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Reviews For: First Alert WX-17 AM/FM/WX-Alert

Category: Receivers: Weather Alert

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Review Summary For : First Alert WX-17 AM/FM/WX-Alert
Reviews: 1MSRP: $29
Description:
Emergency Alert Radio with AM and FM
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.simaproducts.com/products/product_results.php?brand_id=3
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0013
KE8WO Rating: 2008-02-27
ok for price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This radio receives AM, FM and all seven weather alert VHF channels. Notably it does have an alert mode where audio is muted until the homeland security folks or NWS sends an alert tone that will activate the radio's alarm.

It may be powered by 4 AA batteries or by a supplied wall power supply (UL listed). It has a about a 20 inch telescoping antenna. It is available from a number of sources in the $18 to $25 range.

Overall audio quality is sufficient and clear for this small radio.

AM reception is poor: poor sensitivity and selectivity. Yet it will receive the major AM stations so long as they are moderate in strength or better. Forget weaker stations.

FM is better with more reasonable sensitivity and selectivity. I was able to receive and separate a dozen or more FM stations in my above average FM rf strength area.

My local NWS channel (4) was received adequately Sensitivity is probably average at best. So it will likely not receive the weaker NWS signals. I've not yet observed the alert function sound off. (Which is my main reason for acquiring this radio.)

Quality of construction appears to about what you would expect for the price (cheap!). I paid about $18 plus shipping. The performance is about what I expected.