Emergency radio is increasingly popular in more or less populated areas, it is a device specifically designed to receive critical alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). ). Thanks to NOAA, it helps to activate a network of emergency transmitters to warn of potential information going on.
However, while transmitting the information is susceptible to extreme weather, wildfires, earthquakes, amber warnings and natural and man-made disasters. As a result, manufacturers have upgraded functions to provide users with a single source of information, notification and connection with authorities in the event of certain natural disasters. In addition, in case of loss of connectivity, many emergency radio products have added backup battery devices, LED lights at night or connected to the information outside the world. Therefore, they become indispensable equipment for any home. But to better understand how to choose an emergency radio, you should continue reading the article below.
1. Multiple power sources of emergency radio
An emergency radio has many options for maintaining power in the event of an emergency. All radios have the ability to plug into a wall outlet or run on built-in batteries. Some areas are prone to blizzards all the time, many conditions such as multi-day power outages that you face while using your device.
Besides, there are still some devices with built-in solar cells to use light from the sun to help the device work for a long time if the battery dies. In fact, there are ways to keep your radios up and running during extended power outages. You can choose a radio that uses alternative energy sources (backup batteries). In addition, there are many emergency radios on the market that include a rotating crank, which will generate enough power to provide electricity for a short time.
Know that hand-cranked radios are the simplest and most efficient form of power supply available today as you don't need any wall outlet or power source to use them. On the other hand, live solar powered emergency radios or some AC or USB adapters that must be charged before use are also common.
Therefore, you should look for radio agents that have two options such as hand-crank radios with solar panels that can be used day and night or use battery-powered radios, you have to pay attention to store radios with removed batteries to prevent corrosion in the battery compartment.
2. Capability to tune in to the emergency radio
AM/FM are features that mobile emergency radios need because they help link your location to another local frequency. However, you should choose analog radios over digital radios, although analog radios are difficult to use, but difficult to fail when there is a network connection problem.
When choosing an emergency radio, look for the logos of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), NWR (National Weather Service, and also Code Specific Warning Messages). NOAA and NWR will help you get alerts if the weather conditions are severe. SAME is known for its technology to customize alerts for each specific area you want, analyzed in the next section and read on.
In addition to receiving lines from NOAA, all emergency radios support a range of other bands including AM, FM and shortwave radio. In an emergency, the AM bands are useful for receiving local updates, as the signals are usually stronger and have a longer transmission time than FM. Plus, AM radio is still known as a band for talk and news stations. Depending on your location and the nature of the emergency, shortwave radio will carry international news. In addition, emergency radio allows you to listen to feeds from local TV stations.
3. SAME TECHNOLOGY of emergency radio
Today's emergency radios have a feature called area-specific message encryption (SAME technology). They allow stations to warn of problems in the area while equipment is completely turned off. This will be done by flashing a colored light or activating the LCD display with indications of the emergency nature. Also, SAME TECHNOLOGY allows radio programming to ignore unimportant announcements for the city or county in your area, significantly reducing the number of alerts that are likely to be sent the way you want.
4. Size of emergency radio
After the functions that emergency radios bring, the size and weight characteristics are also very important. There are many emergency radios on the market that are small or pocket-friendly. Some devices don't even weigh a pound. But if you're looking for a battery-powered radio stored in a fault-prone location like a basement, you should look for a larger, more powerful version to better suit your users' needs.
5. Waterproof function of emergency radio
Whether you keep your emergency radios at home or in your pocket, you won't know when you'll need them, so a durable and water-resistant emergency radio is perfect. However, they will not work when exposed to moisture or break if pushed too hard. In contrast, almost all emergency radios are designed to a certain degree of ruggedness, making them safe to use in harsh environments. On the other hand, there are still some that are not water resistant, so please check the product information before buying.
6. Other features of emergency radio
Emergency radios also come with a host of other features that don't need to be paired with any radio including everything from bottle openers to thermometers and compasses. The two emergency features are the built-in LED light and the USB charging port. The LED light helps the radio act as a flashlight, and the USB port helps you charge your cell phone or other devices when outside. The two features fit together for long periods of power outage.
7. Types of emergency radios
Weather alert emergency radio
Weather radios are the most common type of emergency radio. They mostly work in the same way as smoke detectors, by automatically alerting you to weather announcements or non-weather-related emergencies by making loud sounds, flashing bright lights, or both. two. In addition, this radio also alerts the device if it is turned on or not. The downside is that some machines need a consistent power supply to function properly, so it won't be ideal in environments with prolonged power outages. Choose a device with a handwheel as a backup power source.
Weather radios
This is an upgrade over previous weather warning stations. They come equipped with pre-programmed stations for easy access specifically to NOAA emergency warning broadcasts, so you can stay up-to-date with emergencies to bad weather, forced evacuations, power outages, floods and civil or public emergencies.
On the other hand, they also provide information about weather warnings and clocks even when there is no emergency situation. Besides, they have many ways to recharge, but their limitation is that they have to be turned on all the time to provide important information and cannot issue automatic emergency alerts on their own.
AM / FM emergency radio
A new take on weather radio. You can access local AM/FM radio stations and even SSB or short band radio stations, making them the most complete source of emergency information. They have a variety of charging methods and extras like flashlights and S.O.S. lighting. Otherwise, they can be a static desktop model or more portable handheld designs.
8. Headset jack of emergency radio
Some emergency radios have an additional socket for a set of headphones or headsets that can be used to listen to relevant information without worrying about disturbing people around, or to avoid disturbing those who are trying. try to sleep or just take a break from listening to regular radio programs. Anyway, this is not a necessary factor, just an individual need.
Conclusion
The emergency radio not only provides an important and unique source of information for you, but also supports notification and connection with authorities in disaster situations. Investing in an emergency radio will bring many advantages when you need the fastest information. But, they have many different types of emergency radios but should combine features such as walkie-talkies with cranks, etc. So through the information we provide, you will find the right type.
