Inexpensive AM/FM Radio or AM/FM MP3 Player

[RedRunnerJumper]

Anyone know where a cheap radio can be purchased or an recommendations for a cheap mp3/radio player ? I mean I have ipod shuffles but was wondering about something that included a radio (to check weather, news, etc.). I know that "Loner" in his youtube videos has a cheap AM/FM player he uses, trying to find something like that...

[leaftye]

AM radio might be tough to find. Can you do without it?

I like the older Sandisk Sansa m-series. m260 would be good if you can find one. They'll be a little more expensive than no name brands though.

These two are cheaper, and can probably be bought for a lot less money on sites that allow you to order directly from China, although shipping will take weeks instead of days. Don't be surprised if it takes 5 weeks, especially since customs has been sitting on shipments for a week or more lately, but keep an eye on it because you can only file a Paypal dispute within 45 days.

Electrohome (http://www.amazon.com/Electrohome-EAMP100-Player-Integrated-Recorder/dp/B0076N6L2K/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1348173951&sr=8-6&keywords=aaa+mp3+player)

iRulu (http://www.amazon.com/iRulu-Brand-Music-Player-Recorder/dp/B005Q6NW7G/ref=pd_sim_e_2)

[Moose2001]

I just bought a RCA MP3 player at Walmart for $24. So far, seems to work well. I've tried FM radios on the trail before and the reception is pretty limited.

[RedRunnerJumper]

AM I can do with out.... thanks for the info, will check out these items which were shared.

[SamA]

On a piece of the Long Trail, we used a Grundig Mini 400 for AM/FM and SW. It was light and had good battery life. AM stations were tough to find, though. We managed to find NPR each morning while we got grub going and packing up. It was worth carrying just to keep looped on weather.

SamA.

[Slo-go'en]

Walmart still sells a Sony AM/FM/WB radio for about $25. No MP3 player built in, but it does run on a single AAA battery. As noted above, FM reception can be iffy and finding a station playing something you like can be a problem. Listening to a FM station while hiking often fades in and out as you go from one side of a hill to the other. AM is usually only good at night, but if you like ball games, you can usually find one to listen too at night. Be sure to check the weather radio when your up on a hill, reception down at a shelter is usually pretty bad for NOAA.

MP3 players with a built in FM radio are available, but the radio usually doesn't work all that well. At least not as well as a purpose designed one like the Sony noted above.

[RedRunnerJumper]

Very helpful! I could manage with just a cheap FM player. Was planning on checkin out Walmart next time I gotta do errands.

[colorado_rob]

I use a Sensa clip, about $50 (maybe less), 8GB music storage, built in FM radio, only 0.8 oz (less than an ounce). Runs about 12 hours on a charge, charges off of a USB port, I carry a little USB charger that weighs about an ounce, plus two AA batteries. Total kit about 4 ounces, good for 2 extra charges, or 36 hours of music/FM. I've only used the FM radio in the city, where it seems to work fine, no idea how well out in the boonies, I suspect not very well given it does not have an external antenna.

[leaftye]

AM I can do with out.... thanks for the info, will check out these items which were shared.


These two are cheaper, and can probably be bought for a lot less money on sites that allow you to order directly from China, although shipping will take weeks instead of days. Don't be surprised if it takes 5 weeks, especially since customs has been sitting on shipments for a week or more lately, but keep an eye on it because you can only file a Paypal dispute within 45 days.

Electrohome (http://www.amazon.com/Electrohome-EAMP100-Player-Integrated-Recorder/dp/B0076N6L2K/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1348173951&sr=8-6&keywords=aaa+mp3+player)

iRulu (http://www.amazon.com/iRulu-Brand-Music-Player-Recorder/dp/B005Q6NW7G/ref=pd_sim_e_2)

The reason I recommended the second one is because another PCT hiker claimed to use it and like it. I checked the chinese vendor I usually use, and it's much cheaper to buy through Amazon. I wish it could use memory cards though. Aside from my very first mp3 player from nearly 15 years ago, I don't know of an AAA mp3 player that uses memory cards. Actually, I'd really love an AA mp3 player. If you want one too, please chime in on this thread.

http://forums.sandisk.com/t5/Site-suggestions-Product-feature/AA-battery-powered-mp3-player/td-p/63452/page/16

[Rocket Jones]

A couple of years ago for Christmas I asked for and got a Sansa MP3/radio that ran on a AAA. 2G of memory in it and no memory card, but since I usually load it up with audiobooks to listen to at night in my bag, there's enough capacity for me. My headlamp uses the same batteries as well, which simplifies things if I carry spares.

[q-tip]

Sansa Clip +---$50 and it has a card slot-I have 475 albums on mine---2.0 0z.

