Log in

View Full Version : Charge And Sync Solution From Moonlight Technologies


Brad Adrian
05-07-2003, 04:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='https://ssl32.securedata.net/moonlight-tech/shopping/shopaff.asp?affid=16&id=694' target='_blank'>https://ssl32.securedata.net/moonli...affid=16&id=694</a><br /><br /></div>Like most of you, I take my Pocket PC with me wherever I go, especially when I take longer business trips. The downside of the great mobility that the Pocket PC offers, though, is the fact that I always have to take all the extra cables and cords along for charging and synchronizing my device. I thought I had come across the perfect solution to this problem the first time I bought a combination USB charge/sync cable...until I found Moonlight Technologies.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/moontech.jpg" /> <br /><br />Moonlight Technologies has a really unique way of helping me reduce all the cords and cables I need to carry.<!><br /><br />I've seen all kinds of combination USB charge/sync cables, and they do help with part of the traveler's cable problem. As a matter of fact, I've got one for each of my Pocket PCs. By making it possible to charge my Pocket PCs while synching, combo cables eliminate the need to carry a separate cradle and charging cord with me. However, combo cords only charge a device when the PC it's plugged into is turned on. What if I want to charge a Pocket PC without turning on my PC? <br /><br />That's where the <a href="https://ssl32.securedata.net/moonlight-tech/shopping/shopaff.asp?affid=16&id=694">Moonlight Technologies USB Three-Piece Charge/Sync Kit</a> comes in (affiliate link).<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/moontech.jpg" /> <br /><br /><b><span>Contents</span></b><br />The USB Three-Piece Charge/Sync Kit includes a standard USB charge/sync cable, a special AC adapter and an equally special cigarette lighter adapter. All together, these three little components give me all the flexibility I need for charging and synching WITHOUT the bulk of multiple cables.<br /><br /><b><span>How They Work</span></b><br />The 36 inch long USB charge/sync cable works just like any other combo cable. The one from Moonlight Technologies is well-made, sturdy and the connectors are strong and snap neatly into place.<br /><br />Here's the neat part: in order to charge my Pocket PC without using my PC, all I have to do is plug the three-inch-long AC adapter into the USB end of the combo cable and plug the whole thing into the nearest wall outlet. The AC adapter automtically regulates the voltage, ensuring that my Pocket PC only receives the five volts that it needs for a safe charge. It's even got an LED that lights when the Pocket PC is charging. And, if I happen to be in my car when I need to charge my Pocket PC, I instead plug the combo cable into the cigarette lighter adapter and then plug that into the lighter socket in my car. <br /><br />So, with these three items, which can all be very easily stored in the corner of my briefcase, I have all the connectors I need to sync and charge my Pocket PC in just about any situation. And, what's even better, because the AC and cigarette adapters both connect via a standard USB port, they can be used with virtually any other USB charge/sync cable. All of my Pocket PCs have the same 5 volt requirement, so all I need is one three-piece kit and a combo charge/sync cable for each device type, and I've got all I need!<br /><br /><b><span>Where To Buy</span></b><br />I ordered the kit for my Pocket PC Phone Edition, but Moonlight Technologies has USB Three-Piece Charge/Sync Kits to fit most Pocket PCs, including the most popular HP, Compaq, Dell, Phone Edition and Viewsonic models. They cost $21.99 each and usually ship right away. I ordered mine on a Wednesday and it arrived in the mail the following Monday. You can order them <a href="https://ssl32.securedata.net/moonlight-tech/shopping/shopaff.asp?affid=16&id=694">here</a>.<br /><br /><b><span>Gotchas</span></b><br />I am really hard-pressed to find anything about this product that is a real "gotcha." The product does exactly what it is supposed to do and the price is reasonable. Because of how useful the small AC and cigarette adapters are, though, I wish Moonlight Technologies sold just those pieces. However, I suppose it's more lucrative to instead sell only the entire three-piece kits.<br /><br /><b><span>Conclusions</span></b><br />This is a terrific product for anybody who travels with his or her Pocket PCs, especially if traveling with more than one device (and who doesn't?). Given that the whole purpose of owning a Pocket PC is increased mobility, the USB Three-Piece Charge/Sync Kit should be considered a must-have tool for any frequent traveler.<br /><br /><b>UPDATE</b>: Mike at Moonlight Technologies has told me that they DO sell the little adapters separately. So, if you want to get one, you can look <a href="https://ssl32.securedata.net/moonlight-tech/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=25&cat=PDA%20Accessories%20-%20Universal">here</a>.

