(Part 2) Best portable radios according to redditors
We found 512 Reddit comments discussing the best portable radios. We ranked the 191 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
Because the site appears to have been hugged to death...
FRX3 is a Solar and crank powered emergency radio/torch/cell phone charger.
The version linked has been discontinued on Amazon UK and US. But here is a (non-affiliate/referral) link to the updated model on Amazon US.
You can but have to wear one of these and be scoring the game so random strangers don't take this as an invitation to become your new best friend
I have been posting this in relevant places to people I think might take it into consideration (and this seems like a relevant comment chain):
You can disaster/survival prep very quickly. Buy a water filtration system (I prefer the Platypus brand gravity filter) and at least a couple spare filters. Alternatively, you can purify water with bleach (info here). Buy at least 2 weeks of canned food that you won't touch for at least a few days after the event (unless you plan to be moving), and eat all perishables first. Dry beans and rice are better for your calorie/weight ratio. Buy a gun and a decent amount of ammo and get familiar with using it safely. You should have a decent first aid kit, with a focus on antiseptics and sterile bandages. Also, a hand crank or solar battery charger, which can be found for around $20 combined with a flashlight and radio. Bam!, you're now better prepped than 95+% of the population.
Some other additional items: MEDICATION RESERVES (if possible to acquire), flashlights, hunting knife, rope/twine/parachute cord, tarp, Bic lighters, padlocks & chains, enough gas to drive to a location you believe would be safe, road atlas, hiking backpack. US Air Force Survival Manual for reading
I recognize this kind of preparation is a touchy subject, but in this day and age, I would encourage you to look at the world around us and maybe see that we could be in a more precarious position than we would like, with only a natural disaster or something worse standing between civil society and relative chaos. I would hope that we would never come to a point in which gear like this might be necessary, but it is better to build dikes than just to pray for sunshine.
*This is a simplified, but relatively comprehensive survival prep guide for everything from natural disasters to total societal meltdown. I would encourage everyone to do at least some of it. The Boy Scout motto simply says "Be prepared". It doesn't say what to be prepared for.
**If you do choose to become a gunowner, I seriously cannot overstate the importance of taking a class or training with someone experienced that you trust. I would be happy to discuss guns (or any part of this guide) further if someone wants more advice on those.
Hi, I run a business called ShakeproofLA and what I do is set people up to get ready for The Big One.
To set the stage, you have to understand that Los Angeles has, historically, had a major earthquake every 100 years, but right now we haven't a big one since 1857 when a 7.9 struck Fort Tejon.
So, add that extra 60 years to the amount of tectonic pressure that will be released when it finally does happen.
Now, what I'm going to say will scare the shit out of people, but here it is: When the next major quake hits LA it will be a major, major catastrophe. Thousands of people will die and the damage will be counted in the tens, if not hundreds of billions of dollars.
The water mains will break. The highways will crumble. The gas lines will erupt and fires will break out all over the place. It's estimated, worst case scenario, that 1/3 of the city will burn down, partially due to the broken water mains. If the earthquake is during a heatwave, those problems will be compounded.
The dust and smoke and pollutants (asbestos, etc) thrown up by the quake will cause further health problems down the line as well.
Downtown, all the glass in the buildings will break and fall. Except glass doesn't fall straight down, it floats down like a leaf, meaning that it will be thousands of razor blades slicing across the street. The fire department thinks there will be up to 10 feet of broken glass in the streets afterwards. Moreover, some 1/3 of the buildings in downtown could collapse, including many of the skyscrapers which were build using flawed construction techniques, during the 60's and 70's and 80's. Many of those same buildings are packed with asbestos, much like the World Trade center.
Scary AF, right? Well, I have a motto: "It's absolutely going to happen, so don't worry." All you can do it get prepared.
As the freeways will be out, there's basically going to be no leaving town. More likely than not, you will have to shelter in place. That being the case, you will need supplies.
Here's a list of ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES for you to have on hand. It's only a few hundred bucks and it very well could be the difference between life and death.
What I have listed are only suggestions and I'm not endorsing any particular brand over another. If you find something that does the same job for cheaper, great.
Food
Have at least 2 weeks supply of food above and beyond what is kept in the freezer and/or pantry. Below are some options, but feel free to search around and find the best price/amount for you and your family
Food Option 1
Food Option 2
Food Option 3
Radios
Emergency Radios are a must-have and the wind-up type, with a flashlight cover multiple bases at once.
