![[Upgraded Version] Emergency Hand Crank Self Powered AM/FM NOAA Solar Weather Radio with LED Flashlight, 2000mAh Power Bank f](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71Ys9VT7FQL._AC_UL165_SR165,165_.jpg)
For its price at the time of writing ($31 w/ coupon), this is a nifty product with lots of features. It's well-suited for camping trips and the likes, but not as an emergency weather radio due to two serious shortcomings -- the lack of weather band reception, and the lack of a battery level indicator.
For starters, I personally find the retro-inspired design to be quite aesthetically appealing. The boxy plastic construction looks and feels solid, with minimal creaking. Both the plastic material used and the molding process seem to be relatively high quality, as there's no visible streak marks around the plastic case, and intricate details like letters are cleanly imprinted.
In terms of its primary function as a radio, performance is mixed. On the one hand, signal reception is strong even with the antenna folded. The receiver was able to pick up all the nearby FM and AM stations (albeit with a lot of fine-tuning), and when the DSP receiver properly locks-in to a signal, the audio can be very clear with minimal noise. shortwave band reception is an added bonus. On the other hand, many of the frequency dial markings are grossly inaccurate, with some of the FM markings undershooting their indicated frequencies by over half a centimeter. Combine this with the comparatively tiny and cramped tuning dial, and it becomes a frustrating chore to try to locate and precisely tune into many of the stations, especially those in close proximity. The lack of a tuning indicator, present on many/most other radios sold these days, also doesn't help. Lastly, this radio lacks NOAA weather band reception, meaning it technically doesn't qualify as a weather radio, and potentially limiting its usefulness in emergency situations.
The sound qualities of the speaker and the headphone jack output are both excellent. The audios are crisp and clear with minimal distortion, and the speaker sounds very loud at max volume. I don't use Bluetooth speakers, but this speaker certainly seems adequate for that purpose. I haven't tested the MicroSD music playback feature, but I imagine that the limited controls and lack of digital display would make track navigation a tedious enough experience as to render this tacked-on feature obsolete and pointless.
The device comes with a replaceable 2500 mAh 18650 Li-ion rechargeable battery, which is excellent. On top of that it can be powered by two AA batteries, a handy backup option to have in emergency situations, though there's no option to toggle between battery modes, and the user manual explicitly disclaims that that only one battery type should be installed at a time. There's a power indicator as well as a charging indicator light beneath the silicone port cover, but there's a notable lack of a battery level indicator, making it impossible to check the amount of remaining charge. For an emergency radio, this seems like a major design shortcoming.
Utility-wise, the radio comes with a flashlight and a flip-up floodlight, each with a single brightness setting, though the latter is too bright for activities like reading. There's also an emergency siren that can be activated via a slide switch. The device is advertised as being able to supply power to other devices via a USB cable, though the charging feature only works in 'music' and 'siren' modes, meaning no radio playback at the same time.
The device is advertised with an IPX3 water resistance rating, which I've been able to anecdotally test and validate by subjecting the device to splashes from a running faucet for half a minute. Upon review I didn't notice any significant ingress besides a few water droplets inside the battery compartment, which didn't appear to cause any issues. However, this informal finding does suggest that prolonged exposure to rain and moisture should be avoided.
In summary:
Pros:
- Neat retro-inspired design
- AA battery compatibility (but no switch for toggling between AA and 18650 batteries)
- Decent speaker sound quality
- Inclusion of headphone jack, Bluetooth, and MicroSD playback support (though card can't be inserted fully, and track navigation is slow and unwieldy)
- shortwave band reception
Cons:
- Tuning into stations is unnecessarily difficult due to the tiny tuning dial, inaccurate dial markings, and lack of tuning indicator light
- No weather band reception, therefore not a weather radio
- No battery level indicator, a major oversight for an emergency radio/power bank
- No dim setting for the flashlight and floodlight
| Brand | Hestiasko |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Hestiasko |
| Place of Business | Hestiasko |
| Hardware interface | Bluetooth, USB |
| Tuner Technology | AM,FM |
| Compatible Devices | Laptop, Tablet, Headphone, Smartphone, Speaker |
| Special features | Portable, Lightweight, Rechargeable, Built-In Flashlight |
| Mounting Hardware | 1 * Owner's Manual, 1 * USB Cable, 1 * Attached Lanyard |
| Display type | LCD |
| Power source type | Battery Powered / Solar Charging / Hand Crank & Battery Operated |
| Batteries Required | No |
| Frequency | 108 MHz |
| Connector Type | Bluetooth, USB |
| Radio bands supported | 3 tire |
| Material Type | Plastic, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) |
| Does it contain liquid? | No |
| Includes Remote | No |
| Manufacturer | Hestiasko |
| Parcel Dimensions | 17.3 x 10.4 x 7.6 cm; 510 g |
| ASIN | B0BNBGDP3T |
