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I've had the Aluratek AIRMM01F Internet Clock Radio for almost a year. I've been mostly satisfied. As everyone else has said, the LCD display is. Which I though was interesting. It appears to use a wireless NIC, just like in a laptop and it comes out the same way the one does in a laptop. I have the imfamous Alaratek AIRMM01F WiFi radio. Review: Aluratek Internet Radio Alarm Clock. Wireless access WIFI 802.11 b/g, Ethernet and USB 2.0 (host only) connectivity. Internet Radio Alarm Clock with Built-in WiFi [Aluratek.com].

Wifi Wireless Internet Connection

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Aluratek Internet Radio Alarm Clock with Built-in Wi-Fi

Whether it's ice cream flavors, TV shows, or music, I like to have options--and plenty of them. But Aluratek's Internet Radio Alarm Clock With Built-in Wi-Fi overwhelmed me: it actually offered me too many choices.

At first glance, the radio looks like an ordinary alarm clock. Unlike a run-of-the-mill bedside clock, however, it connects (wirelessly or via ethernet) to your home network to access more than 11,000 channels of Internet radio. It has an FM tuner, as well, and can connect to a stored library of tunes on your PC or MP3 player.

Setup couldn't be easier: You plug it in and turn it on, and it automatically find available networks. If an ethernet cord is connected, it will default to a wired LAN; if no cord is plugged in, it will start in wireless mode.

In wireless mode, the Internet radio automatically scans for 802.11b/g networks and then displays the ones it finds on the radio's small screen. The remote control lets you select the network you want;if the network is encrypted, you enter the passkey for it. (The remote doesn't have its own screen; all information is displayed on the radio.) The Aluratek radio then connects automatically and finds that network each time you turn it on.

The remote controls all of the radio's functions. To access Internet radio stations, you click the Radio IP button and browse through the available stations--more than 11,000 choices, organized by category. You can browse by location, genre, and popularity, among other criteria. Most stations are stored in subfolders within each category, which makes navigating them a tad easier. You can, for example, search for pop music stations in Albania or classical music stations in China. Once you find a radio station that you'd like to listen to, you can connect to it within a few seconds. The radio pauses for a moment while buffering, and then playback begins.

Even so, some categories are unwieldy: More than 100 classic rock stations are available, and the helpfulness of their titles varies. You may know what to expect from a station called '101.ru Pink Floyd,' but not from a station called '0170s Classic Rock 2.' You can designate stations as favorites to make locating them in the future easier.

While listening to various stations is fun, it hardly justifies the radio's $200 list price. I was more interested in the radio's ability to connect to my networked PC's Windows Media Player 11 or MusicMatch Jukebox library. I adjusted a few PC settings to share my music, and within minutes I was listening to tunes on the Aluratek radio. A USB port on the front of the device lets you attach a USB storage drive or an MP3 player, too.

I experienced no hiccups or stuttering with any of the music I listened to, whether the connection was wired or wireless. Sound is decent but a bit tinny--about what you'd expect out of an alarm clock. Though I found it satisfactory, true audiophiles may be disappointed.

A bigger disappointment to me was the radio's 3-by-1.5-inch LED display, which displays all of its information in shades of blue and white. The text is large enough to read from several feet away, but not much text fits on the screen. Scanning through the stations or songs requires extensive scrolling on the small screen.

Still, this radio is fun to use. If you're bored with the offerings on your FM radio, the Aluratek Internet Radio Alarm Clock can multiply your musical choices many times over.

This story, 'Aluratek Internet Radio Alarm Clock With Built-in Wi-Fi ' was originally published by PCWorld.

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Aluratek Internet Radio Alarm Clock with Built-in Wi-Fi
An easy way to expand your musical horizons.
Pros
- Easy to set up and use
- Lets you access music from many sources
Cons
- Display is disappointing
- Sound quality is so-so

These Wi-Fi radios have come a long, long way. Case in point, I have an old Linksys WMLS-11B from almost five years ago that requires me to spin around in a circle two times, add a single drop of blood to exactly 6.3 ounces of room-temperature tap water, and paint the Toyota Camry logo on my chest backwards before I can get the thing to reliably stream music wirelessly. Fast forward to the present day, and I just hooked up the Aluratek AIRMM01F and had it streaming music in under a minute.

Overview and Features

Choose between more than 11,000 radio stations worldwide via built-in vTuner with no monthly cost
Search music by genre, country or state
Compatible with universal Plug-n-Play audio servers such as: Microsoft Media Player 11 (WMP11), Microsoft Media Connect, MusicMatch Jukebox
Wireless access WIFI 802.11 b/g, Ethernet and USB 2.0 (host only) connectivity
Built-in FM radio tuner for local FM broadcast service
Access music files (MP3, WMA, WAV) stored on a USB 2.0 flash drive, MP3 player or Hard drive through the unit’s USB port
Alarm clock function with 2programmable alarms wakes you up to internet radio, FM radio, digital music, or choice of several alarm tones
Integrated amplifier: 2x2W stereo
External plug for headsets (3.5mm)
2 RCA plugs (Stereo Lineout) for external speakers
No PC is required
1 Year limited warranty

Pros

I need some sort of catch phrase or hook that I can give to product’s I really like. Something along the lines of “Doug’s Picks” or “Friends of Doug” or “Doug’s List of Crap He Likes” – we’ll stick to “Editor’s Choice” for now, how’s that?

Anyway, this thing is on that list. Setup consisted of screwing the antenna in the back, plugging the radio in, and choosing my wireless network. I had music playing in under a minute. You can tap into one of around 11,000 Internet radio stations, sorted by country, genre, or state. Music starts playing close to immediately and the sound quality is good enough that it sounds like it’s coming from an MP3 or CD player.

Aluratek Internet Radio Manual

Menu navigation is intuitive and the built-in USB connection is a simple but wonderful addition, allowing you to plug in a flash drive or external hard drive loaded with music files. The radio also works with UPnP audio servers like Windows Media Player, allowing you to stream tunes from your computer. There’s also a hard-wired Ethernet connection and audio inputs on the back of the unit. If you choose a wired setup, you can use the AIRMM01F into a wireless access point. That’s a very nice touch.

Finally, the price is a reasonable $150 and the unit itself looks nice. I placed it on our fancy-pants Crate and Barrel bookshelf next to various glass jars filled with fake flowers and the martini shaker we never use and my wife didn’t notice it. That’s a good sign if she doesn’t notice a piece of electronic equipment. So you can keep this radio in your living room if you want. Or place it next to your bed and use the straightforward alarm clock function.

Cons

People who are really into AM radio are going to be left out in the cold here. So will a lot of Mac users, especially those with all of their music in AAC format. Music purchased from iTunes won’t play on this unit unless you hook your iPod up through the audio inputs in the back. Non-DRM music in MP3 format, though, such as that purchased from the Amazon Music store, played like buttah.

Aluratek Wifi Wireless Internet Radio Tuner Reviews

Conclusion

If you’re in the market for something like this, buy it. Then put it anywhere in your house and str

Wifi Wireless Internet Connection

Aluratek Internet Radio Alarm Clock with Built-in Wi-Fi

Aluratek Internet Radio Alarm Clock with Built-in Wi-Fi

Pros

Cons

Aluratek Internet Radio Manual

Aluratek Wifi Wireless Internet Radio Tuner Reviews