There are some improvements to this model as taken power 9v battery box is screwed allowing open it more easily (the tab of the former ended up breaking in the long run). The unit can be left outside without a problem, but I do not let them exposed to freezing.
In terms of efficiency it is obviously not 100%. If you are looking on youtube "Test of ultrasonic cat repellent" you will find a video of that test seems to show that cats get used to the sound emitted and eventually ignore it. However, my impression has short it works. For example, a summer like a cat marking its territory on the cover of my BBQ. Or when I tabled the CatStop 1m he has not come this season.