Radio Reviews

Summary: I give the radios 4.5 stars, and the charger only 3 stars. The radios compare favorably with high-end FRS radios, but at a mid-range price. (For what it's worth, I've never seen an FRS radio I would give 5 stars.)

I bought this set for me, then gave them to my nephews for Christmas. (I plan to buy myself another set soon.) The sound quality is excellent, and my nephews have used them with no dropouts while hiking and camping in the mountains (on Boy Scout outings).

The radios are designed as fairly traditional "walkie-talkie" radios, with a knob for volume and with the PTT on the side rather than on the face, so your don't talk to your thumb (as on those with the PTT on the face of the radio). Other features are accessed via menus and the LCD display.

The display is clear and easy to read, with one exception. The top row of indicators is very close to the upper bezel, so you may have to tip the radio away from you to read the top row.

The radios have only one call tone, but that's all that's needed. The digital coded squelch (DCS) and the more common CTCSS tone squelch make it easy to ignore undesired signals. (When using DCS, remember to wait 1 second between pushing the PPT and speaking, to allow the other radio's receiver to recognize the DCS.) The CTCSS codes are the same as on all the other radios with Tone Squelch, so they are interoperable. The DCS codes are uncommon, but are great when using just the 75515 and/or 75517 radios.

The VOX works well, but takes some practice to use properly (as VOX always does). Setting the VOX level is a bit finicky--it's done via the menu system--but it seldom needs to be changed once set.

The advertised "1694 codes" is actually the standard 14 channels, with 38 CTCSS codes and 83 DCS codes ( (38+83)*14=1694 ). Sometimes marketing dweebs just have to turn information into gibberish.

What's missing? A "silent" or "vibrator" ringer option in place of the audible call signal. Also, the charger is not "smart". It doesn't detect full charge and switch to trickle-charge, so you can't leave the radios in the plugged-in charger. Instead, charge them up, then unplug the charger to use it as a simple stand. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate a smart charger for these radios. (Doesn't mean there isn't one, though; just that I didn't locate one.) The radios also lack the "voice security" (voice scrambler) offered on some FRS radios, but the only practical purpose of that "feature" is to encourage people to transmit "private" information to the world.

The radios work great. As with all products that use rechargeable batteries, you get little advance notice as to when the batteries are about to die on you. The only thing I don't like about this product is the charging time for batteries. 10 hours for NiCads and 16 hours for NiMH. You cannot leave the radios in the charger after they are charged, so you have to keep track of time.

I was able to use these radios in Disneyland and with the digital codes available, I heard no interference from other yokels also with radios. (Even though they could still hear me.)

This package does everything it is suppossed to do. I've used the radios mostly in very rugged, deep canyons and have had no problem communicating. They have surived brief dunks when their owner has lost his footing fording streams. The radios seem to hold a signal better than some of the other brands I've tried. The recharger can be used with the included AAA NiCad batteries when they are in the units, or you can take the batteries out and charge them w/ another battery charger. This is great if you need to rotate battery sets so you have constant use of the radios. The units also work with regular AAA and rechargeable NiMH batteries, so you have lots of options. The automatic power stand-by feature is a big plus and significantly extends the working life of the batteries. The only negative I have is that the call button is too much, it sounds like a fire alarm going off. If you're looking for a pair of FRS radios with a charger look no further, this is the best setup for the price.

I'm a newbie scanner and was looking for a good, all round scanner. I knew most of the bigger systems out there are using the "Trunk Tracking" technology, so decieded to buy a scanner that could track those systems (duh). After programming the freqs into the scanner banks (daunting at first but once you do the first couple it's pretty easy and quick) I was surprised by how 'quiet' certain airways were. After a little research I discovered that some of the larger agencies systems are actually DIGITAL, and this scanner can not listen into them. That was a little annoying. Uniden now have Digital scanners and Trunk Tracking III capability, so if your area is digital (check before you buy) then you might be better holding off for the newer generation scanner. Apart from that little snafu I am very happy with the product overall and have enjoyed several hours of listening to airport and other frequencies. Wish it could monitor FM and TV audio (I have a radio-reciever, yet can't listen to local radio broadcasts on it, seems a bit weird). There is a gap in coverage between 512 - 805 MHz for some reason, so I miss some airport tower chat. Not a huge deal. In summary, ignore some of the hype that it has Trunk Tracking II capabilities, if your area is digital, it makes no difference. I'll probably wait until the prices come down to a sensible level and get a digital & analog system. Happy Listening.

