Best Cheap SAME Receiver

[N_Jay]

Anyone have any recommendations for a good "cheap" SAME receiver to keep in a camper?

Small is important.
External 12V would be nice.
Ease of changing county codes would be helpful.

 

[scansalot52]

You can usually find a Midland at WalMart for $29.95
Amazon.com: Midland WR100B Weather Radio: Electronics

Also there is a portable model here:
http://www.amazon.com/Midland-74-250C-Handheld-Weather-Radio/dp/B00009Q39V

Unless you're in a tent, as in a metal camper or RV, I'd make sure whatever you buy can have an external antenna connected to it if needed. I know at least one RS and one Uniden had a jack. Those were older models though.

I"m sure most use a voltage transformer so you could probably get a universal cig lighter voltage converter to run whatever you get.
I can't help you as far as a report on the Midland... to answer your next posting

 

[N_Jay]

Seems the cheapest and most popular.
How do people like the WR100?

 

[nova1010]

Seems the cheapest and most popular.
How do people like the WR100?

Few reviews here Midland WR-100 S.A.M.E. Weather Radio Product Reviews

 

[RayAir]

Pick one out that you like and then buy it for a lot less (usually) on EBAY or iOffer.

 

[N_Jay]

Pick one out that you like and then buy it for a lot less (usually) on EBAY or iOffer.

So far I am leaning toward the Midland WR-100 or a Motorola T9580R (Since we use FRS, and have been wanting to get one just to leave in the camper.

I haven't looked at iOffer, but always check ebay, and unless you are shopping for no-name (knockoff) Chinese stuff like batteries and memory, rarely find it cheaper than elsewhere on the web.

 

[sjlamb]

Reecom or Midland WR-100

I use both the Midland WR-100 and the Reecom R-1650 (same as R-1630 but includes AM/FM/Alarm Clock radio). Both work well but, the Reecom is a bit better than most weather alert units.

The Reecom has excellent sensitivity but its' most important features are the user's ability to adjust the volume level of the alert siren and to set it to ignore certain types of alerts. Haven't seen any others with either of these features.

 

[W9NES]

I would recomend the Midland WR-100. These are excellent units to use at home.I have set up numerious units for a Hosptial here in Indianapolis and one of those locations is where my wife works and when we have severe weather the receiver go off with no problems.

 

[N1SQB]

I use both the Midland WR-100 and the Reecom R-1650 (same as R-1630 but includes AM/FM/Alarm Clock radio). Both work well but, the Reecom is a bit better than most weather alert units.

The Reecom has excellent sensitivity but its' most important features are the user's ability to adjust the volume level of the alert siren and to set it to ignore certain types of alerts. Haven't seen any others with either of these features.

I second the vote for the REECOM R-1650. It definitely has the sensitivity and is very user friendly. I got mine used for about $20 off of ebay around this time last year and it has not let me down once!!!!

Manny

 

[W9NES]

Why pay for a AM/FM radio when you do not need it.You can buy the Midland WR-100 and it works the way it should.If you have it set up for the FIPS Codes for your county it will go off..If you are going to buy something new you buy it with a warranty from a local source.I never buy anything off of e-bay.A local TV station here in Indianapolis a long time back was talking this receiver up along with a local electroncs frim.the firm sold out of them and had to get more.I would recomend that you stay with a brand name you can depend on.I have never heard of REECOM.

 

[sjlamb]

Why pay for a AM/FM radio when you do not need it.You can buy the Midland WR-100 and it works the way it should.If you have it set up for the FIPS Codes for your county it will go off..If you are going to buy something new you buy it with a warranty from a local source.I never buy anything off of e-bay.A local TV station here in Indianapolis a long time back was talking this receiver up along with a local electroncs frim.the firm sold out of them and had to get more.I would recomend that you stay with a brand name you can depend on.I have never heard of REECOM.

How do you know whether or not someone else may need a AM/FM function in their weather radio? And, just because YOU never heard of Reecom doesn't mean it's not a recognized brand name with both features and performance that exceeds the WR-100. As I see it, the mere fact that you've never heard of Reecom disqualifies you from rendering an opinion of the product.

During an extended power outage as is common in weather related disasters, a weather unit with AM/FM will provide a heck of alot more local info. than a weather radio alone.

