Crank-up emergency radios

bob15 · Dec 27, 2009

I am thinking about buying a crank-powered emergency radio. Anyone have any? Are they worth the money or just junk? I was looking at the ones Cabelas sells....

bob

Tim in OR · Dec 27, 2009

I was given a cheap one a year ago. It was a fun toy for the first 15 minutes. since then I have found that it is worth exactly what I paid for it.
Tim in OR

JOCCO · Dec 27, 2009

There is lights and other items that crank up too, some are good but you get what you paid for. Might be a pain for extended use but one i last see when like 45 min.

Jeff Oliver · Dec 27, 2009

I have had several and the best one I had I paid $12 for at JC Penny before they got popular. It had a crank charger, batteries and a solar charger. If possible get one like that as you will use the solar alot more than the crank.

Problem is it takes alot of cranking to get enough power to run the radio for any length of time.

Now as far as the flashlights most of them when you crank them will hold that charge if your not using them for an hour or so. I bought one several years ago at Rural King that will hold a charge for weeks. It is a square shaped one and is not too bad. Of course if you use it you have to crank it pretty regular but it's not too big and don't have to worry about the batteries dieing on you.

Definatly look for a radio that can be charged with a plug in, solar, and crank.

JDemaris · Dec 27, 2009

I've got several of different makes. Katio makes the majority of the cheaper ones. The solar or crank charging works fine. But, the radio receivers themselves are cheap junk. So, if you live in a rural area, reception will be lousy. It won't get anywhere near what your car radio gets on AM and FM. And shorwave? It's a joke unless you hook an external antenna to it.

Lou from Wi. · Dec 27, 2009

Hey Bob. Read your post on radios and that brought back memories. Ever have a Crystal radio? My family got me one for Christmas (or birthday) can"t recall which date.It's Been well over 60 years ago however the radio came with copper wire, a mounting board, selector arm, crystal holder,cheap head phones and a Small hunk of crystal. My brother in law did the work acording to the instructions and I could listen to it at night through the head phones. Recieved the radio signals to Anderson Ind ,as far away as Galaten Tenn. (hope I"m spelling galaten correctly) Can"t remember much more about it now as age got a hold on my memory lol.Wonder if any one remembers the crystal radio. Pre-historic I Think.
LOU

Anonymous-0 · Dec 27, 2009

When I was a kid I got a crystal radio kit that had some assembly required. I stretched a wire from the bedroom to the shop and like you used headphones to hear a weak signal. But it was neat to have my own radio (mid '50's). I listened to it at bedtime before dozing off. If I remember right it didn't even require a battery?

barn E · Dec 27, 2009

Still have my Philmore crystal set. Was going to update it with 1n34 germanium diode, but found out with 66 year old ears, I cannot hear a thing on it. Used to make one with telephone insert, diode across the capsule 6 foot wire with clip and hook to any metal on telephone(like finger stop)usually got 2 or 3 stations at one time. Had a book called elements of radio. Traced radio from crystal to single tube to superheterodyne. Read it many times. Second section of book was all the math. Marcus published it. Got mine from Cass Tech high school where I never had the privilige of going to. Only visited. In Detroit. Buddy went there and I got all the knowledge I could second hand. Later went to RETS in Detroit for 1 year and half radio tv course. Worked the trade for over 15 years, then apprenticed for GM. 40 year career. Forgot most of it. Nice to have little reminders from guys like you. Dave

Lefty · Dec 27, 2009

These folks have a good rep,been in business for a long time
C,Crane

Jon Hagen · Dec 27, 2009

I have the crank charge LED flashlights in most cars / pickups, you know you can make the thing light even if it has been unused for two years.
My cousin has one of the crank charge radios with flashlight and cell phone charger cord.
I suspect the phone charger feature may have some value for emergency use.

Mike (WA) · Dec 28, 2009

The cheap one I got, you had to crank almost continuously, and the noise of the cranking prevented you from hearing the radio. Maybe someone makes a good one.

Revredneck · Dec 28, 2009

I have one from Cabelas, and I am very happy with it. The radio will run a long time on a charge, and it has weather band, too. It also has the LED flashlight built in, which can be handy. It"s the ETON brand. I would buy another if I needed one.
Good Luck and God Bless.

Crank-up emergency radios

bob15

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Tim in OR

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JOCCO

Well-known Member

Jeff Oliver

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JDemaris

Well-known Member

Lou from Wi.

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Anonymous-0

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barn E

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Lefty

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Jon Hagen

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Mike (WA)

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Revredneck

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