ux4484
05-07-2003, 04:13 PM
You're on the $$$ for this one Brad, this is a GREAT kit, not to mention EXACTLY the same components sold by other vendors for twice as much(or more). I know I've posted Moonlights' link to their Dell kit here and at several other PDA sites when discussing an all-in-one charging solution.
I'd go further to say: As a vendor Moonlight has such a favorable pricing structure that often I look there first to see if they have something I'm looking for, cause I know (most likely) they'll have the best price on it.

yawanag
05-07-2003, 04:23 PM
Thanks. I couldn't click on BUY fast enough.

MonkeyGrass
05-07-2003, 04:51 PM
Glad to see these guys getting the props they deserve!!!

I've been buying these kits from them dating back to my POS days. Affordable, high quality, always in stock, pleasant to deal with and fast shipping = one happy PDA user :mrgreen:

I had one instance where they were at a trade show (possibly CeBIT this year) and my shipping got held up while they were gone. They shipped it for free as soon as they got back and gave me a coupon for 15% off my next purchase from them. In this day and age, THAT kind of customer service is almost unheard of, unfortunately. I'm glad to see them get some good press here. Support these guys, they have great gear at great prices and stellar customer service.

Oh and as Brian mentioned, once you buy one of these kits, all you need is the sync/charge cable that fits your model PPC, the power tips are pretty universal. That's what I call smart tech - the ability to re-use your accessories with a minimum of cash outlay as the inevitable upgrades occur.

karinatwork
05-07-2003, 04:54 PM
Will this work for other pocket pc's as well? (i.e. Ipaq h1910?)
In the spec's it states it's for the XDA.

Thanks!

Karin

bljarv
05-07-2003, 04:59 PM
I have had one of these kits for a long time now and it has always worked flawlessly. I have to admit that originally I was slightly concerned about the quality of the product, but I had a little incident last weekend that changed my mind permanently.

I had the DC unit plugged into my van when one of my kids yanked it really hard at a 90 degree angle. The DC plug-in disintegrated! 8O Here I was on the second day of a week long trip 700 miles away from home. After recovering from the initial shock and picking my jaw up off of the ground, I picked up all the pieces and carried them into my host’s home. Upon inspection, I found that although the unit had come completely apart, none of the pieces were broken. I optimistically reassembled the plug-in from the raw components and took it back out to the van. I plugged it in, held my breath, and voila!!! I was back up and charging my iPAQ. :D

I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a flexible charging/syncing solution for their handheld.

bljarv
05-07-2003, 05:00 PM
Will this work for other pocket pc's as well? (i.e. Ipaq h1910?)
In the spec's it states it's for the XDA.

Thanks!

Karin
I have one for my 3955 that works great (see post above) so I know that they make different products for different handhelds. I don't know if they have one for the 1910.

BogdanK
05-07-2003, 05:17 PM
If you get this and you have another PPC can you still use just the end parts???

johncruise
05-07-2003, 05:43 PM
that's where I bought my car and travel charger a year ago for my old E-115 and so far hasn't let us down. I first learned of them through eBay.

lurch
05-07-2003, 05:59 PM
First of all, thanks for this article! I was pondering getting a travel charger, and this made up my mind which one to get... I hope mine arrives soon.. :)

Will this work for other pocket pc's as well? (i.e. Ipaq h1910?)
In the spec's it states it's for the XDA.

This is because the link provided isn't to the main homepage, it's to the XDA 3-in-1 charger product page... if you click on "PDA Accessories" on the left side of the page, you can select which brand and then look at their available products...
But now that I'm browsing the site, I see cases for the 1910's, and chargers for IPAQs but not including the 1910. :( Sorry! I hope you can find it...

bljarv
05-07-2003, 06:29 PM
If you get this and you have another PPC can you still use just the end parts???
I think I have done what you're asking. I originally bought the kit for a 3765 but later bought a 3955. All I had to do is buy the sync cable from somewhere else ($5) and the ends have worked perfectly for the new device.

alex22
05-07-2003, 07:53 PM
This is indeed a unique set. Wish I will give it try soon.

