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Makita New Jobsite Radio – MP3?

tatekata | Posted in Tools for Home Building on October 17, 2009 02:56am

My Bosch 18V Bluecore batteries are all dead again, and I’m thinking of scrapping the drills and getting the Makita combo set.  I use the Bosch jobsite radio, with a dock for my IPOD, but the dock has been banged around and hit so many times it finally broke off today…

I heard the new Makita radio has a plug-in for IPODs or MP3 players, but does it charge the IPOD as its playing?  My Bosch dock allows the IPOD to charge as it plays…..

SS

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Replies

  1. User avater
    FatRoman | Oct 17, 2009 03:53pm | #1

    I've got the white radio. It does have an ipod jack, but I don't believe it charges them while in use.

    I'll test it out today and let you know, though.

    'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

    View Image

  2. User avater
    basswood | Oct 17, 2009 03:57pm | #2

    I have the Makita for the jobsite and now I leave the Bosch in the shop. The Makita has an MP3 input on the outside and one inside the sealed battery compartment. It is nice to have the iPod hidden and away from dust or rain. The Makita does not charge batteries or the iPod. I posted a few pics in a thread about it:

    103173.1



    Edited 10/17/2009 8:59 am ET by basswood

  3. SpeedyPetey | Oct 17, 2009 07:00pm | #3

    I have a Bosch radio and use .mp3 cds. NO WAY I am keeping my $300 iPod sitting out on a job site.

    MP3 cd's hold a couple hundred songs. Keep a small case of them on hand and you have many hours of eclectic music.

    1. JulianTracy | Oct 17, 2009 07:31pm | #4

      I've had the Bosch radio for years - in fact, since it first came out. Talk about Beta testing!First one had #### reception and drained batteries, second one has a useless antenna and same reception but fixed the battery drain.Third one was a charm - fixed everything about it and had a remote.But the darn thing is too heavy and large.Now that I have the Makita, I find that I listen to music more -- it's just easier to pickup and turn on. The Bosch is more of a beast.And who cares about battery charging - the Bosch built-in charger seems like it took a couple hours, and when charging, the battery reception sucks.I have a 15minute Bosch charger, so I never used the radio charger.The Makita is simple and sounds good. Though the MP3 jack in the battery compartment is USELESS - when an LXT battery is installed, you cannot plug anything into that jack - what a joke.The ipod dock on the Bosch powerbox is cool though - I cut a 2" hole in the front of it to match the mode dial on my ipod.Now that I don't use the Bosch much on site, I'm tempted to remove the stupid roll cage from it and effectively make it 4" smaller in both directions.The Milwaukee is the best sounding radio I've used, the Makita gets a bit bassier when you open the battery door - I'm thinking of cutting in a small vent to act as a bit of a "subwoofer" opening on the back of the access door.What was Mak thinking when they came out with a radio without a MP3 port on it???? (green model...)JT

      1. SpeedyPetey | Oct 17, 2009 08:50pm | #5

        Excellent feedback Julian. Thanks!

      2. User avater
        basswood | Oct 17, 2009 11:29pm | #6

        "Though the MP3 jack in the battery compartment is USELESS - when an LXT battery is installed, you cannot plug anything into that jack - what a joke."JT,I agree that the design is flawed, but a simple RA jack fixes the problem.Bass

        1. JulianTracy | Oct 18, 2009 12:06am | #7

          That's a nice low-angle fitting you got there - the right angle fitting I tried still wouldn't work.JT

          1. User avater
            FatRoman | Oct 18, 2009 01:54am | #8

            I took a right angle one, shaved down the backside plastic and made it work in there.Don't like that I have to pull that out each time the battery needs to be charged, though. More planning from Makita would have gone a long way here.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

            View Image

    2. gfretwell | Oct 18, 2009 06:30pm | #15

      I am not sure why these things don't just have a SD card or thumb drive slot. I also don't understand why anyone would buy a $300 Ipod tho. You can get a Sansa for $40 that is better because it is not tied to a proprietary input format.
      I bought a JVC radio/CD/MP3 for my truck for $125 the other day that takes an SD card and a thumb drive.

      1. User avater
        mmoogie | Oct 19, 2009 04:11am | #18

        iPod is not tied to proprietary format. MP3 works fine on it. As does AAC, which is not a proprietary format either. Only thing it is tied to is iTunes as its synching software, and there are 3rd party options if you don't want to use iTunes either.People buy 300 dollar ipods because they can do a lot more than play music. They are pretty much pocket computers now. People who want a cheap iPod can get a shuffle for about 50 bucks.Steve

        Edited 10/18/2009 9:12 pm by mmoogie

  4. rez | Oct 18, 2009 06:33am | #9

    So your Bosch batteries haven't been ringing true again either?

