@axleman1011 This. What's the point of this in the smartphone age? My dad would have liked this. In 1987. Today? Well, HE still might, but most of the rest of us? What's the point??
@axleman1011 Well, I'm an IT guy at a radio station! BOOM! Broadcast still kicks some serious emergency alert ass. And what right-thinking IT person doesn't believe in defense-in-depth? Bow down to your Golden Calf if you like, but when you need it most IT SHANT BE THERE. The robotic voices of the NOAA, they'll tell you when to run if only you have the right radio to hear their wisdom.
@CraigDanger Just read the "Most Helpful" Amazon reviewer and glad I did. My county is just hitting the area where a NOAA station will reach. Shockingly many areas where I am near (and I wouldn't think that I am in a crazy mountainous or ???) are NOT covered! I do not trust the idiots running this towns alarms so will get this item as the area has had deadly tornadoes in the past.
@DJP519 Because not everyone keeps their phone charging on their nightstand. And if you live in an area where tornadoes typically hit, you know that they sometimes come in the middle of the night.
@DJP519 Well, if you live in an area where you really need this and the microwave link feeding the cell towers in your area go down for example. Personally I have no need. In fact I turned off all government warnings on my phone becasue they are seriously overused. I don't need a warning about dust storms, or amber alerts 30 miles away.
@Kidsandliz I would think that most (certainly not all, but most) people savvy enough to shop at Meh and with at least a little disposable income to spend on impulse buys here probably already have a smartphone and service. And if you don't, if you shop around you can find crappy androids for under $20, and prepaid service for $30/month. Still higher than the cost of this item, yes, but not quite the prices you're quoting.
@mehjohnson Camping in the middle of nowhere, I'll give you that one. @Headly agreed completely! I did the same thing. Too many irrelevant warnings. If they sent them very rarely, for true emergencies, they'd be great. Instead, it was buzzing every tome there was a severe thunderstorm warning, ie, every time it rains in the summer. Overkill!
@jqubed No no no - @darksaber99999 is talking about the speed of meh shipping… I do understand Meh is guaranteeing no emergencies until you receive this sometimes in 2017. Right @jont?
I live in a city where the weather is shitty all the time. I don't need a radio to tell me that. Besides, if it gets too bad, my phone goes off. If I don't have a phone with me, all of the other phones around me go off. If there are no other phones near me, I'm probably inside already, safely sleeping in my house.
@lichme I'm subscribed to the alerts on my cell phone, too, but way too often those alerts come late or not at all. I live in a city that gets tornadoes and spectacular spring storms. These radios are worth their weight in gold to protect my family and get them safely in the center of the house in case of a tornado.
@Ryaneil I just bought it, I'm 31. But in my defense, I'm a New Englander living in tornado country and need time to get to a shelter. Sometimes the city siren can't be heard over my central AC. ughhh... And my phone seems to be fickle about warnings.
@Ryaneil 44, and I bought 3. I already have one, but im buying for my family. My mother-in-law lives in a remote area, and my sister-in-law lives in an area where signals are hard to reach on her phone.
I'm also a ham radio operator heavily involved with Skywarn weather spotting. In some cases, we get the warnings faster than the NWS radios do. I posted this deal all over my ham radio Facebook groups and several who had never heard of this site bought 1 or more.
Yes, a smartphone is useful...when the cell service works and the power is working. Security and peace of mind are what these are good for. It's good to have around and hope to not depend on one.
@hockeyham Ham Radio talk brings back memories of before cellphones. We used to drive around listening to the auto patch that allowed phone calls from operators to land lines. It's amazing how many people who were called couldn't get that it wasn't a private call. I still remember my dads call letters, KC7NZA. I might have to get my license one day, cell phones were just so much cooler. Only downside is now I intentionally go where there is no signal.
@PurplePawprints The two-for smaller ones, right? I was wondering the same thing... It looks like the only things it has going for it are that it automatically picks the clearest channel and has a display. Since the one I got before is a back-up to pretty much everything else (phones, laptops, car radios, etc), it doesn't look worth it to me.
@primrosewater Yep, those are the ones I meant. I'm thinking I agree with you since I bought the others as backup also, just was wondering if I was missing something.
@PurplePawprints@primrosewater I think the ones you're referring to were more of a portable weather radio; I don't remember if they did alerts or could be set to go off only for certain warnings and for certain locations (which, frankly, being portable, would be annoying to have to keep telling your current location as you move around). This is something designed to stay at one location such as a home, business, or public gathering space.
@CrossIT The emperor is not amused with the actions of his subjects on the product thread… he is punishing those not amusing/clever enough for cluttering up the thread with meh chatter...
@Kidsandliz He's not punishing anyone. I get that you're trying to be funny, but I don't think it's that big a deal to ask that the first few posts be relevant and on-topic so that people who are looking for info on the deal can actually find it before giving up. Since this post is still here, obviously @snapster is not being heavy-handed once you get further down in the thread.
@RedOak It's not ass kissing when it's the truth. The whole forum is our playground. Why is it so hard to behave when we're asked not to shit in one small part of it?
@PurplePawprints Actually, I had no problem with your kissing...
I happen to agree with you. I don't get the fascination with saying fuck either. I was simply trying to get you a free weather radio. But I should have remembered @JonT is the one who does that.
I live in the midwest, and tornado season is coming up, I've not gotten a weather alert on my new phone (so I'm guessing it doesn't have that feature). I'll say that for $10, its worth the peace of mind.
