travel radio pocket

Best Handheld Radio for Travel

August 25, 2021 by Editor G

Last Updated on August 26, 2021 by Editor G

Portable radios are a favorite for the outdoors. You can tune in to your favorite stations and catch on news, talk shows, and even current gossip anywhere. Their compact and lightweight design allows for easy carriage if you are traveling light.

A quality radio broadcast comes with the type of radio you pick. Because of varying models and styles, it can be difficult to narrow down the choices. But that’s what we do.

Whether you want to keep it traditional or looking for something more than AM/FM radio, we’ve got you covered.

These three radios will give you the best bang for your buck.

Sony ICF-P26 Portable AM/FM Radio (Best Small Travel Radio)

• Built-in speaker and headphone jack
• Telescoping antenna
• Carrying strap for added convenience
• Battery powered; 2 x AA (sold separately)
• LED tuning indicator and LED battery status indicator

Our best travel radio option is Sony ICF-P26. It is pretty small; just a few cm longer than a deck of cards. Coming from Sony, this radio is not a fancy-looking product with no functionality. It sticks to the basics which makes it ideal for travel.

Build Quality and Functionality

We like the overall look and feel of the Sony ICF-P26. This radio has a glossy black plastic finish on the upper part of the cabinet. The speaker section below it has a matte-black grille. It gives you great sound whether you are in a cramped space or out enjoying a picnic.

At the top and bottom of this radio is a matte black finish. The radio does not pick up fingerprints on the matte parts. But the glossy plastic will need wipe downs now and then. It may also scratch easily so it’s best to store it with soft items instead of keys or tools that may scratch it.

You get a smooth tuning wheel and an ON/OFF switch on the right side of the radio. The switch also acts as the band selector between FM and AM.

On the left side, Sony does not disappoint with the wide volume wheel. It feels nice in the hand. You can easily turn the volume up and down without any hassle. And, you can listen using a pair of headphones thanks to the included 3.5mm headphone jack.

You will like the stability of this radio. It comes with a flat case base that bears a seating rail. The rail goes all around the base making it hard to tip over when you brush over it.

Tuning and Battery

Sony ICFP26 comes with a red LED indicator for the tuning. It also includes a green LED for the battery level. The green light will dim when it’s time to change the battery. The battery compartment is hinged.

It’s a thoughtful feature since you are less likely to lose the battery door when changing batteries.

For better tuning and coverage, Sony has included a strong telescoping antenna. It stows at the back of the radio. The antenna is a bit stiff. It should hold up to years of swiveling up and down.

· Long and durable hand strap · Energy efficient (100 hours on 2xAA batteries) · Delivers clear mono audio to left and right earpieces · Hinged battery door

Cons · Left-side jack makes it hard to listen when the radio is in the pocket

View Price on Amazon

C Crane CC Skywave Handheld Radio  – Best Airband Handheld Travel Radio

C Crane CC Skywave is one of the most sought travel radios on the market. It covers more than just the basics. As you will see, it is a little bigger and has more functions than the Sony ICF-P26. This also means you will pay a bit more for this model.

C Crane CC Skywave has an all-plastic frame. Only the buttons and band-border are glossy. The rest is all matte meaning it will not pick up dust. The ON/OFF switch is a red button on the front of the radio. Just below it is the AM/FM button.

This radio features Shortwave, NOAA Weather, and Air Band. To access the bands, just press the WX/SW/Air button on the bottom part of the radio. The volume wheel is on the right side. You get two scan buttons that help you tune in without toggling through stations one at a time.

With the keypad, you can easily input a band frequency.

We like the inclusion if the Air Band. It is a great source of entertainment. You can listen in on pilots and air controllers just for fun. Or get some valuable information like airline schedule changes.

C Crane CC Skywave comes with a clock, alarm, bandwidth filters, weather alert, and a sleep timer. Not to mention the lock button which disables all the other buttons. It is a nice feature for travel.

You will get a pair of earbuds and a carry case with this radio. It also comes with a wrist strap adding to the travel convenience. What’s more, there’s a fold-out back stand to stabilize it on flat surfaces.

> You might like our guide to the best travel laptops currently on the market

This radio has 400 memory presets. It is easy to save a channel using the keypad. Next time you want to listen, you won’t need to tune in. Just input the number where you have saved the channel and the radio will retrieve that channel.

The radio uses two AA batteries. It can also use rechargeable AA batteries or an AC adapter. It gives you up to 70 hours of battery life on AAs. Compared to the Sony ICF-P26, it is a decent time since it has more functions to offer.

· Easy to grip plastic frame · Tactile responsive buttons · Lock key function · Easy memory feature for up to 400 presets

· Does not provide for dual UTC/Local time · Lacks an external antenna

Xeneo X21 Outdoor Wireless Speaker – Best Bluetooth Speaker with FM Radio

Do you want to bring music and still listen to radio shows? A Bluetooth speaker with FM radio is a nice convenience on the go. The Xeneo X21 is an outdoor wireless speaker that offers both possibilities.

This speaker comes in a hard-shell case. The cylindrical shape is barely the size of a soda can. It is easy to store in tight backpack pockets. There’s a lanyard strap on the side and a belt clip if you don’t like using the lanyard.

The Xeneo X21 speaker is IPX6 water-resistant. It means it can take on a few splashes and the interior components won’t get damaged. You can listen to music in the shower or even out in the rain.

This speaker has a digital signal processor and 12W power drivers. It is omnidirectional such that the bass can come from either the bottom or the top. The stereo sound is just astonishing. It has clear mids and enhanced highs that make for superior sound.

Its support for TWS (True Wireless Stereo) technology is the best thing about Xeneo X21. You can connect two Xeneo speakers without an app. TWS gives you full right and left channel stereo for better sound.

Battery and Tuning

The Xeneo speaker connects to your Android or iPhone as soon as you turn on Bluetooth. The process is very straightforward. To connect to FM radio, just press on the FM tuner. Then, press on the play button for a few seconds. The speaker will automatically scan the available channels.

If you don’t have a phone, you can connect to this speaker using an AUX cable included in the package. It also has an SD card port which enables you to listen to MP3s.

The Xeneo X21 uses one rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery. It can run for approximately 24 hours. The battery life is shown on the connected phone’s screen. This way, you will always know the juice level.

· IPX6 water-resistant · Supports TWS technology · Offers hands-free call functionality · Powerful bass with only one speaker

Cons ·  Sound is drowned when it’s around water

Conclusion: Which Travel Radio is Best?

Radios are still ubiquitous when it comes to travel. Whether it’s a small palm-sized model or a multifunctional radio, there’s a brand for you. The best travel radio meets your needs in terms of space and functionality.

Like the Xeneo X21; it is a model designed for those who want more than just radio. It is small enough to fit on a bicycle’s water bottle stand. For weather updates and alerts while listening in on air traffic controllers, the C Crane CC Skywave is a great choice.

You might also like the following related posts:

Security door alarm for travel Best foldable solar panel for travel

Gareth Evans is a travel writer and entrepreneur living life as a digital nomad. Gareth is currently living and working in Thailand.

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The Ultimate Guide to Pocket Radios (Take Your Tunes on the Go)

Site Owner & Radio Enthusiast

Pocket radios may seem like relatively old-fashioned devices in a world of smartphones and feature-rich cars. However, millions of people still prefer using their pocket radios to tune into FM, DAB, and AM channels on the move.

Pocket radios offer a simple, affordable, and convenient way to access the airwaves anywhere.

Rather than worrying about keeping your phone charged and connected to the internet when hiking or traveling, you can use a pocket radio to browse through broadcasts instead.

Pocket radios don’t need an internet connection and often offer exceptional listening experiences, excellent clarity, and a user-friendly experience to people of all ages.

Here’s your ultimate guide to pocket radio.

Table of Contents

What Is a Pocket Radio?

A pocket radio, sometimes called a portable radio, is a radio system specifically designed for life on the move.

Compact and convenient pocket radios feature many of the same components as a traditional home radio system. They can receive, decode, and sometimes even transmit signals.

Plus, pocket radios often offer access to various radio frequencies, from FM broadcasts to DAB and DAB+ options and even AM signals.

Pocket radios appeal to many consumers, from music buffs searching for the perfect broadcast to outdoor adventurers.

Even in the world of smartphones, these durable and lightweight devices represent one of the easiest ways to take your music with you wherever you go.

Do People Still Use Pocket Radios?

Since smartphones evolved into all-in-one miniature computers, demand for pocket radios has dwindled.

Many people don’t need to invest in an entirely separate device when they can access online radio and FM channels through their smartphone .

However, pocket radios are still prevalent in many circles. They’re ideal for travel and outdoor adventures, as they don’t require a strong mobile phone signal or internet connection to function.

Plus, they ensure you can keep your phone protected when hiking, climbing, or running.

Portable radios also appeal to people who want to disconnect from the internet when listening to their favorite broadcasts. A pocket radio won’t interrupt your stream with messages and notifications, so it’s great for much-needed unplugged time.

As a bonus, because pocket radios are designed for one thing only, they often deliver phenomenal audio quality. Some devices can support high-res audio files, lossless audio, and other quality content.

The tens of thousands of reviews for pocket radios on Amazon show there’s still a significant market for these portable products.

The Benefits of a Pocket Radio

So, why do people invest in pocket radios?

First, compared to traditional radio systems, they’re far more portable and convenient. You can easily take your portable radio with you wherever you go.

You don’t even have to worry about finding a good Wi-Fi signal or mobile signal like you would with a smartphone.

Pocket radios also offer several other distinct benefits, such as:

• High-quality audio: The best pocket radios use the latest technologies to ensure audio quality is always excellent for your favorite channels, regardless of atmospheric conditions or electric interferences. This makes them great for audiophiles.
• Simplicity: Pocket radios are extremely easy to use. They don’t require any tech knowledge, making them ideal for people of all ages. Plus, many of these tools now come with auto tuners that can rapidly scan for frequencies on your behalf.
• Affordability: Pocket radios are generally a lot cheaper than smartphones and other electronics. They’re also less expensive to replace than a smartphone. If you’re worried about breaking your phone on a hike, a pocket radio could be a good alternative.
• Connectivity: Most smartphones rely on an internet connection and mobile signal to deliver content. Pocket radios, on the other hand, use radio frequencies. This means they can continue to provide great music and talk shows wherever you are.

How Long Do Portable Radios Last?

There are two possible answers to this question, depending on whether you’re asking about battery life or the device’s longevity.

Most pocket radios come with rechargeable batteries, which can last between 10 and 16 hours, depending on the size and structure of the radio. Some will also come with other options for power, such as battery slots, so you can use standard batteries if you run out of juice.

In terms of durability, unlike the standard smartphone, most pocket radios are built to be durable. They feature robust cases made with high-quality materials, making them resistant to knocks and bumps.

Some even come with weatherproofing for rainy days.

Your pocket radio could potentially last years, provided you give it the right care.

Security: Can a Pocket Radio be Traced?

If you’re considering investing in a pocket radio for security purposes, you might wonder how easy it is to track a radio signal.

The use of radios in the Ukraine and Russian war has recently ignited concerns about the traceability of radio systems.

The reality is that intelligent radio telemetry tools can use radio signals to determine the location of virtually any radio-enabled device.

However, pocket radios aren’t more likely to attract unwanted attention than your smartphone.

Most smartphones also have GPS chips and tracking systems that make them much easier to trace than the standard radio.

Pocket Radio Features: Can You Get Pocket Radios with Bluetooth?

While pocket radios have been around for quite some time, their features and functionality have evolved with the rise of new technology.

Today’s best pocket radios feature various advanced features, from automatic scanning to Bluetooth connectivity.

Some of the other common features of pocket radios include:

• Frequency options: Most pocket radios will allow you to listen to AM/FM frequencies on the go. However, some tools can support digital channels and DAB too.
• Rechargeable batteries: As mentioned above, pocket radios generally feature rechargeable batteries for long-term use and other power options.
• Headphone jacks and speakers: Most pocket radios will allow you to listen to music either out in the open with speakers or more discreetly through headphones.
• Bluetooth connectivity: Bluetooth pocket radios can connect with other devices, so you can share content or link up your wireless headphones for a streamlined listening experience.
• Emergency features: Many pocket radios will include features like NOAA broadcast support so you can stay tuned to the news in an emergency.
• Displays: Pocket radios often feature displays to help you scan through channels, find information about a station, or create presets for your favorite stations.

Depending on the radio you choose, you may also find it comes with many other capabilities, from sleep timers to waterproofing, long-range antennas, and more.

How Do I Choose a Good Portable Radio?

Pocket radios come in various formats and styles to suit different needs. Some are specifically for outdoor explorers, with emergency features, built-in lights, and numerous power options.

Others are intended to be sleek, compact, and lightweight for everyday users.

With hundreds of options available, finding the right solution can be complex.

However, there are some key factors you can consider when making your decision.

Radio Design and Size

The first thing you’ll likely look at when choosing a pocket radio is its size. By definition, these devices are intended to be compact enough to fit into a jacket pocket.

However, they come in a range of different shapes and weights. Make sure you choose something lightweight and simple to transport to take your radio everywhere.

Alongside the size of the radio, consider its overall appearance. Most options are designed to be more practical than aesthetically pleasing. However, some pocket radios may have a more modern or retro appearance.

Pocket radios are designed for life on the go, whether running, hiking, or working out at the gym.

They need a strong and sturdy build to ensure they’re not damaged by any knocks or bumps. Some pockets are even shockproof, so they can withstand falls.

When considering the durability of your radio, it’s worth paying attention to weatherproofing. Many top-of-the-line pocket radios are designed to keep moisture and rain out.

Some can even be immersed in water for a certain period without any damage.

Power Options

It’s worth checking out your power options to ensure you can listen to your pocket radio for as long as possible without interruptions.

Most pocket radios will include rechargeable batteries. However, you can also use standard radios with some devices.

There are even specialist pocket radios with eco-friendly power features, such as solar panels and hand cranks. These are ideal for people who want to avoid a power loss on the move.

Sound Quality

The whole purpose of a portable radio is to provide access to high-quality audio channels. With this in mind, checking the quality of the audio is vital.

Look for a radio that offers lossless audio support and high-definition music channels.

You can also improve the quality of your radio reception and audio by looking for a pocket radio with an adjustable antenna. The better your radio’s ability to pick up frequencies, the clearer your content should be.

While looking at the sound quality, check whether your radio supports speaker-based content, headphones, or both.

