Community Forums

vsheetz · 02-19-2017, 08:04 PM

Getting ready for extended criss county traveling. I see comments regarding its good to have a NOAA weather radio.

Yes/no?
How do you use it?
Recommended radio?

Thx
Vince

**TonyDi** · 02-19-2017, 08:23 PM

Vince, if you have a tablet there are a ton of apps (most are free) for weather. We use "Storm". It will notify you if bad weather is in your area, such as rain or lightning. There are also some that have radar alerts for bad weather.

hdfxrs · 02-19-2017, 08:31 PM

We have a radio because we often cannot get a cell or wifi signal for our app.

momdoc · 02-20-2017, 07:17 AM

Yes get a radio. We too have apps on our phone but sometimes no signal and you can get info on what is "acoming"
Ours uses either a rechargeable battery, AA batteries or a hand crank so always available.

momdoc

wa8yxm · 02-20-2017, 09:12 AM

While I will not recommend a make/model I will make suggestions as to what to look for
First: Desk top units are designed to run on 120VAC. If you get a "Desktop" unit make sure it has battery back up

Second: External antenna.. Most pocket units the antenna is "Fixed" and can neither be removed nor can an external antenna be added.

Many desk top units you can add an external antenna.

A "Scanner" antenna, or a 2-Meter Ham radio antenna (NGP type) mounted on the roof or high on the side can make a BIG improvement in the range of the radio.

I use both a "pocket" type that hangs on the wall with a wall wart powering it, and several general coverage receivers (in all my VHF radios channels 30-3x (30 something) are NOAA frequencies, receive only) and often I've a STRONG signal with the outside antenna when the pocket rocket says "NO SIGNAL DETECTED"

**Lt Dan** · 02-20-2017, 10:32 AM

I don't know if you have or are interested in a CB radio, but the Cobra 75WXST radio that has all of the controls in the handset has built in NOAA weather radio and it works quite well.

Old-Biscuit · 02-20-2017, 10:51 AM

First year FT and traveling thru 'tornado alley' we figured it would be best to get a NOAA Radio.

Set it up for county we were in and adjacent counties.

EVERY 15-20 Minutes 'BEEP BEEP BEEP' WARNING Tornado Watch in effect in following counties.

That went on all night---on into next day
Couldn't the loud annoying 'BEEPS' nor the anxiety that the CONSTANT warnings caused.

Turned it off, put in back in original box and placed it in storage under bed.

Slept like a baby the next night.

I'd rather 'find out' WHEN it happens vs CONSTANT Warnings

Todd727 · 02-20-2017, 12:03 PM

No batteries needed:

https://www.amazon.com/Midland-Consumer-ER310-Emergency-Digital/dp/B015QIC1PW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487617476&sr=8-1&keywords=midland+er310

There are cheaper alternatives on Amazon. I specifically used "cheaper" and not "lower priced."

vsheetz · 02-20-2017, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lt Dan

I don't know if you have or are interested in a CB radio, but the Cobra 75WXST radio that has all of the controls in the handset has built in NOAA weather radio and it works quite well.

I think I actually have one of these in the motorhome already. (-:

Came with the coach installed by PO. Have not used it. Coach is elsewhere right now, i will check it out when it comes home. Thanks.

Robmat · 02-20-2017, 03:57 PM

Midland is a good model I prefer the ones without the crank or lights. I have this one https://www.amazon.com/Midland-HH54V.../dp/B003FGWF04 You can leave them "open" and they will go off when any alert is sent that can be received or you can program it with the S.A.M.E. (Specific Areas Message Encoding) code for only the area that you are at. The S.A.M.E. codes are listed online at the NOAA NWS website NOAA Weather Radio - County Coverage by State Once you get used to it is an invaluable item on any trip, especially, in the areas which frequently have tornadoes.

wa8yxm · 02-20-2017, 04:27 PM

Oh, how to sue it.. I jsut leave it on and in TRAVEL mode (I do not assign areas).. Let it do it's hing.. IF it starts goign off every few minutes I may turn it off and go to other sources but for the most part I let it operate

NOTE: It should go off once a week if it's getting a signal.

GREGORYJ · 02-20-2017, 07:16 PM

Definitely good to have. The original dash radio JENSEN VR-185 has NOAA Weather Band built in to it and I won't replace because of the WB.

computerguy · 02-21-2017, 06:46 AM

x2 on the one Robmat has. Leave it on travel and it will alert you to where you are.
To the person that was getting warnings and ignoring them? Really?
I am in the camp of trust but verify. If danger is near I want to know. I can then take necessary action. That action may simply be to check a website or the weather station.
An RV is NOT a S&B and your life can depend on getting out of it to a safer place. Life is too short to be lazy.

Old-Biscuit · 02-21-2017, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by computerguy

x2 on the one Robmat has. Leave it on travel and it will alert you to where you are.
To the person that was getting warnings and ignoring them? Really?
I am in the camp of trust but verify. If danger is near I want to know. I can then take necessary action. That action may simply be to check a website or the weather station.
An RV is NOT a S&B and your life can depend on getting out of it to a safer place. Life is too short to be lazy.

Our 5th wheel was our home.
We ignored the constant warnings from the NOAA radio.

We were not STUPID enough to ignore tornado warnings....just the irritating radio going off every 15-20 minutes.
Lazy didn't even come into play

Guess we were SMART enough to make it thru as we are still here.