Milwaukee jobsite radio

[D60]

While trolling the holiday sales at HD today I noticed the "new" jobsite radio from Milwaukee

http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-2790...1157093&sr=8-1

What caught my eye was the Ipod/MP3 compatibility, which I guess isn't that earth-shattering but I thought it was cool. It looks like they don't actually provide an Ipod dock tho, but rather just treat the Ipod as an "aux" accy. It does secure in a protected area which is good.

I know Bosch has had an uber-high-dollar radio out for some time now complete w CD player, 110V receptacles and remote, but it never interested me. Otherwise it seemed like jobsite radios only picked up, well, the radio.... and around here it's either NPR (bleh) or some shit from Clear Channel who I'm sure will take over the world soon.

I looked further and it seems the coolest feature is that it'll use any battery from M12 to V28 and in between. And it's got a 12V power port (cigarette lighter) plug on the back, which also seems like a great idea.

It's $119 at HD and of course $99 at Amazon. I did find the Amazon reviews interesting, seems there have been some quality issues.

Several people also bitched that it won't charge your batteries, which never occurred to me, but I guess DeWalt has been doing that for some time. Since I was thinking of it as a cordless radio, I wasn't expecting it to charge my batteries. That'd be like expecting my cordless sawzall to charge batteries (shrug).

Anyone have one of these or used one? My wife listens to the speaker - if you can call it that - that's in our Ipod(s) at jobs and it's so tinny it drives me nuts.

[the burbanator]

id buy it if it charged the batteries, i have a hard enough time keeping the 2 i have charged with my drill and impact. let alone a radio, i can only imagine the run time on it. around here most guys just have a decent, cheap radio from the trash or something

[D60]

I read in two different places on the web (one was the Amazon reviews I think) 4 hours run time on an M12 batt.............which would suggest you'd probably get a full work day and then some from a V28 batt. I don't recall the a/h rating on the V28 batts....

If you're near 110 power there's no reason to not use a cheap radio and FM modulator. This only shines in areas w no power or where you don't want to bother the customer to plug into their power (I prefer to be as sulf-sufficient as possible). Assuming no power this beats the hell out of feeding D-cell batteries into a standard "boom box"

[Harold Phipps]

I'd get one in a heartbeat if it charged the batteries too.
I'm ususally working where there is power, just gobs handier using cordless tools, and it sure would be handy to charge the batteries, Like DeWalt has for years. And, being a "Milwaukee snob", I'd rather bitch than switch.

[mxr148]

I have one from Makita (has I-pod hook-up as well) that goes everywhere with me (job sites, camping, having a beer while cooking a steak on the grill at home you name it). I think I paid a little more locally (plus I have Makita tools so batteries are always rotating). It'll run all day on an 18v battery. Nice and compact and tough as hell. You might look into it as well.

[makeshiftxj]

i've had the bosch one for 6 years now and i've abused the crap out of it and still works perfect cd player and all ,1 great thing about it is the 18v battery will charge my ipod being plugged into the 4-way recepticle

[rocket flier]

Fine Homebuilding Jan 2011
Job Site Radios Torture Test pg 54

Milwaukee 2790-20

Found 2x the number of fm stations compared to the others
Audio strong on highs and mids. Muddy on bass when volume over 50%
1 memory button compared to bank on others
Audio suffered after 3' drop and altogether after 6'. 10' cracked case.
This and Ridgid are only 2 that don't charge batteries

Bottom line: Radio performed well in the dust, water, extreme temperature tests and is easy to clean. Adequate sound quality and plenty of volume. Performance in drop test was subpar making it a poor choice for anybody working off the ground.

I picked up the dewalt for $80 at the Lowes sale. It will charge my 18v nicds, not the new Liion (The newer one does). They didn't like it either.

Best overall: Bosch PB360s & Ridgid R84082
Best Value: Porter-Cable PCJ18JR

Have a good one,..

[yyc_ranger_4x4]

Watch these jobsite radios...I almost bought a DeWalt one, but found out that they don't charge the new LiIon batteries...only the special chargers that cost more. They may have changed this now...but just in case...

Not sure if Milwaukee has interchangeable batteries, but it may be something you want to look into if you have both...

[ptrautne]

Originally Posted by Harold Phipps

I'd get one in a heartbeat if it charged the batteries too.
I'm ususally working where there is power, just gobs handier using cordless tools, and it sure would be handy to charge the batteries, Like DeWalt has for years. And, being a "Milwaukee snob", I'd rather bitch than switch.

DeWalt is going to the only radio charging batteries because they have the patent on it.

[Sroufe7]

Originally Posted by yyc_ranger_4x4

Watch these jobsite radios...I almost bought a DeWalt one, but found out that they don't charge the new LiIon batteries...only the special chargers that cost more. They may have changed this now...but just in case...

Not sure if Milwaukee has interchangeable batteries, but it may be something you want to look into if you have both...

The new DeWalt radio (DC012) charges both batteries.

[rocket flier]

Originally Posted by ptrautne

DeWalt is going to the only radio charging batteries because they have the patent on it.

From my Fine Homebuilding post, "This {Milwalukee} and Ridgid are only 2 that don't charge batteries".

The rest do.

[ptrautne]

Originally Posted by rocket flier

From my Fine Homebuilding post, "This {Milwalukee} and Ridgid are only 2 that don't charge batteries".

