This thread reminded me, I actually have an old Magnavox D1875 (I believe; it looks like what I remember) in a box in my storage locker somewhere... is that worth digging out, or if I want something like is being discussed in this thread should I just get something more modern?
Small Portable Radio's?
- Thread starter bmstrong
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Lebkuecher
Flashlight Enthusiast
The Mini seems really small as well 4.3" x 2.7" x 0.47". Running on 2 AAA batteries I can't imagine the Mini having much of a run time. I would be interested in hearing the sound quality.
I don't know much about the Magnavox D1875 but I did see it selling for about $50 on eBay.
The Mini
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Chrisdm
Enlightened
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2011
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For $229 they should have included an internal charging circuit. I would choose The CCRANE SW over the Eton Satellit or Field models for this feature alone, not to mention it is $100 less.
Reviews & analysis' of new Etons will be interesting, especially what DSP chip(s) are being used.
BTW radio-on-a- chip is not new. Sony has been doing it for quite a while as well as - I surmise - other manufacturers.
Even the under $20 ICF-F10 (http://radiojayallen.com/sony-icf-f10-amfm-portable/) uses one of their cx series chips. I guess the Silicon Labs variety may have improved the lot? Too bad CCRANE didn't go that route with their CCRADIO EP.
Lately I'm confining myself to the "cheap & cheerful" radio group to add to my collection because of economics and an innate curiosity of how much bang for the buck is available. Newest acquisitions: Kaito KA321; Tecsun PL-118.
BTW radio-on-a- chip is not new. Sony has been doing it for quite a while as well as - I surmise - other manufacturers.
Even the under $20 ICF-F10 (http://radiojayallen.com/sony-icf-f10-amfm-portable/) uses one of their cx series chips. I guess the Silicon Labs variety may have improved the lot? Too bad CCRANE didn't go that route with their CCRADIO EP.
Lately I'm confining myself to the "cheap & cheerful" radio group to add to my collection because of economics and an innate curiosity of how much bang for the buck is available. Newest acquisitions: Kaito KA321; Tecsun PL-118.
StarHalo
Flashaholic
There's not really any such thing as an obsolete radio, certainly not one from the 90's; you should get it out and tune around the AM dial at night, hear what's out there, you'd be surprised what even a small portable radio can pick up..
I'd strongly recommend looking into the Meloson M8; my older M7 is my most cheerful, and most used, radio thanks to its superior sound quality which makes it a real joy to listen to, and even more so for only $35.
StarHalo
Flashaholic
You have to look at it like flashlights; it's okay for a light that fills a particular niche to have a funky battery config so long as you have a proper standard-battery backup ready to go if needed - kind of a given if you own a significant number of flashlights. This rule starts to apply once you have a plurality of radios too. I'm honestly not a huge fan of the Li-ion setup either, yet I use the radio every single day, superior sound quality makes up for a lot of sins..
Lebkuecher
Flashlight Enthusiast
Looks like Eton is on a role at CES.
CES 2014: Etón Corporation Announces FRX4 S and FRX5 S Multi-Function, Multi-Powered Preparedness Devices
The FXR5S has S.A.M.E but there is no mention of defeating capabilities. One of the best features of the Sangean CL-100 weather radio is the ability to defeat nuisance alerts such as watches and advisories.
Eton FXR5S
Eton FXR4S
CES 2014: Etón Corporation Announces FRX4 S and FRX5 S Multi-Function, Multi-Powered Preparedness Devices
The FXR5S has S.A.M.E but there is no mention of defeating capabilities. One of the best features of the Sangean CL-100 weather radio is the ability to defeat nuisance alerts such as watches and advisories.
Eton FXR5S
Eton FXR4S
Lebkuecher
Flashlight Enthusiast
This YouTube gives a quick overview of the new Eton FRX4S and the FRX5S at CES. They look a little smaller than I thought they would be. I was actually hoping to find a quick review of the new Eton SW line showing the radios side by side.
The Rukus Extreme looks nice. I would like to hear what the sound quality is really like. Does anyone have an earlier version?
Eton Rukus Extreme, and FRX Series 4-in-1 Power - CES 2014
The Rukus Extreme looks nice. I would like to hear what the sound quality is really like. Does anyone have an earlier version?
Eton Rukus Extreme, and FRX Series 4-in-1 Power - CES 2014
Chrisdm
Enlightened
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2011
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- 917
I anded up picking up a Tecsun 880 and a Meloson M8 as a result of this thread. Speaking to my point on FM music quality, the Meloson is very good for its size, but cannot come close to the sound quality of the Tecsun 8800. Of course this is to be expected based on their asking prices alone, not to mention the fact that the 880 is a little larger. The Meloson really is a very small little radio. It will be the one I'll keep in my bakpack at all times and not even notice it. I love the fact that it takes an SD card as well. I'm loading up all my favorite tunes on a card to leave in there, that way I'll never be without my music.
Lebkuecher
Flashlight Enthusiast
I also ended up buying the Tecsun Pl-880 from eBay and it's on its way from Hong Kong.
I normally would order through Amazon but with the all the hype about the firmware upgrade I felt better ordering from Anon-co direct and guaranteeing I will get the 8820 firmware. Anon-co also put together a Special Edition Deluxe Set that I just couldn't say no to. I paid $ 209.00 for the set which had a few extras including a hard case and another radio/MP3/Recorder (just released IRC-100).