Connectivity

As mentioned above, many pocket radios can support AM and FM radio frequencies. Some also offer access to DAB and digital channels.

It’s worth determining what kind of connection options you’ll want before you commit to a purchase.

You should also look at Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatibility and the option to upload or download information from your radio with USB input.

Ease of Use

One of the biggest benefits of pocket radios is that they’re straightforward to use.

Some solutions are designed to be more user-friendly than others, with advanced features like automatic frequency scanning.

These tools may even include preset buttons, so you can save your favorite channels and find them easily in the future.

The easier your radio is to use, the more convenient it will be for you and any other friend or family member you decide to share it with.

Additional Features

Alongside all the standard features mentioned above, some pocket radios can have additional capabilities.

They might have alarm systems to keep you on schedule, sleep modes, or even systems that help ensure you don’t knock the buttons accidentally.

Some radios can record music and stations for you to listen to later or might come with emergency preparedness features like flashlights and beacons.

Investing in Your Own Pocket Radio

Pocket radios might not be a particularly new concept in the technological world. However, they’re still excellent devices with many benefits to explore.

If you’re looking for a convenient way to take your favorite radio stations wherever you go, a pocket radio could be the perfect option.

Durable, simple, and perfect for audiophiles, pocket radios are still popular among countless consumers.

When my grandfather would come to visit me as a kid, we used to sit in his RV and listen to the activity on his CB radio. His nickname for me was “Charlie” and asked me what my call sign would be. I told him it’s “Wide Receiver”, as a play on receiving radio signals and also for my dream of playing a wide receiver in football at the time.

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The Best Pocket Radios for Use on the Go

By Tom Scalisi

Updated on Sep 11, 2020 10:55 PM EDT

11 minute read

Best Overall

Sangean dt-160 am/fm stereo pocket radio, best bang for the buck, dreamsky pocket radio, best shortwave, kaito ka321 pocket-size 10-band am/fm shortwave radio.

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›

In a world ruled by streaming services and customizable playlists, a portable pocket radio may seem a bit old-fashioned. While it’s true that there are more modern and high-tech options, owning the best pocket radio still has its benefits.

Whether you’re on a camping trip or just trying to save your phone’s data or battery, having a pocket radio on-hand is a smart idea. You can stay up-to-date on important news and weather reports, or just pass the time with a favorite music station.

Pocket radios are small, lightweight, and easy to store. You can throw one in a backpack, a glovebox, or, as the name suggests, a pocket. This guide will explain exactly what you need to know about choosing the best pocket radio.

• BEST OVERALL: Sangean DT-160 AM/FM Stereo Pocket Radio
• BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: DreamSky Pocket Radio
• BEST SHORTWAVE: Kaito KA321 Pocket-Size 10-Band Shortwave Radio
• BEST LONGWAVE: DreamSky AM FM Portable Radio
• BEST BLUETOOTH: PRUNUS J-288 AM/FM Hands-Free Bluetooth Radio
• BEST WATERPROOF: Sangean H201 AM/FM/Weather Alert Waterproof Radio
• BEST FOR WEATHER UPDATES: Vondior NOAA Weather Radio

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Pocket Radio

Pocket radios are a bit of old-school technology, having been around for nearly 70 years. While they haven’t entirely gone the way of the dodo bird, you might’ve forgotten—or have never known—what it’s like to nail a station perfectly with your tuner dial for your favorite Friday night programming. Here are some things worth considering when choosing the best pocket radio.

Frequency Bands

Everyone loves choices, and the best pocket radios offer lots of options. You’ll be able to swap between AM and FM frequencies.

• While FM radio stations have the most music, they also have the shortest frequency ranges. You’ll have to be closer to the broadcasting tower to receive these transmissions.
• AM radio is a haven for talk shows, sportscasts, and weather reports, and the signal travels a much greater distance than FM because AM frequencies produce longer wavelengths that bounce off a layer of the atmosphere known as the ionosphere. AM radio is perfect for broadcasting life-saving information such as weather reports and important news updates.

Size and Weight

Pocket radios need to be light for convenience when toting around. If you’re backpacking, carrying a heavy radio powered by D batteries can really hamper your progress.

Choose a pocket radio that won’t tip the scales: You can find options that weigh less than half a pound. If the device has a built-in rechargeable battery, the weight savings can be significant, though you may have to charge it more often than you’d have to change replaceable batteries.

You don’t want a bulky radio, either. Choose a slim, compact version that fits easily into a jacket or pants pocket while still feeling comfortable to carry around.

Power Source

Portability is key when it comes to pocket radios, so you’ll find most of these radios use batteries. Rechargeable, built-in batteries are the most convenient for general use, as you can recharge your radio when it dies. However, this can be a real problem if you’re backpacking or camping in a remote location without a handy power supply.

If you’re looking for a radio to take on these types of adventures, consider checking into pocket radios with replaceable batteries. You can carry a few spare AA or AAA batteries with you in your pack.

If you like the idea of a rechargeable, built-in battery but find yourself “off the grid” quite a bit, try supplementing your portable radio with a solar charger or battery bank (both available on Amazon). Plenty of affordable options are available.

Station Presets

If you remember the annoyance of trying to tune your favorite radio station to a static-free frequency, you’ll appreciate a pocket radio that comes with programmable presets. They’re one of the better advancements for this old-school technology.

Many of the best pocket radios come with multiple presets, as many as 25 or more. They’re easy to set, and you can quickly toggle through a list of your favorite stations. While not as convenient as pressing “Play” on your perfectly curated playlist, it is a quicker way to get to listen to some of your preferred tunes without rolling the dial back and forth.

Headphone Jack

Built-in speakers are great, but for the maximum in portability and convenience, your pocket radio needs a headphone jack. Not everyone in the doctor’s office waiting room wants to listen to the sounds of smooth jazz or a politically charged talk show host, so be kind and keep your radio waves to yourself.

Most of today’s headphones use 3.5-millimeter headphone jacks, and this is probably the only size jack you’ll need on your portable radio. This makes your radio compatible with earbuds or most over-the-head headphones, so you can enjoy your tunes on the go without disturbing everyone around you—especially on a peaceful camping trip.

Even if you have the smallest portable radio on the market, you may not always have a pocket. When you’re working out or carrying a lot of other essential gear in your pockets, you might benefit from a belt clip to keep your pocket radio onboard.

The best pocket radios have sturdy clips, some of which are removable, allowing you to slide your radio onto your belt, your waistband, or even your shirt pocket. These clips hold your radio securely in place over bumpy hikes or bike rides, so you don’t have to worry about losing it or experiencing the discomfort of your radio bumping around in your pocket.

Bluetooth/Wireless Connectivity

If you prefer to go completely wireless and use your Bluetooth headphones, you’re in luck. Some pocket radios feature Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to go truly hands-free. Simply connect your headphones or Bluetooth-enabled speakers to your pocket radio, and you can enjoy your music completely unencumbered.

You can also use some pocket radios as portable Bluetooth speakers, which allow you to connect to your phone or other device and stream your favorite music without tolerating commercials.

These Bluetooth-enabled radios do cost a little more than a basic version, but what you’ll get in return for some extra money is freedom—and you won’t have to worry about headphone cords tangling up in the bottom of your backpack.

Our Top Picks

The following list of recommendations for the best pocket radios take all of the features and tips mentioned above into consideration. Pick up any of these models to stay on top of the latest music or news.

If you’re looking for a superior pocket radio, check out the DT-160 from Sangean. This slim, lightweight radio uses two AA batteries, and it will run for around 100 hours (at average listening volume). It features a Dynamic Bass Boost button to help improve the audio quality as well. The large, easy-to-read LCD screen features a built-in clock and signal-strength indicator. It works well with the digital tuner, allowing you to dial in your favorite station to its exact frequency. This Sangean model enables you to set 10 FM stations and five AM stations, so you don’t have to fumble around with the tuner. There is no built-in speaker to make this pocket radio heavy or larger than absolutely necessary; simply plug in your headphones and hit a preset station, and you can kick back and enjoy.

If you’re looking for a high-quality pocket radio with a low price tag, the DreamSky Pocket Radio is a great choice. This dual-band radio features analog tuning to access FM or AM stations and stay up-to-date with important news or weather broadcasts. It has a built-in speaker as well as a built-in headphone jack if you’d prefer to keep your music to yourself. The included wrist strap is great for clipping onto a backpack. The DreamSky uses two replaceable AA batteries for simplicity and has a 16.5-inch antenna to help you get the best possible reception in a variety of situations.

The Kaito KA321 Pocket-Size Radio allows fans of shortwave radio to continue their long-range listening wherever they are. The KA321 has 10 bands, as well as AM radio and an FM range from 64 to 108 MHz. The built-in speaker is loud, with a volume-adjustment knob on the side. It has a built-in headphone jack, as well as a jack for an electrical adapter, though you’ll have to buy that separately (available here ). When it comes to shortwave bands, the Kaito KA321 offers eight, covering frequencies between 5.7 and 21.95 MHz. It also has a built-in telescoping antenna to make the most of your FM and shortwave listening potential. This top shortwave pick features analog controls and a dedicated tuning knob for easy and fast frequency tuning.

Best Longwave

Dreamsky am fm portable radio.

If you’re looking for a high-quality radio with do-all reception, DreamSky’s portable radio should be on your radar. This compact pocket radio is less than an inch thick but has plenty of power for picking up longwave AM broadcasts, as well as a telescoping antenna for your FM-listening delight. This radio runs on two AA batteries and features a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, as well as a powerful built-in speaker. The simple design makes it easy for anyone to use, including technology-averse seniors. The low price is budget-friendly, making it an excellent choice for emergency preparedness; keep one in your car, another in an emergency backpack, and one at home to stay alert to important information. With an easy-to-operate analog display dial, you can search your favorite stations easily and quickly.

Best Bluetooth

Prunus j-288 am/fm hands-free bluetooth radio.

Finding a pocket radio that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker isn’t necessarily easy; finding a high-quality model is even harder. The J-288 from PRUNUS is an excellent choice, providing a digital tuner that’s easy to dial in, as well as Bluetooth-speaker capability, allowing you to stream your favorite station from your phone. The upgraded 4.0 Bluetooth technology dramatically enhances the transmission speed, re-connects to the paired device automatically, and can also be used as a hands-free telephone receiver. (Bluetooth headphones are not supported.) It has AM/FM radio capability and a sleep timer to shut off the radio after you fall asleep. The J-288 has an extra-long FM antenna to boost its reception and provide the clearest possible audio. It also has a rechargeable onboard battery, meaning you don’t have to keep spare batteries around to listen to your favorite tunes. Finally, the PRUNUS J-288 features an easy-to-read LCD digital display.

Best Waterproof

Sangean h201 am/fm/weather alert waterproof radio.

Sangean designed the H201 specifically for water applications. This shower radio works well in your bathroom, but it doubles nicely as a reliable, weatherproof option for the trail or boat. It has 20 presets: 10 for FM, five for AM, and five for weather-related stations. The digital display has a handy backlight, helping you see the tuner in low-light conditions. It also has a flashlight built into the side and a swivel handle for convenient carrying, as well as an emergency buzzer to help draw attention if you find yourself in a dangerous scenario. This radio is a little heavy, however, requiring two D batteries for wire-free operation.

Best for Weather Updates

Vondior noaa weather radio.

If you’re putting together an emergency-preparedness kit, you know that space is an important factor. Big, heavy radios will take up room needed for other essential items. Vondior’s NOAA Weather Radio is compact and light, allowing you to throw it in any kit. It uses two AA batteries, an analog tuning system, and a built-in antenna to pick up FM stations. It also picks up continual weather updates and important emergency weather alerts from the NOAA. For more relaxed scenarios, the Vondior can play your favorite FM station or AM talk show through its loud built-in speaker, or you can keep your jams to yourself by plugging your headphones into the built-in mono headphone jack.

The Advantages of Owning the Best Pocket Radio

• Pocket radios can keep you up-to-date on dangerous weather conditions. These portable radios are an integral part of a comprehensive emergency plan. These small battery-powered radios can help you stay up-to-date during dangerous storms, even when the power goes out. If you spend a lot of time camping or hiking in remote areas, having a pocket radio helps you remain aware of changing weather conditions and important news.
• You’ll have some portable entertainment anywhere you need it. Some entertainment can help pass the time in many scenarios. Whether you’re on a long train ride, in a doctor’s waiting room, or at a family function (when you’d rather not be), you can tune into a music station or game, throw on some headphones, and block out the world for a bit.
• Pocket radios can be the gateway to a new hobby. Some radio-listening hobbyists enjoy seeing how far out of range they can travel and still receive clear broadcasts. There’s an entire community of radio enthusiasts, some of whom prefer to tune in with small pocket radios. You may find that your pocket radio becomes a gateway to a new and entertaining hobby.

Tips for Using a Pocket Radio

• Increase your elevation to boost your reception. If you’re hiking or camping, and you’re not finding the level of radio reception you need, you can try moving to higher ground. Radio waves travel at the line of sight, so you may need to raise your elevation (or attach an external antenna when applicable) to get the best reception.
• Keep batteries on hand for emergencies. If your pocket radio’s primary use is receiving emergency weather broadcasts, waiting until the storm is upon you to check your batteries is a recipe for failure. Keep fresh batteries on hand, and if possible, match your radio batteries with your flashlight’s to ensure that you always have a stash of the right ones.
• Use an external speaker to increase your audio quality. The best way to increase the audio quality of your pocket radio is to use an external speaker. While it won’t reduce the static, it will improve the built-in speaker’s sound quality. You’ll need to plug the external speaker into your headphone jack and be sure to keep it charged (or keep batteries on-hand), but the improved audio quality will help you squeeze more entertainment out of a tiny radio.

FAQs About Your New Pocket Radio

You may still have some questions about these pocket radios, and that’s understandable. They’re something of a forgotten technology, and as with any knowledge, if you don’t use it, you lose it. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers about pocket radios.

Q. What is the difference between digital and analog tuning?

Digital tuning uses an LCD screen to show your current frequency, while analog tuners use a display range with a moving needle (or a stationary needle with a moving range) to confirm your position. Digital tuners are far more exact, but analog tuners allow you to scan the entire range faster.

Q. Do pocket radios sound good?

“Good” is a relative term. As better-quality speakers have become smaller and more affordable, the quality of pocket radio speakers has increased. However, a pocket radio probably won’t sound as good as your desktop speakers or your car’s audio system.