Radio Option 1
Radio Option 2
Water
These jugs are available at any local Home Depot and will last for 5 years in storage. Do not store on concrete floors at it will leech, instead store on wood, cardboard or carpet only. You want one jug per person per week. Additionally, if you have a hot water heater, wait until it cools and use that. Be aware that the first water that comes out will be mostly mineral silt, so be sure to run it through a coffee filter.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/5-Gal-Water-No-Exchange-Initial-Purchase-5GALIP2/205227468
The Lifestraw allows you to drink any gross water you find.
Lifestraw
If you have an outdoor grill, great. That's your cooking platform. Make sure you have extra propane. If not, get a camp stove.
Camp Stove 1
Propane -
To be sourced locally.
Honey Buckets
You're going to need a place to poop, right? Get a honey bucket, or get hepatitis. Your choice.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079GFLVLM/ref=twister_B079C4GN4M?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/LEAKTITE-B5GSKD-5GAL-Black-Plastic/dp/B000VBW17S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1529963064&sr=8-3&keywords=5+gallon+bucket
https://www.amazon.com/Besli-Gallon-DrawString-Strong-Garbage/dp/B075ST2KJ9/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1529963592&sr=1-4&keywords=5%2Bgallon%2Bgarbage%2Bbags&th=1
First Aid Kit
DUST MASKS
I can't emphasize enough for people to buy these. N95 is the standard you want, as it will filter most pollutants. Buy these and don't get mesothelioma later in life.
Towelettes
Power Station
And the list continues. Have a car kit ready, consisting of water (I like VOSS water, as it's in glass, a couple Clif bars, a hat, sunblock, and old pair of walking sneakers and a space blanket. And dust masks. Don't forget those.
Fill out a FEMA Emergency Plan. and you'll really know where to go and who to contact in an emergency.
And that's the basics. Two weeks of survival supplies and FEMA will be on the scene, hopefully and roads will be open enough to get out of dodge.
Another good idea is to strap your furniture and TV to the walls, into the studs. I'd provide a guide, but that's my job, y'all.
Get a battery powered radio that gets emergency services channels. You ought to have one in your earthquake kit already, but if you don't you should get one as soon as you can.
https://smile.amazon.com/American-Emergency-Smartphone-ARCFRX3-WXR/dp/B00HSHH5DI/
https://www.amazon.com/Emergency-Portable-Flashlight-Household-Survival/dp/B0774RRYZP
Emergency Weather Solar Crank AM/FM NOAA Radio with ...
Here is the list of gear. It is meant for both myself and my wife, so I doubled up in some places. (Links where I have them)
Total Combined weight 27.4969375 Lbs (assuming my measurements are correct, couldn't get a good read on the tent so I had to use manufacturer info)
Stuff I don't have yet, but which I plan to include as I get them:
> American Red Cross Emergency NOAA Weather Radio. $37.60, originally $50.
For this price you can get a baofeng, program it to rx NOAA frequencies, and also be able to transmit if you get a ham license. Bleh.
I like the Morakniv and firesteel ideas, and also:
There are some very small radios that use 2xAAA. Hand crank doesn't save you anything.
The FM radio built into your phone is handy in a pinch but can't pick up weatherband and that is what you really want. Coincidentally I have been looking into radios lately.
The Retekess PR15 is the lightest option I could find at 68 grams.
Everything else comes in around 115 grams but there are some more trustworthy big names here:
Some of the more expensive models have automatic alerts. This will be a constant drain on the battery but could be pretty important if you are in an area with a flash flood risk.
Have you taken a look at WebSDR? Take a look at that link, you can listen to a lot. I'm not so much about WeFax as it's a DX station, but you could definitely check! There are many WebSDR's in the US as well, but the one I linked is very wide band. Google for "WebSDR' and you'll find a ton.
You could also scour second hand shops for a shortwave radio. Or save up $19 for one of these little pocket shortwave radios on Amazon - not the best radio to listen to morse code on given they receive AM mode only, but you could get WeFax and many shortwave broadcast.
The $20 RTL-SDR would be a good option as well, there are some mods to get it to receive HF, otherwise you can purchase an HF upconverter (or build one).
Best of luck!
I'd think just a small am/fm/weather radio with batteries would last a week, especially if using headphone:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K33JX5G
I purchased this one that seems to be an off brand alternative but so far it has done the job for me with no issues and has all of the same features
>What do you guys recommend for a lantern?
