I have a BC278CLT and find it to be a nice little radio. I like the weather alert part. NOAA conducts a test every Wed. in my area between 11AM & 1PM. Last thursday night was the first time I heard it activate during a thunder storm we had. The siren is quite loud and would definately wake you up if you were sleeping. It is not the same sound you receive when they give a test. My only question is I don't know if the "weather alert" would sound if I was listening to a AM/FM station or scanning. I leave it in the weather alert mode a night.