A few of the ones that we reviewed didn’t list mAh or had misleading numbers that people may assume mean battery capacity (but doesn’t).

Later (late 1920s) TRF sets had ganged tuning (one knob was used to control all stage tuning capacitors simultaneously), AC house current operation, and eliminated the filament voltage adjustments. It comes with a waveband fit for digital radio, an emergency power bank for your phone and a flashlight. The LED flashlight brightens up dark areas, and the USB port lets you charge smartphones and other small devices. In addition to its signal sensitivity, it offers the added benefit of storing enough electricity to boost a cell phone charge.Perfect for emergency needs on the go, consider the Midland X-Talkers your short-range communicators (up to 28 miles) that keep a weather eye on the horizon. This is worth the risk compared to housed antennas, which don’t match the reception of these models. These radios might feature a small flashlight beam as well as a light that operates as a lamp, illuminating a room with a wider beam of light.

When you get the right blend of these, you can find a reliable radio that will keep you informed in an emergency. Weather-related emergencies are often unpredictable, which means keeping informed about the latest developments can make the difference between staying safe and being caught off guard. Bright emitter valves universal in the early 1920s came on in a small fraction of a second, effectively instantly. The downside to digital is that when the signal gets too degraded, you lose it completely, which can lead to breaks in communication. This beast can actually put out some volume and has much better sound quality than the other radios- not that you necessarily need that in an emergency.

The included AC adapter keeps the battery pack charged, or the built-in hand crank or solar panel can do the job during a power outage. Negative supply DC mains sets should have their ground capacitor bypassed to convert them from live chassis to earthed chassis. The radio display hosts color-coded alert indicators, and can even be toggled through three different languages — English, Spanish, or French. We really liked the compact size of this radio that easily fits in a jacket pocket, backpack, or purse for daily carry. Also, the loop on the end makes it easy to fix onto a backpack and lets the solar panel soak up the sun during a hike.