@JeepDude In case those super loud sirens don't do it for you? :P Your phone has the feature, all phones do. Google "emergency alerts your_phone_here".
@jeffca51 My side of the country doesn't have sirens. I've had a tornado pass over my house (I had the windows open and thought "wow that is a weird noise"), no beeping from a smart phone. RV camping - campground we have visited was hit by a tornado and folks died. Rural area with non existent cell coverage. I have a hand crank radio I take tent camping, a plugged in one will be a welcome addition to the RV.
I think it might be worth the $10 to cut short the "are you watching the weather??!!" calls that happen every spring, but I'm going to have to sleep on it. If it's sold out in the morning then it just wasn't meant to be.
I was hoping for a Terrorist Alert radio, but ignorant me didn't realize that global warming / climate change were our greatest threats. I may actually need one of these.
@eyewerks Besides, if the power goes out I'll be comforted by the fact that I'll still be able to hear that pesky EBS alert tone that seems to interrupt every decent movie I watch on FiOS.
@eyewerks I use a "Terrorist Alert Stick." It's actually just a paint mixer covered in yellow paint. But it's 99.9% accurate at the U.S. Terror Alert level since 9/11 #NeverForget
Last price listed by Oregon Scientific direct - $24.99 & Amazon has a listing for $23 (plus shipping). I'm probably naive...nah, this is probably just a one-off slip, but I'll be watching a bit closer for a while just in case. This is still a good price, it's just that I have come to trust my Meh to maintain the highest degree of integrity and do the homework to find real average-joe prices to compare themselves to versus the 'Look what Norstroms is selling it for' slight of hand.
@cheppy The listing for $23 (actually $23.99) that you're referring to has shipping costs of $11.15, so I feel like that definitely makes a difference. I'm not seeing an issue with their price checks here. All of the ones I'm seeing listed on Amazon come out to $30-$40 or higher. You're grasping. ETA: Once you factor in shipping from buying directly from Oregon Scientific, you still go past the $30 mark.
@cheppy we would encourage more price research not less. often we comp against the Amazon direct price as a canonical reference. It's usually the best place to start and the review data is often relevant. We are usually not making a pointed effort to comp to the lowest street price (though often Amazon is, particularly for Prime members)
@cheppy He's just being a dick because he's mad about the first few posts being moderated so that people actually looking for info on the deal don't give up before finding it. This is fine. Sorry if I sounded snippy last night. It was late.
Everyone in here needs to mehddle down. From a business perspective this makes total sense. They're obviously trying to appeal to a wider audience as in, the center of the country. If you look at the yesterday's map vs where the item was sold today, you'll see that today's meh appeals to the lost market of yesterday's meh.
@yorkiepoomom I would say yes. 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. Working with the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Emergency Alert System , NWR is an "All Hazards" radio network, making it your single source for comprehensive weather and emergency information. In conjunction with Federal, State, and Local Emergency Managers and other public officials, NWR also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards – including natural (such as earthquakes or avalanches), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety (such as AMBER alerts or 911 Telephone outages). Known as the "Voice of NOAA's National Weather Service," NWR is provided as a public service by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the Department of Commerce. NWR includes 1025 transmitters, covering all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories. NWR requires a special radio receiver or scanner capable of picking up the signal. Broadcasts are found in the VHF public service band at these seven frequencies (MHz)
Looks like a decent addition to a hurricane prep kit. Doesn't rely on cell towers that get overloaded during emergencies, or lose power when an area does. Has an alarm. Worth $10.
I'd order this, but if I get a weather radio I'll want one with Event Blocking/Defeat Siren functionality. This has SAME, which lets you specify what area you're in so you won't have alarms going off for stuff happening 2 counties over, but Event Blocking lets you turn off alerts that aren't relevant to you, like for rivers flooding when you're in a higher part of the county where that really doesn't matter for you. I remember convincing my parents to get a weather radio when I was in school and we talked about weather, but we got so tired of flood warnings in the middle of the night for rivers we were nowhere near that eventually we unplugged it and turned it off.
@jqubed or you could move into the flood plain with the other not-so-forward-thinking folks so the radio alerts would be applicable. And so the rest of us could continue to subsidize your (intentional and foreseeable) choice of location when disaster inevitably arrives.
@Pamela Might be useful for after one.... or zombie attacks. Having grown up in the middle of the US, I have been around these a lot... I have a nice main one, I grabbed one of these for the garage.
Order # entertained-expensive-yoke? Youch! Why do I suddenly feel the victim of an expensive joke -- to their entertainment no less? Geeze Meh. don't rub it like that.
After seeing the term Mehnado displayed on the NOAA Radio, I have decided that I definitely prefer the term Ambivalanche for some theoretical future day(s) of many sales. I would also prefer the term Day(s) Of Meh-ny Sales, Irkstravaganza, The Mehtherlode, The Sales Irkade, or MWC: Mediocre Warehouse Clearout. I would even prefer the derivative Meh-Off, or Meh-a-Thon, which sounds like Marathon, which is likely what it will feel like to everyone who participates fully.
Figured I would buy two just to pad my lead as the potential top purchaser. I should be able to flip these for $20 each no problem.
On another note: I totally noticed that someone from my county purchased something before me. For most that wouldn't be a big deal, but here in small town Iowa, I'm pretty sure there are only about 5,000 total county residents. A Mehrican is near and I NEED to know who it is, ally? enemy? who knows!
