Chickadee Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Any one tried out a solar DAB radio? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roberts-DAB-Digital-Solar-Radio/dp/B003GM62PQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326980066&sr=8-1 I need an alternative to using my phone, laptop or TV to listen to DAB wondered if this could be the answer. The car stereo I have on the boat is only a couple of years old so don't really want to replace that. What other options do I have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grace and Favour Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Any one tried out a solar DAB radio? http://www.amazon.co...26980066&sr=8-1 I need an alternative to using my phone, laptop or TV to listen to DAB wondered if this could be the answer. The car stereo I have on the boat is only a couple of years old so don't really want to replace that. What other options do I have? This is the radio without the Solar (I have a non-solar one - I think it's great) I think that £18 for a solar add-on is expensive - - I simply recharge mine when engine's running / or on land-power Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paringa Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I have the Solar one. It's nice on a sunny day to have the radio on for what feels like free... Probably not worth the extra cost but overall it's a nice little radio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickadee Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 This is the radio without the Solar (I have a non-solar one - I think it's great) I think that £18 for a solar add-on is expensive - - I simply recharge mine when engine's running / or on land-power Mmm maybe I should just get that one then. How long does it last once charged? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drunkensailor Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 At the risk of sounding cynical, I think anything that costs so little that comes with a solar panel attached is a toy. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roberts-ECO1BK-Ecologic-Digital-Battery/dp/B001G1FRVO/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1326991840&sr=1-5 This looks more interesting, but I haven't tried it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 (edited) At the risk of sounding cynical, I think anything that costs so little that comes with a solar panel attached is a toy. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roberts-ECO1BK-Ecologic-Digital-Battery/dp/B001G1FRVO/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1326991840&sr=1-5 This looks more interesting, but I haven't tried it. is it just me that can't see the solar panel????? ah, edited as just seen first linky........ does it put in more than the radio uses, or just prolong listening time but runs out eventually??? Edited January 19, 2012 by matty40s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickadee Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 At the risk of sounding cynical, I think anything that costs so little that comes with a solar panel attached is a toy. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roberts-ECO1BK-Ecologic-Digital-Battery/dp/B001G1FRVO/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1326991840&sr=1-5 This looks more interesting, but I haven't tried it. Thats why I asked to be honest. I did wonder how effective it would be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grace and Favour Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Mmm maybe I should just get that one then. How long does it last once charged? It takes standard AA NiMh rechargeable batteries - (so easy and cheap to replace them if you ever have to) . . and a charge last 12 hours with 2300mh batteries (I inevitably have the radio on when I fall asleep - and it's still playing ion the morning!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickadee Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 It takes standard AA NiMh rechargeable batteries - (so easy and cheap to replace them if you ever have to) . . and a charge last 12 hours with 2300mh batteries (I inevitably have the radio on when I fall asleep - and it's still playing ion the morning!) ooh! sounds just what I need! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickadee Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Ok I'm now the owner of one of these lovely Roberts DAB radios but I can't seem to get it to hold its charge. I've charged it on my bf parents house leccy for about 10 hours 3 times and it still won't last longer than about 5 minutes. Am I doing something wrong. Do I need to try different batteries? I'm well disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NBMike Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 (edited) Most rechargeable stuff tells you to charge for at least 16hrs first time. Mike Edited to spell my name right! Edited February 3, 2012 by NBMike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickadee Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 This one said 7 hours for the first charge in the instructions so I thought I was giving it a bit extra at 10 hours lol. Would it do any harm if I left it for the weekend on charge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottle Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 The batteries may well be to small, (amp. hours) check the radio's manual. Were the batteries supplied? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickadee Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Yep batteries that were in the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottle Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 The manual may give an expected 'runtime' for the radio when on batteries. If it does not perform to specification, then it should be returned and a refund or replacement obtained. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickadee Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 I can't remember what the expected run time was but I'm sure it should be more than 15-20 minutes! It was the last one of this model in the shop and heavily reduced so if we take it back we'll have to pay more for the new model or have a totally different one so I'm eager to try and get this one to work if I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Gunkel Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 If it was sold to you as new by the shop, it doesn't matter what price they sold it for, it will still be covered with the full manufacturers guarantee and you will be entitled to a replacement if it is not functioning properly. I am not familiar with the radio, but could it be that there is a switch that you need to set to a 'charge' position when you are charging the batteries? Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickadee Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Yep set it to charge its deffiently taking a little charge each time. If the shop don't have a replacement they can just give me my money back then I'll be back to square one so I really want to try to get this one to work. Might just try a really long charge and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Gunkel Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 I bought a rechargeable torch a couple of years back which had been a demo model. It had internal rechargeable AA batteries, but wouldn't hold a charge for more than a couple of minutes. When I opened it to look at the batteries, I found that someone in the shop had replaced them with alkaline ones which seemed to take a tiny bit of charge. The shop gave me some free rechargeables and all was fine after that, so might be worth checking. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grace and Favour Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Chick - - - - my batteries will certainly last at least 10 hours on a charge! I am using 2,300Ma (x4) rechargable AA batteries (mine didn't come with batteries - I bought mine (Maplin/Tesco/everyone else) (2,000Ma at maplins) (Looking on-line now, the Maplins are currently on offer at £4.99) It May well be that the batteries you have been supplied are too small, wrong type, ex-demo - - (what rating are they?) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickadee Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 THanks i'll check what they are when I get home. They were sealed in the box in another plastic wraping thing. Didn't look like it had been opened before so i'm fairly certain this are the batterys it was supposed to come with. I think i've got some rechargable 2,300ma's in my camera I might give them a go see how long it lasts for. I really hope its just the batteries as this was the only DAB rechargeable battery radio I could afford at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottle Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 (edited) If this is an 'old' model then it may be possible that it has been in store a long time and the batteries have 'failed' due to old age. As before it does not work, therefore it is not of merchantable quality, take it back and get your money back, do not accept a repair. ps. you are totally at liberty to ignore this. Edit: looks like you were posting as I typed, trying the other batteries is a good idea. Edited February 3, 2012 by bottle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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