I tried one of these. I found the crowded dial a bit cumbersome, too. But it
does have a fine-tuning knob which is great and the frequency accuracy seemed
to be quite good.

It's recommended that the rechargable battery not be used until it's really
needed. Infrequent use of rechargables seems to shorten their lives.

I have so many things, radio and otherwise, that use the standard cells that I
believe I could go a long time with what's in everything and what I have as
spares.

I seem to recall a radio that had a clock drive in it that was woulnd up and
then drove the generator, thus not needing a battery. Weren't these things made
for the African bush?

Bill, K5BY