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Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
Thing about those cheap wind up radios (and similar gadgets) is the
cheap wind up springs might fail when you need to use the radio in emergency situations.A set of quality Alkaline batteries www.rayovac.com should hold their charge while sitting in storage for about a year.Then you can use those batteries in storage in something else and put another fresh set of batteries in storage. cuhulin |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
Hello,
I have found a couple of SW radio models that I like, that are purely for portably temporary use. I am aware of their limitations, however I was looking to see if anybody on the group had any similar products that may suffice. I am considering the FR250 and FR350 manufactured by Eton (linked with Grundig now). I have ordered the 350 online, and have bought the 250, so have had a chance to play with the 250 for now. SW reception is mediumly-okay considering the size of the unit, and cheap components. The 'light', siren, and built-in phone charger are gimmicky, but useful when I may require them in the wilderness. I find the FR250 a bit bulky, and although the FR350 has not arrived at my door yet, I'm expecting it to be more comfortable, but with foibles. Lack of intricute tuning for starters, coupled with no carrying strap, 'flash light' button in a stupid place (cranking could make it go on for example). However, the actual position of the light makes it good for a torch, but then you can't see illuminate the dial I'm guessing, argh! These things aren't great, but I feel are pretty acceptable considering it's a wind-up radio primarily after all. I want FM/AM/SW and ideally (living in the UK) LW Longwave too. I can't find a unit that has that and is acceptable in size and price! The only one I can see is the 'freeplay summit' (www.freeplayenergy.com), and it's just too bulky, which is a shame. Any recommendations? Smaller is better, but cranking is a necessity. Thanks for reading, not the best bed-time read I imagine... Gthh (My full name acronym ;-) |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
wrote in message
... Thing about those cheap wind up radios (and similar gadgets) is the cheap wind up springs might fail when you need to use the radio in emergency situations.A set of quality Alkaline batteries www.rayovac.com should hold their charge while sitting in storage for about a year.Then you can use those batteries in storage in something else and put another fresh set of batteries in storage. cuhulin Thanks for the response. It's certainly not for emergency use, I'll be using it a few times a week or so. I expect to purchase more rechargable battery packs for the units which is trivial, as they're only $5 or so each. Once I've got both with me, I'll see which ones work best. Incidentally, take a look at this; it looks pretty good. Seems like the same as I got already but with 'porsche' written on it, and a nicer design:- http://www.etoncorp.com/inthenewsart..._NewsId=135838 I'd buy it if it weren't £100. Hopefully the dollar will mark up more against us here in GB, so I can get a bit cheaper ;) |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
On May 2, 12:00 pm, wrote:
Thing about those cheap wind up radios (and similar gadgets) is the cheap wind up springs might fail when you need to use the radio in emergency situations.A set of quality Alkaline batterieswww.rayovac.com should hold their charge while sitting in storage for about a year.Then you can use those batteries in storage in something else and put another fresh set of batteries in storage. cuhulin I really like the "Freeplay" brand of wind-up radios; their spring design seems sturdier than any of the others. The original models ran on spring power driving a generator only, so there were no NiMH batteries to charge/discharge and eventually wear out like the later ones have (& I think all the competitors). The very first one marketed here had an SW band, but there were also AM/FM only models; I have some and have given some as presents, in addition to later-generation Freeplay models. Some of those have solar cells and can operate in bright light without winding. There is one digital-readout wind-up AM/FM/SW model that I bought a sample of to try and want to caution people against -- the Kaito KA-008. It just doesn't work worth diddly. The digital display eats up too much power for that usage -- it has a clock, which of course constantly loses the time. The AM (MW) band performance is pathetic -- absolutely no selectivity and strong stations cover many many kHz swaths, making the advantages of digital readout worthless. Even installing alkaline batteries, they're drained quickly even if the radio is off. I was able to get a few strong SW stations but no better than one of the little "toy" cheapies. It has an analog readout twin, the Kaito KA-009 -- I was wondering if anyone has one of these and can offer comments on it. 73, Will |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
gthh wrote:
