Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Every issue consumers have had in the previous 114 comments listed below are accurate. We purchased this "thing" which gave us problems from day one, it quit working, we took it in, a RS employee took a brand new unit out of the box and handed it to my husband yesterday. We brought hit home, programmed it, went tornado watch last night (yes, tornado in December!) - NOT A PEEP FROM THE "THING". It sits on the nightstand and served as nothing more than something additional that I had to dust. My husband just called from RS and informed me that RS was talking "out of warranty time" stipulations to a lady when he walked into the store about a tv, then gave him the same sermon. DO NOT BUY THIS OVER PRICED PIECE OF JUNK!

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

This radio didn't work from day one. After it didn't alarm for a couple of severe thunderstorms I took it back to the store. The manager reprogrammed it, suggested I use a different channel and place it closer to a window. I did all this and it still doesn't work. To add insult to injury I tried returning it for a store credit and the manager is giving me a hard time. I'm now escalating to the District and maybe Area manager, just for a store credit.
When I checked this website and found out the radio is still for sale I was floored. Buyer beware, don't buy this radio.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I purchased this product in Feb 2006. It is used 100% (24/7) of the time in my home in IL.I did not read all the previous reviews for this product but some are pretty scary. I concur with other reviews that call for a recall of this product if in fact it really needs one and is just not from set-up ignorance. I don't know if the folks who make this radio have changed the design, maybe, I have no way of knowing. If this were the case then caution would be advised before making a purchase. [...]I personally have had a "GREAT" experience with this radio. I have owned at least 5 other weather radios in my life (I am 65). This one has replaced all of the others at home. It does everything I ask of it. It is a little large and cumbersome for travel.A FEW THOUGHTS:This is a hard radio to set-up for the average person in my estimation. The manual must be read and understood to properly set this radio up for optimum performance. I have mine set-up in a custom configuration....I only ask it to report the actual threats that I have in my area. I don't need Tsunami warnings in IL.SUMMARY:If your having problems with this radio please revisit the manual, gain a clear understanding of the set-up and return it ASAP if problems do develop.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Do not purchase! A very expensive product that stops working after the one year warranty is over. The radio is supposed to warn of life threatening events. It does not. Right now just sits there and shows the annoying "Check Op" message. It works after resetting it, but after a couple of months it stops working again. The manufacturer and retailer should recall them! Shameful that they are playing with our lives!

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I have had this weather radio and it just has not been worth a darn it always op on it i reprogram it and it does it again after about 2 days. Now i can't get the time to set.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

In an earlier review, I reported excessive static in a radio and in it's replacement. Finally I was able to reach a live person with NOAA - NWS who admitted a months-long problem (still not corrected!) with the transmitter.

So in reality this review is NOT about the pros and cons of the radio.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I've had this little radio for quite some time. Once it's set up, it functions quite nicely; just be careful, or it will alert for everything! The little built-in antenna could use additional length for additional signal.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Check op always a problem. Picks up a signal just fine but can't hold it. No instructions in box.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I normally like Radio Shack products but this one was a waste of money. SAME feature failed almost to the day of being out of warranty. It looks cool but you can't count on it. Hard to program and I am a radio scanner expert.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I would not recommend this to anyone. Switching back to my old weather radio, atleast that one work right, all the time.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Bought one which worked marginally but by 3 months static so bad it was useless.
Exchanged for another (same model) and it too has unacceptable interference noise EVEN WHEN A HIGH-END ADDITIONAL ANTENNA WAS CONNECTED.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

stopped working in less than one year, no more alerts, not worth the money paid

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

EASY TO SETUP SOUND IS GREAT WOULD RECOMMEND TO
ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I have had this product for a while. All of a sudden it starts beeping, lost it Channels displaying "No channel available", time will not reset. Unplugged it, changed the batteries and it's still the same. For the price I would think that Radio Shack could have a better product that this one. Take it off the shelf or just give them away for free. I notice it was not working when we had 'Fay' - NO TORNADOE WARNINGS, NO THUNDER STORM WARNINGS, NO FLOOD WARNINGS. The only warning I got that it was just beeping.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I have yet to find a way to turn down the volume, If thats possible.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

