I am a do-it-yourselfer (although not always a good one!) and also a gadget freak, so anytime the two can be brought together I am a happy man. There are many times when a room or area needs to be measured quickly for reference and nobody is around to hold the end of a tape measure, or the area is simply too difficult to reach — like a ceiling. In these situations, the Ultrasonic Distance Measurer from EFO is the perfect solution.
This handy little gadget allows the user to quickly and accurately measure from 2 to 60 feet between two points and calculate the area and the volume of a room. The added laser pointer makes finding the exact point of measurement simple. I can see this product not only being useful for fellow home improvement do-it-yourselfers but also a range of professionals. Being able to quickly determine the area of a room could be useful to carpenters, insurance agents, decorators and many other professionals. I put the ultrasonic distance measurer through a few tests of my own to check the accuracy, so lets take a look.
Features:
- Compact and lightweight in design
- Digital count LCD display
- Easy to use
- Ultrasonic Distance Measurer with Laser Point
- One touch calculation of distance, area and volume
- Calculation of area and volume – based on the data measured
Specifications:
- Power : 1 x 9V (battery not included)
- Unit of measurement : feet or meters
- Accuracy : 0.5% + 1 digit (2 to 60 ft)
- Working frequency : 40 kHz
- Range : 2 to 60 ft (0.55 to 18.288 meter)
- Dimensions: 60 x 120 x 40mm
- Weight: 79g (excluded battery)
I set up a simple test in my kitchen. The 12 inch tiles made the experiment easier to control. I used a couple of bookshelf speakers to provide a flat surface to measure and a tape measure to compare an exact measurement. Some of the tests were set with the distance being set to measure with the back of the unit on the starting point and others with the front of the unit as the starting point. To change which end to measure from tap the SET button. A small icon in the upper left of the screen means the unit is measuring from the front.
I was able to read the correct distance during all of my tests. There was one point the readings were inaccurate and never the same. Coincidentally, my wife was washing dishes and my kids were playing with their cars on the floor behind me. Once I talked everyone into being quiet for a minute, the measurements were accurate again. My guess is that the ultrasonic sound wave was being interrupted from all of the noise.
The ultrasonic distance measurer has proven to be quick and easy to use and most importantly, accurate. Calculating area and volume was also easy and much quicker than making all of the measurements and doing the math myself. Whether a handyman or a professional, if you need a quick, easy and accurate way to measure, the ultrasonic distance measurer from EFO is the perfect solution. Check it out here at their website and try it for yourself.
MSRP: $34.50
What I Like: Quick, accurate and easy to use.
What Needs improvement: I would like to see the back-end of the device have a wider base making it easier to hold steady on a flat surface.