I am considering the FR250 and FR350 manufactured by Eton (linked with Grundig now). I have an FR200. I bought it in 2003 when we thought Iraq would be sending us missles with chemical and biological weapons. A wonderful portable radio it is not. It is a decent performer for an emergency situation. As long as you keep the battery in good shape then you will have no problems with it. Mine is on it's third battery. They die from lack of use. The FR-200 took a commonly available cordless phone battery. However the cordless phones I have bought in the last few years took AAA NiMH batteries which don't fit. I have ordered the 350 online, and have bought the 250, so have had a chance to play with the 250 for now. SW reception is mediumly-okay considering the size of the unit, and cheap components. The 'light', siren, and built-in phone charger are gimmicky, but useful when I may require them in the wilderness. That's an interesting question. Why are you taking it into the wilderness? Is this for camping in the U.K., or are you going somewhere else? I am confused as I read ahead and see you want LW recpetion. The U.K. is one of the few places in the world that uses LW. I think there was a station or two in continental Europe (Holland and Germany), but I also think they are long gone. When I moved here in 1996 there was an Arabic station on 208kHz (not a relection) but has been gone for a long time. I occasionaly scan around on long wave and hear nothing but noise. I find the FR250 a bit bulky, and although the FR350 has not arrived at my door yet, I'm expecting it to be more comfortable, but with foibles. A crank radio, unlike the Bayliss design needs some bulk. The Bayliss design uses a clockwork mechanism and can be as small as a watch and still be easily wound. The FR-200 and so on use a crank running a generator. If the crank is too small you won't get the tourque needed and if the radio is too small, it will turn instead of the generator. However, the actual position of the light makes it good for a torch, but then you can't see illuminate the dial I'm guessing, argh! I always thought that was a problem, but in an emergency you would be listening for stations, in casual usage you would want to see them. HOWEVER, in the dark the flashlight is next to useless for tuning the radio, even if it did face the radio. The reason is it is an incandescent bulb. One second of looking at it will require a long recovery time to get your night vision back. A red or green LED flashlight will last almost forever and not harm your night vision. I use a red darkroom lamp in my bedroom to make sure I don't lay down on a sleeping cat, and it neither affects my night vision nor wakes my wife. Any recommendations? Smaller is better, but cranking is a necessity. I would suggest a different approach. With NiMH batteries that hold 2700mAh common and cheap, a radio that takes 2 AA batteries would be a lot easier to use and carry. If you are not sharing the radio a set of headphones, or if your ears can accomodate them, earbuds (mine can't), would be smaller, lighter and much better than a speaker you won't use. There are small MP3 players with radios, although the ones I have seen are FM only. Since they last 12 hours on a single AAA battery in radio mode, you could carry a week's supply in less space and less weight than an FR-200. If you only listen to the radio an hour a night, then one battery would work. If you can find one that uses an AA battery or adapt one to it, you would get around 36 hours off of one battery charge. I also have a charger that will recharge 4-6 batteries in about 3 hours (or less) that runs on 12v DC. I use it with a wall transformer, but anything that supplies 12 volts at enough current can be used. If for example, you have access to a car once a week for a few hours, or some sort of commerical electricity, you could charge 6 batteries. The transformer is heavy, but the whole unit, transformer, 6 batteries and a small radio are smaller and lighter than the FR-300. Weren't there small hand crank generators sold for emergency recharging of cell phones? Could you adapt one to charge a battery for you? Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
"Geoffrey S. Mendelson" wrote in message
... I have an FR200. I bought it in 2003 when we thought Iraq would be sending us missles with chemical and biological weapons. A wonderful portable radio it is not. It is a decent performer for an emergency situation. As long as you keep the battery in good shape then you will have no problems with it. Mine is on it's third battery. They die from lack of use. The FR-200 took a commonly available cordless phone battery. However the cordless phones I have bought in the last few years took AAA NiMH batteries which don't fit. I would be using the radio a few times a week at the very least. I will be travelling throughout the world very soon, and I think batteries are the scum of the earth; they're a huge waste of resources. It's something most people aren't aware of, but it all adds up, and I don't mind the cranking. I said cranking george, now Wa... I would purchase the better-battery-life Freeplay Summit, but it only has AM and FM. If I'm in China, or Russia, I doubt I'll be able to get an English AM station, will I? I've searched the net, but many old articles detailing the various channels are out of date. Thus I felt a LW/SW combination was essential. 