Top 10 Pocket Radios Under $20 | 2018 Edition
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- My Top 10 Pocket Radios Under $20! Special Edition. All of these portable radios are impressive.
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▶ Todd's Shop: www.amazon.com...
▶ The Sony ICF-P26 at Ebay: bit.ly/SonyP26
▶ The Sony ICF-P26 at Amazon USA: amzn.to/2szaZYU
▶ The Sony ICF-P26 at Amazon CA: amzn.to/2EFaxxk
▶ The Katio KA200 at Ebay: bit.ly/KaitoKA200
▶ The Katio KA200 at Amazon USA: amzn.to/2o660cu
▶ The Katio KA200 at Amazon CA: amzn.to/2QDQy8C
▶ The Sangean SR-35 at Ebay: bit.ly/SangeanSR35
▶ The Sangean SR-35 at Amazon USA: amzn.to/2Bvr8kH
▶ The Sangean SR-35 at Amazon CA: amzn.to/2S60TXE
▶ The Kaito KA332W at Ebay: bit.ly/KaitoKA332W
▶ The Kaito KA332W at Amazon USA: amzn.to/2ErtvrB
▶ The V115 at Ebay: bit.ly/Retekess...
▶ The V115 at Amazon USA: amzn.to/2KE4MQx
▶ The V115 at Amazon CA:amzn.to/2LtI8uB
▶ The Tecsun R-909 at Ebay: bit.ly/TecsunR909
▶ The Tecsun R-909 at Amazon USA: amzn.to/2GAxhyb
▶ The Tecsun R-909 at Amazon CA: amzn.to/2QEvdMg
▶ The Tivdio V111 at Ebay: bit.ly/TivdioV111
▶ The Tivdio V-111 at Amazon USA: amzn.to/2TWenpC
▶ The Tecsun R-218 at Ebay: bit.ly/TecsunR218
▶ The HanRongDa HRD-1032 at Ebay: bit.ly/HanRongD...
▶ The HanRongDa HRD-1032 at Amazon: amzn.to/2ZAsnvA
All radios were picked from my collection. They can all be purchased new as of this video release.
List, in no particular order:
Kaito KA200
Sony ICF-P26
Sangean SR-35
Tivdio V-115
HanRongDa HRD1032
NIA RD-206SP
Tivdio V-111
Kaito KA332W
Tecsun R-218
Tecsun R-909
All of these radios will give users a choice of what options they prefer. Looks, performance, size, bands, function, and others.
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Beware there is a new run of NIA RD-206SPs...yep. They are labeled OR-206 and they have a horrible receiver. Opened one up and it had a junk antenna in there compared to the original. ua-cam.com/video/Hk8-FdL_mTU/v-deo.html
Not what I want bad scratchy noise with reception
How to be rid of receiver scratch noise
Handheld radio has scratchy reception is there a solution please
Thanks for this great video. We can't trust reviews on eBay and Amazon! I'm going to buy a couple for my two boys...for when we go fishing. They'll love it. Recapturing the magic that we had when we were kids and got our first pocket radio (before computers, cell phones and the internet)!
I noticed that you just glossed over the Tecsun R218's "TV Band". TV, at least here in the USA has been broadcasting digitally here for better than a decade. So, a "Dead" band on top of that radio now?
Very nice video. I have had small transistor radios since 1960's when they first came out. Time for me to revisit my passion again
Very good
Tivdio uses Nokia bl-5c battery and that battery and it's clones are plentiful and very good batteries.
V-115 batts baught on eBay or Amazon BL-5C under 12 bucks got a couple batterie and charger. I won't run out of power. Tks Fer good show om de kv4li
I love Hanrongda Radios as well as Tivdio, Happy, Grundig radios. Even if FM tunes doen to 76 or 64 MHz.
Surprising that Tecsun R9012 isnt on the list but good choises else.
That’s Bob Bailey talking when you demonstrate the HanRongDa.
Hi Todd,
I'm about to go travelling and mainly need something with a small size, decent battery life and strong range for AM/FM. What is the V-111 like in these regards, and what do you think is my best bet? I've had my eye on the ICF-P26 for a while now, but is it worth considering the Sangean SR-35? What do you think?
Thanks,
Hartley
the best for battery life will be the P26. If you like bright tones the P26 is great, if you like lower, tones with more bass, the SR-35 is great. The Tiv V111 does have stereo while the others do not. If it was me picking one for a trip it would be the Sony.
If you get a radio like this get a Tecsun AN-200 passive loop to help boost the AM band. Loops work great with these radios.
Great informative video! Where is 780AM coming from? Digging the vintage detective shows.
