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Reviews For: Radio Shack 7-Channel Handheld Weatheradio® with SAME Operation

Category: Receivers: Weather Alert

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Review Summary For : Radio Shack 7-Channel Handheld Weatheradio® with SAME Operation
Reviews: 3MSRP: $49.99
Description:
Program up to 10 FIPS location codes
Built-in clock and thermometer; backlit display
Travel and home modes
8-level digital volume control
Battery and signal-strength indicators
Flexible rubber antenna
Auto scan finds the strongest signal
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?parentPage=search&cp=&productId=2036227&origkw=12-259&kw=12-259&tab=support
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0033.7
WA5RR Rating: 2009-06-03
Good Solid WX Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Being involved with Skywarn, I couldn't pass up a great deal at RadioShack offering this little WX receiver for only $17. This handheld radio comes with SAME and a database of states and counties built into it.

PROS: SAME technology, good audio from small speaker, easy to program, can use external DC power.

CONS:Lowest audio setting is still quite loud, battery life suffers, short antenna limits range.
KA2EEV Rating: 2007-09-02
BATTERY GUZZLER! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is a great weather radio with excellent performance. It has one major downfall though having a battery life of only 2 or 3 days! Eats batteries like crazy!
KD4ULW Rating: 2006-07-21
Works great, nice features Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I picked this 12-259 weather receiver up as a means to be alerted during severe weather while either camping or on the road.

The receiver comes with a belt clip that fits well to both you and the radio, and a manual. There is a place to attach a wrist-strap, but that is not included.

The handheld measures 4 1/2 inches tall (6 3/4 with antenna) X 2 3/4 inches wide X 1 3/8 deep. The antenna is not removable and doesn't flex much, so be careful not the bend while on your belt.

After installing the 3 'AA' batteries(Alkaline), you need to program the SAME codes for the counties you wish to be alerted to (max 10).

It offers several nifty 'extras' that most desktop weather radios don't.

There is a button on the top next to the antenna that switches the unit from the local saved SAME codes to an 'all counties' mode that will signal any code it hears. The radio also auto scans for the NOAA station in use. This is a great feature for travelers who are not familiar with the area. Also, the unit can be set to provide a warning tone if the NOAA signal is lost. This button needs to be depressed for 3-4 seconds to switch from local to travel mode, so that minimizes any accidental changes.

There is an option to have the radio 'beep' every so often if certain severe messages are received and you haven't pushed any buttons. This will let you know that you missed one while away from the radio. Press any front panel key to stop the beep.

The large LCD screen shows both the time and temp, battery level, and signal strength. When an alert is received for a programmed county, the radio beeps a warning tone and the LCD lights and, when programmed for 'voice', turns the speaker on automatically so you hear the message being delivered. At the conclusion of the warning message, the voice mode is turned off immediately...not like my Midland WX-300 which stays on for 5 min. After the alert is over the LCD display flashes the message and a timer for however much time remains for that alert. If more than one alert is received, it displays the number of alerts that has been given, and you use the rocker panel to scroll between messages. There are no warning LEDs that have become standard on desktop units, probably to increase battery life.

If this will be your main weather radio at home I would get a 6v. AC/DC adapter, which is not included, to power the unit. If not, be prepared to go through plenty of batteries.

While the speaker is small, the audio is quite loud/clear and should be acceptable to even the most hard of hearing.

I would recommend this radio to anyone interested in keeping informed while traveling.