I have an old realistic crytall controlled weather radio. Got a new one, but it picks up channels out of my area and keeps giving warnings in the middle of the night that are not relative. Must be something better. Still using the old one.
NOAA Weather Radio opinions...
- Thread starter LostInTheWoods
- Start date
- Views: 7526
mikim
Veteran Member
I'd like everyone to write their congressman / senator and ask them to please look to cellular alternatives to NOAA radio. Wouldn't it be easier / better to receive a call with recorded message on your phone? Cell phones are getting much more common and more people have them than NOAA wx radios for sure. The coverage areas would be greatly increased and it would be cheaper for the govt and save us all money. The service could be a free add on with the cell companies (govt mandate?) and folks that didn't want it could 'opt out". You could also call your local NWS office and ask them if such a thing is in the works / or could it be?
OP
LostInTheWoods
Platinum Member
Not a bad idea, but there are still places where cell phone reception is spotty (like my house). And what if cell towers are down and/or out of power do to storms? Some television stations will text you for severe weather alerts if you get on their lists, but there'd be more delay, I'd think. Weather service issues warning...someone at the station enters warning into text message...text goes out over cell (which hopefully aren't down due to storm). Here in KY, we can sometimes have days where tornadic thunderstorms can hit the same area more than once.
QRTRHRS
Elite Member
You need to re-read my post. The new radios have what they call S.A.M.E. (Specific Area Message Encoding) technology. You can program in the areas of concern to you.
QRTRHRS
Elite Member
Add me to the list of two bars if I am lucky for phone service.
Perhaps cellular and NOAA warnings would be nice to have?
Profit from my mistake. If you get a Weather Radio do not, I repeat do not program in Counties of interest. I did, the six adjoining counties and until I reprogramed the unit my sleep at night was constantly being interrupted by the Weather Radio activating. I would strongly recommend only programing in the county of residence. The Weather Service is good about including only the counties with an expected problem in the alerts. I can either read about the Severe Weather in the newspaper or see it on TV that impacted on a neighboring county. I do not have to be awaken at three in the morning to hear about a projected thunder storm in another county.
hmm..what brands?.. prices.. sounds good so far.
QRTRHRS
Elite Member
This is sort of a good site for information. I had a lead in my previous post on the Midland that I bought for about a buck less than posted in that link.
I had called the company in the link with questions but their "tech" never answered me. That and the shipping would have been 20 bucks vs 4 from Amazon so I went with Amazon. That is why I said "sort of a good site".
QRTRHRS
Elite Member
I programmed four counties in mine. One is the county where I work just out of curiosity and the other three because I live right where the three counties come together. If it turns out to be a mistake, I can quickly cancel any of the four out.
SpaceGhost
New member
for those with cab tractors, this has NOAA S.A.M.E. weather built-in & is advertised as rugged:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_522JHD3620/Jensen-Heavy-Duty-JHD3620.html?search=JHD3620&skipvs=T
not so portable, but it is a removable head unit & certainly is multi-purpose
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_522JHD3620/Jensen-Heavy-Duty-JHD3620.html?search=JHD3620&skipvs=T
not so portable, but it is a removable head unit & certainly is multi-purpose