AM/FM portable radio.

[MarkyVasquez]

I want to buy an AM/FM portable radio and am wondering if anyone knew of a good one with a good receiver and audio. I'm not looking for chest pounding bass or 1000 watts of sound. Just clear sound. Some of the camping areas we stay at don't have wifi or cell signal and a radio would be nice.
I looked around and found crank charging radios for $10 and cheap portable radios. I'm looking for something small, so it'll fit in the Casita cabinets. I don't want a Shortwave radio, boom box, or a desktop model, but a battery operated model. I'd like to hear from people who actually own one and what they think about it. I'm old school and enjoy listening to mostly AM.
I did find a Sony radio for $19.99 at Best Buy, but it had to be ordered, so I couldn't try it out.
Thanks guys!
Marky

[Jim Bennett]

I too am looking for an AM/FM radio, but am looking primarily for a receiver and for the most part would like to play it through a Bluetooth speaker.

[Raz]

We have an AM FM weather band with an auxiliary input for the mp3 player. The weather band is very handy when in hurricane or tornado prone areas. Uses 4 D cells that last a very long time.

[TomandCallie]

I have several models of Sangean radios including this one: https://smile.amazon.com/Sangean-PR-...=sangean+radio

They are all nice radios and pull in stations very well and offer very good sound. They all have digital tuners so will lock in the frequency. I'll never buy an analog radio again. Check the different models to see how many batteries they take - some more, some less. I have the rechargeable one too and it will run for 35-40 hours on one charge depending on volume.

[Tom 72]

I am a radio fan, I don't watch tv. I've owned many Sonys, Panasonics, and GE Superadios (The new GEs aren't as good). Decades ago I became aware of a California firm named C Crane & Company that specializes in high performance radios. The vast majority of their radios, and Radio Shacks high performance radios came from one firm. That firm is Sangean. Sangean sells under their own name and private label. Bose radios are also excellent. More HiFi, less compact.

I would recommend digital tuning over analog. There are some advantages to analog, but I like presets. Get one with a large enough speaker to generate the volume and fidelity desired. In your RV, you might as well incorporate a clock radio feature.

Check this model out. Great value, but their whole line up is top notch:
https://www.amazon.com/Sangean-PR-D1...G0/ref=sr_1_5?

Sangean radios are widely available online.

The PR-D9W includes the weather band. That does make sense. It is recharcheable and has 19 presets. It has snooze and dual alarms.

Sangean has at least two bluetooths. The WR-22WL is a nice tabletop model.

AM/FM Radios | C. Crane

[cpaharley2008]

I have had this Sangean for awhile, sits on my dash while driving for weather reports, even has built in solar.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017TD4FCY..._t3_B00FK0AEG0

[jjohn]

We use a sony ICF-38. Works great small and good price

[Gene680]

I'm a retired radio guy. 39 years and I've seen them all. I also recommend Crane.

AM/FM Radios | C. Crane

As in everything, you get what you pay for. Expect to pay around $100.00 for a good quality AM/FM.

[Raz]

Yup, mine was made by Sangean.

[J Ron]

I use a Grundig YB400PE YB for Yacht Boy. Radio Shack sold them. You can find used ones on Internet. They are AM, FM Short and long wave. I chose the YB for it's performance but use it only AM and FM only. FIND one in the box with the manuel and other things with it. Many features, many live aboard boaters use these units for AM, FM and sideband receicers.

[J Ron]

PS. The YB400PE is small.

[TomandCallie]

Originally Posted by J Ron

I use a Grundig YB400PE YB for Yacht Boy. Radio Shack sold them. You can find used ones on Internet. They are AM, FM Short and long wave. I chose the YB for it's performance but use it only AM and FM only. FIND one in the box with the manuel and other things with it. Many features, many live aboard boaters use these units for AM, FM and sideband receicers.

I have a Yacht Boy too and it is a nice quality radio. But, I find the controls are not very intuitive and are difficult to navigate. Mine is old so maybe they are better now.

[RV Rabbit]

Here's a link to a pretty cool Sangean radio on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Sangean-TB-10...ywords=sangean

[k corbin]

I have always been impressed with the quality of sound a reliability of the Panasonic products.

You might even find some decent ones for very good prices in the thrift stores. At least you can try them out at the store but do take along some D and C cell batteries just in case they don't have any on hand.

[Byron Kinnaman]

I keep looking for campgrounds where electronic noise devices are not allowed. I'd rather listen to birds or the wind blowing in the trees or water running down a nice stream. I go camping partly to get away from the noise not to bring it with me.

[TomK]

Originally Posted by Tom 72

I am a radio fan, I don't watch tv. I've owned many Sonys, Panasonics, and GE Superadios (The new GEs aren't as good). Decades ago I became aware of a California firm named C Crane & Company that specializes in high performance radios. The vast majority of their radios, and Radio Shacks high performance radios came from one firm. That firm is Sangean. Sangean sells under their own name and private label. Bose radios are also excellent. More HiFi, less compact.

I would recommend digital tuning over analog. There are some advantages to analog, but I like presets. Get one with a large enough speaker to generate the volume and fidelity desired. In your RV, you might as well incorporate a clock radio feature.

Check this model out. Great value, but their whole line up is top notch:
https://www.amazon.com/Sangean-PR-D1...G0/ref=sr_1_5?

Sangean radios are widely available online.

The PR-D9W includes the weather band. That does make sense. It is recharcheable and has 19 presets. It has snooze and dual alarms.

Sangean has at least two bluetooths. The WR-22WL is a nice tabletop model.

AM/FM Radios | C. Crane

Marky, I agree with what Tom said. We have the red & white model to match the Scamp, but it comes in Casita blue and white. Rugged build, compact , and decent sound...
https://www.amazon.com/Sangean-PR-D1...n%2Bradio&th=1

TomK

[Captleemo]

I also have a Sony-ICF-38 and am real pleased with it. Its AM/FM great reception and it will run on AA batteries and it also has cord tucked into the back if you want to plug it in. It will fit into your cabinets without a problem.

[J Ron]

I just checked the price of the Yacht Boy, used, at the difference in price that Seagean looks pretty good if the performance is there.

[Byron Kinnaman]

One thing I've discovered those that play a radio in camp grounds are very smart and excellent ESP. They know exactly what everybody want hear.

[Jeff K.]

I just went through the search for a good quality AM/FM radio, since we will soon be leaving to pick up our new Escape 19. I found this site to be very helpful, because it contains reviews of radios in a wide range of prices by a serious hobbyist who knows his stuff.

https://radiojayallen.com/

I ended up purchasing one of the C. Crane radios that Tom mentioned. I chose the CCRadio-2E, which has digital am/fm, weather and a 2 meter ham band, often used during emergencies. It runs on ac or batteries. Though on the expensive side ($170) so far, I love it. Bought it on Amazon.