Sony Shower Radio is a Winner

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Kevin

Sony ICF-S79W Shower Radio Review

Sony ICF-S79W Shower RadioI’ve had my Sony ICFS79W Shower Radio for about 6 months and it is a really nice shower radio. In fact, the quality is so good for the price that it makes a nice portable radio even if you don’t need the splash proof feature of the ICF-S79V, and it has a couple of features that are very nice in case you have kids that might get their hands on it.

Sony ICF-S79W Features

The Sony ICF-S79W can receive AM, FM, and 5 channels of weather radio broadcasts. Each band (there are 2 FM bands) has 5 random memory presets, so you can preset up to 20 stations total. All controls are located on top of the radio and are very easy to operate. Other features include a built-in digital clock, countdown timer, and a programmable “auto-off” timer.

The Sony ICF-S79W in Daily Use

I really like my Sony ICF-S79W. It’s shape makes it very stable when you set it on the counter and it also comes with a hanging strap that can loop over a door knob or shower head. One thing I really like is that it includes an external antenna for FM and weather channel reception, so reception on those bands is a lot better than radios that rely on an internal antenna. The speaker is on the largish side and the ICF-S79W Shower Radio puts out pretty nice sound for such a small radio. It is easy to hear over a running shower. Some people don’t like the fact that it uses 3 ‘C’ cell batteries, but if you want to put out good sound, you have to power it…

The controls are very easy to use, and I like the large number of presets – enough to keep both me and my wife happy. The clock display is large, has good contrast, and is very easy to read. The countdown timer is very useful for helping make sure you don’t burn through too much hot water. The feature I like most though is the automatic shutoff. It can be programmed for 10, 20, 30, 45, or 60 minutes and it’s a great way to make sure the radio doesn’t get left on accidentally. A lot of times I’m in a hurry when I leave the house and it’s easy to “forget” sometimes… having the radio shut itself off has been a big battery saver for me.

Amazon has good prices on the Sony ICFS79W Shower Radio

Sony ICF-S79W – Conclusion

I really like this radio. I use mine in the shower every day and I also take it with me when I want to listen to the radio in the park or while doing yard work. It seems to be holding up very well to the heavy usage, the sound quality is good, and the countdown timer is very handy for a lot of things. I would recommend the ICF-S79W Shower radio to anyone (it would also make a great radio for a kid).

Find the Sony ICFS79W on Amazon

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Waterproof vs. Splash Proof

Posted on July 22, 2010 by Kevin

Most inexpensive waterproof radios you’ll find are actually splash proof, or “water resistant.” There’s nothing wrong with that as long as you understand the limitations. I mention it because when I’m reading waterproof portable radios reviews I see  a fair amount of negative reviews based on the fact that a given radio won’t survive a direct stream of water, say from a shower head. They are fine, however, with light splashing in the shower or outside in a very light rain.

If you want a true waterproof portable radio, you need to be prepared to spend quite a bit more money than you would on the cheaper “water resistant” radios. The way to tell if a radio is truly water proof is to look for an IPxx, JIS, or NEMA rating. For example, here is a list of JIS ratings and what waterproofing level they correspond to:

  • JIS 0 – no special degree of water protection
  • JIS 1 – resistant to vertically dropping water
  • JIS 2 – resistant to dripping water at an angle of up to 15 degrees from vertical
  • JIS 3 – resistant to falling rain at an angle of up to 60 degrees
  • JIS 4 – resistant to splashing water from any direction (“splash resistant”)
  • JIS 5 – resistant to direct jetting water (“jet resistant”)
  • JIS 6 – sealed against direct jetting water (“watertight”)
  • JIS 7 – sealed against immersion at a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes (“submersible”)
  • JIS 8 – sealed against continuous submersion under pressure specified by the manufacturer (“submersible plus”)

It should be noted that the rain and splash protection provided by JIS 3 and JIS 4 are much greater than that provided by most of the less expensive waterproof portable radios you’ll find for sale. Unless rated otherwise, assume these less expensive radios fall somewhere between JIS 0 and JIS 1.

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Hello world!

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Kevin

Welcome to Waterproof Portable Radios. I like tracking down good deals on radios, trying them out, and writing about my experiences (good and bad). I’m an electronics junky and some of my favorite electronic devices are radios, especially radios that are portable (I like to take them with me) and waterproof (I like to spend a lot of time in the outdoors and I don’t like to quit just because of a little rain. There was a time not too long ago when radios were almost like magic. Before the Internet, shortwave (or HAM) radios could be used to talk to people around the world. My friends and I spent many hours playing “secret agent” using walkie talkies (at the time they were CB channel 14). I have many happy memories of helping my Dad work in the garden, listening to Vin Scully announce LA Dodgers baseball games on KIBS AM in Bishop, California on my Dad’s AM FM transistor radio (I got interested in waterproof radios when my Dad’s radio didn’t survive an accidental dunking in the creek that ran through our garden). Anyway, hope you enjoy the site and find the info on waterproof portable radios to be useful and entertaining.

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