New Gadget to Find Your Keys

[Hum]

Imagine a device that could find your keys with the push of a button or track down your wallet in seconds when you?re frantically searching for it. Those devices have arrived, but they are not all equal. We test the competing technologies that want to help you find your lost keys and wallet.

Radio-Wave Home Key Finders

For a few years, there have been home finders that let you attach a tag to your keys or the remote and then use a base station to trigger a beeping in the tag. Your ears lead you to the missing device. But these only work when you have the base station near. They use watch-type batteries that last between 3 and 12 months depending on how often you use the finders.

Brookstone

Brookstone offers one for $49 with two tags and a range of 60 feet. It worked great on my keys, but after 3 days the metal loop that allowed it to hook onto the key ring broke off.

Click N? Dig

You can get the model with two key tags that costs $27 or three key tags and three flat tags that could fit into a wallet or your purse pocket. It also has a 60-foot range, and the attachment mechanisms have proven sturdier as I?ve had it on my keys for three weeks now without incident.

BlueTooth Key Finders

The big evolution in tracking technology comes from the use of Bluetooth enabled smartphones. Put a tag on your keys, and pair it with your smartphone and an app, and you get more functionality than just a triggered beep. Many will provide a map of the tag?s last known or current location; it can act as an alarm if your phone and the tag are separated (for both security and extreme forgetfulness); and you can reverse the hunt, using a button on the tag to trigger an alarm on the phone if you have the keys but can?t find the phone.

THE WINNER: The Wallet TrackR

The credit card sized Wallet TrackR fits perfectly in a man?s or woman?s wallet. It also has a hole in it if you want to use it with your keys. It?s a brand new product that?s in preorder now ? $29 for a TrackR or $35 for two. The app is free. Currently it only works with IOS devices. Using the app, it can trigger the tag to beep. It can show you the last known location of the TrackR, and you can use the TrackR tag to make your phone beep for a reverse find of your mobile device.

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[Crisp]

An item which isn't designed for keys wins, makes sense.

So what if I lose my smart phone?

[Astra.Xtreme]

An item which isn't designed for keys wins, makes sense.

So what if I lose my smart phone?

You can buy the one from Click n Dig that includes receivers that tape onto the back of your phone. I bought it for my girlfriend since she loses her phone every 5 minutes, and it works reasonably well.

[Hum]

So what if I lose my smart phone?

Then you press the button on your Keys, and listen for the beeps.

[Sentron]

This sounds like a good idea, I would use something like this.

[sc302 Veteran]

Need one for remote controls and mp3 players. maybe one small enough to fit in the battery cover or one that just sticks on and conforms to the device.

So many times are the remotes lost when you pass out or someone else looses them when the leave the room with them...

O one more, freaking glasses. Take them off your face and they disappear. Can use them for socks too, one always seems to go missing.

[Hardcore Til I Die]

I have a small box of plastic drawers on my desk at home and my wallet and keys go in there when they're not in my pocket.

I actually don't understand how people lose things all the time, just put them in a safe place that you remember!

[dead.cell]

Need one for remote controls and mp3 players. maybe one small enough to fit in the battery cover or one that just sticks on and conforms to the device.

So many times are the remotes lost when you pass out or someone else looses them when the leave the room with them...

O one more, freaking glasses. Take them off your face and they disappear. Can use them for socks too, one always seems to go missing.

No doubt! That's why I have two pairs of glasses as it stands. When I have more money on me, I'm going to invest in a pair of glasses for each room, the car, my backpack with my laptop in it... Oh man, where WON'T I have my glasses...

(I suppose I could just as easily get setup for lasik but I'd rather not have lasers in my eyes, unless it's my eyes having the ability to shoot lasers. Also, I think I need to quit posting so late at night, I sound delusional.)

[FloatingFatMan]

Great, until you lose the "finder" device; then you're screwed! :p

Personally, I keep my car keys where I can always find them, in my pocket! If I lose them, then I've also lost my trousers (pants to you Americans)! ;)

[The Evil Overlord]

Whistling Key Finders from the 1980's anyone?

[The Evil Overlord]

An item which isn't designed for keys wins, makes sense.

So what if I lose my smart phone?

Call it? :p

[Hum]

No doubt! That's why I have two pairs of glasses as it stands. When I have more money on me, I'm going to invest in a pair of glasses for each room, the car, my backpack with my laptop in it... Oh man, where WON'T I have my glasses...

Wouldn't a seeing-eye dog be cheaper ? :shifty: