Does anyone have suggestions for a weather radio to use with an EAS decoder? It needs to be something that keeps playing after an alert. Most home type need to be reset after each alert, which doesn't work out in this application. I am familiar with the Dayton's and they may be my best bet, but at $300 to $600 depending on model, seems a bit expensive when you consider a consumer version can be purchased for only $25-50. Your thoughts?
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Weather Radio
- Thread starter Chuck
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I have a consumer grade that mutes speaker when you plug in remote connection, but it does not need to be reset after alert...however, you must remove plug to hear audio locally, unless you monitor thru the EAS unit. This is a cheapie...if it works for you, post to that effect and I will provide model, etc. Thanks: JBI
I've used a cheapo Coby radio for this purpose. Not this exact model, an older one that had an analog tuner, but it looks like this would do what you need.
http://cobyusa.com/?p=prod&prod_num_id=155&pcat_id=2006
http://cobyusa.com/?p=prod&prod_num_id=155&pcat_id=2006
I am a big fan of using the Uniden Bearcat base scanners for EAS weather radios. I think their current model is BC345CRS, but any similar model does fine. I like them because they have an external antenna jack, external speaker jack, batteries for backup power, easy to program, turn knob volume (so it stays where you left it), and they are only about $100 (or cheaper if you find a deal).
I have an Oregon Scientific weather radio which worked just fine until I found a Gorman Redlich (used) to replace it.
Had external antenna jack, just fed audio out of headphone jack & let it chatter. My local NWS station was not that far away, although the external antenna was needed to get a reliable signal. Studios are in a house, but in a valley, so considerable terrain blockage to the NWS station some 15 miles away.
They make something similar for $29.95, but is listed as a "SAME" activated radio. May be all right for your purpose if you just don't program it.
Had external antenna jack, just fed audio out of headphone jack & let it chatter. My local NWS station was not that far away, although the external antenna was needed to get a reliable signal. Studios are in a house, but in a valley, so considerable terrain blockage to the NWS station some 15 miles away.
They make something similar for $29.95, but is listed as a "SAME" activated radio. May be all right for your purpose if you just don't program it.
2nd on the cl-100. darn fine product and clean audio..Love mine..JBI wouldn't steer you wrong.
Down here in Alabam' we use the Midland line of weather radios. It can stay on continuously if you want or go off only when there is an alert for whatever SAME codes you enter. Good audio and cheap, too: http://www.amazon.com/Midland-Consu...4594041&sr=8-1&keywords=midland+weather+radio
3rd vote for the Sangean cl-100. Good all around radio.
Frequent your local thrift store. Look for one of the older weather radios (like the Radio Shack weather cube) that doesn't have any alert features. You can buy one there generally for under 10 dollars, if you get lucky and find one.
Fieldtech1 said:
I'll throw in a 4th vote. My Midland WR-300 would frequently not pick up the WX station I needed for alerts since it's often down on low power. I bought a CL-100 on a Amazon flash sale, it picks up the station consistently. Much better receiver, decent AM/FM too.
Actually any weather radio will work, assuming it will receive the signal. However, don't rely on the alert just leave it on all the time and allow the EAS to look for the burst. It is what I used ten years ago and worked like a champ. I added a transformer (Bogen WMT-1 or the RDL version) on the audio output so everything is happy.
Unfortunately, since the inception of SAME, a lot of weather radios mute after an alert until you manually reset them. At least, that has been my experience with recent radios from Midland and Radio Shack. Perhaps reprogramming one to ignore the SAME alerts would make them deliver audio all the time, but figuring out how to do that is not covered in any of the instruction manuals. I have found older radios work fine, but they are becoming hard to find, unless you get lucky at garage sales and thrift stores.
B
bilco
Guest
I'll second REW's suggestion of using crystal controlled scanners. They are a dime a dozen at swap meets and garage sales. My main one is left over from 30 years ago when I was a news man. Only one crystal in it, set in the power on channel, all other channels locked out. Never failed me in several years. I've had several WX radios (I practially collect them) and none meet all my requirements for an EAS system of always staying on, responding to everything, being easy to interface and being sensitive enough to work. The scanners usually have built in antenna jacks, no decoders to worry about (why bother since your endec does that), low impedance speaker level output that's relatiely easy to distribute and the price can't be beat even if you have to spend 5 or 10 bucks for the crystal. I'd avoid the synthesized ones, just to KISS. Mine does run on a UPS but it worked for a long time before I put it there as an after thought. If you use a conventional weather radio some idiot will put it in alert mode and the Endec will miss the tones.
Bill C,, Co-Chair, Southern NV Operational area.
Bill C,, Co-Chair, Southern NV Operational area.
bilco said:
Actually, I've been using an old Bearcat scanner, probably from the 1970's. I think I paid $10 for it at a garage sale. It has worked well for years. Now I find I need one for a second location. Naturally, when you are looking for a piece of vintage gear, there is none to be found....
Chuck said:
The new weather radio will provide all the time. Unless there is a timer circuit, and I haven't come across one yet, the button you push to hear the broadcast leaves the radio on until you hit the button again which mutes the speaker.
radiorob2.0 said:
Well, both current Midland and Radio Shack models shut down the audio output after an alert. According to the folks at Midland, it should stay on when you push the "Weather" button. So far, it doesn't on the two I've purchased. The Sangean should arrive tomorrow. I'll see what it does.
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