Q. How do you troubleshoot poor radio reception?

FM radio transmissions are tuned using the built-in, telescoping whip antennas, while AM radios use internal antennas. Reposition the FM antenna while turning the dial to improve your reception. AM stations are far more challenging to troubleshoot, and if there’s a weak AM signal in your area, there’s very little you can do.

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Best Pocket Radios

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This slim, streamlined model has all the high-quality features you need.

This radio supports AM, FM, and NOAA Weather bands and has excellent sensitivity. It has 5 1-touch memory presets for quick access to your favorite stations, a built-in speaker, a backlight, and an alarm. Plus, it comes with earbuds and a removable belt clip.

The display angle can be awkward for left-handed users.

This pocket radio has a sleek design and is ideal to have as part of an emergency kit.

This pocket radio uses just 2 AA batteries and has a hand string that makes it suitable for walking, running, camping, traveling, and hiking. It has a built-in high-performance speaker and an audio jack for private listening.

The speaker is mediocre, so it's not the best radio for listening to music.

Hikers, campers, and anyone who spends a lot of time outside should invest in this versatile and crystal-clear Weather Alert pocket radio.

Supports digital AM, FM, and public alert weather radio frequencies. Lightweight. Includes 19 preset channels. Clock. Alarm. Loud speaker. Deep bass. Belt clip. Includes antenna and earbuds.

Batteries not included.

This old-school Jensen portable radio stands apart from the competition because of its fun retro style and ability to play and record cassette tapes.

Supports AM and FM frequencies. Play and record cassette tapes. Integrated microphone and antenna. Powerful speaker. Large tactile buttons. Headphone jack. Available in black and teal.

AC adapter and batteries not included.

An exceptional pocket radio; slim and highly portable with commendable sound quality and decent reception.

Notable for its drift-free PLL synthesized tuning that's powerful enough to pick up even distant channels. Features auto station scanning and can save up to 19 preset stations. Earbuds included.

Sits on the higher end of the price spectrum.

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

Table of Contents

Buying guide for best pocket radios.

In an age of streaming music and MP3 files, you might think that radios are passé. But there are plenty of reasons to own a radio, particularly a small one that you can easily carry wherever you might roam.

Radio is still a very convenient way to keep up on news, weather, and traffic reports, and, of course, many people enjoy tuning in to their favorite radio talk shows. Plus, there’s a radio station playing just about any type of music you might fancy within receiving distance of most large cities.

What is a pocket radio?

A pocket radio, as the name suggests, is a portable radio that is often – although not always – small enough to fit in a pocket. A pocket radio is a handy way to listen to music or talk radio inside or outside your home or when out of range of streaming music services. Since they’re small, pocket radios are excellent for the beach , hiking, camping, or other outdoor activities. They’re also useful in emergency situations when you might not have electricity to power your television or other news-gathering devices.

Know your bands

The sound you hear coming out of your radio is produced by radio waves, a type of electromagnetic wave. The radio’s speaker converts these waves into mechanical vibrations, which in turn create the sound waves that travel to your ears and then to your brain, where the sound waves are translated into music, speech, or some other recognizable sound. There are four major types of radio waves you’ll encounter when shopping for your pocket radio: FM, AM, NOAA, and shortwave.

Frequency modulation (FM): FM uses changes in sound-wave frequency to transmit signals. On the most basic level, frequency is the speed of a sound wave’s vibration. While FM signals don’t travel as far as AM signals, they do have better sound quality, which is why the vast majority of radio stations that play music are on the FM dial. FM is standard on pretty much every pocket radio.

Amplitude modulation (AM): AM uses changes in amplitude to transmit signals. Amplitude, simply put, is the size of a sound wave. While AM signals travel much farther than FM signals, they have poorer sound quality. Most talk radio stations are on the AM dial. AM is standard on all pocket radios.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Weather stations use a different frequency than the regular FM band on your radio. If you want to be able to hear weather reports – including emergency broadcasts – you need a radio that includes the NOAA weather bands. If you camp , boat, or live in an area with frequent severe weather, it’s worth spending extra for a pocket radio with NOAA bands.

Shortwave: These frequencies bounce off a layer of charged atoms (ions) in the atmosphere, and depending on the angle of the waves can travel thousands of miles. By contrast, AM signals only extend up to 100 miles or so from the broadcast center, while FM signals are even shorter, reaching up to 30 or 40 miles from where they originate. A pocket radio with shortwave capabilities means you can listen to broadcasts from other countries or even other continents.

Pocket radio features to consider

You’ll find a wide range of features to consider. The following are some of the most important.

Controls: In the past, most radios had analog controls, meaning you turned a large dial to find your station. These days, digital controls are the most common, but you’ll still find analog pocket radios, especially in the lowest price range.

Presets: Just about every digital pocket radio lets you preset your favorite stations, but the number of available presets varies from a few to 15. For most people, 6 to 10 presets are sufficient.

Power source: Pocket radios run off batteries, but some also have AC capabilities so you can plug the radio into an electrical outlet when desired. You’ll also find pocket radios that use solar power – these can be good for camping – as well as some with USB ports that let you charge the battery using your computer.

Weight and size: While all pocket radios are fairly light and small, some are lighter and smaller than others. If you’ll be carrying the radio while hiking or exercising, you’ll want one that’s as small and light as possible.

Bluetooth capabilities: Many pocket radios now have Bluetooth capabilities, meaning you can use the device to play music from your computer or cellphone music library, as well as listen to the radio.

Display: If you’ll be using your radio in low-light situations, such as camping or nighttime outdoor parties, a backlit display is a must. Without it, you’ll struggle to find the volume or station controls in the dark.

Auto seek: You’ll find this handy function on digital pocket radios. It lets you automatically jump to the next station rather than slowly scroll through the dial manually.

Low-battery indicator: Since pocket radios generally run off batteries, a low-battery indicator is a very useful feature. Without one, you risk running out of power right in the middle of your favorite song or talk radio show.

Pocket radio prices

Under $10: These pocket radios are the simplest analog devices. Don’t expect any frills or very good sound quality.

$20 to $40: This is the sweet spot for most buyers. You’ll get good sound quality, nice features, and reliable performance in this price range.

$40 and up: Expect to pay over $40 for a pocket radio with good sound, most of the desirable features, and NOAA and/or shortwave capabilities.

Will you use the radio while camping, hiking, or exercising? If so, look for a model with a telescoping antenna to catch sound waves even if the nearest radio station is far away. One with a flashlight mode comes in very handy after dark . A pocket radio with a belt clip or strap makes it easy to carry while on the go. Some pocket radios have built-in clocks and alarm functions, too, making them useful when you need an early morning wake-up call while camping or participating in other outdoor activities.

Will you listen to your radio while on public transportation? If you want to listen to the news or music on the bus or train, you’ll need a pocket radio with a headphone jack.

Will you use the radio as a speaker for an MP3 player? If so, choose a model with an auxiliary (AUX) port.

• Will you use your radio near water? If you want a pocket radio to use while fishing , boating, or even drifting on a float in the middle of the lake, look for a waterproof model that won’t be ruined if it takes an accidental dive into the water.

Q. What type of batteries do pocket radios use?

A. Most use either AA or AAA batteries. As a general rule, radios with LCD screens and backlit controls use up batteries more quickly than simpler devices. Rechargeable batteries will save you money, and if you keep one set in the radio and one fully charged, you can switch them when needed without any downtime.

Q. Do pocket radios have good sound quality?

A. Don’t expect the highest fidelity sound from your pocket radio. These devices are more for convenience than great sound. Still, there’s no need to settle for terrible performance. Typically, the larger the speaker, the better the sound. Most pocket radios in the middle to upper price range have better sound than those toward the bottom of the range.

Q. Do pocket radios have stereo sound or only mono?

A. Some lower-end pocket radios only have mono sound, and most higher-end radios have stereo sound. Many pocket radios have stereo sound through headphones and mono without.

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The SWLing Post

Shortwave listening and everything radio including reviews, broadcasting, ham radio, field operation, dxing, maker kits, travel, emergency gear, events, and more.

Tag Archives: Best Travel Shortwave Radios Review

A review of the c. crane cc skywave ssb ultra compact travel radio.

The following review first appeared in the January 2018 issue of  The Spectrum Monitor  magazine.

[IMPORTANT UPDATE (October 21, 2018): I’m pleased to report that C. Crane have addressed issues that I found in the first production run of the CC Skywave SSB.  Click here to read the update .]

Those who know me know I’m all about travel, and all the things that make the travel experience enjoyable. I like to pack light , taking only the essentials, and if I’m traveling by air, I can easily fit two weeks of fun into one small carry-on . To me, the idea of lugging a huge suitcase, being subject to lost check-in luggage, and fretting over finding room in an overhead bin to squeeze in a huge bag simply has no appeal. Even though I often opt for the budget ticket, which means loading later, I know I can literally be the last one on board without fear because my travel bag is so compact that, if nothing else, it will fit underneath the seat in front of me.

Yet even though I travel light, I never ever travel without a radio. That’s a given in my bag. Since packable real estate in my carry-on is at a premium, I opt for the most bang-for-buck I can manage in a portable radio.

My radio travel partners

To date, I have a few favorite full-featured travel radios and know quite well both their strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a list with some notable pros and cons:

• Pros:  A 1990s era marvel of compact technology, it sports SSB mode, sync detection, headphone and audio out jacks, external antenna jack, and long life on two AA batteries. It has excellent sensitivity and selectivity. No muting between frequencies spoils listening pleasure.
• Cons: Speaker audio is poor, no FM RDS, no weather radio, no AIR band, the battery cover may be easily broken, ribbon cable can break (in early models) and the clamshell design, while a cool feature, isn’t always practical and makes the unit feel prone to damage. Plus, the SW100 series is no longer manufactured and, due to desirability, typically have a price point well above the competition.

• Pros: A compact, ergonomic full-featured radio which sports SSB mode, AIR band, external antenna jack, reasonable audio from internal speaker, very good shortwave and mediumwave performance for the size. No muting between frequencies.
• Cons: Rubberized coating becomes sticky as it deteriorates, no weather radio, no audio-out jack, no RDS, and it’s no longer manufactured.

• Pros: Very affordable (typically $40-50 shipped), excellent shortwave, mediumwave and FM reception, external antenna jack, average audio fidelity from built-in speaker, internal battery charging, common 5V mini USB plug, reasonably durable.
• Cons: No SSB mode, no weather radio, no AIR band, no RDS, no dedicated audio-out jack, limited shortwave coverage compared with other portables 2.3 – 21.95 MHz

• Pros: SSB mode, great shortwave, mediumwave, fm reception, vertical form factor great for handheld listening while walking/hiking, external ferrite bar antenna enables excellent AM/mediumwave reception.
• Cons: Vertical form factor means it’s prone to fall over if placed on a bedside table, no direct entry keypad for frequencies, tinny audio from built-in speaker, no RDS, no AIR band, detachable external ferrite bar antenna is an extra piece to keep up with while traveling.

• Pros: SSB mode, AIR mode, squelch control, FM RDS, dedicated fine-tuning control, external antenna jack, internal speaker provides better audio than other compact travel radios. Excellent sensitivity.
• Cons: Slightly larger form factor than other travel radios. Somewhat awkward ergonomics. 7 VDC power port is non-standard. No dedicated audio out jack.

The CC Skywave

The (original) C. Crane CC Skywave

• Pros: Overall excellent performance on shortwave, mediumwave, and FM. AIR band, North America weather radio (excellent sensitivity) with alerts, squelch control, common 5 VDC USB mini power port with charging capability, a great value at $89
• Cons: No SSB mode, no external antenna jack, no RDS,

What radio I decide to pack really depends on the type of trip I’m taking.

If I really want SSB mode to listen to HF pirates, ham radio, or utility stations, I tend to grab the Sony ICF-SW100 , the Grundig G6 , or more recently, the Digitech AR-1780 [and now the XHDATA D-808 ].

If I plan to do extended hiking or walking during my trip, I might grab the CountyComm GP5-SSB .

If I only plan to listen to AM/FM/SW broadcasts , and it’s a short trip––or one during which the radio might receive rough treatment––then I might grab the Tecsun PL-310ET . If I leave the PL-310ET in a hotel or drop it, I’m only out about $40.  I’ve even been known to simply give one of these to someone, like a kid for example, who shows a fascination in shortwave radio.

If I plan to do off-air audio recordings during my travels, then the Sony ICF-SW100 because it’s the only radio with a dedicated audio-out port.  Plus, it’s a great performer.

If I’m travelling by air , however, I almost always choose the CC Skywave :  its unique combination of AM/FM/SW coverage, NOAA weather, and AIR band are simply hard to beat. It’s compact, durable, and gets the job done. Plus, the Skywave seems to operate for ages on a set of AA batteries. C. Crane really knocked it out of the ballpark with the CC Skywave.

But there was one glaring omission on the original CC Skywave: Single-sideband (SSB) mode.

Enter the CC Skywave SSB

Earlier this year, I learned about a new radio in development at C. Crane: the CC Skywave SSB. I saw a Beta unit very early on and a few weeks later, knowing how much I appreciate the original Skywave, C. Crane asked me to help test the new Skywave SSB.  I was happy to do my bit.

I actually do quite a bit of alpha- and beta-testing for manufacturers. While it’s time-consuming volunteer work, and requires meticulous attention to detail––even seemingly minor details––it gives me an opportunity to have meaningful positive impact on an upcoming product. Manufacturers that actively involve enthusiasts in their testing phase tend to produce better quality. I wish all manufacturers did this (yes, Tecsun, I’m looking squarely at you!).

After the Skywave SSB arrived, I started putting it through its paces.  Typically, pilot run units have quirks and glitches buried in non-standard operating procedures. Try as I might, I couldn’t find any on the Skywave SSB. I’ve since learned that C. Crane invests heavily in pre-production testing; I saw their full list of iterative notes, and they were incredibly detailed. Result?  No obvious problems.  I’ve always believed that while C. Crane doesn’t always produce the most affordable products––nor do they stuff every bell-and-whistle into them––what they do produce is well thought out, user friendly, well documented, and performs at or near the top of its class.

The CC Skywave SSB comes with a surprising amount of features for such a compact radio. Many of these features are also found on the original CC Skywave .