This scanner is Uniden's answer to key complaints about their first generation "Trunk Tracker" scanners. The BC-245XLT will now track multiple trunked radio systems simultaneously, it will scan conventional and trunked systems simultaneously, and it will now track EDACS (TM) trunked radio systems.

Other new features include computer interface port, "Smart Scanner" programmability via telephone modem (a feature requiring a 900-number call at $0.99/min.), and cloning capability.

Otherwise, this radio is similar in operation and functionality to its predecessor, the BC-235XLT. It features 300 channels, 12 band coverage from 29-956 MHz (excluding cellular and 512-806MHz), Service Search, attenuator, automatic display lighting, and other unique features.

On the downside, the radio delays for 5 seconds between scanning trunk systems even if no signals are detected.

Overall, this is a great radio for the money. It is the best available technology for scanning enthusiasts who want to monitor the modern trunked radio systems in use by numerous public service agencies worldwide.

The Uniden BC245XLT is a scanning radio that many scanner enthusiasts would love to own. It is known as the Trunktracker II because of the ability it has to capture trunk radio frequencies. This is a recent scanner innovation.

The programming was relatively easy for someone who has experience with scanners. Basic scanner functions were easy to see and accessible. The trunk tracking ability is useful and great to use, once you figure out which type of system you are tracking.

The only problem found with this scanner was not even the scanner itself. The computer interface using the Smartscanner software seemed to work fine. However, the phone number, which you call to download scanner frequencies, would never complete the download.

Having been a scanner enthusiast for over 10 years, I recommend this as an excellent scanner for the radio enthusiast. It has clear sound, and the trunk tracking abilities work well!! With a wide range of frequencies, you will be able to keep up with all the action in your neighborhood.

This Nike FM radio isn't bad. It's small, it's light, and it's pretty cool looking.
But, if you live in a city (like New York City in this case), the reception sucks.
The thing is this: it doesn't allow you to switch the receiption mode. Some walkman type devices let you switch between 'city' and 'normal'. This one doesn't, and it really could use it.
I commute from New Jersey to NYC and while the receiption is very good for 75 percent of the trip, when I close in on NYC, the static really kicks in. In NYC, it's horrible. I can't get some of the stations at all when on the island of Manhattan.
If you live in a city, beware of this FM tuner. Outside the cities, enjoy!

This was the smallest decent quality fm radio I could find and I'm very happy with it so far. It's straightforward and easy to use, the headphone design keeps the cord from getting in your way when you're working out, and the reception is very good. My only complaints are that the headphones aren't adjustable (not a huge problem, but for smaller people, they aren't as comfortable as they might be) and the radio emits a high pitched "beep" everytime you use the up or down arrows to change stations (one beep per decimal point, which is a lot if you're going from 97.1 to 107.9!). Another minor complaint is that you have to push the buttons really hard, but that's probably because of the waterproof casing.

All in all, a very good radio. I'd recommend it.

This radio is really nice. It gets really good reception even in my old gym which was like a concrete square. The arm band is really nice to. The only thing that is bad about this is the headphones. They are absolutly horrible! They are uncomfortable and do not stay in your ears. If you get a good pari of headphones you will be very satisfied with this radio. It is really simple and can store up to 10 radio stations. It is also very durable (I have already dropped it a few times). It is also a good price for a Nike radio! I would recommend it!

This is the latest version of a radio Sony has been producing for years (I own the original version). The radio performs like a champ, with great sensitivity, selectivity, and clean audio. Use it virtually anywhere. Although you have to get an a.c. adapter separately for it, the unit gets great mileage and plenty of sound out of 3 AA batteries. The controls are precise and convenient. Put this radio up against any other in its price and size range, and I guarantee you'll go with this one! Every so often, Sony produces a product with great design, perfomance, durability, size, and value: a "Sony classic". This radio is one of those products. If it is the type of portable radio you are looking for, look no further.

