Jump to content

Need advice WEATHER RADIO


Recommended Posts

I travel full time and am on my second weather radio, with lots of frustrations.  The first one was obviously a cheapo and the knobs broke within 3 months.  The second one, a Midland 120ez, is supposed to be a good one but I haven’t gotten any signals in over 6 months.  The last two places Iv’e been in Oklahoma had severe thunderstorms and hail and the radio sat silently the whole time.  It’s set on “any” for location. 

I really want one that has a very strong signal no matter where I’m camped.  Don’t care about other bells and whistles like hand-cranking, etc.  I would like to keep it plugged in to an outlet or usb full time (except when driving) as I almost 100% of the time have electrical where I’m parked.  I just want to be able to pick up AM radio signals and NOAA weather updates no matter where I am.

When I was in the south, I could push the button and get a looping weather report any time of day or night.  Now, I’m in Oklahoma and nothing!

What do you use?  What do you like/dislike about your model?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Internet isn't always available and sometimes you're not within a good phone signal.  We're all for a weather radio.  Ours is an oldie so can't recommend a new model.  Good luck!

Full-timed for 16 Years
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Motorhome
and 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have a weather radio. Would not travel without one.  To find ours I went to Google and did a search for the best weather radios for 2017 and 2018.  We chose a Midland.  Has weather alert am, fm, tv, multiple power sources, hand crank, solar,  ac, dc light etc. 

We also use our cell phone, and the weather band on the truck cb. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Go to Cabellas, Bas Pro Shop etc and go to the hunting section. They will have good inexpensive weather radios 

2015 Itasca Ellipse 42QD

2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock Edition

2021 Harley Street Glide Special 

Fulltimer

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We bought one from either Walgreen or CVS a couple years ago.  It worked at first but then at some CG's we couldn't get squat.  Can't tell you the brand because it is stored under the bed with other stuff we don't use.

We went back to having alerts set on our I-phones.  It has worked well so far.

Joe & Cindy

Newmar 4369 Ventana

Pulling 24' enclosed (Mini Cooper, Harley, 2 Kayaks)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a marine radio that has the weather channels on it and alarms tool.  But the cell phone is a great idea with all of the weather apps available.

Ed

KM4STL

2006 GMC 2500HD CCSB 4x4 Duramax/Allison, Titan 52 gallon fuel tank, Prodigy Controller, B&W Companion Hitch
2010 Jayco Designer 35RLTS, RV Flex Armor Roof

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used a Cobra 129 WX while on the road traveling. Used a hand-held scanner from Radio Shack with r-re-chareable batteries and a AC adapter while parked. Now since I have parked permanent I use a Midland AC unit with battery backup in case the power goes down! 

:) Living Life One Day At A Time!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, Alie&Jim's Carrilite said:

Be aware that cell phone apps are great until towers go down... either lose power or are literally on the ground. A radio doesn't have that issue.    

Radios don't get their signals from towers?

Everybody wanna hear the truth, but everybody tell a lie.  Everybody wanna go to Heaven, but nobody want to die.  Albert King

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

42 minutes ago, chirakawa said:

Radios don't get their signals from towers?

Cell Towers are line of sight, chances of losing a radio tower are far fewer than a cell tower.  Look at all the recent hurricanes.  Mexico beach didn't have cell service for weeks because the towers were down, but they had radio communications and alerts.

Alie & Jim + 8 paws

2017 DRV Memphis 

BART- 1998 Volvo 610

Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, Alie&Jim's Carrilite said:

.  Mexico beach didn't have cell service for weeks because the towers were down, but they had radio communications and alerts.

And OP's didn't work in Oklahoma.  I'd consider a weather radio a device of last resort.  In probably 99% of cases your phone will do the job. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Alie&Jim's Carrilite said:

Cell Towers are line of sight, chances of losing a radio tower are far fewer than a cell tower.  Look at all the recent hurricanes.  Mexico beach didn't have cell service for weeks because the towers were down, but they had radio communications and alerts.

I guess my experience is just totally different.  Since cellphones have gotten widespread popular, I've worked through four hurricanes in SE Texas.  In all four cases, we relied heavily on Verizon cellular when landlines were all but useless.  Never, ever, not even once did I not have cell service.

On the other hand, after Rita came through, all the television stations were down for weeks.  Most radio stations were down.  DISH Network provided alternative stations from another part of Texas so that we could see news about our area.  I can't say whether the weather radio broadcasts were interrupted or not, since I never tried to use them.

As for your statement of "chances of losing a radio tower are far fewer than a cell tower", I can't say one way or the other, other than my own experiences.  I think they are both built to survive Hurricane force winds.  I think their auxiliary power source is a more fragile area.  Without power, even a standing tower is pretty useless.  In my area, most, if not all, Verizon towers have natural gas generators on site.

Everybody wanna hear the truth, but everybody tell a lie.  Everybody wanna go to Heaven, but nobody want to die.  Albert King

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  First of all, it's an FM radio working on VHF freqs, and the transmitters may be surprisingly low-powered.

  So how do we deal with that. First, we get the antenna outdoors up on the roof or similar. Many WX radios have an antenna connection. If you have an ordinary FM dash radio with the antenna on the roof, get a splitter connector and a length  of cable and plug your WX radio into that. If not, perhaps you can connect an ordinary whip  FM antenna on a cable directly to the WX radio. No, the wavelength doesn't match but it's close enough.

  My MH body is aluminum. effectively a Faraday cage that blocks radio signals. I have to get the antenna in a window facing the transmitter to get anything. If this was critical I'd have a marine VHF (closer freq match) antenna up at the top of the rear ladder with the coax plugged into the WB.

  Of course you have to make sure you're tuned to appropriate channel and SAME code if you want to get alerts. Here's the list: https://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/coverage/county_coverage.html

  Once you enter the SAME code and channel, you should not only hear the broadcast but recieve the Weekly Test of the alert system.

  Of course you may simply be out of range. Locally my transmitters are TPA, MCO and MLB; TPA and MLB aren't heard at all and MCO is marginal.  I wouldn't count on getting an alert, but I probably would if I was 20 miles closer.

  What I do if significant weather is coming is monitor various internet sources, weather radio, and ordinary radio and tv stations as appropriate. Usually a radar feed is the earliest warning with tv stations being the slowest, but of course you have to be looking at the radar feed to be warned.

-C&J-

 

CG reviews & more - www.fugawetribe.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
RVers Online University

campgroundviews.com

RV Destinations

Find out more or sign up for Escapees RV'ers Bootcamp.

Advertise your product or service here.

The Rvers- Now Streaming

RVTravel.com Logo



×
×
  • Create New...