I’ve placed upgraded features in bold :

• AM, FM, NOAA Weather band plus Alert, Shortwave ( 1711-29.999MHz ) with SSB mode , and Airband
• Frequency direct entry, plus auto scan and store
• Lighted LCD display
• Selectable fast or fine tuning (on all bands except weather)
• Dedicated fine tuning control , selectable on front panel
• 400 memory presets
• Runs on 2 AA Alkaline batteries (not included)
• (Optional) CC Skywave AC power adapter w/ mini USB plug required for charging NiMH batteries.
• Stereo headphone jack and fold-out back stand
• Clock with 12/24 hour format and alarm
• Rotary volume knob
• Squelch control
• High quality CC Buds Earphones and radio carry case included
• ± 70 hours (earbuds)
• ± 60 Hours (built-in speaker)
• 10 Aviation Memories can be scanned for activity

You’ll notice there are actually very few obvious upgrades from the original Skywave to the Skywave SSB: just SSB mode, expanded HF coverage (from 1,711 to 29,999 kHz), and dedicated fine tune button/control. I’ve also learned that aviation band scanning is much faster on the newer model than on the original Skywave.

Other than those items, in terms of features, it’s very similar to the original CC Skywave.

CC Skywave SSB (left) and the original CC Skywave (right)

The original Skywave and Skywave SSB are nearly identical in terms of form factor; overall dimensions are identical (4.8″ W x 3″ H x 1″ D), although the Skywave SSB weighs 1.2 oz more than the original––a difference that’s scarcely detectable.

The tuning knob, volume control, power port, and headphones jack are in the same places on the SSB. The chassis color is different, however; the original Skywave is black, whereas the new Skywave SSB is grey––a dark warm or “dim” grey,” to be accurate.

Original CC Skywave (left) and CC Skywave SSB (right)

Where one finds the true difference between the new Skywave SSB and its predecessor is on the front panel. The Skywave SSB has dedicated buttons to enable both SSB mode, select upper or lower sideband, and a fine-tune control. The Skywave also has a dedicated backlight button. This accounts for a total of four additional buttons compared with the original Skywave.

In a rather nice touch, both the SSB and fine tune buttons have tiny red LED indicators to let the user know when they’re engaged.

The CC Skywave SSB also has a redesigned speaker grill which more closely resembles the grill on their CC Pocket radio. Much to my surprise, once I shared detailed photos of the CC Skywave SSB, many of my readers expressed their disappointment with the speaker design. Many claimed it looked “cheap” as compared with the original Skywave and thus felt the chassis might be more subject to breakage. Some even got the impression that the speaker grill was raised in a way that it would lend itself to harm.

Actually, this is not accurate.  Though it may appear that the speaker grill is elevated in photos, it’s actually in a recessed portion of the chassis and surrounded by an absorbent rubber ring, rising only ? 1 mm above the chassis, if that. And the hard plastic case feels as solid and robust as any portable I’ve tested.  I wouldn’t hesitate to toss it in my pack.

Personally, I think the Skywave SSB is a handsome little radio! Perhaps I’m not as sensitive as others about chassis design, but I’m actually happy it’s not a clone of the original Skywave, making it much easier for owners of both models to distinguish them when packing!

From Pilot/Beta to production

While C. Crane allowed me to post a number of photos once the product announcement had been made, I would not publicly comment on performance. Indeed, I never post performance comments about pre-production units since I wouldn’t be evaluating the same product that hits the store shelves.

So once C. Crane posted an ordering page for the Skywave SSB, I placed an order, just like everyone else.

In truth, I was told there were only minor differences between the pilot unit and the production unit: some silk screening and other very minor changes.

Production Quirks

[IMPORTANT UPDATE: Again, please note that the following production quirks have been addressed in the second production run of the CC Skywave SSB. Click here to review the update.]

I was eager to get started on the review of the Skywave SSB, so as soon as I received it, I did what I always do: compared it with other radios!

I make my comparisons, by the way, at least fifty yards from my house to separate the radios from any inadvertent sources of local noise.

Production Radio #1

My first comparison was with the Digitech AR-1780 and the original CC Skywave. I quickly noted that the Skywave SSB was very slightly less sensitive than the other radios. I had tested the pre-production unit enough to know that the Skywave SSB’s performance should at least be on par with, if not a little better than, the original Skywave.

Upon careful listening, I discovered the production unit had a faint, internally-generated whine on some of the shortwave bands; when tuned to marginal signals, this whine manifested in the form of variable background noise. Between signals it was audible as a faint background whine, hardly noticeable. With that said, the whine was most notable while tuning––since the Skywave SSB mutes between frequency changes, the whine was most conspicuous during audio recovery between steps.

The pre-production unit had no trace of an internally-generated whine. Audio was very clean in comparison.

Here’s a sample of the first production radio being tuned down from 10,000 kHz in 5 kHz tuning steps:

Here’s a sample from the pre-production unit dong the same:

Hear the whine in the first sample? Yes, so do I.

I contacted C. Crane promptly, and to their credit, they immediately dispatched another unit from inventory, via UPS Next Day,  along with a return label to send my faulty unit back to their engineering team.

Production Radio #2

The second unit arrived while I was on Thanksgiving vacation, but was sent to me directly at my hotel.  The day I received the replacement Skywave SSB, I put it on the air. The first listening session with it, alone, revealed that this unit did not have the internally-generated whine, however, this unit had issues with sensitivity. All of my comparison receivers were outperforming this Skywave SSB on the shortwave broadcast bands. When I compared it with the pre-production Skywave SSB unit and the first production unit, the second production unit was about four to five S-units less sensitive…Odd.

I sent both production radios back to C. Crane with detailed notes and sample recordings. Their engineering team confirmed my findings and started looking into the variations in QC and double-checking their inventory to make sure none shipped with these problems.

Production Radio #3

A few days later, I was sent a third production unit. After putting it on the air, I immediately noticed the same faint noise characteristics of my first full production unit, which is to say, the notorious whine.

Once again, I contacted C. Crane.  This time, I requested that no less than three radios be sent to me, and that they kindly expedite the request.

Production Radios #4, #5, and #6

I tested all three radios from this final batch of production units. What follows is an assessment of those radios.

First production run noises

I spent two full hours searching for birdies (internally generated noises) and other anomalies on the three CC Skywave SSB production units I received that Monday. Each radio’s noise location varied slightly (within 20-40 kHz).

Birdies are a fairly common occurrence among sensitive receivers, and the CC Skywave SSB has about an average number. Fortunately, the birdies I noted are outside the space where I do my broadcast listening:

Background audio whine/tone

All of the production units (save Radio #2) had a very slight audio whine present––either via the internal speaker or headphones––on certain portions of the spectrum.

In the first full production unit I received, I believe this whine may have slightly affected the unit’s overall sensitivity. On the last three production units I received, the whine didn’t seem to have as much of an impact on overall sensitivity.

The whine is still there, however. And occasionally when the unit is tuned to a weak signal within one of these zones, other faint sweeping noises can be detected in the background.

Sometimes it’s even more noticeable when the broadcaster is weak and is located within one of the “whine zones.” Here’s an example of 10 MHz WWV time station comparing the original Skywave with the Skywave SSB. Note that at the time this was recorded we had terrible propagation due to a geo storm, so WWV was very weak, indeed.

Listen for the sweeping tones:

Click here to view on YouTube.

Here are the frequency ranges where I noted the background whine:

• 7,830 – 8335 kHz
• 8,610 – 8,690 kHz (note: very faint)
• 9,770 – 10,415 kHz
• 11,585 – 11810 kHz

Another oddity is a noise I found prevalent on CHU Canada’s 7,850 kHz frequency. I’m guessing it may be due to the presence of a DSP birdie on top of a relatively strong broadcaster.

Here’s a video comparing the original Skywave with one of the production models:

I noted no birdies or noises on the mediumwave band.

I’ve no doubt, C. Crane will tackle these issues and solve them by the time the second production run ships.

In the meantime, I’ve become somewhat of an expert on the CC Skywave SSB, having evaluated a total of seven models and spending more time evaluating them than I have any other portable.

Let’s take a look at what we can expect from the CC Skywave SSB with these first production quirks aside.

Like its predecessor and many other travel radios (the Digitech AR-1780 and XHDATA D-808 being notable exceptions) the Skywave SSB’s audio from the internal speaker is adequate. It’s just shy of what I would call “tinny” because it does cover the mid-range .  For spoken word content in AM and SSB, it does the job quite well. With music, you simply can’t expect any bass notes or room-filling audio. But then again, in a compact radio, my expectations are simply lower. The Digitech AR-1780 and XHDATA D-808 have the best audio of my compact travel radios, but they’re also the largest, so have a slightly bigger speaker.

I did note a minor amount of background hiss present somewhere in the audio amplification chain on the first production run units–most noticeable via headphones.

With the supplied CC Buds, you’ll be a happy camper.

Audio sounds rich via the headphones jack.

Performance

Of course, what we all want to know is how well the CC Skywave SSB performs. In a nutshell (spoiler alert!) it’s very similar to the original Skywave.

I break this down band-by-band below, starting with my favorite band.

Keeping in mind the frustrating experience with quality control, when I received the final three production units, I was very pleased with performance on the shortwave bands. The AGC characteristics are relatively stable, making weak signal listening a pleasant experience. Even though the Skywave SSB lacks a synchronous detector, I found that stability––even with periods of notable selective fading––is impressive.

In the realm of compact travel radios, both my pre-production and (better functioning) production models are strong performers. The Skywave SSB is slightly less sensitive than my larger, full-featured portables like the Tecsun PL-660, PL-680, PL-880, and Grundig Satellit. All of these radios, however, have longer telescoping whip antennas. If I add the gain from the included CC Reel antenna, the Skywave SSB can even hold its own with many of these.

I’ve been very pleased with the original Skywave for broadcast SWLing for a few years now. I’m happy to report that the Skywave SSB offers an incremental improvement over the original Skywave.

Much like other modern DSP portables, FM performance is stellar for such a compact radio. The Skywave SSB was able to receive all of my benchmark FM stations. While audio fidelity from the Skywave SSB’s internal speaker is not a strong point, via headphones you’ll be quite pleased.

AM/Mediumwave

I’ve found the Skywave SSB to be capable mediumwave receiver. Performance characteristics are very similar to the original Skywave and the AGC settings even make MW DXing a pleasant experience. Since the internal ferrite bar isn’t terribly large, better performance can be achieved by coupling the Skywave SSB to an inexpensive loop antenna, like the Grundig AN200 AM Antenna.

Weather radio

Like the original Skywave, the Skywave SSB is an impressively capable weather radio receiver. From my home, I’m able to pick up a marginal NOAA weather radio frequency that most of my other weather radios cannot. The Skywave SSB also includes a handy weather alert feature that will monitor your chosen NOAA/Environment Canada frequency and wake up the receiver if an alert is issued.

Note that the weather alert feature works on a timer and, most importantly, if operating from battery, drains batteries as quickly as if you were monitoring a live station with the squelch open.

While I didn’t compare performance with a triple conversion scanner, I’m favorably impressed with AIR band performance. During my tests, I noted no imaging or overloading on the AIR band, a very good thing. Additionally, the Skywave SSB offers improved scanning features for the AIR band, making it easier to monitor ground, tower, and even approach/departure frequencies at larger airports. When employing the squelch feature, you almost get the impression you’re holding a scanner, rather than a shortwave portable, in your hands.

Like the original CC Skywave, the SSB does not cover the longwave band. In North America, there is very little to listen to on longwave, so many consumers will never take notice. I’m sure longwave DXers will wish it was a part of the package, however. Admittedly, when I’m traveling in Europe and other parts of the world where there are still stations on longwave, I’ll certainly miss the band.

Comparing to other compact travel radios

Trying to decide if the CC Skywave SSB will have the performance characteristics to displace my other travel portables, I compared it with the radios I mention at the beginning of this article.

However, both the Sony ICF-SW100 and the Digitech AR-1780 are more sensitive than the Skywave SSB. The Digitech AR-1780 has the best audio characteristics of the competitors, but is also slightly larger and heavier than the others.

Note, too, that the Sony ICF-SW100 and Grundig G6 are the only radios in this comparison that don’t mute between frequency changes. They’re the best band-scanning receivers.

And how does the Skywave SSB compare with the original CC Skywave? I find that the Skywave SSB has a slightly lower noise floor which is perhaps helped even further by better audio/tone characteristics. Sensitivity is about the same, but signals pop out of the background static better on the Skywave SSB.

In terms of features, the Skywave SSB likely offers the most for the traveler.

Every radio has its pros and cons, of course. When I begin a review of a radio, I take notes from the very beginning so that I don’t forget my initial impressions. Following is the list I’ve formed over the time I’ve been evaluating the CC Skywave SSB:

• Overall well thought out, considerate design
• Excellent form factor for travel
• Very good sensitivity and selectivity for a compact radio
• Faster AIR scanning compared with the original Skywave
• Better HF frequency coverage than the original Skywave (1.711-29.999 MHz, compared to 2.300-26.100 MHz)
• Pleasant SSB audio
• Multiple bandwidths in both AM and SSB modes
• No overloading noted
• Well-written operation manual
• Excellent weather band reception
• Nice red LED indication lamps for SSB and Fine Tune engagement
• a quality external reel antenna
• CC Buds earphones
• Soft case with Velcro closure
• Excellent battery life from two AA cells (AA cells are a plus for travelers as they’re so ubiquitous)
• Inconsistent quality from initial production run (update: corrected in second production run )
• Mutes between frequencies while band-scanning
• Engaging SSB mode requires 2-3 seconds of delay (common for this DSP chip)
• Some ticking noise in audio when pressing buttons (identical to the Digitech AR-1780)
• No audio-out jack
• No longwave reception
• ATS Scanning in 1st production run stops at 26,100 kHz
• No synchronous detection (though not expected in this class of compact portable)
• Shortwave ATS tuning time about half as fast as the original Skywave (original is quite speedy!)
• $149 $169 price is at the top of its class

I love the CC Skywave SSB. Sure, I wish it had RDS, an audio-out jack, didn’t mute between frequencies, and was a little less expensive. But overall, it’s a fantastic package. I’m impressed with the amount of performance the Skywave SSB provides with such a short telescoping antenna.

Most reading this review will be scratching their heads wondering if: a) having SSB mode is worth the $60 premium over the original Skywave ($89 vs. $149)? and b) is any compact radio, for that matter, really worth $149––?

Because of how I travel, I would say that I easily use ultra-compact portables like the Skywave SSB about 70% of the time I’m found listening to portables.

When the Skywave SSB was first placed on the C. Crane website, they posted a price of $169––when the units started shipping, they reduced the cost to $149, and reimbursed those who had placed an order with the higher price. [UPDATE: Early 2018, they once again increased the price to $169.]

