What about this windup radio and how will it work during the y2k

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Please someone help me understand how does this windup radio work. Now don't get me wrong I understand that it is solared powered. I am just tring to figure out if this y2k thing is going to be is big as I think it will be. How will the radio stations be able to broadcast with out electricity. Will my windup radio be able to pick up any information in this senario. Now all you radio smart people don't start yelling at me!!! I was allways taught that there is no such thing as a stupid question.

-- Lyn Truss (StormieLyn@webtv.com), October 19, 1998

Answers

Hi, Lyn!

We have a little dynamo/solar radio that we used extensively during the ice storm last January. The radio stations were running on generators. I keep it in my kitchen window, and use it at least every couple of days. We did have to wind it during the long, cloudy spell of the ice storm, especially because we listened for 12-16 hours a day, and the solar charge just couldn't keep up. I love it.

We've ordered a dynamo/solar radio that also has shortwave, but haven't received it yet. Husband says that shortwave may be the only way to get any news... for as long as it is transmitted...

we ordered from Http://www.sun-mate.com

The radio was backordered, but we also got some solar security lights, and some other stuff; I like the company a lot.

Good luck!

Arewyn

-- Arewyn (nordic@northnet.net), October 19, 1998.


I bought a Bay-Gen (the Radio Shack version, AM/FM only, on sale for $59). (its the Bayless design OEMed by RS)

The crank winds a long ribbon spring. Takes about 40 turns to fully wind the spring. Runs for about 40 minutes. The spring runs a tiny generator. It also has a solar panel that I have not tested yet. It seems very basic and very rugged and has the best AM radio reception of any of my radios. (You have to turn it to position the internal AM antenna.) Volume/speaker is dandy (no, it's not a replacement for your home entertainment center).

Will it come in useful for Y2K? Hard to tell. But even in very isolated outages which occur in my area all the time, it's one less thing that requires batteries. I keep it in the basement with my other severe storm stuff (flashlight, candles, blankets, etc.)

For around $100, there is also a version that receive shortwave.

Arnie

-- Arnie Rimmer (arnie_rimmer@usa.net), October 19, 1998.


Hello, Lyn.

"How will the radios stations be able to broadcast with out electricity?" Good question. They won't.

Will your windup radio be able to pick up information in this scenario? Maybe, and maybe not. Here's my read:

If you have the AM/FM model, and power goes out in your area, forget about FM, because the stations you can receive will be off the air. You might get some AM stations, because you can receive some of these from a long way off -- ah, my youthful evenings, driving across the Nebraska plains, listening to the clear-channel station in Del Rio, Texas belting out real s**t-kicking music. Course, if there are some of those things called hills around, you might not get much AM, either. That's where I am now.

The answer for that is a combination of a short-wave radio (and some -- the more expensive -- of the BayGen windup radios do have short wave capability) plus a good antenna, plus some station, somewhere, that still has power. If you're lucky they'll even speak English.

-- rocky knolls (rknolls@hotmail.com), October 19, 1998.


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