I would recommend anyone who has this radio to join the Yahoo Tecsun PL-880 users group, there is some good information on undocumented features. I'm not sure why some of the information is not in the manual.
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/TecsunPL-880/info
Special Edition Deluxe Set
TECSUN's PL-880 Deluxe Set includes:
- Black color PL-880 radio (can be changed to grey color upon request and if available).
- Light brown protective pouch for PL-880
- Spare silver color metal knobs for PL-880 (the device is fitted with titanium colored knobs)
- AN-03L SW antenna
- PST-17U dual USB wall charger
- Stereo earphones
- USB charging cable
- Amateur Radio World Map
- Line-in cable
- White color ICR-100: this small size multifunctional device is a FM radio, MP3 player and Radio Recorder all in one, and on top of that it can also function as a speaker for other audio devices using the included line-in cable. Connect ICR-100 to your PL-880 and directly record a radio broadcasting to the Micro-SD card (2GB card is included).
I normally would order through Amazon but with the all the hype about the firmware upgrade I felt better ordering from Anon-co direct and guaranteeing I will get the 8820 firmware. Anon-co also put together a Special Edition Deluxe Set that I just couldn't say no to. I paid $ 209.00 for the set which had a few extras including a hard case and another radio/MP3/Recorder (just released IRC-100).
I would recommend anyone who has this radio to join the Yahoo Tecsun PL-880 users group, there is some good information on undocumented features. I'm not sure why some of the information is not in the manual.
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/TecsunPL-880/info
Special Edition Deluxe Set
TECSUN's PL-880 Deluxe Set includes:
- Black color PL-880 radio (can be changed to grey color upon request and if available).
- Light brown protective pouch for PL-880
- Spare silver color metal knobs for PL-880 (the device is fitted with titanium colored knobs)
- AN-03L SW antenna
- PST-17U dual USB wall charger
- Stereo earphones
- USB charging cable
- Amateur Radio World Map
- Line-in cable
- White color ICR-100: this small size multifunctional device is a FM radio, MP3 player and Radio Recorder all in one, and on top of that it can also function as a speaker for other audio devices using the included line-in cable. Connect ICR-100 to your PL-880 and directly record a radio broadcasting to the Micro-SD card (2GB card is included).
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StarHalo
Flashaholic
Though the Tecsun is about six times the price of the Meloson; compare the M8 to any other sub-$50 radio if you want to hear an even bigger disparity..
StarHalo
Flashaholic
Well all the new Eton offerings are mentioned on the previous thread page, but if the dismal reviews of the 450 are any indicator, best to hold off before getting too excited about them; $80 would get you the vastly superior CCrane EP..
Not excited about the450 at all. Although it does have some nice features, the sub-standard MW reception makes it a no-no for me.
Ditto for the EP ... nice features that make it fun to use, but the mid - to - high MW overload problems would be problematic in my area.
Tecsun 880 ... Wow! Huh? Li-on rechargeable? Nope, not for me. Maybe I'm picky but I pays my monies, I gets what I wants.
Patience, patience, patience.
Sub_Umbra
Flashlight Enthusiast
I could not agree more. While I use radios on a daily basis they are all also emergency equipment from my point of view. Between my day to day use patterns and my needing to get the most out of them when the chips are down Li-on just can't cut it for me.
Besides the general lack of user serviceability Li-ons fall down on so many of my personal requirements that I won't bore everyone by listing all their shortcomings here...
StarHalo
Flashaholic
But by that logic, you could also never own a Li-ion powered flashlight; if all battery-powered equipment is emergency-only, then you cannot own a battery-powered item for entertainment or as a novelty. If that were the case with flashlights, the hobby/market would be very tiny compared to what it is now, since no one would build or participate for enjoyment, it would only exist to ration a need and no further thought would be given.
If you're going to have a hobby, you should enjoy it; don't limit yourself to the old designs if you already own many copies of the old designs, see what's out there, go ahead and buy the unconventional flashlight that's more powerful than you'd ever really need, go ahead and buy the unique radio that trades some practicality for sound quality, you'll always have the old flashlights and radios to fall back on..
If you're going to have a hobby, you should enjoy it; don't limit yourself to the old designs if you already own many copies of the old designs, see what's out there, go ahead and buy the unconventional flashlight that's more powerful than you'd ever really need, go ahead and buy the unique radio that trades some practicality for sound quality, you'll always have the old flashlights and radios to fall back on..
Chrisdm
Enlightened
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2011
- Messages
- 917
Of course the 880 isn't the most ideal "emergency radio".. You can bet the kind of people that spend 180 bucks on a tiny radio like that have more than one radio to fill that need... It has attributes that make it desirable for other purposes (including running a battery that is compatible with all my other flashlights).
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Chris
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Chris
Re: Li-Ions - I resisted using them for the same reasons you say. Then I started working as a mechanic and using my lights all the time. Guess what? Now I strap a 18650 to my forehead every morning. Why? Because that's what it takes to get the energy density I need. It's the right tool for the job.
That said, I wouldn't want an emergency radio that couldn't run on AAs or CR123s, as I wouldn't be using it every day and therefore being able to use readily available cells is important if I lose/can't charge my NiMHs or Li-Ions.
Sent from my XT897 using Tapatalk
That said, I wouldn't want an emergency radio that couldn't run on AAs or CR123s, as I wouldn't be using it every day and therefore being able to use readily available cells is important if I lose/can't charge my NiMHs or Li-Ions.
Sent from my XT897 using Tapatalk