Radio? I stopped reading the product description after I clicked the Ship Your Enemies Glitter link. Because I now know such a service exists, I have a new singular, glittery, vendetta-filled purpose in life. Weather no longer matters.
Quick story: I once took a Radio Shack weather radio to a Yankee Swap office Christmas party. I ended up with my own gift, which I promptly returned for a refund. Win win.
@ACraigL Even if it was 18", there's definitely plenty of advanced warning about a snowstorm. But yeah, know what you're saying. Good thing Cecily is so hot.
So I've hooked up two of my three weather radios - one at home and another in my office at work. So far they're fantastic, although we haven't had any alerts come through yet. The programming isn't as complicated as some of the old farts on Amazon would have you believe, the reception is great even inside of a commercial building with no windows (theater complex), and the speaker is very clear.
UPDATE: Two of my three radios have issues. One died completely, and another has a flaky battery connection. I just opened up the third, and we'll see what happens with it. I'll be sending the two broken radios back to Oregon Scientific for replacement.
@davis1014 That's not quite how customer service works. The best way to contact them is meh.com/support - for faster resolution, include pics of the damage.
@davis1014@Thumperchick is right, but these actually have a 1 year warranty through Oregon Scientific so I would suggest contacting them first. If you have any trouble then give us a shout.
Dam. Bought one and it died after a week! Didn't even get a warning (about its imminent death) or any weather troubles(test tones every Tuesday). What a piece of crap. Of course if I sent it back to OS it will cost nearly as much as the item itself. Pfft. At least the free VMP saved the extra $5 from going out the window.
If that wasn't enough to rub it in my face(or feet) sorta speak, my VMP socks showed up today as if to mock me in some way. :'| Shame was hoping for a decent SAME warning radio.
Anyone was actually received a working advisory/warning, does the green flashing LED change to Yellow(advisory/watch) or Red(warning)? Cause it would seem to make sense since it flashes green all the time that it should change to a different color to alert you(visually).
@BabyBear The one I installed in the garage is flashing green, but it didn't fire for either of the test signals in my area. It sounds sorta weak signal wise, gonna move it next to my in house one and give it another chance at a test signal. I did have it on mute, but it was my understanding on mute mode it would still get the alert and flash red. I will try it on listen + sound next test day to see if that's a bug ;)
@BabyBear Yes it changes to RED when a warning comes up! Scared the crap out of me! We are having a lot of Winter Snow Storm Warning/Alerts lately. @thismyusername - Setting it on mute won't turn it on during a warning. BUT I think you are correct in that you should be able to read alerts if one has come up… I don’t know if this would be the same for a “test”! I put in my local station but got a poor/weak signal so let the thing find the best auto signal - turned out to be the same report!?! but from another station with a stronger signal.
OK I moved it next to my normal indoor one and it fired off the test message with no issue. That was with the siren enabled, I will try next week with it on mute and see if it works. Now to find an area in the garage that gets better signal ;)
Mine died too after a week. No lights, nothing on the display. Tried all the same things plus tried the reset button and checked the voltage on the wall-wart (it's fine, must be the radio itself that's dead). Disappointing.
@JonT and as also mentioned above, by the time I deal with shipping it to them it's probably just as expensive as throwing it out. Per the FAQ, Meh should take care of it themselves: Q: What's your return policy? A: If it's damaged, defective, or just DOA, we'll either refund or replace it at our discretion.
@tsarna that's correct, they are at our discretion. For this order the first step is to contact the manufacturer as they’re handling replacements on these for one year. If for whatever reason they're not able to honor the warranty we'll help out but going through the warranty is the first step.
@JonT Might want to have the word "either" stricken from the FAQ in that case. As it stands, it reads as though the discretion is only between those two choices.
Died after about 2 weeks. It worked well until I received my first weather alert, then went kaput when I pushed the button to turn the alert off. Emailed Oregon Scientific support to ask for a replacement and got this reply:
"Since the unit is within warranty, I recommend to inquire a replacement within the retailer first (in which you have purchased the product) because it will only take for a few days or weeks to have it replaced with a new unit. We can replace the unit for you, however, it will take for at least 2-3 business weeks to have it replaced with a comparable replacement."
I will ask Oregon Scientific to replace it since Meh.com seems to have a bad batch. Meh! :-)
Mine just died, cracking open the 2nd unit I bought to see how long it lasts. Once I have heard if we have to pay return shipping or not I might pop it open to see what's going on!
Mine kicked the bucket sometime in the last couple days too. I guess I'll have to see how much I'm willing to deal with a warranty replacement for a $10 item.
It's worth the warranty replacement, IMO! I have to pay the return shipping to Oregon Scientific (using cheapest method possible), but they're replacing the unit with these two items!
@Pavlov I broke down and mailed off my 1st dead unit, so I'm out another $6, I should have sent it media mail... I have the 2nd one I purchased running to see if it dies as well (right around 2 weeks for the first one).
@Pavlov Um, thanks for that... but I decided to wait it out and … THESE THINGS ARE CRAZY MEH! To All: I am guessing they know they have some issue going on! Maybe some huge shipment got just enough “mist/fog/etc” to eventually doa these units and they can’t test them so they send them out with the customers as guinea-pig Have the unit where my desktop mac-mini is & don’t go in there every day… When I go in I click on the button to un-mute the speaker. Last nite all the buttons were lit. Hit the button and it goes dead! WTF!?! I followed the instructions posted bellow, 10 mins, using new batteries, reset, etc. NOTHING! What is the cheapest shipping everyone is finding (would media mail really have worked?)? I see that it fits into a USPS Priority Small Flat Rate Box. I still have to call them up for an RMA How are the replacement WR601 and BAR208 doing?
@thismyusername I would hope they are NOT sending more crap out! I called and got an RMA. Talked to Chris who said that she had heard of meh! hehehe. Gonna send this sucker out asap as storm season is coming round real soon.
@fjp999 Got mine out! USPS online $5.25 sm. flat rate priority shipping box. comes with free tracking & free insurance. You are suppose to bring it down to a live person but since I know the postman - no problem w/him picking it up. - it is suppose to get there Mon, the 13th??? I think I am going to shoot OregSci an email giving them the tracking# so they can have my new stuff ready to go. The storms are really picking up here. UGH
The third weather radio died today. Oregon Scientific sent me an RMA number for all three and will be exchanging them for the WR601N portable weather radio and the weather station.
when they (os cust support)finally responded to my email, they suggested i try the following: "We recommend you follow these steps to check if this will fix the issue: 1. Remove the batteries. (Unplug any AC adapter) 2. Wait for 10 minutes. 3. Re-install batteries. (Fresh batteries if possible) 4. Press the reset hole at the back of the unit."
well, steps 1&2 had already been in effect for the better part of a week, so on to step 3!
and it did work...for now. its back running, and remembered the SAME codes i programmed into it, just had to reset the date and time.
Received my replacement WR601 and BAR208 today, which they must have shipped immediately upon receiving my return. Kudos to Oregon Scientific for turning this around so quickly! Now, do I trust these devices to keep working, or just sell them while new? :-)
So I got the warranty replacements today... when I had originally written then I mentioned I purchased 2 but only 1 failed... well since that time the 2nd one failed... but.... they sent me 2x weather radio and 2x weather stations... so I guess they knew it was only a matter of time. Kudos to Oregon Scientific for fast turnaround, and proactive replacements ;)
Bought 2 of these, one for us, the other went to my son's house. They both nearly woke the dead when the thunderstorms came through last evening. I guess we got lucky on the radios, but no rain. Just lots of noise and blowing dust, wind gusts up to 80 mph.
Mine died as well. Right before we had a thunderstorm so bad/close it hit or leasing office and fried all the electronics, even the ones on surge protectors. We never heard it coming. Or the tornado warnings. Thanks to everyone who posted the replacement infirmaries and success stories. I feel better about the whole experience.
Now that everybody has their WR601N NOAA radio + replacements ... and as everyone said AMAZING response time on shipping out the replacement!
I called them up to confirm that USPS had delivered & was given a UPS tracking # back! Nice!
Open box and only weather station! No NOAO! All SOLD OUT! Thanks everybody for getting yours first before mine crapped out. lol... Of course, they don't have anything similar with a NOAO radio - so just sit and wait.
Maybe I will see if this weather station works and if it does see if I can get them to send me a couple of extra sensors.
@fjp999 Just to update this. They are back in stock. I guess. Mine was shipped out about two weeks later and working great! I don't think the different Oregon Scientific depts speak to one another. I was suppose to get an email when they came back in stock but NOTHING. btw, just too busy to ever ask for extra sensors, would have been nice to have one in the basement during the winter for humidity levels.
I purchased 3 of these and while it was working it was great; however, I had it plugged in and batteries for backup and it only lasted a couple weeks then just stopped working. I tried to reset but nothing. This is my first and only not good purchase.
@lizzyg If you read the comments above yours, you'll see that this issue happened with several people, and that Oregon Scientific made it right for them. You should contact them directly about your issue.
I hereby retract all of the positive things I said about these radios. Both of mine are officially DRT (dead right there). Hopefully OS has something they can send me.
I wasn't following this discussion until my second radio died, and severe weather is coming. Damn. Must run out to wally world or somewhere in the rain. Not happy, meh. Not happy.
Both of my weather radios are dead as a door nail. Talked to my brother, his three are dead too...all within a week. Now we know why they are ere a good deal. But with this being severe weather season...and my location in tornado alley...it's a bit different than a defective keyboard. Lives are on the line. Meh!
@enzoca Mine died in May, contacted them, got an RMA and lo and behold! a box appeared on my doorstep wth the BAR208 and a WR601. way ahead even with the postage to return the bricked weather radio....
Totally amazed by Oregon Scientific. For whatever reason the BAR208HGA they sent us - which had been working great - Main Unit (indoor) has stopped sensing the Remote Sensor (outdoor). I tried resetting both units, changing batteries, etc.
Called up Customer Support and after a back & forth with them was told that since it was a replacement thru them they will be sending out another replacement of both items and I dont need to send in anything.
Really hope the sensors last a bit longer than however long this last pair.
Looks like they're no longer offering the replacement. I can have anything on the website that is 49.99 or less, but they don't do NOAA radios anymore. Lame.
Specs
Condition: New
Warranty: 1 Year Oregon Scientific
Estimated Delivery: 2/24 - 2/26
Shipping: $5 or free with VMP
What’s in the Box?
1x Desktop emergency alert radio
1x User manual
1x AC adapter
3x AA batteries
Pictures
The unit
Everything included
Retail packaging
Backlit screen
Price Check
$49.99 List, $36.78 at Amazon
Warranty
90 days
Thanks meh, but i already have a smartphone.
