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AAC

Similar to MP3, this is an improved format for digital sound

A/C

Auto Changer

ABC

Automatic Bandwidth Control

AC

Abbreviation for alternating current. An electric current that reverses its direction at regularly recurring intervals

AH

A battery capacity rating that means: the higher it is, the longer the operating battery life.

ALLOY

Is a hybrid of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, and where the resulting material has metallic properties. Commonly used in alloy wheels and is most often an aluminium or magnesium metal alloy. Alloy wheels differ from normal wheels, because of their lighter weight, which improves performance

ALUMINIUM V BRAKES

Specialist lightweight and heat resistant brakes available for bikes

ALUMINIUM RIMS

Specialist lightweight rims available for cars

AMPLIFIER

Is a device that will convert a signal with a small amount of energy into a similar signal with a larger amount of energy. In car audio terms, the amplifier turns the small audio signal from the stereo into a much louder sound to be sent to the speakers

ANALOGUE

Signal whose value varies continuously over time. For example, when a person speaks, the sound wave is an analogue signal, varying smoothly as they talk. Analogue signal information differs from digital signals, which move sharply between fixed values.

ANTI-GLARE SCREEN

Reduces the impact of bright light such as direct or reflected sunlight or artificial light such as car headlamps at night

AUX

Most commonly refers to an auxiliary input on an electronic device, enabling another device to be connected to it

AV

Audio-Visual

Azimuth

This relates to satellite tv. It is the angle between true north and a particular satellite and can be measured by a compass

BACK ON TRACK FUNCTION

A car stereo function which uses electronic memory to store the position of the audio file it is playing so that if it is turned off or loses power, it can resume that same position once turned on again

BLUETOOTH

Bluetooth provides a way to connect and exchange information between devices such as mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers, over a secure, globally unlicensed short-range radio frequency

BOOSTER SEAT

Booster seats "boost" the child and allow the adult seat belt to sit firmly across the collar bone and chest, with the lap portion fitted to the hips.

BTM

Best Tuning Memory. A feature which the tuner selects radio stations by signal strength, and assigns them to presets in numerical order, according to their frequency value

BURR BROWN

The Burr-Brown Corporation was a United States technology company which designed, manufactured, and marketed a broad line of proprietary, standard, high-performance, analogue and mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs) used in electronic signal processing. The company's products were used in a wide range of applications: telecommunications, test and measurement, medical and scientific instrumentation, digital audio and video, personal computing and multimedia.

CALLIPER BRAKES

A bike braking system that is centrally mounted to the frame. Two arms with spring mechanisms to provide the movement at the brake pads to the rim

CANTILEVER BRAKES

On bikes, Cantilever brakes have each arm attached to a separate pivot point on one side of the seat stay or fork just below the rim. The tightness of the brakes prevent the arms from being able to flex, increasing braking effectiveness.

CAR MOUNT

A secure, simple to attach device which allows for electronic devices to be placed upright and accessible on the dashboard and held in place.

CD

Compact Disc

CD CHANGER

A device that can hold several CDs and switch between them as and when required

CD:R

Compact Disc-Recordable

CD:ROM

Compact Disc Read Only Memory - An optical digital storage device, of high capacity, capable of being read from but not written to

CD:RW

Compact Disc-Rewrittable

CEQ

An advanced sound equaliser function available on some stereos

CHAIN GUARD

Any of several types of protective baffle used to prevent the chain from entrapping a trouser leg, and to protect the cyclist's leg and clothing

CHANGER CONTROL

Can operate the same brand or compatible CD or MP3 multi-disc changers

CHILD SEAT

Car safety device which is used to transport children safely in cars, fitted according to their weight and size

CRANKS

The arm which connects the pedal to the bottom bracket axle on a bike. Sometimes called a "crank arm"

CRANKSET

On a bike, a "crank set" would consist of the two cranks, the chainwheel(s), and the stack bolts that hold the chainwheels to the cranks. In some cases, it would also include the bottom bracket axle and bearing assembly

DAB

Digital Audio Broadcasting, also known as digital radio. Crystal clear, quality, digital sound with exclusive stations

DAB READY

Can receive DAB with the purchase of an additional add-on box

DAC

A Digital to Analogue Converter is an electronic device, which takes input information in digital form and converts it to an analogue output containing the same information

DASHBOARD DISK

A small attachment which fits securely to the dashboard in a car, in which a sat nav device can be placed and operated safely

DC

Abbreviation of the term Direct Current. Electric current flowing in one direction only

DETACHABLE FASCIA

Refers to the front part of a car stereo which can be removed by the driver for security reasons to prevent unauthorised access to the stereo

Digital Free to View

Used to describe any products that can receive free non-encrypted television and radio channels from a transmitter.