[Wise Old Owl]

The AM part is very useful for discovery of storms coming....I have never seen it on a MP3 if you find one let me know.

[mister krabs]

I always bring a radio,

This one gets good reviews. http://www.amazon.com/Kaito-KA200-Pocket-Radio-Black/dp/B00408K36Y/ref=sr_1_4

This one has excellent SiLabs insides, is only $16 and you can get it at your local radio shack but might be a little big for you. worth a trip to the mall to check it out.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3705831
http://herculodge.typepad.com/herculodge/2012/09/radio-shack-pocket-radio-uses-silicon-chip.html

This one has shortwave, which I like for late nights. http://www.amazon.com/Kaito-Pocket-size-10-Band-Shortwave-Processing/dp/B007F2289C

Stepping up a bit is the degen DE17 which I have and really like. it's digital so has a sleep timer and no "drift." It's smaller than a deck of cards, so is the ultralight one and has shortwave, which as I said is a plus for me. http://www.ebay.com/itm/DEGEN-DE17-FM-Stereo-MW-SW-DSP-Digital-Pocket-Radio-/380368631925

[mister krabs]

I could go on and on. This is one I'd like, am/fm/shortwave/mp3 A little big at 7 1/2 inches long by 3 high.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-TECSUN-PL398MP-PLL-DSP-MP3-PLAYER-World-Band-w-Dual-Speaker-Radio-/110761417348?pt=US_Portable_AM_FM_Radios&hash=item19c9e51a84

[Wise Old Owl]

Tec sun are the manufacture for Grundig, a well known name in making electronics... interesting find,,,, too big for me...

Here is one of my recommendations.... appears a few here have made this recommendation in the past.

http://www.amazon.com/Sangean-DT-400W-Digital-Weather-Pocket/dp/B0012YHQVE/ref=pd_cp_e_2

For the UL camp....
http://www.amazon.com/Sangean-DT-120CL-FM-Pocket-Receiver/dp/B000G6RVSW/ref=sr_1_25?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1348358089&sr=1-25&keywords=sangean

[mister krabs]

Those are both great woo. Proven performance. And yeah, too big for me to carry too. I'd use it canoe camping though and maybe for overnights instead of a book.

[mister krabs]

Here's a am/fm/sw/mp3 that's small enough to pack. http://www.ebay.com/itm/ShouYu-SY-DP180-FM-MW-SW-STEREO-Radio-DSP-Receiver-Mini-Handle-Three-Band-/170878585487

[Wise Old Owl]

Wow you worked hard on finding that! - its a tad over 7 ounces - and Li Ion Battery-it will play for days on headphones,,,,... built in speaker and hard FM antenna.... but because its in China and exported to several countries - when you get it - the AM distance between stations will need to be set.... did you see it?

MW(522-1620 kHz) our band is 510-1710 so the skip on the digital will have a internal setting to get it right.

[mister krabs]

Didn't work that hard, saw it on a blog I read. Speculation is that it has a SiLabs chip so should have the 9/10 step and go up to 1710 on the 10. A review is supposedly coming soon.

[mister krabs]

Now we're talkin', 3.5 oz plus battery.... AM/FM/SW/MP3 http://www.ebay.com/itm/DE1127-DIGITAL-DSP-FM-MW-SW-AM-POCKET-MP3-PLAYER-PORTABLE-DEGEN-RADIO-RECEIVER-/130583217180?pt=US_Portable_AM_FM_Radios&hash=item1e675dc41c

[Wise Old Owl]

Tom are you a SWL or Ham? this is surprising me.

I prefer Amazon to Ebay..

http://www.amazon.com/DEGEN-DE1127-DIGITAL-PORTABLE-RECEIVER/dp/B008ETDX4O

[mister krabs]

SWL and radio aficionado.

[swjohnsey]

I used a little Sansa m250 MP3/FM radio. It uses a single AAA. A lithium would last a couple of days or more. An interesting feature that I didn't even discover until a couple of months in was the scan feature on the FM radio. This thing was tough, took a lickin' and kept on tickin'. It got wet a couple of times but dried out and worked.

[konradchen]

Sansa clip is one of the lightest most affordable mp3+radio players out there that includes a display screen. If you're looking for just a radio that can really play audio for an audience (e.g., built in speaker, no headphone jack), I've had great luck with the kaito series of portable radios. They are cheap too!
http://www.amazon.com/Kaito-KA200-Pocket-Radio-Gray/dp/B00408P5WQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1357678075&sr=1-4&keywords=portable+radio+kaito

[mark schofield]

check out the RCA Pearl. not as nice as the Sansa Clip+, but it has the FM radio, mp3 player, takes a micro sd card, and uses one AAA battery so no problems with a recharge.The sansa is a nicer unit, though (to me)