Redundancy:
I've discovered camping is the perfect time to test out lots of your preps. You don't know how useful this stuff is until it's pitch black and trying to fry up some burgers and also mix your girlfriend a margarita and multi-tasking. I've found some things awesome (headlamp) and some things just impractical this way. It's made me remove and add stuff to my BOB. I highly recommend taking your BOB and other prep gear camping and trying it out for real.
Going by amazon.com reviews is almost always a good idea in my experience. Whatever battery lantern has 4.5 or 5 stars and 150 reviews is almost always a good pick. Buy spare batteries too!
Q2: Do you have a tub?
I think the main thing here is you want >72 hours of spare water already without doing anything fancy. You should have some water ready without having to filter anything. If your faucet turns off, you're not going to go start filtering ocean water. The sidebar has info about requirements, suggesting 2 gallons of water per person per day, and 5 per if it includes hygienic purposes.
Chances are you'll way more often deal with not having water for a couple of days rather than not having water ever again. If you can't go a few days without water comfortably, you should focus on that. Get something to store water and fill them. Buy a few packs of bottled water and keep it in the closet. Get that waterBOB. Have at least 72 hours worth for your family just directly from stocks. After you've got that done, then maybe consider "long term solutions"... but arguably you've probably got a lot of other stuff you should take care of before that, like extra beans and rice and cans of food.
I don't think there's any easy way to handle ocean => potable. Here's the thing. Let's say you'd benefit from something like that. That means you have no more water? Your city is completely water-free, as in everyone is trying to get water? Shit will get hellish. What are you going to do, go to the ocean, grab a few buckets of water and take it home? Either you've got a stealthy way of getting a lot of salt water to your house (live near the ocean?) or you are going to be noticed and people will start begging you for water for their grandmother, infant, etc. Get ready to have families lining up on your door step, begging for your help, fighting over half cups of water.
My point is, if you're prepping for never having water running again, you've got a lot more to handle and it'd be absolute chaos. It'd be better to make sure you can go 2 weeks safely at home without food and water, and if you've got that covered, then you can maybe consider long term homestead craziness. You prepare for a flat tire before you prepare for lightning striking your car, know what I mean?
I have this one made by Esky - it's actually below your price range; but I've used it a fair amount and can vouch for it. Has crank, solar, and battery and can charge USB devices.
Solar power banks as well. Though some radios are all in one.
https://www.amazon.com/Esky-Powered-Emergency-Flashlight-1000mAh/dp/B018I4BPNU/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1504451012&sr=1-5&keywords=emergency+radio
This is the right way to go, but if you're dead set on an external power source I'd like to see you use one of those hand crank power banks. Can you imagine people having to crank one of those things hundreds of times to get the window up or down when you used to do it in a couple cranks?
If you find a radio capable of all that across the different bands and able to power itself in the mentioned price range I'd genuinely love to know what it is as I've been throwing my money away piecing it together.
My main go to radios are the Eton scorpion II which receives AM/FM/NOAA broadcasts in addition to being an extra flashlight and phone charger. I've had this for months and have not had to charge it yet(crank nor USB), the solar recharge has kept up with my usage just sitting opposite a window or on my dashboard when driving.
https://www.amazon.com/Eton-NSP101WXGR-Scorpion-Portable-Multi-Purpose/dp/B00WS6SKTM
For communication I have a cheap baofeng uv5r5 requires a ham license to use which is max $15 to test for and a few hours of study. It works on ham frequency ranges and also receives NOAA (edit: and FM) stations and has another built in flashlight.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00YMN0SCG/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1498753670&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=baofeng+uv-5r5&dpPl=1&dpID=51Iz2MzNWNL&ref=plSrch
For truckers would think you'd want a citizens band radio with no licensing requirements. I had one of these in the early 90s which would pick up some traffic but from what I gather reading online I don't think they get nearly as much traffic and can probably glean just as much information hitting local repeaters as you travel. Hammies are always giving updates on weather and driving conditions while mobile, at least in my area.
For emergency channels (again as far as my area goes) many emergency response have switched from analog to digital broadcast which means analog sets like the baofeng can't pick up the transmissions. I think you'd need a scanner or type of radio they use whatever that is.
I have other cheaper backups but those two aforementioned radios are my go to. My eton keeps itself charged and I can charge my baofeng through other means.
Edit: and of course I'm still not finished in what I want as far as radios go. At some point down the road my next radio related purchase will probably be something with shortwave reception capabilities.
I really like my CC Pocket Radio. I've had if for around 5 years now and it's still going strong.