Buy this radio-- but buy the plug along with it!!!
I love these Radios w/TV sound reception!! (great for the office, kitchen, bathroom, BLACKOUTS!!) I've owned others- a Sony, a GE and a hand held portable/transistor - so I've got a lot to compare.
This radio is VERY nicely designed--compact and portable; easy to read and set. Sound quality is VERY clear and it's nice to have the sleep timer and push button tuning (MUCH better than to fish for the stations on a dial).
The color: "putty" is a bit outdated. (Black would have been better), but it'll do.
All and all it's a GREAT little radio!!!
But....here's the disappointing news....There's NO adaptor included!! NO way to plug it in.
WHY??
You'd think those adaptors would be the easiest thing to include. (how many old ones have I thrown out??!)
Anyway, it says that you HAVE to use a 4.5v adaptor (and of course what's left in my junk drawer are a 3, a 9 and a 5.5v).
So now I have to figure out where to pick up this adaptor!
And that's why it only received 4 stars!
Also--I don't remember being prompted by Amazon to make this additonal purchase when I added this item to my shopping cart. (...Hint to Amazon...)

Anyway, just be sure to purchase the adaptor when you buy this radio and you'll be a happy camper (these TV/radios are GREAT for camping, too...)

I needed a radio with great AM sensitivity and portability. I checked out a number of radios and found the GE 7-2887 Superadio III to be the best, but the size was just too big.

The AM sensitivity of this Sony unit is great! I live in a mountainous region of Arizona and use the unit mainly to listen to talk radio. The daytime AM station is almost 100 miles away and most radios have difficulty even picking it up. This one shines! I attribute this mainly to the larger than normal internal ferrite bar antenna and decent circuitry.

The speaker is large enough to listen at volume, without distortion, and with very good tonal quality for a 3" speaker. I did not notice distortion at "normal" listening levels, nor did I expect to have stereo sound in a radio of this price range.

When listening to AM I use rechargeable batteries. They last 60 hours on average.

FM sensitivity is also very good when compared to other units I tested. The digital frequency readout also appears to be accurate, a problem that often plagues cheaper units. Due to my remote location I could not verify the selectivity of the unit (ability to separate strong radio signals that are close to each other in frequency).

The radio seems to pick up weather stations that have at least a moderate signal. Weak signals simply will not be heard. The unit also has problems with selectivity on this band as even a moderate signal (mine is 30 miles away) washes over onto all the weather frequencies. This is not a problem for most folks, but would be a concern if you live mid-point between two transmitting weather stations.

As "over the air" TV reception is not possible in my area this feature could not be evaluated.

The shuttle style tuner, clock, sleep and activation timer is a great plus!

Bottom line... this is the best portable radio you can buy in this price range!

The ANT-60 can greatly improve reception of shortwave in many cases and can even be used to improve FM. The advantage that this antenna has when compared to similar reel antennas is the fact that it has an adapter clip that can be connected directly to a radio's external antenna. Since some radios don't have a mini-plug jack, this allows you to use the antenna on any portable radio. The wire seems slightly thin to me compared to my Sony antenna of this type but, it's holding up well so far. In most cases, the best way to receive a weak shortwave signal is to put the radio near a window. By using the ANT-60, you can place the antenna near the window instead, and place your radio where it is most convenient for you.

I'm not sure why this didn't work on the earlier reviewer's Grundig. I attached it to the antenna on my Grundig pocket radio and had great results, really strengthened the signal. This is pretty clearly a generic antenna that would work on most if not all radios. I'm very pleased with its performance. My only complaint is that the spool is cheap and difficult to rewind.

This antenna is great for anyone that has a portable shorwave radio, and would like to increase the sensitiviy and reception. I got these for my portable Radio Shack shorwave radio and so far I have seen a tremendous change in the reception of shortwave stations. I am now getting in stations more clearer thanks to this antenna. I recomend this product for anyone who would like a cheap way to impove the reception of a shorwave radio. For this price, this is a good antenna.