@axleman1011 This. What's the point of this in the smartphone age? My dad would have liked this. In 1987. Today? Well, HE still might, but most of the rest of us? What's the point??
@DJP519 Because a decent portion of the population can not afford/can not understand the utilization of smart phones.
@studerc IT guy here TRUTH
@DJP519 because when the power goes out and the cell network crashes, the battery backup will keep this radio working.
@axleman1011 Well, I'm an IT guy at a radio station! BOOM! Broadcast still kicks some serious emergency alert ass. And what right-thinking IT person doesn't believe in defense-in-depth? Bow down to your Golden Calf if you like, but when you need it most IT SHANT BE THERE. The robotic voices of the NOAA, they'll tell you when to run if only you have the right radio to hear their wisdom.
@CraigDanger Just read the "Most Helpful" Amazon reviewer and glad I did. My county is just hitting the area where a NOAA station will reach. Shockingly many areas where I am near (and I wouldn't think that I am in a crazy mountainous or ???) are NOT covered! I do not trust the idiots running this towns alarms so will get this item as the area has had deadly tornadoes in the past.
@fjp999 We still don't have NOAA coverage here. While the majority of the country does receive broadcasts, I think it's important people check their area before they buy. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/coverage/county_coverage.html
@DJP519 Smart phone $80 (minimum) + $45/mo (or more). This $10/total + $5 for lifetime supply of meh AA batteries.
@DJP519 Because not everyone keeps their phone charging on their nightstand. And if you live in an area where tornadoes typically hit, you know that they sometimes come in the middle of the night.
@autigers1970 meh
@axleman1011 @DJP519 Camping. No cell service combined with minimum or no shelter.
@DJP519 Well, if you live in an area where you really need this and the microwave link feeding the cell towers in your area go down for example. Personally I have no need. In fact I turned off all government warnings on my phone becasue they are seriously overused. I don't need a warning about dust storms, or amber alerts 30 miles away.
Also I already bought those walkie talkies and they have some sort of weather built in. So if it really matters, i'm covered.
@axleman1011 Twice last year my "smartphone" failed to send out an emergency alert during a tornado in my area...
@Kidsandliz I would think that most (certainly not all, but most) people savvy enough to shop at Meh and with at least a little disposable income to spend on impulse buys here probably already have a smartphone and service. And if you don't, if you shop around you can find crappy androids for under $20, and prepaid service for $30/month. Still higher than the cost of this item, yes, but not quite the prices you're quoting.
@mehjohnson Camping in the middle of nowhere, I'll give you that one. @Headly agreed completely! I did the same thing. Too many irrelevant warnings. If they sent them very rarely, for true emergencies, they'd be great. Instead, it was buzzing every tome there was a severe thunderstorm warning, ie, every time it rains in the summer. Overkill!
It uses AA batteries! That means I have to buy it, right?
@VeeDubTDI Finaly something that uses the fijifilm batteries that i bought
@CrossIT You didn't buy any remote control helicopters?
@Stallion kid destroyed it within a month :) well to be fair to him the dog did too
@VeeDubTDI meh
Meh, if it was really an emergency how on earth would I get this in time???
@darksaber99999 This is the quickest alert system. The alerts that this receives are what drive all the other alert systems.
@jqubed No no no - @darksaber99999 is talking about the speed of meh shipping… I do understand Meh is guaranteeing no emergencies until you receive this sometimes in 2017. Right @jont?
You guys already sent me an emergency radio in my Fuku... don't think I need a backup!
I live in a city where the weather is shitty all the time. I don't need a radio to tell me that. Besides, if it gets too bad, my phone goes off. If I don't have a phone with me, all of the other phones around me go off. If there are no other phones near me, I'm probably inside already, safely sleeping in my house.
@lichme Well you might land in Oz like Dorothy, along with the house, with a tornado or hurricane…
@lichme I'm subscribed to the alerts on my cell phone, too, but way too often those alerts come late or not at all. I live in a city that gets tornadoes and spectacular spring storms. These radios are worth their weight in gold to protect my family and get them safely in the center of the house in case of a tornado.
This could save my life, but I'm probably not going to buy it anyways
This.
No I don't need a NOAA. Radio.
But that clock thing in the display could be handy.
OMG its a mehnado -_-
Can we get an average age of purchaser chart for this deal?
@Ryaneil I just bought it, I'm 31. But in my defense, I'm a New Englander living in tornado country and need time to get to a shelter. Sometimes the city siren can't be heard over my central AC. ughhh... And my phone seems to be fickle about warnings.
@Ryaneil I bought it. 29.
@Ryaneil I'm 32, I bought one.
@Ryaneil I'm 46 and am replacing an older one.
@Sdurbin @woodrowdouglass @okaytodd @aarond12 with 99.99% accuracy it's safe to say that the average age is 34.5 for all today's buyers.
@Ryaneil nice job, lol
@Ryaneil 44, and I bought 3. I already have one, but im buying for my family. My mother-in-law lives in a remote area, and my sister-in-law lives in an area where signals are hard to reach on her phone.
I'm also a ham radio operator heavily involved with Skywarn weather spotting. In some cases, we get the warnings faster than the NWS radios do. I posted this deal all over my ham radio Facebook groups and several who had never heard of this site bought 1 or more.
Yes, a smartphone is useful...when the cell service works and the power is working. Security and peace of mind are what these are good for. It's good to have around and hope to not depend on one.
