Emergency radio

[Unisaw]

I looking to buy an emergency radio and came across the Grundig FR200.

"This self-powered emergency radio will keep you informed and entertained when a storm knocks out your power.
No need to buy batteries! Simply flip out the side hand-crank and give it a quick 60 turns for an hour of battery-free listening
Built-in emergency light is also powered by the rechargeable hand-crank battery
Four-band tuning features FM/AM and two shortwave options (3.2 - 7.6 MHz and 9.2 - 22.0 MHz)
Analog tuning features a separate fine-tune dial to zero-in on a finicky signal
Telescoping antenna for SW/FM reception; internal antenna for AM reception
Comes with a durable nylon case with shoulder strap
Will also operate on three AA batteries, not included .

Weight 10 ounces
Dimensions 6.75 x 5.75 x 2.18 inches

It is available at REI for only $40.

Comments and suggestions would be much appreciated.

[Sergeant Bob]

Seems like a pretty good price. Guess it depends on the quality as to whether it's worth buying.
The Baygen Freeplay radio goes for about $100 and is similarly equipped.

[BryanP]

I've seen hand-cranked radios (which will also use AA batteries) for less than $20 at the local Walgreens.  Quality unknown.

[jefnvk]

I had a handheld cheap shortwave Grundig radio once.  Probably the best little radio I ever owned, right up to the point where I accidently ripped out the antenna.  I could pick up radio from all over the world with it, and it was nothing fancy at all.

[Dave Markowitz]

Consumer reviews of the Grundig FR-200 are online at eHam.net (http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2573) and Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000083CUA/qid=1126012191/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-9232981-2311049?v=glance&s=home-garden&n=507846).

My $0.02:

For an emergency/SHTF receiver, local AM stations and the NOAA weather station for your area are likely to be the most useful.  Shortwave is less likely to provide immediately useful info.

Since I am a ham, my SHTF radio is my Yaesu VX-5RS handheld transceiver.  Aside from being an FM UHF and VHF transceiver, I can receive AM, FM, NOAA weather broadcasts, and some shortwave  bands.  Check out getting your ham license.  The entry level Technician's class (what I have for now) isn't hard to get and does not require that you learn Morse code.  See http://www.arrl.org/hamradio.html, to get started.

[garrettwc]

Check these guys out for some cool radio stuff:

http://www.ccrane.com/

[Unisaw]

Thanks for the replies.  I have never considered getting a ham license -- sounds interesting.

[Antibubba]

I got two of those cheapo knockoffs-AM/FM, flashlight, crank and solar charged-for $10 at Harbor Freight.   You can put 2 "AA"s in the back, and I use Ni-Cads from the solar charger on my window sill.  It's free energy!  The speaker reminds me of the radio I listened to in bed as a kid.

BTW, although Ni-Cads have a few more idiosyncrasies than Nimh, they retain their charge for much longer, so I prefer them.  And you can find them at HF, too.  

[Harold Tuttle]

i have the original handcrank Freeplay radio

its a solid, easy to maintain, system  that was designed to be used in Africa

i might pick up a weza next:
http://www.freeplayenergy.com/index.php?section=products&subsection=freechargeportable