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Technology Showcase Freeplay Summit—A Solar Digital Radio That Can Be Improved by James Careless |
The Freeplay Summit is a digital readout AM/FM/SW/LW receiver. |
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I’m a fervent believer in free radio, including the electricity that powers it. That’s why I’ve spent a lot of time researching solar/windup multiband radios the past few years. To date, I’ve tried everything from the Info-Mate 837 ($79.99 at www.sun-mate.com, which unfortunately has a plastic tuning scale warps that in direct sunlight, up to Grundig’s impressive FR200 with SW fine-tuning dial and flashlight included ($39.99 at usashortwavestore.com). But my heart has always remained with Freeplay (formerly BayGen), the makers of the original spring-driven windup radio. If you’ve ever tried a Freeplay, you’ll understand why. For one thing, their receivers are solid and durable, with windup handles that won’t break off after a few weeks’ use. Also, Freeplay radios provide audio good enough to please my wife’s critical ears. This, in turn, has led to my being able to plant Freeplays in strategic sunlit windows around the house, without the usual spousal objections. In itself, this is enough to generate loyalty in any radiophile! Anyway, when I learned of the Freeplay Summit radio, I was like a child anticipating Christmas. The reason: unlike all the other Freeplay radios, the Summit is digital. That’s right: digital. We’re talking an AM/FM/LW/SW receiver with digital tuning, digital LCD display, and 30 presets. Even before our new house was finished, I had already decided which kitchen window ledge it would sit on. I could even see the Summit in my mind’s eye, flowing forth with the BBC on 5975 kHz as I washed the dishes. (After all, good audio alone isn’t the only key to marital peace.) Thanks to Freeplay, last August I received what might very well be the first Summit to arrive in North America. Here’s what happened once fantasy met reality and I got to know this set personally. The Basics
As I mentioned earlier, the Freeplay Summit
(£79.99 at www.simplyradio.com; no North American sites were available at
publication) is an AM/FM/LW/SW single conversion digital receiver.
Specifically, AM covers 530 to 1710 kHz, FM the usual 88 to 108 MHz, and
LW 46 to 281 kHz; SW is continuous from 5950 to 15600 kHz. Tuning is
accomplished using an up/down button “slewing” system. These buttons also
activate the Summit’s scan function, which is half as fast as slewing. |
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