Customer Reviews:
Innovage Outdoor Radio.......2007-12-02
This is my second radio. The first one still works but I perhaps was a little to aggressive with the crank and it came off. This is the only thing I would caution people about. The radio works great especially with rechargeable batteries. Just treat the device delicately and it should work for you very well. Cheers.....
Worked, but didn't last long........2007-09-23
I bought this from Target under a different name. It came in a set with a crank flashlight. The radio actually worked for me in the beginning. I used it for about 4 months. Then the crank broke. To be precise, the gears inside broke. When it worked, this was really a decent radio with good reception (well, for $10) but I threw it away after it broke since it really had no use anymore. If they would have only spent a few more cents on it, and put in metal gears, this could have been a useful, sturdy little radio.
does what it is supposed to do.......2007-05-04
i picked up one of these at a local bed, bath & beyond because it seems mother nature is out to get us here in northeast texas. it works exactly as the package states and had included a small led dynamo powered flashlight. for an emergency i don't really care if the radio does fifty different things, it holds a charge and has been playing for fifteen minutes after just a couple of minutes of cranking. does exactly what i purchased it for and the price was right. $14.99 flashlight included.
Well designed unit.......2007-04-05
I bought the AM/FM Hand-Powered Emergency weather radio for two main reasons - the first being the battery free operation by way of the hand-powered crank handle, and second, for the relatively good sound for a transistor-sized portable radio.
As some other posts have said, there are some drawbacks to the unit. Of the several radios I tested (all under the "LifeLong" brand name, a different name than the Innovage name, but essentially the exact same model), some never powered on even after 30 seconds of turning the power handle. All radios that did work, including mine, require the volume switch to be moved a ways before the volume comes on. I have yet to hear the emergency weather band station. All I get are FM and AM stations. At the lower end of the FM band, selectivity between the 90.1 FM and 94FM bandwidth is poor in one regard - a strong station that broadcasts near 94 FM is heard again near 90.1 FM, overpowering the signal of the weaker station that should be heard at that frequency. Other than that problem, most other FM stations are heard fine. The telescoping antenna does not extend up as far as I would like. I associate length with greater receptivity. So far, even with the shorter length of the antenna, the set does pick up FM stations adequately - even inside a store with heavy floresent lighting. Selectivity on AM stations at night is average - some stations that I can pick up on other radios only can be heard when I turn this radio in one specific direction and hold the unit there.
Now the strong points - the handle fits snug into the unit and is easy to pull out for cranking. The radio station numbers appearing in the small horizontal window near the top of the front side of the unit can be seen rather easily, albeit closeup (due to the small-sized lettering), but at least the station indicator dial is in red and is easily visible. Switches are intelligently separated so as to not be confused with each other as far as functions go - volume and tuning dials are on the top, on/off on the side, as are the band switches. The product description indicates that this unit is water resistant. I still wouldn't want to have water coming down on the top of the radio where the tuning and volume switches are!
This unit is deeper than most small portable transistors, and for the extra width, the listener gets a bonus of deeper bass which is normally sacrificed in transistor sized radios. In fact, for a set this small, this offers one of the deepest basses I have heard. The treble sound is average at best. Sometimes the "s" and "t" sounds, audible on sensitive radios can barely be heard on this set.
The feel of the set (the portion that is in black) is excellent - the material feels like soft rubber, not hard plastic. The set comes with a carrying strap attached to the back of the unit, as well as ear buds.
After cranking the set for about 15 to 30 seconds, I received at least 30 minutes worth of power. I installed two AA batteries just to makes sure the set worked with those. It did. Next, I plugged in an adaptor (DC 6V), and while it was plugged in for about 30 seconds, the "charging" light stayed lit. I did not touch the set for another few days. I was shocked to learn that one week later, with no hand-cranking of the power handle, when I turned on the volume switch, the sound boomed out.
A friend suggested that there may be built in Ni-Cad batteries in the unit to hold the power. I thought that the unit would only run for a short time, and then with lack of use, it would be totally out of power. My set seems to have held the charge all this time.
This is a fine backup radio for when you don't want to bother with batteries and also want a slightly better than average sound for a transistor radio.
I bought this unit on sale, but even at the normal price, it offers good value - decent sound, and three ways to generate power - by hand, battery, and by adaptor. Make sure that the unit you buy works! Not all of these models do. It may be that my set will never be able to pick up the one emergency weather band, but given all the other features it has, I am happy with those.
DID NOT WORK; NOBODY CONTACTED ME.......2007-01-09
BAD PRODUCT. DID NOT WORK. ALTHOUGH I EXPECTED SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME OR TO SEND ME THE PRODUCT THAT WORKED, I HAVE HEARD NOTHING. IT IS UNLIKELY THAT I WILL PURCHASE AGAIN. YOUR COMPUTER SKILLS ARE OKAY, YOUR PEOPLE SKILLS ARE NOT.
DR. GREENSTONE
Product Description
A must-have for every emergency kit, this AM/FM radio never needs batteries! A few turns of the hand-crank generator are all you need to power it up! Includes earphones. 3 1/2" x 2" x 6" high.
Product Description
This triple LED handcrank flashlight never needs batteries , just crank it for a minute and it will last you 30 minutes. You also get a battery operated radio which features telescopic antenna, headphone jack, and built in light ! Perfect duo!
Product Description
No batteries? No power? No problem! Just rotate the easy-crank handle for about a minute, and get up to 20 minutes of radio power! Durably built for everyday use, this self-powered marvel is ideal for use in emergencies like power blackouts, hurricanes, earthquakes, and more. Lightweight and portable, it's also a handy companion for outdoor trips like camping and hiking!
Customer Reviews:
A little anemic.......2005-06-06
To be honest with you, I was expecting better than this, but then, what do you expect for fourteen bucks. It's a handy little radio, and I do like the crank system. Nothing is more irritating than listening to a ball game while you are fishing and have the batteries give out. But with this little radio, crank it and presto! You got power.
Now for the downside. The tuner is unbelievably poor. Even strong stations are hard to tune in. Trying to tune in weak station? Forget it. Also, the tone is very tinny. It does, however, serve it's purpose however- a general purpose portable radio which you will never lose power. But if I had to do it again, I would spend more money and buy a better radio.
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