198 longwave is the BBC world service, and sound quality is much better than that of SW I find. However, as you say, due to uninterstingness and lack of use, I don't mind sacrificing LW for a decent handset, that can be recharged without batteries/electricity from the power grid that has FM/AM/SW combination. The FR200, having tried it, is a poorish design, but I am not arguing the FR250 or FR350 are any better. They aren't advertised as 'emergency' products here in the UK, we don't believe in Iraqi apocalypses unlike yourselves ;-) nudge nudge... If I could get a BBC-style service or a decent English station internationally then the Freeplay Summit would prove excellent. Unfortunately, as it stands, unless you would like to tell me otherwise (which I would love!) I need a unit with SW too, and without batteries. I also find a speaker useful for my friends whom I travel with, and radio is often a social thing, I find headphones on a trip slightly selfish. I realised this was unsociable when my mate had headphones on a speakerless radio, and I had nothing, as it had been stolen! It sucked. Cheers George. |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
"gthh" wrote in message
... "Geoffrey S. Mendelson" wrote in message ... I have an FR200. I bought it in 2003 when we thought Iraq would be sending us missles with chemical and biological weapons. A wonderful portable radio it is not. It is a decent performer for an emergency situation. As long as you keep the battery in good shape then you will have no problems with it. Mine is on it's third battery. They die from lack of use. The FR-200 took a commonly available cordless phone battery. However the cordless phones I have bought in the last few years took AAA NiMH batteries which don't fit. I would be using the radio a few times a week at the very least. I will be travelling throughout the world very soon, and I think batteries are the scum of the earth; they're a huge waste of resources. It's something most people aren't aware of, but it all adds up, and I don't mind the cranking. I said cranking george, now Wa... I would purchase the better-battery-life Freeplay Summit, but it only has AM and FM. If I'm in China, or Russia, I doubt I'll be able to get an English AM station, will I? I've searched the net, but many old articles detailing the various channels are out of date. Thus I felt a LW/SW combination was essential. 198 longwave is the BBC world service, and sound quality is much better than that of SW I find. However, as you say, due to uninterstingness and lack of use, I don't mind sacrificing LW for a decent handset, that can be recharged without batteries/electricity from the power grid that has FM/AM/SW combination. The FR200, having tried it, is a poorish design, but I am not arguing the FR250 or FR350 are any better. They aren't advertised as 'emergency' products here in the UK, we don't believe in Iraqi apocalypses unlike yourselves ;-) nudge nudge... If I could get a BBC-style service or a decent English station internationally then the Freeplay Summit would prove excellent. Unfortunately, as it stands, unless you would like to tell me otherwise (which I would love!) I need a unit with SW too, and without batteries. I also find a speaker useful for my friends whom I travel with, and radio is often a social thing, I find headphones on a trip slightly selfish. I realised this was unsociable when my mate had headphones on a speakerless radio, and I had nothing, as it had been stolen! It sucked. Cheers George. Crap, I meant ideally I'd like the: Freeplay EYEMAX!! Not the summit! Bloody keyboards... |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
"gthh" ) writes:
I also find a speaker useful for my friends whom I travel with, and radio is often a social thing, I find headphones on a trip slightly selfish. I realised this was unsociable when my mate had headphones on a speakerless radio, and I had nothing, as it had been stolen! It sucked. But of course, that's the tradeoff. I saw a review of the original Baygen (well the one that was made for actual sale), and it used a miniscule amount of current. It matched what they could get out of the generator. Headphones right off the bat require less audio amplification, and that will be a fair current draw for radios with speakers. ANd that lack of current output from the generator is reflected in the actual radios. THe better a receiver, the more current it will require. Michael |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
On May 2, 1:17 pm, "gthh" wrote:
Hello, I have found a couple of SW radio models that I like, that are purely for portably temporary use. I am aware of their limitations, however I was looking to see if anybody on the group had any similar products that may suffice. I am considering the FR250 and FR350 manufactured by Eton (linked with Grundig now). I have ordered the 350 online, and have bought the 250, so have had a chance to play with the 250 for now. SW reception is mediumly-okay considering the size of the unit, and cheap components. The 'light', siren, and built-in phone charger are gimmicky, but useful when I may require them in the wilderness. I find the FR250 a bit bulky, and although the FR350 has not arrived at my door yet, I'm expecting it to be more comfortable, but with foibles. Lack of intricute tuning for starters, coupled with no carrying strap, 'flash light' button in a stupid place (cranking could make it go on for example). However, the actual