Crank Radio - Recommendations?

Discussion in 'Functional Gear & Equipment' started by Bubba, Mar 24, 2009.


  1. kckndrgn

    kckndrgn Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    This is all the manual says about the range:

     
  2. survival_junkie

    survival_junkie Monkey+

    Here's the one I've got in my 72-Hour Kit...

    The Dynamo Solar Powered Survival Radio (Kaito Voyager)

    Probably the biggest selling point for me was the fact that it has a USB port, so I can actually use my cell phones charging cord. Instead of having to worry about whether or not it came with the right adapter. Basically a lot of the newer cell phones have a cord with a usb that hooks into a wall charger. Instead of hooking into the wall charger I can hook into my Crank Radio.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 26, 2015
  3. Random

    Random Monkey+

    I don't want to rain on anyones parade, but have any of you actually used them? I got a flashlight sized unit from beprepared.com. It worked fine, except it would hold a charge for about a minute before you had to crank it for two or three minutes. Some friends of mine were really interested in a football game and were really upset that they missed a lot of it. We were in the mountains fishing at the time. None of them thought to bring one. Mine was for emergency use. It worked, just not very well.
     
  4. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Yeah, it's always a good idea to test out your kit. The Kaito Voyager works well, but if you use it and then store it, you should disconnect the rechargeable battery for long term storage. Purchasing an extra rechargeable battery helps, too. Those batts only work for "so long" until they turn to crap -as with any rechargeable battery.
     
  5. fortunateson

    fortunateson I hate Illinois Nazis!


    I second that. I have 2 Etons. FR300 and FR200.
    Amazon.com: Eton FR300 Emergency Crank Radio (Discontinued by Manufacturer): Electronics


    I first purchased the FR200 because it receives shortwave. I thought this would be handy to have to hear overseas news which occasionally comes with a different point of view. I bought it from a guy on Ebay. It was "new" but apparently it had hung around a bit and someone had tested it and left the battery connected. That battery now holds about 5 minutes of charge after a good cranking session. They guy was willing to take it back but I got it cheap, so I just hung on to it.

    I also picked up an FR300 because it has weather band and can be left on "alert". That's a standby mode which will alarm and turn on if NOAA broadcasts an emergency. That was brand new and the batteries hold more like 30 minutes after a good cranking.

    The point is that the batteries do wind down over time. I think if you can fully charge them (not with the crank) and fully drain them for a few cycles, they should come back to normal. Haven't figured that one out yet.

    The cranks on these are flimsy. I do expect them to break eventually.

    On a side note, shortwave is nice to have and so is NOAA emergency bands. I'd like it if they produced a radio that had both.
    The alert feature is of limited use. We're in a tornado alley so I'd like to leave it on alert, but apparently NOAA sees the need to send an alert if there's so much as a lightning strike in a neighboring county. A real nuisance.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 26, 2015
  6. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    You're right there - during bad weather I have to turn my bedside radio 'off' the weather alert - it'll warble every ten minutes!
     
  7. CrufflerJJ

    CrufflerJJ Monkey++

    Greetings from a new member!

    The problem is that you need the weather radio turned on during nasty weather. I ran into the same issue with my first Midland/Radio Shack weather radio years & years ago (and would also turn it off during periods of idiotic alert messages). I replaced it with a Midland WR-300.

    This radio lets you plug in the S.A.M.E. codes for what weather alerts you're interested in. In my case, I don't care about flood warnings, thunderstorm watch/warnings, stray cow flop alerts, or any of that BS. I just want to know if there's a tornado warning in my county, or in an immediately adjacent county. This radio lets me specify the type of alert, and what counties are monitored. Very handy!

    The only time I hear a squawk out of this radio is during the weekly test, OR during an actual tornado warning.
     
  8. coinshooter

    coinshooter Monkey+

    I have several of the Gundig/eaton that work good for what they are. used them durning Hurrican Ike and Hurrican Rita. But after seeing the midllands with the radio and gmrs that looks like a future purchase.
     
  9. azranger

    azranger Monkey+

    Most of the ones mentioned are so cheaply made (read shoddy goods) or dont have good reception. You get what you pay for here folks. Does anyone know of an industrial strength one??? After all, information "might" be somewhat important in a true emergency situation, right?
     
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