I currently own BOTH the Midland WR-100 and Reecom and, in my personal experience, the Reecom is a better alert radio; albeit a bit more expensive. I'm not alone in my opinion: eHam.net Reviews - Receivers: Weather Alert

 

[W9NES]

What ever works for you.My Midland works fine for me.Works fine for FIPS,Has Back up battery power and will set up on any NOAA frequency Channels 1-7 and is easy to understand and program.Also *The National Weather Service is endorsing the use of this radio along with all of the TV stations across the county.Please feel free to check with any TV Station and there Forecasters and they have been talking this receiver up during their weather segment and asking viewers to buy these over the air to have one in there home or office to be ready for Severe Weather Conditions when they are forecasted for that area.*I have seen these for sale at Wal-mart, etc for $20.00 and a lot of people have been buying these and they cannot keep them stocked on the shelf* They are very popular and for $20.00 you cannot beat it and they are dependable and do what they do.Go off when needed to alert the public of Severe Weather.

 

[AK9R]

What ever works for you.My Midland works fine for me.

Glad it works for you, Tim. I was given a Midland WR-100 and, after using it for a while, put it back in the box. I found its faults, which are listed earlier in this thread annoying, so I went back to using my older Radio Shack unit.

Also *The National Weather Service is endorsing the use of this radio along with all of the TV stations across the county.

The National Weather Service endorses no single weather radio. If you go to NWR Consumer Information web site, you will find they list, not endorse, several weather radio models listed, including Midland and Reecom.

Please feel free to check with any TV Station and there Forecasters and they have been talking this receiver up during their weather segment and asking viewers to buy these over the air...

If the TV station marketing departments found out another weather radio was more readily available, the TV weather people would be pushing it instead of the Midland. But, they'd look stupid if they sent people out looking for a weather radio that was hard to find, like the Reecom. Remember, TV weather personalities and the stations they work for are in it for the ratings and the advertising revenue that high ratings can generate. You don't get high ratings by sending your viewers to BestBuy, HH Gregg, or Wal-Mart to buy something that's not in stock. By the way, BestBuy, HH Gregg, or Wal-Mart buy advertising time on the local TV stations. See a connection?

Just because you've never heard of Reecom doesn't mean its not a good weather radio. If I was in the market for another weather radio, I'd take the informed positive reports I've seen posted about the Reecom over your uninformed negative report about it.

 

[K5RYA]

For $30 that doesn't seem like a bad deal. I wouldn't mind getting one of these just to not have to use the WX Alert Priority on my XT and deal with skipping audio when it switches to check the NOAA freqs on Priority.

 

[sjlamb]

For $30 that doesn't seem like a bad deal. I wouldn't mind getting one of these just to not have to use the WX Alert Priority on my XT and deal with skipping audio when it switches to check the NOAA freqs on Priority.

At it's price point of $30 or less, the Midland WR-100 is a good value with reasonable features and will get the job done. If you want something a bit more evolved and don't mind paying a few extra bucks; check out either the Reecom R-1630 or R-1650.

 

[W9NES]

OK Bob, If this is the case then why are the people from the Indianapolis Office of the National WeatherService at all there public set ups where the have contact with the public and telling people about this radio.I was one of those people and have been for a long time.Also if the receiver did not work to your specs I do have a queston for you.Did you program it right with the right FIPS Codes? Seems funny that *(I was asked by a large Hospital here in Central Indiana)* about which Weather Alert Receiver to buy for all there locations.My recomendation was again the Midland WR-100. I programmed them to the proper FIPS Codes where they are located and they have not had any problems to report..

 

[AK9R]

If this is the case then why are the people from the Indianapolis Office of the National WeatherService at all there public set ups where the have contact with the public and telling people about this radio.

I can't speak for NWSFO IND or the NWS in general. I know what I see on the NWS web site and I don't see a specific recommendation for the Midland there. What I do see are many makes and models of weather radios listed. The advantage the Midland has, and why it might be mentioned by NWS personnel, is that you can buy it at Walmart.

Did you program it right with the right FIPS Codes?

Yes.

...they have not had any problems to report..

I'm not saying the Midland is a bad receiver. However, based on what I have read, there may be better ones out there.

 

[N_Jay]

Sorry I asked.