“What? Are you talking to me?” was my friend Jack’s reply to fifty percent of the questions anyone asked him – that is, before he got himself a personal amplifier. A personal amplifier is a compact, portable device that improves one’s ability to hear speech in conversations, TV programs, small meetings or noisy restaurants.

Chances are you know someone like Jack who has difficulty hearing in certain settings but refuses to wear a hearing aid. In fact, statistics indicate that 17 percent of American adults suffer from some degree of hearing loss, but only one out five people who would benefit from a hearing aid actually wears one. So for all of those people like Jack, a personal amplifier is a great tool.

Great Way to Turn Up the Volume

What exactly is a “personal amplifier?” It’s a portable “assistive listening device” with a microphone and a headset that boosts sounds closest to the listener while reducing background noises. Jack has a Geemarc Amplified Hearing Assistant that can amplify volume up to 25dB, making it a lot easier for him to carry on a conversation in a loud restaurant or while flying in a noisy airplane, for example.

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If you are looking for a way to keep your dog safe while he enjoys the freedom to explore and romp in your yard, a wireless dog fence is an affordable and effective alternative to a professionally-installed Invisible Fence® and a do-it-yourself wired electric dog fence kit.

Here’s why:

Latest Technology

Wireless dog fences are the latest innovation in pet safety. Unlike the Invisible Fence® and other wired electric dog fences that use a buried wire to create a barrier around your yard, wireless systems use a base station that transmits a radio signal which forms an invisible circular boundary. The radio signal is picked up by a receiver collar worn by the dog. When the dog gets too close to the boundary, the collar emits a warning tone. If the dog crosses the boundary, he receives a static correction.

Most pets learn how the system works after just a couple of weeks of training. Eventually, many dogs learn to back off as soon as they hear the warning tone, so static corrections are no longer needed to keep them happy and safe within the boundary.

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Did you know that the same types of GPS tracking devices used in police surveillance are also available to parents to monitor new teenage drivers? My friend Lisa’s 17-year-old son just got his driver’s license and she wanted to be able to monitor his driving habits, so she installed a GPS tracking device in the car. The GPS lets her see his exact location and on a map on her computer along with the speed he is traveling in “real time.” She can even set boundary and speed limits and get text messages and email alerts if Billy drives too far or too fast!

There are lots of ways to use a GPS tracking device, in addition to keeping an eye on the new drivers in the family. Here’s a quick overview on GPS tracking technology to help you decide which type is best for you.

How Does a GPS Tracking Device Work?

A GPS tracking device uses the global positioning system (GPS), a space-based satellite technology that identifies the exact location of a person, vehicle or object on earth.

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There are many reasons for a basement flood, including poor lot drainage, blocked gutters, clogged downspouts, and cracks in the basement floor and walls. Events like heavy rains or melting snow are common causes of a basement flood, but so are broken washing machine hoses and blocked sewage connections.

What’s the best way to protect your home from the costly damage of a wet basement?  You should start by making repairs inside and out to minimize your home’s vulnerability to flooding. If the water table around your home is high or your lot has poor drainage, you may need to install a floodproofing system that includes a sump pump. To receive alarm alerts at the first sign of water in the basement, get one of these “early warning” devices so you’ll have an opportunity to fix the problem before extensive damage occurs.  Here is an overview of sump pump systems and “early warning” devices that you can install to prevent flooding and protect your basement:

Keep Basement Dry with a Sump Pump

Basements prone to flooding should be equipped with a sump pump that mechanically draws water out of the basement and away from the house. Sump pumps range in horsepower and the pumping capacity varies accordingly.  Generally speaking, the higher the horsepower, the more gallons per hour it will pump. ABS Robusta sump pumps, for instance, come in ¼ hp, ⅓ hp and ½ hp. A sump pump distributor or manufacturer can help you select the right size pump for your basement.

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A home security system is a smart way to protect your home and property, and a wireless DIY home security system has many advantages compared to a dealer-installed hard-wired system. Home invasions are a real threat — according to the FBI, there were over 1,900,000 burglaries in the United States in 2010, of which 73.9% are associated with residential properties. If you are beginning to shop around for a home security system, here are some good reasons to pick a wireless DIY system:

Less Expensive

Today’s wireless DIY home security systems give you state-of-the-art technology at incredibly affordable prices. For instance, a complete “starter kit” like the Skylink SC-10 — which includes a control panel and two sensors – can be purchased for under $100. More advanced systems such as the feature-rich WisDom Wireless series, which come with additional sensors and can be programmed for multiple zones and partitions, start at $199. In comparison, a dealer-installed hard-wired alarm system averages $1,500 for a 2,000-square-foot home (depending on the equipment and layout of your home), plus monthly monitoring fees that may range from $29.95 to $41.95.