This is a bad product! It does not show any of the watches or warning in the county. It will work for about six months then you will stop hearing any of the alerts. For a [$] buy this is a joke. Go buy one from [...] you will be better off.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I bought my unit about 4 months ago, now 1 month out of warranty the clock on the unit has froze. Once the correct time is input and accepted, it does not increment. This is a problem since the backlight will stay on forever, it must use the clock to know when to turn the backlight off. It's also a problem since a weather alert will occur for so many hours, with no clock, it never turns off the alert after the allotted time. I've replaced the batteries, reset everything multiple times with no different. For a [$] radio this is unacceptable. Disappointed.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

It worked well... for one year. Tornadoes now go by and laugh at my weather radio. It alerts to thunderstorms, but not tornadoes.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Radio Shack refused to post my last review, lets try this again!

I thought the radio would be a good addition to my station but soon realized it was of no use. I live less than 10 miles from the NOAA tower and even using a VHF antenna outside, the reception is spotty at best. I was very disappointed by the overall look and feel of this unit, not a very well designed radio at all. If one is looking to buy one of these, don't depend on it!

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I thought this radio would be a good addition to my station but was very disappointed in the quality of not only the reception (I live less than 10 miles from the tower), but the overall looks and feel of the unit. Definatly NOT a radio anyone would want to rely on in any sort of an emergency.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

i really like this radio. it has alerted me for almost a year so far!

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

This is the first Weather Alert Radio that I have owned and after reading up on the other weather alert radios on the market I find that it has a lot of features. However, if the main idea behind a weather alert radio is to alert me when something is happening in MY county, this radio doesn't do it. I have programed and re-programmed this thing a dozen times. And I still only get alerts for the 2nd county that I enter not the first when I have it set for multiple counties. The county code that it has automatically programmed into the machine is correct per NOAA. So I have been living with that problem all along. (I live on the border of 2 counties.) Now in the last 2 weeks I have been receiving a No Signal alarm. It is just as loud as the others just not as long, different. Very annoying. I am not longer getting a strong signal from any of the 7 channels. I have changed the batteries, checked the plug. Re-set the channel a dozen of times, and I keep getting that alarm. I just unplugged it and removed the batteries the other day. I now have a worthless piece of equipment. So now I am looking for a new weather alert radio and it wont be this one. Looking at the Midland WR-300 and the Reecom 1650.

Features I liked:

County codes are pre-programed into system.
System auto selects best channel.
Can turn off alerts for alerts not needed.


Bad things:

Impossible to program, at least with my unit you can never get into and out of programming modes. There are 4/5 keys you are using to program most of the time and you never know which one to hit after you think you have made a selection to get to the menu or out of the programming function. Good luck.

Bad channel reception, even prior to no signal issue.

Unable to receive correct alerts.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

How can you, as a company, read the numerous comments on your own website, regarding your Hazard Alert Radio 12-262, and not realize that you are running a scam on people?I also have one that worked well for a few months, then simply stopped working. No alerts, no weekly tests. Just "check op". No amount of resetting solves the problem.Is there a chance that you program this fault into the radio, so that people will then purchase another one? Surely most people are smart enough to stay away from the Radio Shack brand after being burned like this!So here we go into another hurricane season, [$]invested in this, unreturnable, unworkable, useless "life saver". You, as a company should be ashamed.Donna Evans

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

We bought this to supplement our other devices and like every one elses it worked for a while then gave it up. Will be looking for a Midland at Krogers.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

This radio failed time and time again to pick up alerts. I had it set to pick up all alerts from all areas. I thought the problems many were having was due to incorrect codes being used. That is clearly not the case. Side by side to an older RS weather radio, this unit responded only a handful of times. The older unit responded to each alert. Most of the other negative reviews are 100% correct. I played with it for a few weeks, and have returned for a refund. Save yourself a trip and avoid this poorly made in China radio.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

This is the worst weather radio we have ever had. Living in Florida these things can mean the difference of getting out of your home in time.... We even tried a "Radio Shack" external antenna and it still doesn't work very well.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Gave up after having to return two units - one didn't work from the start, the second lasted about 30 days before not working anymore. Not really something you want to worry about wheather its going to work correctly - especially when your life can depend on it alerting you to serious situations!!