I have (and am currently listening to) this one and it takes 2 D cells.
Invest in a good radio (assuming you're in the Bay Area)! I picked this one up at my local Fry's, and it's been great. I just pull it up on my desk, plug in my ear buds, and listen away.
So I am currently thinking of something like this then: http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-RST-63012-Hearing-Protector-Digital/dp/B00H27E6NQ/ref=pd_cp_267_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=10AR1G5TPRMZS39FS65E
You will have more luck with a portable shortwave receiver than any typical walkie-talkie type amateur transceiver.
Such as: Tecsun PL-600 AM/FM/LW SSB Shortwave Radio, Black Tecsun https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ESUOMFW/
https://www.amazon.com/Version-iRonsnow-Emergency-Weather-Flashlight/dp/B00WIF2T7C?crid=3SDMK85Q53XMS&keywords=hand+crank+radio+flashlight+cell+phone+charger&qid=1537472677&sprefix=hand+crank+radio&sr=8-4&ref=mp_s_a_1_4
I used to in a reasonably packed area of San Fransisco, and most nights I was able to receive Radio Havana Cuba(6100khz),CHU on 7850KHz, WWV/WWVH(5MHz&10MHz), Radio New Zealand International, and Radio China International with the indoor longwire antenna with a $30 homemade set. More recently I bought the Tesun PL 600 from amazon(~75USD) and I think its a capable receiver. The active antenna of the PL600 allows me to pick up quite a bit of Broadcast Shortwave. In addition the PL600 has SSB(single side band) which allows me to listen to ham traffic(My favorite bands are 40Meters and 80Meters) as well as CW(Morse code). In addition once and a while you can find traffic on HF ATC frequencies which is cool. Outdoor antennas do help a lot, but just going to the park with a portable receiver should reduce any interference. These bands are useable globally and the mountains should not be an issue. Since you are not transmitting, a long strand of wire, or the dipole included on the portable radio itself should be enough! If you have any questions feel free to ask!
if you like computers and software, you should look into wideband SDR, which is like this but using your own equipment and antennas. Its fairly simple to get started nowadays, with a PC/ RTL SDR / HF Upconverter.
This is the Radio I bought, the Tesun PL 600, there are probably better out there but for SSB at the time it was the cheapest.
this is very similar to the circuit I constructed for my first shortwave receiver if you are into DIY.
Portable radio is such a mature product and technology I think you'll be fine as long as you choose a decent brand. I've seen battered, paint and dust covered 30-year old Sony radios still keeping tradesmen entertained on building sites. Models that looked similar to this one for around $89. I would even hazard a guess that you could go cheaper:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016OEV7C/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=
I would say sticking to manual dial and buttons is also going to help with durability and reliability as opposed to a LED/LCD screen with station-seeking features.
Instead of the R820T, I suggest the R820T2 which has improved sensitivity and noise characteristics.
For DXing (long distance), you can get a shortwave receiver with SSB for under $100 (example). If you want to transmit back to those stations you would require a HF transceiver and a ham license (in the US, General-class is recommended). You can get a 1980s-vintage model used for $250-350. Or a new one like the FT-450 for $650-700. Also required for a transceiver would be a power supply or 12V battery, an antenna, and possibly an antenna tuner.
I just bought one of these the other day for the same reason:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003A21DQA/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_E6a5CbC1YMNAT
It would fit more into the mobile/portable category. It feels kind of cheap but works well. It has LED lights, AM/FM + NOAA + SW radio. You can also charge your phone off it, but the battery capacity isn't great for that. It can be charged via USB though, so if you had one of these plus a couple portable battery packs you'd probably be set for awhile.
A more stationary option would be one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Midland-WR120B-WR120EZ-Certified-Trilingual/dp/B00176T9OY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=weather+radio&qid=1558450236&s=gateway&sr=8-3
We have several scattered around my office and they can be programmed to only alert for certain counties or at certain thresholds - severe weather warnings only vs watches. That type of thing. They're loud af.
The Kaito KA-1103 was my first shortwave radio, and remains a personal favorite. They actually make a variety of affordable radios to get your feet wet, and you'll want to pick up this easy-to-use 20' wire antenna. It has a nice compact design that doesn't leave you dealing with untangling it, and I put a cheap clip on it so I can hook it to a tree or something while outside. The adapter it comes with makes it so you can either plug in to an ANT IN port, or just clip it to the existing telescopic antenna on most radios.