Though the initial $169 price made me wince a bit, I still ordered one. Why? Because to me being a traveler who loves an ultra compact, having an ergonomic, full-featured, durable, compact travel radio with SSB, AIR and NOAA weather radio is worth it!

Therefore, the CC Skywave SSB will be my travel radio of choice going forward––it’s essentially a Swiss Army Knife of a travel radio.

There’s another factor, too: I trust C. Crane. Despite the frustrating quirks I experienced reviewing my first production run units, I know C. Crane takes care of their customers in the long run, and will replace any faulty units without hesitation. They’ve taken every item of feedback I’ve provided directly to their engineers and quality-control specialists, and the work continues to resolve this radio’s concerns.  If you have a Skywave SSB with noise, don’t hesitate to contact C. Crane about it.

Overall, I am optimistic about this radio.  I expect the second production run will produce radios performing as they should––like the final production units I tested, but without the internally-generated noises.  [ Click here to read second production run update. ] And if this occurs as I expect, you can expect good performers.

At any rate, I know this: I’ll be one of the first to test units of their second production run…and to let you know just what I find. (Bookmark the tag CC Skywave SSB for updates.)

Click here to check out the CC Skywave SSB at C. Crane

Traveling light, SWLing right: the best shortwave radios for travel

This article originally appeared in the March 2014 issue of The Spectrum Monitor Magazine .

My Timbuk2 Small Wingman is very compact, yet holds everything I need for two weeks (or more!) of travel.

So, why not pack everything you could possibly ever want on a journey?  While this remains an option, travelling light has many advantages over the take-it-all traveler’s method. First, it gives one incredible freedom, especially when travelling by air or train.  I never have to worry about being among the first to be seated in an aircraft, nor do I worry about my luggage not making a connection when I do.  Second, it’s kinder on the back and shoulders, and easier to maneuver wherever I go–no wheels required–whether in a busy first-world airport or bustling third-world street market.  Third, I always have my most important gear right there with me.  And finally (I must admit) I find light travel to be fun, an entertaining challenge; the looks on friends’ faces when they meet me at the airport to “help” with my luggage is, frankly, priceless.  Seeing me hop off a flight with my small shoulder bag, friends ask in bewilderment, “Where’s your stuff?” It’s music to my ears.

You would think that having such self-imposed restrictions on travel–carrying a small, light bag–would make it nearly impossible to travel with radio. On the contrary!  Radio is requisite, in my book–er, bag.  I carry a surprising amount of gear in my small bag:  once at an airport security checkpoint, an inspector commented, “It’s like you have the contents of a Radio Shack in here–!” But more significantly, each piece–and radio–is carefully selected to give me the best performance, durability, versatility, and reliability.

So what do I look for in a travel radio? Let’s take a closer look.

Travel Radio Features

The CountyComm GP5DSP has three different ways of auto tuning stations quickly, an alarm function and the display will even indicate the current temperature. Its unique vertical, thin body might be easier to pack at times, depending on your travel gear.

In a travel shortwave radio, I search for features I wouldn’t necessarily pick for home use, where I’m mainly concerned with raw performance. I don’t want to carry an expensive receiver while traveling, either: $100.00 US is usually my maximum. This way, if I accidently break the radio (or my gear gets stolen), I won’t feel like I’m out very much money.  I also prioritize features that benefit a traveler, of course; here are some that I look for:

• Small size: Naturally, it’s sensible to look for a travel radio that’s small for its receiver class for ease in packing.
• Overall sturdy chassis: Any travel radio should have a sturdy body case that can withstand the rigors of travel.
• Built-in Alarm/Sleep Timer functions: While my iPhone works as an alarm, I hate to miss an early flight or connection, so it’s extra security when I can set a back-up alarm.
• Powered by AA batteries: While the newer lithium ion battery packs are fairly efficient, I still prefer the AA battery standard, which allows me to obtain batteries as needed in most settings; a fresh set of alkaline (or freshly-charged) batteries will power most portables for hours on end.
• Standard USB charging cable: If I can charge batteries internally, a USB charging cable can simply plug into my smart phone’s USB power adapter or the USB port on my laptop; no extra “wall wart” equals less weight and less annoyance.
• ETM: Many new digital portables have an ETM function which allow auto-scanning of a radio band (AM/FM/SW), saving what it finds in temporary memory locations–a great way to get a quick overview of stations.  (As this function typically takes several minutes to complete on shortwave, I usually set it before unpacking or taking a shower. When I return to my radio, it’s ready to browse.)
• Single-Side Band: While I rarely listen to SSB broadcasts when traveling, I still like to pack an SSB-capable receiver when travelling for an extended time.
• RDS: Though an RDS (Radio Data System) is FM-only, it’s a great feature for identifying station call signs and genre (i.e., public radio, rock, pop, country, jazz, classical, etc.)
• External antenna jack: I like to carry a reel-type or clip-on wire external antenna if I plan to spend serious time SWLing. Having a built-in external jack means that the connection is easy, no need to bother with wire and an alligator clip to the telescoping whip.
• Tuning wheel/knob: Since I spend a lot of time band-scanning while travelling, I prefer a tactile wheel or knob for tuning my travel radio.
• Key lock: Most radios have a key lock to prevent accidentally turning a radio on in transit–but with a travel radio, it’s especially important to have a key lock that can’t be accidentally disengaged.
• LED flashlight: Few radios have this, but it’s handy to have when travelling.
• Temperature display: Many DSP-based radios have a built-in thermometer and temperature display; I like this when I travel anytime, but especially when I’m camping.

While I don’t have a portable that meets 100% of the above travel radio wish-list, I do have several that score very highly.  I also rank my travel radios by size, as sometimes limited space will force me to select a smaller radio.

Here are a few of the radios I’ve used and/or evaluated for travel–I’ll break them down by size. Note that all portable radios have alarm/timer functions, unless noted otherwise.

I often grab the Tecsun PL-380 for travel. It’s an ultra-portable that truly performs and even has a selection of six AM bandwidths.

Ultra-portable:

• Tecsun PL-380 • Pros: Adjustable bandwidth, great sensitivity/selectivity; • Cons: No SSB ( check out this review )
• Tecsun PL-310ET  • Pros: Similar to PL-380, side mounted tuning knob; • Cons: No SSB
• Grundig G6  • Pros: SSB, full-featured, tuning wheel; • Cons: No longer on the market, although some used models are available  ( check out our review )
• Degen DE1102/ Kaito KA1102 • Pros: SSB; good sensitivity• Cons: No tuning knob, poor ergonomics
• Grundig G8 Traveller II • Pros: Sensitive for price class; • Cons: No SSB, no longer produced, but has been replaced by the Eton Traveller III (which features RDS)
• C. Crane CCRadio SWP • Pros: Great sensitivity, very compact; • Cons: No SSB
• CountyComm GP-5 DSP • Pros: ETM and other scan functions; • Cons: No SSB, separate medium wave (AM) antenna

Full-Featured Portable:

• Tecsun PL-600 • Pros: Excellent performance for the price; • Cons: no sync detector
• Tecsun PL-660 • Pros: Benchmark performance in the full-featured portable class
• Tecsun PL-880 • Pros: Excellent performance, fantastic audio; • Cons: firmware needs some refinement, pricey ( check out our full review )
• Grundig G3 • Pros: Good performance, RDS; • Cons: rubberized body ( which turns sticky over time ), no longer produced ( check out our full review )
• Degen DE1103/Kaito KA1103 • Pros: Smaller size, good performance; • Cons: no sync detector
• Sangean ATS-909X • Pros: Good performance, RDS, nice display; • Cons: priciest of the full-featured radios
• Sony ICF-SW7600GR  • Pros: Study chassis, great performace • Cons: no tuning knob, poor ergonomics

I have also been known to travel with an SDR (software defined radio), especially if travelling to an RF-quiet location where I could make spectrum recordings. While SDRs all require a computer (laptop) to operate, those best suited for travel derive their power from the same USB cable plugged into the PC. Neither of the SDR models below require a power source other than what’s provided by their USB cable.

The RadioJet is an excellent travel radio: it’s an excellent performer, über-rugged and is powered by one USB cable.

“Black box” radios (SDRs & PC-controlled radios):

• RFSpace SDR-IQ • Pros: Small size, works on multiple operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux) • Cons: front end can overload if close to strong signals
• Bonito RadioJet • Pros: Great performance, low noise floor, good audio, flexible graphic interface; • Cons: Windows only, limited bandwidth on IF recordings, no third-party applications (note that the RadioJet is technically an IF receiver). Check out our full review.

The CommRadio CR-1

Seriously? A travel-ready, full-featured tabletop–? Until last year, I would have argued that it was impossible to travel lightly with a full-featured desktop radio in tow.

My view changed when I got my hands on the CommRadio CR-1 tabletop SDR. Indeed, other than it being pricey ($600, as compared with $100 portables) this rig is ideally suited to travel!

The CR-1 has an array of features–most everything you’d expect from a tabletop radio–and even covers some VHF/UHF frequencies. Its built-in rechargeable battery not only powers it for hours at a time, but meets the strict airline standards for battery safety. The CR-1 can also be powered and charged via a common USB cable. It’s also engineered to be tough and is almost identical in size to the Tecsun PL-880.

The importance of a Go-Bag

The Spec-Ops Pack-Rat

If something’s missing, there’s an obvious blank spot in my bag. I also know exactly where and how it fits into my carry-on bag, so if it’s missing, it’s conspicuously missing. Since I’ve been using this go-bag, I’ve never left anything from my pack behind. Incidentally, this is how I pack the rest of my bag, as well: everything has its place, and any gap will draw my attention to exactly what’s missing.

There’s another benefit to having a dedicated go-bag: when flying, before I place my carry-on under the seat in front of me or in an overhead compartment, I can pull the go-bag out of my carry-on and have my Android tablet close at hand with other electronics.  As an added bonus, when going through airport security, all of my electronics can be easily removed from my flight bag by taking out just this kit.

There are thousands of similar packs on the market, and you may already have one, but you should look for something with multiple storage pockets. Small packs I’ve used in the past that only had one or two main compartments made it easy to leave something out when packing.

Radio travels

The travel radios I reach for most often. Top Row (L to R, Top to Bottom) Tecsun PL-380, Sony 7600GR, CommRadio GP-5DSP, Grundig G6, Tecsun PL-660, and the CommRadio CR-1 (Click to enlarge)

When I spent a year in France during my undergraduate studies in the early 1990s, shortwave radio was my link with home. I would listen to the VOA–the only source of English I permitted myself to hear–like clockwork, each week. Today, although I travel with a smartphone which can tune in thousands of stations, I always choose to listen to radio. Besides, if the Internet goes down or if–heaven forbid!–your trip takes you into a natural disaster, it’s radio that you will turn to to stay safe and informed.

If you take anything away from this reading, I hope it’s that even when you’re presented with travel restrictions, you won’t hesitate to take your hobby, in the form of a portable radio and a few accessories along. It contributes measurably to the fun of travel, as I’ve discovered when I’m able to tune in local and international stations so different from those I hear at home.  Or sometimes, it’s just the opposite–it’s the chance to pick up a favorite broadcaster or program while you’re on the road.

After all, for me and other travelers like me, the world’s familiar voice is radio .

The Tecsun PL-380: a great travel radio

My Tecsun PL-380 and Eagle Creek pack

SWLing Post reader, Alan, commented on our “most durable radios for travel” post :

You should include the Tecsun PL-380 [on] the list. It is an excellent tuner with good selectivity. The ETM feature was made for a traveler. The radio is cheap enough that it won’t bother you if you lose it or break it.

I have to say, I agree! In fact, I travel with the PL-380 quite often. It has become my back-up radio when I make field recordings (my primary portable for field is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR ).

Eagle Creek pack with contents: Tecsun PL-380, Zoom H1 recorder, earphones, audio cables, external antenna, spare batteries and Kindle. Click to enlarge.

The most durable portable shortwave radios for traveling

A great portable radio is your passport to the world while traveling, even in remote areas.

I receive a lot of emails from SWLing.com readers, quite often from those who about to embark upon international travel–sometimes to remote locations–and who are looking for a durable travel shortave radio.  These travelers are looking for a basic travel radio which, while it might not need to survive being submerged underwater or dropped from a cliff, will hold up in the semi-protected environment of a suitcase or backpack experiencing some rough baggage handling.

I travel a great deal myself, and always carry a shortwave radio with me (actually, I usually take more than one). Here are some considerations I use to determine which radios go in my bag or pack, and thus make good travel companions:

• Rugged enough to withstand typical suitcase/backpack travel conditions
• Lightweight and relatively compact size
• Supplied protective travel case
• Efficient operation on AA cells , the most common batteries found in the world
• Useful travel features, like auto-tuning, alarm/clock functions, sleep timer
• Relatively inexpensive–if you lose your radio or it gets stolen, you don’t want it to ruin your trip

The best shortwave portables for travel

Full-featured portable – the sony icf-sw7600gr  ($130-150 us).

This Sony shortwave radio is a classic, with solid, time-tested performance, and features to please both the beginner and the seasoned radio enthusiast. It is full-featured, with excellent SSB and exceptional sync detection. I grab the ‘7600GR when I plan to do a little DXing on vacation. It has everything I need.

The Sony ICF-SW7600GR is still made in Japan and the case is metal. It feels like a very high-quality portable when holding it in your hands. The lock button is a sliding switch on the top part of the radio face–easy to turn on and off intentionally, difficult to do so unintentionally. Additionally, it comes with a decent padded case. The ‘7600GR operates on 4 AA cells. The only travel feature the ‘7600GR lacks is an alarm, and that’s okay by me; for the features and durability, I’ll keep the Sony and use my cell phone or watch for an alarm. The instruction manual is comprehensive and easy to read. Read the full review here.

• Purchase from Universal Radio.
• Search eBay for a used Sony ICF-SW7600GR.

