Freeplay Energy Eyemax WB 2009 Self-Sufficient AM/FM/Weatherband Radio, iPod/mp3 dock and LED Flashlight (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We purchased this radio after trying the CC Observer, probably its closest contender.I wanted a crank-type emergency radio with weather band that I would want to use everyday at home or work.

The CC Observer had great reception for AM and FM, but the sound was tinny and when the volume was increased, the speaker distorted much quicker than I thought it should.These were not deal breakers, though.However, what was a deal breaker were the non-adjustable weather station settings, as the one we received was slightly mistuned and gave us a very distorted, but solid, reception.C Crane told me to return it and that there was no way to adjust that setting.

Not wanting to take a risk on another, we bought this radio.When it came in, I immediately raised the antenna and a portion of the antenna popped off, along with two copper contacts.I put them back together and more gently pulled and again it came off.So I put it back together and left it alone, trying the other functions.

The crank is solid and seems to give a good return on energy spent.If you read other reviews, it is this crank mechanism that people think is best about Freeplay items--it has the highest efficiency of energy conversion and it is the most durable of any available.The Freeplay website says you can get one hour of radio from one minute of winding, and I have achieved almost double this at half full volume with one minute of very fast (and hard) winding (160+ turns in one minute).

It has a fully adjustable, separate dial for weather, that easily received our station clearly, despite the initial antenna problem.Likewise, AM and FM came through strongly, but with less discrimination of stations than the CC Observer had (there was more bleed through of adjacent stations with the Freeplay Eyemax WB 2009).Also, there was more noticeable drift just before the battery died than with the CC Observer.That said, all stations sounded much better with the WB 2009 and the speaker didn't distort anything like the CC Observer did, probably because the speaker is fairly larger in the Eyemax.Additionally, reception was similar, but not as good, as the CC Observer on both AM and FM.I had no trouble getting an AM station from 250 miles away, but it had a bit added noise, despite physically turning the radio to its best reception.

There is a button on the back that immediately makes the weather tuner override the AM/FM tuner.Since these are tuned separately (as with the CC Observer), you immediately are returned to the AM/FM station you were listening to when pressing the button again.Both companies seem to have considered the convenience of the listener.

The flashlight puts out a meager light, but it works and you can read from it.Bizarrely, you turn it on by pressing the bulb.

There is no handle for the radio, in part, because they have a solar cell on top that would be blocked.The solar cell does work and helps make the radio last longer, but it's not providing the sort of current the crank can.I would much rather have a strap or handle or at least the option to put one there.This could be a deal-breaker for some, as winding the radio is more difficult.It's probably best for people with smaller hands to crank this pressing down on the radio at the edge of a table.

The dials for volume and the AM/FM tuner seem to turn the opposite way from what I would expect.Turning the tuner dial upward makes the tuner selector go downward.This is probably just a quirk of style, but it catches you.

I don't like that there is no headphone jack, but there are ports for an inbound mini-USB connection and another for an external charger.The former port allows one to hook up their cell phone or iPod to play music on this radio, using it as an external speaker.Although I know some people would use this, I think a much more practical thing would be a simple headphone jack for an emergency radio.After all, if someone is trying to minimize power usage on the radio under conditions which will otherwise require a lot of cranking, a headphone would cut out the need to power the relatively large speaker.Also, it would allow usage in situations in which audible sound may not be useful, as when others are sleeping.This is something the CC Observer did right.Fortunately, the sound is reasonable enough that you'd feel okay with playing it for a room at work or home all the time.

You are probably wondering what we did with the radio, since it arrived defective.Well, I called Freeplay to get a replacement antenna and they said they would immediately send a replacement radio instead RMAing the one I had.I agreed to do this, as my time with this defective unit was more than enough to let me feel comfortable that the replacement would properly work for my location.One thing I miss is that the CC Observer had a cell phone charger, but it appeared other people had found their own issues with that when looking at reviews.I guess I'll look for something separate to complement the Eyemax.

Both radios are good units, but the Freeplay Eyemax WB 2009 won me over based on sound quality.

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Product Description:
Rechargeable Ni-MH battery built in; Solar Panel; Built in crank; Receives US government (NOAA) and Canadian government (MSC) weather; High-performance speaker; Line-in and cable for iPod/mp3 players; LED flashlight

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