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: Clever & useful idea - Not ready for prime time
Summary: 2 Stars
The basic functions of this "Radio" are fine; the problems are in the features and glitches due to buggy Firmware. I have been in contact with help desk twice and they sent me two Firmware updates to solve major problems: 1) backlight does not turn off or dim, 2) Random and frequent changing of date and time on display.
On the positive side, I can tune in BBC world service and listen to many Jazz and classic music stations from all over the globe.
Finally, I gave-up and returned this radio and would not recommend it.
Digital camera Review: Clever, and useful
Summary: 5 Stars
Think about the humble clock-radio. Everybody has one. They've scarcely changed in the last two decades. They have poor sound quality. Are usually in a bedroom where radio reception can be poor--and are usually given only a crummy wire antenna sticking out the back. With some, you can play a CD, just as CDs are being superseded by other digital music. Few can access the wealth of programming on satellite. Not a twenty-first century device.
This device brings the clock-radio into the 21st Century. It connects to your Wi-fi at home, and delivers almost any radio station you want from around the world.
NPR junkies can choose from a brace of stations, and the worldwide selection is superb--let me recommend Radio National and Directions in Groove from Australia, KQED and WNYC (the AM version; you'll get AM radio in hi-fi!), Deutsche Welle in English, Radio Netherlands, and of course, the BBC. Living in a non-English-speaking country, it's a real life-line for me.
It solves an issue that has vexed me with conventional clock radios I've owned. Reception problems. With an internet radio, the signal is as strong as your home wi-fi.
No need for an integrated CD. You can play music wirelessly from your computer or a USB stick.
And for a small speaker, the sound is remarkably good. You can plug it into your hi-fi if you wish, for even better sound.
It gets five stars, but not without a couple of glitches. The radio updates the station list automatically, but if a station changes its website in between software updates, you might miss out for a while. The menus are elaborate and can be a bit complex until you get used to them--and that includes the one you use simply to turn the alarm on. And the backlighted time displays ONLY when the radio is actually on; though I expect that glitch to be fixed in a software update.
Digital camera Review: Clunky Internet Radio
Summary: 2 Stars
I was excited to purchase this internet clock radio, as I get poor radio reception in my bedroom.
Unfortunately, this product is clunky. Some specific complaints:
- The time only seems to display when the radio is on. I tried to figure out a way to change this but haven't been successful, meaning either that it's not possible or that the UI is really confusing.
- It feels like a maker-kit science project rather than a strong, easy-to-use product.
- Navigating through the menus is very slow and clunky.
- It keeps losing stations, which causes it to replay the stations' introductory greetings. This gets really annoying!!
Perhaps new firmware will help (I upgraded to the most recent one on their website.)
Digital camera Review: Comparatively good radio
Summary: 4 Stars
I got my Aluratek radio specifically to hear WBZ in Boston. But first I got a Sangean 20 and a Grace.
All are very radios. However, the Sangean and Grace will not get WBZ, and the Alluratek will. I am finally happy!
I suspect that the British (I think that is who makes the chips and station lists) for the Grace and Sangean just don't know about WBZ
But all are fine radios. I think two of them will do FM
radio (rather poorly) also.
Hurrah for Alluratek! I can now get WBZ. Only complaint is that the light is very bright, although you can turn it off completely when the stations is locked in
Jerry O'Dell
Addition. I now have 2 of these units. The instructions are enough to drive one up a wall, but still it's a good
unit. The one real problem is knowing how to put things into the Favorite cagegory.
I must have about 200 hours on the first one I got!!!
Jerry O'Dell
Digital camera Review: Complete dissapointment. Poor execution, bad experience
Summary: 1 Stars
I returned it for credit.
I like NPR radio, and I like Internet Radio from my pc. I thought this clock radio would be terrific. It was not.
The interface is terrible. To simply turn it on is a 30 second 15 step process.
-Find Reading glasses, then find remote; with tiny unreadable buttons at 6am. (Despite 8 buttons on unit, basic functions require the remote).
-Click internet radio, {wait for it to find signal}
-Select Internet radio {wait for it to get station list}
-Click 3 times to Scroll and Select 'favorite' list from menu
-Click and scroll through the 8 stations I had loaded to find the alphabetically challenged and last on list- WYSO}
-Wait for signal to be acquired and buffer {5-50 seconds}
15 clicks, and 20-90 seconds before any sound comes out.
Why can't I just press "ON" and go to last setting and station???
The signal would all too often drop out for seconds or minutes at a time, or fail to find my router; yet with 5 bars on PC six feet away!
The regular "FM" mode with wire antenna attached found, after a lengthy search, just 2 local stations. My 20 year old analog unit, on the same shelf competently pulls in 18.
Finally, even when off, it emitted a constant low grade static noise.
Save the trouble of returning yours, do not order one in the first place.