H202 AM/FM Weather Alert Waterproof Shower Radio, Floats

Over the past, I would guess, 15 years we have had two of the Sony shower radios. They were great. They lasted a really long time, the sound quality was good and the batteries lasted forever. So when the second one broke recently I went onto Amazon looking for another one. I was intrigued when I saw the Sangean shower radio offered. It had great ratings and had all of the same features as the Sony. BUT it also had Bluetooth capabilities. This is huge. I like to listen to my iPhone when I'm in the shower but I don't want to get it wet, of course. I used to resort to putting my phone in a baggie and hoping there wouldn't be a leak. But the Sangean solved this problem. Connecting to BT is easy and the sound is very clear. The other reason I like the Sangean over the Sony is that all of the controls are on the FACE of the Sangean. On the Sony they are on top. I'm 5'4" tall. With the radio hanging from the shower head it is impossible for me to see the top of the Sony without moving it. I can clearly see the Sangean controls without standing on my tiptoes and moving the radio out of position. Some other positives are that we get good reception on the unit (we are in a mountain area) and it has a little light on the side. Not sure why I need a light on the side of my shower radio but there it is. I guess if the power goes out while I'm showering I've got it covered. There is also an emergency siren but the button is located on the side of the unit. If I fall in the shower there is no way I will be able to reach all the way up to the shower head to activate the little siren. Maybe I could use it to summon my husband to bring me a towel if I do the laundry and forget to put a fresh towel out! I guess it is a "spouse summoner", other than that, I have no idea. :-) The only thing I would change is to make the readout on the clock darker and easier to see. The Sony was better at that. I can't to speak to how long it will last. We have had other Sangean products and they have lasted a long time. I expect this will be the same. ***UPDATE*** it’s October 2023 and this radio is still working. :-) ***UPDATE*** it finally died in November 2025. It lasted 14 years. Worth it. We bought the same thing to replace it.