<a href=”http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=9&pub=5574879351&toolid=10001&campid=5336495043&customid=&icep_uq=ICF-SW7600GR&icep_sellerId=&icep_ex_kw=&icep_sortBy=12&icep_catId=&icep_minPrice=&icep_maxPrice=&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg” target=”_blank”>Check eBay for a used Sony ICF-SW7600GR.</a><img style=”text-decoration:none;border:0;padding:0;margin:0;” src=”http://rover.ebay.com/roverimp/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=9&pub=5574879351&toolid=10001&campid=5336495043&customid=&uq=ICF-SW7600GR&mpt=[CACHEBUSTER]” alt=”” />

Compact portable – The Grundig G8 Traveller II ($25-50 US)

Actually designed with the traveler in mind, the Grundig G8 will make for an excellent companion on your next venture. I’m quite impressed with this radio:  shortwave reception is good, and FM reception exceptional. The AM broadcast band does suffer from some images (a type of signal interference in which aural “ghosts” of other broadcasts layer over the one you’re trying to hear), though still quite respectable. The G8’s audio is a little tinny out of the built-in speaker, though quite good for a radio this compact. The customary price for the G8 is $49.95, but occasionally retailers place them on sale for nearly half this price. I especially like the fact that there is a front cover on the G8 which protects many of the controls. The body is somewhat rubberized and the zip case that comes with the radio is padded and perfectly designed for suitcase/backpack travel. The G8 is also smaller than a paperback book.

The G8 does not have SSB capability like the Sony does, but it is a good product for casual broadcast listener. The G8 also has a great alarm clock function and a world time selector switch on the front:  simply dial up your time zone as you cross the planet. The G8 uses 3 AA cells.

• Purchase the Grundig G8 from Universal Radio .
• Purchase the G8 from The NPR Shop
• Search Ebay for a Grundig G8 .

Pocket portable – CountyComm ETFR  ($25 US)

The ETFR is no incredible performer, but the price is low and it is quite capable of catching the major international broadcasters–indeed its sensitivity is better than I had anticipated. The tuning is actually analog, though the display is digital, thus you can expect a little receiver drift if you keep this radio on a broadcast for very long. The ETFR operates efficiently on 2 AA cells providing up to 150 hours at 40% volume or 70 hours of illumination from the built-in LED light. The ETFR also has a built-in clock and alarm feature.

In my humble opinion, all frequent travelers should keep a County Comm ETFR in their go-to vehicle and/or travel bag.

Also (I have to admit) this radio looks very cool in the carry case that Universal sells.  Together, these make a great bon voyage gift for any traveler.

• Purchase the County Comm ETFR from Universal Radio

The G6 makes for an excellent travelling companion

UPDATE 11 March 2012: Check out our latest post and review of the Grundig G6 –a pocket-sized portable ready for the road warrior.

My Tecsun PL-380 and the small Eagle Creek pack that also holds my Zoom H1 recorder, earphones, audio cables, external antenna, spare batteries and Kindle.

UPDATE 23 May 2012: Yes, I’ve also added the incredible PL-380 to the travel list as well.   Read the full post here . Thanks for the comment, Alan!

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Best Shortwave Radio Of 2024 – Review and Comparison

Last updated: Feb 12, 2024 | 2 |

After comparing ten of the best shortwave radios (aka SW radio) on the market, we found Eton Executive to be the top choice overall for most users.

We have spent 12 hours testing, researching, and collecting customer feedback from all over the internet to bring you this unbiased shortwave radio review to help you make the right purchase decision.

In this top 10 review article, we are focusing on comparing shortwave radios on their most essential characteristics, such as range, versatility, resistance to interference, bands, and channel support.

There are many good shortwave radios on the market and the one that is most suited for your particular needs will depend on how are you planning to use the radio, specifically the operating environment. As we’ve considered most aspects – keep reading to discover the best shortwave radio for you.

Best Shortwave Radios – Top 10 Quick Comparison

Compact - Eton Elite Mini

Great For Travel - Eton Elite Mini

Best portable shortwave radio that comes with a handy case. It features an internal AM antenna and a telescoping FM/SW antenna with sleep timer and alarm clock.

Most Versatile - Eton Elite Executive

Best Battery Life - Eton Elite Executive

With an array of bands supported and a high-quality built-in audio this could be your best travel companion. It is a full-featured shortwave radio that boasts the longest battery life we've seen.

Best Emergency Shortwave Radio - Kaito KA900

All-purpose 5-way powered shortwave emergency radio ideal for recreational outdoor use. If supports NOAA weather channels and comes with stereo sound that you can enjoy via Bluetooth streaming.

Premium Shortwave Radio - Tecsun PL880

An ergonomic PLL synthesized digital dual conversion shortwave radio with exceptional sensitivity and selectivity. Despite a compact size, it features a full range coverage with Single Side Band support.

Best Pocketsize - Retekess TR103

Best Pocket Size - Retekess TR103

At 0.14 lb in weight this is the smallest shortwave radio in our review. Three bands, micro SD card and earphone jack support make it perfect for your walking and jogging activities.

Top Value - Retekess V115

An extremely affordable shortwave radio with Chinese, English and Spanish language support. It has a build-in recording microphone, clock and a sleep timer.

Best Display - Sangean ATS-909X2

Best Display - Sangean ATS-909X BK

A premium shortwave radio with big, clear and beautiful display. Packed with features Auto Tuning System, SSB, RDS, automatic strongest signal station search, world time and many others.

Smallest With SSB - C. Crane CC Skywave

Best Mid Range - C. Crane CC Skywave

One of the smallest multiband radios AM,FM,SW,AIR and WX support we've ever tested. Direct frequency entry, auto scan and exceptional sensitivity and selectivity packed in a compact and robust body.

1. Best Stationary Shortwave Radio – Eton Elite 750

Top quality, classic design, much smaller size compared to a predecessor, a clear LCD display panel, and a switchable backlight make the Eton Elite 750 a big hit with all types of radio enthusiasts.

From professional to amateur or even pirate broadcasts, capture them indoors or out with this handy, powerful, and versatile desktop receiver.

It has up to 12 hours of battery life and comes equipped with a host of user-friendly controls such as a handy signal attenuator, RF gain, squelch, a large VFO tuning dial, and many more.

You can store your favorite channels in the receiver’s impressive 1,000-channel memory.

The radio is a pleasure to use and play around with. The rotating ferrite AM antenna is excellent, and I wish more radios had it. The tuning knob and the Fast/Slow tuning speed button are easy to use, giving you a nice tactile feel. For those needing an alarm clock, you get a dual alarm clock function as part of the package.

Eton Elite 750 is big on compatibility with 2 BNC outputs for external antennas, stereo line output, and wide and narrow filters. The receiver runs on 4 D size batteries and is relatively lightweight at 2.38kg – it makes it one of the smallest desktop-style world band portables you can buy.

The radio supports all radio bands, including HF, Short Wave (1711-30,000 kHz), Long Wave (100-519 kHz), Medium Wave (520-1710 kHz), FM Stereo (88-108 MHz) with single sideband (SSB) and VHF Airband (118-137 MHz) for hours without needing to plug it in.

• Bands Supported 90% 90%
• Features 100% 100%
• Sound Quality 90% 90%
• Value 70% 70%

2. Best Compact Shortwave Radio – Eton Elite Mini

At 6” x 4.2” x 1.9”, the Eton Elite Mini is roughly the size of a playing card and slightly thinner than a full deck, a compact travel radio that is easy to bring around.

This highly portable handheld shortwave radio features digital tuning, internal AM antenna, and external FM antenna.

With its highly sensitive and selective FM radio reception, you can pick up stations that other portable radios cannot.

Eton Elite Mini is a pleasure to use because of its well-thought-out design. The buttons and controls are intuitive to use, tactile, and well placed, all the good qualities that a compact SW radio needs. You can lock the radio to prevent accidental station changes in your pocket while you are running or going about your business around town.

Although its built-in speakers are pretty good for such a small travel radio, using the 3.5mm headphone jack adds better sound and private listening. On the downside, you might lose a bit of sensitivity when you plug in your earbuds.

Eton Elite Mini also has a high-contrast digital display and clock/alarm. Since the display and clock are always on by default, you might find your batteries drained within days. However, you can turn off the display to make your radio more energy-efficient or install good Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.

Personally, after using this radio for travel and quick road trips as a shortwave radio of choice, my experience was extremely positive, making me want to keep this radio for a longer run.

• Bands Supported 60% 60%
• Features 70% 70%
• Sound Quality 70% 70%
• Value 100% 100%

3. Most Versatile – Eton Elite Executive

If you want all the radio functions in a compact, stylish case, Eton Elite Executive deserves your attention.

With a powerful DX built into this compact radio, Eton Executive receives an impressive number of AM/FM, LW, and SW wavelengths.

It can also be used to receive VHF Aircraft Band and SSB. Better yet, it delivers all your favorite radio stations in a crisp, clear sound.

Besides receiving transmissions, it also packs many advanced features, like 5 different tuning modes (including automatic and manual tuning) and automatic station storage that stores up to 700 stations. Thanks to the well-written user manual, you can learn all the functions quickly with some practice.

With that said, once you spend a couple of hours learning the radio, everything becomes clear. Every ergonomically-sized button serves at least one purpose and is placed in a position that makes the most sense. The tuning knob is a treat, giving you the satisfying but subtle click you need to confirm your selection. The LED screen displays clear and concise information without cluttering up the screen.

Eton Executive’s energy management is pretty decent as well, as it gives you weeks of usage powered by 4 AA batteries.

Our personal experience with Eton Executive has been nothing but smooth and enjoyable. It is not a shortwave radio that eclipses others, but it gets everything right and definitely feels like a ‘ Jack of all trades   and a master of none’.

• Bands Supported 80% 80%
• Sound Quality 80% 80%
• Value 80% 80%

4. Best Emergency Shortwave Radio – Kaito KA900

Made for emergencies, Kaito KA900 comes with useful features that will make your life easier even in the worst of situations.

You can access AM, FM, shortwave, and NOAA weather alerts on this emergency shortwave radio.

When you set your portable radio at alert, it automatically turns on when a NOAA message is being broadcasted. KA900 comes with a telescopic antenna that can be extended up to 14” to help you pick up weaker signals.

Besides, KA900 offers ample charging options. You can charge the radio with USB, a built-in solar panel, hand cranking, and an AC wall power adaptor that you can buy separately. You can also use it as a battery bank to power your phone.

Since it is an emergency radio, it provides many useful features for when things go south. For example, its built-in LED flashlight enables you to see about 10 feet or so in the dark. It also has a 5-LED reading lamp.

In terms of entertainment, KA900 is one of the rare SW radios equipped with Bluetooth. Its dual 1.5-inch speakers deliver crystal clear audio quality with minimal distortion. You can pair your device with the radio via Bluetooth or use it as an MP3 player by inserting a 32GB SD card.

Lastly, KA900 has also been shortlisted in our best emergency radio review – so you have a double winner here!

• Features 80% 80%
• Value 90% 90%

5. Best Premium – Tecsun PL880

The premium shortwave radio Tecsun PL-880 is packed with features and boasts a solid build quality that has surpassed all our expectations.

The wide selection of bandwidth filters allows you to search and tune into signals that other similarly-priced radios can’t access.

It receives all bands you can think of – AM/FM, LW, SW, and SSB .

If you like a station, you can use its Auto Tuning Storage (ATS) to find and store stations across all bands.

Tecsun PL-880 , remarkably being a portable radio, despite its small size, has the ability to minimize static. This is achieved through Tecsun’s patented Easy Tuning Mode, which simplifies the tuning process.

Once you have tuned in, you have 100-150 memories per page per band at your disposal, storing a total of 25 pages.

Besides that, this portable shortwave radio features an alarm clock and a sleep timer. If you are a radiohead, you might like the thrill of discovering hidden features like enabling the DNR option and calibrating medium waves.

Tecsun PL-880 uses an 18650 mAh rechargeable battery, which is a huge departure from the usual AA batteries or a built-in battery. It lasts at least 15 days of heavy usage, more if you are a casual user. Because of the long battery life, you can leave the backlit digital display turned on without it draining your batteries.

6. Best Pocket-Size – Retekess TR103

Clocking in at 3.46 x 1.77 x 0.71” and weighing a mere 0.14lbs, Retekess TR103 is a tiny AM FM shortwave receiver that you can bring anywhere without any hassle.

For such a small shortwave radio, Retekess TR103 can receive a surprising number of AM stations and a fair number of shortwave stations, even when compared with bigger and pricier radios.

To improve its ability to receive signals, it comes with an extendable antenna.

Since the TR103 doesn’t have a numerical keypad, you can only access the scanned stations with its automatic tuning and storing function. Although the speaker is small, the sound is loud and decent. As it is made to be portable, you can use your stereo earphones with it as well. It can also be used as an MP3 player, supporting up to 64GB of storage.

The built-in 600mAh battery takes about 4 hours to charge with a micro-USB cable but lasts around 7. Since it is non-removable, you would either have to replace the battery with some ingenuity or take it to a shop when the battery gives out.

To keep it light and compact, certain features were sacrificed on the TR103 . One such example is the small LCD screen that makes it hard to keep track of your radio settings.

7. Top Value – Retekess V115

Retekess V115 is a no-frills AM FM shortwave radio designed to be practical for an affordable price tag.

After scanning the AM, FM, and SW bands, this SW radio automatically stores all the stations it found.

It has an exceptionally long range, picking up stations hundreds of miles away from you with only the external antenna.

You can also key in your desired frequency on the keypad with no issues.

The recording feature on this shortwave radio is great. It saves recording directly on an SD card and retains the recorded quality. Audio playback sounds clear and deep. This feature is also incredibly versatile since you can record off the radio, your voice, or from an external source via the USB port.

It uses four AA batteries, so if you run out of electric power, they are easy to replace.

Its audio quality exceeds all expectations, especially for such a modestly-priced AM FM shortwave radio. It delivers clear sound and great audio depth with its surprisingly powerful speaker. Not only that, but it can handle its volume range with no distortion, hissing, or cracking at high or low volumes.

The only thing to complain about the Retekess V115 is its shorter antenna. As a result, shortwave reception isn’t very impressive as stations picked up sometimes sound scratchy. It is easily fixable with a feedline though.

8. Best Display – Sangean ATS-909X2

Sangean ATS-909X2 is an upgraded version that addresses all their customers’ issues with the previous model ATS-909.

One of the main issues Sangean fixed was the reception, which has significantly improved.

In addition, ATS-909X2 boasts many new features, like an excellent built-in ferrite antenna and six tuning methods that deliver excellent AM/FM and SSB reception paired with the radio data system (i.e. RDS) .

ATS-909X is easy to use. Besides better tuning options, it can also store up to 406 memory presets across all bands for your convenience.

Its bright and large LCD screen helps as well since it lays out all relevant information about the station you are listening to and your settings.