Just out of curiosity, where abouts are you in the world? Location does matter, a bit. For example, I live in Michigan in the US and often struggle to pick up anything other than the preachers in the Southern half of our country. That being said, I have had some really wonderful nights where the atmospheric conditions were just right, and I was able to get signals from Europe and Africa, which is pretty exciting.
By the way, it might be worth grabbing a weather radio or a battery-operated AM/FM radio for storm updates as it gets closer. Weather radio stations (in descending order of coverage) are: 162.550 (Tampa), 162.500 (Sebring), 162.475 (Orlando) (click for coverage maps) and are provided by NOAA. Regular radio coverage can be found on AM 820, 1230, and 1430 as well as FM 97.5, 98.3, 107.1, and 96.7 - coverage provided by Bay News 9.
China has what you need.
Baofeng UV-5R, $35 a pop.
Alternatively, the UV-3R is a cheaper and smaller radio with fewer buttons to diddle with.
In the US, these radios are FCC Part 90 certified, meaning they're legal for use on licensed commercial (business) frequencies. In Canada, they're similarly certified. I can't verify the validity of that doc so do more research before Industry Canada comes knocking on your door.
The radios you use are programmed by the supplier - each channel is a different frequency. The only ways of knowing the frequencies is to ask the supplier, test the channels using a scanner/frequency counter/spectrum analyzer, or most simply by looking up your business's radio license and frequency allocation information if possible.
Once you know the freqs, you have to program the radio. You can do that with the buttons, or with a computer using a program called CHIRP and a programming cable. Lotsa documentation exists if you want to take this on.
It really depends on your budget. If you only have $50 to spend, Tecsun PL380is tough to beat.
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\> Please don’t reply with Web SDRs.
​
May I politely ask why? Some of the Web SDR's (like KPH) have amazing antenna farms.
​
​
This is the one I have. I actually don't like any of the sound options on the alarm so I still use my phone alarm, but set the light to get to full brightness by the time my actual alarm goes off.
My boyfriend is a super light sleeper so it does wake him up, but I'm a really heavy sleeper and the light alone won't wake me up, I've just noticed it makes a big difference in my morning grogginess level. So it may or may not disturb your husband depending heavy of a sleeper he is. I'd give it a try though if you think it might help you, too. Worst case, it doesn't work and you can return it.
I just remember randomly reading somewhere that 14070hz is pretty much universally PSK31 around the world. I think alot of HAM user's usually use that or RTTY. Plus of course CW or "morse code". I've also seen Hellschreiber used a few times (you know on news channels that show stock prices going across the bottom of the screen? sortof like this It's basically like in the old days, a printer would print out on a thin piece of paper to update stock at remote locations. They use Hellschriber as the transmission method). Though it's been awhile.
Also if you're REALLY lucky you can capture SSTV color images being sent over radio. I haven't caught one yet but i'm probably just not looking around the right frequencies. They have a very specific tone though. You can try it out for fun though if you have the first Portal game. They had an easter egg of some sort using SSTV. Like this
The "closest" i've been able to capture images was just some weather map lol. In black and white but it was something. But! This was off my own radio i got off of Amazon. The Tecsun PL-600 (I wrote a super long but probably boring review on Amazon's page, under the name Mobius there if you want to read it). It was pretty cool though. I saved an image of it.
Imgur
I sometimes need help seeing it too :p
Most sets with integrated radios are like this and are probably not good for exercise. Something in the Sony SRF line (SRFH4, SRFHM33, etc) would work if you can find it
I like these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003A21DQA
Without knowing what gear your dad has or needs - it's going to be a crap shoot getting a winning gift.
There are items that we all like, but your dad may already have one he likes more.
Regardless... here are a few basic ideas from Amazon (hopefully available in the Canadian version too):
That's the whole thing.
For example, the Baofeng UV-3R is $32.92 (+free shipping) at amazon (http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-3R-136-174-400-470-Dual-Band/dp/B006J4G49C)
>The BaoFeng UV-3R dual band radio with FM transceiver, Mini size. Latest version with 18 menu items, S-meter and dual display and dual band antenna. It is a micro miniature multiband FM transceiver with extensive receive frequency coverage, providing local-area 2-way amateur communications along with unmatched monitoring capability. Functions and Features: LCD Menu Operations, Dual Band/Dual Display, Wide/Narrow Bandwidth, FM Radio Built-in (87.0MHz-108.0MHz), Emergency Alarm, Low Battery Alert, PC Programming, VOX (Off/1-9 Level), 99 Channels (1 Emergency Channel), CTCSS/CDCSS, Battery Saver, Power Capacity Display (ON), Backlight ON/OFF/Key, FM Radio Channel Storage, High illumination Flashlight.
