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The $1.00 radio

W

westlife

Guest
If you can't afford an iPod, try one of these radios, available at Wal*Mart for a whopping $1.00...

2c_1_b.JPG


Don't expect stellar performance... with a fresh set of batteries, it sounds the same as a regular Walkman does when running on nearly-dead batteries. And despite the fact that the included earbuds have "STEREO" printed on them, the sound is mono. But the fact that it works at all is quite amusing, and its sensitivity is actually quite good. And even if you don't like how it works as a radio, you can still use it as a flashlight!

<P ID="signature">______________
ImportantInfo.jpg

"This is the New York Emergency Broadcast System satellite channel. They took the crosstown bus."</P>
 
> If you can't afford an iPod, try one of these radios,
> available at Wal*Mart for a whopping $1.00...
>
>
>
> Don't expect stellar performance... with a fresh set of
> batteries, it sounds the same as a regular Walkman does when
> running on nearly-dead batteries. And despite the fact that
> the included earbuds have "STEREO" printed on them, the
> sound is mono. But the fact that it works at all is quite
> amusing, and its sensitivity is actually quite good. And
> even if you don't like how it works as a radio, you can
> still use it as a flashlight!
>

These are great giveaway ideas for non-comms. Get some stickers printed and slap them on the face of the radio and hand 'em out! Cheap, and point-of-sale advertising essentially.

Also, while you're opening the packaging to "sticker," pre-set the frequency too!
 
> If you can't afford an iPod, try one of these radios,
> available at Wal*Mart for a whopping $1.00...

Just don't expect it to remember what station you were listening to. Terribly annoying part of those cheap "scan and reset" radios.
 
> Also, while you're opening the packaging to "sticker,"
> pre-set the frequency too!

I doubt that is possible, because it's an "auto-scan" tuner. When you turn it on, it starts at the bottom of the FM band (88 MHz) and seeks to whatever the lowest station on the dial is. You tune it by pushing the "Scan" button to seek to the next higher signal, gradually working your way up the band. So that's great if your favorite station is at 88.1 MHz, but not so great if it's at 107.9 MHz! There's no way to scan downwards, either, but the funny thing is, if you use the flashlight when the radio is on, it will often bump downwards a station or two. I guess the flashlight causes the voltage going to the radio chip to drop, thus upsetting its tuning.
<P ID="signature">______________
ImportantInfo.jpg

"This is the New York Emergency Broadcast System satellite channel. They took the crosstown bus."</P>
 
> If you can't afford an iPod, try one of these radios,
> available at Wal*Mart for a whopping $1.00...

You can get virtually the same radio for a penny less at the "99 Cents Only" stores. "Uninex" brand, made in China. Several different colors/shapes, apparently same circuitry. I think these are sold under various names, but probably all from the same factory.
 
> > Also, while you're opening the packaging to "sticker,"
> > pre-set the frequency too!
>
> I doubt that is possible, because it's an "auto-scan" tuner.
> When you turn it on, it starts at the bottom of the FM band
> (88 MHz) and seeks to whatever the lowest station on the
> dial is. You tune it by pushing the "Scan" button to seek
> to the next higher signal, gradually working your way up the
> band. So that's great if your favorite station is at 88.1
> MHz, but not so great if it's at 107.9 MHz! There's no way
> to scan downwards, either, but the funny thing is, if you
> use the flashlight when the radio is on, it will often bump
> downwards a station or two. I guess the flashlight causes
> the voltage going to the radio chip to drop, thus upsetting
> its tuning.
>

Ah. See, I just saw one of these...didn't actually use it. And I gave that one away as a prize anyway! Interesting, though. I guess those Chinese are good at keeping costs down. They did, however, probably put some "tuning dial" manufacturer out of business by doing the "autoscan" function. Oh well...progress marches on, in a ChiCom goosestep no doubt.
 
I remember getting of these radios as a gift and I threw it away the next day because it was bad. I have a radio just about the size of an iPod that works excellently, unlike this piece of junk. I'd rather burn a dollar bill than buy this radio with it.<P ID="signature">______________
17-year-old radio geek
Location: Princeton Junction, NJ
AIM: KewlDude471
WWPH 107.9 FM: http://wwph1079fm.no-ip.org</P>
 
> If you can't afford an iPod, try one of these radios,
> available at Wal*Mart for a whopping $1.00...
>
>
>
> Don't expect stellar performance... with a fresh set of
> batteries, it sounds the same as a regular Walkman does when
> running on nearly-dead batteries. And despite the fact that
> the included earbuds have "STEREO" printed on them, the
> sound is mono. But the fact that it works at all is quite
> amusing, and its sensitivity is actually quite good. And
> even if you don't like how it works as a radio, you can
> still use it as a flashlight!
>
Funny, I've seen those at Dollar Tree, but for $13.96 (j/k).

