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Emergency radio: check alerts, power and runtime before you buy

By the Plain Prepper editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

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Quick answer

Ready.gov's kit list calls for a battery-powered or hand-crank radio plus a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert. Many crank radios receive the NOAA weather band, but not all of them will wake you with an alert. Sangean's MMR-88 and MMR-99 have a weather alert mode that sounds a siren. Eton's FRX2 receives all 7 NOAA channels but lists no alert feature. Battery size sets runtime: Sangean lists about 10 hours for the 850 mAh MMR-88 and about 24 hours for the 2,600 mAh MMR-99.

Three crank-and-solar radios compared

Spec	Eton American Red Cross FRX2	Sangean MMR-88	Sangean MMR-99
Bands	AM, FM, NOAA weather	AM, FM, NOAA weather	AM, FM, NOAA weather, Bluetooth
Weather alert	Not listed	Yes, siren alert	Yes, siren alert (US version)
Battery	1,000 mAh	850 mAh	2,600 mAh
Runtime on full charge	Not stated	About 10 hours	About 24 hours
1 minute of cranking gives	15 to 20 minutes	About 5 to 7 minutes	About 10 minutes
USB output for phones	Yes (rate not stated)	5 V / 0.3 A	5 V / 1 A
Charging input	Mini USB	Micro USB	USB-C

The MMR-99 holds about 3 times the MMR-88's battery (2,600 divided by 850 is 3.06) and lists more than twice the runtime. Treat crank figures as rough: Sangean's MMR-88 number is for AM through the speaker at moderate volume, and each maker measures differently.

Weather band is not the same as weather alert

NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is a network of more than 1,000 transmitters run by the National Weather Service. It broadcasts warnings, watches and forecasts around the clock on seven frequencies from 162.400 to 162.550 MHz. Working with the Emergency Alert System, it also carries non-weather hazards such as chemical releases, AMBER alerts and 911 outages.

A radio with a weather band lets you listen to those broadcasts. A radio with an alert mode wakes you:

• Sangean MMR-88: when WX ALERT is set on a tuned weather channel, an alert triggers a 15-second siren and then plays the broadcast; the alert LED keeps blinking for about an hour until acknowledged. Sangean's data sheet calls it a Public Alert Certified weather radio.
• Sangean MMR-99: similar 15-second siren alert on US models.
• Eton FRX2: lists all 7 weather channels but no alert function, so pair it with a separate alert radio if you want overnight warnings.

NWS also posts which transmitters are out of service, so check your local station before relying on it.

Power: battery first, crank and sun as backup

• Wall or USB charging: Sangean lists about 2 hours to fully charge the MMR-88 and about 3 hours for the MMR-99. Keep them topped up so the battery, not the crank, does the work.
• Hand crank: Sangean says to turn the MMR-88 at about 120 rpm and the MMR-99 at about 100 rpm. Eton says one minute on the FRX2 gives 15 to 20 minutes of play.
• Solar: Sangean lists about 15 hours of direct sun to fully charge the MMR-88 and calls the panel a supplementary source; it warns against charging under sun lamps.
• Auto shut-off: the MMR-88 has a 90-minute auto shut-off to save power if you fall asleep listening.

Phone charging: set expectations low

All three radios here advertise phone charging, but the output Sangean lists is small. Sangean's MMR-88 lists 5 V at 0.3 A, which is 1.5 watts. The MMR-99 lists 5 V at 1 A, or 5 watts, more than three times as much. Both share the radio's own battery, so charging a phone shortens your listening time. For real phone charging, carry a separate power bank and keep the radio's battery for news and alerts.

Building your radio setup

• One alert radio in the bedroom or hallway, set to your local NOAA channel, so warnings reach you at night.
• One portable crank or solar radio in the go-bag for outages and evacuations.
• Know your stations: note your NOAA transmitter and local AM/FM news stations before an emergency; the MMR-88 stores 19 presets and the MMR-99 stores 20 AM, 20 FM and 5 weather presets.
• Check durability: the MMR-99 is rated IP55 against dust and water, and the MMR-88 has rubber-reinforced corners.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

What should an emergency radio have?

Ready.gov lists a battery-powered or hand-crank radio plus a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert. Look for the weather band, an alert mode and more than one way to charge.

Do hand crank radios receive weather alerts?

Only some. Sangean's MMR-88 and MMR-99 have alert modes with sirens; Eton's FRX2 receives weather broadcasts but lists no alert.

How long does a crank radio run?

On a full battery, Sangean lists about 10 hours (MMR-88) and 24 hours (MMR-99). One minute of cranking gives 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the model.

Can an emergency radio charge my phone?

A little. The MMR-88 outputs 1.5 watts and the MMR-99 5 watts, both from the radio's own battery. Use a power bank for real charging.

Sources

• Build a kit, Ready.gov (FEMA)
• NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, National Weather Service
• American Red Cross FRX2, Etón
• MMR-88 AM/FM/WX multi-powered radio and manual, Sangean
• MMR-99 weather alert emergency radio and manual, Sangean

Sources checked 2026-10-15.