I have been looking at these for a while, I guess since being hunched over the radio at my desk all day on 9/11. I still have not found one that has everything I'd like (AM/FM radio would be nice, water resistant, AA batteries). I plan to use it for fun but also like the idea of having it for news during emergencies, storms, power outages, etc. Has anyone tried one they could recommend? Do they suck batteries too fast for consideration as emergency gear? Do you think most users would be better off with a smaller AM/FM/TV/Weather radio? Thanks again!

I would go with one of the Sangean multiband radios from Crane or their Radio Shack counterparts first. The video screen will suck up a lot of power and listening to TV audio only allows you to multitask.

I'm actually using an Icom R-2 these days, against my better judgment. It has good battery life from commonly available batteries, and can get FM Broadcast and VHF TV fairly well, but it's an acquired taste. Unless you're into the full use of the unit it's a bother to use.

My wife carries a paperback book size TV/AM/FM radio. It uses 8 AA batteries or AC adapter. Hers is a Magnavox, that we bought many years ago. I have not seen it available in the past several years. It has a 1.5-2.0 inch color screen, with good general local reception.

TV use will deplete the batteries very rapidly so I have ask her to not use the TV band after building evacuation. The radio frequencies are both good and will last a long time on the batteries.

Our experience is that local coverage of emergencies (earthquake, riots etc) is NOT done best by TV crews. They tend to focus on very local damage at the exclusion of important but unexciting information. For instance, TV crews shot over and over the same buildings and piles of bricks after the Nisqually earthquake. Shots of the many undamaged bridges and roads across the lakes and cuts which would have been good information were not even considered. Local radio, both AM and FM, were better but still focused on the irrelevent news. Local HAM operators would answer specific questions about neighboorhood damage, bridges and roadways.

TV coverage simply sucked, so I do not consider addition of a TV to my kit as needed. My wife watches the Soaps at lunch so it is essential to her "kit" <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I dont' bother with a TV at all. Battery life stinks. You'll do better with a decent AM/FM radio, or better and all-band unit. Until recently I carried a Yaesu VX-5 Ham radio, which gets TV audio and just about everythign else (AM.FM Air Band, Military, TV audio...more) however, that was ditched for a tiny little $14 radio-shack AM/FM radio that kicked butt on the AM reception vs. the $370 ham radio. I still (occasionally) carry the VX-5 but our local ham organization is not really useful and the "emergency" repeater is usually off!
So a broadcast band receiver is a good idea. Right now, you can go to a local radioshack and get the Grundig multi-band radio for really cheap - they are closing them out. That's a good radio. Ideally, your radio should also pick up Weather Band..

Sangean makes fine radios for this purpose.

I've posted before about the dismal radio news in my area, and it was never more apparent than on 9-11 when I was at work and totally dependent on radio or log-jammed internet for the news. For some time they thought there were more un-accounted for hijacked planes, and we didn't know the full scope of possible terrorist activity across the country. Since then I've bought two Sony AM/FM/Weather/TV radios, and a Casio TV-970B LCD TV. The LCD TV gives several hours of viewing on 4 AA batteries, and even more if you keep the contrast low. I love it, and I think it's essential for a car pack in urban areas. Preparedness is very much an individual decision process. Regards, Tom

I agree. I have the Optimus version of the Sangean radio, which performs great, but runs on AAA batteries. Sangean makes a similar unit which runs on AAs, and has even better AM reception, but lacks the WX band.

Generally, I think TV Audio and AM is more important for urban contingencies.

Sangean DT-300VW...awesome little radio having FM/AM/TV/Weather

I have Casio TV-970, but I found it not that useful: when I travel abroad I prefer reading. When I go to the countryside I always find something more interesting to do. I listen to radio on my walkman when I travel abroad, but when I go to the countryside I find it a bit useless. Unless go fishing. But I usually fish in wilderness where protable TV does not work properly.

Years ago when I was living in Southern Oregon we had a pretty good earthquake (it was the first one this former midwestern boy had ever experienced and it scared the bejeesus out of me!). I was getting ready for bed so I turned the TV back on to find out what had just happened. Nothing was reported until sometime the next day although the FM radio stations were reporting on the damage and other information almost immediately. Just goes to show you - the more remote the area, the less likely the TV press is to think it important enough to report on. I like my Grundig AM/FM/SW just fine.

By the way, somehow the Nisqually earthquake was always located in Seattle by the national press even though the epicenter was quite a bit south being closer to Olympia. Not that we're complaining down this way, Seattle is welcome to any earthquake they want <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Terry