Weather Radios

Types of weather and emergency radios

"Weather radio" is a broad term used to describe devices that are capable of receiving one or more of the seven NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) service frequencies. The NWR service uses more than 985 transmitters to cover all 50 states, as well as costal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the U.S. Pacific territories.

Weather radio has actually become a bit of a misnomer, in fact, as NWR has morphed into an all hazards system. Working in conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Emergency Alert System, as well as with state and local government agencies, NWR also issues alerts about natural disasters such as earthquakes and avalanches, environmental events such as oil spills and public safety issues, including Amber alerts.

Though the NOAA does not recommend specific radios or manufacturers, it does provide a list of important features consumers should look for. One of the big ones is the inclusion of SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) technology.

SAME reduces the number of "false" alarms by listening for specific area codes called FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards), and only triggering the radio when an alert for the user's selected area or areas is issued. To further reduce false alarms, the NOAA recommends radios that let users tailor the list of event types to which the radio will respond. However, some SAME-equipped radios don't let users selectively block events, and certain types of events -- such as tornado warnings -- are "hard-wired" into all receivers and can't be blocked at all.

An audio alarm is also important. The best radios are capable of emitting a loud tone, even if the audio is off, when an alert is received. Since disasters and dangerous weather events don't keep bankers' hours, the benefit of that feature is obvious.

The NOAA recommends AC power for all non-portable weather radios. However, it adds that a battery backup is also important since power outages often occur during storms and other emergency events.

Finally, though most weather and emergency radios have a built in whip antenna, an external antenna jack is a good idea. That jack gives you the ability to add an external antenna in areas where receiving NWS broadcasts can be a challenge. Since the weather frequencies sit between the frequencies for TV channels 6 and 7, an antenna designed for analog VHF TV or FM radio should work well.

Lots of radios are marketed as being weather radios or including coverage of the weather radio frequencies. Many, however, fail to meet some or most of the recommendations above. These radios are fine for those mostly interested in checking official weather forecasts, but they are a poor substitute for a SAME-equipped radio that's capable of issuing a hard-to-miss audio alarm when important information specific to your area is broadcast.

That said, any battery-powered radio with weather band coverage can be a lifesaver in the midst of an emergency. Even better are emergency radios with their own internal generators. Those usually have a hand-crank that turns 30 seconds of cranking into a half hour or more of radio listening -- something that's vitally important when AC power is out and batteries have been exhausted. We'll make some specific emergency crank radio recommendations later on in this report.

To help citizens cut through marketing hype, the NOAA and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) teamed up to create a certification program. Radios that qualify to carry the Public Alert logo meet certain technical standards and the NOAA's list of recommended features. All have SAME technology, though not all have event-blocking abilities. For example, the Midland WR-100B discussed above is Public Alert certified. The NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards logo is available to those radios that lack SAME technology, but otherwise meet the standards for certification set up by the CEA and NOAA. Radios can qualify to carry both logos, and some do. Conversely, certification is voluntary, and many weather radios carry neither logo.

Best weather radios

No radio gets more positive feedback from both reviewers and users than the Midland WR-300 (*est. $50) . On his enthusiast website, Graham McClung compares it to two other desktop weather radios and gives it an edge. Among the positives are accessory outlets that let you link the WR-300 to a PA system or to accessory warning devices such as strobe warning lights and pillow vibrators. That means that the Midland WR-300 is an appropriate choice for those who are hearing impaired.

Richard C. Rhodes, a ham-radio enthusiast who maintains a website dealing with radio and other topics, does an extensive comparison between the Midland WR-300 and the Radio Shack 12-262 (*est. $70). This comparison does an excellent job of describing points to consider when programming a SAME-capable weather radio. He notes that the Radio Shack weather radio is clearly easier to use out of the box. It has an auto tune function to automatically find the strongest station in the area. The Radio Shack 12-262 is also preloaded with the all the codes needed for entering location information; most radios, including the Midland WR-300, require you to get those codes from websites such as NOAA and enter them manually.

All of this, Rhodes notes, is "supposed to be easier for the technically unsophisticated." However, it also means that you need to plow through "endless lists of states and counties" to set your location rather than simply entering a six-digit code. Blocking unwanted alerts is also much easier in the Midland WR-300, according to Rhodes, who appreciates that the radio lets users add future alert codes. "It was the lack of this feature that caused me to quit using the Radio Shack 12-250 when the Amber Code was introduced," he writes.

