The importance of a radio?

M

McGrain

Joined
Jan 7, 2012
Messages
86
Title already says it all. I am currently looking for one but I am not sure if it's really all that great to have one.
What's the importance of a working radio to you if in:

- Survival scenario
- Out hiking
- Camping
 
For survival in a storm and such at home they're great. I would never take one hiking or camping.
 
Survival scenario~ I'd say very important for staying up to date on any relevant information.
Out hiking~ Not important unless things go wrong and then you might use it to listen for news broadcasts if you were reported missing etc. It could also help give comfort while you were waiting for rescue.
Camping~ Always a nice addition while cooking breakfast !

I too have been thinking about purchasing a new radio for camp use etc....anyone have any they could recommend ?
 
I would like some recommendations too!

I would want one mainly if the power goes out. Thinking about one with a crank to recharge that batteries!
 
Grundin, Eton others work reasonably well. Sized depending upon use. I like to have a weather channel option if at all possible for camping or the inlaws cabin. Have an Eton at inlaws cabin where there is no power. Have a smaller Grundin for the backpack. Have another Eton at the house, plus a plug in weather radio with battery back up at the house. The Etons have a crank, extra batteries, solar charger, car connector all possible other power sources. Easy to find out there on the web an relatively inexpensive.
 
Haven't heard of much good review of cranking radios as they tend to break easier (due extra parts and cranking action) and run out of charging energy much earlier than batterie ones.
Also their capacitator grow weak over time. Batteries on the other hand, just replace 'em with fresh ones.
 
I have two types of radios I use in the woods. When I hike by myself, I carry a long-range Motorola FRS radio (walkie-talkie). When I'm camping, I usually bring a very small AF/FM/Shortwave radio for listening to music in the evening or for weather reports, etc. I have a few of the ones sold by CountyCom and highly recommend them. I keep one in my car BOB, one in my daypack and one at home. I think every home should have some kind of battery-powered portable radio!

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
desmobob said:
I have two types of radios I use in the woods. When I hike by myself, I carry a long-range Motorola FRS radio (walkie-talkie). When I'm camping, I usually bring a very small AF/FM/Shortwave radio for listening to music in the evening or for weather reports, etc. I have a few of the ones sold by CountyCom and highly recommend them. I keep one in my car BOB, one in my daypack and one at home. I think every home should have some kind of battery-powered portable radio!

Stay sharp,
desmobob
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will check out CountryCom. Any particular models to look for?
 
Most of my camping is done is the springtime when the thunderstorms can get so very dangerous in short order. I think a small radio with a weatherband is a good item to carry if feasible. I love that feature on my motorcycle radio too. Helps me stay aware and prepared. The forecast can change all too quickly. At home they are part of my preparedness kit. I lived in Oklahoma for the first half of my life. You learn a thing or two about tornados and such up there.
 
Or were you thinking of something like a small hand held ham radio? Some aren't much bigger than a cigarette pack, and some can be modded to access aircraft frequencies, which whilst illegal to do normally, might be of benefit if you were truly in a mayday situation. I know where I am, a foundation licence is very easy to pass, and allows low power ham communications. I have a Yaesu VX-7 which also allows receiving am/fm/sw as well.
 
I always carry a small am/fm radio when I am in the city. I think it would be invaluable to keep up to date and decide a plan of action in the event of civil disturbance or terrorist attack etc. It's pointless relying on the cell network in such an event.

I don't carry one when in the country. If I were to then I would consider what radio and antenna setup I would need to ensure reception. I would probably start with a small weather resistant multi frequency scanner with large whip antenna.
 
I live on the west coast of Florida and we get an occasional tropical storm....have a 10+ year old Grundig FR200, which at the time was about all that was on the local market..has a crank dynamo and LED light but no solar panel or cell charger like the more modern ones... the crank is a polymer, but has held up well through a couple of hurricanes, but I try not to abuse it... the dynamo charges a NiMH pack, and additionally will run on 3 AAs....I've attempted to standardize my batteries to AAs and Ds, and currently have Sanyo Eneloops with a Goal Zero solar panel and Goal 10 battery pack, in addition to another 120/12v charger...

in 05, the power was out for about 7 days, and it gets pretty hot that time of the year without air conditioning and boredom becomes a problem without power for routine entertainment... I used the Grundig and a small 8" 12v analog TV off the car's cigarette plug for a couple of hours each evening until the temp cooled off enough to get to sleep.... with the switch from analog to digital TV format, purchased a small digital portable....

have a small AM/FM Sony in my GHB, and still have a CB in the Explorer that has NOAA channels

two weather alert radios in the house
 
I have a couple of old Cobra CB's that I pack along on long hikes or when I am with a group. CB's are a thing of the past it seems, but they work great as long-distance radios and have weather band as well.
 
YES.

I've got a small SW/MW/LW/FM receiver which I take backpacking and on fishing trips. I wouldn't leave it at home for overnight trips. It was especially welcome on the JMT.

At high altitude where there is no cover within 5 miles, the AM setting is a morbidly interesting lightning detector.
 
How many channels of shortwave does the County Comm receive? I have the AM/FM version only for emergencies. I'm have three relatives into shortwave radio. All licensed. I was thinking of getting a license and buying a shortwave radio that transmits. I don't want to ask them about radios though. They'll talk my ear off.
 
On our SAR team almost all of us are licensed amateur radio operators because we work in a lot of very steep and heavily wooded terrain. FRS radio communication does not cut it for us. I know you are talking about getting a radio to monitor but being able to contact help if the need arises (more likely to request aide for someone else for many of us here) is invaluable. I carry a waterproof Yaesu VX-7R which allows for the monitoring of MANY bands and to contact other operators on a couple of bands. The VX-7R is overly complex for most people (including myself). There are other great waterproof offerings and we have had great luck with Yaesu. After Katrina hit volunteers with amateur radios did a lot of the heavy communications in and out of the disaster area because so much infrastructure was out of commission. It could be a life saver for you or someone else along the way on mountain roads as well where cell service gets spotty.

KE7EVC
 
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You're absolutely right Dunner. I am surprised no one has posted about this before. But what radio? The one you posted looks great. But I wouldn't want my radio to have a rechargeable battery pack. I'd want AA powered or similar. What is the range on one of those without an antenna?
 
I have a Sony ICF-SW35 and carry it almost everywhere I go. I really love laying under my tarp with the fire burning low and listening to the radio. Some people say I'm crazy and the reason they go to the woods is to get away from everything, me too, but I still like listening to my radio. ;) Chris

EDIT: I was in the air over Egypt 09Sep2011, we got rerouted to an out in the middle of no where airbase. I had my radio in my ruck which was our only outside info. I remember 30 or 40 Soldiers clustered around my radio listening to the horrific first reports from BBC, you could hear a pin drop, we all wanted payback right then. I will always remember that till the day I die.
 
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Most of these HAVE to have an antenna and is even better with an aftermarket antenna tuned for a specific band. You can get AA battery packs for most of them too.
 
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