RCA RC117 Dual USB Charging Station Clock Radio

• Built-in charging tray with 2 USB ports and cable management
• Optimized outlet for iPad - 2.1 amps
• Full clock radio functionally with backlit display
• Dual wake, sleep and snooze functions
• Audio line-in for MP3 player connectivity

Full clock radio functionally with backlit display; the brightness control allows for 3 settings (1) High; brighter than an advantage nightlight (2) Medium; too dull to see at night (3) Off; not helpful at all. Prefect for a bedroom that requires a nightlight; we moved it into our home office. Dual wake, sleep and snooze functions work great and are easy to set. The Built-in charging tray has 2 USB ports, an auxiliary port, and cable management; it is the perfect place to dock, store, and charge our 2 iphones or my nook touch. Two suggestions for future versions (1) plugs should come from the back as opposed to sticking out the front (2) the cable management area has only 2 winders, it should have 3 2 for the USB charging cables and 1 for the auxiliary cable.

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This is a clock radio / alarm clock that also has 2 USB ports to charge your i-whatever, or anything that you charge with a USB cable. It is not a fancy stereo system docking station that charges and plays at the same time (though you can play your device with the line-in jack).

It's not fancy, but I use it every night both as an alarm clock for me and to charge 2 devices overnight... with teenagers we have a variety of iPhones / iPads / iPods in the house, and something always needs to be charged. 2 phones or iPods fit easily on the little rest area (cables stored underneath), or 1 iPad fits. As I said, I use it nightly, so it works for me.

PROS:

+ Charges 2 devices at once

+ Cables store underneath (though storage could be better)

+ Nothing elaborate; it's easy to set the time etc with this simple old-school style

+ Also a night light (light does not bother me at all)

+ Easy to find the off button (for the alarm) when in a stupor

CONS:

The cables pop out (to charge) in an awkward way, leaving a bump

Nothing elaborate, very old school

The LED display / night light may bother some (though you can turn it off)

BOTTOM LINE:

Some of my Cons are also my Pros; whether you like this or not depends on what you are looking for. If you just want a simple clock radio that can also charge your i-devices, this works! If you want good sound, or a docking station, or something attractive, you will be disappointed.

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The RCA RC117 Dual USB Charging Station Clock Radio is a squat, ugly black plastic brick with buttons and lights. The selling feature is supposed to be the ports for charging various USB devices and phones and cable management.

Let's start with the good points. If you listen at low volume, the sound is OK for clock radio, whether the source is FM or iPod. Though not really a good source for dedicated listening, this radio sounds OK for background while you are prepping food in the kitchen or sorting files in the office. The charging ports work OK, and the backlit display allows some variation from glaring brightness to off. Dual alarms and an easy-to-ready clock face are pluses (but certainly expected).

Now for some of the cons for this device. First, it is ugly; the buttons are tiny and hard to see. Larger buttons or a small LED halo around each would really prove helpful. The so-called cable management requires you to wrap up your cables around a couple of spools like you are tying a barge to a dock. (No, this radio does not come with any cables, so you will have to relocate yours or buy another set.) Once you have coiled your cables around the spools, you next have to thread them through them through an opening between the cheesy removable tray and the unit.

That tray itself is a real piece of work. It does not fit well or stay in place. It is basically a piece of heavy cardboard wrapped in some sort of nonskid fabric, and it is just plain ugly. Our radio is stationed in the kitchen, and I already imagine what any spill would do its removable surface for cable management.

Yes, it does work, and elegance is not a requirement. But for what you are getting here, a $20 asking price is about right in my opinion. USB and phone charges are not expensive, and the shortcomings and squatty toad-like looks of this device should give you pause.

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I bought this for the 2 USB charging ports and the AUX port thinking it was a full featured modern clock radio. I should have paid more attention to all the specs before ordering. It DOES NOT receive AM radio. It also does not have a battery backup or an "atomic clock" auto set feature, making it an unreliable device as a primary alarm clock.

This alarm clock has no backup battery. So if the power goes up, expect to be late for work like me.

Clearly cheaply made. Do not recommend this item at all.