McClung and Rhodes are not alone in their praise of the Midland WR-300. It is top rated at most user-review sites, including Amazon.com, where this weather radio has racked up an impressive rating of 4.5 (out of 5) after almost 300 reviews. It also scores well at eHam.net. Most users at these sites and elsewhere laud the WR-300's performance as a weather radio. One fairly consistent negative is that it isn't so great as an AM/FM receiver or a clock radio. The WR-300 is Public Alert Certified.

Midland also makes another Public Alert certified weather radio, the Midland WB-100B (*est. $30). However, it gets rather mixed reviews. As mentioned above, it lacks the ability to block out unwanted alerts, and Richard C. Rhodes says that this shortcoming makes the radio "nearly useless." Opinions at eHam.net are split. Some commend the radio, but others complain of reception and construction issues. Users at Amazon.com are much happier. It gets over 165 ratings and, like the Midland WR-300, achieves a score of 4.5 out of 5. A few owners note the lack of alert blocking, but it seems to be a factor that clearly bothers some users more than others.

The Midland WB-100B also lacks a few other features compared to the WR-300, most notably the ability to receive AM/FM radio signals, though reviews say AM/FM reception on the WR-300 isn't great. It does include a built-in time and alarm clock feature, and the ability to store 25 program codes -- two more than the WR-300. The styling of the WB-100B seems to fit better into a bedroom than the WR-300, but the inability to block unwanted alerts could lead to some rather restless nights. Like the WR-300, the WB-100B is Public Alert certified.

In addition to selling weather radios from a wide variety of manufacturers, Radio Shack also offers a few exclusive models. We've already touched upon the Radio Shack 12-262 Desktop Weather Radio. According to Richard C. Rhodes, the radio is designed for easy use out of the box, but programming is a chore. User reviews at Radio Shack are mixed. Some sing the 12-262's praises while others call it nearly worthless. Given the divergence of opinion, we suspect the issues might be programming related, and we saw complaints of a user manual that's both incomplete and unclear.

Feedback for the less expensive Radio Shack 12-259 (*est. $50) is far more positive. While the radios discussed up to now have all been desktop models, the Radio Shack 12-259 is a portable radio designed to provide weather and other emergency alerts on the go. It is packed with features and is Public Alert certified. The Radio Shack 12-259 includes a switch that lets users select between a home mode that uses programmed settings and a travel mode that tunes for and selects the strongest signal and passes all alerts for the areas covered by that station. There's also a clock and a temperature display. Like the Radio Shack 12-262, it is preloaded with location codes, and the same positives and negatives described earlier for that feature apply here. The 12-259 is also capable of blocking unwanted alerts.

There's not much feedback for the 12-259 weather radio outside of Radio Shack's own website, but reviews there are both substantial and largely positive. The major complaint -- and one that's echoed by several users -- is that the Radio Shack 12-259 eats batteries. Radio Shack claims four days of life on three AA batteries, but users say that two days is more realistic. The radio can also be powered by an external AC or DC adapter, but neither is included.

The only other issue with this radio is that since it's portable, it’s equipped with a short stub antenna rather than a longer whip, as would be the case with a desktop model. As Richard C. Rhodes notes, that means that the range of the Radio Shack 12-259 weather radio is likely to be shorter than that of a desktop radio, and we did see a few user comments that say this is the case.

Few other weather radios get much user or professional comment. Oregon Scientific is one well-known maker of weather products, including weather radios. We did see some limited positive comments about the Oregon Scientific WR602 (*est. $50) , which is a portable Public Alert certified weather radio. One advantage this model does have over the Radio Shack 12-259 is that it includes a recharging cradle and AC/DC adapter, so it’s easier on batteries. One disadvantage, however, is that unwanted alerts can't be blocked. User comments at Amazon.com are thus far uniformly positive, but there are too few of them to be definitive.

The Oregon Scientific WR602 is also available in a kit with weather station base. Again, the WBR603 kit (*est. $110) gets very limited user feedback, but comments at Amazon.com do seem to indicate that the weather station is more often wrong than right. Note that the WR602 is the successor the WR108, one of four Oregon Scientific weather radios recalled by the company for failure to receive weather service alerts. See Best Research for more information.

