Freeplay’s Encore Player radio makes a splash during record-breaking journey around the world

Freeplay Energy’s Encore Player radio was recently put through its paces by extreme sportsman Sam Greatrex when he took part on a grueling 100-mile rowing expedition from Oxford to London.

The expedition was a warm-up for Sam’s forthcoming attempt to break the world record for the fastest human powered circumnavigation of the world – and his Encore Player will also be going with him then. The bid, titled ‘Lap the World’, will kick off in August 2014 and aims to raise £240,000 for the Macmillan Cancer Support charity.

But first, Sam and his seven crewmates rowed from Oxford to Putney Bridge, London. Sam’s new Encore Player radio kept the team entertained and charged their mobile phones throughout the journey; its robust design, powerful speaker and patented dynamo-powered energy source making it ideal for sustained outdoor use.

Sam Greatrex comments: “I approached Freeplay Energy as there seemed a natural fit between the company and our values of demonstrating sustainable energy management while delivering world leading performance. Having said that, it will also be a life saver to have a radio to listen to while I am making my way around the globe, and the inbuilt light and mobile phone charger will be invaluable. I can even load my favorite tunes onto an SD card and use the Encore Player’s integrated MP3 player.”

John McGrath, Freeplay Energy’s managing director, adds: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to support Sam’s record attempt by donating an Encore Player radio, which is particularly appropriate for use on the ‘Lap the World’ bid, as it too can be fully powered by human energy, via its high-efficiency wind-up mechanism. Of course, if Sam chooses to save all his energy for getting himself around the world, he can use Encore Player’s built-in solar panel to power the multi-band radio, play MP3s or charge his mobile phone.

“We were proud to support Sam both during his initial rowing challenge between Oxford and London, and then as he takes on his amazing ‘Lap the World’ expedition later this year. We wish him all the very best and look forward to watching his progress as he creates a new world record.”

Originally designed for use by the 1.6 billion people worldwide who currently live without access to a regular electricity supply, the solar and dynamo-powered Encore Player is a multi-band radio, MP3 player and recorder, light and mobile phone charger. Weighing just 1.08kg and less than 26cm tall, Encore Player is highly portable and its sturdy, robust design ensures that it is suitable for use in the most rugged of environments.

Encore Player builds on Freeplay’s long experience of pioneering wind-up and solar technology to deliver products that provide information, communication and lighting for people around the world who live off-grid.

Now that Sam has completed his Oxford to London trip, he will continue preparations for his ‘Lap the World’ challenge. This will see him cross 25 countries and five continents in the course of his 18 month journey. He will cycle 18,000 miles and row 14,000 nautical miles in order to break the current record for the fastest human powered circumnavigation of the world, which has only been completed by two other people to ExplorersWeb standards. Sam chose to use the record bid as a fundraising initiative for Macmillan Cancer Support having made a full recovery from the disease following diagnosis at the age of 10.

Sam concludes: “Macmillan Cancer Support provides essential help for families affected by cancer and the money we raise will help the charity to provide more services for more people at a very difficult time in their lives. I am grateful to all the companies and individuals who have, like Freeplay Energy, pledged their support for ‘Lap the World’ and I look forward to achieving a new world record.”

For more information about ‘Lap the World’, visit www.laptheworld.com or go to www.justgiving.com/laptheworld to make a donation.

About Freeplay Energy

Freeplay Energy is the leading manufacturer of windup and solar powered products, specialising in Outdoor Leisure, Emergency Preparedness, and Aid and Development.

Freeplay Energy has been the original and leading global brand of clean, dependable energy products since 1994. Freeplay Energy's patented technology harnesses human, solar and rechargeable energy and converts it into electricity to power unique portable consumer products, replacing conventional disposable batteries that are environmentally toxic and expensive.

The current product range includes radios, flashlights, lanterns, and mobile power devices. Freeplay Energy's products have been distributed throughout the developed and developing worlds by a range of businesses, charities, NGOs and government and UN agencies.

www.freeplayenergy.com.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

Freeplay Encore Player... from a different angle

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

No, it's not about taking a photo of it from a different perspective. I am going to be talking here about the sustainability angle.

While this Freeplay radio, MP3 player/recorder, cell phone charger and task/work light is made in China on other levels its sustainability scores are very high indeed.

Aside from the fact that the unit is powered by rechargeable batteries which are charged via solar or crank (and also via 12 V DC external source) the packaging is not wasteful at all.

