[Peter Creasey]

My 1950s (7?) transistor radio has served me well for a VERY long time.

It's time, though, to upgrade before the next hurricane arrives so what should I look for? What features, besides radio reception, obviously, should I consider? (NOTE: I do not need a smart phone station [if they're even available].)

Any specific equipment or model numbers?

Etc.?

[hollywood]

My 1950s (7?) transistor radio has served me well for a VERY long time.

It's time, though, to upgrade before the next hurricane arrives so what should I look for? What features, besides radio reception, obviously, should I consider? (NOTE: I do not need a smart phone station [if they're even available].)

Any specific equipment or model numbers?

Etc.?

You want short wave or world reception, or just local?

[GG Mora]

How about a hand-cranked unit so you never have to fuss about batteries:

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/se...=SR&feat=sr

[SRD]

My next radio will be a wifi one, here is a (relatively) interesting review otherwise we are very happy with our little Sony like this one. If you are really worried then this one might be more suitable.

[Peter Creasey]

You want short wave or world reception, or just local?

H, Don't know! I'm just getting educated as to what I should consider; hence, my questions here. Any suggestions?

How about a hand-cranked unit so you never have to fuss about batteries:
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/se...=SR&feat=sr

G, Sounded interesting until I saw that key features will not be functional when TV goes digital.

My next radio will be a wifi one, here is a (relatively) interesting review otherwise we are very happy with our little Sony like this one. If you are really worried then this one might be more suitable.

S, I was expecting to be told about things I had never known existed. Your suggestions are good examples. I don't want to pay as much for the wifi one, especially since it will very rarely (if ever) be used. I'll have to think about the other two as compared to whatever else gets suggested.

Part of my problem, obviously, is I don't know much about all of this. Reception of the weather link is probably desirable along with AM/FM stations. Otherwise, I'll have to see what is recommended.

[SRD]

You want short wave or world reception, or just local?

H, Don't know! I'm just getting educated as to what I should consider; hence, my questions here. Any suggestions?

How about a hand-cranked unit so you never have to fuss about batteries:
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/se...=SR&feat=sr

G, Sounded interesting until I saw that key features will not be functional when TV goes digital.

My next radio will be a wifi one, here is a (relatively) interesting review otherwise we are very happy with our little Sony like this one. If you are really worried then this one might be more suitable.

S, I was expecting to be told about things I had never known existed. Your suggestions are good examples. I don't want to pay as much for the wifi one, especially since it will very rarely (if ever) be used.

Radio is addictive, especially when one starts discovering that many of the good things one misses on TV are still available on radio.

I'll have to think about the other two as compared to whatever else gets suggested.

Part of my problem, obviously, is I don't know much about all of this. Reception of the weather link is probably desirable along with AM/FM stations. Otherwise, I'll have to see what is recommended.

So a world/short wave radio would be recommended. Over here we have long wave as well, vital for me as it carries the cricket commentaries but probably not as important to you.

[Peter Creasey]

Radio is addictive, especially when one starts discovering that many of the good things one misses on TV are still available on radio.

S, I hardly ever watch TV. I only have background radio music in my office. Thus, I would highly doubt that I would ever develop a habit of listening to a portable radio.

So a world/short wave radio would be recommended. Over here we have long wave as well, vital for me as it carries the cricket commentaries but probably not as important to you.

Not familiar with long wave so, as you say, doubt it would be of interest.

I'll have to look into how best to shop for a "world/short wave radio".

[Rail Paul]

Amazon has an emergency weather radio for sale. My parents have the earlier version (the FR 300) at their Florida home. Hand crank, can recharge cellphones, has a flashlight. It's worked fine during several storms where they've lost power for a few hours. They've never had to use it during a full scale hurricane, evacuation, etc.

FR 400

The evaluators raised several good concerns about wimpy AC charging unit, selectivity and image rejection, etc for the 400 unit. One major concern from the Rita and Katrina storms was the absence of cell phone towers in a wide area, limiting the value of the cellphone handsets.

The Midland radio seems to have better features, but lacks the key crank recharge feature, so you need a fistful of AA batteries. I like the feature that allows you to set the radio so it activates and warns on life threatening alerts (tornados in the area) but not wake you for a thunderstorm alert.

Midland radio

[Peter Creasey]

FR 400

Paul, I assume the TV feature on this radio would no longer work when TV goes digital next year!?!

The Midland radio seems to have better features, but lacks the key crank recharge feature
Midland radio

This radio seems to receive universally good reviews. As you say, too bad it doesn't have a hand crank.

[hollywood]

Amazon has the Grundig G5 for $150 which sort of covers the globe--but it's battery operated. Of course, if a real calamity is expected, you can get a generator to operate such items.

[SRD]

From the same source this seems to fulfill your requirements cheaply.

[flyfish]

Radio is addictive, especially when one starts discovering that many of the good things one misses on TV are still available on radio.

Haven't you Brits just fired all your radio hosts?

[splinky]

this one receives digital weather band and is battery operated

The radio has single-sideband modulation for receiving two-way marine, aviation, and Ham radio broadcasts, and the device can access international radio stations through digital AM/FM and digital shortwave. With 400 presets, a digital clock with three alarms, and a built-in digital NOAA weather band that can access all seven National Weather Service stations anywhere in the U.S. Includes an audio line-in port for playing music from an iPod® or CD player, three AA rechargeable batteries, AC adapter, and an audio line-in cable.

[GG Mora]

The Midland radio seems to have better features, but lacks the key crank recharge feature, so you need a fistful of AA batteries. I like the feature that allows you to set the radio so it activates and warns on life threatening alerts (tornados in the area) but not wake you for a thunderstorm alert.

Thunderstorms are pretty well equipped to wake you on their own.

[Rail Paul]

The Midland radio seems to have better features, but lacks the key crank recharge feature, so you need a fistful of AA batteries. I like the feature that allows you to set the radio so it activates and warns on life threatening alerts (tornados in the area) but not wake you for a thunderstorm alert.

Thunderstorms are pretty well equipped to wake you on their own.

I don't know. I sleep through thunderstorms all the time, but wake when I hear the neighborhood kids outside in the street retching at 4am.

Maybe it's some kind of awareness feature