I also had another really useful Christmas present from my sister in law and her husband......a lovely Aquabourne wind up/solar 2 band am/fm radio....which is splash proof.
Now I have for sometime been getting rather frustrated and confused in the boat. Occasionally I like to listen to the radio especially on my longer passages and up until now I have had to use my mobile phone. This is fine but it requires me using headphones and so I then can’t hear any radio messages properly from my handheld VHF. Apart from which, don’t you find that constant mini earphones in your ears start to make them burn after a time – or maybe it is just me frying my brains! And worse still....sometimes I can’t quite work out whether the voice I’m hearing is from the radio or from the VHF which makes listening to dramas on the radio ....a confusing experience .......because they are interlaced with weather reports, people doing CH16 voice checks and on occasions the inane twittering conversations of idiots conversing on CH16 instead of some other one.
There are some huge advantages to this new radio addition to Arwen’s inventory!
• It never needs batteries, having an integrated solar charging panel, compact folding winding handle and the ability to charge it by USB (cable supplied)
• Apparently it is energy efficient and thus will work for a long time on low amounts of energy (highly environmentally friendly and cost effective)
• Thanks to a 14 inch extendable and adjustable aerial it has fantastic reception – I am genuinely really impressed with it
• It has a 3 high power LED torch built in and an alarm clock.
• You can charge up iPods, phones etc using the crank handle
• It’s a nice compact design and lightweight
• After 1 hour of charging in sunlight radio will work for 20 – 30 minutes; works for 7 – 9 hours when fully charged.
• It has a robust, tough feel to it – the build quality seems good and it has a rubber coating which feels grippy
It does take a little winding I must say. The old wrist starts to give up after a while especially if you crank it at the recommended three turns per second. However, it is a minor niggle. I’m well chuffed with this little gadget and can’t wait to road test it on Arwen’s next trip
Steve
Now I have for sometime been getting rather frustrated and confused in the boat. Occasionally I like to listen to the radio especially on my longer passages and up until now I have had to use my mobile phone. This is fine but it requires me using headphones and so I then can’t hear any radio messages properly from my handheld VHF. Apart from which, don’t you find that constant mini earphones in your ears start to make them burn after a time – or maybe it is just me frying my brains! And worse still....sometimes I can’t quite work out whether the voice I’m hearing is from the radio or from the VHF which makes listening to dramas on the radio ....a confusing experience .......because they are interlaced with weather reports, people doing CH16 voice checks and on occasions the inane twittering conversations of idiots conversing on CH16 instead of some other one.
There are some huge advantages to this new radio addition to Arwen’s inventory!
• It never needs batteries, having an integrated solar charging panel, compact folding winding handle and the ability to charge it by USB (cable supplied)
• Apparently it is energy efficient and thus will work for a long time on low amounts of energy (highly environmentally friendly and cost effective)
• Thanks to a 14 inch extendable and adjustable aerial it has fantastic reception – I am genuinely really impressed with it
• It has a 3 high power LED torch built in and an alarm clock.
• You can charge up iPods, phones etc using the crank handle
• It’s a nice compact design and lightweight
• After 1 hour of charging in sunlight radio will work for 20 – 30 minutes; works for 7 – 9 hours when fully charged.
• It has a robust, tough feel to it – the build quality seems good and it has a rubber coating which feels grippy
It does take a little winding I must say. The old wrist starts to give up after a while especially if you crank it at the recommended three turns per second. However, it is a minor niggle. I’m well chuffed with this little gadget and can’t wait to road test it on Arwen’s next trip
Steve
2 comments:
Hi,
Im thinking about buying this radio and your blog came up in a search... just wondered how does the phone charge thing work - does it come with all the connectors you need? (I have a nokia!)
Thanks
Katherine
hi Katherine - it doesn't come with connectors. I have't charged phone on it as i use a power monkey for that....sorry not much help here.
steve
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