Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Apr 12, 2009 12:05am | #1

   If your radio will receive stations in the main house, then you may need to replace the ballasts or otherwise deal with radio interference of from your flourescent lights. 

1. 
   ctsjr | Apr 12, 2009 03:09am | #3

   I never thought of the lights--they are new small bulb T-8's with electronic ballasts. The radio doesn't work with the lights off, either, if that matters. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Apr 12, 2009 03:46am | #5

   Yes, it does matter.  You shouldn't get interference with the lights off.  Do you get good reception with the radio outside?  What is the shop building construction?  Is your problem with AM or with FM? 

   Edited 4/11/2009 8:47 pm ET by SteveSchoene

2. 
   BG | Apr 12, 2009 02:54am | #2

   ctsjr82,
   I'm wondering if you could hook into your cable system for your radio? I too have the static thing but found a spot in the shop that works

1. 
   ctsjr | Apr 12, 2009 03:10am | #4

   That's a good idea--I'm not sure if I can pull it off myself, but I'll look into it. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

3. 
   Dave45 | Apr 12, 2009 06:10am | #6

   Assuming that your reception problem is just an antenna issue, you can make a simple dipole anenna from a few feet of 75 ohm flat lead (back in the stone age, it connected the TV to the antenna.)

   A quick internet search for "Dipole Antennas" should give you all the info you will need.

4. 
   JMadson | Apr 12, 2009 07:21am | #7

   Any radio that has an auxilary input will do the job. This can be a small headphone jack input or RCA inputs. Either way, any MP3 will work then. ($200 seems a little pricey to me, considering you still have to buy the MP3 player). Most MP3 players will survive the dust fairly well, I haven't had a problem with mine yet.

   This would work with any MP3 player...

   http://www.cpomilwaukee.com/specialty_tools_and_equipment/jobsite_radios/n9-24-0280.html

    

    

5. 
   | Apr 12, 2009 03:35pm | #8

   Tom,

   If I were going to spend $200 or more for a radio/CD player for the shop, I would go a little more and get a Bose Wave Radio/CD player. Un-like many of the cheaper boxes on the market, the Bose sounds GREAT and there is an input on the back for a dipole antenna. In fact, I think, they even provide the dipole antenna. Keep in mind that simply hooking a random piece of wire to an existing antenna can, in some instances have a detrimental affect on the reception. Dipoles are half wave antennas that are cut (tuned) to the center of the frequency band of interest. 468/f   where f = the center frequency in Mhz. Also, it's important to note that dipoles are directional. This means that they are meant to be oriented broad side the the transmitting antenna of the main station of interest.

   In addition, the ability to receive a radio signal is a function of the radios sensitivity and selectivity, something the makers of most boxes don't understand. Bose understands!

   Bob, Tupper Lake, NY

6. 
   forestgirl | Apr 13, 2009 07:03am | #9

   I have the Makita job-site radio, which has an input for an MP3 player.  It's quite sturdy and easy to use, plenty of power, but it has waaaayyyyyyy too much bass for me, overwhelms the other frequency groups.

   I believe the Bosch job-site radio has a pretty strong reputation.  Not sure about any of the other ones.  If you go with a job-site unit, I'd suggest taking an MP3 player with you and trying them out, find the one that suits your hearing the best.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
1. 
   ctsjr | Apr 13, 2009 05:09pm | #11

   This is a dumb question, but where do you go to try out jobsite radios? The only time I see them is at the Big Boxes, and they are in the boxes--never out to try. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Apr 13, 2009 05:27pm | #12

   Well, you could pick one based on your needs and buy it. Take it home and try it in your shop. How it works in a store is not necessarily how it will work in your shop.

   If you're not satisfied, take it back. (Obviously, you need to check out the store's return policy first, but the big boxes will refund your $$ if you have the receipit and it's within some reasonable time.)

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

    

2. 
   forestgirl | Apr 13, 2009 06:46pm | #14

   At our Home Depot, they have one playing sometimes in the tool section.  I would ask to try one, the way sales are these days, I'd be surprised if they said "no."forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

7. 
   MikeHennessy | Apr 13, 2009 02:14pm | #10

   I have both DeWalt and  Bosch job site noise makers. The DeWalt is just a radio and charger. The Bosch is a radio, CD, Aux Input (for the ipod) and charger. It also has a couple of GFCI plugs built in.

   The Bosch is all-around WAY nicer than the DeWalt and it gets better reception. Both are pretty rugged. The deciding factor tho' is whose batteries you generally use in your tools. No sense in getting a battery radio/charger if you don't own tools with the same batteries.

   That said, I don't have any Bosch cordless tools or batteries, but I still like that radio better. ;-)

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

8. 
   hammer1 | Apr 13, 2009 06:17pm | #13

   I can't count the number of job site and shop radios I've had. Last year I hooked up a receiver and some old floor speakers in the shop. Hallelujah! Rich, clear sound at any volume, no more squawking, screeching, distorted sound. Listening has become a rewarding experience. So pleasurable compared to a boombox, and I've had some pretty good ones. If you don't have any old stereo equipment kicking around the basement, you can often find something decent at a garage sale, flea market or Ebay, cheap. A receiver allows you to hook up almost any source, iPod to a good antenna. I'm never going back to a radio.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Apr 14, 2009 01:58pm | #15

   The wife and I are going to try out a Bose system for the house.  Hope it works out good as guess who gets the current system for the woodshop? 

   Now if I can just figgur out how to play all those rips from my albums that are on the laptop and pick up XM off the satellite dish..................

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   philip_r | Apr 15, 2009 01:05am | #16

   I have 2 bose systems in the house... but they cost way more than 200 bucks.

   For my shop, I use two MP3 players.  When hearing protection is required, I use the worktunes (http://www.amazon.com/Peltor-90541-WorkTunes-Hearing-Protector/dp/B0013092CS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1239746218&sr=1-1) with my iPod shuffle.  You don't even need batteries unless you want to run the radio.  Not the greatest sound... but it works

   When I'm not wearing my hearing protection, I turn to my 32 gig iTouch, and use http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8955151&type=product&id=1217029959025

   You can get both for under 200 bucks.