Radio Reviews

I had two of these units from Amazon with the same identical problem. The channel selector turned and clicked but did not change the channel. I also own the Midland 77-092, which is actually a cheaper model, but I've not had any problems with it, and am completely satisfied. You may want to consider that model from Amazon instead of the 77-104XL.

THIS PRODUCT IS GREAT I'M SURE BUT FOR ONE CATCH...YOU HAVE TO HARD WIRE THE CB RADIO TO THE AUTO'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM YOURSELF. PERHAPS NOT A PROBLEM FOR SOME BUT FOR OTHERS (MYSELF INCLUDED)IT IS I AM SURE. IT IS MY FAULT THAT I DID NOT NOTICE THIS IN THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION PRIOR TO ODERING. I JUST WANTED A CB RADIO THAT I COULD PLUG INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND GO. THIS IS NOT THAT TYPE OF CB UNIT. FOR THIS REASON ALONE I RETURNED THE UNIT TO AMAZON.COM SO NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE CB ITSELF ....JUST BE AWARE THAT ONE HAS TO WIRE THE UNIT TO THE AUTO AND NOT JUST PLUG INTO A LIGHTER....

The CB is just what i expected. It's not very clear in the description but it DOES have a PA switch and output. The best part is, I got it in three days!

ryan

Our toddler got hold of our Sony Dream Machine and dispatched the one essential dial that controls time/alarm setting, so for several months we've been depending on internal body alarms--with the usual resultant catastrophes. What's more, since "spring forward" daylight savings the clock has been an hour off. Ah, parenthood. Finally we got around to ordering this Panasonic. But once out of the box (yesterday) the myriad problems quickly began to announce themselves. First, the design interface of the buttons is cryptic at best. Enlarge the image above and you'll see what I mean. Various functions are attributed to the same buttons, and they're all so squeezed together that the text directionals are not entirely clear. There are TWO time-set controls. Why? After fiddling with the danged thing last night I finally had to consult the instructions to set the alarm. In other words, it was not clear and apparent how to do a routine adjustment to a bottom-of-the-line component. Gimme a break. Even after reading the instructions we had difficulty. Maybe this was a lemon--and maybe not. We couldn't figure out how to make the "fast" function work in setting the alarm, so it took a long time and much button-pressing. We never did get it right, in fact.

This clock-radio represents much of what's wrong with the modern world, in albeit simplified terms:

1. Apparently it was designed by a troupe of monkeys. Seriously, Panasonic should be embarrassed by the poor design of this product. If I owned Panasonic stock (I don't) I would be selling today.

2. Just like car stereos, in which the classic, time-tested volume control knob is somehow not good enough (so they had to replace with complicated multi-function push-button controls that cannot be operated by anyone aside from the driver who has painstakenly learned the "rules"), the designers/manufactures of this clock-radio have taken a simple concept that worked...and ruined it.

3. Marketers/advertisers bombard us with lies about how great this product is.

4. Consumers, like a bunch of sheep, take the abuse--insuring the cycle will be repeated again, and again, ad nauseum.

Forget it. We want out. We're sending the blasted thing back today. Thankfully Amazon will refund our purchase and we can try again. There must be someone out there who can manufacture a clock-radio that does the job it was intended to do.

I got this as a replacement for my girlfriend. It has a lot of nice features, but (unfortunately) we're considering taking it back... The biggest problem is that the buttons are too small and too close together. The snooze, while bigger than the rest, is in a corner that can be hard to hit if the clock is not faced a certain direction. That's bearable, but the rest of the 5-6 buttons are tiny little circles all in a tight row. The off button is in the middle of the row and I have yet to hit it without pushing at least a few others in the process.

Similarily, the buttons to set the clock/alarm are positioned so that it is difficult to change the alarm time with one hand.

Finally, the "Tender Wake-Up System" is nice, but whenever I push snooze or off the volume goes up to full for a fraction of a second. Just long enough to really annoy me.