@hockeyham Ham Radio talk brings back memories of before cellphones. We used to drive around listening to the auto patch that allowed phone calls from operators to land lines. It's amazing how many people who were called couldn't get that it wasn't a private call. I still remember my dads call letters, KC7NZA. I might have to get my license one day, cell phones were just so much cooler. Only downside is now I intentionally go where there is no signal.
@Ryaneil I bought one of these, and your guess is more or less exactly my age. Good Show!
here is to the stocking stuffer of the next fukubukuro.
@tuxtuxman unless it sells out.
@Rumple Right. Like when the Built NY neoprene things "sold out" but then miraculously appeared in everyone's Fukus?
@SSteve such delicious bitterness
@SSteve they probably stuffed the fuku's first
You say "mehnado" I say "mehnudo".
@KaraokeJoe mehnobuy read it aloud and in your head its like a pun to the 3rd power
Is this better than the last one you sold that I bought? If it's better, is the difference worth buying this one?
@PurplePawprints The two-for smaller ones, right? I was wondering the same thing... It looks like the only things it has going for it are that it automatically picks the clearest channel and has a display. Since the one I got before is a back-up to pretty much everything else (phones, laptops, car radios, etc), it doesn't look worth it to me.
@primrosewater Yep, those are the ones I meant. I'm thinking I agree with you since I bought the others as backup also, just was wondering if I was missing something.
@PurplePawprints this one has a power adapter so it's actually useful
@Jetlag Oh, I forgot to look at the pictures and missed that. In for two, then. Thanks!
@PurplePawprints @primrosewater I think the ones you're referring to were more of a portable weather radio; I don't remember if they did alerts or could be set to go off only for certain warnings and for certain locations (which, frankly, being portable, would be annoying to have to keep telling your current location as you move around). This is something designed to stay at one location such as a home, business, or public gathering space.
why are posts getting deleted
@CrossIT Did you ask yourself if this was funny, informative, and/or interesting before you posted this?
@CrossIT you have to click "Say it."
@CrossIT First few posts are subject to moderation.
@CrossIT because the rum is gone.
@CrossIT because there is a rogue Dinosaur Shark Wizard at Meh.
@CrossIT Because it's turning like the other place?
@CrossIT operator error?
@CrossIT how is babby formed?
@CrossIT The emperor is not amused with the actions of his subjects on the product thread… he is punishing those not amusing/clever enough for cluttering up the thread with meh chatter...
@Kidsandliz He's not punishing anyone. I get that you're trying to be funny, but I don't think it's that big a deal to ask that the first few posts be relevant and on-topic so that people who are looking for info on the deal can actually find it before giving up. Since this post is still here, obviously @snapster is not being heavy-handed once you get further down in the thread.
@PurplePawprints: be careful, @snapster keister kissing might...
... result in something unpredictable.
@RedOak It's not ass kissing when it's the truth. The whole forum is our playground. Why is it so hard to behave when we're asked not to shit in one small part of it?
@PurplePawprints Actually, I had no problem with your kissing...
I happen to agree with you. I don't get the fascination with saying fuck either. I was simply trying to get you a free weather radio. But I should have remembered @JonT is the one who does that.
Emehgency radio, indeed!
Well played, Meh. Next time a Mehnado is forecast I will wish I'd bought this.
National Organization Against Apathy? Meh.
Nah - I'm going to buy one at Radio Shack for even less $$$$ during their "we shoulda gone out of business 25 years ago" sale.
@texquill I went to a Radio Shack just the other day to remind myself why I never go there.
@texquill 60% off their bloated prices won't get you much. A liquidator will own everything at the prices you'd want.
I live in the midwest, and tornado season is coming up, I've not gotten a weather alert on my new phone (so I'm guessing it doesn't have that feature). I'll say that for $10, its worth the peace of mind.
@JeepDude I too, am in the midwest. Send me $10, and I'll send a text to your phone every time my phone alerts.
@JeepDude In case those super loud sirens don't do it for you? :P Your phone has the feature, all phones do. Google "emergency alerts your_phone_here".
@jeffca51 My side of the country doesn't have sirens. I've had a tornado pass over my house (I had the windows open and thought "wow that is a weird noise"), no beeping from a smart phone. RV camping - campground we have visited was hit by a tornado and folks died. Rural area with non existent cell coverage. I have a hand crank radio I take tent camping, a plugged in one will be a welcome addition to the RV.
The write up is awesome! The product is meh. Bravo conflict of interest!
Can I hack it to alert me to Fukubukuros?
@ChunkyBitz If only.
Got one already. So......thinking........meh!
Unless it warns of raining cows, no thanks.
They should call it a "Noah" Emergency Radio.
@Fish_Kungfu Noah Radio only warns you about floods.
@TerriblyHuang Hahaha! Indeed! Well done, Sir!
Definitely Meh. Didn't even think twice.
I need a sharknado radio!
@irishbyblood YES. I hate it when that happens.
I think it might be worth the $10 to cut short the "are you watching the weather??!!" calls that happen every spring, but I'm going to have to sleep on it. If it's sold out in the morning then it just wasn't meant to be.
Will this work with a Meep?
@TerriblyHuang
They would have me believe I was the first to meh.
@EasyElric Nope, everyone who refreshes right at changeover and clicks it gets the same thing. At least, I get it most nights.
Bought. I've been through two blackouts and something I can run on batteries that I can keep in attic is useful. Or at least $10 useful.
I... see... PAGINATION BUTTONS!!! In for three.
This seems like it's perfectly designed for a emehrgency I'll never have.
