Sanford Rechargeable 3-Band AM/FM/SW Radio with Fan and LED Night Light - SF1017PR

Three things you actually want during a blackout, in one rechargeable unit: radio, a fan, and a light. The Sanford SF1017PR covers AM, FM and shortwave — and shortwave is the band that matters when you want national or international news and the local FM transmitter is down, which is precisely when a power cut tends to happen. Its built-in fan moves air on a hot night with no mains supply, and the LED night light means you are not hunting for a torch. It also takes USB, AUX, TF card and Bluetooth, so it plays your own music as easily as broadcast radio, and a 360° antenna with a built-in speaker gives it the reception and volume to be genuinely useful rather than a novelty. This is the unit that lives on a shelf and earns its keep every outage.

Specifications

Buying guide

Buy this as emergency equipment rather than as a music system, and it makes complete sense. The combination — radio, fan, light, rechargeable — is aimed squarely at power cuts and places without reliable supply, and shortwave is the feature that distinguishes a serious radio from a cheap one, since SW carries when local FM does not. If your priority is actually sound quality for music, the dedicated Bluetooth speakers in the range do that better. Keep it charged: an emergency device that is flat when needed is worthless, so top it up monthly whether or not you use it. Position the 360-degree antenna clear of walls and metalwork for best reception, and note that the fan will draw down the battery considerably faster than the radio alone, so budget runtime accordingly during a long outage. Store it somewhere everyone in the house knows to look.

How it compares

Against the SF2212PS and SF2214PS speakers, those are better for music while this is better for an outage — fan, light and shortwave are what you want when the power is off. Compared with a torch plus a separate radio, one charged device covers both. Against a rechargeable fan, that moves far more air but gives you no radio or light. Against a phone's radio app, shortwave and a real speaker work with no data and no drain on your phone.

Frequently asked questions

Why does shortwave matter?
SW carries national and international broadcasts when local FM transmitters are down — which is often exactly when you have a power cut and want news.

How long does it run?
The radio alone lasts considerably longer than running the fan, which draws the battery down much faster. Plan accordingly during a long outage, and keep it topped up monthly so it is never flat when needed.

Is it good for playing music?
It plays via Bluetooth, USB, AUX and TF card, but the dedicated speakers in the range sound better. Buy this for outage readiness, not as a music system.

Do you deliver outside Nairobi?
Yes — same-day delivery within Nairobi and countrywide shipping to Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret and beyond, with payment by M-Pesa or on delivery.

Pairs well with

• Sanford Rechargeable Bluetooth Speaker with FM Radio, USB, TF Card and AUX - SF2212PS
• Sanford Rechargeable Bluetooth Portable Speaker with TWS Pairing and LED Light - SF2214PS
• Sanford 5W Rechargeable Emergency LED Bulb with 40 SMD LEDs, AC/DC and B22 & E27 Fittings - SF699LED

Available at WIMU Kitchen, Nairobi. Same-day Nairobi delivery · countrywide shipping (Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret) · pay by M-Pesa or on delivery. Questions? WhatsApp +254 758 157 035.