Update, June 2022: Nearly six years. All below still applies, but I will report that the button sensors are now getting a bit worn and sometimes have to be pushed more than once. I'll be honest - I usually read 5 star reviews last. Many review a product when they've just gotten it and are excited by the new purchase. When I review products, I review them after I've owned them for a good while. I bought this specifically to be a shower radio. If that's what you're after, I'll say again nearly two years after my four year review that this is the product to buy. ****** At this writing, it's July, 2020. I bought this item in July 2016 because I enjoy listening to radio and podcasts during bathroom time. It's mounted in my shower stall below the shower head and above the shower handles. I found I couldn't get quality sound no matter how loud I turned up the radio outside the shower. This radio has taken a shower with me every day since then and it still works as well as the day I bought it. I spent around 80 bucks for it and it might be my favorite all-time Amazon item purchase. I recently purchased a second that I keep over the kitchen sink. I remember the questions I had in my mind when I bought it so I'll share what I've learned after 4 years of use: Q: Will this radio really stay on the wall in my shower when I'm constantly getting it wet? A: Yes. Totally. I've had it for four years. I use a handheld shower sprayer. I've drenched it for four years. It's firmly stuck to the wall in my shower and has never come loose. Q: Won't the batteries or components get wet? A: No. I've drenched it. The batteries don't get wet. Ever. The display is as prominent as the day I first used it. The buttons work fine. I have no worries that it will suddenly short out. It works great. Q: Even if the batteries stay dry, how long will they last? A: No kidding - FOREVER!...well, close. This might be the most impressive aspect of this item. I put cheap, dollar store batteries in this radio and it's my constant companion almost every time I go into the bathroom. Somehow, the batteries last for many months. Seriously, don't worry about battery life for this radio. It's amazing how long they last. Also, there's a battery strength indicator on the display - when it gets to one bar, it means you've got at least a couple weeks. There's no reason to buy a plug-in power supply or worry. Just buy some D batteries at the dollar store twice a year and you'll be fine. You'll be in the shower and actually say to yourself - "How the heck are those batteries lasting so long?!" Q: How's the volume? A: The volume is good. The volume control goes up to 30. I have a hearing issue, especially with background noise, because I'm more than 50% deaf in one ear. For radio, I set the volume to 20 or 21 while in the shower and I have no problem hearing anything with the water running full blast. Occasionally, the volume isn't so good when picking up streaming over Bluetooth. This has more to do with how the source material was recorded than the quality of the radio volume. If you're looking to blast music for a serious bathroom jam-out session, this is the probably the best you'll find as shower radios go - just look at the ratings of the others on Amazon. Q: Does the Bluetooth work? A: Yes. The Bluetooth connects as well as it does for any device I own. Q: How's the radio reception? A: I live relatively close to a small-ish city, in a good-sized metropolitan area. I listen to radio a great deal and I have no issues picking up the more popular local AM or FM stations in the nearby city. Radio reception is dependent on a variety of factors, so I can only say that I'm happy with it. This radio is as good, or better, than any radio I've owned when it comes to radio reception. Q: What about the emergency alarm feature? A: In the four years I've owned this radio, it's gone off maybe three or four times. When it's gone off, I've already known why it was going off - major storm coming in, etc. If the radio isn't within 20 feet of you, I doubt the alert would wake you up. If you're worried that alerts might be going off all the time, I wouldn't worry about it. If you have the opposite concern, and are wondering if the radio will alert you to major events before the internet and media, the answer is that it won't. The alerts would only be useful to someone with no contact with any kind of external media. Q: The clock is battery operated, so does it keep time? A: Yup. Unless you entirely kill the batteries, the clock will keep accurate time right up to the last breath of the batteries. Q: Whats the deal with the emergency light? A: In the event that your power should go out while you're in the bathroom, the radio has a flashlight built into the side. The light power is like a flashlight you'd buy for a buck or two, but much better than a cheap LED light. So far, I've never had to use it for real, but I push the button every now and again to see that it works. Any negatives? Yes. There's a minor design flaw. When you're in the shower, splish-splashing around, you occasionally find that what you're listening to has suddenly been muted. This is because the grates over the speaker can get filled with water when hit with water at a precise angle. This is easily fixed by simply tipping the radio and letting the water drain out. If you have a hand sprayer in your shower, you can also just give the speaker a zap of high thrust water. Also, about a year ago, while changing batteries,the spring in the battery compartment between the battery and the contacts came off. I simply position it back in place when replacing the batteries and it works fine. Final tips: Read the instruction manual. If you want a shower radio, this radio is a no-brainer. Buy it. UPDATE JAN 2026: The original radio I bought in 2016 still mostly works. It did eventually come unstuck from the shower wall not too long after I wrote the initial review in 2020 and updated in 2022. I now hang it over the shower head with the provided strap. I have the preset buttons set to two stations and it seems that the "1" button isn't working, so I came here looking for a new one. I bought the original for around $80 in 2016. I have the Bluetooth version, and at this writing, it costs $147. If my experience was exclusive to the radio I purchased in 2016, I would still buy it again, even though the price has significantly increased. However, I bought a second one... The second version that I purchased of this radio fell off the wall not too long after I purchased it. I still use it but have been unable to duplicate the "stuckness" of the one I first purchased with store brought products and it just fell off again. To my knowledge, Sangean doesn't offer replacement sticker-uppers. Also, the second radio has an irritating tendency to randomly play at a significantly decreased volume. I turn the volume up, turn it off and on again, switch stations, etc., same issue. Then it randomly goes back to full volume. It happens enough that I'm tired of trying to troubleshoot it. And this radio is newer, has remained dry, and did not take ten years of showers with me. I'm not going to give lesser stars because the first radio was absolutely fantastic but based on my experience with the newer radio, it may be that the quality has gone downhill while the price has increased significantly.

