Krank/batteries DAB/FM radio

Kit, Clothing, Tools, etc
Odin
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Nov 23, 2024 3:42 pm

Re: Krank/batteries DAB/FM radio

Post by Odin »

mcprepper wrote: Sun Nov 24, 2024 10:57 am REALLY glad I’ve read all of this - I’ve got this:

sitting in my Amazon ‘save for later’ that I was going to buy this week. Sounds like you’ve all just saved me £36.99!

Looks like I need to be looking at decent solar charging options instead. Yes please to starting that thread jennyjj01 :D
Absolutely! Same here. It's spot-on advice—practical, budget-friendly, and undeniably very helpful. I was teetering on the brink of purchasing one myself, so this guidance couldn't have come at a better time. It’s a good reminder to pause, do the research, and think about what truly adds value to your setup.

Now, the question of the hour: what radio should we get? It’s a world of options out there, and making the right choice feels like picking the perfect puzzle piece. A rugged emergency model? A compact, portable option for casual use? DAB or not? Or perhaps one with all the bells and whistles, like weather alerts and a built-in flashlight? Decisions, decisions!

As for the power bank, that’s a no-brainer. It’s a versatile, foundational tool—always there to rescue your gadgets from the dreaded red battery icon. Once that's sorted, I’ll be on the hunt for solar panel recommendations too. Solar is a game-changer for sustainable energy, and I love the idea of tapping into the sun’s endless power to charge everything, from my devices to the radio itself.

It's exciting to think about building a setup that’s both practical and forward-thinking. If you stumble upon any standout gear during your research, don’t hesitate to share. Who knows? Your discovery could be the next money-saving gem for someone else, just like this advice was for us!
Premeditatio Malorum
jennyjj01
Posts: 3619
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2017 11:09 pm

Re: Krank/batteries DAB/FM radio

Post by jennyjj01 »

Yorkshire Andy wrote: Sun Nov 24, 2024 9:55 am
jennyjj01 wrote: Sun Nov 24, 2024 9:46 am [
Oh boy: Where to start?
I'm inclined to start another thread dedicated to the 'What Solar Charger?
That's going to a LONG post :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
True. Solar is a big topic. I'm giving some thought to structuring a thread to try to cover everything. Then see what questions arise.
I'll link to it from here
https://www.uk-preppers.co.uk/forum/vie ... hp?t=19213
Last edited by jennyjj01 on Sun Nov 24, 2024 7:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Graceful Degradation! Prepping's objective summed up in two words. Turning Disaster into Mild Inconvenience by the power of fore-thought

Not Feeling Optimistic. Let me be wrong
ForgeCorvus
Posts: 3081
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:32 pm

Re: Krank/batteries DAB/FM radio

Post by ForgeCorvus »

For the Mods

Might it be an idea to have "Solar" as a sub-board of "Equipment" ?
The same way "Water" is a sub of "Food, etc"
jennyjj01 wrote:"I'm not in the least bit worried because I'm prepared: Are you?"
Londonpreppy wrote: At its core all prepping is, is making sure you're not down to your last sheet of loo roll when you really need a poo.
"All Things Strive" Gd Tak 'Gar
jennyjj01
Posts: 3619
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2017 11:09 pm

Re: Krank/batteries DAB/FM radio

Post by jennyjj01 »

Frnc wrote: Sun Nov 24, 2024 6:07 am Please advise on cheap 1 ft solar plus gubbins required, or which thread. I have one of these in my Amazon basket, not sure if you need any extra bits. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09TKF28PS/
That's a touch expensive for only 28W power rating.
It also lacks USB-C as used by modern phones.

Maybe try one of these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=usb+solar&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

couple with a usb aa charger
Graceful Degradation! Prepping's objective summed up in two words. Turning Disaster into Mild Inconvenience by the power of fore-thought

Not Feeling Optimistic. Let me be wrong
tarmactatt
Posts: 59
Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2013 3:56 pm

Re: Krank/batteries DAB/FM radio

Post by tarmactatt »

In my opinion, for emergency use, DAB is too power hungry. If there is a "shelter in place and tune in" order, information will be disseminated on FM.

There are a few options on how to power these things.

I generally avoid built in solar panels as they're usually too small to be of use, and it means leaving the device (and batteries) in the hot sun.

2xAA solar path lights switched to "off" and left outside may be useful to charge a pair of cells in summer months.

I've a few cheap FM radio kits from AliExpress/eBay that I put together on a rainy afternoon, much more fun than doing a puzzle. They run on 2xAA and seem to draw very little power, reception is fine.

If you can find a radio that takes removable 18650 cells, these are superior battery technilogy. Charging lithium chemistry is slightly more efficient than NiMh chemistry, and the power density is greater than NiMh AA - 1x 18650 cell is about equal to 4x AA cells.

Solar charging 18650 cells is fairly straightforward, you can buy USB chargers, USB solar panels, etc. The up-side is if you have 18650 torches, then you can use all the cells in different devices, if you need to.

I've seen a couple of products linked on this thread that I would consider " risky". Lithium cells can be nasty if mis-used. Get a charger from a reliable source that you trust not to burn your house down, the torch forums (candlepower forums, budget light forum), vape forums (planet of the vapes, e-cigarette forum) or even Reddit threads are good sources of information for reliable chargers. For cells, DO NOT BUY CR@P CELLS FROM AMAZON/EBAY. These are often "fakes" with outright lies about capacity. Get your cells from someone reliable like 18650.uk, fogstar etc.