We also saw some limited but generally positive reports on a pair of weather radios made by Reecom. The Reecom 1650 (*est. $70) and Reecom 1630 (*est. $60) are essentially identical. The chief difference is that the pricier 1650 includes a scanning AM/FM radio with 16 station presets. Both radios are Public Alert certified and have selectable alert blocking. These are desktop weather radios with whip antennas. Though AC powered, the company claims 170 hours of back-up power from 4 AA batteries. The company also offers an accessory strobe light (*est. $30), making this a good radio for the hearing impaired.

The Reecom 1650 gets a positive review from Graham McClung at Home-Weather-Stations-Guide.com. However, while McClung says it’s a good choice that "would satisfy any requirements," he is slightly more impressed by the Midland WR-300 weather radio. Don, a Minnesota blogger, has a very positive report on his "Make it a Masterpiece" site. He notes that the owner's manual is a little clumsy, that there's no way to tell at a glance whether or not the radio is running from batteries or AC, but otherwise is very pleased. In the time he's used the radio, he's had the opportunity to verify that it works as intended.

The Reecom weather radios are also the most highly rated current weather alert radios at eHam.net, but they only show two reviews apiece as of our last visit. One drawback is that the Reecom radios are hard to find in stores, though they can be ordered from the manufacturer. While we name the Midland WR-300 as our Fast Answer desktop weather radio choice based on how popular it is with reviewers and consumers, either of these Reecom weather radios are a good second choice.

Emergency crank radios

Weather alert radios can warn you about dangerous weather, natural and other emergencies ahead of time. But what about when you are in the middle of a disaster -- when the AC power is out and batteries are dead? To fill that need, a number of manufacturers have introduced self-powered radios. Most use a simple hand-crank generator that can supply about a half-hour of power for 30 seconds of cranking.

Among emergency crank radios, we've seen the most positive feedback for models made by Eton, especially the Eton FR300 (*est. $50) . Unlike the weather radios detailed above, the FR300 lacks SAME capabilities, so it’s not Public Alert certified, though it is certified by the NOAA as an All Hazards Weather Radio. It includes coverage of all weather band frequencies and has an alert function that will turn on the radio when an alert is received. It will also receive AM and FM radio signals and audio from analog VHF (channels 2-13) TV stations (though there won't be much to listen to on the latter when analog television broadcasting ceases in Feb. 2009).

The Eton FR300 emergency radio is feature packed. It can be powered by four different sources, including a built-in rechargeable NiMH battery, 3 regular AA batteries or an optional AC adapter. Most noteworthy, is that it includes a built-in hand-crank generator that performs well. In tests by The Wall Street Journal's Walter Mossberg, the FR300 ran for 35 minutes following just 30 seconds of cranking.

The Eton FR300 also includes a built in light source, with two ultra-bright white LEDs and one red flashing LED. There's also a siren and a cell-phone charger. In his review, Mossberg called the radio "sturdy-looking," and he likes its multifaceted functionality. The Eton radio comes in seven colors.

James C. Powell, associate editor at Cabela's Outfitter Journal magazine, had the unfortunate opportunity to put the Eton FR300 emergency crank radio to a real test as he braved a "record-setting" blizzard that left him and his family stranded in their home for three days. He came away from the experience impressed. He said that the crank works well -- delivering an hour of operation with 90 seconds of cranking. The radio kept him informed and entertained while the power was out. Even the LED flashlight proved useful in his dark basement. Both regular and weather band reception were good.

Not everyone is impressed, however. Richard C. Rhodes is a critic. He notes some issues with FM and TV reception, and he disparages the construction quality of the Eton FR300. However, Rhodes does add that weather band reception is good. Users seem generally pleased, though we did read some complaints. At Amazon.com, the Eton FR300 amasses a respectable four star (out of five) rating after more than 85 reviews. The FR300 is also sold under the American Red Cross and Grundig brands.

Eton also makes the FR400 (*est. $60) emergency crank radio. The radio has a smaller profile than the FR300 and is water resistant (something the FR300 is not), but otherwise it’s identical in terms of features. We saw much less feedback for this model, however, with Amazon.com having far and away the most. Reviews are mixed. Surprisingly, though the two are identical, the Eton-badged version fares somewhat better than the American Red Cross model. Users at Cabela's rate the Eton FR400 a bit better than at other sites -- giving it an overall grade of 4.6 out of five stars -- but there are fewer reviews.

