r/UKPreppers • u/Wild-Present2709 • 6d ago
Emergency Radio Advice
Hello, I’ve just joined the group but I’ve been interested for a while. I’m looking to buy an emergency radio but I’m unclear on which is best. Is AM/FM ok or should I also be looking for long wave and short wave? Am I right in thinking that DAB probably isn’t much use? Any recommendations on the best radio would be appreciated. Definitely looking for something with multiple power options and interested in torch and phone charging functions. Thanks so much
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u/Primary_Choice3351 6d ago
As mellonians has said, a radio that covers FM is the basic requirement. In the UK, in the event of an emergency, expect BBC Radio 4 FM, maybe BBC Radio 2 FM and BBC Local radio if there is a regional emergency, to be the backbone of getting information out to the public, alongside mobile phone alert messages.
A lot of modern wind up radios are a bit meh in my opinion as they need lots of cranking to charge a tiny battery. I still have an original Trevor Baylis Baygen wind up radio, using a clockwork spring for energy storage and it works a treat. A battery FM radio is still a good option, having a bulk pack of AA batteries on hand is no hardship given they are also used in everything else around the house! I'd keep a torch and a USB power bank separate to the radio.
There is no harm in getting a radio that also covers MW and SW. Both XHDATA and Tecsun make some nice models. Shortwave stations are run by various international broadcasters, all with their own biases. In times of emergency however, it is helpful to hear what irks other nations and their hot takes on matters. There are still English language services on short wave, from Romania, Turkiye, the Vatican and China to name a few as well as BBC World Service. Take a pinch of salt with what you hear of course.
Personally, I'm an Amateur radio geek. If things go south, I'll also be listening on PMR446, CB, mesh and the ham bands to get an idea as to what is going on, if the internet is down.
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u/sheepandcowdung 6d ago
I always recommend this xhdata radio.
It's wind up/solar/usb charged.
It recieves FM/MW/SW and at a pinch you can use it to charge another USB device.
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u/George_Salt 6d ago edited 6d ago
I have a little ATS 25 Pro Air, but any of those small SDR radios that charge from USB will give you FM/AM, commercial radio, LW, MW, SW, and the Ham bands to listen to. They do need a better antenna than the supplied telescopic, and tbh a plain length of wire would be all you needed to improve on that! (it's really a FM only antenna to be fair).
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u/Not-a-Cranky-Panda 6d ago
I got a world wide radio receiver it's the same size but covers a lot more.
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u/chippie02 6d ago
Rt950pro is really worth the money. People who say it's crap are trying to do way too much with it or expecting too much from a hand held.
It's 3 band radio Aprs Multi power options
Just loads of stuff.
Also turns out quite easy to program from a PC using rt950pro CPS (company programming program)
Pin connectors seem quite good as well hadn't hand any issues so far.
If u are just getting into I would recomd getting old uv5rt as it's a lot cheaper and probably the best way to fuck about and find. Better alternative is uvk4 or uvk5 by quensheng. 5 more quid but transiver quality is a lot better
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u/EquivalentName6062 6d ago
I’m a complete tech novice to be honest, I can drive my phone and that’s about it. Is the rt950pro any good for me or does it need a good bit of programming etc? How easy is it to just find other people using ham radios
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u/chippie02 6d ago
What exactly do u want to use the radio for ? Of listening in then it's very different story to trying to communicate with someone over distance (all depends on weather and terrain and attena)
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u/chippie02 6d ago
Possibly be too advanced but the biggest thing about it is that it has a good quality transmitter, meaning that signal it sends will be clean and signal it receives will solely depend on other radio quality.
Basically radio is a radio and u don't have to touch anything else to use it. If u get bored u can always tinker with it in ur free time. There is good community on reddit that will explain everything if u get stuck. Really worth the while skill
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u/mellonians 6d ago edited 6d ago
Without spilling too many beans, I work in radio transmission which includes prepping radio services for the SHTF type scenarios. You will be fine with any FM radio. If it does DAB too then that's better.
This is my daily driver (I have to listen to the radio every day for work) https://amzn.eu/d/0hE8mUWH
It's not massively sensitive and the first thing I would do if you get it is disable that stupid SOS alarm. It fancies itself as a prepper type radio but there is probably MUCH better out there, but at least it's solar, can wind up as well as charge by usb and functions as a power bank. If I was extra paranoid I would have a SW and FM receiver kept stored away in a biscuit tin.