Emergency/Weather radio?

[msdamato]

What do you have if any? I've been looking and there are a ton out there but I'm sckeptical of most.

Example: Amazon.com: Ambient Weather WR-111B Emergency Solar Hand Crank AM/FM/NOAA Digital Radio, Flashlight, Cell Phone Charger with NOAA Certified Weather Alert & Cables: Home & Kitchen

 

[NewGunGuy]

I have some like that from Cabelas and L.L. Bean. I have also looked at the Coleman one that walmart has that is a lantern and radio. You can even get the ones that you use for the home to measure everything and they can have the weather alerts on them also, but remember you do get what you pay for with these and you have to watch the hand cranks as they do break! I'm pretty set with these I think, so now it's time to start looking for a good scanner/CB/ham Radio for extreme emergencies.

Charles.

 

[mclina]

I've got one of these, and I have given several to family members.

Emergency Essentials - Kaito? Voyager? (Black)

I've sat in my basement and listened to it for a while, but I haven't really had occassion to 'use' it. It does power up pretty quickly with the crank.

I've got a CB in my car that we use on road trips to listen to truckers. It mostly comes in handy after you are already stuck in traffic, for entertainment purposes. Those truckers can be hilarious.

 

[newportri]

Look at Grundig or Eton radios, they make good quality and are not too expensive either.

 

[Kid Presentable]

i got an Eton, think it was around 40 or 50 bucks. used it the last couple years during major storms. pretty awesome. although forget trying to charge an iphone on that thing. gonna look into other options for that.

Solarlink FR370 | Eton

this one is along the lines of the one i have, at a higher price.

 

[a73elkyss]

What do you have if any? I've been looking and there are a ton out there but I'm sckeptical of most.

Example: Amazon.com: Ambient Weather WR-111B Emergency Solar Hand Crank AM/FM/NOAA Digital Radio, Flashlight, Cell Phone Charger with NOAA Certified Weather Alert & Cables: Home & Kitchen

Having a radio like this is critical during emergency's. Good decision to purchase one, whichever one you decide on.

I have this exact radio and it does indeed work as stated. The Amazon reviews are fairly accurate (the review by "Jet" dated January 30, 2012 is pretty spot on from my experience). I've had very good luck with mine. I did also purchase the accessory kit Ambient Weather WR-POWER-KIT Emergency Power Kit for Ambient Weather Radio Models WR-111, WR-333, WR-334 "The kit allows you to connect to your computer USB port, automobile DC port, or AC port, so you are never without charging options. Includes a spare battery for additional emergency back up support." Kinda covers all the bases.

Remember to go to Commonwealth Second Amendment, Inc. and press the "Shop Amazon" button if you decide to purchase anything from Amazon. Every little bit helps the cause.

 

[Business]

I got the one that ll bean puts out for like 50 bucks

works pretty good I have used it to charge dead cell phones enough to make a call and use as a radio when power goes out and you need something to kill the silence, has good reception. its a little bulky to make good use of the flashlight but its bright enough to light up a room if you leave it on the night stand

 

[OCB]

I got an Eton microlink a couple of years ago ($30?). hand crank and small solar panel for charging. Fortunately haven't had the need to use it during an emergency, but I fire it up ever now and then and it seems to work pretty well.

 

[FrugalFannie]

UV-5R_UV-5R_Amateur Radio_Baofeng

 

[Radio]

The Ultimate Bug Out Radio


FT-817


Technical Specifications
RX Freq coverage: 100 kHz-30 MHz, 50 MHz-54 MHz, 76 MHz-108 MHz (WFM), 108 MHz-154 MHz, 420 MHz-450 MHz
TX Freq coverage: 160 - 6 Meters, 2 Meters, 70 Centimeters (Amateur bands only), 5.1675 MHz Alaskan Emergency Frequency
Power consumption: 13.8 V DC @ transmit 2A, @ receive 450mA. *Operating voltage range: within 8 -16V (AA alkanine batteries: 12V; Nicad battery: 9,6V)
Tuning steps: 100 Hz AM, FM, WFM; 10 Hz SSB, CW switchable
Dimensions 13.5 x 4 x 16.8 cm
Weight appx. 1.2 kg with alkaline batteries and flex antenna
Emission: CW, SSB, AM, FM, Digital mode
Power output: 5W (SSB,CW,FM), 1.5W (AM, carrier) @ 13.8V
Carrier suppression: better than -40dB below rated output
Unwanted sideband suppression: better than -60dB below peak output
Spurious: better than – 40dB below peak output
Distortion: better than -31dB below peak output
Transmitter freq response: 350 – 2700 Hz (-6dB)
Stability: ±0.3 ppm/1 hour @25 °C, after warmup
Ant output impedance: 50 Ohms unbalanced (front BNC connector, rear UHF (SO-238) connector)
Microphone output impedance: 200-10k Ohms (Nominal: 600 Ohms) *Receive sensitivity: 100 kHz – 29.999 MHz continuous better than 0.7 microV for S/N 10dB
Image rejection: HF/50 MHz: 70 dB, 144/430 MHz: 60 dB
IF rejection: -60dB (all freq)
Selectivity: -6 dB 2.2 kHz, -60dB 4.5 kHz
Audio output: 1 W @ 10% THD, 8 Ohms

 

[Hiltonizer]

I got an Eton $30 job, can't recall the model. Nice little radio.

 

[rommel]

ULTIMATE Dynamo 2-Way Radio with LED Light

 

[Projectile]

The FT-817 can't receive NOAA frequencies, unless you do modifications.

I would opt for a Yaesu VX-3R, it is a great radio that is smaller than a pack of cigs, and even if you are not a ham it you can use it to listen to local repeaters (UHF/VHF) during SHTF, plus it has weather alert/ NOAA channels, SAME codes, etc., it even has FM and AM stations.



But for most people, money would be better spent on the Midland WR-100 for $50.

Or their updated version, the newer, WR-120, also for $50.

 

[Colt 700]

I have the Eton FR500, I used it during Sandy for weeks without power. It is nice that you can power it 5 ways. It should come with the wall adapter, instead of as an accessory for $10 plus shipping. I feel you need it. The digital tuner is helpful, but I think there are better radios out there for the money now.

 

[Chris]

ICOM R6

$200 and can receive just about every transmission that isn't digital. Not a bad scanner and I use it for my local public services.

Best of all, I have multiple banks with different things programmed. One is local public safety, one is weather, local aircraft, favorite AM and FM stations, etc. Program from the PC and go. Little radio can pretty much listen to it all.

The battery lasts a lot longer than my ham HTs.






Telepathically uploaded via Google implants.

 

[P-14]

ICOM R6

$200 and can receive just about every transmission that isn't digital. Not a bad scanner and I use it for my local public services.

Best of all, I have multiple banks with different things programmed. One is local public safety, one is weather, local aircraft, favorite AM and FM stations, etc. Program from the PC and go. Little radio can pretty much listen to it all.

The battery lasts a lot longer than my ham HTs.

This. Quoted for truth!

 

[Silverguns6]

I have (and prefer) a programmable Scanner with preset NOAA weather channels and trunking.
I can listen to LE, FD, EMS, certain Federal, smallairports, aircraft, public works, HAM frequencies and whatnot. I programmed mine for all East, Central and NW CT agencies/depts as well as some in southern and western MA. When something happens, emergency responders are first to know what is going on. Forget the media and talk radio. When time cannot be wasted and up to the minute info is "mission critical" you need a scanner.
IMHO, something like a Uniden Bearcat is worth it over a Cabelas or whatever weather radio. A CB Radio also is worth having.

-Dave