Sangean DT-400W

Bottom Line

The Sangean DT-400W is a small, lightweight portable weather radio with digital AM/FM tuning that also receives all seven weather-band frequencies. While it lacks Specific Alert Message Encoding (SAME) technology and isn't Public Alert-certified, it's a top choice among critics and more popular than competing units with those features -- which many users and experts say aren't essential in a portable weather radio.

Performance

Great reception on the go. Most owners are impressed with the Sangean DT-400W, noting that it's more compact and durable than similar portable weather radios. Reception is said to be very good to excellent on all frequencies, including the seven National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather channels. The lack of an internal FM antenna is a negative; the included earbuds serve that purpose, but if you want to listen to FM radio through the speaker, you'll likely need to use the external FM wire antenna (also in the box).

Features

Limited alerts in the field. The lack of SAME and Public Alert certification is an issue for some users, though the DT-400W does have a dedicated NOAA emergency response channel that sounds a loud alarm tone when an extreme weather condition or other emergency is imminent. An optional 90-minute shut-off feature can be engaged to conserve battery time, though it also turns off the alert tone feature.

Ease Of Use

Light and portable, with some drawbacks. The Sangean DT-400W's lightweight and portable design makes it great for outdoor use and camping trips where weather could be a concern. The compact design does come with a few concessions. Since there's no internal antenna, users must insert the included wire antenna or use the earbuds to receive FM stations. Some users find this setup cumbersome, and say the included earbuds are so uncomfortable that they had to buy new ones. Perhaps the biggest negative is that this portable weather radio can only be powered via batteries and that battery life is reportedly minimal.

Value

The price of portability. Some critics say that the Sangean DT-400W portable weather radio is expensive compared to other radios and has its weak spots. Even so, great reception and a compact design make this handheld weather radio a popular pick that's worth the money, at least according to most owners.