GPX TVWB534SP 5 in. Portable TV

Judge not by the size of this little 5 inch black and white portable TV/radio/flash light/do it all electronic gizmo by GPX!! I wondered or really underestimated the ability for it to pick up much more than static. But to my surprise this thing really works!! And it's super easy to work...even my mom can do it!!

WHY WE MADE THE PURCHASE
Recently, or rather only a week prior to this review, my family and I were basically running from some horrid storms. Some may laugh in the face of a storm, and for those who chase storms..oh you're mighty brave, but I've lived through a tornado and I really don't want to do it again.

Knowing severe weather was approaching we decided to leave our home which is built at the edge of a cotton field as are the majority of subdivisions in our county. We headed for one of our local malls which just happens to have an underground tornado shelter. As we spent most of the evening browsing through stores, we passed a display in a Belk department store with only 3 of the GPX Portable TV's left. Knowing that closing time would soon come, we decided this GPX Portable TV might just come in handy, not just for this particular evening of stormy weather, but for future power outages and even camping trips!!

Once the mall closed, we were still not out of danger for severe weather. In the car, my husband opened the GPX box and since the TV came equipped with a DC adapter, he plugged the TV right into the cigarette lighter and BAM..we had a local TV channel right away. I was quite shocked at how clear the channel came in. Although the screen is black and white and only 5 inches, it still functions nicely and serves the purpose well.

A few days later we plugged the GPX into an outlet at home using the AC adapter which was included. I worried that we wouldn't be able to pick up any local TV or radio stations considering that we live in a remote/rural area. Well, again I underestimated the power of this product, because with a little adjusting of the TV/Radio Tuning knob and a tilt of the external telescopic antenna we had our choice of several local TV and radio stations!! The GPX has a good sound overall and again, I'm very impressed with the selection of stations and the great reception!! I simply couldn't believe that for $29.99 we purchased a product that actually worked well or beyond my expectations.

ABOUT THE GPX PORTABLE TELEVISION/RADIO/LANTERN/ETC
So now that I've filled you in on my story as to why, I guess now you would like to know more about the product. Right? Thought so. : ) The GPX stands at approx 11in(H) X9in(L)X5in(W). Made of plastic, the face of the GPX is black, with a 5 inch black and white TV (which has vertical hold, contrast, and brightness controls) and removable flashlight. The body of the GPX is white and all the buttons/knobs are bright orange. Again, on the front of the product you will find an emergency siren (when it sounds the flashlight will blink), the release button for the flashlight, the power switch for the TV and AM/FM Radio, the UHF, VH & VL button, the volume control and a headphone jack. The unit also has an instant weather band receiver that picks up weather alerts and storm warnings, a thermometer and a compass perfect for those who hike & camp!! This GPX product also has a two way adjustable fluorescent lantern located on the back which gives off plenty of light. Although the flashlight is not extremely bright it does put off enough light to see where your are going or focus on a specific spot close up. The GPX can also be carried by the molded carrying handle on top or by the (included) removable shoulder strap. It is light, weighing in at around 4 pounds.

You will also find that this GPX unit has an External Antenna Jack, Audio/Video Jacks, and a Recharge Control. Although an AC adapter and AC cigarette lighter adapter are included this unit will also work off battery power as well. The main unit (TV/Radio) requires 9 C-size batteries. You can choose between regular batteries or rechargeable batteries which can be recharged in the unit using the Recharge switch. The flashlight works the same way. It takes 4 AA batteries, either regular or rechargeable and again, rechargeable batteries can be charged in the unit simply by placing the Recharge switch in the Torch position. As far as battery life, I have yet to find out just how many hours of continuous play we get out of this product simply because I haven't owned it long enough. However, a sales clerk made a great suggestion and said, if your batteries are dead, just use your DC adapter and plug it into your car. Guess that's a thought.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
Model: TVWB534SP
Color: Black and White with orange knobs
AM/FM tuner: yes
TV: 5 inches, black and white
Weather band receiver: yes, instant
CD player: NO
Cassette deck: No
Extras: Flashlight, lantern, siren, compass, thermometer
Flashlight detail: Removable, built-in charger, runs on 2 ni-cad batteries
Lantern detail: 2-way adjustable fluorescent beam
Clock: No
Display: NO
Power: AC adapter (included), DC cigarette lighter adapter (included), or batteries (not included)
Battery type: 9 C-size (not included)
Water-resistant: No
Heat-resistant: No
Built-in speaker(s): Yes
Audio/video input: Yes
Audio/video cords: No
Headphone jack: Yes
Warranty: 90 days parts and labor

WHAT I THINK OVERALL
So overall for the money I think this is a really great product. Unfortunately at times we are all faced with a reason to need some type of back up TV/Radio, whether it's due to bad weather, natural disasters, power outages, or just for fun like tailgating or camping!! However, I now like having the security of a back up TV during inclement weather simply because I can see a radar and where a storm is headed verses relying only on a radio for news casts.

Also, this super electronic do it all gizmo is so easy to work. There's really nothing to it. All you do is tune in the stations or press a button to turn on a light. No thick manual to read or tons of crazy buttons to figure out, it's just simple technology!!

Are there any cons to this product? Well, as of now, not any major ones, I'm quite happy with our purchase. If I wanted to be really nitty-gritty about it all I would say the flash light could be a little brighter and the TV could be color...but for $29.99 I'm not going to complain. Besides, it serves its purpose quite well!! In fact, I thought this was such a great and needed product that I purchased one for my mother and my in-laws. So, you could say that I highly recommend it!!

For more information on GPX products you can visit their web site www.gpx.com