MIDLAND WR300 Weather Radio
by Midland
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of MIDLAND WR300 Weather Radio
Customer Review: Midland WR-300 AM/FM Weather/All Hazards/Civil Emergency Alert Monitor with S.A.M.E.
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this radio primarily for it's ability to notify me of bad weather or civil emergencies. I plugged it in and tried basic operation. It was easy to program (if you really want to). It picked up am/fm and weather channels. I live about 40 miles south of Boston and it was able to pick up 1 weather station really well, and a 2nd, barely. I tried it in the cellar where I could still hear the weather station, but there was some background hiss, depending on how I positioned the radio. Just because I had some time and previous experience with antennas, I built one from 300 ohm twinlead and coax, and nailed it to the house ... it worked great! If you search the web you can find the instructions. It cost less than $5.00 (especially if you have one of those antenna to TV adaptors that used to come with every TV. They allow you to connect to regular cable TV cable).
The radio is now with my wife as a Xmas present for me. I have every reason to believe it will work as advertised.
One note though: If you're planning to use the radio as a CLOCK radio, the time display is very small. The LCD display is geared toward displaying emergency alert text messages ... clock time takes second priority.
I gave it 4 stars because so far it looks good but it hasn't been put to the test of a real emergency notification.
Customer Review: So good, we got two!
Summary: 5 Stars
That's right, we have two of Midland weather monitors. We bought the first one about 2 years ago. Before I bought the first one, I went on-line to research manuals to see if this product is what I needed. The programming of the SAME technology was very simple with step-by-step instructions. It told where to get the frequencies and codes on-line, and how to enter them into the unit. It's cool, because we only get watches and warnings for our county. We have been warned several times of oncoming storms with its audio signal. It went off for the Christmas tornadoes here in Florida, which that morning, we had no idea of the storms, because we were in the middle of Christmas festivities and were not watching TV, then we were able to warn my in-laws who were in the line of fire. Then in February, Florida had a lot of overnight storms, it warn us again of oncoming storms. We heard it, but that is why we got a second unit, one for our bedroom, and one for the other side of the house. We did not think the first one in our office would be loud enough to wake us up. Both units are great, it's easy to program, and now I use the second one as an alarm clock. I use the first one in the office to listen to Talk Radio during work, which it will cut in when a storm is approaching (I know this because it has). This product is perfect.Customer Review: does what it was built to do, and does it well
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had years of experience with Midland's products, and have never been disappointed. I had did quite a lot of research on this unit before purchasing it, and can say that I am pleased with my purchase, in spite of the numerous reviews testifying to difficult programming, etc.
The programming couldn't be any easier. If you can use your TV remote, you can surely use this radio? I have seen posts such as "I am even an electronics engineer, and I cannot figure this programming out!" I find that hard to believe, as the included instructions make it quite clear. I can see how a person trying to jump in without taking the five minutes to read all of the instructions might momentarily confuse themselves, but honestly, this is easy enough to master even without instructions. If you cannot figure it out, any junior high-age kid could do it for you.
Essentially, you press the MENU button, then scroll through the on-screen choices, then press SELECT when you see what you like on the screen. Quite simple. A very sensitive receiver, and a very loud siren/alert tone. The speaker is not 'Bose quality', but is more than sufficient, and I can clearly hear the voice on the weaTHER CHANnel! You know what I mean, when you hear the automated computer lady say "thunnDERstorms".
Great little unit, well worth the money.
Customer Review: So Far So Good
Summary: 4 Stars
I was not disappointed with this receiver. The setup and programming went just fine, although I did have to spend quite a bit of time with the manual and make a few mistakes before I got the hang of it. One would definitely want to have access to the internet in order to to find the necessary county codes.
The one drawback that I have experienced so far has nothing to do with the features or quality of the radio. I live in western Oregon, where there is very little severe weather, hence very few alarms. To date I have not heard so much as a test transmission from the lcocal NOAA station.
The external antenna jack is a definite "plus," especially if the radio is to be used inside a vehicle and/or in a fringe area. I also like the accessory jack, which can be used to trigger an external alarm, such as the strobe light that is available specifically for this radio.
Either NOAA radio or AM/FM radio reception are available at the touch of the respecitive buttons, and there are three AM and three FM channels that can be programmed for one's favorite stations. Once the setup has been completed operation is a snap.
This radio even includes three LEDs, which indicate the level of the alert--yellow for "advisory," orange for "watch" and red for "warning."
Customer Review: Midland WR300 Weather Radio
Summary: 5 Stars
Great Radio!!! I live in the Texas Panhandle. We have all sorts of bad weather. Tornadoes (I live in the dead center of 'Tornado Alley'), hail, blizzards, prairie fires, high winds, flash floods and more. The National Weather Service broadcast 24 hours a day with current weather and gives emergency weather announcements. If you live within range of a NWS station or relay repeaters ( check www.nws.noaa.gov/ for list of stations & repeaters and coverage areas) then this is the radio for you. It has all of the bells and whistles that you could want. The NWS has a large list of emergancy annoucments. You can choose in the program mode of the radio any of the warnings that you might need for your area. We really do not need high tide or tsunami warnings here in the high plains. So I left those and several others off for our area. We use the radio in the emergency mode. It sets silently until we have an emergency announcement for our area. In our area the NWS sends a test warning on wednesdays, if the weather is clear for that day. Nice to know that eveything is working OK. This radio works on AC/DC. Be sure to put batteries in the radio. That way you will get warnings if you lose power or if you grab the radio and head to shelter in the case of a tornado. Oh yeah it also is a AM/FM radio.
Larry