The rest do.

Bosch is the only one and they got taken to court

http://www.niroscavone.com/document.php?Id=104

[fullsize80cherokee]

Originally Posted by rocket flier

From my Fine Homebuilding post, "This {Milwalukee} and Ridgid are only 2 that don't charge batteries".

The rest do.

you and fine homebuilding don't know what your talking about

[D60]

I found the "radio display" back in the tool section today. Got to actually play w the open Milwaukee. The weight surprised me, heavier than I would have thought. The compartment access for the battery and Ipod is a bit awkward w two round knobs that you twist to lock or unlock. It's stupid but I do like that it has a bottle opener built into the back of it.

I also looked at the Ridgid. I was surprised that it's considerably different than the Milwaukee since so much of the two brands is similar (yes, yes, both owned by TTI ). The Ridgid has an actual Ipod dock so it charges your Ipod during use. The Ipod locks into the front of the radio behind a door which is cool but seems over-engineered with a complicated latch and pivot which seems like it'll only break if abused. It also has a remote which seems like a nice idea but I'd never use it and/or lose it. I did not note what batter(ies) the Ridgid will run on, so I don't know if it only works w one battery voltage (nor do I care enough to look online)

They had the Makita which was tall and narrow, but I didn't have time to look at it. There was also Dewalt but I don't acknowledge Dewalt shit.

[beartj]

Originally Posted by D60

I found the "radio display" back in the tool section today. Got to actually play w the open Milwaukee. The weight surprised me, heavier than I would have thought. The compartment access for the battery and Ipod is a bit awkward w two round knobs that you twist to lock or unlock. It's stupid but I do like that it has a bottle opener built into the back of it.

I also looked at the Ridgid. I was surprised that it's considerably different than the Milwaukee since so much of the two brands is similar (yes, yes, both owned by TTI ). The Ridgid has an actual Ipod dock so it charges your Ipod during use. The Ipod locks into the front of the radio behind a door which is cool but seems over-engineered with a complicated latch and pivot which seems like it'll only break if abused. It also has a remote which seems like a nice idea but I'd never use it and/or lose it. I did not note what batter(ies) the Ridgid will run on, so I don't know if it only works w one battery voltage (nor do I care enough to look online)

They had the Makita which was tall and narrow, but I didn't have time to look at it. There was also Dewalt but I don't acknowledge Dewalt shit.

did the milwaukee have the actual ipod/iphone connector or a headphone jack?

[D60]

Originally Posted by beartj

did the milwaukee have the actual ipod/iphone connector or a headphone jack?

No, as I said earlier it does just treat it as an Aux accy w headphone jack.

In some ways that sucks but OTOH it's more universal, less dated and less proprietary than the Ipod connection. What are we gonna do when Ipod changes that? I guess they'll just sell adapters, like serial ports to USB, etc

also there is the 12V power port on the back of the radio, so it would seem w a mess of cords you could have your Ipod provide input to the radio while also charging using a 12V adapter

[CJHeap]

I have the older model which also has the aux input. It is one tough muther . With a fully charged v28, it will play for several days if you do not use the bass boost.

I have dropped mine off my house and it came out unhurt. But they are not waterproof .

The best prices are on ebay BTW.

[Harold Phipps]

What is the deal with DeWalt?
I'm the same way, but don't know why.
I'll walk past lower priced DeWalt stuff to get to my beloved Milwaukee display.
And I wanted a cordless finish nailer, DeWalt makes one, Milwaukee doesn't. WTF is up with that? Same with the radio that charges the batteries, WTF doesn't Milwaukee to that?
And I still don't own a cordless finish nailer. I hate wood working anyway, but it sure is a cool excuse to buy more tools !!

[CJHeap]

I used the excuse of needing a more compact finish nailer to buy an Ultimate Air CO2 system I can hang my 2.5 lb bottle off my belt.

[D60]

Originally Posted by ptrautne

Bosch is the only one and they got taken to court

http://www.niroscavone.com/document.php?Id=104

So came across the Ryobi Toughtunes radio and charger at HD today.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...&storeId=10051

I wonder if any patent claims Black&Pecker had have expired? Or if Ryobi (and thus presumably all of TTI) worked a royalty deal with B&P??

[roarksupply.com]

Interesting. In the last few years those tool companies have changed hands like I change socks. (not really but its A LOT)

[Harold Phipps]

I have talked to Milwaukee company "people" and they say Dewalt has the radio/battery charging "patent" tied up. ilwaukee could build one, but would have to pay Dewalt royalty for every one they sell.
Roark,, I'm starting to wonder if anyones "lifetime warranty" is going to be any good?? Good luck getting any Slip and Kill tools warrantied.

[twentyfootdaredevil]

My Milwaukee radio has taken a beating and it still sounds and works great. Like everyone else I wish it charged batteries.

[rocket flier]

I'm running an older dewalt but wonder why the hell these things are so big,.. It weighs about 5 oz so it can't have anything inside it.

[roarksupply.com]

Originally Posted by Harold Phipps

Roark,, I'm starting to wonder if anyones "lifetime warranty" is going to be any good?? Good luck getting any Slip and Kill tools warrantied.

This is one of the major issues with importing and then putting a warranty on things.....Where do they send it back to, China?