I have found the best way not to lose your keys is to have someplace near the door to the garage. That way, the keys are always there. However, some of us just can’t do what makes sense … and we have to make life hard on ourselves by bringing out keys into the house and then, subsequently, losing them.
That’s where the SmartFind Wireless Key Tracker comes in. Sold by Brookstone, its a magnetic wireless remote device which maintains contact with two key fobs that go on your key ring. The premise is that your keys can be found up 60 feet away … through walls, windows, floors.
Sounds simple … and our test family this week was ready to give it a try. Bill and Jen Brandenstein live in Mount Lebanon with their two young children, Holden and Bryce, and their dogs Trinity and Teton. With so many people in the house, its easy to lose a set of keys. Jen says Bill loses his keys often – at work and at home. However, while we were there, even Jen had a hard time finding the keys for our test.
WATCH AS WE PUT IT TO THE TEST
With the Bradenstein family: ( clockwise ) Bill, Jen, Bryce and Holden. Can you believe I closed eyes closed.
Upon assembling the Wireless Key Tracker, Bill and Jen found there were many small parts … batteries that had to go inside the fob that were open and closed with a quarter. It’s not something meant for someone with big fingers. Even worse, we found that one of the two key fobs did not work. It’s hardly the best introduction to the Wireless Key Tracker.
We had the sons hide the keys … one set outside and one set inside. While Jen and Bill were able to find the keys, we found the sixty foot distance did not hold up. Whether it was walls, windows or just plain distance, both Bill and jen had to be within 20 feet before the key fobs started beeping.
I think this device does have its merits. It’s magnetic which means you can stick it to the refrigerator ( and thus not lose it ) and when Bill was in the dining room, the beeper was loud and clear, not muffled. Still, you have to wonder if its worth the $49.95 price tag. You can pick it up at Brookstone. The people at the store in South Hills Village say it made a great gift during the holidays … and maybe that’s what it is: a novelty gift for the holidays and not a working tool to find keys hidden in far away places in your house.
Do yourself a favor. Get a piece of wood, stain it and then screw hooks into it. Then hang it on the wall next to the door. Finally, remember to put your keys on it when you get home. It’s cheaper and it works.
