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I think Radio Shack started this consumer-unfriendly trend of selling incomplete products, and Microsoft does the same through its Vista non-ware. I am put out that the radio did not come with an AC adaptor, and I refuse to buy one at the high prices now charged for them. This radio is sold under several brands, and is good for daily use as well as for emergencies because it picks up signals from a longer distance than most radios. The wind-up feature is more fun than utilitarian since three AA batteries will power this little gadget for days.
The batteries seem to last forever. In emergencies a battery pack inside can be charged with a hand crank if the AA batteries quit. Grundig Radios are exceptionally good portable radios. The sound quality is very good for such small speakers. I recommend Grundigs very highly and since electronic stores often don't carry them, Amazon is the best place to buy them. I have two or three around the house each tuned to a different station, because they're so inexpensive. They're also light weight and small enough to fit anywhere.
This model, as of this writing, has fallen behind the latest technology trends. {BTW, I use Tenergy 2600 miliamphr NiMHi AA's in this, and they work great}. (Note: I've reposted this review because the other product AISN number it was attached to expired). I'd happily have paid 2-3x as much for a comparable radio with a digital tuner and a minimal LCD readout.
* Battery life: The unit uses three AA batteries, plus a small plasti-sealed NiCad pack (about the size of an olive) for the recharge crank. but there are newer and better choices available out there. This is the Grundig FR-200. It's decent, but I do have some nits. I rarely use the crank-driven NiCad, but it's runtime is rather modest - a full minute of cranking yeilds 45-60 mins of listening. and you'll get no help at all on most of the other bands.
All in all, it's still handy, and recommendable. with only a modest impact to total battery runtime. I would have liked an additional feature that'd allow you to directly charge instead the three AA's via a built-in smart charger connected to a universal power input. I'm pretty sure there are newer versions of this sort of radio that have a larger & more ergonomic crank mounted to the rear, as well as solar recharge capability/compatibility. at a very modest volume. thus enabling recharging (or direct play) from things like you're car's cigarette lighter, a portable generator, a PC, a portable roll-up solar pad, etc. THE GOOD: * Sound quality: Although mono, it's adequate.
* CHARGING: (minus 1 star) The smallish handcrank generator is clumsy to use, and having to spend 1 second out of every 45-60 cranking like a crazed chimp, charging a dinky little NiCad mini-cell, is irritating. THE MEDIOCRE: * TUNING: {minus 1 star) The pre-printed plastic frequency indicator on mine is poorly aligned to the unit's actual frequencies, so unless you happen to recognize the voice of a familiar DJ, or stumble past while a given station is doing station identification, chances are good that you'll be as much as +/- 15% away from the indicated AF/FM frequency. I've been able to run the radio for an hour or two each day, for several weeks, before having to change the AA's. * Portability is good.
It is not the flimsy plastic emergency radio I have seen elsewhere. Regrettably, the AM reception is no better than my cheap Walkman combo tape/radio.
It also doesn't have a jack to plug in an external antenna. The frequency fade is average.
As an emergency radio, it works great. Grundig's reputation and reviews of other similar radios made by the same manufacturer (It is not made by Grundig) made me think this unit would meet my needs.
I didn't meet my needs, but it is a Good Value for its intended purpose. The "crank generator" is relatively easy to use, the case and controls are solid and the sound quality is very good.
However, I was looking for a radio with excellent AM reception.
Sturdy radio, sound is good, battery life seems good also. One model comes with an adapter if you can find it. Smaller then I had imagined but good sound. Need a power supply (adapter) if you are going to listen to it regularly.
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