TheWolfen
05-07-2003, 09:12 PM
If only I had seen this before I bought the Belkin version for $35 a month ago. :( The idea is great, though, and I love it.

dartman
05-07-2003, 09:24 PM
I've had one of these for 2 months. Works perfectly and the price is right.

dart

Brad Adrian
05-07-2003, 11:02 PM
If you get this and you have another PPC can you still use just the end parts???
It seems to work just fine for my devices. The ONLY thing to be careful of is to make sure that you don't try to do this with devices with drastically different voltage requirements. You wouldn't want to use an "end piece" that was made for a device with a higher voltage than the one you want to charge.

pocketpcdude1024
05-07-2003, 11:38 PM
Here's one for the Toshibas:
https://ssl32.securedata.net/moonlight-tech/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=659

keylime48
05-08-2003, 12:11 AM
Bought a Moonlight adapter kit on Ebay- sold directly by Moonlight. Got a substantial discount, and it works great.

Brad Adrian
05-08-2003, 02:28 AM
I'm working on a review of my neat little Boxwave MiniSynch (http://www.boxwave.com/products/minisync/index.htm) retractible sync/charge cable.

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/boxwave.jpg

Combined with the "end pieces" from Moonlight Technologies, it is GREAT for traveling. Look for my write-up soon.

moonlight
05-08-2003, 03:56 AM
First of all thank you all for the kind words you have expressed about our products. It means a lot to hear from happy customers, when most often you only hear from the unhappy ones.

We've always believed that good products, prices, and customer support are absolute musts in the e-tail business where an old fashioned hand shake and a smile just isn't possible. Thank you for your kind words everyone, and God bless.

Mike
President
Moonlight Technologies

:D

Ekkie Tepsupornchai
05-08-2003, 11:22 AM
Combined with the "end pieces" from Moonlight Technologies, it is GREAT for traveling. Look for my write-up soon.
Thanks for the heads up on this kit! Indeed this kit and that retractable would make a killer combo for folks staying mobile!

Quick question though... does the AC plug support universal voltages? That would seal the deal for me!

Ekkie Tepsupornchai
05-08-2003, 11:35 AM
Will this work for other pocket pc's as well? (i.e. Ipaq h1910?)
In the spec's it states it's for the XDA.

Thanks!

Karin
They have a 38xx/39xx Charge Kit (https://ssl32.securedata.net/moonlight-tech/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=542) which, if theory holds, should work just fine with the 1910. All USB synch cables that I've seen designed for the 38xx/39xx work interchangeably with the 1910.

cyclist
05-08-2003, 01:47 PM
Is there a version of this available with a UK 3 pin plug? That's what I need, but haven't found yet despite looking for ages. I can find plenty of USB/sync charge cables, but it's the AC power I need when away from home.

Askani
05-08-2003, 04:48 PM
Will the Compaq 3800/3900 USB Hotsync Charge Kit work for the 5450?

Brad Adrian
05-08-2003, 11:38 PM
Is there a version of this available with a UK 3 pin plug?
I haven't seen anything like that on their Web site. Worst case, you could probably use a US/UK adapter, but that kind of takes away from the portability.

Ekkie Tepsupornchai
05-09-2003, 12:27 AM
I haven't seen anything like that on their Web site. Worst case, you could probably use a US/UK adapter, but that kind of takes away from the portability.
Man, that UK 3-pin plug takes away from portability, period! Have you seen how huge those plugs are!!

There are many things that I wish the US would have modeled after the UK (metric system, spelling, etc.), but that AC plug ain't one of them!

Brad Adrian
05-09-2003, 01:59 AM
There are many things that I wish the US would have modeled after the UK (metric system, spelling, etc.)...
I'm notte sure that the olde waye of spelling was alle that goode.