position of the light makes it good for a torch, but then you can't see illuminate the dial I'm guessing, argh! These things aren't great, but I feel are pretty acceptable considering it's a wind-up radio primarily after all. I want FM/AM/SW and ideally (living in the UK) LW Longwave too. I can't find a unit that has that and is acceptable in size and price! The only one I can see is the 'freeplay summit' (www.freeplayenergy.com), and it's just too bulky, which is a shame. Any recommendations? Smaller is better, but cranking is a necessity. Thanks for reading, not the best bed-time read I imagine... Gthh (My full name acronym ;-) The Grundig windup radios are decent for catching AM & FM stations and will work on shortwave although the tuning is not precise as I'm sure you know. I think you will find that the performance is about comparable between small analog multiband receivers like yours. I would enjoy it for what it is. We use ours as an emergency radio so it sits fortunately. To be honest if you are looking to do much shortwave listening I would get a small portable with precise tuning and much improved performance like the Degen DE1103. |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
The first original Freeplay wind up AM FM Shortwave radios were made in
Africa and they were/are good radios.I read an article about them around 15 years ago.The article said the Freeplay radio factory moved from Africa to China and the quality of the radios then went down hill.Somewhere around 12 - 13 years ago,I saw a wind up Freeplay made in China radio sitting on a shelf in a Hudsons discount store in Brandon,Mississippi. (about 14 miles East of me) If I remember,I think the Hudsons store price tag label on the radio said $45.00.Naturally,I passed on by. cuhulin |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
On May 2, 8:20 pm, wrote:
The first original Freeplay wind up AM FM Shortwave radios were made in Africa and they were/are good radios.I read an article about them around 15 years ago.The article said the Freeplay radio factory moved from Africa to China and the quality of the radios then went down hill.Somewhere around 12 - 13 years ago,I saw a wind up Freeplay made in China radio sitting on a shelf in a Hudsons discount store in Brandon,Mississippi. (about 14 miles East of me) If I remember,I think the Hudsons store price tag label on the radio said $45.00.Naturally,I passed on by. cuhulin Try the Freeplay Plus, which is a really nice emergency radio that also doubles as an everyday set. The NiCad batteries can be charged through a crank, a built-in solar panel, and an optional AC adaptor. It has also has a detachable LED light that can a real bonus during a power failure. One incredibly nice thing about the Freeplay Plus is its large speaker, which actually improves the quality of SW sound. This single-conversion radio lacks the hum that's usually present with PLL double-conversion circuits. Its audio quality is smooth and pleasant, and while it may not be a DX machine, the Freeplay Plus does a good job for program listeners. Build quality is also excellent . CCrane.com often has it for sale in the $89 range. |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
gthh wrote:
I would be using the radio a few times a week at the very least. I will be travelling throughout the world very soon, and I think batteries are the scum of the earth; they're a huge waste of resources. It's something most people aren't aware of, but it all adds up, and I don't mind the cranking. I said cranking george, now Wa... I agree and disagree. NiMH batteries now have 1 1/2 times the capacity of alkaline batteries and can take 300-350 charges from totally dead until fully charged without any appreciable problems. I don't think this is a waste of resources. It's a cheap, easy to carry way of storing electricity. Note that NiCad and Lithium batteries are not the same and contain chemicals that need special disposal. If you figure that one NiMH battery is the equivalent to almost 500 alkaline batteries or one heck of a lot of cranking, it may change your opinion. If I'm in China, or Russia, I doubt I'll be able to get an English AM station, will I? I've searched the net, but many old articles detailing the various channels are out of date. Sometimes. Local stations often have an "International" broadcast for tourists. It may be on once a day at 3am, but they have it. If you are in a place that has no tourists there may not be one. Note that some countries may restrict your possesion or imporation of a radio. Thus I felt a LW/SW combination was essential. 