Digital TV

A more efficient means of transmitting television services, which offers more channels and interactive services, as well as improved picture and sound quality.

DIMMER

Electrical device which controls the amount of electricity passed to a lamp and therefore the intensity of the light

DIN

A standard size for car accessories and radios. 1-DIN is measured at 2"(H) x 7"(W). A 2-DIN is 4"(H) X 7"(W)

DOLBY DIGITAL

Six-channel digital audio standard that is part of the US digital television standard and also used on DVDs; also called AC-3 or Digital 5.1. The channels consist of front left, front right, front centre, surround or rear left, surround or rear right, and a separate subwoofer

DOLBY PRO-LOGIC

A surround system where a 4-channel audio track is recorded as 2 channels and then is restored to 4 channels for play, creating a “home-theatre” sound reproduction

DUAL ZONE FUNCTION

A feature that appears on some in car technology. It allows rear-seat passengers to enjoy DVD movies whilst front seat passengers can listen to radio programmes up front

DVD

Digital Versatile Disc

DVD-ROM

The next-generation video CD and high-capacity CD-ROM; the disc is the same diameter as a CD-ROM, but can be recorded on both sides. Each side holds 4.7GB, equivalent to seven CD-ROMs, or 14 CD-ROMs, if both sides are used.

DYNAMIC STATUS BAR

An on screen indicator that shows how far through an activity the unit is or it's "current status''. For example this may be how far through a track you are on a CD player or how far through calculating a route you might be on a Sat Nav

Elevation

In relation to satellite tv, this is the angle between the earths surface and a particular satellite at a given reception point (0° for horizontal and 90° for vertical)

EQ - 3

3 band equaliser

EQUALISER

Audio device with multiple frequency controls for adjusting sound tone quality

FASCIA

The front part of a car stereo / in car DVD player, containing all the controls used to access the device.

FL DISPLAY

Fluorescent (FL) display technology not only gives you better resolution - 130x39 dpi - than conventional LCDs, but it also lets data transition faster for smooth, clean, solid movement of graphics

FLIP DOWN

Describes the movement action for some DVD player screens, to expand them out to be made easily fully visible

FM

Frequency Modulation. A type of radio broadcasting

Footprints

This represents the broadcasting coverage area of a particular satellite

FREEWHEEL

In reference to Go-Karts, Freewheel refers to the type of wheel that is for forward riding only and is a standard feature on the economy models

FRONT SUSPENSION

Springs and shock absorbers that are used in various configurations to provide a comfortable ride

'GARMIN LOCK'

Garmin's anti-theft feature disables the unit from performing any functions until a specific 4-digit PIN is typed in or the unit is taken to a predetermined location.

GATSO CAMERAS

Accounting for 90% of all fixed speed cameras in the UK, the rear facing Gatso uses radar technology, and can be used for fixed speed cameras, in-car mobile units, on tripods and can even be used from moving vehicles.

GHz

Gigahertz. A measure of signal frequency expressing thousands of million cycles per second

GIGABYTE (GB)

Expression used to describe storage capacity or amount of data. One gigabyte is about 1024 millions of bytes/characters

GPS

Global Positioning System. GPS is a satellite - based navigation system

GPS ANTENNA

The component in any GPS ground level device which is used to send and receive location information from the nearest satellite in orbit

GTM

The Gross Trailer Mass is the mass of a trailer and its load transmitted through the trailer axle, or axle group, when connected to the towing vehicle.

