Customer Reviews

Freeplay Jonta Flashlight

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, let me say, first of all, that this is a nicely built flashlight. It feels pretty good in the hand and doesn't look shabby in the least. That said, Freeplay has greatly exaggerated the shine time of this unit. With a full charge from the AC wall charger the longest duration of light on high power I could get was a bit less than fifteen minutes...far short of the two and a half hours they state. I returned the first Jonta I bought, thinking I had received a lemon. When the replacement arrived, however, the problem was actually a bit worse. This time I decided to take matters into my own hands and replaced the lousy stock 1300mAh NiMH pack with one rated at 2700mAh. Having done this, I now get the shine duration that Freeplay states this unit delivers out-of-box. I paid $45.99 for my Jonta. Had I paid full price, I would have been really torqued off. This experience has led me to believe that this will be the last Freeplay product I buy. I also have a Lifeline radio as well as a Baygen radio. They work fine. It is my opinion that the problem with Freeplay is that they do not seem to offer any support in the way of replacement parts for their products. For a company that advertises itself as being environmentally friendly, I find this unacceptable.

I was impressed with the amount of light it gives off being that it is an LED. I like the dual light level settings. However it is really big! Too big! I think that may be due to the dynamo size. Also, the time they state for 10 minutes of light with the crank is bologna! I cranked it for 2 minutes and got about 45 seconds of light on the higher setting. No where near the 10 minutes of light for a 1 minute crank on the dynamo.

We use these flashlights for staff on safari in eastern Africa and have had the early model for 5 years. They are sturdy and offer good light, very good run time and quick recharge from AC. This product is very well thought out but most people will want the international (nice feature) AC charger that no longer comes with the unit. Hand cranking, while effective, is not as easy as it seems and the faceplate can lift from the body with extended cranking. The new units often do not start up without holding down the starter switch. Annoying when you are in a hurry. It does not keep a charge when stored.

Good light. But looses its charge when not being used. Never have to worry about dead batteries. and is plenty bright. I play with it for fun and exercise.

Length:: 1:41 Mins

Normally I dislike doing a bad review, but I was so disappointed by this product that I felt the need to warn my fellow consumers. It might work for you but who knows? I indeed had a defective product. Feel free to view the video and decide for yourself. Thanks

THE UNIT IS PLENTY BRIGHT QUALITY BUILT FEELS GOOD IN THE HAND / THAT SAID:
-1- NO INSTRUCTIONS/MANUAL IN THE BUBBLE PACK / YOU NEED TO DOWNLOAD A COPY FROM FREEPLAY
-2- AC/DC CHARGER DOES NOT COME WITH THE UNIT /
-3- WHEN YOU READ THE DOWNLOAD SHEETS YOU FIND OUT THAT THE JONTA IS DISCONTINUED
-4- YOU REALLY NEED THESE SHEETS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE WORKINGS OF THE JONTA
-5- I PURCHASED THE JONTA FOR TWO REASONS / I WANTED A TOP OF THE LINE MAXIMUM RELIABILITY UNIT AND
-6- THE FLASH SIGNAL VISBILITY 3KM = 1.84 MILES
-7- MY PERCEPTION OF HOW JONTA WORKS / AND HOW THE JONTA REALLY WORKS / LIKE NIGHT AND DAY
-8- AFTER A FULL 6 - 7 HOUR AC/DC WALL CHARGE I'M PUTING JONTA TO THE TEST
-9- FLASH SIGNAL / I'M THINKING THE FLASH WILL CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS UNTIL THE 'JUICE' RUNS LOW
THE FLASH RAN FOR ABOUT 15 MINTUES AND THEN THE UNIT TURNED ITSELF OFF
I MAY BE MISSING SOMETHING AND A REPLY FROM ANOTHER JONTA OWNER COULD HELP

8-1-2010 UPDATE / MY SAGA WITH THE JONTA................

-1- AFTER A FULL WALL CHARGE / THE NEXT MORNING NO SHINE / SO MUCH FOR BATTERY CAPACITY AS
WRITTEN IN THE MANUAL / 75% AFTER ONE MONTH / 55% AFTER TWO MONTHS /
-2- NEXT CLAIM / 10 MINTUES OF SHINE WITH ONE MINTUE OF CRANKING / 7 MINTUES OF SHINE
ENERGY SAVING MODE / FULL POWER SHINE 1 MINTUE / FLASH MODE 2 MINTUES
-3- ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE: YOU CAN 'WALL CHARGE' THE BATTERY 500 TIMES (CYCLES)
IF YOU DID THIS 1 X PER WEEK = 9.6 YEARS //// 1 X PER MONTH = 41.6 YEARS
-4- OVERALL I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THE JONTA //// ITS MY PERCEPTION OF HOW JONTA WOULD WORK ////

8-4-2010 UPDATE / CONCLUSION

-1- I PUT JONTA ON THE WALL CHARGER FOR 47 HOURS
-2- IN ENERGY SAVING MODE I GET (1 HOUR AND 40 MINTUES OF SHINE) NOT 12 HOURS AS SOLD
-3- JONTA CLEARLY DOES NOT LIVE UP TO ITS BILLING.......BUY A BUNCH....WHAT AN ORDEAL
-4- FROM NO INSTRUCTIONS TO NO CHARGER TO GOING ON LINE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION
THEN THE FINAL BLOW 1 HOUR AND 40 MINTUES OF SHINE.........
-5- I'M STILL GOING TO KEEP MY TWO UNITS / VERY UNHAPPY WITH FREEPLAY.