Thank you Timothy, 780AM is WBBM Chicago. They have old time radio shows from 12am to 1am M-Fs, hosted by Radio Spirits. radiospirits.com/onradio/wrw_future.asp?sid=MjMzMzI1OTk6OC8yLzIwMTIgMzo1MDozMiBBTQ==&Svr=.62&l=1&source=&scode=G10CY100
Thank you,nice video.I have both the Sangean,and Sony p26,and agree with your comments on each
Great video, but I really wish you would have showed how good or how bad the shortwave was on the radios. Shortwave is my favorite.
Hey Todd, besides the recently bought Panasonic RF-2400, i also have the Sony ICFP26 Portable AM/FM Radio. Can you recommend a strong, portable antenna that would work with both? I believe I may be partial to clip on antennas. With thanks - David
The Kaito T-1 is my go to reel antenna amzn.to/2Qh8qCe . Very portable and clips on the antenna mast. The Sangean right now is a little cheaper, I don't recommend that one too often because the clip adapter leaves marks on the antennas.
A reminder of how expensive everything is now
The Sangean is AUD$40
There is a sw station at Lesbos Island
I Love Lesbos
Nice recap on the top 10 radios.
Thank you! These radios needed that little extra attention, especially that sleeper NIA.
Nice review I own the TIVDIO V 111 it is quite an amazing little radio for just over $10. Just one thing mine does have battery recharged if you using rechargeable batteries, in fact it appears to be rather robust recharged that charges faster than some regular battery chargers. One negative of this radio is that it is difficult to work with stations stored in memory as it has no delete button. It does do really well on picking up FM stations and not to bad on AM consdering its size.
Thanks Mickey B. I did not know the V-111 could recharge. I guess that means you must remove your alkalines before hooking up the 5v input when powering the radio externally.
todderbert
I don't see anyway of letting the radio know weather your using alkaline or rechargeable batteries so I guess it is always in recharge mode if it is hooked up to USB charger so I guess you could damage the batteries if you had it plugged in and were using nonrechargeable batteries. Do you know how to change what station is locked into the favorites position have not figured out how to put another station in there it seems whatever station you first put in there stays there forever.
I read the manual looking for anything about charging and it mentions nothing about it. This could be a dangerous thing if someone had alkalines and hooked up the USB as a power source. The Favorite only works on the FM band. So a Long press of the Favorite button on a different FM station will change it.
todderbert
I bought my radio through Amazon and where people ask and answer questions it was mentioned that it recharges batteries. It draws a pretty good current when recharging so it could be dangerous having it plugged in to to sub power with regular batteries. I think that the people who write the manuals for these radios don't always know all the features. Another thing I have noticed with this radio is that if you go to favorite then start putting stations into memory it puts them on another page in memory.
Was hoping to put AM station I Favorites guess there is no way of doing that. Thanks for your response can see now how to change to FM station.
Just got the little Sony :) I’m happy it’s not good on fm but am is gold for a radio of it’s size
Awesome! I love my P26.
todderbert I just got 880 wcbs! I'm near La Crosse wi! As well as enjoying all my other radios :) I posted it because it was a good catch on this
What is the difference between r909 and r9012
The 9012 has a bit more coverage of the shortwave bands. The 909 has great FM reception, where the R9012 does not do as well. Both radios are good on the MW band.
9012 has 10 shortwave bands, the 909 has 7. The 909 has a better sound and a volume wheel with on/off function, the 9012 has an on/off switch. I don't know why people are so obsessed with the 9012, I find the 909 and even the 911 or 912 better in every aspect. Only drawback: the whole 90, 75, 60 and 22 mb is missing.
Todd, what that fantastic radio station playing the radio dramas?!
780AM WBBM Monday-Friday 12:00AM-1:00AM CST. Radio Spirits.
@@todderbert thank you! I know it kind of misses the point of the video, but I kept hearing that show over and over again and I had to know what station does those old radio dramas! I get those as a podcast. I just subscribed to your channel, I found it via the Two Hands and a Radio channel. This is great stuff!
I bought my 10 year old nephew a small pocket radio for about 5 bucks, similar to one that the Two Hands and a Radio guy reviewed here - ua-cam.com/video/J7jhnThQvks/v-deo.html - and it sounds great. I'm 32, so I grew up with more of a love for these small, portable and pocket radios than my nephew. I got him the radio along with a baseball scorebook with the hope that he could listen to games on the radio and fill out the scorebook, and the radio is small enough to take to games, too!
I'll be following your channel closely now since I love seeing what's out there.
Excellent reviews and comparisons! Thanks so much!
Your Welcome Gene.
todderbert, I ordered the Retekess V115 from Amazon ($19.99 and expecting delivery tomorrow) based on customer reviews. After watching your recent review of the V115, I wonder if it was a mistake. I’m considering returning it and ordering the Tecsun Pl-380 DSP ($45.98) (just watched your 380 review). Do you think the Tecsun is worth the additional $26.00? I am not a radio expert, and am interested in good AM reception. Thanks
what did you mean when you said "if battery ran dead, you have no way to charge it"? Can't you just plug the radio into a mini usb and start charging the battery dead battery, referring to the Tivdio V-115? When my iPhone dies, I just charge it. How is charging the Tivdio's V-115 battery any different?