HALOGEN

A type of incandescent lamp with higher energy-efficiency than standard ones

HD

High Definition is the largest digital format. This standard is still being developed, and is rapidly gaining popularity. The quality is superb, and almost as good as film

HI-BACK BOOSTER SEAT

A high-back booster seat is a belt-positioning booster car seat that has a tall back portion that gives extra support and protection to your child's upper body

HIGH TENSILE STEEL

Low-alloy steel having a yield strength range of 50,000 to 100,000 pounds per square inch (3.4-6.9 × 108 pascals). Also known as high-strength steel

HOME DOCK

A device that is used to store an iPod / mp3 player at home. Whilst plugged into the home dock, the music on the mp3 player can be played through an attached stereo system

HS

IV Tuner

HT

High-tension meaning high voltage

Hz

Hertz. A unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second

ISO

International Standards Organisation

iPOD

A brand of portable media players designed and marketed by Apple computers

INFRA-RED

Infrared radiation is radiation at a longer wavelength than visible light, which means it cannot be seen by the naked human eye

JPEG PICTURE VIEWER

JPEG Viewer is a very easy picture browser for .JPG and .JPEG files

KU

Radar frequency band. The set of frequency between 12.5 and 18 GHz

LCD

Liquid Crystal Display refers to the technology that new flat panel monitors use, which are less bulky and have reduced power consumption than traditional monitors

LED

Light Emitting Diode. A semiconductor device that emits visible light when conducting current

LW

Long Wave. A type of radio broadcasting

LNB (Low Noise Block)

A low noise block is the device that receives and collects the satellite signal reflected from the dish

LI-ION BATTERY

Lithium-ion batteries are a type of rechargeable battery commonly used in consumer electronics. They are currently one of the most popular types of battery for portable electronics

LASER DETECTOR

Laser detectors are designed to sense the frequency of transmissions from police radar and laser speed detection equipment (radar and laser guns and some fixed cameras, e.g. Gatso) and alert you of their presence

MB

Short for megabyte (1,024 kilobytes or 1,048,576 bytes). This unit is typically used to measure random access memory (RAM) and hard drive space in computers

MD

MiniDisc, the 6cm magneto-optical re-writable disc format developed by Sony for audio and date storage

MMC

Microsoft Management Console. A container utility that takes different management tools called "Snap-Ins"

MOTORISED FASCIA

Face slides out making it easier to insert a disc

MP3

A compressed audio format that is popular for downloading across the internet and for use with memory based audio players. Files may be recorded on CD:R or CD:RW media for playback in compatible DVD players, audio CD players, and CD-ROM drives

MW

Medium Wave. A type of radio broadcasting

MOS-FET

Acronym for metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor. These are used in many scenarios where you want to convert voltages

MPEG

Moving Picture Experts Group. It is the file format that is used to compress and transmit movies or video clips online.

MULTI-PROFILED TUBES

Multi profiled tubes are used in the frames of specialised bikes and are lightweight and durable with treaded holes to make it easy to fit mudguards and other attachments

NAVPIX TECHNOLOGY

A NavPix photo carries its exact location data, which a Navman Sat Nav uses to navigate to. The NavPix technology is based on highly accurate geographic information being included as part of the data stored with a photographic image. You can then use those NavPix images when planning routes on your Navman device.

OHMS

The unit of measurement for electrical resistance. The higher the value, the greater the resistance

OEL DISPLAY

OEL - Organic Electroluminescent - displays were introduced to the world by Pioneer in 1999, and headunits have never looked the same since. OEL displays have some intensely great advantages over normal displays. You can read the display from wide angles and even in bright sunlight. Since it’s easier to read, it’s also easier to control, and you can keep your eyes on the road longer. It’s a self-emitting device, so there’s no need for backlighting and it’s really efficient to operate, power-wise.

PC

Personal Computer

PDA

Personal Digital Assistant

POWER OUTPUT

Maximum power that a stereo can produce, measured in watts

PRE-OUTS

Plug in connections on the stereo that allows you to add an external amplifier. Number of outputs and voltage as indicated

PSI

Pressure per square inch; a measurement of pressure

POI

A point of interest, or POI, is a specific point location that someone may find useful or interesting

PLUG & GO

A series of hands free car kits for mobile phones

PICT

An Apple Macintosh file format for saving raster (pixel based) images. The file format is uncompressed

N/A

RADAR

Radio detection and ranging. An electronic instrument that uses radio waves to find the distance and location of other objects. Used to avoid collisions, particularly in times of poor visibility

