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(ATMoB:Discuss) More MosquitoMagnet info

I called the MosquitoMagnet company and a local dealer. Here's what I found
out.

1. The unit has to be on 24/7 in order to be effective. It needs to be
located near and upwind from a source.

2. The unit can be secured with a chain or other theft deterrent, but its
ports should be open to the air.

3. The unit has a flame and uses no electricity. It generates heat but not
enough on the outside to make it dangerous.

4. The normal guarantee is for 45 days, but the company charges a 25%
restocking fee. This may be to discourage free 'rental' of the unit. The
Chelmsford distributor uses this warranty.

One of their other distributors, however, offers this guarantee.
"Frontgate's 395-Day Risk-Free Guarantee - Take 395 days to put the Mosquito
Magnet to the test. If it fails to meet your expectations in any way, return
it within 13 months, and we'll promptly replace it or refund the cost,
whichever you prefer. No questions asked."
http://www.frontgate dot com/pdp.jsp?Showarrow=Y&prod_oid=305710&category_key=-1
0680

4. Chelmsford Fireplace Center on Summer Street is the local distributor.
They are currently back-ordered, although they do make some available on a
'first on the list' basis. They have a sample residential unit at their
store which I'm going to look at today.

5. Most distributors are back-ordered until mid-August.

6. Corey Simmons of the Chelmsford Fireplace Center has one chained to a
tree in his back yard and says it works like a charm.

Bruce Berger


----- Original Message -----
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer (a) world.std dot com>
To: "Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston" <atmob-discuss (a) jovian dot com>; "Lew
Gramer" <dedalus (a) latrade dot com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 11:39 PM
Subject: Re: (ATMoB:Discuss) how much is getting rid of mosquitoes worth to
you?


> On 19 Jun 2001,  Lew Gramer wrote:
>
> > As a fellow "Son of the Swamps" (raised in South Florida), I have to
agree with
> > Aaron Price: I've never seen or heard of a truly effective mosquito
prophylaxis.
> > The best I've ever found is to burn simple mosquito coils, nearby and
upwind.
>
> What are mosquito coils?
>
> Aren't there some sort of candles that are supposed to repel mosquitos?
> Do they work?  Would they through little enough light to be tolerable at
> an observing site?
>
> > A fan will work if it's blowing directly on you. And long sleeves will
work, if
> > the temperature and humidity do not make you uncomfortable: if you start
to get
> > hot, sweaty and uncomfortable, though, then long sleeves are the WORST
idea. On
> > very warm, humid nights, stripping to the skin and fanning your face
with a
> > piece of cardboard actually offers the best camouflage from mosquitoes.
>
> In my experience, mosquitos bite right through clothes.  I've worn long
> pants and still had lots of bites on my butt and thighs.  I've also had
> bites on my ankles, right through my socks.
>
> > Of course, the mosquito problem is light enough in Westford (and
elsewhere in
> > this region) that even something that's only partially effective may be
enough
> > to make observers more comfortable... But like Aaron, I'd suggest doing
some
> > testing and/or more research before spending large sums on any new
gizmos.
>
> Agreed.  There are a lot of people out there who are quite willing to sell
> snake oil to the gullible.   I wonder whether Consumer Reports has ever
> done a report on mosquito control devices.
>
>
> ===================================================
>  A. Joseph Ross, J.D.                        617.367.0468
>  15 Court Square                     lawyer (a) world.std dot com
>  Boston, MA 02108-2503      http://world.std dot com/~lawyer/
> ===================================================
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