![]() ![]() In a battery-sipping standby mode, it can receive advance weather alerts as they come through. The ER310 was also one of the few models we tested that actually delivered on the advertised power of their crank charge: One minute of cranking on the ER310 provided about 10 minutes of radio or a few minutes of flashlight time. They also function even when it’s totally dead-in our tests, as soon as the ER310 shut off, it began to charge itself again. The solar panels charge the radio automatically as long as it’s in sunlight. It operates on a replaceable, rechargeable 2,600 mAh lithium-ion battery pack that you can juice up via the built-in hand crank, the top-mounted solar panels, or the radio’s Micro-USB port. The ER310 has all the power and charging options we look for, and it lasts three times longer than its smaller cousin, the ER210. Its battery lasts, can recharge in an outage, and can be a charger. The large rubber buttons are easy to find and press, even in the dark at the same time, they’re recessed enough that you’re not likely to trigger them accidentally as the radio bounces around in your go bag. We also like that the antenna folds out of the way when not in use, so you can easily read the LCD screen, crank the battery, use the flashlight, or collect solar power. In our tests, the pivoting antenna on the ER310 made it easy for us to home in on radio signals everywhere, from a basement in Boston to the middle of the woods in Tompkins County, New York (although we did encounter some sparse patches in the Catskills). The ER310 also comes with a headphone jack-a surprisingly inconsistent feature among the weather radios we liked, but one that can certainly come in handy. Music was a little muddled on the FM stations, especially at maximum volume, but the radio sounded fine when we were just listening to human voices, such as talk radio or the NOAA weather band. Registering 92 decibels on our iPhone sound-meter app, the ER310 was one of the louder radios we tested. The ER310 is loud and easy to hear whether you’re listening to music at your campsite or getting the latest NOAA report. ![]() You’re likely to find more use for an emergency weather radio that doubles as a personal or group entertainment device-which makes you likely to keep it around, and keep it charged, for the rare situations where you actually need the emergency functions. If possible, a headphone jack with AM/FM radio or other audio options: Although these features are mostly superfluous on a radio that transmits weather information in an emergency, they can help to make your radio a much more integral part of your emergency survival kit or even your hiking pack.Additional features such as a flashlight or the ability to charge your phone: These are helpful, especially if you can charge your phone by crank.A weather radio won’t be much use in an emergency if it can’t withstand the rain or a few short drops or collisions. If a radio can charge from dead through the solar panels or hand crank, that’s even better, though many models require at least some juice before they can draw power from either of those features. A pair of AA batteries alone won’t get you through a serious storm (neither will a USB wall charger), so we look for models with solar panels or hand-cranked generators, in addition to USB or other rechargeable-battery options. Multiple charging options and a reliable battery: These are crucial in an emergency situation.It’s not a total dealbreaker if your radio can’t pick up these alert signals, as long as it still gets the main NOAA radio transmissions, but it does mean you will have to remember to turn it on if you’re anticipating inclement weather. There are also Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) alerts, which, after you manually program your location, transmit a series of codes that are relevant to only that exact position (SAME-enabled radios tend to be stationary, rather than portable). These messages, which are broadcast over the weather-band frequencies, automatically turn the radio into a siren emitting sounds and/or flashing lights to warn of upcoming storms or to convey other crucial information that could affect the general area. Ability to receive dedicated weather alerts from NOAA’s Emergency Alert System: This feature is also important, particularly if you live in a tornado- or flash-flood-prone area.The signal covers all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and the US Pacific Territories, and is much more reliable than standard AM/FM radio or cell service. Ability to receive transmissions from NOAA’s Weather Radio All Hazards: This nationwide network of radio stations broadcasts continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office.
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