Technology has made a big impact on your lives. In a way, many of us are kinda dependent on it. Our smartphones are great, but we need to charge them all the time. In the event of an emergency, we cannot really count on them to help us out. This is where something like a hand-cranked radio comes in. These radios don’t need an external power source and are powered by a hand-crank. This makes them ideal for survivalists or trekkers who cannot rely on power all the time, while still ensuring that they can listen to the news, weather forecasts and pick up any emergency broadcasts. Here’s a look at some hand-cranked radios that are available on Amazon. Please note that these products were selected based on the features that they offer.
Kaito KA500 5-way Powered Emergency AM/FM/SW Weather Alert Radio
This 6-way portable emergency radio is not only powered by a hand-crank but also comes with a solar panel and can also be powered by three AA batteries. So you should always have a way to keep it powered. Other features include AM, FM, and 2-band shortwave radio. On top of all this, it also works as a portable power bank as it comes with a 5V USB port that can be used to charge a range of devices. Other features include a 5-LED reading lamp, LED flashlight and a red LED SOS beacon light.
Sangean MMR-88 RED AM/FM/Weather+Alert Emergency Radio
This hand-cranked radio from Sangean comes with three charging modes. The first is obviously the hand-crank, the second is solar power and the third is USB. Other features include an LED Morse Code flashlight, emergency buzzer, and a smartphone charger. It also comes with Public Alert Certified Radio alerts, which should warn users of any severe weather alerts.
Esky Portable Emergency Weather Radio
This is an upgraded version of Esky’s portable radio. It features three ways to charge the devices – there is the hand-crank, the solar panel and a microUSB cable. Speaking of which, the device also features a full-sized USB port, so you can charge other devices like your smartphone. For that, it packs a 1000mAh battery as well. It supports AM and FM bands as well as NOAA bands if you happen to find yourself in the US.
American Red Cross FRX3 Hand Turbine NOAA AM/FM Weather Alert Radio
This handy little gadget is from the American Red Cross itself, so you can be pretty sure that it has been thoroughly tested. The device can be charged via the hand crank or via solar charging. The company claims that spinning the crank can offer 10-15 minutes of radio and flashlight use. On top of this, a minute of cranking is also said to allow smartphones to make a 30-second long voice call. While it may not sound like much, but it can make a big difference in the event of an emergency.
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Shrey Pacheco
Writer, gamer, and hater of public transport. View Full Profile