This radio is a great portable radio. First of all, don't expect amazing performance, it's above average for it's class, but it's not going to outperform a $250 radio. I listen mostly to the BBC, Swiss Radio International and Radio Canada International, which are all strong stations. They sound very strong as they should. I have on occasion listened to Serbian radio, which worked out well, also.

Once you have a station tuned, the audio quality is very good. On FM, don't expect the quality to outperform your stereo -- we are talking about a world band radio here. MW (or "AM Radio" as it's called here in the States) comes in very strong, even in high RF environments, like a computer data center.

The case is great. Why? You can throw the radio in your bag and not have to really worry about it.

I didn't think the clock would be useful, but it is very useful. I leave it set to UTC so I can have a local clock and UTC clock simultaneously.

Definately a recommended purchase for someone who needs an inexpensive, simple, world band radio.

This little radio comes with a nice case, "earbud" style earphones, batteries and a clear, concise manual.

Performance-wise, the radio does wonderfully. It successfully picks up all of the strong shortwave stations (i.e., BBC World Service, Radio Canada International, Swiss Radio International) and many of the weaker ones. When an antenna wire was added, performance improved as one would expect.

The clock and alarm features are an added bonus. I personally didn't think I would use them, however, they are remarkably useful. The wake-up alarm ("Human Wake System", as named in the documentation,) works very well. In addition, having a world clock comes in handy when listening to world band radio. I leave mine set to G.M.T. (UTC) so that both my local time and UTC time is displayed -- very useful for world band listening.

I would recommend this radio to anyone who needs a portable world band radio for casual listening. For more serious listening, like "DXing", you may want to look at Grundig's other products.

This radio is jst plain dependable and good. Almost all stations come in clear. You can get a lot of shortwave stations from it. I can get BBC every night and for [that price] it's a wonderful deal for traveling and just regular listening. I recommend this radio to many people because it's light and is great for beginners like me.

I bought this yesterday. I really bought this to be a mini boom box for my kitchen. Here's what I discovered that I didn't like about the product:

1 - The sound is not so good. I bought an RCA (w/vertical CD placement) at the same time. The RCAs sound was much better.

2 - The Sony requires manual tuning of the radio. No presets.

3 - Manual volume control.

4 - The buttons for CD use are confusing. The play and stop buttons blend in with the other buttons.

I did like:

1 - The FM antenna. Better reception than the RCA. I live in a valley, so reception is difficult.

2- The rest of the features seem on par with others in this price range.

I recently purchased this item for my husband. We love everything about it! The tuning is excellent. Our favorite stations come in crystal clear and the speakers are flawless! It's well worth the price. I will be purchasing another for my son.

I just bought this clock/radio at a discount store. I have been looking for a clock/radio which is also a CD player, but haven't had luck in finding any that I like. I did buy an RCA item and it was terrible- it stopped playing the CD in the middle of songs and wouldn't start playing again. I exchanged it for another, and the same thing happened. So I looked at this particular model, but really didn't like the shape and didn't like the green numbers. The RCA I bought had green numbers and it was near impossible to read in the middle of the night. When I saw this model for $20, I thought it was worth a try. I am glad I gave it a chance. This clock/radio is GREAT. I love it already and have only had it for a day. The CD sounds great for a small unit like this. The analog tuning is better than digital for fine tuning in my opinion. The radio sounds great too. The green numbers are rather large and easy to read. I have tried it alot in the past day and it has been nothing but a "dream machine." Totally recommended.

What Target store has this
Philips CD/Radio Boombox #AZ2035 by Philips?
I was calling to several consumer departments and nobody heard
about this boombox.
Al

After I've done a lot of research I finally bought this boombox.
What's true about it is that it sounds very good, better than I expected.

On the other hand, the remote is pretty useless. You cannot change between cd/tuner/tape, you cannot control the tape at all. You cannot turn the boombox off.
That was disappointing.
As other reviewers already said, the display does not have backlight.
Because of the standard controls it's hard to play the tenth (just an example) song on a cd. You don't have numbers on the remote and you have to press next ten times.

