-You have your phone with its battery at 100 percent. You have great playlists to get you down the road. You even have got a proper emergency kit full of essential tools in case of trouble on the road. What you need to take this road trip from good to great are a few key gadgets that are going to make it a snap to sift through your music, mount your phone at eye level, and keep you from getting that speeding ticket.
Lemur BlueDriver ($100)
- -Before you leave, make sure you do a quick diagnostic check for any hidden problems with your car that might erupt into bigger problems down the road. This small device connects to the OBD-II port of your car, located under the steering wheel. You can check and clear engine codes, generate a repair report for your local mechanic, and even view live diagnostic data. The BlueDriver works with imports and domestics made after 1996.
--
iBolt Command Remote ($35)
-
Call it the magic button for your car. This Bluetooth button adheres to your dashboard using an adhesive strip, then syncs over Bluetooth to your phone. You use it to issue voice commands to your phone, such as skipping a music track or asking Siri for directions, so that you don’t have to take your eyes or hands off the wheel while you drive.
--
Cobra DSP 9200 BT Radar Detector ($400)
-
The price tag on this small windshield-mounted adapter might seem high if your only goal is to avoid speed traps; other radar detectors come a lot cheaper. But Cobra has packed in handy extra features here. Once it’s installed and synced to the Cobra iRadar app on your phone, the detector scans for lasers, radars, and cameras, and notifies you by voice prompts as you drive. Other users can flag caution areas. The app also lets you control your music, get directions, and locate your car.
--
Griffin iTrip Aux with AutoPilot ($40)
-
Even older cars need a way to control Spotify. This adapter works with iPhone models 5 and up and plugs into your cigarette lighter. You can push a button on the adapter to pause and play or skip tracks. A 3.5mm cable connects into the Aux port of your stereo. The controls work with apps like Spotify, Pandora, and iTunes.
--
Lukas LK 9700 Duo Dashcam ($330)
- -The main selling point for this windshield-mounted dashcam is that it includes two cameras, one facing the front and one for the rear. You can record both streams at the same time onto either an SD card or a MicroSD card (or both for a total of 512GB of storage space). A built-in GPS chip stamps videos with the current location, speed, and date, if you need that data for insurance purposes.
--
Scosche MagicMount XL ($35)
-
Many car mounts for your phone stick to the windshield using a suction cup…at least for a while. Then attaching your phone to the mount is another chore, usually involved spring-loaded brackets you can’t operate with one hand. The MagicMount is different. It uses neodymium magnets to hold your phone in place. The suction holds tighter than most, and the mount can be positioned vertically or horizontally. The XL version works with both tablets and smartphones.
--
Nyrius Songo Portable ($15)
-
Modern cars almost always offer a way to stream music via Bluetooth. But even if your drive an older rig, you’re not out of luck. This small adapter connects to the AUX port on older cars so you can do the same thing. Once you connect to the adapter, you can stream audio from apps like Spotify or iTunes. The device lasts about 12 hours per charge, but you can power it as you drive using the microUSB port.
--
WeBoost Drive 4G-X Cellular Signal Booster ($480)
- -Getting a good signal during a road trip can be difficult, especially if you are in a remote area. This antenna system boosts cell signals by as much as 60 percent. There’s a small antenna you mount to the roof (it uses a powerful magnet). You then run the cable to the booster under the seat. There’s no setup on your phone or other complications. Once installed, it works with any wireless carrier.
-This story originally appeared on popularmechanics.com.
-
from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/1hUZ4dh
via Agya
