Buying guide
NOAA weather radio buying guide
Your phone will fail. Cell towers go down. Power fails. NOAA Weather Radio still works. Here is what to buy.
Why weather radio still matters
NWR broadcasts on 7 dedicated VHF frequencies from over 1,000 transmitters covering 95% of the US population. It doesn't rely on cell towers, internet, or power grid.
SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) technology lets your radio filter alerts to just your county. No false alarms from three counties over.
A weather radio with SAME programming and battery backup should be in every bedroom in tornado-prone areas.
The top picks
Midland WR120B ($30)
Best budget SAME radio. AC-powered with battery backup. Clear display. Easy programming.
Midland WR400 ($60)
Adds SAME expandability, weather clock, alarm clock. Bedside pick.
Sangean CL-100 ($90)
Superb build quality. AM/FM/WX. Long battery life.
Eton FRX3+ ($60)
Hand-cranked + solar + USB. Emergency go-bag pick.
Kaito Voyager KA500 ($60)
Hand-cranked, solar, USB. Includes flashlight and phone charger.
Midland Base Camp ($120)
AM/FM/WX with high sensitivity. Rural pick.
Features to look for
- SAME code programming — filters by county.
- Battery backup — 24+ hours minimum.
- External antenna jack — matters in weak-signal areas.
- USB charging port — dual purpose for phone.
- Public alert certification — the CEA "PA" logo.
- Alarm clock function — makes it useful daily.
Programming SAME codes
- Find your county's 6-digit SAME code at nws.noaa.gov/nwr/coverage/site.html.
- Add codes for neighboring counties if you commute or travel often.
- Set your radio to only alert for the codes you programmed.
- Test the radio monthly (Wed 11am local is the NWR weekly test).
Signal reception
- NWR frequencies: 162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, 162.550 MHz.
- A whip antenna extended vertically works best.
- External antenna helps in rural / weak-signal areas.
- Metal-framed houses attenuate signal — put the radio near a window.
- If your area doesn't receive NWR, an internet-based scanner or the FEMA app is the backup.