RRP sold separately)
WHERE Hardware stores, nationwide www. bosch-do-it. com /
MORE INFO au / en / diy / homepage / index. jsp
RATING ����� get tangled up and it also protects your
ADVICE
ADVENTURE GEAR
BOSCH BALLADS
W hile there’ s nothing quite like relaxing at camp, enjoying the serenity and immersed in the sounds of the bush, sometimes when you’ re sitting around the campfire with a happy-hour drink, some low-key ambiance playing in the background is just what you need. And for this purpose, the Bosch PRA MultiPower Portable Radio is an excellent addition to your camping setup.
As part of the Bosch DIY suite of products, the PRA MultiPower Radio can be operated with either a DC-in adaptor for use via mains power or wirelessly via a lithium-ion battery. The radio comes with an auxiliary cord( AUX-in cable) to plug in your phone or tablet.
The battery( available in 10.8V, 14.4V or 18V) and battery charger pack are not included and must be purchased separately. The battery starter kit, which includes an 18V 2.0Ah battery and an 18V charger, has a RRP of $ 99.
The benefit of this system is the battery is interchangeable among a variety of Bosch products so if you already have a Bosch garden or power
tool, there’ s a good chance you already have a battery to use with the radio. Of course, the downside for camping use is that to recharge the battery you will need access to 240V power.
The unit is 300mm( L) x 280mm( W) x 250mm( H) and weighs 2.9kg( including the power cord). I found the design userfriendly – it’ s compact and easy to carry with large handles. It is triangular and effectively has a handle at each point of the triangle, with the bottom two acting as feet which help to sit the radio flat on rough or uneven surfaces. The digital screen is clear and there are large buttons so it’ s all easy to read and fairly intuitive. The screen also displays the time and the battery charge level.
It’ s possible to pre-set 10 AM and 10 FM channels for radio use, so you can easily flick between your favourite stations and catch up on local news. To play your own music, simply connect your device via the auxiliary cord or via Bluetooth, which is useful if you want to use your phone while playing music.
A feature I found particularly useful for camping is that the phone can be stored in the back cavity of the radio while in use. This makes the radio easier to move around without cords and devices to
phone from dirt and dust. The cavity also stores the power cord and is where the battery is plugged in.
While Bosch states the length of time the battery will power the radio will depend on the size of the battery and the mode used, we had it at camp over a long weekend in the Victorian High Country and found the 18V battery lasted really well, playing music via the auxiliary cord for several hours each day.
The sound quality is pretty good, and you can get plenty of volume from the two 3.5W speakers. There are 20 volume settings and an equalizer function for bass and treble adjustment. If you were using it somewhere noisy, you might find it lacking, but for use around camp where any potential neighbours probably don’ t want to hear your music anyway, it is more than sufficient.
While many modern RVs come with a stereo system already wired in, the portable radio could be useful if you’ re heading off fishing or to light a fire away from your rig, or even at home in the garden or shed. For me, this is a versatile product perfect for both camping and at home.
– Ali Millar
Bosch PRA MultiPower Portable Radio
$ 149( battery and charger
RRP sold separately)
WHERE Hardware stores, nationwide www. bosch-do-it. com /
MORE INFO au / en / diy / homepage / index. jsp
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RATING ����� get tangled up and it also protects your
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ADVENTURES