Panasonic RF-3500

Author's product rating:   

Radio Quality	Excellent
Sound & Volume	Excellent
Range of Features	Average
Durability	Excellent
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	It just keeps going !
Disadvantages:	Isn't digital .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

It depends what you want from a portable radio, but if you're not interested in having a digital one, are not too concerned about looks, and just want reliability, then this is for you.

It already looks slightly old-fashioned, but then that means it will no doubt soon look retro and regain its coolness, so you could see it as an investment for the future!

It's only about 24cm by 14cm by 7cm, so it's small, light and easily portable, with a large carry-handle which tucks in at the back or can be pulled out easily when in use. It also has a long aerial, but I've found that you generally don't need to put this up.

It takes two C-size batteries, but they last for ages (literally, I can't remember the last time I changed them, and it's in use most days). It's easy to change them, though - a panel at the back slides off and on with no problems. You can also plug it in to a mains supply if you have a two-pin cable.

One advantage of being old-fashioned, is that it actually has longwave and shortwave as well as fm and mediumwave. So it's a fairly powerful instrument and can access pretty much any radio station you want - even quite a lot of mainland European ones (and I'm in Scotland) if you fiddle about for long enough.

Of course, that's the diasadvantage of not having digital tuning - you have to turn the tuning knob at the side, and know what frequency you're trying to go to, but I don't find it too much of a problem to twiddle about for a few seconds until I get the right one, and you have the added bonus of happening across obscure stations which you'd never normally encounter, but which can be quite interesting! The panel showing you the frequencies is also large and clear. You can change the tone from low to high, and the volume goes up as high as you could want it.

The main benefit of this radio is its sturdiness - we use it in the bathroom quite a lot, and also outside, so it has had plenty of splashes and knocks, but keeps going just fine!

Basically, if you're not concerned about having the latest technology or styling, then this is great - reliable, practical and fairly cheap!