self powered radios- a long way to go (Freeplay S 360)

Member Name: Tristram

Product:	Freeplay S 360
Date:	28/05/01 (768 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: compact, no battery required, looks good

Disadvantages: expensive, bad reception, short play time

Imagine those summer days when you want to listen to the radio in the garden, or take the radio into the bathroom, or camping etc.etc. Those batteries never seem to last long do they? And what a waste of money if you happen to fall asleep! Originally designed for use in Africa, where lack of batteries and electric sockets is prevalent in some rural areas, this self powered radio sounds a brilliant idea. It's very small(comes in two sizes, the smallest of which is about a foot), see-through and very funky-looking,and has am. and fm. frequencies. You can wind it up clockwork style, and run it from that, or, if it's daytime and sunny, there's no need, becuse it has a solar pannel. BUT... Some development on the reception is needed. This is almost its only fault, but a pretty crucial one at that! It sounds extremely crackly and tinny, so much so that I never listen to music on it, as there's just no point, and it can be difficult to hear what people are saying sometimes. I have a friend with one, and theirs is the same. This is a shame, because other than that, it's a fine looking radio. A bit pricy at around £60-£70, but one has to bear in mind that if you were in a desert it would be a great thing to have a radio that didn't need a conventional power source, and hopefully the technology will soon improve.

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