C. Crane CC Skywave 2 review

What it is and who it suits

C. Crane calls the Skywave 2 a portable travel radio. C. Crane's page lists AM, FM, shortwave from 2300 to 26100 kHz, the VHF aviation band from 118 to 137 MHz, and NOAA weather with an alert function, with 400 memory presets. It is pitched at travel first, and its emergency features are weather reception and the alert.

It suits someone who wants a small, good-quality radio for the glove box, a go-bag or a shelf, and who is happy to keep spare AA batteries beside it. This review is researched, not tested. It relies on C. Crane's product page, which includes its specifications and FAQ, plus Ready.gov and the National Weather Service.

Power and run time

The radio runs on two AA alkaline batteries, which are not included. C. Crane lists about 70 hours of run time with earbuds and about 60 hours from the built-in speaker, and says the times are approximate. There is no crank and no solar panel, and the page lists no phone-charging output, so this is not a power bank.

An optional AC adapter with a micro-USB plug is listed for charging NiMH batteries, and its listed input is 5V DC at 300 mA. C. Crane's FAQ says it does not recommend lithium AA batteries, because even cells rated at 1.5 volts can read up to 1.8 volts when fresh, and it says using lithium cells that read above 1.6 volts can damage the radio. Stock alkaline or NiMH spares.

How the weather alert works

C. Crane's FAQ gives the steps. Switch on the radio, select the WX band, tune until you hear your local NOAA broadcast, then press and hold the AM FM Alert button until you reach 4, 8 or 16 hours of monitoring. While the alert is on, the display light flashes once every few seconds, and when NOAA issues an alert the radio beeps continuously for two minutes.

The FAQ says the radio keeps flashing its light when turned off with the alert on, and that you will hear the beeping even with the volume turned down. It also says it is not recommended to leave the alert on frequently when running on batteries. The longest setting listed is 16 hours, so it will not guard a bedside through a long outage unless you reset it. C. Crane's page does not describe county filtering, so assume the alert covers the whole broadcast you tuned.

Reception, size and what comes with it

NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts on seven VHF frequencies, which the National Weather Service lists, and the Skywave 2 lists the same seven. The NWS says Weather Radio needs a special receiver, and Ready.gov's kit list names a battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.

C. Crane lists the radio at 6.0 ounces without batteries, with a case, earbuds and a manual in the box and a one-year limited warranty. The page also lists a new mono jack for an external shortwave antenna, which needs a separate adapter. For travel abroad, C. Crane notes that an airband radio may not be legal to have in some countries.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you want a radio that can recharge itself with no batteries: our hand crank radio comparison lists models with a crank, and the Midland ER310PRO review covers one. Skip it too if you want a bedside alert radio that can monitor all night; see our weather radio comparison. The power outage checklist shows where a radio fits in the wider plan.

Does the CC Skywave 2 have a weather alert?

Yes. C. Crane says to tune to a NOAA channel and hold the Alert button to choose 4, 8 or 16 hours of monitoring. When NOAA issues an alert, the radio beeps continuously for two minutes.

What batteries does it use?

Two AA alkaline batteries, not included. C. Crane does not recommend lithium AAs, because fresh lithium cells can read up to 1.8 volts, and C. Crane says cells reading above 1.6 volts can damage the radio.

How long do the batteries last?

C. Crane lists about 70 hours with earbuds and about 60 hours on the built-in speaker, and says these times are approximate. Keeping the alert on for long periods is not recommended on batteries.

Can it charge a phone or run from a crank?

C. Crane's page lists neither a crank, solar panel nor a phone-charging output. Its only power sources are AA batteries and an optional AC adapter used to charge NiMH cells.