AlcoHawk Pro: Professional Edition Digital Alcohol Detector
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Customer Reviews of AlcoHawk Pro: Professional Edition Digital Alcohol Detector
Customer Review: Seems to Work Very Well, but Hard to Know For Sure
Summary: 4 Stars
I have had this item for a few months now. My reason for getting it was to know what my BAC level is after having a few drinks out at dinner or where ever and driving home. I have a general idea of how long for how many drinks for my weight ... but I wanted to reduce the guess work in case I am ever pulled over after having 2 or 3 drinks.
This item seems to work well, but since there is no way to know how accurate it is without checking it against a law enforcement machine (which I do not have access to) I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5.
The machine works well and appears to be accurate (when you use it a couple times all of the results are generally within .01 of each other).
The start up time is 20 seconds. To get an accurate reading you have to be able to blow out steadily for 5 seconds straight (you cannot stop to take in air or you will get an error). A draw back is that you have to wait 20 minutes (at least) after the last sip of alcohol you drank to get an accurate reading.
The manual recommends recalibration every 2 to 6 months depending on how much usage you give it. I think this costs around $20 or $30 and you have to send it in for that.
It comes in a nice protective case with extra mouth covers. It also comes with a wrist strap, car adapter and a 9v battery.
I am very happy with this so far. The cost is a bit high, but compared to the cost and hardship of a DUI, it is well worth it. I would recommend this to any one, especially a person that frequently goes out, has 2 or 3 drinks, and then has to drive after that.
Customer Review: Good tool for moderation!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this because although I like to imbibe, I do not like to get drunk. Being moderate is important to me. The Alcohawk Pro: Professional Edition Digital Alcohol Detector is a great purchase for those looking to be sure never to drive over the BAC limit (or let their guests do so either!), for those who want to be moderate and have a way to keep yourself really honest, or to just learn your tolerance levels better.
Imagine knowing what it REALLY feels like when you're a .08 BAC and you thought you were "fine" to drive! It's a powerful safety tool. However, it will warn you not to use it to judge your ability to drive - they have to make that disclaimer so they don't get sued. But, isn't it better that you at least checked in with yourself before you got behind that wheel?
Yes, you'll have to get it recalibrated but it comes with a log book so you can guesstimate when it's time to send it in for services. Hey, 20 bucks in recalibration costs is cheaper than the thousands a DUI or worse consequences would cost you. And that goes for the cost of the machine, too. I got the highest quality one for just that reason. Anything is cheaper than the possible consequences of drinking. Spend the extra cash and get this one. Just be sure to follow the directions carefully and don't let people play with it unnecessarily.
Customer Review: Inaccuracy = Worthless
Summary: 1 Stars
I've owned this unit for less than a year and have always followed the instructions. What was purchased as a serious instrument quickly became a silly party toy due to its gross inaccuracy. Tonight was the last straw and was what prompted me to write this. Here it is in a nutshell... I'm 6'1" and weigh 190lbs. Had dinner at 6PM with 2 glasses of white wine (11.5% alcohol content). Followed by movie w/ snacks and 2-3 additional glasses of the same white wine over the next 2 hours. Spent about 30 minutes getting my kids to bed and straightening up the house. Came into my home office at 10:50PM, saw the AlcoHawk and decided to blow just for kicks. The result??? .30 That's POINT THREE ZERO. Second test??? .32 (!) Folks, it's amazing that I'm able to sit and write this as I'm apparently close to passing out. HA! This thing was expensive and has turned out to be a silly waste of money. If they think I'll spend another dime on calibration they're nuts. Shame on them for selling it and shame on me for buying it. My advice: Search "BAC chart" online, choose from the dozens you'll find, print out your favorite, put it in your wallet (or purse), and do the math yourself. It's free and will yield far more reliable results than this over-priced toy.Customer Review: This thing is PRO!
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased the AlcoHawk Pro Alcohol Detector from Amazon about a month ago, and have used it 4 times. This thing is great! It provides consistent (accurate) readings when used correctly.
*Pros:
Good battery life
Accurate sensor
Easy to use
Comes with a nice hard plastic case with a soft cloth cover, a DC (cigarette lighter) adapter, and extra plastic mouthpieces
*Cons:
Price
20 Minute wait time after last food/drink
To test the accuracy of this product, my girlfriend and I both had about 6 drinks over the course of 1.5 hours. We each waited 20 minutes, then took turns blowing into the machine. Over the course of 10 minutes and 3 tests, my BAC read 0.05-0.06, deviating only by 0.01. My girlfriend's readings were 0.11-0.13, deviating by only 0.02. Considering we took alternating turns with the machine over a short period of time but it maintained its accuracy, I'd say the sensor within this machine is worth every penny.
I was apprehensive about the price of this item, but after using it a few times I highly recommend it!
Customer Review: Amazing eye opener!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always heard about people driving when they are over the legal limit and wondered why they thought they were OK to drive. I began wondering what it really felt like to be at or above the legal limit in California which is .08 but found no way of getting accurately tested.
When I purchased this unit, it was exactly as described and although I chose the free shipping method of delivery, it came rather quickly.
Easy to set up and use and I was on my way. I was at a dinner party where cocktails were served before dinner and wine with dinner. Afterwards we had coffee (no more alcohol) and when I wanted to leave and drive home about an hour later, I decided to check my level. What a shock to see that I registered .12, but felt totally able to drive and would have done so had I not checked myself.
I then ran myself through some of the tests that you see the cops do on TV and was able to perform without any problems, but had I been in even a little accident that wasn't my fault, I would have gone to jail.
I highly recommend this to anyone!