I was hoping for a Terrorist Alert radio, but ignorant me didn't realize that global warming / climate change were our greatest threats. I may actually need one of these.
@eyewerks Besides, if the power goes out I'll be comforted by the fact that I'll still be able to hear that pesky EBS alert tone that seems to interrupt every decent movie I watch on FiOS.
@eyewerks I use a "Terrorist Alert Stick." It's actually just a paint mixer covered in yellow paint. But it's 99.9% accurate at the U.S. Terror Alert level since 9/11 #NeverForget
I love the FAQ on that glitter site
Really? 20 minutes in and no one said: "bath-ometric" yet?
C'mon, guys: be more mediocre.
@joelmw you cannot be cirrus
@joelmw ask @snapster
I just use a weather rock.
Rock is wet- rain
Rock is white- snow
Rock is gone- tornado.
@mcanavino chuckle.
grateful-nostalgic-burst
In for three!
I almost fell down the rabbit-hole on the micropenis site. What was the product again?
NBC Nightly News fans should buy these. Rumor has it that Brian Williams may soon be reading the NOAA alerts.
@eyewerks Nah, he can't handle the truth!
@2many2no Not being sure whether or not to believe the alert will be half the fun.
@2many2no wait wait...
@eyewerks
@unixrab
@unixrab OK, just looking at that seems to cause mild nausea.
Wait... is that the point?
@2many2no I'm not sure there is a point...that one always makes me smile tho
Something to wake me when there's an actual emergency, rather than all the nonsense bullshit that makes me turn off my phone so I can sleep.
Last price listed by Oregon Scientific direct - $24.99 & Amazon has a listing for $23 (plus shipping). I'm probably naive...nah, this is probably just a one-off slip, but I'll be watching a bit closer for a while just in case. This is still a good price, it's just that I have come to trust my Meh to maintain the highest degree of integrity and do the homework to find real average-joe prices to compare themselves to versus the 'Look what Norstroms is selling it for' slight of hand.
@cheppy The listing for $23 (actually $23.99) that you're referring to has shipping costs of $11.15, so I feel like that definitely makes a difference. I'm not seeing an issue with their price checks here. All of the ones I'm seeing listed on Amazon come out to $30-$40 or higher. You're grasping. ETA: Once you factor in shipping from buying directly from Oregon Scientific, you still go past the $30 mark.
@cheppy In their defense, the Oregon Scientific sale price of $24.99+shipping is out of stock and lists the regular price at $54.99
The Amazon Marketplace price is $23.99, but the shipping adds $11.15, so a little over $35.
@et. al. - I don't disagree with anything you're saying...uhm, so I'll stop typing now :-)
@cheppy we would encourage more price research not less. often we comp against the Amazon direct price as a canonical reference. It's usually the best place to start and the review data is often relevant. We are usually not making a pointed effort to comp to the lowest street price (though often Amazon is, particularly for Prime members)
....however, we reserve the right to delete your post if I ate a burrito ..... ... or sashimi
@unixrab et. al. Feel free to delete as me doest think I standeth corrected...eth.
@cheppy He's just being a dick because he's mad about the first few posts being moderated so that people actually looking for info on the deal don't give up before finding it. This is fine. Sorry if I sounded snippy last night. It was late.
@cheppy Price checks are always welcome.
@PurplePawprints you shouldn't call @snapster names.... very dangerous
@unixrab :-p
Perfect for my wife when bad weather hits and I am traveling. You know, she has an iPhone.
Weather I'm right, or weather I'm wrong, I've gotta be meh, I've gotta be meh......
OK ... I fell for it
Everyone in here needs to mehddle down. From a business perspective this makes total sense. They're obviously trying to appeal to a wider audience as in, the center of the country. If you look at the yesterday's map vs where the item was sold today, you'll see that today's meh appeals to the lost market of yesterday's meh.
Edit: Notice the "TORNADO" photo
Anyone know if this works for wildfire alerts?
@yorkiepoomom It appears from the manual that they are recognized.
@yorkiepoomom I would say yes. 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. Working with the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Emergency Alert System , NWR is an "All Hazards" radio network, making it your single source for comprehensive weather and emergency information. In conjunction with Federal, State, and Local Emergency Managers and other public officials, NWR also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards – including natural (such as earthquakes or avalanches), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety (such as AMBER alerts or 911 Telephone outages). Known as the "Voice of NOAA's National Weather Service," NWR is provided as a public service by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the Department of Commerce. NWR includes 1025 transmitters, covering all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories. NWR requires a special radio receiver or scanner capable of picking up the signal. Broadcasts are found in the VHF public service band at these seven frequencies (MHz)
@jqubed thanks for the link to the manual.
@seceshman Thank you for such an in depth answer.
Looks like a decent addition to a hurricane prep kit. Doesn't rely on cell towers that get overloaded during emergencies, or lose power when an area does. Has an alarm. Worth $10.
I'd order this, but if I get a weather radio I'll want one with Event Blocking/Defeat Siren functionality. This has SAME, which lets you specify what area you're in so you won't have alarms going off for stuff happening 2 counties over, but Event Blocking lets you turn off alerts that aren't relevant to you, like for rivers flooding when you're in a higher part of the county where that really doesn't matter for you. I remember convincing my parents to get a weather radio when I was in school and we talked about weather, but we got so tired of flood warnings in the middle of the night for rivers we were nowhere near that eventually we unplugged it and turned it off.