Another version, the 5R is less than $36 http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R-136-174-400-480-Dual-Band/dp/B007H4VT7A
This and this are both good options to start with.
I'm in California where our two largest concerns (mine, anyway) are earthquakes and fire.
For earthquakes it's standard preparation stuff because aspects of grid can shut down for short or long periods of time. There's also the "get out of the house now!" type situation which is really just shoes and a flashlight, or just your human body. If your bag is downstairs and you're upstairs you're not going to run to a bugout bag first. It's just get out (depending on the quake, the building, etc).
I do have a bugout bag primarily for fire evacuation, which has:
I also have a google spreadsheet printed out that has the items we want to take. The evacuation orders can come at any time and you might be knee deep in some project or sick on the couch, you need to be able to mindlessly grab items that a smarter-you considered bringing. The bag is just the one that we're really screwed if we don't have. This is my list, it's taped under my desk at home.
Edit: also, there's a column for different family members. My kids have stuff they're supposed to grab (a change of clothes, etc) while mine has the chainsaw and a shovel.
It's possible you'll have less than 20 seconds to escape your home but chances are you'll have at least a few minutes, maybe even a few hours. Having a list of things to grab from the house thought out in advance seems reasonable to me. And some stuff that's super useful (like dumping everything from the medicine cabinet into a bag) is more of an instruction than an item, per say.
Dolls (for kids)
laptop
EMT gear
Backpacking food
Flashlights
Gasoline tanks
Wet wipes
Toilet Paper
Firearms
Ammunition
Map (Marked)
AA/AAA Batteries
Chainsaw
Shovel
Solar Panel
Tent
Soap
Medicine Cabinet
Checkbook
2m Radio
10 gallons water
2m base antenna
2m pvc ant mast
I also have a list of things I need to do if I leave the house, again this is tailored to fire evacuation. This is taped to the inside door of our utility closet. Easy to find but house guests aren't staring at it and we can keep our home more "homey" looking versus a forward operating base. These are taken from CalFire's suggestions and my own experience in and around fire.
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The Kaito KA1103 is still available as new.
These are both quality products, but I think you're going to be hardpressed to find one that acts as a CB Radio as well, you're better off getting something separate for that.
https://www.amazon.com/RunningSnail-Weather-Emergency-2000mAh-Flashlight/dp/B01DVXDXQU/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1498753723&sr=1-3&keywords=solar%2Fcrank+radio
/// https://www.amazon.com/Epica-Emergency-Flashlight-Smartphone-Certified/dp/B00CZDT30S/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1498753723&sr=1-4&keywords=solar%2Fcrank+radio
You have you work? There's always the radio. I miss driving around doing my errands in the evening whilst listening to 1090AM. Also, I bought a brand new radio to take to the pool this summer so I'm excited about that too. My 30 year old Realistic finally crapped out.
That one is twice the price in Canada! How about this one?
How is this compared to the CC Skywave aside from price?
The Tecson shortwave is the best price and has the best specs to boot with it. It is even better than the old Sony's.
Is that true?
Also I'm in Newfoundland Canada, will that impact the range and fun that can be had with this type of radio? I'm thinking of this as a possible gift for my father. Does this one also do HAM?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CZDT30S/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It works fabulously!
I have this from Amazon : http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001QTXKDI?pc_redir=1404163331&robot_redir=1 It's got am, fm, NOAA, and has both sleep modes and an alarm. It can charge with the sun, or the crank (about 2 minutes for about 15 minutes of radio.) We've had it for three years, and have replaced the batteries twice.
It's discontinued, but still available on Amazon.
The Eton Scorpion II is a water/shock/dust resistant tank. Hand crank, solar panel, AM/FM/NOAA bands, USB chargeable, and will charge your phone or electronic devices. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
http://amzn.com/B00WS6SKTM
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07L87MH64?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
There you go my man.
just picked up one of these.
def wont fit in your pocket but the thing is loud as hell. uses 4 AA batteries or you can plug it in and use it at home. gets the job done.
had this one before but volume really sucked and could barely hear it at dodger stadium.
I have had very good luck with this.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LYYUJAT/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
So, if you are going to use headphones, like at all I would suggest getting this.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L1NP7YI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Handy for any headphone application. I carry one in my edc.
hey, that might have been me, RS 2, Row B. I just got a new radio for these last games, i generally would bring another one, but it's now held together by duct tape and has been relegated to camping radio.
