. I have tested the function up to 30 ft with no issues. The keychains are very loud, I can hear the beeping inside my backpack from over 30 ft away. The remote comes with a nice stand that is not particularly hefty, but does not need to be. I keep it on my nightstand and it blends well with the style of my phone docks. The remote has a small LED light on the top of it, which is not particularly bright but a good additional feature for this particular product.