I got this radio after trying out and returning a Moxie Bluetooth showerhead because: 1. Most often I'm listening to morning news/traffic in the shower, not just music from my phone; 2. You can control the volume and change stations on this; you can't on Moxie without reaching out of the shower and getting your phone wet, and you'll want to change the volume when you turn the water on/off; 3. This radio will also come in handy for weather alerts/news in the event of a power outage, or for listening to the game while grilling on the patio (even if it rains); 4. It costs half as much as a Moxie, while providing the same Bluetooth feature PLUS radio (and silly light/siren); 5. I trust Sangean after enjoying two other outstanding radios of theirs. The sound on this is really good; it might even be a bit better than my RCR-22 clock radio. The reception is outstanding! Although it is possible to hold it in a certain position that introduces static on some stations in some rooms/in the shower, that static is easily eliminated by deploying the dangling wire antenna (although I don't need it to get our somewhat spotty NPR station even in the shower). Unsurprisingly (it's a Sangean), this radio even picks up all my stations just fine in the basement, where my Onkyo receiver is spewing out garbled, staticky noise even with a 6-foot dipole hung on the wall. And you know what else? Waterproof = drool proof! So I love letting my 1-yo son bop along to the music without worrying he's going to wreck the radio. So far it seems pretty bang-proof, too, because he does like banging on things. And it sure makes bath time more fun! Just use the included strap to hang the H-202 from your rubber whale-protected faucet and let the kids rock out with the soap out (see photo)! Father & son agree: we love this radio! Cons? It's kinda big and klunky -- maybe it's so large so that overall it's less dense than water, hence it floats -- but it still fits behind my sink (barely) for shaving. I wish you could play/pause/skip tracks via Bluetooth control from the radio while in the shower (my WR-22 can do that from its buttons); you'd think that feature would be included at this price point even though it's cheaper than the WR-22, but I guess we're paying for waterproofness. I don't really miss the not-included AC adapter; Sangean includes an order form in the box for one (and it's cheap), but I think I'll get more than enough life out of the batteries.

Let's get my nit-pick out of the way. This radio is replacing a Sony ICF-C763, a little softball-sized radio with a brilliant blue display, a decent nightlight, and pretty good sound quality considering the unit's size (including its tiny 1-inch, rear-firing speaker). This radio is quite different -- different form factor, larger size, less visible display (LCD vs. LED). I'm OK with all of that, but in trade for the extra size, I'd expect slightly better sound quality. Instead, it's somewhat flat, not tinny though missing that richness that I know some radios this size are capable of at standard small-room listening volumes. On the positive side, this radio seems to suck signals in loud and clear, though we have nearly line-of-sight to the large transmitter tower across the bay, so we're normally not challenged to tune in any number of local broadcasts. But the sound, despite my complaint of it lacking some fullness, is sharp and detailed. The radio as shipped is expected to run on two D-cell batteries. Although this radio is for our bathroom, it'll never see the inside of the shower, so the 3-volt AC adapter was an automatic add-on purchase for me. I was disappointed this wasn't included with a radio at this price point, but truth be told, it was the built-in power adapter of my aforementioned Sony radio that finally doomed that unit to the trash pile, so I'm happy this radio won't have to suffer a similar fate. The Bluetooth mode was the selling point for me, and I am pleased to report it works very well. Pairing was a breeze -- no PIN required -- and it's automatic. Bluetooth mode is in the rotation when pressing the Band button: FM, AM, then Bluetooth. This is quite a nice alternative to keeping around an extra Bluetooth portable speaker, especially since this one is designed to survive in wet environments. All functions on the radio are pushbutton; there are no dials. Even volume is push up / push down. This makes manual tuning a drawn-out process, especially since the radio doesn't skip even-numbered decimals. But the preset buttons are all laid out in one row, and there are no multiple presets per button, nor FM1/FM2 to contend with (blessing or curse depending). The built-in rotating shower hook is cool only because it's excellent engineering. It's unfortunate I'll probably never have a need for it, but I'm not going to go so far as to complain that it takes up unneeded space. Same for the built-in flashlight, which is one good reason to keep batteries in this radio even if it is being run on AC power.

I received the H202 today. My intent is to use this radio outdoors mostly on my covered porch when we grill and spending time enjoying the outdoors. I have MANY very good quality radios, but since the location where I want to use this radio suffers from a LOT of electrical noise and interference, my success with listening to radio has been very frustrating and disappointing. The plethora of noisy switching power supplies and dimmers in my home make listening to AM radio VERY difficult. So far I have spent three or four hours trying out each function and listening to the H202. WOW! The reception is excellent! This radio outperforms “Long Distance” and “Super Radios” by a wide margin! I have other Sangean radios that perform very well on AM, but this radio really is exceptional. It manages to eliminate noise so it makes listening to AM possible where others have failed. The audio quality is very good for voice. Listening to the news (ACK!) and talk radio is crystal clear. It is OK for music, just don’t expect high fidelity. The Bluetooth feature opens the door to a whole world of clear noise free listening via streaming from my iPad or iPhone. The build quality is excellent on this radio. The buttons and controls are intuitive and easy to see and to use. I fully expect that it will be able to stand up to the temperature fluctuations and the humidity of an outdoor environment for a very long time. As a long time radio nut with quite a collection or a wide variety of radios over the past 50 or so years, I am VERY impressed with my new Sangean H202. It certainly does suit my needs very well, and then some!

