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Ultra heavy duty portable radio

post #1 of 14
3/1/08 at 4:30am
Thread Starter 
I live in Australia. I have owned many portable, battery-powered radios over the years. My last two were Grundig Yachtboy 2000s. Each lasted 2 years. My radios always die from traumatic injuries caused by mechanical shock when they are dropped onto hard surfaces from height.

I listen to radio about 16 hours per day. I carry my radio wherever I go. I listen mainly to BBC and NPR on AM, and sometimes also FM. I listen with loudspeaker, not headphones. I do not care about sound quality, mono/stereo etc.

I want to buy a radio which will last as long as possible. The only criteria are that it must be battery powered, portable and (above all) ultra heavy duty. It must be able to withstand maximum mechanical shock.

Any suggestions?
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post #2 of 14
3/1/08 at 4:59am


quote:
"Powered by a two-way Rockford Fosgate 44-watt sound system with a 3-stage Punch EQ bass boost, the Job Site Radio provides crystal clear sound over all volumes. It features an impact-resistant shell, steel handle and a blow-molded base. It operates on 120-volt AC power, 12- to 18-volt Milwaukee Power Plus batteries,...<snip>"


These sound great and I've seen 'em take 8' plus falls onto concrete and survive. If you tear one up there's really no hope fer ya.


Best of luck,
Lightnin'
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post #3 of 14
3/1/08 at 5:39am
Thread Starter 
The Milwaukee is too big to be truly portable, uses proprietary batteries only and Amazon will not ship it outside the US. Any other ideas?
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post #4 of 14
3/1/08 at 6:02am
Sorry mate, that's the best I could do.

With your demanding list of criteria/location yer gonna be hard pressed fer a solution.
Maybe mod a suitable radio w/ some kind of shock resistant skin and/or fabricate a roll cage?


..just curious, why the bloody bad luck? maybe behavior modification as opposed to a "G-Shock" radio would be easier?


Lightnin'
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post #5 of 14
3/1/08 at 6:18am
Would you consider one of the amateur radios, like the Yaesu VX-6R? I have a couple of Yaesu HTs and they're tough as nails. I think the VX-3R has wideband reception, so you will get AM, FM and a good selection of shortwave, weather channels, amateur bands, etc. They have speakers, have great water resistance, die cast aluminum cases, and are built to milspec.

Yaesu also has battery pack adapters for all their HTs, so you'd be able to run it off AA batteries. Should be fine, since transmitting is what eats power.

You won't be able to transmit without a license, but those are not difficult to get. You might enjoy chatting with fellow hams and there is nothing better in an emergency. These have many times the power of a cellphone and amateurs often come personally to help one of their own.
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post #6 of 14
3/1/08 at 7:25am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Sorry mate, that's the best I could do.
With your demanding list of criteria/location yer gonna be hard pressed fer a solution.
Thanks anyway, man!

Quote:
..just curious, why the bloody bad luck? maybe behavior modification as opposed to a "G-Shock" radio would be easier?
It's a consequence of using the thing all day, every day, constantly carrying it around the house, work, the garden, travelling etc. All the little bangs and knocks add up, and then the device is already mechanically compromised when it gets a nasty drop into a concrete floor.
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post #7 of 14
3/1/08 at 7:27am
Thread Starter 
@ Erik: Good idea, I will give this some consideration.
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post #8 of 14
3/1/08 at 8:03am
Forgot to mention that Icom, Kenwood and Alinco also make similar radios, and that sometimes Yaesu sells radios branded as Vertex Standard. I'm particular to Yaesu, but do have a nice Icom base station I like a great deal.
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post #9 of 14
3/1/08 at 8:11am
Try C. Crane.
I bought things from them before and like it. They ship worldwide.
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post #10 of 14
3/1/08 at 12:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post
Would you consider one of the amateur radios, like the Yaesu VX-6R? [...] They have speakers, have great water resistance, die cast aluminum cases, and are built to milspec.
Erik, after looking into these I can say that you have sold me. Thanks.
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post #11 of 14
3/1/08 at 3:37pm
Tivoli Audio- Songbook or iPal. Both sound great and are very durable. I've owned both(currently I travel with the Songbook).
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post #12 of 14
3/5/08 at 12:10am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post
I think the VX-3R has wideband reception, so you will get AM, FM and a good selection of shortwave, weather channels, amateur bands, etc.
OK, so I've got one of these now. But the instruction manual is impenetrable, to say the least, and I find that the AM broadcast receiver defaults to 10khz increments as used in the US.

So ... how do I change the settings to the 9khz increments used elsewhere?
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post #13 of 14
3/5/08 at 8:01am
Thread Starter 
Problem solved. All you have to do is go to item 83 in the menu.
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post #14 of 14
3/5/08 at 8:05pm
"item 83" (!)

...

Somehow I got a vivid picture of that, having sight unseen your new toy.
Glad you got it sorted.


Lightnin'
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