Easy to Install

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If you like the idea of opening the door to a pre-heated or pre-cooled vacation house when you arrive, then you are definitely a candidate for a remote thermostat! There are many types of remote thermostats on the market today — some can be controlled by simply calling the telephone number at your vacation house and others which are Internet-enabled can be controlled from your PC or smart phone. Here are five good reasons why a remote thermostat should be the next upgrade to your vacation home:

1. Allows remote temperature control from anywhere

With a remote thermostat, you have the ability to adjust the temperature in your vacation house before you get there from virtually anywhere. If you are a skier with a winter retreat, imagine the comfort and convenience of arriving to a warm cabin versus having to wait hours for the bone-chilling cold to subside? In warmer climates, a remote thermostat gives you the ability to pre-cool a vacation home that is equipped with central air conditioning.

2. Saves on energy

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Loss of heat, power outages, isolation, hypothermia and dehydration are serious concerns for seniors during the winter, so we’ve put together some practical home safety tips to help them prepare for the long, cold months ahead.

“Fuel up” – Have the furnace checked by a HVAC professional and get the chimney and flue cleaned.  Early in the season, schedule a delivery of home heating oil or propane and monitor fuel levels as winter progresses. When levels fall below a quarter of tank, schedule a fuel delivery.  Financially-strapped seniors may be eligible for state aid to purchase heating fuel.  Go to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website for information on state and utility-funded energy programs.

Get an alternative source of heat – Power outages can last for days in the winter so it’s imperative that seniors have an alternative (non-electric) source of heat, such as a wood stove, kerosene heater or efficient wood-burning fireplace.  Always have an adequate supply of seasoned wood or kerosene fuel on-hand. Remember that deadly carbon monoxide fumes are emitted when burning wood and kerosene, so make sure the area is properly ventilated and a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector is installed nearby.  Better yet, consider installing a multi-function monitoring system with an auto-dialer, like the Sensaphone 400, that automatically sends telephone alerts to family or friends if there is a smoke or toxic gas emergency.

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Are you thinking of investing in a freeze alarm to protect your vacation home or primary residence from damage caused by frozen pipes, but you don’t know what features to look for? The good news is that there are many affordable freeze alarms priced at less than $100 that do basic temperature monitoring. If the temperature in your home gets dangerously low, these freeze alarms will alert you by phone of the emergency condition. For slightly more money, you can upgrade to a more sophisticated freeze alarm with additional features and functions.

How to choose? Which features are important? This checklist to help you decide:

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If you’re looking for some original gift ideas, look no further. Here’s a list of clever and useful DIY gifts that are all priced at under $100!

Gifts Under $50

Washing Machine Shutoff Hoses by FloodSafe – This is a simple, non-mechanical solution to protect against the catastrophic water damage caused by broken, brittle washing machine hoses. When the FloodSafe washing machine connector hose detects an excess flow of water, the flow of water is automatically turned off. Needs no electricity, batteries or other power source. Every washing machine owner on your list will appreciate a set of FloodSafe hoses. On sale now for $21.99.

YardGard Alarm for Gates, Windows and Doors – If you’re looking for a unique gift for parents of young children, give them a YardGard Alarm so they can monitor unsupervised children or trespassers coming and going into their yard, pool area, house or potentially dangerous areas. The alarm alert sounds an extra loud 120 dB siren. Kit includes hardware for mounting on gates, doors and windows. Special holiday sale price is only $35.99.

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Did you know that for less than $75 you can have a home automation system that lets you remotely control any light, device or appliance in your house? The number of ways you can use a lighting and appliance home automation system like this are countess. Here are just a few:

• Starting the coffee maker when you wake up in the morning so it’s always fresh-brewed;
• Turning the interior lights on before entering a dark house;
• Dimming the light in the baby’s room after she falls asleep without having to climb up the stairs;
• Lighting the outdoor Christmas tree – and turning it off at bedtime — while standing inside your warm house;
• And never again having to crawl underneath the living room Christmas tree to turn the lights on or off!

The system I like is by Skylink. First of all, it’s very affordable — each Skylink component is sold separately, so you only buy what you need. Later on, if there are additional things you want to automate, you can easily expand the system by purchasing extra components. Secondly, installation is simple with no complicated wiring instructions – all of control units either plug into a wall socket or screw into a light bulb socket. Another great feature is that the system has a wireless transmission range of up to 500 feet, so it’s capable of operating an entire house.

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