weather radio recommendations

paintlady · #1 04/15/12, 08:55 AM

I am thinking of getting a weather alert radio with SAME capabilities as we live too far away from town to hear tornado sirens. I was wondering if anyone has used these radios and can make some recommendations as to a reliable radio that would get reception in a very rural area.
Thanks.

sunflower-n-ks · #2 04/15/12, 10:57 AM

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This is the site I use to watch the weather. Put your city, state in the box in the upper left hand corner and you will get the information for your area including a radar map that shows any storms. I watch that map when the weather is acting up. I have even watched the storms for a friend when she was out camping so she would know in tine to head for shelter if she needed to.

It also prints out any local weather warnings so you can see them at any time when they exist.

A weather radio is great when you are away from the computer. Wish I had one.

Macybaby · #3 04/15/12, 12:54 PM

I love having the weather alert radio. It's in the den but I can hear it go off from anywhere in the house, unfortunatly DH can not, but he has hearing issues and can't hear a lot of thing. Has a battery backup if the power goes down.

Mine wakes me up, and that is nice during tornado season. I lay in bed and listen, and based on the alert, decide if I need to get up and do something about it. (like let the cats in, or go close up windows).

Ours is programed for the counties around us so we have some warning, more than the local siren. If the wind is blowing right, I can just hear the nearest siren if I'm out in the garden (can't hear it when inside) but not if I've got any other noise going on. But when I'm outside I keep an eye on the sky.

Ours is Reecom. DH thinks the Midland one is easier to program, but that is from reading directions, not actually doing it.

fordy · #4 04/15/12, 01:00 PM

..............Look at the ETON , American Red Cross radio's at radio Shack ! They have 4 different models , I purchased the next too the most expensive model at $79.95 ! It has a cranck too power it in case the batteries go down . It also has a handle for carrying and an emergency light . It has a multiplicity of functions beyond just NOAA stations plus AM\FM and short wave . The factory speaker works quite well ! , fordy

Country Lady · #5 04/15/12, 03:26 PM

We have one from Radio Shack that's several years old that we paid around $40 for. It has Specific Space Area Message Encoding weather radio alert on it. It also has the NOAA emblem on it.

stockdogtta · #6 04/15/12, 03:26 PM

I got a Sangean CL100, think it was $50/60. I picked this one because can set just the counties and the alerts you want to hear. Its siren is loud and will wake you up...to catch the alert. Also as a clock radio with alarm which works good.

Horseyrider · #7 04/15/12, 04:40 PM

I have a First Alert NOAA radio. You can poke a button and hear the weather at any time, and you can set it to scream for whatever type of alert, watch, or warning you program it for. They're so awesome I gave my daughter's family one for Christmas last year. They will also still work with battery backup in case of power failure.

These are even programmed to give Amber Alerts should you wish to receive them.

halfpint · #8 04/15/12, 10:07 PM

We have a Midland. We tried several others and returned them as they wouldn't pick up the weather or receive the alerts where we live. It's been a couple of years though so the reception may have improved.
Dawn

**Shrek** · #9 04/15/12, 11:10 PM

I have the previous generation version of this one from Radio Shack and it is loud and clear in the house and offers the portability of being handheld so I can clip it to my belt if outside working before storms roll in

weather radio recommendations - Homesteading Questions

weather radio recommendations - Homesteading Questions

RadioShack® 7-Channel Handheld Weather Radio with SAME - RadioShack.com

The only difference between the one I use and the current version is my version doesn't have the engish/french/spanish language option on the text display.

Macybaby · #10 04/16/12, 08:18 AM

I lke that portable option, may have to look into something like that. Though one day I watched a tornado pass to the north of the house, and the weather alert didn't go off until AFTER it had passed. Guess they had no idea one might form until it DID, then they sent out the warnings.

okiemom · #11 04/16/12, 09:46 AM

we have one but it screams for everything. in OK there is always a tstorm and I dont care. wake me for a tornado only. we tried to program it but it still screams for everything. huge paperweight.