A Nifty Portable Radio
By James Grahame
This is the $59 Sangean PR-D7. It seems strange to write about an old fashioned AM/FM radio in the iPod Age, but there's something incredibly convenient about a good old terrestrial wireless receiver.
For starters, there are no monthly subscription bills and you'll never complain about paying 99 cents for a single song. Local radio also offers a sense of community that you don't get from a sanitized iPod playlist - listening to NPR / CBC / BBC can be an unpredictable and enjoyable experience.
The PR-D7 measures 8.5 x 1.5 x 4.5 inches and weighs about 2 lbs. It requires 6 x AA batteries for portable use, but don't despair - there's a nifty little "alkaline / rechargeable" switch on the back that lets you use NiMH cells and recharge them with the included AC wall wart.
Apart from that, there isn't too much worth special mention. The radio features digital PLL tuning and 10 station memories, along with a backlit LCD display and alarm. There's also a stereo headphone jack.
The set has been on the market since 2008 and receives excellent reviews, so it's a safe buy. Best of all, this little portable should still be alive and kicking in 10 years. I doubt I'll be able to say the same about my iPod.
Sangean PR-D7 AM/FM Digital Rechargeable Portable Radio [Amazon]