Picked mine up from amazon, a $25 sony AM/FM. My dad would always bring one to the game to listen and he's been going since the dodgers were playing at the coliseum (he was at roy campanella night), so I try to carry on the tradition. I'm hoping they play Vinny for all 9 all weekend, and I hope everyone has their radios out like they used to.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081IKTN6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This was the one I see the most out there http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QTXKDI/sr=8-1/qid=1374191150/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1374191150&seller=&sr=8-1
BOOM!
This is the one I was thinking about getting...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003A21DQA/
Good?
lmao, I just went over to /r/camping and searched for "music"
The first thread asking for advice had the top comment reminding them to be respectful of others nearby and the top comment with a recommendation linked to this piece of shit on amazon, with 50% 5 star recommendation, dropping to 13% at 4 stars.
I rest my case.
edit: LMAO. The next thread on portable music, the top comment was "bring your own guitar and make your own" and the product recommendation below it was for this piece of shit With 35% 5 star rating dropping to 21% at 4 stars. Sometimes I'm so right it hurts.
How about a goodie bag of some emergency stuff? A big flashlight, a mini first aid kit, and one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Epica-Emergency-Flashlight-Smartphone-Certified/dp/B00CZDT30S
Eh, I'd spend $10 more and get something like this with a built-in radio and crank/wall charging/solar charging/AA battery charging capabilities. It's a few dollars more for a lot more flexibility and functionality.
Between that, an 18650 headlamp, a solar-chargeable LED lantern, I've got reliable electronic light for months.
Ultimately it's up to what you think you need. Something like that hand-crank flashlight may be a good backup light source for a get home bag ... but I think there are better options for a multi-day bugout, especially if you need to keep on the move as much as possible.
This one? https://www.amazon.ca/C-Crane-Pocket-Radio-Presets/dp/B00BSYCZZ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537933419&sr=8-1&keywords=Crane+pocket
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Seems to be a very close contender and was one or my original prospects before I bought the DT200X but for some reason it's priced super high in my area. How much did you buy yours for?
Here is one with reviews
I wish I had bought this one instead: https://www.amazon.com/Eton-NSP101WXGR-Scorpion-Portable-Multi-Purpose/dp/B00WS6SKTM
Kaito KA500 5-Way Radio You can power it via Micro USB and Adapter as well as the usual Solar, Crank, and AA batteries. This radio also gives you access to the Shortwave bands so you can listen to.
If you want to go small, I recommend any portable radio that allows you to power it via external batteries AND internal rechargeable batteries while having an auxiliary jack for speakers and headphones. There are not that many portable radios that have all those features in a small package so it may be hard to find. The closest I got is this RunningSnail and it is in a similar size like the Kaito, but it managed to be a perfect fit in the side pocket of my daypack.
I also recommend using analog for emergencies if you plan to store it for months on end without checking the batteries. I have a Midland ER200 that died on me after the LED screen drained itself, however, the other RunningSnail that I keep in the car still had plenty of power even after six months.
That is assuming you are planning on receiving signals. Refer to others if you are looking into portable HAM radios.
https://www.amazon.com/Kaito-KA1103-Worldband-Radio-Silver/dp/B0006OCEFY
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/coverage/station_listing.html
Not GPS, but still transmitted.
I would skip the pairing with a blue tooth and buy a standalone AM/FM radio instead. Radios like this come to mind, depending on sound you need/ price.
[Radio 1] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FK0AEG0/ref=sxbs_sxwds-rbp3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=2898770402&pd_rd_wg=JY2Jq&pf_rd_r=DDAS85NN2EA5HEXTQTNW&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-bottom-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B00FK0AEG0&pd_rd_w=1QDtl&pf_rd_i=sony+am+fm+radio&pd_rd_r=ZMRGZZP3NDZRRKF9CBM0&ie=UTF8&qid=1491362907&sr=3)
[Radio 2] (https://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICF-F10-Portable-Battery-Transistor/dp/B0081IKTN6/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1491368308&sr=1-6&keywords=am+fm)
[Radio 3] (https://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICFP26-Portable-Radio-Black/dp/B012F0DGYE/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1491368308&sr=1-4&keywords=am+fm)
[Radio 3] (https://www.amazon.com/RadioShack-AM-FM-Pocket-Radio/dp/B005MUXNPM/ref=sr_1_21?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1491368308&sr=1-21&keywords=am+fm)
I would go that route rather than having to haul a radio, a transmitter and Bluetooth speaker. Just my thoughts Though.
