Every family needs to have an emergency radio of some kind available in case of power outages, severe storms, or even more disastrous events. The best emergency radio for a family is one that not only fills the need for instant, reliable information in times of crisis, but also serves other more general uses as well.
If an emergency radio is never used or tested how does one know that it will work properly when the need arises? This article discusses several high quality emergency radios that also serve other information and entertainment purposes. In other words, these emergency radios can be used year round with confidence that it will work properly when needed, regardless of the situation.
Some Tips For Buying An Emergency Radio
There are a few things to think about when purchasing an emergency radio. All of the emergency radio models mentioned later in this article fit most if not all of these criteria:
- Look for models with multiple power sources. An ideal setup is an emergency radio that runs off of solar, A/C, or battery power as well as having a rotary crank charger as well. You never know when or where you might be when you need it.
- Look for emergency radios that are at least water resistant. There are few, if any, waterproof emergency radios out there, but finding on that can go out in the rain for a while and survive is always a good bit of insurance.
- Look for models with multiple radio bands. At the very least the radio needs AM and weather band antennas. Ideally the radio should also have FM and emergency HAM radio bands as well. While HAM radio bands are not commonly listened to but are often used as a vital link during times of crisis all over the world.
- Remember that some models still sport TV band reception. Be careful to make sure that if it receives TV band audio that it works with digital TV broadcasts. Ever since summer of 2009 the old style analog TV band radios no longer work.
Suggested Emergency Radio Brands and Models
The market leader in this area is clearly the Eton emergency radio line of products. The Eton FR300 emergency radio comes highly recommended by several online retailers as evidenced by very positive customer review scores. It comes with rechargable batteries and a rotary crank, as well as the ability to run of of standard household power if desired (adapter not included). It only has AM/FM/weather for reception, but it also has the ability to recharge several different kinds of cellular phones. The unit comes with five different plugs for various makes and models of phones. It also has a built in emergency siren and flashlight.
For those that want a more water resistant emergency radio look for the Eton FR400, a more compact version of the same brand of radio that carries with it the same features as the larger model. The FR400 sells for roughly the same price as the other model so for many people the FR400 may be the better buy.
Having a working emergency radio in the home gives a person a more solid sense of security. No home should be without one and no family should be without one when traveling in severe weather conditions.
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