Disclosure, this is a review from the recipient, my girlfriends daughter. It was a graduation gift. She is very happy with the quality, versatility and overall product. I have the H201 and I love it, especially bsecause it picks up stations from very fat away. Also, the sound quaity is very good, actually excellent compared to all shower radios, but if you're expecting Bose quality for $90 and being waterproof, then again. The radio can improve by haveing multiple Bluetooth syncs and an SD card reader, so no device is needed. Would we buy the item again? In a heartbeat. I hope this helps. 'This product is fantastic! Does exactly what it says it does. Plays any station on either FM or AM radio with great sound quality. As well as a very easy and fast connection for bluetooth. I connect my ipod almost everytime I want to listen to my playlist while showering and it's wonderful! I can control everything from my ipod and have anything play on radio which is very convenient. The battery life is just amazing and I've had this item since August! I just put any ordinary 2 D batteries, not the sony brand or duracell brand, and the battery life is still full. As for being waterproof, it just makes this item 10x better. I definitely recommend this item to anyone who loves music and loves singing in the shower :)'

This waterproof radio is easy to set up and use, sounds great and has a clear display. The Bluetooth is easy to use and the radio stations come in very clear. I love that I can pick the radio up off the counter and bring it into the shower with me. If I loose interest in something I am listening to, I can change stations even with wet, soapy hands. The radio has a very secure handle, so no worries about drops or accidents. I'm not sure what the "suction power" category above is about. This model does not come with a suction attachment. It does have a cradle of sorts that you can screw into a wall, but I just leave it on the bench when I am in the shower. The volume is plenty loud to be heard over the running water in the shower. I am VERY happy with this purchase.

I have used this radio long enough to say that those 2 D cell batteries just go on and on. It has the sound I would expect from a bigger speaker. It is simplicity itself to tune and set the buttons. I like the built-in light. I have had no use for it but it's there when I need it. It's a radio I can count on when the electric power fails because those batteries will keep it going for a long time. It looks good, has a good display.. I have used my Sangean WR-1 for fourteen years with complete satisfaction, so I had high expectations for this one and I was not disappointed. 11 October 2018 I have used this radio at least a couple hours a day, nearly every day. The batteries finally failed last week! That is impressive battery life. I really used them up but the reception was still good when the batteries were old, old, owuld. It was finally time to replace them when there was not enough power to keep the radio on--it just shut down for lack of power. Advice to new users: become familiar with the light switch so you can operate it in the dark. I had to visit my electrical panel last night and spent a little time feeling around for the switch. It is a very useful and bright light.

Excelente producto. Es el segundo que compro pues mi hijo (12) siempre lo sacaba de mi baño para usarlo cuando se bañaba. Ante tanto uso, decidí mejor comprarle el suyo y ambos somos felices. Él solo lo usa con el enlace a Bluetooth y yo lo uso tanto en Radio como con Bluetooth. Muy recomendable.

Best shower radio out there! Great reception, good sound, batteries last forever, and feels like it's built very solid. Only con is really just it's big size... probably the biggest shower radio out there as well. I highly recommend it though.

Got this as a gift. I love it so much. I use it at work, outside, in the shower, and in the kitchen.

This radio is awesome. Loaded with features. I use it in the shower everyday. The D batteries last a long time. Would purchase again. My only reservation is the am reseption is a little week but I live is a stucco house wrapped in wire mesh.

Heavier and larger than lower cost alternatives. Excellent quality. Bluetooth pairing to my iPhone was seamless. All functions work well. Includes multiple good quality carry/hanging materials. Amazon customer service and “prime one day shipping” arrived on time and in perfect condition (Alberta).