I already have a nice camping shortwave and another small multiband receiver, but I wanted another, so I picked this up.
http://www.amazon.com/Kaito-KA321-Pocket-size-Shortwave-Processing/dp/B008MPKAPK
I misspoke. It only has SW 1-8.
It is a cheapy radio, but I have found that some of the cheap chinese radios work nicely for just fun listening
Unlike a lot of people, I'm not that big into the idea that communications will break down and the only news will be shortwave and ham. Ham radio has it's place, and if I can find a nice receiver I might buy it, but I don't go that much into it.
It's 36$ CAD so I figured it's not that low quality, but $11... wow
What do you think about these, they're a bit more expensive with good reviews.
Lately I've really been wanting to submerge myself into the hobby of shortwave radio listening. It's very appealing to me because it seems like in resent years it's become sort of a lost art that goes underappreciated in the west except by a tight-knit following. I like the idea of being able to listen to radio signals from around the world. Unfortunately it's a rather expensive hobby to get started on if you want a radio that's worth a damn.
I have this radio on my wishlist that's generally considered to be a good buy and falls under your price requirement. Gimme some Tech Daddi!!
You can spend as much or as little as you want, for the most part. These are just two examples of many.
http://smile.amazon.com/Baofeng-UV5R-136-174-400-480-Dual-Band/dp/B007H4VT7A?sa-no-redirect=1
http://smile.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-3R-136-174-400-470-Dual-Band/dp/B006J4G49C?sa-no-redirect=1
I live on the coast of New Jersey and ever since Hurricane Sandy I realized I really need to be more prepared for emergencies so I would love this solar powered flashlight that is also a radio and cellphone charger. Or anything at all from my survival wish list would be amazing. Thank you for running these contests!
https://www.amazon.com/LBell-Colored-Simulation-Bedrooms-LB01-Sunrise/dp/B07L87MH64/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=light+alarm+clock&qid=1572885021&sprefix=light+alarm&sr=8-3
>Have you considered a small portable radio that has a stereo headphone jack? You could connect the headphone output to the amp's input.
Yes, I have, but would that be the best option? I'd rather have something that looks halfway decent on my shelf, and most portable radios probably don't.
>"Real" component tuners would work fine of course, but would probably be too big where you're trying to use it.
What do you mean by a real component tuner? Can you link me to an example?
>The only issue I see is that the SA-50 only has one input, so you'd need to add an external RCA selector so that you chose which input signal to use with the amp.
Honestly, I'm fine with just switching out the cable. I don't need a radio so often to where I would need the convenience of a switch. It's a cool idea, though, and one I might capitalize on later.
I tossed in a bic mini and a clippers lighter. I personally prefer clipper lighters over bics and bought a bulk set online ages ago when I used to smoke. They are really good quality, refillable, and have a removable and replaceable Flint. From experience, they are better with wind too.
I also tossed a set of diamond greenlight matches I had laying around. They aren't waterproof but I know they are decent and last a long time since I just replaced them after buying bulk set 3 years ago.
As for radio, sadly this kit didn't come with one but I plan to find one to toss in. Looking for a quality mechanical light and radio combo. Like this one but wanting one that's an AOE one and not a targeted one.
Yea, there definitely things in this kit I would have never thought about
https://www.amazon.com/Kaito-KA321-Pocket-size-Shortwave-Processing/dp/B008MPKAPK
Time to take out this:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00WIF2T7C/ref=psdc_6893245011_t2_B007T13E2O
It sounds like you should just get something like https://www.amazon.com/iRonsnow-Emergency-Powered-Weather-Flashlight/dp/B00WIF2T7C if your concern is around camping.
Maybe find a water proof one if you're frequently at the river or lake.
This guy. The plans are annoying but not terribly expensive.
The Explorer isn't worth the upgrade money. The yellow one is a good deal.
It does spot weather forecasts which are alright. But the best part is the texting - have someone who can read gribs well watching for you and texting you once per day. If you don't have someone to do that, I'm more than happy to (though I'll be sailing south as well, may or may not conflict).
The alternative is SSB. This is the one that comes recommended, but I haven't gotten it to work well. I also haven't put in much time because my inreach system works great. If you can do it, you can tune into not only daily voice forecasts but weatherfax (works with computer and phone apps).