Conclusion: If you want a classic boombox with an excellent sound (of course, for its class), go for it. If you want something with extra features and more comfort for you, try something else (for example, Panasonic RX-ES25). That's if you still want a boombox... :)

While I can't really say this boombox deliver the best sound I had heard (I am an audiophile who's heard some esoteric stereo that cost more than someone's house), I have to agree that Philips' engineers deserve an A on this one. Overall, sound is neutral, clean, not dull, boomy, and especially not harsh and distorted when turned all the way up. YES, I mean ALL the way up. Controls are simple and elegant. Sound control precise and easy to use. There is definitely no compromise on this unit. The only thing I would complain is that engineers managed to put lights on CD control buttons but forgot about backlit LCD screen... Go figure...

I never got to use this device. I returned it because the device is not specified to operate for appliances between 50 and 500 watts. The product description does not mention this detail. So, if you have appliances within this range, look elsewhere. Other than this, the product looks fine and should work well for battery chargers, small electronics and hair dryers (but not things in between).

ok. some of you are asking if this works with laptops or some other chargers. before you buy this, go check you adapter and see what the input is. my laptop adapter's input is 120-240 to some value. this means it works about anywhere.
another thing i saw was someone complaining about the replacable glass fuse. well this is the kind of fuse that you can find anywhere in most countries that are 240 V (its less available here in US). but if it was a usual cercuit breaker then u would have even more problems because if it dies the whole converter dies until you get somewhere that u can fix it.
i hope it was helpful. but i give it a four because the quality is cheap, yet an expensive price for such a cheap product. this product should be about 15 bucks.

This kit is well made, contains all the plug adapters you'll need to travel to 6 continents, and unlike some, has switchable wattage to allow the use of both low voltage (eg. battery rechargers) and high voltage (eg. hair dryers) appliances.

PAID HACK: "Roy Givens III"

...is obviously an employee of Sirius, all of his 8 reviews are designed to run down XM radio and promote Sirius. What a pitiful, brainlessly-obvious fake. Surely Amazon can do a better job of screening out goons like this, otherwise the credibility of its users' reviews will continue to plummet.

Me, I own nor use neither system, just wanted to post this as a heads-up for unsuspecting Amazon users, so I'm giving it 3 stars as a neutral rating.

Overall, this is a nice unit, but one little glitche compel me to take a star from what would normally be a five star rating. The only problem I had was with the docking unit itself, moreso in it's mounting. The mounting kit is an alcohol pad to clean the surface and some double stick tape. That works fine until it gets hot inside the car. Then you find yourself picking it up off the floor at inopportune times and becoming a traffic hazard. I fnally solved the problem somewhat by sticking it on top of the ash tray in my van. It's within reach there, but it keeps me from pushing in my ash tray now. I'd pay extra for a custom kit designed for my particular car. I love the convenience of the docking station, just not the attachment method.

I *love* my SkiFi (I have the home adapter too). The car unit takes a little installation effort (about an hour in my case), and does not switch too easily from car to car. However, once installed, it worked great! The trickiest part of the installation requires running two thin wires to the outside of the car, where a little antenna about the size of a computer mouse will stick to your roof with a very strong magnet. I was able to simply snap off the door molding in my van to hide the wires and then snap the molding back; no real big whoop.

Next, you stick the enclosed mounting swivel device to your dashboard with special glue they supply. Power the thing up by plugging it into your car's lighter jack. Finally, use the cassette adaptor to run the sound through your car stereo.

The cassette adaptor requires that you have a tape player in your car stereo. If you don't, you'll probably have to get an RF modulator to pump the sound through your FM radio. SkiFi is supposed to be offering an RF Modulator type kit soon. Other companies do make them though. In my case, my car stereo has an AUX input that allowed me to plug the device in with a simple wire.

HINT: You may get some 'whining' interference. If so, a device called a 'ground loop isolator' from Radio Shack fixed that problem nicely.

Once you get used to XM, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

I'm very happy with this unit, and I think GM unit Delphi has a hit on their hands. I'm looking forward to seeing more and more XM radio users as they begin to appear in new automobiles.