RCA

An RCA connector is a plug and a jack designed for use with coaxial cable for frequencies ranging from the very lowest up to several megahertz. An RCA connector is sometimes known as a phono plug and jack. The yellow connection is for video and the red and the white are for audio

RDS

Radio Data System. The LCD display on the radio will display the radio station name and depending on the model of radio, some program information as well

REAR SUSPENSION

System where a variety of beam axles and independent suspensions are used to provide support to the driver / rider

RECHARGABLE

Once a battery has completely discharged, it may be restored to the fully charged state by the passage of an electrical current through the cell

RESOLUTION

The number of pixels per square inch on a computer-generated display; the greater the resolution, the better the picture

RMS

Root-Mean-Square. An amplitude measure of an electrical signal that reflects the net power capability of the signal or speaker. Note that this differs from the peak power, which reflects the maximum instantaneous power capability

ROTARY ENCODER

A rotary encoder, also called a shaft encoder, is an electro-mechanical device used to convert the angular position of a shaft or axle to an analogue or digital code

RPM

Revolution Per Minute or the number of full turns per minute

SAT NAV

Satellite Navigation

SD

Small media type (same as MMC) that has extra connections to secure data

SPD

Speed. Refers to the number of gears in the context of bikes

SRAM GRIPSHIFT

Handlebar mounted gear shifting system which can be used on a bike

SHIMANO GEARS

Advanced gears that are found on more professional bikes

SIRF RECEIVER

A SiRF receiver gives dramatically better performance for getting a GPS signal from satellites and getting you a location on your GPS

STYLUS

A stylus is a writing utensil often used when interacting with touch screen devices such as PDAs to provide more accurate selections. They often look similar to a modern ballpoint pen and can be heavily curved to be held more easily

SUBWOOFER

A subwoofer is an individual speaker commonly found in home theatre sound systems that processes bass sounds as low as 15 hertz

STABILISERS

Additional small wheel attachments used on children's bikes to provide additional stability and balance, as well as preventing the bike from falling over

SUSPENSION

A system of linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels

STUNT PEGS

These usually take the form of two metal rods which are attached to the sides of the two front tyres and are used to perform BMX tricks on

TFT

Thin Film Transistor. An LCD screen technology originally used in laptops but now also used in many desktop monitors as well

2D

Two-dimensional, as in 2D graphics and flat images

3D

Three dimensional. Having three dimensions. Normally taken as height, width and depth

TMC TRAFFIC RECEIVER

Provides real-time traffic information to compatible Sat Navs. Alerts users to local traffic tie-ups, displaying graphical map reference on compatible products

TOUCH SCREEN

A display screen that acts as an input device by responding to the touch of the user

TRAFFIC MASTER

Trafficmaster has developed a suite of services in the UK, which includes Fleet Director and the award-winning Smartnav, an intelligent route finding service that uses satellite navigation and live traffic information to find best routes and guide drivers around congestion

TURN BY TURN

Turn-by-Turn Navigation is the simplest and smartest navigation system. This new system provides automated voice-guided driving directions to subscribers while they are "on the go" in their vehicles. Drivers can stay focused on the road and be guided at each turn towards their final destination

TWEETER

A speaker driver designed to reproduce high frequencies; usually those over approximately 5,000 to 10,000 Hz

UI

User Interface. The part of a computer program, application, or machine that is concerned with interacting with a human user. Some examples of user interfaces include GUIs, command line interfaces, telephone keypads and displays, and steering wheels on cars

USB

Universal Serial Bus. Refers to the standard port on a computer used to connect external devices such as pen / flash disks and optical mice

N/A

WMA

File extension of the Windows Media audio format

WIDESCREEN

The term widescreen is used to describe a variety of forms of film projection in which the aspect ratio (width-to-height proportion) of the picture is greater than the 4:3 format adopted as standard

WAAS-CAPABLE

Waas is a system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections, providing improved position accuracy, up to five times better than standard positioning means. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters, 95 percent of the time

WATT

A scientific unit of electrical power commonly used to describe the rate of energy consumption of an electrical appliance

WIRELESS

Radio-based systems that allow transmission of information without a physical connection

XENON

Xenon light outputs more than three times the brightness of a normal halogen light, whilst consuming less than half the power under normal use

N/A