We've had this radio in our emergency kit for about a year but had not used it 'til last night when major storms (tornados & thunderstorms) passed through our area. We lost power & all connections to weather information. This radio, with its crank & LED light, worked superbly! It provided a decent light, weather information, and even a little music in a compact size. I highly recommend it.
In Mar 2011 was in NE visiting Grandma when a tornado warning sounded. Running through her house looking for a radio & flashlight at the last minute was frightening to say the least. Back home in CO, I carry this little solar radio in my backpack and it hasn't failed me yet. I love the weather ban feature. I'm shipping one to Grandma today.
This radio works just as described - I cranked it for a few minutes and it played FM stations for more than 45 minutes - without battery or AC power! This compact radio is especially useful during a power outage - and it's cute!
I purchased this radio for my husband for Christmas (2010). The radio never kept it's charge. Even when you left it in the sun on a window ledge ALL DAY. He had to constantly crank it so it would stay on, and now, the crank broke off. I am very disappointed in this product. I think I'll go back to the good old fashioned battery operated radios.