Overall the clock is just... annoying. We'll probably keep it and we'll probably get used to it, but I certainly wouldn't buy it again.

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I'm really happy with this little clock radio. It's an excellent value for the money. It looks great, works great, and sounds great. The glow is not too bright; it has a high and a low (I keep mine on low all the time). A note about the alarms: One is a radio alarm only and the other is a beeper alarm only. The radio alarm doesn't work if the power is out. The beeper alarm will work if the power is out. I thought that was odd. The unit does have a battery back-up.

I'm very pleased with this clock radio. I bought mine for $$$and not shipping cost on another website. Happy hunting!
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This system is WAY too expensive. I considered buying one until i actually heard it.
There is NO BASS!!! So you have to buy a subwoofer if you want good sound from it.
If you add it up(400 for the stereo, 300 for a decent subwoofer) 700 BUCKS!

I like the overall looks of my stereo, very cool!!!!!!!! For how my parents spent on it, $399.00 ouch! But it's on Ebay for less, but it's worth the money. Plays mp3's so I have music for hours.

Having read the reviews below, I feel compelled to set the record straight.

First, the speakers DO produce bass. It's not the overwhelming blowout hip hop concert kind, but it's bass nonetheless. If you want spine-tingling lows, get a more expensive system -- or one with a subwoofer. Or, better yet, adjust the bass on this system up a step or two. I'm pretty picky when it comes to audio (I also own a pair of B&Ws) and I'm pleased with the overall sound from these speakers.

Second, the system really does look great. One reviewer said it's impossible to turn off the display light. That's not true. Hold down the power button, and the display light turns off completely. Five stars for looks.

The features are great too. I wont go into too much detail here; you can read about that stuff online. I personally like the gradually increasing volume on the alarm (which will wake you up to your favorite CD).

Finally, my complaint: the remote control, which you WILL use, just sucks. It is not backlit, and its shape is such that you have no way of telling which buttons you're hitting in the dark (the buttons are indistinguishable from one another by feel). Result: it's really hard to use the remote at night in bed. This is an example of design run amok.

Otherwise I'm happy with the thing.

This system is WAY too expensive. I considered buying one until i actually heard it.
There is NO BASS!!! So you have to buy a subwoofer if you want good sound from it.
If you add it up(400 for the stereo, 300 for a decent subwoofer) 700 BUCKS!

I like the overall looks of my stereo, very cool!!!!!!!! For how my parents spent on it, $399.00 ouch! But it's on Ebay for less, but it's worth the money. Plays mp3's so I have music for hours.

Having read the reviews below, I feel compelled to set the record straight.

First, the speakers DO produce bass. It's not the overwhelming blowout hip hop concert kind, but it's bass nonetheless. If you want spine-tingling lows, get a more expensive system -- or one with a subwoofer. Or, better yet, adjust the bass on this system up a step or two. I'm pretty picky when it comes to audio (I also own a pair of B&Ws) and I'm pleased with the overall sound from these speakers.

Second, the system really does look great. One reviewer said it's impossible to turn off the display light. That's not true. Hold down the power button, and the display light turns off completely. Five stars for looks.

The features are great too. I wont go into too much detail here; you can read about that stuff online. I personally like the gradually increasing volume on the alarm (which will wake you up to your favorite CD).

Finally, my complaint: the remote control, which you WILL use, just sucks. It is not backlit, and its shape is such that you have no way of telling which buttons you're hitting in the dark (the buttons are indistinguishable from one another by feel). Result: it's really hard to use the remote at night in bed. This is an example of design run amok.

Otherwise I'm happy with the thing.

This system is WAY too expensive. I considered buying one until i actually heard it.
There is NO BASS!!! So you have to buy a subwoofer if you want good sound from it.
If you add it up(400 for the stereo, 300 for a decent subwoofer) 700 BUCKS!

I like the overall looks of my stereo, very cool!!!!!!!! For how my parents spent on it, $399.00 ouch! But it's on Ebay for less, but it's worth the money. Plays mp3's so I have music for hours.

