WX On The Air
The value of owning a weather-band radio
The analog, natural vibe I endeavor to create - both here on The Stone Age and in my daily life - encapsulates many aspects of my existence; to be candid, the desire to manifest that vibe has become a minor obsession. A growing facet of this includes minimizing my reliance on technology (especially the ‘smartphone’) for basic needs, and instead embracing that which is less digital where possible.
Now, I am not going full-on Luddite with my approach (at least not yet), because I clearly understand the value in many of our digital blessings; after all, we would not be having this discussion without said-blessings. That noted, I do think it is critical to seek a balance between that which is analog versus digital, so that the latter does not consume us.
Or, consume me, anyhow; addictive personality and all.
Note I used the word, ‘reliance’ in that first paragraph; that was a very deliberate choice, because that upon which you ‘rely’ can eventually enslave you. As Liberty is an obvious, critical component of my current journey through the Temporal Realm, doing whatever I can to eradicate ‘reliance’ from my immediate sphere is of great importance.
With that noted? Let’s talk about the weather.
No, seriously…
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Due to our technological advances we tend to take our weather alerts for granted. Warnings of severe conditions are no more than a frantic ‘tone’ away, courtesy of the tiny super-computers we carry in our pockets. We have sirens in tornado-rich areas as well, which keep the masses aware when the atmosphere is getting itchy.
One thing we have learned, however, is we cannot count on cell signals in an emergency situation; not only can platform failures occur, but service in far-too-many populated areas is still sketchy.
And as for sirens? Sometimes they work.. sometimes, they don’t.
Add to this the EV industry targeting AM radio for eradication (with Congress dragging its feet on a bill to protect it), and it is becoming clear that there is need for a back-up plan.
Enter the WX radio…
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Utilizing a pleasant-sounding, computer-generated voice, this network not only gives you the current conditions and forecasts, but also sends out emergency alerts when warnings are issued. These not only include weather-related events, but will also be a source for critical information in the event of a national crisis (though how much I would trust a government-issued, non-WX warning is up for debate).
These broadcasts are carried across the VHF band, which means you must own a receiver capable of snagging those signals; hence, the need for a special ‘weather’ radio.
The coverage of said-signals is pretty solid, too…
While not as expansive as the over 4,700 AM radio stations? A vast majority of the country is still covered by the above-network, making the purchase of a weather radio a smart investment.
And you can find them pretty cheap, too! I currently own three of them…
- A slender, hand-held model, which has great range and currently costs under $20; part of my everyday-carry [EDC], it is always close by and works great for me in my location.
- An emergency radio, which has multiple power-sources (solar, hand-crank, and regular batteries) along with other features; if I take a long trip this one goes with me, and when not on the road? I keep it handy at home as a backup.
- A larger desktop unit, which also includes HAM frequencies so you can listen to local amateur radio broadcasters; this one… not so cheap (also, I hate the fact the clock on it does not allow me to switch to 24-hour time).
There is another benefit I would be remiss in not mentioning; I sometimes listen to my weather radio for background noise whilst working on my Substack. Unlike some of NOAA’s previous computer-generated voices (and there have been some doozies), the current incarnation really is fairly smooth, making for a distraction-free ‘companion’ while you write.
I think it is probably obvious by now that I am an advocate for owning a weather radio, and believe it is an item you may want to consider for yourself. They come with multiple benefits, broadcasts are free and commercial-free (most pleasing to me), and hey - having one at the right moment?
It just may end up saving your life, and the lives of those you love.
Thank you for your continued support, and - if not already a subscriber - join me as we build a unique Substack subculture of information, entertainment, and enlightenment.
Notes…
-- This is a based on a segment featured in “Written In Stone” in August of this year; it has been spruced up with additional text and fresh pics for this post.
-- Unless otherwise credited, all images were generated by the author, using Grok 2 [on X] or Substack’s AI Image Tool, with digital alterations when desired or needed.
When hurricane helene came through my area in Tennessee, I had no interest and very limited cell service for a week. Every bit of information I could get was from my little emergency weather radio. I wholeheartedly agree everyone should have one. I'm not sure I agree on the voice being soothing or even non irritating. 😅
I had one a long time ago, pre-internet. I didn’t know they’re still available. Thanks!