Few other hand crank emergency radios get much in the way of feedback. Mossberg compares the FR300 to the Freeplay Eyemax Weather Band Radio (*est. $60) and comes away more impressed with the FR300. The Eyemax suffers in that it has fewer features -- for instance, cell phone charging is missing -- and it can't run on standard disposable batteries. However, it does have a solar panel and can run on sunlight -- handy for daytime use, "if you're not up for repeated hand-cranking." Mossberg also found the Eton emergency radio easier to use and liked that the weather channel selection was done using its own knob "because it allowed us to set one weather station and not have to change it after listening to the radio." Just three users report on the Eyemax at Amazon.com, but all are very or mostly pleased with the radio.

We also saw a handful of reviews for the Weather X FR-6817DT (*est. $35) . This emergency crank radio includes both a 5-LED flashlight and a 12-LED flexible neck light. It receives all seven NOAA weather station frequencies, as well as AM and FM radio broadcasts. Other features include a compass and a thermometer. In addition to the crank-driven generator, the Weather X radio has built-in NiMH batteries, can operate using disposable AA batteries, and includes both AC and car cigarette-lighter DC adapters. Most of the limited user reviews are positive, but one user posting at Cabela's complained that using the crank generator only provided power for a short time.

It’s important to note that not all emergency crank radios receive weather channels. That can be an important shortcoming, and it’s something not all reviews adequately address when discussing or rating emergency radios. For example, neither of the current emergency radios reviewed in the latest update at Consumer Reports is weather-reception capable.

Important Features: Weather radios

Reviewers say the following about shopping for a weather or emergency radio:

• The best weather radios are Public Alert certified. Lots of weather radios include coverage of the weather band, but radios that have been Public Alert certified meet performance and feature standards established by the NOAA and the Consumer Electronics Association. Though the NOAA does not officially recommend any specific radio brand, it does "suggest" that you select a radio that carries the Public Alert logo.

• SAME technology reduces irrelevant alerts. Weather broadcasts often cover a wide and varied geographical area. SAME technology lets you program your radio to only sound an alert for warnings intended for your specific county, parish, city or marine area.

• Look for a weather alert radio with defeatable alarms. Even with SAME technology, a radio can receive alarms that are of less concern to specific users. For example, if you live on high ground, a flood watch or warning might be less important to you.

• Emergency crank radios aren't the best weather alert radios, but they can be lifesavers in an emergency. Crank powered radios can provide a lifeline when the AC is out and batteries have run dry. Many -- but not all -- also provide coverage of the weather bands. Though all lack SAME technology, many will sound a warning when the weather broadcast station to which it’s tuned issues an alert.

• Look for radios with multiple power sources. In any emergency, counting on AC power is a bad idea. At the very least, any weather alert or emergency radio should also work with batteries. Hand cranks are vital on emergency radios for when the AC is out and batteries have run dry. Some emergency radios have additional power sources, such as DC car adapters, internal rechargeable batteries, solar panels, etc.

• Weather radios warn about more than weather. The NOAA Weather Radio service also broadcasts alerts about natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes and avalanches), environmental events (e.g. oil spills) and public safety issues, including Amber alerts.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
9	Midland WR-300 (*est. $50)	details
4	Eton FR300 (*est. $50)	details
2	Radio Shack 12-259 (*est. $50)	-
2	Reecom 1630 (*est. $60)	details
1 each	Eton FR400 , Midland WR-100B , Sony SRF-M37V , Reecom 1650

When it comes to weather alert radios, the Midland WR-300 stands well above the pack in the eyes of users and reviewers. The Reecom 1630 and 1650 also seem to be solid choices based on the limited feedback we've seen. For portable use, the Radio Shack 12-259 (*est. $50) is the best bet, but battery life is an issue. All four are Public Alert certified. For emergency use, the Eton FR300 (*est. $50) gets the most positive recognition. It is not Public Alert certified and lacks SAME technology, but it does include weather band coverage with an alert function. Its hand crank works well, and it can be powered from three other sources as well. The Eton FR300 is also sold under the Grundig and American Red Cross brands.

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