- Rugged plastic construction, steel handled, blow-resistant base, and weather-proof speakers
- FM radio, digital clock, NOAA weather radio, auxiliary port for CD player, 12-volt power port
- Operates on 18-volt or 28-volt lithium-ion or 12- to 18-volt Ni-Cad batteries, or standard 110-volt outlet.
- Includes radio, storage bag, and 10-foot cord
- 22 pounds; 1-year warranty
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 An excellent radio with some great features... |
| Review Date: June 4, 2006 |
| Reviewer: lee280zx, San Diego, CA |
This is the new version of Milwaukee's jobsite radio. In addition to AC power and 12-18 volt NiCad batteries, it also runs on Milwaukee's new 28 volt lithium batteries. (Milwaukee plans to market 18v lithium batteries that will work with its already-existing 18v tools. I presume, from the item description, that those batteries will also work with this radio.)
>>>NOTE: This radio, like the previous Milwaukee jobsite radio, does **NOT** charge the cordless tool batteries it runs on. I emailed Milwaukee about this, and was told that they did not incorporate a charger because the focus of this radio is sound quality and radio reception.
I run my radio on Milwaukee's v28 lithium batteries. I would expect the same performance from Milwaukee's other batteries, with the exception that Milwaukee states that this radio will run longer per charge cycle on the v28 batteries. I'll edit this post to include the average run time for a v28 battery after I've used it several times.
Both the reception and sound quality on this radio are fantastic. The sound quality is so good (and loud, if you want it loud) that you'll be glad to listen to this radio anywhere, any time. If you like bass, the Punch EQ offers 3 levels of bass-boost. The first, or lowest, level is plenty for me. I usually listen with the bass boost off entirely.
I previously owned a Bosch PowerBox jobsite CD/Radio. The PowerBox offers many more features (including charging batteries), but I eventually returned it due to its extremely poor radio reception (even with their new external antenna) and inferior speakers.
The Milwaukee's 12 volt DC output jack (like your car's cigarette lighter plug) allows you to use the radio to power an Ipod, satellite radio, cell phone charger, etc. I particularly like the fact that this plug works when the radio is running on battery power (the Bosch PowerBox's 12v plug only works when the PowerBox is plugged in and running on AC current).
The nylon bag on the back of the radio is removable and measures 11" x 8.5" x 2.5", so it's large enough to store quite a bit of stuff (Ipod, CD player, CDs, patch cables, cell phone lighter-plug cable, etc.). The bag has dual zippers so you can leave a small opening at the top for your external audio device's connecting (patch) cable without risking the device falling out. There is also an elastic strap inside the bag to hold things in place, with spaces for 3 pens/pencils.
The LCD clock readout is visible even when the radio is off. In fact, it's visible even when the radio is unplugged and there is no battery pack in it. It's powered by two "AA" batteries (included).
This radio shuts down automatically when whatever rechargeable battery pack you are using gets low. This is important because you NEVER want to completely discharge any cordless tool battery. Doing so can cause cells within the battery to reverse polarity and become ineffective. The battery might still work if this happens, but it won't be producing as much voltage.
The soft-grip handle is comfortable and the rubber-whip style antenna is perfect for a jobsite radio. You can also attach an external antenna to a provided external connector, but the reception is great so I don't see much need for this.
To connect an Ipod or other audio source, you'll need a cable that goes from the output of your audio source to radio's auxiliary input. For an Ipod, this would be a simple patch cable with a (male) stereo mini plug on each end.
A few extra features would make this an ideal radio for any occasion. Padding in the nylon bag would be great (after all, the radio is designed to survive falls and abuse). A remote control would be useful (especially if you're working on a roof or using it in your garage or home). And a "sleep" timer and headphone jack would also be nice.
Some of the features I suggest might seem out of place on a jobsite radio, but I think this radio could find a market with people who will never even visit a "jobsite." The sound quality is there, and the styling offers a real "wow" factor. This radio could be great as a permanent fixture in a kid's room, basement, garage, etc.
Regardless, I give this radio 5 stars because it is the best jobsite radio I've ever heard. More importantly, it is compatible with Milwaukee's v28 lithium-powered cordless tools, which are, without doubt, the best cordless tools on the market.
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It's holding up well.
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| Review Date: March 31, 2004 |
| Reviewer: MicTrik, |
| I heard a crash and then turned around. My radio was lying on the basement floor. I could have sworn I left it on top of the ladder...? Picked it up off the floor and placed it on top of a cardboard box; much more stable. No need to check the radio because it was still running and suffered only a small scratch on the bar handle. This radio is very tough indeed! It sounds great, has good FM and very good AM reception; the weather bands are tough to get but they do work. The unit will run on a Milwaukee cordless drill battery, plus the 12v DC outlet readily charges my cell phone and it has an auxiliary micro input that accepts any stereo source. All in all this is a great radio for a rough environment; though it would be nice to see it also function as a charger. This would allow you to leave your regular battery charger at home limiting the amount of gear you need to haul around. Milwaukee really should have included a charging circuit with this unit. I am sure they could have found a way to include charging without compromising the sound. |
A great heavy duty radio!
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| Review Date: January 10, 2004 |
| Reviewer: Nancy K. Wagner, CASA of McHenry County |
| I bought this radio for my carpenter brother-in-law. He has raved about this radio since Christmas. The sound quality is tremendous, far surpassing the DeWalt version his friend has. It has fallen off a workbench without incident! I highly recommed this product to any contractor because of its durability and quality. An excellent radio for a good price. |
Just what I've been looking for.
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| Review Date: August 8, 2006 |
| Reviewer: T. Griffin, Raleigh, NC USA |
| I'm a DeWalt guy, but didn't feel the need to shell out the bucks for a DeWalt radio or a Bosch. The Milwaukee has better build quality than either of them, at half the price. It is a well thought out device, seems to be extremely well made, and the tool bag attached to the back is a great idea. I store my phone and mp3 player there. The only drawback I can see, and it's really more of an oddity, is that radio only reaches stated output(44w) under battery power(28v). It only puts out about half that on AC, and only about 7w on 12v battery packs. I don't see a problem as the sound quality and volume seem to be first rate, but I just thought it strange that device would not be adequately(or equally powered may be more accurate) powered off household current. But in any case, I think this is an outstanding product and I would buy another without hesitation. |
Bad to the bone
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| Review Date: June 11, 2002 |
| Reviewer: Toolpig, Troy , KS |
| When I saw this on the shelf I knew I had to have one. I sold my Dewalt because it was a Piece of $###! The sound quality was deplorable. Yes it charges batteries but who needs a behemoth battery charger that hurts your ears ? This thing actually sounds very good for a portable. As a car audio nut ,I LOVE Rockford Fosgate. The punch eq adds a fair amount of kick. The reception is far better than the Dewalt with its manual tuning. I love being able to charge my cell phone batteries right there where I'm working with the 12v acc output. With the 20 presets and the weather bands you get a well rounded package. You can spend a lot more for a radio , You can get built in CD capabilities (who has time to change them while working ) You can get more features in other portables but there is nothing tougher or better suited to the work place out there. |
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