    Did you get a worthwhile use out of them before they farted out or did it seem they died prematurely?

     

    1. User avater
      tatekata | Oct 18, 2009 01:19pm | #10

      They never really did have a good run time from the beginning.  I just like the size of the Bosch drill and impact driver.   Now I'm in a pinch, but I'm going to buy Makita next for sure.

      The problem is Makita only started an 18v line here in Japan, and the driver alone is almost double the price of what you can get it for in the US...so I'm going to have to import the set.....(they don't sell combos here either).....

       

      1. rez | Oct 18, 2009 04:26pm | #11

        They never really did have a good run time from the beginning.

        Noticed the same with my 18v Brute. Guess Lithium is the way to go. 

        1. User avater
          basswood | Oct 18, 2009 05:18pm | #12

          I kept my old Bosch (NiCad) stuff for cold weather work. Switched to Makita Lithium for nice weather and indoor work. The Bosch cordless mostly stays in the shop. Always nice to have a set at hand for shop work without running out to the work van, and good to have a back up too. Redundancy is good. :o)

          1. rez | Oct 18, 2009 05:20pm | #13

            I'm going to be in the market for a one of the cordless setup of drills and saws pretty soon.

             You have a recommendation? 

          2. User avater
            basswood | Oct 18, 2009 05:42pm | #14

            This is a nice kit:http://www.cpomakita.com/combo_kits/18_volt_combo_kits/lxt405.html

          3. rez | Oct 18, 2009 10:12pm | #16

            Wonder how long it will be before the manufacturers wise up and let the buyer pick out the tools he wants when buying a kit form like this? 

          4. lettusbee | Oct 19, 2009 12:28am | #17

            I've been wondering that too.  I need Cordless Circ saws, and cordless Sawzalls. 

            I already have too many cordless drills.  To get a good deal on a combo kit with both types of saws, I have to buy another drill that I don't need.  I've actually given away two cordless drills this year, and still have no use for another one. 

            Milwaukee, Makita, are you listening?

             

  5. User avater
    mmoogie | Oct 19, 2009 04:18am | #19

    I'm disappointed in the Makita LI driver I have. Have had the charger break three times, and the the transmission is going out for the second time after having been replaced less than 3 months ago. Now the batteries are dying after 2 1/2 years of use. I have my doubts about the LI batteries in cold climate.

    Don't know anything about the radio.

    Steve

    1. User avater
      tatekata | Oct 19, 2009 01:05pm | #20

      Hmm....  I never really had any problems with my Makitas in the past.....but I'm in Japan and the service here for Makita is outstanding....so it helps...

      I own quite a few Bosch tools, and all of them have problems.  My little Colt router had problems from the beginning, 18V cordless planer never worked well, then just up and died after almost no use....that's why I want to get away from Bosch...

      SS

      1. User avater
        FatRoman | Oct 19, 2009 02:10pm | #21

        You haven't seen over there that Makita is going to add a cordless planer to the LXT lineup, have you? I know sometimes they introduce them in Japan/Europe before we get them here in the States.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

        View Image

        1. User avater
          tatekata | Oct 19, 2009 02:28pm | #23

          Just looked at the Makita catalog I got a few weeks ago (Japanese).  They probably have over 30 plus tools for their 14.4v cordless line, everything from drills to re-bar cutters, chain-saws,  etc., but no planer!

          SS

      2. User avater
        mmoogie | Oct 19, 2009 02:16pm | #22

        I was pretty happy with the drill for two years, then the gearbox went out, and now it's out again. The charger problem is just a cheap fan that is incredibly noisy (squeals) then fails altogether. The batteries had lots of oomph when new. Only recently, after about 2 1/2 years of pretty hard use, are the batteries starting to weaken. It's to the point I can't use the drill in third gear. Just not enough torque anymore. And they have always been unhappy in the cold, which we have a lot of here in the NE U.S. I think they would be fine for a warmer climate.Steve

    2. rez | Oct 19, 2009 08:33pm | #26

      Great. Just when I think I can securely move over to Makita there's a bad report.

      Wonder if Bosch sells large wholesale of old merchandise to the internet sales companies and turnover their older batteries that way and if that would make a difference.

       Had a Bosch ni-cad battery that hard little use, and I do mean minimal, just up and die. Won't even hold a charge.

      And I'm anal about my tools. Place a drill down on a hot day and it's out of the sun kind of thing.

      Is Makita good with  their tool support?

      2 1/2 years would seem pretty good to me if in a fairly constant use pattern. 

      1. User avater
        IMERC | Oct 19, 2009 08:38pm | #27

        I'm seeing about 2-1/2 - 3 years of tool torment before they belly up....

        they owe you me and six others nothing... 

        Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

        WOW!!! What a Ride!

        Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

         

        "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

        1. rez | Oct 19, 2009 08:47pm | #28

          You talking about the batteries?

            

          1. User avater
            IMERC | Oct 19, 2009 08:49pm | #29

            yup... the Ni-Cads... there are cycle rated ya know...

            the Li's don't work well here in the winter... 

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!

            Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

             

            "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

      2. jc21 | Oct 19, 2009 09:08pm | #30

        "Is Makita good with  their tool support?"

        I've found their tech support over the phone good. Had an issue where the newer set with 2.6AH  NiMH batteries wouldn't hold a charge when I first got it. They said to cycle it through a few times and sure enough, that fixed it. On a couple of other things too they seem to know their stuff. One thing I'd check on is availability of a  service center. They've closed some of the factory ones including the one that was within driving distance to me. They were top notch and familiar with all the equipment including some the discontinued stationary equipment I used to have.

        "There can be no doubt that Socialism is inseparably interwoven with totalitarianism and the abject worship of the state…Socialism is in its essence an attack not only on British enterprise, but upon the right of ordinary men and women to breathe freely without having a harsh, clammy, clumsy tyrannical hand clasped across their mouth and nostrils"  -Winston Churchill 

      3. User avater
        mmoogie | Oct 20, 2009 06:27am | #31

        My local shop is an authorized makita repair shop. They swapped the charger three times without blinking, plus fixed the tranny on it at 2 years out. The warranty is for 3 years. I went in today about the latest tranny problem and they balked a little. Have to check with the big boss, who was not there at the time. 3 years seems like a very generous warranty to me. I guess 2 1/2 years out of the Li batteries is not unreasonable, but they are 100 bucks a pop to replace. I got better life out of my Panasonic NiMh batteries, but the drill disintegrated after 3 or so years of heavy use.I use my drill driver daily and abusively. Don't get me wrong, I like the Makita a lot, but it's not been as reliable as some of my previous guns. I'm sorry to hear the Bosch is less than stellar, I was thinking of maybe going that way for durability. To Makita's credit, this drill has fallen from 20-30 feet ALOT and not snapped anything. My buddy just dropped his Makita impact about 15 feet onto concrete and busted it. I had a TV dish installer at my house the other day. He dropped his Bosch about 15 feet onto my oil filler pipe and broke the bosch. Had to lend him my makita to finish the install. Lovin' my HDTV, BTW.Steve

        1. User avater
          FatRoman | Oct 20, 2009 01:04pm | #32

          You can get those batteries in a 2 pack and save a bit.

          Amazon has them for $132 and free shipping.

          You thought about using the compact ones for working up high? Might be easier to fit in your pocket / less likely to be dropped.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

          View Image

          1. User avater
            mmoogie | Oct 20, 2009 02:34pm | #33

            I've thought long and hard about going the compact route, but when I'm using the drill I'm usually using pretty hard. Nothing would really go in a pocket, I don't think. It would still have to clip to the belt, and there is where the failing is. It's always popping off the belt. I need some kind of retractable tether for the darn things.Steve

  6. jc21 | Oct 19, 2009 03:27pm | #24

    I've got the older BMR100 , the blue one......... bought, naturally of course, just before they came out with the white BMR100W with the input port. Would have held off had I known. Been an excellent radio, rock solid and tough - it's survived a couple of serious falls (one down a flight of stairs) with no harm done. Good sound and reception though not quite as good as my previous Milwaukee imho. It will run all day on a 14.4v 2.6 amp NiMH battery. The lack of charging isn't an issue for me ........ I have two sets of NiMH tools (4 batt. and 2 chargers). I've had a chance to use the Mak 18v Lithium ion drill and driver and have been impressed. Quick recharge, good run time, more power and lighter than my current 14.4v stuff. It's on my wish list once my present stuff wears out.

    "There can be no doubt that Socialism is inseparably interwoven with totalitarianism and the abject worship of the state…Socialism is in its essence an attack not only on British enterprise, but upon the right of ordinary men and women to breathe freely without having a harsh, clammy, clumsy tyrannical hand clasped across their mouth and nostrils"  -Winston Churchill 



    Edited 10/19/2009 8:28 am by jc21

    1. User avater
      tatekata | Oct 19, 2009 03:42pm | #25

      Yeah, I've heard the Makita is rock solid tough....not too worried about the radio though.  I hate Japanese radio......the wallpaper guys all tote their little radios in when they are doing the prep work and it annoys me to death....that's why my ipod is important, I play it all day on my Bosch radio, and the ipod recharges at the same time, making it continuous.  With the Makita radio, my ipod would die out pretty quickly....

       

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