Portable DAB/FM Radio with Rechargeable Battery Review

The Mesqool Portable has features that include DAB/FM Radio with Rechargeable Battery and is a product marketed for use outdoors and is very portable. In reviewing this product, I was looking at its usage in areas that have issues with intermittent electricity service, and as a gift for family members in the Caribbean, where solar recharging could be a valuable feature, and for the potential uses in cases of emergencies.

This Portable DAB/FM Radio comes with a Rechargeable Battery, Hand Crank & Solar Outdoor Digital DAB+ Radio. The product also includes features such as an Emergency SOS Alarm, Headphone Jack, Alarm Clock, Flashlight Light, Reading Light, and a USB Charger.

I have had a DAB/FM radio before and have given this up for online tools such as Google Play and Amazon Alexa due to the sound quality sometimes varying. However, as a portable tool I was keen to assess this product as we are planning a few camping trips this summer and I have been looking for a product that that could keep the family connected to their favourite radio stations.

Testing Portable DAB/FM Radio with Rechargeable Battery

I am a project manager that has worked in various media settings and have been involved in technical service management of TV, Radio broadcasting and technical services so I feel well placed to review this product.

Packaging is strong and sturdy. The product itself is lightweight, comes with a very handy carry strap and the instruction manual (comes in English) is easy to follow for the most part. I like features such as the lights/torch and added battery options but disappointed with the lack of Bluetooth connection and the need to plug in headphones directly.

I assessed the phone charging capabilities which works but does not charge as fast as if using the standard charging practice. However, I did have to try a couple of different cables before my phone started to charge.

It did not take long for me to learn the functions for selecting, storing, and navigating in and out of the menu. The auto scan and setting of the date and time is a real bonus and contributes well to the easy setup of this product. The DAB auto scan was quick and completed in 47 seconds and the FM channel sets up quickly with a quick scan function available. You can also select new radio stations and overwrite a memory slot that was previously saved.

The torch is good with two settings and the same with the reading light which can be quite bright. The radio does work well, and the radio sound quality is OK, not amazing but does the job required.

The wind-up handle is smooth and easy to use but, again does take some time to register a charge. I did assess the SOS alert button and really like this function. It is very loud, and it could be used to call attention in times of emergency (hurricanes and volcanic eruptions in the Caribbean). It is loud enough to be heard if you need aid but could be situated elsewhere on the unit as I sometimes pressed this by mistake and gave the kids a fright.

Final verdict

The radio and features were tested over two weeks. It has hard wearing plastic and easy to use functions. The rechargeable battery indicator is good; The wind-up function does take a while if you are charging the battery from empty but does power up sufficiently for use. When charging from empty using the USB-C cable, it took 3 hours to reach full charge when the radio was not in use. The wonderful thing is that you can use the radio whilst it is charging. Although using the solar panel to recharge the battery did take some time you can also use the solar panel (in good light) to keep the charge of the battery. The battery is good and lasts longer with the use of non-rechargeable AAA batteries. So far, the unit is easy to use and came with some charge already, allowing for an easy and quick set up.