Moreover, Sangean ATS-909X2 has pretty decent sound performance, thanks to its 3” speaker. You can also use the mono/stereo switch to choose your preferred speaker mode.

Besides that, it comes with a range of accessories like individual headphone amplifiers, earbuds, and a leather carrying case. It has three alarms: Wake to the Radio, Humane Wake System, and a buzzer.

However, shortwave reception can sometimes be a bit muddy and weak, but extending the included 23” wire antenna solves this issue.

• Features 90% 90%

9. Best Mid Range – C. Crane CC Skywave

C.Crane have earned their place among one of the most notable radio brands, especially in the shortwave space.

Their radios have earned the moniker “Swiss Army Knife of portable radios” through its wide range of functions and exceptional reliability.

As one of the smallest AM FM shortwave radio with, it allows you to receive transmissions in areas with no cell coverage.

Thanks to its impressive 23” external antenna, C Crane CC Skywave offers great reception across all five bands – AM, FM, SW, WX, and AIR.

It also has excellent sensitivity and selectivity, allowing you to finetune your frequency search on most bands (except the weather band) with selective tuning. If the notary knob is too coarse, you can always enter your desired frequency with the keypad for precise tuning.

The built-in signal strength indicator serves as a handy visual prompt to gauge the reception strength.

CC Skywave has an auto-scan feature that works accurately across all bands and allows you to save up to 400 channels at once. The speaker isn’t mind-blowing, but you can use the selectable audio filters and the headphone jack to enhance the audio. As an added feature, not found in many portable radios is a built-in clock and timer.

Shortwave radios can be very useful in remote areas or as an educational pastime. It acts as a portal as it allows you to access interesting and important news and music out in the world.

Tecsun PL880 has long been a favorite among avid radio operators for its versatility. Its main strength is its sensitivity and selectivity, as it catches weak signals that many other radios can’t. This Tecsun radio also offers a treasure-hunting experience as the more you use it, the more hidden features you will find.

If you are in the market for a compact-size travel radio, Eton Elite Mini is the best shortwave radio for travel. It doesn’t compromise quality and style in favor of size. Rather, it offers intuitiveness and well-thought-out features that work well with its size.

Kaito KA900 Voyager Max will be great for you if you live in a disaster-prone area. This emergency radio allows you to access weather reports and entertainment no matter what, thanks to its charging options. C Crane CC Skywave SSB deserves an honorable mention as well for being one of the smallest SSB radios on the market.

The best SW radio is the one that works well for your needs and situation. No matter what you are looking for, your needs will indeed be satisfied by one of these top-notch SW radios. We hope you liked our shortwave radio reviews and encourage you to check other categories.

If, however, you are after radios that are better suited for your living room or internal use in general, make sure to check our top 10 tabletop radio review that we have just published or other radio reviews on our website.

How Do Shortwave Radios Work?

Shortwave radio technology, like all other radio technologies, uses radio waves. It has been around for over 70 years and has played crucial roles throughout history. Based on frequency modulation, it started as analog shortwave radio, yet some digitalization, in particular, the radio data system added along the way.

Before the Internet age, shortwaves allowed people to access important information and cultures around the world. More than that, these handy communication devices helped coordinate military communication in many wars.

Although smartphones and the internet have brought the popularity of analog radios to a halt nowadays, these communication devices are still very useful in remote areas where mobile internet and analog radio signals can’t be easily received. They are also very commonly used for camping trips, in the military, as emergency radios, and to receive interesting broadcasts across the world.

Shortwave radios use very high frequencies , ranging from 3 to 21 MHz. It is beamed into the atmosphere until it reaches the ionosphere,  the ionized part of Earth’s upper atmosphere.

The ionosphere acts as a mirror, reflecting shortwave radio frequencies back to Earth. This is called ‘ skywave ’ or ‘skip’ propagation, and from here, the frequencies can travel thousands of miles on Earth.

What Are Shortwave Radios Used For?

Domestic and international broadcasting.

These handy little radios can be used to transmit signals across countries and continents economically, which is why it is primarily used to broadcast religious, political, and alternative media. Apart from domestic programs, you can also access international news, music, and even propaganda in certain countries!

Emergencies

Shortwave radio technology is a wonderful tool during a disaster as it can be used to transmit and broadcast information from halfway around the world. When the power is cut off, the best emergency radios can be powered through alternative means like solar power or hand cranking. Some radios can even receive automatic NOAA weather reports to update you on the latest weather patterns.

Some amateur radio operators use shortwave radio technology as a pastime, especially ‘ DXing ’. This means that these radio hobbyists monitor distant stations and frequencies to communicate with other like-minded people or host radio shows.

Long-distance communication

Aside from hobbyists, many professional services also utilize shortwave bands for long-distance communication. For example, organic air traffic control and utility stations use the frequencies to transmit weather reports and encrypted messages. It is also used in marine and military communication extensively.

Entertainment

Like all communication devices, AM FM shortwave radios provide loads of entertainment. Besides domestic news and music, you can also learn about cultures and entertainment all over the world from home. It opens up a whole new world and perspective, making it an educational entertainment tool.

shortwave radio buying guide

Modern shortwave radios often include a wide range of features and perform better than their ancient counterparts. But with so many different brands and models, how do you pick the right shortwave radio for you? To help you get started, here is all the information you need to pick out the best shortwave radio and our top ten recommendations.

Selectivity Options

When your radio receives a large amount of transmission, it must reject nearby signals and tune into your desired frequency. The best shortwave radios have great sensitive options that give you the best chance of receiving and transmitting clear and static-free signals.

Some shortwave radios only play AM stations, while others come with advanced modes like SSB and NOAA Weather Radio. While getting a radio with SSB mode/modulation capabilities will significantly expand your listening options, it’s important to keep in mind what you need your shortwave radio for. There is no need to get an advanced AM FM shortwave radio with fancy bells and whistles if you only want to listen to your favorite FM frequencies.

Antenna connections

Built-in antennas are decent for listening to major broadcast stations but might perform poorly if you live in a building with steel frames. Because of this, it might be worth getting a shortwave radio with a jack for an external antenna. If you tend to use your radio from home or your workplace, desktop radios might be a better idea since they usually come with connections for an external antenna.

Digital frequency display

Old-school radios have a “slide rule” frequency readout that can be difficult to read. Modern radios, however, often come with a digital or LCD display to indicate the precise frequency band and frequency your radio is receiving and other relevant information. Not only that, but the digital display can also help enormously when you are tweaking your radio settings.

Desktop radio or portable shortwave radios

Shortwave radios come in all shapes and sizes, depending on their portability. Desktop radios typically have more features and better sound quality since the size is not a concern. A portable travel radio, on the other hand, often has to sacrifice certain features to make it easy to travel around with.

Ease of Usage

There are many factors to consider when it comes to intuitiveness. Do you prefer tuning knobs or buttons? Do you want everything displayed on the screen or just the essentials? Do you like buttons that click or soft buttons? This might seem trivial, but these things can make or break your experience.

Battery life

A shortwave radio that uses a Lithium-ion rechargeable battery will last you longer as these batteries tend to have long battery lifetimes. If you prefer to use a desktop radio at home, you can buy an AC adapter to keep it plugged in at all times.

Extra features

Besides band selections and modes, many modern shortwave radios also offer a range of useful functions. Some come with built-in alarms or timers, while others provide micro-SD support. Ultimately, it depends on how basic or multi-purpose you want your radio to be.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is shortwave radio am or fm.

Shortwave radios use shortwave radio frequencies, which includes AM/MF and FM band. That being said, AM, or Amplitude Modulation, is the most commonly used frequency in SW radios.

What is Shortwave Range?

The range of a shortwave radio transmission depends on several factors, including the power of the transmitter, the frequency of the signal, the antenna used, and the atmospheric conditions.

Generally speaking, shortwave radio waves can travel long distances, sometimes covering thousands of miles. This is due to the ability of shortwave radio waves to reflect off the ionosphere, a layer of charged particles in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. This reflection allows the signal to “bounce” back to Earth and travel beyond the horizon, extending the range of the transmission.

Do shortwave radios still exist?

Absolutely! Although many people have switched to the internet for entertainment, SW radios can receive weak signals that your phone can’t. These radios are especially popular among outdoor enthusiasts, hobbyists, and people who live in rural areas.

SW radios are less popular in urban areas since there are too many steel structures and interfering frequencies. But in the mountains, woods, or forests, you will be able to receive clear signals and continue listening to the news or your favorite radio channel. Since shortwave radios can transmit and receive long-distance frequencies, you can also use it as a mode of communication when roughing it out in the wild.

At the same time, many countries, such as Australia have ceased their shortwave radio broadcast operation.

Is there anything to listen to on shortwave?

Yes! According to Nigel Fry of BBC World Service Group, there are as many things to listen to on shortwave as there were during the Cold War.

Following the departure of many pioneers in shortwave broadcasting like Voice of America or Radio Netherlands, the shortwave band has been taken over by transmission from rural and remote areas. This is because the shortwave band can transmit across large areas for cheap.

With a shortwave radio, you can learn about the political situation in South Sudan, listen to New Zealand’s top 50 indie rock bands, or even tune into government propaganda in authoritarian states from the comforts of your own home.

What is RDS?

RDS stands for Radio Data System, which represents a standardized digital communication protocol that allows a small amount of data to be embedded in traditional FM broadcasts.

What is Whip Antenna?

A whip antenna is a type of radio antenna that consists of a thin, flexible metal rod or wire that is mounted vertically or at an angle to the ground. The antenna is typically a quarter wavelength long and is designed to resonate at a specific frequency or range of frequencies.

Whip antennas are commonly used in portable radios, such as handheld radios or car radios, where a larger or more complex antenna may not be practical. Whip antennas are also used on some types of communication equipment, such as aircraft and military vehicles.

What is SSB?

SSB stands for Single Sideband Modulation , which is a type of radio frequency modulation technique that transmits only one sideband of a modulated signal while suppressing the carrier wave and the other sideband. In comparison, amplitude modulation (AM) transmits both sidebands and the carrier wave.

What are Longwave Bands?

Longwave bands, also known as low-frequency (LF) bands, are a range of radio frequencies typically ranging from 30 kHz to 300 kHz. Longwave frequencies are lower than medium wave (MW) frequencies, but higher than very low frequency (VLF) frequencies.

Longwave radio waves have the ability to travel long distances over the ground, and can even penetrate seawater to some extent. This makes them useful for certain types of communication, such as maritime navigation, where signals need to be transmitted over long distances.

Can I listen to shortwave radios on the internet?

Although most shortwave listening has to be on the radio, you can also access shortwave radio stations on the internet.

You will find this particularly easy with bigger radio stations that have scaled back on their shortwave broadcasting. Radio stations like Radio New Zealand and BBC World Service have high-quality radio programs on their website with accompanying articles to enrich your experience as well.

About The Author

Dmitry belousov.

I am an IT professional by nature. I love simplifying and breaking complex things into digestible chunks. I have spent many years making complex things simple and I hope that my expertise will help you make better decisions when purchasing goods online.

The Eton Executive Satellit has been off the market for some time. It’s now the Eton Elite Executive.

That is a very valid point, thanks!

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C. Crane CC Pocket AM FM and NOAA Weather Radio with Clock and Sleep Timer

Purchase options and add-ons, about this item.

• AM/FM and NOAA Weather Band Pocket Sized Radio
• Excellent selectivity and sensitivity for its size, 5 one touch memory presets
• Built in speaker or can be used with included earbuds
• Backlight, Sleep timer, Clock and Alarm, Removable belt clip
• Runs on (2) AA Batteries

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Product information, warranty & support, product description.

The CC Pocket is very easy to use and has excellent overall performance. It has five easy to use memory buttons and it stands upright for convenience and best audio through the speaker. The sides are rubber coated to provide a firm grip and to help protect the radio if dropped. The Stereo/Mono/Speaker switch allows you to listen to the radio via the built-in speaker while using earphones as an antenna for the FM and NOAA Weather Bands. It is not common for a radio to block a strong signal that overrides a favorite weaker station. The CC Pocket has excellent selectivity while providing maximum sensitivity to weak signal. Standard Features: - Clear, precise and pleasing audio for its size - About 75 hours of play on (2) AA batteries (not included) with earbuds. 25 hrs. using 1.25", 16ohm, .5W built-in speaker - Premium earbuds included for providing rich lows and crisp highs while listening - Backlight, sleep timer, clock and alarm, removable belt clip (no auto shut-off) - Battery meter, Signal meter, stereo or mono FM reception indicator - Works with rechargeable batteries. C. Crane loves to design radios for the connoisseur but we don’t want to make radios too complex. The CC Pocket has advanced hidden features not normally found on a pocket radio. Pressing the #1 and #5 keys at the same time, while listening to an AM station, disables the display screen. This allows you to reduce noise and improve AM radio reception under some circumstances. Advanced Features: - NOAA Weather Radio with Alert (disables AM/FM radio while activated) - Five memory pages for AM/FM - Selectable frequency or clock display while listening - Beep on or off - 1, 9 or 10 KHz selectable tuning steps - Selectable Narrow or Wide AM filter - Factory reset control Size 2.5" W x 4.25" H x 1" D, Weight: 4 Oz.

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the quality, sound quality, reception, performance, and size of the radio. For example, they mention that it's well-made, has good reception, and works well even in a moving vehicle. They appreciate the compact size and the headphone jack is on top.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers like the quality of the radio. They say it's well-made, solid enough, and has a sense of integrity about its production. Some customers also mention that it'll pull in a lot of stations.

"...(18I20W) It is a nice firm but comfortable fit with just a tad bit of room at the top. The case has clean lines when zipper is closed...." Read more

"...It is a great radio and well work the money as it is a premium product in feel, durability (I have two) and design...." Read more

"... Nice earbuds by the way. I agree with another poster that the fixed tone of the mono speaker is on the treble side, but lucky for me I prefer that...." Read more

"...but it's not cheap plastic and there's a sense of integrity about its production that's missing these days from most consumer goods...." Read more

Customers like the sound quality of the radio. They say the stations come in clearly, it's easy to hear, and it can go louder than you need. Some customers also mention that the on/off, volume, and headset jack are on top.