198 longwave is the BBC world service, and sound quality is much better than that of SW I find. However, as you say, due to uninterstingness and lack of use, I don't mind sacrificing LW for a decent handset, that can be recharged without batteries/electricity from the power grid that has FM/AM/SW combination. LW is really a European thing now. I doubt that you can hear the BBC longwave anywhere outside of the U.K. and western Europe. The FR200, having tried it, is a poorish design, but I am not arguing the FR250 or FR350 are any better. They aren't advertised as 'emergency' products here in the UK, we don't believe in Iraqi apocalypses unlike yourselves ;-) nudge nudge... Then I would not take one with me. I used to have a Sony ICF-2002 and thought it was excelent for the job. The newest version is not cheap and requires and external power supply or batteries. It may also have "steal me" written all over it in letters only the locals can see. If I could get a BBC-style service or a decent English station internationally then the Freeplay Summit would prove excellent. Unfortunately, as it stands, unless you would like to tell me otherwise (which I would love!) I need a unit with SW too, and without batteries. Pretty much. I expect that if yougo "off the grid" (away from some sort of commercial power or a generator) in Russia, you will be very far afield and in China if you go there without a chaperone you could be shot as a spy. I also find a speaker useful for my friends whom I travel with, and radio is often a social thing, I find headphones on a trip slightly selfish. I realised this was unsociable when my mate had headphones on a speakerless radio, and I had nothing, as it had been stolen! It sucked. That's fine, but it adds weight and compexity and requires a lot more electricity. I was recently in the hospital and you can imagine my reaction when another person in the room woke up at 6:30 and put his radio on. :-( Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
On May 2, 4:35 pm, "gthh" wrote:
"Geoffrey S. Mendelson" wrote in ... I have an FR200. I bought it in 2003 when we thought Iraq would be sending us missles with chemical and biological weapons. A wonderful portable radio it is not. It is a decent performer for an emergency situation. As long as you keep the battery in good shape then you will have no problems with it. Mine is on it's third battery. They die from lack of use. The FR-200 took a commonly available cordless phone battery. However the cordless phones I have bought in the last few years took AAA NiMH batteries which don't fit. I would be using the radio a few times a week at the very least. I will be travelling throughout the world very soon, and I think batteries are the scum of the earth; they're a huge waste of resources. It's something most people aren't aware of, but it all adds up, and I don't mind the cranking. I said cranking george, now Wa... If you are worried about non-rechargeable batteries being the scourge of the earth then why are you buying a radio made of plastic with electronics made from synthesized materials using highly toxic chemicals that runs on rechargeable batteries made from toxic chemicals. When most recharbeable devices stop taking a charge the unit usually gets pitched in the dump. |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
"Roadie" wrote in message
ups.com... If you are worried about non-rechargeable batteries being the scourge of the earth then why are you buying a radio made of plastic with electronics made from synthesized materials using highly toxic chemicals that runs on rechargeable batteries made from toxic chemicals. When most recharbeable devices stop taking a charge the unit usually gets pitched in the dump. Quite a stupid post really, wasn't it? Allow your mal-thought prognosis to consider: I buy a radio made of plastic, toxic materials, etc etc, and use normal batteries in it. The number of batteries it would use in its lifetime would be a huge amount even with normal use. I buy a radio the same, but that has an in-built replacable rechargable battery, that will very likely last longer than the same batteries used above. I can order a replacement for $5, and can send the old one back to them for recylcing, which simply involves replacing the chemicals in it safely (and that doesn't mean underground, it means they can be used to contribute to a number of other products or applications). The real bonus is also that I don't just use an inefficient method of charging the battery (ie: a wall outlet!) as I'm using a hand-crank. As a result of the low-current generated, the radio isn't fantastic. On AM it's great, on FM it's great, on SW it's 'acceptable' for use with strong stations. For the price, that's what I expect. To those who are slightly interestede, the FR350 is the same technology inside, except it's got 1 extra SW channel capable of receiving, and it's waterproof to some extent. Cheers. |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
Most people buy regular batteries at the stores and use them in whatever
devices,clocks,wris****ches,radios,you name it.When the batteries are worn down,they put them in the trash cans/bags and the batteries,along with other garbage/trash get set out front for the garbage trucks to pick the garbage up and haul the garbage to the garbage dumps and the batteies wind up buried down in the masses of other garbage.Some people throw old batteries down on the parking lots,roads,sidewalks,just anywhere they want to dispose of them. cuhulin |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
On May 3, 4:05 pm, "gthh" wrote:
