Emergency/Survival AM/FM WB SR radio

dttomcat

dttomcat

Joined
Apr 14, 2007
Messages
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I'm sure this has been asked before. Looking for a good emergency radio, preferrably with a hand crank charging option Less than $100 if possible. Any ideas? Thanks. -DT

BTW, I meant SW as in short wave. Not SR.
 
C Crane has an AM/FM/Weather radio that's about half of your budget. I have a couple of normal radios with SW and honestly SW is pretty useless anymore....many of the larger stations (BBC, Radio Netherlands, etc.) have ceased broadcasting to the US.
 
Have to agree shortwave is useless but i still check it out once in awile seems all i can ever find is relgious programs but maybe i am missing something must not be to necessary anymore with the internet cant help thinking what abought the people that dont have access .
 
LEGION 12 said:
Have to agree shortwave is useless but i still check it out once in awile seems all i can ever find is relgious programs but maybe i am missing something must not be to necessary anymore with the internet cant help thinking what abought the people that dont have access .
Click to expand...

It's still alive and well in most of the world...just not in North America. You are correct that the internet is main culprit in the broadcasters decision to end transmission to here.
 
I have the KAITO KA-500. Solar and Hand Crank. Works well and comes with chargers for a cell phone. Can be had for about $55 if you search.

One thing I did learn, on any ER with a dial, as the battery (be it Solar or standard) gets lower in strength you will have drift with the radio signal. There is a model mentioned in WSS forum that has a digital readout/dial and that would solve that problem, but it costs about $25-$30 extra for that feature.
 
Well shortwave might be useless unless you happen to be a ham radio operator and are on the proper frequency. If you are you will probably know about whats going on around town and the emergency at hand way before the general public. 2 meter radio is the emergency radio of choice for local emergencies. But like I said you need to have a license. If you don't buy a C Crane and it will serve you well. KD0JXB.
 
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LEGION 12 said:
Have to agree shortwave is useless but i still check it out once in awile seems all i can ever find is relgious programs but maybe i am missing something must not be to necessary anymore with the internet cant help thinking what abought the people that dont have access .
Click to expand...

Your on the wrong frequency Sir and you probably won't be able to get on the correct one unless you have a license. I am able to listen to people all day long on Shortwave. If you would like to know more you can go to this website
http://www.arrl.org/
 
Separate SW from amateur radio. There are SW websites out there to find frequencies. Amateur radio uses different frequencies and modes [ single side band and FMn for local] which require more complex radios. AC2RC
 
I have the Grundig model in my emergency bag. Specifically this one: Link and I have never used it other than to make sure it worked. However I also have the small digital version from County Comm here: Link
 
If you truly want an "emergency information rig" I would abandon the hand crank broadcast and SW radio and get a AA solar battery charger and a handheld AA scanner. You will be far more informed than monitoring only broadcast and SW radio. With a handheld AA scanner, you can listen to all the emergency "broadcast" radio you want, plus all public service (Police, Fire, EMS) and local Amateur 2 Meter repeater(s) (EMS or Skywarn Nets) or popular 2 Meter simplex frequencies (144.00 - 148.00 MHz FM). It's been a while since I looked so make sure it can tune broadcast FM & AM as well.

My .02 (KC9EQW)
 
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