Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > General RV Issues
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-04-2019, 06:54 AM   #1
RV802
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Vermont
Posts: 13
Weather Alert Radio

Hello. We are about to set out on a lengthy adventure that will take us through America's heartland and it's notoriously fickle and dangerous spring weather. We want to purchase a Weather Alert Radio that will sound an alarm whether we are listening to the weather bands or not. Have seen some reviews and have reached some basic opinions, but thought we'd float the question here to see what the folks who are more experienced have to say. Again, we want something that is reliable, has various means of being powered, and is portable. Thanks in advance.
__________________
2014 Bullet Premier 19FBPR
2011 Silverado; Ext. cab; 4WD; 5.3 Liter; 6 Speed Auto
Previous RV: Coleman Santa Fe pop-up
RV802 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2019, 07:36 AM   #2
jsmith948
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Central San Joaguin Valley, CA
Posts: 2,117
Have you considered an app for your cell phone. When we journeyed to the east coast in 2016, the DW had an app called "WeatherBug" on her Android phone. It had radar maps, weather alerts, storm warnings/tracking etc. If we were in an area that was about to be hit with severe wind/weather such as hail/thunderstorms, the app would ping on her phone to warn us.
__________________

Jack & Marty
2018 Laredo 298 SRL
2011 F-250 SB Crew Cab 4x4 6.7L
jsmith948 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2019, 11:38 AM   #3
busterbrown
Senior Member
 
busterbrown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 1,659
Jack is right. In today's technologically advanced world, a cellular device will provide more (and better) options for forecasting and notification of weather events. Phone apps will use GPS (and/or cell towers) to determine location so they are very accurate when driving. We were driving around the southwest portion of the country last month and used "Storm Radar" to keep us ahead of the weather. We had notifications of hail, tornados, wind, and thunderstorms before they occured.

There is something to be said about visualizing radar on an electronic device over hearing about 'conditions' over air waves.
__________________
2017 Keystone Bullet 308BHS in Saddle.
2017 RAM 2500 Laramie Mega Cab 4x4 Hemi 6.4L
2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali (SOLD)
Hensley SwiftArrow Control Hitch with 1000 lb Spring Bars
Me, DW, (3) little DS's, and 1 rambunctious Boston Terrier

busterbrown is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2019, 04:12 AM   #4
jsm180
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Lakeland, FL
Posts: 41
The cell option is great as long as you have cell coverage.

We carry a weather radio made by Midland as well as the cell phones.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
__________________
2000 Sprinter 275BH 5th
2003 F-250 6.0 SB CC 4X4 Lariat
jsm180 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2019, 05:06 AM   #5
captcolour
Senior Member
 
captcolour's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Verona, KY
Posts: 320
If you want a clock radio/weather combo, this one works well:


https://www.amazon.com/Sangean-CL-10...tronics&sr=1-2


Make sure whatever weather radio you get references NOAA.
__________________
New: 2021 Solitude 380FL
Old: 2016 Alpine 3600RS
Tow: 2017 F-350 DRW diesel
captcolour is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2019, 05:09 AM   #6
notanlines
Senior Member
 
notanlines's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,308
I might be inclined to shop further. That Midland radio received fairly poor ratings. Apparently they have had battery problems for a long time and don't have much of a propensity for responding to said complaints.
__________________
Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
notanlines is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2019, 07:35 AM   #7
rohish
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 17
I use a Portable Lightning Detector and it has saved my hide a few times. I use it boating, hiking, & camping. Most rain around here will have lighting in the summer time. I get the alert and then I will look at my apps on the phone to see whats going on. It will give you time to button down the hatches and get your campsite rain ready plus let you know if a storm is coming. Mine has went off for those summer pop up showers when my phone and weather radio stayed silent.

This is not a emergency weather device, it will pick up lightning up to 25 miles away but you do not know the direction. Most of the time it will go off before I can hear thunder. It will also let you know if it is in a spot that it can not detect lighting well. It works good for what it is. Last year we had a very active storm and it showed 100+ strikes in 30 minutes or so. If it starts going off every few seconds you know there is a lot of activity in your area.

AcuRite 02020 Portable Lightning Detector
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	weather.PNG
Views:	143
Size:	261.8 KB
ID:	21723  
rohish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2019, 07:51 AM   #8
crk112
Senior Member
 
crk112's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 121
I’ll add a vote for the Storm Radar app. Its alerts that pertain to our immediate location are invaluable while “on the move”. You’ll want to ensure that your smartphone allows the app to access your location when the app isn’t running on-screen.

I still keep a Midland weather radio near the bed for when we’re NOT “on the move” so if there’s a tornado warning it will wake me up.
__________________
crk112
“The Truck” 2013 Ford F-150 SuperCrew XLT 5.0L 4WD 157WB
“The Cabin” 2017 Hideout 242LHS - SOLD!
"The Cabin v2" 2016 Jayco Greyhawk 31DS
Fastway e2 round bar WDH
crk112 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2019, 03:45 AM   #9
jsm180
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Lakeland, FL
Posts: 41
Quote:
Originally Posted by notanlines View Post
I might be inclined to shop further. That Midland radio received fairly poor ratings. Apparently they have had battery problems for a long time and don't have much of a propensity for responding to said complaints.
It uses AA batteries, I put Energizer Lithium's in it when I bought it in Jan 2016, stayed on all day yesterday, worked fine, same batteries. Maybe I just got lucky.
__________________
2000 Sprinter 275BH 5th
2003 F-250 6.0 SB CC 4X4 Lariat
jsm180 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
radio

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:58 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.