req

Emergency Radio, Crank, Solar

To those who have the flair for some high drama, an emergency radio is a thingamajig that the hero turns frantically on in a post-holocaust scenario as mutant-zombies are battering at the double door. For us lesser mortals, however, this radio is just a simple battery-operated receiver to turn to in case of power outages, or as a carry-on for camping or fishing trips to areas without electric power.

Signals received by most of these radios, particularly the inexpensive models, are just the ordinary AM and FM stations. Other more expensive models are designed to receive short wave broadcasts, as well as signals from weather radio stations in localities where such service is available. These models may also incorporate flashlight and siren functions.

Common to the design of this type of radios is its portable power source, which in many models simply consist of double “A” batteries. Emergency radios of advanced design feature a rechargeable, built-in power source. Some are with solar-powered charging cells while others are designed to be recharged from electrical outlets. Needless to say, these types of equipment cost higher than the less-advanced models.

A model that could generate its own power is also called a clockwork radio. To recharge the power of this radio, a hand-crank is rotated and its electrical generator juices up the equipment’s power supply. Hence, this radio type, theoretically, has an unlimited power source.

One of the models produced by a UK-based company could just qualify as one Swiss knife of an emergency radio. It is described as a self-powered, hand-crank model capable of receiving not only AM/FM broadcasts but also NOAA Weather reports. What’s more, it has two-way radio capability, built-in flashlight and cell phone charger. A siren has been thrown in too. Pretty neat to raise the alarm when the zombies come charging.