Aluratek AIRMM01F Internet Radio Alarm Clock with built-in WiFi (Black) by Aluratek
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Digital camera reviews of Aluratek AIRMM01F Internet Radio Alarm Clock with built-in WiFi (Black)
Digital camera Review: Alarm Clock?
Summary: 3 Stars
Unit is described as an alarm clock and from this one might think it had been designed for use in a bedroom. Unfortunately, the back-light is much too bright and cannot be dimmed to a more sensible level for use in a darkened bedroom, but worse still - I cannot use an internet station over WiFi as the Alarm tone.
On my unit (firmware revision v1.47a1) all I ever get is the annoying musical chime when the alarm time is reached (even though the unit plays WiFi radio normally just fine). Online technical support was OK - suggesting I try a different router for example - but all to no avail. In the end the final suggestion before closing the problem report ticket was "Send the unit back" (but no address was given). I have kept the unit since it works well as a WiFi radio - just not as an WiFi radio alarm clock! Hopefully the manufacturers will release some improved firmware in due course.
Digital camera Review: All I can saw is WOW
Summary: 5 Stars
My biggest problem was that I forgot the encryption code for my wifi router. Once I reset it, I had no problem. It easily connected and I was able to load the list of available stations. I saved several favorites. I then took it into work. It's a large hospital and they have locked down the internal network and we can't get any streaming audio. The radio easily found the public wifi network and I was able to connect to many internet radio stations.
At home, the FM scan found many stations. It was able to lock into some relatively distant stations that other radios I have, have difficulty with.
For those who complain about the brightness of the display display, it can be set to turn off after as little as 1 minute.
For such a small unit, the sound is impressive.
If your looking for an inexpensive wifi radio, this one can't be beat.
Digital camera Review: All-In-One WiFi Radio Makes Listening Fun
Summary: 5 Stars
I just received this amazing product this afternoon and am completely blown away by its excellent design, small size and simplicity of use. I plugged it in, turned it on and within minutes the radio automatically linked with my router. After that, its just a matter of merely following the easy to read instructions on the blue LCD screen. The radio comes with a remote that makes finding and changing stations a piece of cake.
One of my favorite features is the USB port on the front of the radio. If you download your favorite radio programs from the internet as I do, you can transfer the show to your USB Flash Drive. Then, plug it in and enjoy! I admit I like Coast To Coast AM with George Noory - what I don't like are all the long commercial breaks and not getting my sleep. Now I can listen to this show without commercial breaks anytime I wish away from my computer.
A pleasant surprise is found within the alarm system menu. You can choose to wake-up to FM music, your favorite WiFi station, something you recorded on a flash drive or you can select the Buzzer function. Why? Sometimes your WiFi provider can go down and with the Buzzer setting you will be assured of a wake-up. The surprise is the Buzzer feature sounds like a fine Austrian music box. What a delightful way to be awakened to the sound of a lovely music box melody. This is a small item to be sure, but the attention to detail is just another reason why I love this exceptional radio.
Like a lot of people, I have hobbies which take me outside to a workshop or work area. Now while in my workshop, I can listen to radio shows produced from countries around the world without radio fade or distortion. How I always hated when a show was getting to the good part and bam, the signal fades out. Well, those days are gone. You now enjoy perfect reception regardless of where the show originates.
By the way, has your local radio station dropped a national show that you enjoyed or have they moved it to a time that makes listening inconvenient? No sweat - you will find your show on another city's radio station thanks to the simple and enjoyable menu system on this unit and usually at an acceptable listening time. You control what you want to hear - not your local broadcaster. Nice.
Folks, sorry if I sound like a kid at Christmas. I've been a radio listener all my life and this is the first time I believe I own the perfect radio. I'm certain you will also love this small, powerful, easy to use radio that makes listening fun. Take care and enjoy!
Digital camera Review: Almost a 5 star
Summary: 4 Stars
I agree with all the positive reviews here so I won't repeat what they have said. Let me add some things others have not mentioned and some criticisms at the end.
Comments:
1. You CAN add your own stations. The latest firmware allows you to add your stations from [...]. Once you add it in go to the favorite folder on the radio and there it is. This feature works without a hitch (I've added 10 new stations so far).
2. I actually use this radio more for MP3's than Internet radio stations. I can connect over my network to my Maxtor Shared Storage drive and play my MP3's off of it (the Maxtor has a media server on it). This also works very well and no problems.
Complaints:
I have two complaints.
1. There is NO dim backlight setting. You get bright, brighter, and "Suntan mode" bright. All of these are too bright to get any sleep. You can turn the backlight off and you can set a timer to have it turn off within a minute. But I am used to an alarm clock where the backlight is very dim but readable at night. Not a show stopper.
2. The remote. The remote works fine but if you LOSE it you will have lost your ability to connect to another network that requires a key (open wifi doesn't but home networks do normally). The network key can only be entered via remote. This isn't the end of the world but I advise you to keep the remote with the radio at all times.
Besides those two complains (and they are small nitpicky complaints) I like this radio. It sounds good and works well so far.
Digital camera Review: Almost, but not quite
Summary: 2 Stars
I had high hopes for this radio. It had decent reviews, and the price was right, but it was just quirky enough (unresponsive, didn't hold presets at times, etc.) that it was frustrating for me, and unusable for my wife. The last straw was when it went belly up during a 15 minute session of browsing Internet radio stations and then adding them to my favorites. After that, the only thing the unit would display was the Aluratek logo on the screen, even after reboots, resets, etc.. I was hoping for a similar level of reliability/usability that I have with my Squeezebox.
For now, we'll just use our old Bose clock radio, with an auxiliary MP3 player hooked up to the audio inputs.