[Electronics-talk] lon lasting talking watch?

Wed Feb 16 18:51:20 UTC 2011

In my experience, there seems to be no correlation between the price of a 
talking watch and its battery life.  All talking watches, regardless of 
price, use pretty much the same type of lithium coin battery.  Just because 
you paid $70 for a talking watch does not mean that its battery will last 
longer than if you had paid $10 for one.  Expensive talking watches merely 
have more features and  fancier metal cases and bands than the cheaper, 
all-plastic models.  But they all work the same way and use the same 
internal components.  The primary factor affecting battery life for the 
end-user is the length of time the watch sits in the warehouse before it is 
shipped to a customer.  I wouldn't be surprised if some of these watches lay 
around for a year or more, which means that their batteries are already half 
depleted by the time they reach the customer.

Gerald

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 11:58 AM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] lon lasting talking watch?

>
> dear All,
>
> "Don't shoot the messenger."
> None of the catalog companies make the watches, they just get them 
> wholesale from the manufacturers and pass them on.
> Most of the watches are made overseas and are very cheaply made.  That is 
> why they have a short lifespan.
> I have had watches that have lasted me years and some that lasted only a 
> few days.  You get what you pay for.
> As for talking water-proof watches, they just do not really exist.
> Water resistant yes, but water proof is a very hard level to reach.
> If the watch is sealed it makes it a little hard to generate any sound 
> because the speakers need an air space to move and make a good sound you 
> can hear.
> If you are a diver, the water pressure may prevent it from working and 
> being heard.
> What is needed are micro transducers that can be substituted for speakers. 
> Then a watch could be sealed and water proofed.
> If you want a good watch, then invest in a good one instead of the cheap 
> ones.
> I use a talking watch and I will use it till it dies and then just get 
> another one.  It is the cost of doing business.
> A tip that can help make them a little more water resistant is to spray 
> the watch with a coating of "V O-5" hair spray and let it dry.  Place some 
> clear tape over the watch crystal to prevent fogging and peal it off after 
> the spray has dried.  The spray may fog or frost the  outside of the watch 
> case. You might want to cover the watch strap and other parts that do not 
> need to be sealed.  You can use some masking tape to do this.
> I have used this same technique to water-proof the ignition system on cars 
> and dune buggies for off road racing in the past.  You can try it if you 
> want.
>
> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
> Former Scuba instructor
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "LINDA I FAUST" <lfaust1 at verizon.net>
> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 9:40 AM
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] lon lasting talking watch?
>
>
>> Hello List,
>>
>> I too have had trouble with my talking watch from Independent Living 
>> Aids, but I go to any Sears to get the battery changed.  The problem is 
>> that lately, my watch stopped talking after 3 months of use, and not even 
>> the battery was the problem.
>>
>> Recently, I got a talking atomic watch from a friend for a gift.  I don't 
>> know what the brand name is,though.  I also have a talking keychain 
>> watch.
>>
>> Linda
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Gerald Levy" <bwaylimited at verizon.net>
>> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 7:34 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] lon lasting talking watch?
>>
>>
>>>
>>> This is one of my biggest pet peeves: talking watches whose batteries 
>>> die prematurely.  Of course, you can't replace the battery yourself, and 
>>> it's not always easy to find a jeweler or watch repair shop willing to 
>>> do it. Battery life also depends on where you buy a talking watch.  In 
>>> the past year, I have purchased two talking watches from Independent 
>>> Living Aids whose batteries lasted a little more  than three months, 
>>> just after the 90 day warranty expired.  I will never buy another 
>>> talking watch from them. I recently purchased a talking pen watch from 
>>> Future Aids.  It runs on two AG13 batteries which are user replaceable, 
>>> so if they die prematurely, I can replace them myself.
>>>
>>> Gerald
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: <SSommer126 at aol.com>
>>> To: <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 9:04 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] lon lasting talking watch?
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hello,
>>>> Has anyone found a talking watch that last more than a year?
>>>> I have tried several without success.  Thank you
>>>> Susan
>>>> -- 
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>>
>>
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>
>
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