"The speaker on the CC Crane is much louder and cleaner sounding than the speaker on the Sangean DT-400W. The CCrane speaker is more trebly sounding..." Read more

"The radio sounds fair with its speaker , with the ear buds is sounds very good. The reception is better than my house radio...." Read more

"It’s a great little radio! The sound is good , it’s a great size, easy to operate. Great to travel with." Read more

"...Some wander off-station, others have hissing , distortion, ticking and intermittent stereo etc...." Read more

Customers like the reception of the radio. They say it has good reception, very powerful FM reception, and great AM reception with DXing features. They also mention that the local stations have strong signals and the reception and clarity is not bad. Some customers also mention the radio has many options for improving reception in areas with weaker signals.

"...The CCrane has good reception of a faraway station in Montreal, CJAD about 200 kilometers away...." Read more

"...The reception is better than my house radio . Plus, it gets the local weather station that my home weather band radio doesn't...." Read more

"...I find the AM reception decent --nothing that blows me away, but within the normal capabilities of a good pocket radio...." Read more

" Poor reception in my area ." Read more

Customers like the performance of the radio. They say it's easy to set up and works well. Some mention that the digital tuner works great and the radio works fine even in a moving vehicle. They also appreciate the functional design and say the AM performance with local stations is clean and clear.

"...the 30 minute one on the CCrane Pocket radio last night and it worked perfectly . I have not yet used the Alarm feature...." Read more

"... Both work perfectly . The built-in speaker (diameter 1.5 inches) is also great for its size...." Read more

"... Useability , give Crane an A." Read more

"...UPDATE 10 YEARS LATER:The radio and all its functions still work well except for one...." Read more

Customers like the size of the radio. They say it has a nice compact size, fits in their shirt pocket comfortably, and is easy to operate. Some mention that it's a little narrower than other pocket radios and easily fits in your hand or pocket. Some say it'll fit in their hand well, with rubberized sides for grip. Overall, most are satisfied with the size and portability of the product.

"...I wanted a replacement that was small, portable and cheap - I'm retired and on a fixed low pension and fairly inactive...." Read more

"It’s a great little radio! The sound is good, it’s a great size , easy to operate. Great to travel with." Read more

"...Overall very good radio for the portability " Read more

Customers like the battery life of the radio. They say it uses ordinary AA alkaline batteries that last for 70 plus hours. Some customers also mention that the radio is ultra-light and about the size of a pack of cigarettes.

"...AM / FM Stereo / NOAA weather reception are excellent. Runs on AA batteries and has a great battery life...." Read more

"...are a great way to quickly check your favorite stations. Uses 2 AA batteries that last for like 70 plus hours on Alkaline. Speaker/Mono..." Read more

"...Pulls in stations really well and battery life is excellent . Small size makes it easy to put in a pocket...." Read more

"... Some wander off-station , others have hissing, distortion, ticking and intermittent stereo etc...." Read more

Customers find the radio very intuitive and logical. They say the presets are simple and intuitive, making it easy for older people to use. The user interface is excellent and the clock, alarm, and weather band are easy to use without sight. They also appreciate the helpful tips on button functions inside the battery.

"...The user interface is excellent , so easy you can completely figure this out without a manual...." Read more

"...Very clever and helpful to include some tips on button functions inside the battery door, since some involve dual action..." Read more

"...It gives clear advice on how to retune the radio to receive better signals, and sensible information about the causes of bad reception and how to..." Read more

"It’s a great little radio! The sound is good, it’s a great size, easy to operate . Great to travel with." Read more

Customers are mixed about the value of the radio. Some mention it's worth every penny of its cost, while others say it'd be a bit pricey.

"...if you don't use the sleep timer it's a non-issue. The price is a little high at $65 but the radio is totally worth it...." Read more

"...Like it tho and do recommend it. Good value . I’ve been listening to late night radio, in bed in a dark bedroom for over 70 years...." Read more

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Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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The trains and stations of the Moscow Metro

2 Comments · Posted by Alex Smirnov in Cities , Travel , Video

The Moscow Metro is the third most intensive subway system in the world after Tokyo and Seoul subways. The first line was opened on May 15, 1935. Since 1955, the metro has the name of V.I. Lenin.

The system consists of 12 lines with a total length of 305.7 km. Forty four stations are recognized cultural heritage. The largest passenger traffic is in rush hours from 8:00 to 9:00 and from 18:00 to 19:00.

Cellular communication is available on most of the stations of the Moscow Metro. In March 2012, a free Wi-Fi appeared in the Circle Line train. The Moscow Metro is open to passengers from 5:20 to 01:00. The average interval between trains is 2.5 minutes.

The fare is paid by using contactless tickets and contactless smart cards, the passes to the stations are controlled by automatic turnstiles. Ticket offices and ticket vending machines can be found in station vestibules.

Tags:  Moscow city

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Tomás · August 27, 2012 at 11:34 pm

The Moscow metro stations are the best That I know, cars do not.

Alberto Calvo · September 25, 2016 at 8:57 pm

Great videos! Moscow Metro is just spectacular. I actually visited Moscow myself quite recently and wrote a post about my top 7 stations, please check it out and let me know what you think! :)

http://www.arwtravels.com/blog/moscow-metro-top-7-stations-you-cant-miss

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Pro-Palestinian demonstrators shut down airport highways and bridges in major cities

The Associated Press

Protesters calling for a cease fire in Gaza shut down southbound traffic on Highway 880 in Oakland, Calif. on Monday, April 15, 2024. Brontë Wittpenn/AP hide caption

Protesters calling for a cease fire in Gaza shut down southbound traffic on Highway 880 in Oakland, Calif. on Monday, April 15, 2024.

CHICAGO — Pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked roadways in Illinois, California, New York and the Pacific Northwest on Monday, temporarily shutting down travel into some of the nation's most heavily used airports, onto the Golden Gate and Brooklyn bridges and on a busy West Coast highway. In Chicago, protesters linked arms and blocked lanes of Interstate 190 leading into O'Hare International Airport around 7 a.m. in a demonstration they said was part of a global "economic blockade to free Palestine," according to Rifqa Falaneh, one of the organizers. Traffic in the San Francisco Bay Area was snarled for hours as demonstrators shut down all vehicle, pedestrian and bike traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge and chained themselves to 55-gallon drums filled with cement across Interstate 880 in Oakland. Protesters marching into Brooklyn blocked Manhattan-bound traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge. In Eugene, Oregon, protesters blocked Interstate 5, shutting down traffic on the major highway for about 45 minutes. Protesters say they chose O'Hare in part because it is one of the largest airports. Among other things, they've called for an immediate cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas. Anti- war protesters have demonstrated in Chicago near daily since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people. Israeli warplanes and ground troops have since conducted a scorched-earth campaign on the Gaza Strip. The Israeli offensive has killed more than 33,700 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead. O'Hare warned travelers on the social platform X to take alternative forms of transportation with car travel "substantially delayed this morning due to protest activity." Some travelers stuck in standstill traffic left their cars and walked the final leg to the airport along the freeway, trailing their luggage behind them. Among them was Madeline Hannan from suburban Chicago. She was headed to O'Hare for a work trip to Florida when her and her husband's car ended up stalled for 20 minutes. She got out and "both ran and speed walked" more than a mile (1.6 kilometers). She said she made it to the gate on time, but barely. "This was an inconvenience," she said in a telephone interview from Florida. "But in the grand scheme of things going on overseas, it's a minor inconvenience." While individual travelers may have been affected, operations at the airport appeared near normal with delays of under 15 minutes, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. Inbound traffic toward O'Hare resumed around 9 a.m. Near Seattle, the Washington State Department of Transportation said a demonstration closed the main road to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Social media posts showed people holding a banner and waving Palestinian flags while standing on the highway, which reopened about three hours later. About 20 protesters were arrested at the Golden Gate Bridge demonstration and traffic resumed shortly after noon, according to the California Highway Patrol. The agency said officers were making arrests at two points on the interstate, including one spot where roughly 300 protesters refused orders to disperse, "Attempting to block or shut down a freeway or state highway to protest is unlawful, dangerous, and prevents motorists from safely reaching their destinations," the agency said in a statement. Oregon State Police said 52 protestors were were arrested for disorderly conduct following the Interstate 5 protest in Eugene, Oregon, about 110 miles (177 kilometers) south of Portland. Six vehicles were towed from the scene. New York Police made numerous arrests, saying 150 protesters were initially involved in the march around 3:15 p.m., but that number quickly grew. The bridge was fully reopened by 5 p.m. In Chicago, dozens of protesters were arrested, according to Falaneh. Chicago police said Monday that "multiple people" were taken into custody after a protest where people obstructed traffic, but they did not have a detailed count.

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40 facts about elektrostal.

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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The Secret to Frying Fish in a Tiny Kitchen? A 5-Pound AirHood

In my narrow Philadelphia row-home kitchen , I have a very sensitive smoke alarm — and a Chihuahua whose nemesis is said sensitive smoke alarm. The alarm goes off at a mere hint of smoke, despite the fact that my stove has an over-the-range hood. Instead of actually venting smoke outside, the hood just captures grease (sort of) and recirculates air, often leaving my white cabinets with a smear of leftover oil after, say, a marathon falafel-frying session. Not to mention that frying fish or smoking meats would leave a lingering smell on my curtains and rug for days after.

So I was intrigued when I heard about the AirHood, a portable exhaust hood you can move around your kitchen, whether you place it next to your stove or beside a cutting board of fragrant garlic. It’s billed as “The World’s First Portable Kitchen Air Cleaner” and works by using replaceable charcoal filters to clean the air it sucks up and flows back out. At $159.99, it seemed a remarkably cheap fix for simultaneously capturing smoke, protecting my cupboards from oil slicks, and putting my Chihuahua out of her misery. I wondered: Could this be the solution to my conundrum? And so I set out to test the AirHood.

When it arrived, I was charmed by its Cadmium Orange color and how surprisingly small it was — it looked like a tiny Martian on my counter. It weighs just a hair over five pounds, and the fan part is eight inches in diameter while the entire unit is 14 inches tall. The 70-inch cord gave ample length to plug it in on my kitchen cart or counter — which is where I decided to place it for the first test run: frying potato croquettes and sautéing tomatoes.

When I turned on the AirHood, it was no louder than my over-the-range hood. As I fried the croquettes — which in the past have set off my smoke alarm and left my apartment smelling like oil — I noticed that the AirHood’s suction, working together with my stove’s hood, removed any presence of smoke in my kitchen. It also whisked away the steam that was produced as the tomatoes sautéed. After the meal, there was no leftover scent in my kitchen or my apartment, and cleanup was easy: I just cleaned the AirHood’s metal filter with a sponge and dish soap (although it’s dishwasher safe, too).

Okay, so it passed the dinner-for-two test, but I wanted to know how it would work for a larger group. One weekend, I invited 45 people over for a big dinner of croquettes, seared salmon, and baked pasta made with a funky cheese, and I aimed the AirHood at my four-burner stove. I was careful to place it about 18 inches away from my gas stove (the company’s website cautions against placing it too close to flames), turned each burner on, and set the AirHood to its highest (and loudest) setting, and I got to cooking.

Two hours of intermittent frying, searing, and baking later, the AirHood was still humming and my smoke alarm remained quiet. My white cabinets were devoid of grease smears, and my kitchen — and house — smelled like delicious cooked food and not oil. There were no lingering fishy or funky cheese smells. My guests didn’t even notice the AirHood on my countertop, nor did they remark upon any extra noise it made.

So what’s the verdict? I think I love the AirHood. It’s part of my kitchen now and whenever I’m frying fish or am cooking something that produces above average smoke, I turn both it and my range hood on. I can even see myself packing it along with my knife kit to my next private-chef gig to avoid setting off someone else’s smoke alarm. And yes, my Chihuahua loves it, too.

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Police investigating after 'American Idol' alum, singer Mandisa found dead in home

Christian music sensation Mandisa has died at 47.

The singer was found deceased in her home on Thursday, a rep for Mandisa confirmed to USA TODAY on Friday.

“At this time, we do not know the cause of death or any further details. We ask for your prayers for her family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time," her team said via email.

Officers were investigating her death, a spokesperson for the Franklin Police Department told the USA TODAY Network on Friday after the Christian singer and "American Idol" alum was found dead.

"Mandisa was a voice of encouragement and truth to people facing life’s challenges all around the world. She wrote this song for a dear friend who had passed in 2017. Her own words say it best. 'I'm already home, You've got to lay it down 'cause Jesus holds me now—And I am not alone,'" a statement posted Friday on her official Facebook account read.

The California native first rose to fame on Season 5 of "American Idol," when she finished within the Top 10.

Later, she released her debut album "True Beauty" and went on to become one of the most recognizable voices in the Christian music industry. The five-time Grammy Award nominee snagged the best contemporary Christian music album award for her 2013 album, "Overcomer," featuring the popular title song.

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Reps for the show issued a statement to USA TODAY about the loss of Mandisa on Friday.

"Mandisa was an adored icon on American Idol and in the music industry. She had become a platinum-selling artist and had won several Grammys for her music. Her passing has left everyone on the show heartbroken, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family," the statement read.

Robin Roberts mourns loss of Mandisa, who she listened to during cancer treatments

In 2017, during an interview with Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America," Mandisa recounted her struggle with a deep depression three years prior. Mandisa said she became depressed after the death from breast cancer of her best friend LaKisha "Kisha" Mitchell , who was also a background singer for the star.

“It got pretty bad to the point where if I had not gotten off that road I would not be sitting here today,” Mandisa told Robin Roberts on “ GMA .” "I was this close to listening to that voice that told me, ‘You can be with Jesus right now, Mandisa. All you have to do is take your life.'"

Roberts, who listened to Mandisa's song "Stronger" during her own breast cancer treatments, mourned Mandisa's loss in a Facebook post Friday, recounting how the "Idol" alum was present during her first day back on "GMA" after her cancer battle.

"My heart is heavy hearing about Mandisa. Incredibly blessed that she was there my first day back on GMA after my long medical leave. Her beautiful music and spirit lifted me and countless others. Sending prayers and condolences to her family & loved ones." she said, adding a link of Mandisa's performance .

Mandisa's death shared by Christian radio station: 'Struggles are over'

Mandisa's death was first shared in a blog post by Christian radio station K-Love.

In a statement, K-Love Chief Media Officer David Pierce said she "loved Jesus, and she used her unusually extensive platform to talk about Him at every turn" and asked for prayers for the star's family and friends.

"Her kindness was epic, her smile electric, her voice massive, but it wasno match for the size of her heart. Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles. Mandisa’s struggles are over. She is with the God she sang about now. While we are saddened, Mandisa is home," the statement read.

Contributing: Melonee Hurt and Craig Shoup; The Tennessean