Radio for touring ..?

[Bodhbh]

but would it last 30 days?

i thought a solar/wind up would last 30 days as it doesnt require batteries

The issue with the two windups I've used at least is the build quality/reception/sound is secondary as a selling point to the fact it's a windup, so you end up with a windup toy radio. This is talking the 10 or 15quid range, I can't remember which ones now. By throwing more money at the problem, you may be able to get something better, like this Roberts one., which seems to get decent reviews although I've no experience of it. I would stay away from the cheap ones in anycase.

Even the Roberts one, 1min winding up for 30mins play time would start to get irritating. You may as well lash a portable record player to the back and play some LPs.

 

[snorri]

But I do have a belt drive Rohloff touring bike....

Good man

 

[Georgem123]

You expecting enough sun to keep it charged for thirty days?

Italy and France in July/August so quite likely

But aslong as its in the sun would it never run out?

 

[G3CWI]

too this day I still twiddle the knobs and pick up Radio Iran, Radio Japan and other exotic stations just for old times sake.
Mine still lives in a tupperware box designed for butter, it's been all over the world, never failed to work and kept me in touch

Sadly there are very few international shortwave broadcasters left. The internet is where they went.

 

[doog]

Ive a small Philips fm/am radio that lasts for an eternity on batteries. However trust me, when in the middle of rural France you wont be listening for long unless some kind of crazy disco / hip hop type of thing is your scene.

 

[Nigeyy]

Yes, I have, I have one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/NFR160WXB-Mic...1397605379&sr=8-1&keywords=eton+wind+up+radio

It is quite good. I like the fact obviously I won't run out of batteries, and the fact it doubles as a phone charger and a torch. Sound quality isn't great, but certainly listenable. However, while I've used this a few times, I also haven't used it at times..... I'm torn on the practicality.

On one side, it does offer functionality, but on the flip side, I'd bought an mp3 player with a radio -about the size of a quarter of a pack of cards. When fully charged, it lasts for close to 8 hours -which for my touring habits is fine. Further, when I use the mp3 player, I also take with me a small led torch (with rechargeable batteries I use) that can easily be secured around the handlebars using a couple of cut up inner tube rings -so not only do I get a bike light, but also a light for when I camp at night. The wind up radio is too bulky to do with this. So to summarize: the mp3 player and battery operated torch offers me the same practical functionality, but with about half the bulk, and additionally providing a front light on the bike.... I'd really like to like the windup radio -but to be honest, I'm certainly not convinced its any better for me. The jury is still out for me.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I have the same as Nigevy, and I have used it for years. I also use the hand crank for the morning visits to the weather station to read thermometers and rain gauge. Very good flashlight and radio, and I like having the weather function. Quite durable and light compared to the other monstrosities out there doing the same thing, but poorly.

 

[toekneep]

Another Roberts 9924 user here. We don't use it every day but now and again it's great to listen to some music or a play while the rain patters down outside. It creates a level of comfort and cosiness that is out of all proportion to the actual situation and I love it. I think I have had the same batteries in it for several years!

 

[jjb]

What the heck - celebrate freedom and splash out £20 on the 59 then

Or the srf-s83 or 84. These three use the same chip iirc. I went mad on radios for jogging for a bit and tracked down all the (even more radio mad) blogs on the topic - apparently sony made lots of the chips for these wee radios for all the other big brands but held back the one in these three radios for themselves, the FM quality being that bit above the rest. No on-board speakers though.

Downloading a series of podcasts from the beeb to mp3 player or phone is another tent entertainment option.

 

[albion]

Yep, Sonys are renowned for reception, assuming they still make them at the same quality.
Elsewhere the ferrite MW aerial can get real serious neglect. Stick to a rated Sony.

OMG, it seems FIP ceased on MW in France. On FM and Internet only now but is great for its eclectic continuous holiday mix.

 

[growingvegetables]

We have one of those wind-up radios. I want to like them. I desperately want to enthuse and gush about them.

But ... it's rubbish. I can live with the weight and the poor reception. But I can guarantee the power fades JUST as the weather forecast comes on. Or in the middle of .... ---- you get the picture. It's just damned frustrating.

 

[Glow worm]

Yep, Sonys are renowned for reception, assuming they still make them at the same quality.
Elsewhere the ferrite MW aerial can get real serious neglect. Stick to a rated Sony.

OMG, it seems FIP ceased on MW in France. On FM and Internet only now but is great for its eclectic continuous holiday mix.

I don't remember FIP on MW- do you mean France Bleu (ile de France) still going on 864khz ? Not quite the eclectic mix of music as FIP but they play some nice stuff (if you don't mind all the traffic reports). They shove 300,000 watts up their stick near Paris, so the station covers most of the UK pretty well after dark.

Edit- you are correct- FIP quit 585khz in 2011. Must have been on very low power as I never picked it up here and one would normally expect anything on such a low frequency to travel pretty well.

 

[Gravity Aided]

We have one of those wind-up radios. I want to like them. I desperately want to enthuse and gush about them.

But ... it's rubbish. I can live with the weight and the poor reception. But I can guarantee the power fades JUST as the weather forecast comes on. Or in the middle of .... ---- you get the picture. It's just damned frustrating.

Only one I've had worth having is that Eton FR 150, although I got mine in a Goodwill Store for 3.00, I think they run around 25-35 USD new. It is light and compact, and gives me a selection of AM, FM, and US NOAA weather Radio Stations