"Roadie" wrote in message ups.com... If you are worried about non-rechargeable batteries being the scourge of the earth then why are you buying a radio made of plastic with electronics made from synthesized materials using highly toxic chemicals that runs on rechargeable batteries made from toxic chemicals. When most recharbeable devices stop taking a charge the unit usually gets pitched in the dump. Quite a stupid post really, wasn't it? Well, yes I agree. You should give more thought to the impact of what you are suggesting before pushing the send icon. Allow your mal-thought prognosis to consider: I buy a radio made of plastic, toxic materials, etc etc, and use normal batteries in it. The number of batteries it would use in its lifetime would be a huge amount even with normal use. I buy a radio the same, but that has an in-built replacable rechargable battery, that will very likely last longer than the same batteries used above. I can order a replacement for $5, and can send the old one back to them for recylcing, which simply involves replacing the chemicals in it safely (and that doesn't mean underground, it means they can be used to contribute to a number of other products or applications) The real bonus is also that I don't just use an inefficient method of charging the battery (ie: a wall outlet!) as I'm using a hand-crank. As a result of the low-current generated, the radio isn't fantastic. On AM it's great, on FM it's great, on SW it's 'acceptable' for use with strong stations. For the price, that's what I expect. To those who are slightly interestede, the FR350 is the same technology inside, except it's got 1 extra SW channel capable of receiving, and it's waterproof to some extent. Cheers. |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
wrote in message
... Most people buy regular batteries at the stores and use them in whatever devices,clocks,wris****ches,radios,you name it.When the batteries are worn down,they put them in the trash cans/bags and the batteries,along with other garbage/trash get set out front for the garbage trucks to pick the garbage up and haul the garbage to the garbage dumps and the batteies wind up buried down in the masses of other garbage.Some people throw old batteries down on the parking lots,roads,sidewalks,just anywhere they want to dispose of them. cuhulin Actually, we only do that in America and the UK. In other smarter countries, they recycle them through legislation. Take a visit to London, and you'll see just how extensive recylcing is. It's excellent. I'm aware that (from the sound of it) as an American you are unfortunately statistically likely to be unaware of the effects of what you do in life in terms of environmental issues. Batteries are a major plague, rechargable less so, but the systems used to charge them are largely inefficient, unless you pay over $100 for one. People don't pay over the odds because 1) electricity is cheap in most places and 2) The initial cost of a good efficient charger outweights the overall benefit when compared to how many packets of cheap batteries the $100 would buy. Alls I can say is watch out, that defiant method of living will wear out within the next 10 years. Don't 'make the best' of it now, try live a better life now, you'll appreciate it. Plus look at it this way, a crank-up radio will likely strengthen the masturbation wrist :-) NB: That doesn't mean I'm saying all Americans don't give a **** about the environment, but research shows that most don't care, which is a real shame. |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
gthh wrote:
electricity is cheap in most places and 2) The initial cost of a good efficient charger outweights the overall benefit when compared to how many packets of cheap batteries the $100 would buy. Even with a lousy charger, the economy is there to recharge batteries. Assuming a really bad charger uses 10 watts of electricity to charge a 2700mAH NiMH battery (2/3s "overhead") that's still nothing in cost. The average price of electricity in the U.S. is less than 10 cents a kWH, To simplify things, I'll calculate it in one hour, but it comes out the same, ONE TENTH OF ONE CENT A CHARGE. One small island in the Pacific did exactly that. They bought a bunch of NiMH rechargable AA batteries and charge them in a central location. If your figure the batteries cost $1 each in bulk and can be recharged once a day for a year, the ecological and financial cost is minimal. Since everyone brings their batteries back for recharging, you don't even have a collection problem for the bad ones. Sounds like a good business for a microenterpreneur. Plus look at it this way, a crank-up radio will likely strengthen the masturbation wrist :-) On the other hand, having a radio that requires electricity and can be shared encourages social activity, which helps you find someone else to do that for you. Think of it this way. If you go around knocking on doors looking for a place to plug in your radio, you might just find a place to plug something else into........... :-) Even better, spend the time and effort to get a Ham license. There is a thriving VHF community in the U.K. You don't need a very advanced license, you don't need to learn morse code, you just need a handheld radio and some manners (and a license) and you can meet all sorts of people with all sorts of interests. Even if the people you talk to on the radio are all married men in their 50's :-) they have friends, families and co-workers to introduce you to. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ |
Wind-Up SW Radios...Help!
You know where VHF Radios were invented/developed? I know.Do you?
www.devilfinder.com Key Brothers Meridian Mississippi cuhulin |
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