Having read the reviews below, I feel compelled to set the record straight.

First, the speakers DO produce bass. It's not the overwhelming blowout hip hop concert kind, but it's bass nonetheless. If you want spine-tingling lows, get a more expensive system -- or one with a subwoofer. Or, better yet, adjust the bass on this system up a step or two. I'm pretty picky when it comes to audio (I also own a pair of B&Ws) and I'm pleased with the overall sound from these speakers.

Second, the system really does look great. One reviewer said it's impossible to turn off the display light. That's not true. Hold down the power button, and the display light turns off completely. Five stars for looks.

The features are great too. I wont go into too much detail here; you can read about that stuff online. I personally like the gradually increasing volume on the alarm (which will wake you up to your favorite CD).

Finally, my complaint: the remote control, which you WILL use, just sucks. It is not backlit, and its shape is such that you have no way of telling which buttons you're hitting in the dark (the buttons are indistinguishable from one another by feel). Result: it's really hard to use the remote at night in bed. This is an example of design run amok.

Otherwise I'm happy with the thing.

We got this CD player/radio for a wedding gift (from our registry). The tuner doesn't get a lot of stations in our area (we have tested this brand at circuit city since we got this one to see if it was just ours or if all of them were like that). Also, our tuning knob seems to be stuck, so we get ONE station really poorly. So, it has only been useful to us as a CD player so far, which really wasn't what we were looking for.

In response to "A Guest" in Virgina, I believe you wrote a review for the wrong product. You state your tuning knob has become stuck but this product has no tuning knob as it uses a digital tuner. Just thought others should know this. I havn't used this shower radio yet but I plan to pick one up after I received a Spectra shower radio (CR-500) for christmas which has broken after about a week, stay away from that one...

I was tottaly pleased to open this radio for a Christmas present onlt to find how great the speakers sound.Im looking to buy another unit for another room in the house. 5 stars!!!!

The car docking station relies upon using the car radio tuned to one of six hopefully unused FM channels: 88.1 thru 88.9. the H2A transmits a weak signal at that FM frequency and you use your car radio to provide your music enjoyment.

A good concept that is a disaster in execution. The H2A FM output is a very weak signal and unless the unit is mounted near the car radio antenna reception signal-to-noise ratio is poor resulting in lots of noise/hiss.

If you live in an urban area where there is an FM station on all available channels between 88.1 and 88.9 then the system may be totally useless.

BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR FM DIAL FOR STATION ACTIVITY BETWEEN 88.1 and 88.9 BEFORE YOU CONSIDER THIS PRODUCT. If your car radio has any coherent signal received on one of the H2A channels then you won't get good reception using the H2A in that environment on that channel. In my case (St. Louis) the NPR station on 90.7 actually interferes at the upper end of the range and there are jazz stations at the low end.....too bad for me.

A great product and sirius is a great service i liked it over xm.

As of this writing, this item carries an improper description, and the clue is the "FM" suffix on the end of the model number (KPA-H2CFM). This is NOT the usual car kit for the Kenwood Here2Anywhere unit -- it's the FM modulator car kit. In addition to the listed accessories, an FM stereo modulator is integrated into the docking base of this unit, and allows you to have a cordless connection to your car stereo.

This delivers audio nearly as good as the cassette adapter model, and leaves only the cigarette lighter power source and antenna as the only wires you need to worry about.

As with the other car kit, the antenna is a magnetic mount unit, along with a strip of self-adhesive tape for the "tail" portion of the antenna. Cable length is sufficient for nearly any standard sedan, station wagon, or hatchback application. (Unfortunately, installation can be an issue in most pick-up trucks unless you're somewhat creative.)

A good compliment to the Here2Anywhere receiver unit for anyone willing to pay a (roughly) $30 premium for FM instead of a cassette interface.

...but mine broke after one use. This is not my first antenna and I am not particularly abusive of them, but the second time I put the antenna on my truck it did not work anymore. Maybe it was bad luck, but the Lil Wil I got to replace it is still kicking, so I'll be staying away from the Midland antennas for a while.