Ekkie Tepsupornchai
05-09-2003, 12:24 PM
There are many things that I wish the US would have modeled after the UK (metric system, spelling, etc.)...
I'm notte sure that the olde waye of spelling was alle that goode.
Uhh... yeah, well... I didn't want to look like I was bashing the UK... I guess spelling wasn't a great example. :|

cyclist
05-09-2003, 07:19 PM
There are many things that I wish the US would have modeled after the UK (metric system, spelling, etc.)...
I'm notte sure that the olde waye of spelling was alle that goode.
Uhh... yeah, well... I didn't want to look like I was bashing the UK... I guess spelling wasn't a great example. :|

I don't think there's a lot to choose between UK and US spelling - take out the differences and English is still a nightmare for anyone learning to write it, including native speakers. And as for the metric system, well that hasn't really been completely taken on in UK. I cycle 2 miles at 20 kilometers an hour to the fabric shop to buy 2 meters of 45 inch wide fabric, and the DIY shop is just as muddled.

Ekkie Tepsupornchai
05-09-2003, 08:42 PM
I don't think there's a lot to choose between UK and US spelling - take out the differences and English is still a nightmare for anyone learning to write it, including native speakers. And as for the metric system, well that hasn't really been completely taken on in UK. I cycle 2 miles at 20 kilometers an hour to the fabric shop to buy 2 meters of 45 inch wide fabric, and the DIY shop is just as muddled.
Either way... those UK adapters are HUGE!!!

ctmagnus
05-09-2003, 09:20 PM
Either way... those UK adapters are HUGE!!!

They remind me of the huge 220V plug I occassionally get a glimpse of behind the dryer.

I'm rather disappointed by all the different outlet shapes in the world. I got one of those "world traveler kits" a few years ago and was dismayed to find out that all the pieces didn't work like lego. Sure, you could put the converter on an adapter, but that's the limit of those combos :)

Ekkie Tepsupornchai
05-10-2003, 02:00 PM
I'm rather disappointed by all the different outlet shapes in the world. I got one of those "world traveler kits" a few years ago and was dismayed to find out that all the pieces didn't work like lego. Sure, you could put the converter on an adapter, but that's the limit of those combos :)
It's definitely inconvenient. Initially, all my international travels were to Japan or Thailand. Japan & the US are about 99% compatible. Thailand used to exclusively use the same "round prongs" that Europe uses, though now they're almost completely to US/Japan standards. When I first when to Germany, I was disappointed at how large the plugs were, and then when I went to the UK, I was shocked! Seriously, those UK plugs are nearly as big as some of the devices I'm trying to power.

lurch
05-14-2003, 08:52 PM
Before you read this post: I haven't contacted them about this yet, because I haven't had time (I will very shortly), so I can't say how their customer service has been... I'm hoping it's good.. :)
And FYI, I'm not an upset customer...

Well, my power adapter came in the mail! I was so excited to get it, since I've been wanting a good portable charging/syncing solution for a while!! But what, to my dismay, did I find when my product arrived? I ripped open the packaging gleefully (yes I'm a geek, I don't care!!) and saw that within the package was 1) a USB car plug adapter (good), 2) a USB wall plug adapter (good), and 3) a serial sync cable (bad). HUH???? :confused totally: I was pretty sure that the USB 3-piece charge kit came with a USB connector... maybe I'm mistaken. ;)

Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed. I've heard good things (if I remember right) from people in this thread about their customer service. I'm hoping it lives up to that! :) We'll soon see...

lurch
05-15-2003, 05:27 PM
Well, I'm not disappointed anymore! :) After an email to them, they are sending me a new cable, and even told me to keep the old one!!

Comin' right up: One pleased customer! :)
That's me...

greengold
12-24-2003, 10:01 PM
Hi

I'm pretty new to all this stuff, and I hope someone can answer a question for me. (please don't think I'm stupid!) What is the difference between a USB Connector and a Serial Sync connector? What do they do?

Thanks!

GreenApple123
09-18-2006, 07:05 PM
I bought a replacement Hp laptop AC adapter about a month ago from www.laptopsforless.com (http://www.laptopsforless.com/laptopacadapter/hp-acadapter) and it works great. Is there any reason to think that a replacement Hp AC adapter would be any less reliable than the manufacturers? Is there any risk of fire given all the fire issues that have emerged recently? Any help is greatly appreciated. thanks.