Review on 📻 La Crosse Technology 810-106 NOAA/AM/FM Severe Weather Alert Radio with Solar: Stay Informed and Prepared by Ryan Hampton

Update 10/04/2019 The radio still works. Rarely used, used for a flashlight rather than a radio but the battery still holds a charge and the unit continues to work like new. I'm guessing I've had it for about four years now? I'm glad I bought it! Moving to a quiet house soon where I'll probably put it by my bedroom window so it never needs to be charged again. It's in the dark at the moment and I charge it maybe twice a year. I keep this radio at the top of my bedroom stairs to grab on the way down in case my full size weather radio breaks down. in the middle of the night to warn me that a tornado is coming. The flashlight is bright enough for that, the digital reception is excellent even without the antenna extended (which is good because I accidentally broke it off in my sleep the first time I used it), and it looks well made and durable. I plug it in to charge every 3-5 months or so, although I might not need it if I leave it on the windowsill (then it doesn't go down the stairs unfortunately). Note that it charges using a mini-USB cable, which while not as modern as the now-ubiquitous micro-USB, is a lot better than any proprietary USB cable some devices require. I threw away previous devices because I lost the disposable charging cable and couldn't replace it. In general I like it very much. It's a lot less of an eyesore than most emergency radios, the battery lasts a great deal as it just sits there most of the time reading the clock, and it feels solid and well built - even the handgrip. Also, the flashlight is noticeably brighter than the handheld radios/flashlights I keep in my bug and home bags, although they are perfectly adequate. Please note that the black parts of the case are rubberized plastic, while the silver bezel and flashlight button are painted plastic, and the decorative buttons/guards are actually metal. IMHO this device is just great for emergencies at home. However, if you're buying an emergency radio to throw in your pocket, I recommend using an analog radio that accepts extra batteries. The Kaito KA-350 line is my favorite in this regard. If you toss it in your bag and forget it for a year or two, the battery will be dead for hours when you need it. If you are looking for a home radio with a weather alert please note that while this radio can receive NOAA alerts and set off an alarm when it does, it does not have the SAME programming and may only wake you at 3am to alert you . Flash flood warning in three counties. I have a Midland WR300 by my bed that's programmed to my location and will leave me alone unless there's a tornado or an emergency alert. I'll do everything else in the morning! Also, you have to keep it plugged in to use the alert feature, which is probably bad for battery life. One nice thing about plugging it in, though, is that the flashlight turns on automatically when the power goes out. Clever! Anyway, this thing is perfect if you need protection from a tornado. The flashlight will help you round up the family members and herd them into the 'downstairs interior' while keeping you up to date with the NOAA broadcast. And if you do go into the mountains, the solar system and crank should keep the radio and especially the flashlight switched on and ready for use at all times. This is my favorite implementation of the internals used in several other digital emergency radios such as Ambient Weather. Please note that at the time of writing this review I have owned this radio for a little over two years and have used it a number of times during that period. , all for nighttime tornado warnings. Also note that if you're using any type of radio crank or flashlight, you should turn the crank *smoothly* and no more than a minute or two at a time, then let it sit for a few minutes to allow the gears to cool. Plastic gears + frictional heat = defective alternator gear. Jerking = broken handle.