I have purchased two of these Midland units and have been happy with the performance. Nice value for a low price.

I dont get what point the reviewer above is trying to make, he knew exactly how this antenna installs before he bought, but then states that as a deficit.

Assuming you put this on your roof, there is plenty of cable to run into the trunk and then through the back seats, and then weave it around inside so you wouldnt even see it. The trunks on most cars have a gap, a gutter to catch what comes through the gap when it rains and then the seal, which is raised above the gutter, you can easily fit this cable through that gap, and the seal will be big enough to compress and allow the cable through, no water will get through, unless its some kind of tropical storm, and even then it will be a small amount, and you shouldnt be out then anyway.... If you dont like having cable running from middle of car roof down to trunk, just put it on your trunk lid, or a rear corner of your roof.

If your going to moan about mag mounts, either get a through-glass style, or a permanent fixture. Through glass are usually small and lack RX and TX power, are permanent, ruin your window if you ever remove it, and permanent whips, well if you own a car, most people dont want a 7 foot whip.. Weigh up the pro's and cons of each style before you buy, dont buy something and then complain about its design, and doesnt your door seal have enough give to place the cable where the door closes?

This is a good mag mount.

On the jobsite or in the workplace, professional two-way radios
provide instant communication with individuals or multiple groups.

Business communications made simple! The Spirit GT+ radio
is ideally suited for retail stores, restaurants, schools,
hospitals, event coordination, small businesses and more.

Special "wait-to-talk" feature requires that you wait for
all the other conversations from the other companies that
share your frequency to stop transmitting so you can talk.

Spirit® Professional two-way radios operate on business
radio frequencies, (not FRS) which adds to congestion on
the already overcrowded business radio service.
Not recommended for personal use.

Two channel operation allows twice as many users to
share the same frequencies with you and requires frequency
coordination with other companies in your area.

"Up to 4 mile range" means that you will recieve interference
and unwanted chatter from everybody else within a 4 mile radius.

Regardless of which 2 of the 8 frequencies you choose,
there will always be somebody telling you to "get off my channel!".

When you ask that person for their license information,
they will explain that "I don't need a license!".
When you explain the rules to them, they will argue
"your rules Do NOT apply to me!", then they will
start jammming you.

Here is a list of low power itinerant business radio frequencies:

1 464.5000 Brown
2 464.5500 Yellow
3 467.7625 J
4 467.8125 K
5 467.8500 Silver Star
6 467.8750 Gold Star
7 467.9000 Red Star
8 467.9250 Blue Star

Spirit® Professional two-way radios operate on
radio frequencies that are regulated by the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC). In order to transmit
on these frequencies, you are required to have a license
issued by the FCC....

GT Plus does everything the T280 does, but it is much harder to switch frequencies & channels. The T280 is a much better product at a lower price.

This is a decieving radio. You need a business FCC license for it so you must apply for it and state your business need for these radio's. Its better to stick with GMRS or FRS unless you want to violate FCC R&R and use them for non-business use. There are FCC listeners everywhere that monitor the use of these frequencies and I have returned these radios and switched to GMRS. The claim that you have a 4 to 5 mile range is in perfect conditions, using these radios for the short time I had them gave me only minimal range increase from my FRS radios I've previously used. Range is dependent on the antennae and battery strength.

Very upset that the product I received was not the one pictured. It came in a dark grey, nothing like the photo, so basically, its marinating in my closet.

I love the dual alarms as I can keep my original Mon-Fri alarm set while setting the second alarm for those days when I must wake up at a different time. However, there's a flaw in the design of this clock. The snooze button is much too close to the alarm reset button. As someone who uses the snooze button A LOT, I have gotten to work late several times because, in a still sleepy state, I have pressed the alarm reset button instead of the snooze button.

I love the digital radio w/10 preset station options AND dual alarm. It has waken us up very well the three days we've had it. Unfortunetly, it is impossible to read from across the room where we like to put our alarm clock. Otherwise, a great alarm clock.