Useful radio suggestions

[TeeDee]

I got similar recently, £23 from eBay, large solar panel (so no windup), changed OEM 1200mah 18650 for a 3400mah.

And has that been tested ? how well ( or not ) does it perform?

I guess I appreciate tech can be made cheaply now and seems like bargain prices for TV , hifis and radios can be possible.

But equally I've found myself on the wrong end of tacky trash after justifying it with " well its just £25, its not much to lose... "

So you happy with yours?

 

[stonepark]

Got it at Christmas, does 8 or so hours on original battery, charges from solar, usb fine, needs battery in it for solar to work, syncs with phone, not tried micro SD card in it yet, picks up normal channels for area, maybe not quite as good as Roberts Solar DAB2 but this one easily fits in pocket.

I like the replaceable battery but not yet had opportunity to try solar charging as such

Sound for a 2w speaker is decent and useable through full range but no treble or bass adjustment.

Overall, it is compact and does the job.

 

[TeeDee]

Not bad for a tenner.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Personal-Receiver-Rechargeable-Earphone-01-Black/dp/B07R4XJ1W7?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JwIMEksTLhIE7X6pJvcgOO7DpiXZca-xheb_CGN5X9C-il-9MEgVsECdQZbCfsnW1U2wluMRR4W-veJtnpbP0fQwu1PUI6JspsB8ecCY4EMnnbHpYxwaStrGgdPKxUOvOIGxOV1H0uubvtKhNVSMLlOXFKEHUuXJje4xPXeAc6DovdGqj6liOxiJatT1Jxgz4-bw1_vGS4iJ3weXIfWQjgSlA3OCFwMIx18me9keSL0.9BxS7U0Fdas2qSw9R-Dg-Nkt8-tuxaflTG04vrS5hR4&dib_tag=se&keywords=Mini%2BFM%2BRadio&qid=1737803185&sr=8-3&th=1

Purchased this one just because I fancied something to listen to whilst working outside.

Only channel it seems to pick up well is Radio WhiteNoise101 - seriously I can't get a peep out of it just static.

Oh well.

 

[stonepark]

Purchased this one just because I fancied something to listen to whilst working outside.

Only channel it seems to pick up well is Radio WhiteNoise101 - seriously I can't get a peep out of it just static.

Oh well.

Sounds like it is faulty, return to Amazon me thinks

 

[demented dale]

depends where you are. there are no digital services in the Irish Republic. It just never caught on. x

Hello guys, hands-on EDC-type suggestions welcomed. I want to include a small radio in my emergency kit. Objective is picking up broadcasts, not two-way communications. I definitely need FM and would like digital, but I'm aware that it often means poor battery life.

My expectation was that I'd find some modern equivalent of the coin-sized SInclair X1 FM radio earphone I had 20 years ago. I found a couple for sale in the US, but no writeups and anyway nothing importable.

Second-best would be a pocket-sized box with a solar panel, and ideally an output that would let me charge other stuff. I'd rather not have a crank handle, since they add a lot of bulk. Once again, not much this side of the pond.

Third-best would be some small battery-powered device. I guess AAA batteries would make for easy recharging. (I think the CountyComm radio looks fantastic but don't want a device that needs a mains charger.) I can see offerings from four or five different makers on Amazon but would appreciate any recommendations or warnings.

Best, N.

 

[matarius777]

I'm with SCOMAN on this one.
I have a TECSUN PL330 and its excellent (FM,MW,LW and SW) and has ok sound quality for its size.
Its tiny but really does a good job and being so small and light it isn't a burden to carry around.

I’ve just bought the TECSUN PL330 after quite a bit of research and watching YouTube videos. Just getting to grips with it, there doesn’t seem to be as many SW stations as I remember 30 of years ago, I like the auto tuning for FM etc, but the ETM tuning (or whatever it’s called) is taking a bit of figuring out. I got an external wire aerial, looking forests to trying it on an overnight camp on a local hill.

 

[Nice65]

Thanks all esp. Photonician. I wasn't aware of the older GP5. An AA-powered version would suit me well. If you're not keen on the Tecsun, would you recommend anything in the same line? Best, N.

Tecsun are definitely worth checking out. I ended up over killing and getting a PL-880, but something smaller might suit. If you’re going to buy Tecsun, do it from Anon-Co, they have a glowing rep.



I had a thing for the CountComm pocket one but the newer model utilised a battery pack and not replaceable AAs and that was a deal breaker. The PL-880 runs a single 18650.

Lots of rabbit holes around the subject, I managed to avoid Eton on price alone but XHDATA and Sangean do well in reviews.

 

[Silverclaws2]

I got similar recently, £23 from eBay, large solar panel (so no windup), changed OEM 1200mah 18650 for a 3400mah.

I have a similar one I found in a charity shop albeit mine not being the digital variant has the winder and the solar panel and yes, winding the thing will add charge to a cell phone, so there's that, but the radio it's good as a small portable radio.

I also have another, a bog standard battery powered digital world band that the previous owner had thoughtfully created an aluminium foil lined cartrying pouch for, a Roberts I think, another charity shop find.