My crew and I listen to the radio almost every day while building our custom decks and outdoor living spaces, but we get tired of all the commercials on the local radio stations. We can stream the music of our choice directly from my smartphone, but that forces me to plug it into the radio’s 3.5-mm auxiliary input and leave it with the radio. I’ve missed plenty of calls because I can’t get to my phone fast enough, and for privacy, I have to unplug the phone and walk away.
I recently bought Milwaukee’s new Bluetooth-enabled M18 jobsite radio/charger, which allows me to wirelessly stream content from my phone from up to about 100 feet away. But my older Bosch PB360S jobsite radio sounds better and delivers more complete jobsite coverage, so we often use it instead.
DeWalt’s DCR002 Bluetooth Radio Adaptor has solved our problem. The simple, compact receiver can plug into any radio equipped with a 3.5-mm auxiliary port (including our Bosch), so you can stream from your phone or other mobile device without tethering it to the radio. A single push button makes it easy to pair the adaptor with the mobile device and turn the unit on or off. An internal battery delivers about eight hours of runtime and takes about four hours to fully recharge. To recharge, you plug the adaptor into an AC outlet or a USB port using the accessories included with the kit. An LED indicator light tells you all you need to know about the charging and operating status. The adaptor also comes with a great docking clip that easily mounts to a radio.
According to DeWalt, the DCR002 has a range of up to 100 feet. I’ve found that I can keep my phone in my pocket or toolbag while moving around the jobsite. It doesn’t always stay connected when I go to the truck, but it’s easy to reestablish the connection. The adaptor costs $40 and comes with a two-year warranty and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Robert Shaw owns Colorado Deck and Framing, in Colorado Springs, Colo.