My comment is if you had "no way to charge it", meaning a power outage.
I notice you have an old time radio program on some of the units you're testing. What's the frequency and what time do they broadcast the OTR programs? Thank you.
My locals, 720AM WGN Chicago at 11pm-2am CST on Saturday and Sunday Evenings WGN Radio Theatre with Carl Amari(they have the best remastered recordings, ). 780AM WBBM Chicago 12am-1am CST M-F When Radio Was with Greg Bell . I use my WiFi radio to listen to CFZM 740AM Zoomer Radio, Toronto 9pm-10pm CST M-F Theatre of the Mind, with Frank Proctor.
Thank you
Your Welcome, the shows are great. You can find them online, but the WGN broadcasts are always the best.
I notice it to, and it drives me nuts because I live in Houston, Texas and none of the radio stations play old or new radio dramas. It is all how to make money, religion, sports, or politics on the am radio, and fm is the same plus music. I wish we had such a station that plays those radio dramas and plays.
Do a comparison between Sony 26 and 36 please.
Its a recurring request from me and others.
They are equal on reception, one has a table form factor while the other is a handheld form factor. Both have similar run times on 2AA batteries. The big difference is the AM band. The P26 goes all the way to 1710 kHZ while the P36 goes to 1620 kHz. That is why I have not done a comparison video. Simple differences that I can explain.
todderbert so in terms of am p26 is better than 36???
todderbert I have both by the way after watching your videos. I just need to know in your expert opinion which one would you choose if you have to choose one only???
The P26. Expanded AM is handy in the States. Also the audio is identical and I prefer the handheld design of the cabinet.
@@todderbert gladly i bought the p26 and 306! Thanks to you sir tod.
Outstanding 👍 Tom.
Thank you Tom!
TIVDIO V 115 LCD interferes with reception, needs shielding on the board.
Great 👍‼️
I will get the Tecsun R-218 and the NIA.
I have the Kaito KA-230 coming.
Did get the Tecsun R-102. Really nice. (Smaller than the KA-200-. But no speaker. Runs on one “AAA”.).
Waiting for the “Vintage “Radios from you.
👍📻📻🙂👍‼️
Thank you Jeff. Sounds like you have quite the collection. I saw that mini R-102, but that seller blocked me. Reason being when an item purchased from them is defective and you can't send it back, they refund you letting you keep the item, but you get blocked. I emailed them and they said I could use paypal directly to purchase from them now...hassle. So I may never see one of those radios..oh well. As far as "Vintage" I do have a few lined up for this week. Expect more 70s magic. The 50s and 60s magic doesn't happen too often...they tend to need work. I have a few emergency style radios I wanted to finish up on.
todderbert Listening to Route 66 KMOX on my R-102, now.(I’m in Jacksonville Florida).
AM is better than most. FM is stereo and sounds very good. Maybe a friend can get you one.
I currently have 10vintage radios (mostly NOS. Less of a gamble), and 3 10 year old Short Waves, one 6 year old SW, and 7 radios less than 1 year old.
My prize is a NOS “Candle “VMS -1224.
Absolutely perfect!
am/fm/sw. ca: late ‘60’s. (Reception is excellent-all bands)
todderbert also, I think it’s very cool that you take the time to answer 🙂
Nice collection! I have this vintage portable Bulova radio that needs repair. Its pretty awesome and I'm guessing early 60s. It has the AM band along with a SW band. imgur.com/a/5zj2m
todderbert very cool!
So which is better, the Tecsun R-909 OR the Tivdio V-111. ... Durability is also important too me.
Depending on the person, your going to get mixed opinions. I like both. If I had to choose which, the R-909 is for me. Its durable, and has a simple analog tuner. No digital display to crack if dropped.
А почему вы не включили в список тексан r909tv
Too bad the Panasonic RF-P50D did not make it in the Top 10. I love that radio.
Should I buy a tecsun r-909 or a SDR dongle? I have 30 dollars on amazon
The SDR sounds like it could be fun, but I am a portable radio enthusiast so the 909 gets my vote :)
I'm very surprised with the Tecsun 909
I know you have nothing to do with it but the TIVDIO tv 111 that you showed is the samething i have but mine is named VITE VT 111 would you know if there the same company
Yes, I believe they changed their name to Tivdio, now Tivdio is Retekess.
Out of all the radios you’ve shown off in this video, which one is your most favorite, and which one works the best?
Tecsun R-909 is my favorite. The Sangean SR-35 may be the best.
