Customer Reviews

Rover App-Controlled Spy Tank with Night Vision

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The toy is well built and a nice concept, but the main flaw is the WiFi range. The max distance is about 7 to 8 meters (25 ft), even without any obstacles. Beyond that, I'm always loosing control (without warning, as you don't have any signal strength indication). Both with my iPad 2 and iPhone 4S.

The toy creates its own ad-hoc wifi. This is useful where there's no network. But when you have one, eg at your home, it's a pity you cannot use it for a better range.

As it is almost impossible to control the tank in another room or a bit far from you, it loses it's interest. Same for sound : when it's a few meters from you, a larsen feedback prevents you to use sound. At a longer distance, you are disconnected...

Forgive my English mistakes, I'm Belgian !

We got the ihelicopter, the little monster truck and this spy tank to use with the various iPads/iphones in the house. This one is by far the easiest to set up and a use. I love that it has an iPad specific app (instead of just an iPhone app that you can put on the iPad). The kids enjoy it a lot. Two things that would make it better 1. The ability to record video, not just take still shots and 2. The ability to move the camera to different angles. The way it is now, you pretty much see the floor and the bottom of everything. That's good for navigation, but if you're "spying" on something, it would be nice to have the ability to look up.

Lots of fun though.

The dogs are not huge fans. Setting up with iPads and iPod Touch was very easy. Takes 6 AA's and they don't last forever. probably have used a total of 45 minutes and they are definitely starting to run down. Overall, very cool.

The toy was purchased directly from Brookstone. Base on description and photo, looks as one of the most attractive in the category (taking into account asked price). But when I have received it, I have found same problems, which already was described in one of the reviews below - short operation range (6-7 meters only), low quality of sound. In addition, it's rather noisy to be a "spy tank" After about two weeks of light use it is fails - lost connection with controlling device (I have tried both iPhone and iPad). I have replaced batteries, reset toy, re-connect it several times with no sucsess. No warranty outside USA (Brookstone is rather fair here, they have put notification to the on-site description and manual), so, you will think twice before purchase, I would't recommend it. Now mine tank goes to garbage...

My 12 year old son really wanted this, and spent his own money for it. (Bought in store.) It was really neat for the first few days, but as others have pointed out, the range is pitiful. When we bought it, the sales guy told us "Oh yeah, we've played with it by standing in a store two doors away [at the mall] and could drive around our store, no problem!"

So we get it home, and my son can't even drive it from his bedroom into another bedroom without losing the signal. He still enjoyed driving it up and down the hall and stuff, but pretty much had to be line-of-sight for it to work well. He used his iPod Touch 4G as the controller. Also competing for the airwaves in our house, we have a D-Link Wireless N router, as well as DECT 6.0 phones, and a Sonos music system.

It's noisy - treads make a whining gear sound - so you're not going to sneak up on anyone. The camera is slightly adjustable up and down, but it's manual. You can't change your view remotely. If you try to use the sound while too close to it, it creates feedback and you have to mute it. If you're far enough away to avoid the feedback, chances are you're out of range of the wifi.

We took it back within the 30-day return window, and told them it was because of the range issue. Different sales guy this time, and he said "Do you have wifi at home? That can interfere. Here in the mall all these different stores have their own wifi, and so does the mall, so we can't go very far with it." Hmmm. Lesson for my son: Sales people will tell you what they think you want you to hear! (Translation: They lie!)

The tank might do better where there's no interfering signals.Unfortunately, it's not an outdoor toy. It needs a smooth surface to drive on, but does fine on fairly thick carpet.

My son loves it, plays w/ it on the touch and Ipad regularly... it's on the main shelf in his romm ;) if he's happy, i am too..

love this gadget so neat the only thing i wish i could speak into the ipad or ipod and you could hear the rover withe voice

This thing is fun. Set in one room and ran around the house. Can't wait till summer to see how it works outside.