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Well we bought this radio from the local Summerville, sc Radioshack and it worked great for 13 months.

Now the Alerts do not come on or the warning alarm stays on. I have reset to manufacture default and still no joy. It would seem that these radios are built to last just longer than the warrenty and no more.

For the price we paid we should have got a better make online.I would try another manufacture. Do yourself a favour and keep well clear.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

It is replacing an old Radio Shack weather that gave 8+ years of good service during many Florida storms.

Easy set up in minutes (and I am a senior citizen). I had to move it to several locations to find a spot that got the best reception.

If it works as good as the old radio, I will be very plleased.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Like most people, I bought this product to protect my family. I thought by buying a NOAA authorized product, it would work well. I should have read the reviews.

It does work, as long as you are outside your home. I have done everything but put an external antenna on it, which I will do since I have already sunk soo much many $$ into to this one.

Anyone looking for a weather radio should first find out if the external walls or the roof of their home has aluminum foil. If this is the case, then you will need an external antenna. I strongly feel this is my issue.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Radio failed after 6 months. Couldn't obtain any signal. Warranty only good for 90 days. [...] Not worth the cost.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

THIS THING IS GREAT EVERYONE SHOULD BY ONE. I BOUGHT TWO.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I bought this unit a year ago and should have checked the reviews. It worked for about 8 months then as we found out last night it no longer works. We just had some bad weather and the unit didn't alert us. I have a cell phone that I have programmed to get weather alerts, thank God, as that is how I found out about the alerts not the by the [$] unit I bought. I tried to reset the radio as the storm was happening and new alerts were going off no luck. Also the unit had done it's weekly test last Wednesday. In this case paying more for it doesn't mean it's better. I'm very disappointed and concerned since this is used to save lives!

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

We recently lived through a tornado. This weather radio has given us peace of mind knowing that we will know what is going on around us. It alerted us last night to a storm in our area. Happy so far with the unit.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

only good for a boat anchor does not perform to noaa standards useless product

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

This thing is just too complicated to set up. There are numerous discrepancies between the procedures in the manual and how the setup actually works.

The most frustrating piece of electronics I've used in a long, long time.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I haven't had any trouble with the radio. It serves the purpose I purchased it for. We've had several bouts of severe weather in our area and it's been handy in all those cases. I'm happy with the purchase but it's a bit pricey for the sound quality.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Great alert

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I bought this until for the house since I'm a storm chaser/weather watcher and this does not work, alert's in general have not worked since I bought the until. The older untl works much better. I bought this one for the SAME display...I would not recommend this unit to anyone. Very disappointed in this product.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Purchased radio specifically to receive S.A.M.E. alerts. Worked fine for a few months and then the "check op" notice kept appearing and no alerts and no weekly tests were received. Spent money on external antenna per the instruction book and that didn't help. Radio is useless unless you just want to hear the local forecast which it picks up just fine. Can't depend on it for bad weather alerts. Of course I kept trying to get it to work by reprogramming several times and waiting for the weekly test to see if it was working (and installing the antenna) while the warranty ran out.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

keeps roaming to another station after locking on to closest station.Does not work consistantly on weather testsVery poor manual No manufacturer back up JUNK

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Loud tones, always seems to alert when there is a storm for my county. A little bit overpriced, but I like it none the less.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Other than it being a pain to program, it is a nice WX radio.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Although it's stationed on an underground level, we do have an external antenna attached and it still fails to alert even though normal broadcast is received and unit has been re-programed many times.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Very hard to program but worked well here in North Texas for 13 months, then stopped recieving any signals. Will be looking to buy a new one, but not from Radio Shack.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

It worked great for 13 months. It cost [$]I feel like I have been had. The radio will losethe signal after 2-3 minutes. I took it back toRadio Shack, the manager said to buy another one and buy the 2 year extended warrantee. I said no thank you

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

The best weather radio I have ever used. Excellent alerts and functionality. I love this unit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Works great as an initial alert system for incoming weather so designated employees can monitor weather by other resources

