LaCROSSE HANDHELD AM/FM/WX RADIO/FLASHLIGHT

LaCrosse Handheld AM/FM/WX Radio/Flashlight, retail $9.59
Manufactured by (Unknown)
Last updated 01-29-12




This is a pocket transistor radio that has AM, FM, the NOAA weather bands and (most importantly with regards to this website) an LED flashlight, all rolled into one handy-dandy package.

With regards to this product, I'll focus most of my attention on the LED flashlight, because that's my job. But I'll still explain the other aspects of this product.

The case is made of grey plastic, with a darker grey front. So it is very nice to look at even when you're not using it, and you need not hide it when guests come over to your residence.


SIZE



To use this radio, feed it first (see directly below), and then you'll be ready to rock.

To use the flashlight, press & hold the button labelled "light" on the front surface of the radio's body; release it to turn the light off.

To listen to the radio, turn the wheel at the lower right side of the radio's body downward until it clicks; turn it a bit more so that the volume is at a level that is audible. Slide the switch on the right hand side of the radio's body to the band you want (FM, AM, or WEATHER). Tune to the station you want by turning the small wheel on the right hand side of the radio's body and looking at the analogue "dial" (this may be aided by listening to it through the speaker or the earphone that you furnish yourself) to see when the frequency is what you want. Turn the lower wheel to adjust the sound volume as you see fit.

For AM stations, rotate the radio itself until the best reception is obtained. Otherwise, extend the whip antenna and point around until the best reception is obtained.



To change the batteries in this product, turn the radio upside-down and look near the bottom of the radio's body for a small door. Slide it downward, and then remove it. Throw it in the can, and flu...er...don't flush it away - set it aside. Remove the two used AAA cells from the radio, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit. Don't throw them in the john and ¡para los motivos de Cristo don't throw them into a trout-filled stream! Dispose of them in some other manner (like in a wastepaperbasket or a dipsty-dumpster) or recycle them.

Insert two new AAA cells in the chambers for them, placing the cells in so that their flat-ends (-) negatives face the springs for them in each chamber, and slide the battery door back on.



Because this is a transistor radio and not a stand-alone flashlight meant to be thrashed and abused, I won't try to drown it in the toilet, smash it against a concrete sidewalk, throw it at one of those wall-mounted porcelain uranators to see if it explodes (the radio, not the uranator), stomp on it, sit down hard on it, or otherwise abuse it. So this portion of the web page will be more bare than this section of the web page on a page about a flashlight.

There appears to be a DC-DC inverter to boost the battery voltage of 3.0 volts to the 3.6 to 3.8 volts that the white LED needs.



Beam photograph at ~12".
Measures 7,290mcd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the white LED in this radio.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the white LED in this radio; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 420nm and 470nm to pinpoint native emission peak, which is 440.920nm.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the red “power” LED in this radio.
Judging solely by this spectrum, this LED appears to be a GaP (gallium phosphide) red; this is clearly evident both by the very broadband emission and the longer-than-usual peak wavelength -- which appears to be ~680nm.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the red “power” LED in this radio; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 660nm and 710nm to pinpoint peak emission, which is 683.220nm.

USB2000 spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.



ProMetric analysis
Beam cross-sectional analysis.

Image made using the ProMetric System by Radiant Imaging.



Here's a WAV file that I made for this radio; it allows you to hear part of KOMO 1000 AM's news that I recorded over the weekend of 01-20-12.

This file is ~0.47MB (494,709 bytes) in length.



TEST NOTES:
Test unit was purchased by my mother on 01-20-12 at a nearby Right Aid store so that the kitty cats could have some company during an extended power failure.

Since the product does not belong to me, the dreadful "" icon will be appended to its listings on this website at once, denoting the fact that I no longer have it at my disposal for future comparisons, testing, or analyses.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:
Convenient - radio and flashlight in one package
Nice looking package - no need to hide it if guests visit



CONS:
Appears a bit "chintzy" (cheaply-made)
LED flashlight is momentary-only


    MANUFACTURER: Unknown
    PRODUCT TYPE: Transistor radio with built-in LED flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm white LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Wide spot with soft fall-off at perimeter
    SWITCH TYPE: Slide switch on/off
    BEZEL: None
    BATTERY: 2xAAA cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER- AND URANATION-RESISTANT: No
    SUBMERSIBLE: FOR CHRIST SAKES NOOOOO!!!
    ACCESSORIES: Stereo "earbud"-style earphones, 2 ea. pads for them
    SIZE: 105mm H x 70mm W x 25mm D
    WEIGHT: Unknown/unable to weigh
    COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: Unknown; though very likely China
    WARRANTY: 1 year

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star RatingStar Rating





LaCrosse Handheld AM/FM/WX Radio/Flashlight *






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