New Radio Shack Pocket Radio; Old Timex

 

I had a Radio Shack gift card burning a hole in my pocket----and based on a recent post here on Herculodge, I took the bait and pulled the trigger on a $15.00 Radio Shack AM-FM pocket radio.  Now, I don't know the first thing about silicon chips in radios. 

I'm a technical dum-dum.  But I actually did "need" a modern pocket radio, so why not this one?  I wanted to be on the cutting edge----tech saavy----and since I'm not in the market for an I-Phone, don't have the loose pocket change for one and don't feel like standing in long lines to buy one----I thought, "Hey, the next best thing is a pocket radio with a silicon chip, whatever that means."  I charged up two old AA batteries and have been playing with this radio at my office.  So far, I'm impressed.  Sure, it's a tinny little transistor radio----but it locks in nicely on FM stations.  The sound isn't killing my ears.  And tonight I'll go on an AM adventure with it.  How much fun can you have for fifteen bucks these days?

 

Also pictured:  An old Timex watch I picked up on E-Bay.  It looks like '70s style, possibly '80s manufacturing???  It has a very robust "40 Hour" mainspring.  I have to say, you wind this thing up and it goes and goes.  At some point, I might upgrade the band.  The watch case and crystal are actually better looking than they appear in the photo----the flash glare killed it.  I had a desire to go back to my childhood/young adulthood with regard to watches----and wanted to look for the ubiquitous "every man's" brand of the period---easily Timex.  I picked this Deco styled model for its uniqueness.  

 

Angelo   

Comments

[Paul]

So how was AM on the radio?

[Angelo]

Paul: The AM was shockingly good. Again----the sound on the radio is what you'd expect from a pocket portable with a little, inexpensive speaker. But I was astounded by how many AM stations I was able to pick up from my location in Washington, DC----some of the mid-range ones (New York City, Richmond, Virginia) clearer and more listenable than on much larger, more expensive radios. It clearly outperformed my older transistor radios, such as my early 1970s General Electrics. This is a definite strong buy at less than twenty bucks.

[Paul]

Based on the review (great reception on AM and FM) it sounds like this Radioshack radio is also using Silicon Labs' DSP chip:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2145774

[Michael Brent]

I,ve been buying Radio Shack radios for years for fishing trips.
My last one, which cost about $15.00, lasted about 12 years after being exposed to wind,rain and and a wide assortment of bait and fish guts.
Not only do they work well, they are nearly indestructible.

[Angelo]

Paul: That looks like a good buy at thirty bucks if it has the chip----probably easier tuning than the pocket radio too.