Emergency Radios

[Darrell Davis]

Complete newbe on ths subject, but --------------------

I see the hand crank powered emergency radios listed at really low prices that really make me wonder about quality.

Don't like to over pay, but don't make it a habit to buy junk if I can help it!

What is the story on these radios.

What is good?

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[powderman]

DARRELL. We bought one 11 or 12 years ago. No brand name just says dynamo and solar. A 3 position switch for charging, SOLAR, crank, or batteries, AAs. We keep the switch on solar and in a sunny window. We've had to rely on it numerous times over the years from just a few hours to a week at a time. We have never had to use bttys in it. Cranking is possible and we have used it but the solar is great. We have several small radios that also take 4 AA bttys and keep plenty of them on hand. Don't know if this radio is even made anymore. I believe it had to do with the Y2K thing. Everybody needs an emergency radio. POWDERMAN. 

[Darrell Davis]

Thanks for the reply, Powderman!

As I said, don't like junk and when I see the low prices and/or names which I do not know, it makes me wonder.

Back in the late 50s or very early 60s, I had a small battery powdered radio. That was when transistors were a bit new.  It was a very good radio and operated on 4 AA batteries.

Now days, there is so much off shore junk, I don't even know what to look for.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[victorcharlie]

Well, weren't transistor radios the "first wave" of off shore imports?  Japanese junk we used to call them. 

[Darrell Davis]

Can't answer that.

But, I suspect it was still made in the USA.  It was a gift from the folks, and for those times quite good.  The batteries lasted and lasted and lasted.

Lived in Eastern Oregon at that time, not a lot of radio stations, but I was able to pick up a number of stations on that little radio.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[powderman]

We have picked up used radios at goodwill and flea markets and paid $1-$3 ea.  All work well and take 4 AAs. The one with the crank we bought new but we've never used anything but the solar power. POWDERMAN.