With the exception of a few small plastic bags to keep small items safe while in the box prior to arriving with the customer, and a small bubble wrap “pouch” for the external solar panel, all is compostable.

The box itself is plain brown cardboard with minimal black print and the protection for the unit itself is achieved not, as is so often the case with electronic goods, by means of expanded polystyrene but by moulded cardboard material similar to that of cardboard egg cartons, and thus both can be thrown simply onto a compost heap for Nature to have its way with them. On the other hand they could also be recycled with no effort.

Not having seen the packaging of Freeplay Energy's other products the way the Encore Player is packaged is, surely, the way to go and should be an example to other producers that glossy coated print and other fancy stuff is not necessary.

Another great score for the Freeplay Encore Player and I believe this should become an industry standard.

© 2013

Freeplay Encore Player – Product Review

Review by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

This radio receiver and MP3 player/recorder (yes, it is also a recorder, recoding from the radio or via built-in microphone, then though onto .wav) which was recently launched by Freeplay is presently available only to the humanitarian and development aid sector but, in the future, it may become also available to the general public.

However, the Encore Digital radio (without the MP3 player/recorder) can be purchased and judging by the test results of the Encore Player it is the ideal radio for any off grid situation.

The Encore™ Player

The Encore Player is a solar and dynamo powered multi-band radio, MP3 player and recorder designed for use in off-grid communities.

The 5 watt speaker which delivers clear, crisp sound makes the Encore™ Player ideal for use by both small and larger groups of people.

It also features a mobile phone charger which will fully charge a mobile phone and for reading or close work after dark, there is a bright task light.

The Encore Player’s high capacity rechargeable nickel metal hydride battery delivers over 24 hours of playtime from a full charge and is powered by a solar panel backed up by Freeplay’s patented fail-safe winding mechanism to ensure that even in times of extended bad weather power is always available.

The Encore Player has been designed for use in educational programs, by listening groups and in all other programs where training and information are crucial.

Multiband Radio

• FM/AM/SW1/SW2

• LCD digital display for ease of use

SD Card Player

• Store 125 audiobooks on a single 32GB SD card

• Pre-set or locally recorded content can be used

• Store up to 32GB of pre-loaded content in any subject or language

• Record directly from radio

• Record voice directly to SD card

Intelligent Mobile Phone Charger

• Fully recharge a mobile phone

• No cranking needed – automatically recharges

4 Way Charging

• Integrated solar panel

• External Solar panel

• Hand crank

• DC (optional)

Reading/Task Light

• Two super bright LED’s

The radio of the Encore Player works well on all bands, including shortwave reception. The quality of the latter is, however, dependent on time of day and frequency, but on the right times and frequencies and especially when used with the wire antenna supplied in the box can be quite good.

Anyone familiar with shortwave will know that, though having a great range, it can be a fickle medium as far as reception goes and is bound to a lot of fading and atmospheric and electrical interference. This problem is not found so much on medium wave and basically not at all on FM, which is, in fact, in the lower part of the UHF, the ultra-high frequency, spectrum. The latter two, however, do not have the range that shortwave has.

The sound quality of the Encore Player is very good indeed and, in fact, impressed me a great deal as I have found that many modern portable radios have rather a tinny sound from their speakers, especially on shortwave.

The play time from the simple sixty to eighty turns of the crank handle, which would equate to about one minute winding, is also very impressive and there is almost no loss of quality to the end.

Solar charging could not be tested as the sun level in February in Britain simply is not good enough to allow this.

Tuning stations is quite good on AM and FM but on shortwave the device could have benefited from having a more geared drive. The LCD display could also have done with a backlight that could be turned on and off to make reading the screen easier, as well as, maybe, a larger letters and numbers. However, seeing the amount of information being displayed when the MP3 player is in action larger letters and numbers would not have been possible.

The task light is very bright indeed and it is not advisable to look directly into the LEDs (Note to self!).

Recording with the MP3 player/recorder is also rather good, especially directly from the radio, and clear as a bell, while when using the built-in microphone there is some electronic background noise on the recording in playback. Recordings are not in MP3 though but in .wav format. Playback of MP3s is very good and the sound quality is excellent.

All in all, with the few given caveats, I am impressed with the Encore Player and its performance and can see its benefits in many fields and scenarios.

As we can see from the specifications the Freeplay Encore Player does almost everything with the exception of making the tea or coffee.

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

© 2013