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

This radio only has 2 alert options. It beeps for 5 full minutes straight or it beeps then lets the radio talk and continues in this pattern for 5 full minutes. That is very annoying. All it needs to do is beep once and flash the alert across the screen.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

great product i would buy this again

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

We keep it on all the time in our kitchen. It's programed for our county and those to the west. We get all the alerts we are concerned with. I've recommended it to several friends. And it's not too expensive. Much better than depending upon local sirens.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

After 1 year my radio quit holding a signal and of course there is no warranty. Expensive radio and Radio Shack will not back up their product. A total waste of money. DO NOT BUY!!!

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

When I first read the reviews on this radio,I had concerns about purchasing it.A lot of the reviewers mentioned poor sound quality,IMHO the poor sound came from NOAA,not from the radio.I received 2 alerts last night,worked as advertised only con would be, that it is a little difficult to go back and change a setting,after the initial setup.Some reviews mentioned poor instruction's,You have to read them first,and comprehend what you are reading.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Purchased radio 6/07. Worked well for about 3 months, then started losing signal. Reset several times, and still keep getting Check OP!! I bought this radio to notify my family when bad weather is approaching and this has happened only once in the 8 months we've had it!! I will be replacing it SOON!

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

The radio picks up warnings just fine, and has a good alarm. The initial set up for setting your county is great. However, beyond that, it might as well be greek. The menu structure and controls are not intuitive, and the manual is no help. It took me 15 minutes to set the clock and alarm, that's with the book in hand. I've programmed all kinds of things in my life- VCRs, TVs, even computers, but this thing takes the cake. I bought it to double as a bedside alarm clock, but you can't read it at night even with the backlight on. Would work much better as such if it had a regular LED clock face with standard controls. Bottom line, you can get a decent SAME radio for a lot less.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I bought one for my mom and she later bought one for me. In Missouri the weather can get bad quickly. This weather radio lets you know well ahead of time there are problems heading your way.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I love this radio!

At radioshack they program all the alerts and whatever you need for the radio!!!

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Easy to use; however, I keep getting the Check Op error line. I have reset this machine SEVERAL times and every 2 weeks I have to reset it again. I live in a rural area and do not have easy access to purchase a new radio. This machine works well until this error shows up.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

would not pick up alerts...not a secure feeling

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

My husband and I bought this a month ago and have just realized that it has not been working right from the very beginning. On Satruday afternoon we were under tornado warning and I had not known that they had the sirens going off in town near our house until my husband called me. Thank God he did because this useless machine would not have come close to saving my families life. I will be returning it and going somewhere else to purchase another one. Please do not waste money on this if you want to help your family be safe.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Worked well for a few months. Programming it is no problem, but it continues to stop picking up alerts. I have rest it several times, moved locations in our home, etc and the "Check OP" (message telling you it has not picked an alert in 10 days) keeps appearing. After reading the other reviews, this seems to be a common problem. Guess buying the most expensive one didn't prove that we were buying the best one, Do NOT buiy this!!!

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

I am very disappointed in this unit - it worked fine for about 2 months & then it started dropping the signal. Even when it held the signal it stopped alerting us. We were under a tornado WARNING and it never alerted us. I do not recommend this unit

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

This is yet another product that seems to have well engineered hardware but absolutely abominable menu structures accompanied by useless instruction manuals.
I just returned mine to the store.

Comments about RadioShack Desktop Weather Radio with Alarm Clock and SAME Operation:

Bought mine this past July (2007) and had no problems setting it up. Worked great until about November (2007). I got the message to "check ops" and could find no problems. Reset the radio according to directions and it did fine for about a week. Then again it came up with "check ops". Again I reset it. It recieves the weekly tests if I reset it just before the broadcast, then stops receiving again. Still get the voice broadcasts but no alerts or tests of any kind. This past february 5th I reset it and it worked great for the duration of our bad weather. But now it tells me to check ops again. Still get voice just no alerts.

NOTE: Give some weight to the negative reviews, I don't think they are something you want to ignore!

Yes, I am going to try one more, if I can't find something better. If the second one fails also, I will post again.