Weather Radio

I hinted at this earlier when I mentioned using my Ham gear to monitor on occasion.

If you get a radio with an external antenna jack, or a detachable (BNC usually) antenna. You can put a Scanner Antenna up high on the roof outside and use it (you want one that gets VHF 160-161 MHZ range) This will greatly improve your weather radio performance.. HEIGHT IS MIGHT and if you get a good antenna it adds more might as well. (I sometimes make my own antennas).

More than the radio is the antenna.

How important is height? Well this is transmitting but.

I once took my new hand held fully synthesized 2 meter (Close enough to be a fair comparison) radio up to the 21st floor of an office building where I worked.. I run 1 watt into a very poor antenna, perhaps 1/4 to 1/2 watt Effective Radiated power.. I'm in Downtown Detroit (Lodge freeway at Howard) and I am chatting with some hams in Toledo Ohio via a repeater station in Adrian, MI.

A VE3 attempts to join in and fails.. (VE3 is Windsor. I can actually see his house from where I'm standing) He's not making it, I forget if he had 40 watts at 30 feet or 30 watts at 40 feet.

But I had 250 feet and that's why I made it with flea power.

Are any 12 VDC? Yes indeed, we use the Midland WR300 both at the S&B (wall wart) and on the road 12 VDC direct. Great little radio. AM & FM as well.

I am cheap and so I haven't graduated to a smartphone as yet because my old phone still works find...so that is out and we do camp often out in the boonies where we don't get call service. And I really don't want a hand-crank one because of arthritis in my hands. Are any 12 volt?

I have smartphones with cell boosters. I also have a Cobra CB with weather alert built in. It starts screeching a high level tone and flashes the CB lights when a weather alert is activated.

Mine is a Midland "Pocket" model. I also have the weather channels programmed in to all my Ham receivers. (Better antennas means better range)

got mine at Walmart. Midland S.A.M.E. technology. $25.

I have the Eton Axis with alert for inside the TT http://www.amazon.com/American-Self-Powered-Weather-Charger-ARCPT300W/dp/B004P0MVHG/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1381804705&sr=1-1&keywords=eton+axis
and the Eton Rover to take with me
http://www.amazon.com/ARCPT200W-American-Self-Powered-Weather-Flashlight/dp/B004P0UKLK

I've got a Midland weather radio i've had for at least 5 yrs. never a problem with it, and you can set it for all the counties around you to get warnings in advance. Runs on AC or batteries. great little unit. Thanks

Both good choices. I like the phone better but the midland is good for when your out of cellphone range.

I have this Midland and like it.