C. Crane CC Pocket review

What it is and who it suits

The manual lists AM from 520 to 1710 kHz, FM from 87.5 to 108 MHz, and a weather band with all seven NOAA channels, 162.400 through 162.550 MHz. It runs on two AA batteries, alkaline or rechargeable NiMH, and the manual says not to use lithium batteries. It measures 2.5 by 4.25 by 0.9 inches and carries a 1-year limited warranty.

It suits someone who wants a small radio for the car, a bag or a desk drawer that uses cells they can buy anywhere. This review is researched, not tested. It relies on C. Crane's manual and product page and on National Weather Service pages.

The weather alert mode

This is where the listing and the maker differ. The comparison page's spec table shows no alert, but C. Crane's page says NOAA Weather Radio with Alert, and the manual explains it. You press and hold the alert button for more than 3 seconds, then choose how long it stays on: 4, 8 or 16 hours. While it is on, AM and FM are disabled, and the display light flashes every few seconds as a reminder.

So the radio can wait for a warning, but only after you arm it, and only for a few hours at a time. The National Weather Service says the most desirable feature is an alarm tone that lets the radio stay silent until a special tone is broadcast before watch and warning messages. A SAME receiver goes further and turns itself on for a pre-selected county code. C. Crane's documents do not mention SAME.

Battery life and reception

C. Crane's page lists about 100 hours of play with earbuds and about 80 hours on the built-in speaker, and says battery life depends on volume. It says the headphone wire or the included antenna wire acts as the antenna for FM and weather. The National Weather Service says range depends on terrain, transmitter power, receiver quality and antenna, so reception inside a steel building or far from a transmitter may need that wire. The manual's troubleshooting guide covers poor FM and weather reception.

Why a weather radio matters

NWS says NOAA Weather Radio is a nationwide network broadcasting official warnings, watches and forecasts 24 hours a day, with more than 1000 transmitters. It needs a special receiver. Ready.gov's kit list includes a battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert. NWS adds that a good receiver should run on batteries when electrical services may be interrupted, and be tunable to all seven frequencies, which this one lists. See our NOAA weather radio guide.

How it compares with the other picks

On our weather radio comparison, the Midland WR120B lists plug-in power with battery backup, NOAA alert and S.A.M.E. county coding. The Midland ER310PRO lists USB-C, solar and hand crank power with a NOAA alert and phone charging. The C. Crane CC Skywave 2 also runs on AA batteries and lists a NOAA weather alert, with shortwave and airband. The CC Pocket has no crank or solar charging.

Skip it if

Skip it if you want a radio that sits armed on a nightstand all night and wakes you for your county, or if you want a crank, solar panel or phone charging. Take a SAME alert radio for that job. Keep spare AA cells with it, and see the emergency alerts guide for the phone side.

Does the C. Crane CC Pocket have a weather alert?

Yes, in a limited form. C. Crane's manual says you press and hold the alert button, pick 4, 8 or 16 hours, and AM and FM are disabled while it is on. It is not a SAME county alert.

What batteries does it use?

Two AA batteries, alkaline or rechargeable NiMH. C. Crane's manual says not to use lithium batteries, because they can register above 1.6 volts and damage the radio.

Does it get all seven NOAA channels?

Yes. C. Crane's manual lists weather channels 1 through 7, from 162.400 to 162.550 MHz, matching the seven frequencies the National Weather Service says its stations use.

Can it charge a phone or run from a crank?

No. It lists two AA batteries as its power source and no crank, solar panel or USB output, so keep fresh spare batteries with it.