grudig hand crank radio

psy-ops

psy-ops

Joined
Sep 27, 1999
Messages
3,164
Another Brookstone gadget!

this radio was plastic and had a plastic crank which did not need any power. Also $40.

Should I be glad I passed it by?
 
We bought a multi band radio, brand new on ebay for a little over 20.00 and it's dynamo, battery, electric and maybe solar, but not 100% sure on that one.
 
Grundigs are greeat little radios. Bought for around $50 Canadian ($30 US) at Radio Shack. Excellent sound, short wave, AM/FM, superb reception. Crank to charge up the battery, or it runs on three AA batteries for a long time. Durable little radio, good value IMHO.
 
Radio

After reading this review, I bought one of these. His suggestion to use a scrap of wire as an auxillary antennae works well.
 
texascarl, that radio looks great but I have a gift certificate at brookstones. so I am limited

thanks
 
The crank AM/FM/Shortwave radio (made by Grundig) has been discontinued according to my Radio Shack store--they had none. I'm perusing the web now to see what else is available. Since the first site I looked at said that they had also discontinued Grundig (Name--not manufactured for a retailer) products), I'm not quite so fired up to travel to a farther Radio Shack and snatch up one of the two left at that store. Just a heads-up for what it's worth. (maybe nothing!)

Edit:

here's another review on the radio shack one-pretty complimentary also:

http://www.northwestradio.com/interceptnw/bbs/archives/messages/10672.htm

Maybe Radio Shack thought they'd make a one-time killing on Y2K mania....

I'll report if I manage to obtain one of the two at the other Radio Shack store. Not that I know anything about S-W radios.
 
They had a bunch at brookstones. I saw'em wit me own eyes!

But that does mean that maybe after christmas they might be cheaper.

good call
 
Those Radio Shack models...we don't have them up here in Canada? Anyone able to buy one and send one my way?

:)

Burton
 
Grundig makes a good product. I'm actually surprised Radio Shack carries them, because most of their products are copies of Sangeans. If you have a Brookstone gift certificate, I'd say go ahead and grab it, doesn't cost you anything, and it's gonna be a good thing. Shortwave is fascinating.
Another option is to look into the Baygen Freeplay radios, another, and I thnk the original, line of windup radios. I have one and it comes in quite handy, not necessarily in emergencies, but it as a solar panel, and can be used while cleaning out or washing your car.
 
PS - I hear Radio Shack is finally going to stop asking for all kinds of personal information; Last name, phone number, address, etc...
 
Can't find the Brookstone one on their website...Maybe they also had a limited purchase for Y2K-mania. Is this it:
http://www.grundigradio.net/product...00_emergency_radio/fr_200_emergency_radio.asp

The Radio Shack one appears to have more bands than other crank-dynamo models? BTW, the guy at Radioshack called it the Grundig-2--I can't confirm myself that Grundig made it. They don't seem to make anything like it now.


PS - I hear Radio Shack is finally going to stop asking for all kinds of personal information; Last name, phone number, address, etc...
Click to expand...

Picked up a phone cord yesterday...No attempted interrogation! Checkout there is slow enough already. A chain electronics store was like that too--dunno if they changed, don't go there very often. I would just say "WHY?--I'm paying in cash and don't want to receive flyers in the mail".
If needed repeat phrase and gesticulate with cash to fully interupt the monotonic interrogation program.

A local store started using "membership cards" for sale items. The registration form wanted SS#. I said no way I give that to a freakin' grocery! The clerk looked around and gave me a blank card. No "rebates" sent to me, but I get the sale prices, and the %#^&&% don't have a database of all that I buy attributed to ME. My neighbors already think the checkout computer is printing up customized coupons on the receipt. Only thing is the sleepier clerks say "Thank you Mister Customer" when they read the display when I checkout.
 
The current Radio Shack flyer in my area has these radios on sale at $39.95, they are advertised as Grundigs. I think I'm going to have to get one. Now all I have to do is explain to my wife why I need three short wave radios....:rolleyes:
 
OK, I went to another Radio Shack store that had them in stock. Here's what I found:

There are TWO models:

1) model #12-803. This is green and black, and is the radio texascarl and I link to for reviews. Receives weather, AM/FM and six SW bands. The Radio Shack website says that this model is discontinued...the clerk at the store that had some said that his computer gave no indication that this was the case. Currently "on sale" (what isn't:) ) for 49.95. I bought one. They call it "Self-Powered Portable Radio". Bears Radio Shack name--don't know who manufactured it. Clerk said Radio Shack made it...riiight :rolleyes:


2) Dunno model #. Made by Grundig--appears to be the same grey radio that is sold by other vendors. I was immediately put off by this one, as the display model exhibited a printed staition indicator card that was printed on a very thin film that had delaminated from the substrate, rendering almost half of it utterly useless to indicate tuned frequency. (Didn't make a great impression of the store either!!!) Also, it has lesser capabilities, receiving AM/FM and SW1 and SW2. And I'm aware of no reviews of this product. Price 39.95.

So far, I like 12-803.

I've only played around with it inside the house so far, and have gotten stations from Japan, Sweden Germany, Australia tonight. Of course I also got some in languages I can't identify, Spanish, and a bunch of Bible-thumpers. The simple antenna in texascarl's link helps. I think I'll try to rig up one out side that I can hook up to.

It seems pretty sturdy considering how many things are made nowadays, and you can switch to AA battery power while you crank it back up. Dunno if I will get a wall-wart power supply for it or not. The knobs have a good feel, but I can see why serious shortwavers prefer digital tuning, the stations ae really packed in close!!! But for a dynamo-powered rig, this seems pretty good.

I suggest that one ask specificallly for model # 12-803--I don't think that the clerk would have known he had any in the store if I hadn't. (To be fair, the clerk at the store that didn't have any dynamo radios had it more together.)

EDIT:

I guess I should say that a Radio Shack Clerk told me it was discontinued. The Web site says:

"Sorry, this item is out of stock in our on-line store. "

There is an 800 number that apparently one could order from according to the site.

Whatever that means.
 
If anyone lives near a RS and would be willing to buy a black/green 12-803 radio, NIB for me and send it to Canada, please email me. We don't have that model up there and the last time I emailed RS.com, they said something about not infringing on RS Canada's territory. Stupid but <shrug>.

Thanks!

Burton
 
Firkin-thanks for the heads up on the differences between the two models, you probably saved me some aggravation!
 
I've had the Radio Shack 12-803 for a year now, and have nothing but good things to say about it. I've used it extensively in the Adirondacks, and it provides a very good signal. The AM/FM is on par with your average radio, and the short wave is a nice bonus. I haven't been able to pick up weather stations from my spot in the Adirondacks, but my camp is an uniquely dead zone for all broadcasts, so this is expected. The weather signals come in fine from home. I must say that the dynamo power lasts much longer than the time that is advertised. The volume and signal start to drop as the battery loses power, but the power lasts for an insanely long time.

This radio is a steal for the price.
 
I have the same RS model for about a year also and can report that Buzz is right, the sucker stay's charged longer than advertised .If you can put up an outdoor antenna, set it high up in the shape of a T with the base going to your radio. Burton just went to RS to see if they have the radio, none.Will check another shop tomorrow
 
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