You clearly know classic rock todderbert.
The retekess v 115 is the winner untill now
How much is a TIVDIO L-258?
I actually have first one. But obviously some copy because I got it from Chinese store for about 3.50$. It has good reception but bad frequency response so you will always hear some hum noise when listening to music. Also a scale is bit offset
I had my NIA out today! It is so good on both bands, must have got the golden DSP chip in there. For some reason I can't post a link to the picture, but its up on my twitter feed. Link on the Channel Header.
Sony hands down! You want build quality this is it!
I'm about to take a road trip from Albuquerque to New Orleans. I'm looking for a pocket radio to listen to in the car. All the others on the trip want to listen to satellite or internet based pure music stations. I want to hear the local radio stations, that's a big part of the charm of traveling to me. So I need something that will get a signal in the car with the windows rolled up. I'll be using headphones. Any suggestions. New subscriber by the way, really liking your channel.
I would pick the Sangean SR-35, being a DSP radio, it should hold onto the stations better while moving. Just remember it is not stereo. Most stereo radios suffer from car travel unless the antenna is outside of the vehicle. If you can't raise an antenna for saftey reason, check out the Sangean DT-160 amzn.to/2Phu9c3 its more money but has a nice intenal ferrite antenna and a large LCD display and your headphones is the antenna. This would be my pick if not on a budget.
Another good choice if budget allows and you want a speaker too. amzn.to/2MZxL4V
What exactly is "Shortwave"? ... Where is it coming from? ... Is it people on Ham Radio's talking?
Its a term to describe the wavelength of the frequency carrier. Here are some great articles. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortwave_radio www.sgcworld.com/whatisssbtechnote.html
Man, u really know your stuff.
Have u ever used some sort of indoor antenna to connect to a small radio antenna to get better reception,
even like a wire, and if so, can you tell me what would help? (Indoors)
Yes, I use this wire all the time, its a must! www.amazon.com/Tecsun-External-Antenna-Improve-Performance/dp/B0104N76RM/ or the Sangean, but right now its full price, I got mine for 9.99. Amazon is always changing their prices on things. So watch for a deal. www.amazon.com/Sangean-ANT-60-Short-Wave-Antenna/dp/B000023VW2/
So does that clip on the existing Antenna? .. Oh, never mind, I just saw a picture of it clipping on the antenna,
Thanks Patriot!
Question: If you live in a rural video, and could only get ONE of these, which one would you choose? THANKS!!
If it were me I would choose the R-909, great FM/AM reception and good Shortwave capability for an ultra light portable.
Awesome, thanks much!
Your Welcome. It's a fun radio for the money. It will pull in the stations. Also check out my recent "Improve Your Reception" video.. I talk about a reel antenna you can purchase to improve your radio's capabilities even further. ua-cam.com/video/u3PI-2jK7h0/v-deo.html
The Tvdio V115 in SW is almost deaf in urban environment. Not a Dx machine at all. Good sound and a 1+ for the little rear woofer so, as portable speaker playing MP3 or listening FM or some MW stations it could be a good choice
The big thing for me is the line in recording, that I use daily :)
Agree! And in QRM free locations, my wife could get some MW stations in Buzios, Brazil at 150 miles with a good quality sound
sweet. I've been sitting on the couch fiddling with a Panasonic RF-3100. It needs some work on the FM/SW, the stations are coming in weak, guessing its an antenna circuit thing. The MW is amazing.
I got a V115 and honestly, for any dxing at all, it sucks... bad. If you have strong stations, the sound is nice on the unit. The mp3 player alone is worth the price so view it as that with the radio as a bonus.
The recorder is good, records line-in in Stereo. I use it to record my local AM stations, and FM..it works very well on FM for me.
Tq
Nice... Which one is good for camping?
I would take the Tecsun 909. Love the reception that one gets on all the bands. Having shortwave out in the wilderness is awesome. You could always take the Kaito 332W if you need an emergency styled radio that has a solar and dynamo charging circuit. But for short camping trips the 909 will last a long time on 2 AA batteries.
Out of all these, which would say is the best for AM dxing?
Might be the least expensive one of them all. The NIA, watch tonight's episode. Airing in a half hour.
هوايتي جمع الراديوات والعملات المعدنيه
I appreciate this run down. I can't afford a lot and I listen to a weak station exclusively.
You're Welcome, hope you get a radio that fits your needs.
Fred Rodnick ... If you use rechargeable batteries the Eton Executive Traveler is on clearance sale on Amazon for only $35.00. It has really good reception, especially on the AM band and doesn`t mute weak signals. You can order an Energizer charger with 4 AA batteries to power it for about $11.00.
The Eton Executive Traveler at Amazon: amzn.to/3aoughg
am in love with pocket radios