I got one for free applying for a credit card at college once. I can vouch for it's sensitivity based upon the one I owned, but I have a feeling that it was because the major radio & TV farm pretty much 'overlooked' campus on the mountains.

I'd bet one used in my hometown would allow bleedover from the strongest local station (a 30kw C2 @ 99.3) into every other channel, however.<P ID="signature">______________
"I have the feeling about 60% of what you say is crap."--David Letterman underestimates Bill O'Reilly</P>
 
I'd rather burn a dollar bill than buy
> this radio with it.
>

Why don't you just give your dollars to me...I can put em' better use than simply as heating elements, lol <P ID="signature">______________
"I have the feeling about 60% of what you say is crap."--David Letterman underestimates Bill O'Reilly</P>
 
> I'd rather burn a dollar bill than buy
> > this radio with it.
> >
> Why don't you just give your dollars to me...I can put em'
> better use than simply as heating elements, lol

Better yot... Help support the South Florida Radio
Pages with that bill and some of its friends.

Thank you for your support!

73$ from 954
<P ID="signature">______________
Prairie Home Companion Coming To Miami in Feb! South Florida Radio Pages (since 1995)</P>
 
The one and only "99 Cents Only Stores"

> You can get virtually the same radio for a penny less at the
> "99 Cents Only" stores. "Uninex" brand, made in China.
> Several different colors/shapes, apparently same circuitry.
> I think these are sold under various names, but probably all
> from the same factory.

Always good hearing from you FrogMan. You know they have an unbelievable 99 minute phone card for 99 cents. Of course you have to live in Texas, Arizona, California or Nevada, otherwise it's only 49 minutes for 99 Cents. How long has Texas had these Supermarket sized Dolar stores?. Tell me, is Doc Scott still keeping up his Worldwide presence?.

mmm
 
This is the perfect post which can use a link to your favorite Radios, amazingly still for sale, and at reasonable prices too!.
> Better yot... Help support the South Florida Radio
> Pages with that bill and some of its friends.
>
> Thank you for your support!
>
> 73$ from 954
>
 
Oh, THAT $1.00 radio!

> This is the perfect post which can use a link to your
> favorite Radios, amazingly still for sale, and at reasonable
> prices too!.

I'm assuming you mean Top Ten Gifts For Radio Geeks in December Radio News.

They're not a dollar, though!

Thank you for the segue, EmiNeMiNeM.

> > Better yot... Help support the South Florida Radio
> > Pages with that bill and some of its friends.
> > Thank you for your support!
> >
> > 73$ from 954
<P ID="signature">______________
Prairie Home Companion Coming To Miami in Feb! South Florida Radio Pages (since 1995)</P>
 
One-Dolla Chinese Specials

The same basic el-crappo "Auto Scan" FM tuner is used in myriad products from China, such as this "Tow In One" watch/radio:

watch-radio-rw023b.jpg


Here's another one, by "Power Sing":

watch-radio-ps323.jpg


How about a "Love" radio?

clock-radio-rj606.jpg


If the 108-136 MHz aircraft band is ever taken over by FM broadcasting, this one will be ready for it:

clock-radio-rs228.jpg


Proof that AM-only transistor radios haven't disappeared:

multifunction-radio-rmu94.jpg


...and neither have analog clock radios:

clock-radio-ps2068.jpg

<P ID="signature">______________
ImportantInfo.jpg

"This is the New York Emergency Broadcast System satellite channel. They took the crosstown bus."</P>
 
Re: The one and only "99 Cents Only Stores"

> How long has Texas had these Supermarket sized Dolar stores

A couple of years now. There are two of them near me, one in an old H.E.B. location, the other in a former Walgreens. Surprisingly large inventory...lots of out-of-region and imported brands.
 
Re: One-Dolla Chinese Specials

Some of these would be cool to give away as promotions for a station if they only tuned to one frequency. Can I get about a hundred of those "love" radios that are permanently tuned to 107.9 FM in time for Valentine's Day?<P ID="signature">______________
17-year-old radio geek
Location: Princeton Junction, NJ
AIM: KewlDude471
WWPH 107.9 FM: http://wwph1079fm.no-ip.org</P>
 
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