@jqubed or you could move into the flood plain with the other not-so-forward-thinking folks so the radio alerts would be applicable. And so the rest of us could continue to subsidize your (intentional and foreseeable) choice of location when disaster inevitably arrives.
@RedOak But watching everything I own wash away is so beautiful, it's worth what you pay!
If only I didnt live in a place with weather that isnt sunshine (Its not called Valley of the Sun for fun you know).
@azdarkknight: "with weather that isnt sunshine"... so you don't live there?
Something like this won't be useful to me until someone figures out how to predict earthquakes.
@Pamela Might be useful for after one.... or zombie attacks. Having grown up in the middle of the US, I have been around these a lot... I have a nice main one, I grabbed one of these for the garage.
Ugh. Is it speaker dock Friday yet?
@shinyhat speaker dock weather radios?
Walking Dead wouldn't be on Season 5 if they had this radio. They would know where to go already instead of running into trap after trap.
Can you change the crystals in this thing?
@Tadlem43 If ye open the dilithium chamber ye'll flood the whole compartment!
Oh oh... Mehico!
Order # entertained-expensive-yoke? Youch! Why do I suddenly feel the victim of an expensive joke -- to their entertainment no less? Geeze Meh. don't rub it like that.
If this could warn me about shitty one day deals on the internet, then I would be in for one
@somf69 nice!
@somf69 It'd go off so often you'd have to unplug it.
@lumpthar Unplug?
Batteries...
Draconian @snapster: boring thread... happy?
In for 2.
VMP is working. On average 2 deals per month that I want to buy.
motionless-fearing-elf
@lumpthar "on average" == 2 ? No decimals ?
@unixrab Been here 3 months. Bought 6 things. Math is easy.
@lumpthar math is not easy... division is tho (curious: Did you buy 2 exactly per month? or some other ratio?)
@unixrab Bought 2 in December, 2 in January, and now 2 in Febtober.
@unixrab Don't get me wrong, though. The first month that VMP fails to save me a minimum of $5, I'm out.
@lumpthar good to hear! ;-)
After seeing the term Mehnado displayed on the NOAA Radio, I have decided that I definitely prefer the term Ambivalanche for some theoretical future day(s) of many sales. I would also prefer the term Day(s) Of Meh-ny Sales, Irkstravaganza, The Mehtherlode, The Sales Irkade, or MWC: Mediocre Warehouse Clearout. I would even prefer the derivative Meh-Off, or Meh-a-Thon, which sounds like Marathon, which is likely what it will feel like to everyone who participates fully.
chilly-robust-okra
Yippy-horrified-rat. The cat doesn't scare the vermin so maybe this will.
I'd like to commend the copywriters on this one. A good laugh for the morning. Huzzah! (But no buy, alas.)
Thanks Meh, for making me look at micro-penises. Other micro-penises.
Figured I would buy two just to pad my lead as the potential top purchaser. I should be able to flip these for $20 each no problem.
On another note: I totally noticed that someone from my county purchased something before me. For most that wouldn't be a big deal, but here in small town Iowa, I'm pretty sure there are only about 5,000 total county residents. A Mehrican is near and I NEED to know who it is, ally? enemy? who knows!
vorpal-fearless-recess
@studerc They're a mehnmy.
In California- Unless it can advise me of an earthquake..........I am out.
@shata it will advise you every day of epic drought.
Radio? I stopped reading the product description after I clicked the Ship Your Enemies Glitter link. Because I now know such a service exists, I have a new singular, glittery, vendetta-filled purpose in life. Weather no longer matters.
Quick story: I once took a Radio Shack weather radio to a Yankee Swap office Christmas party. I ended up with my own gift, which I promptly returned for a refund. Win win.
@gregormehndel Okay, I read the writeup. Bravo Meh. I shan't be sending you any glitter.
Key feature not mentioned in the specs above - if you don't care about the alert feature - this is a 10 buck alarm clock with two alarms and snooze.
Not everybody uses their phone as an alarm clock - especially if it is charging on the dresser.
@RedOak the music selection on this clock radio is pretty meh
No, uh... Don't need the NOAA. (Philly isn't exactly a hotbed of violent weather.)
@Cinoclav Well, we did get that 18" snowstorm, um, 2" dusting.... nevermind. This.
@ACraigL Even if it was 18", there's definitely plenty of advanced warning about a snowstorm. But yeah, know what you're saying. Good thing Cecily is so hot.
No Georgia Red. . . for that alone, meh.
@jrwofuga Impressive. You have escaped the moderators' wrath.
No Mehrth quakes 'round these parts, but I'm a sucker for a radio gadget. My wallet is 10 bucks lighter.
@danb74
@JonT Indeed - Thanks!!
So I've hooked up two of my three weather radios - one at home and another in my office at work. So far they're fantastic, although we haven't had any alerts come through yet. The programming isn't as complicated as some of the old farts on Amazon would have you believe, the reception is great even inside of a commercial building with no windows (theater complex), and the speaker is very clear.
I'm in for more if/when these get posted again.
UPDATE: Two of my three radios have issues. One died completely, and another has a flaky battery connection. I just opened up the third, and we'll see what happens with it. I'll be sending the two broken radios back to Oregon Scientific for replacement.
I ordered 3 of these units and they all came in damaged.
Please contact me for a refund. My order #ratty-steadfast-teeth
@davis1014 That's not quite how customer service works. The best way to contact them is meh.com/support - for faster resolution, include pics of the damage.
@davis1014 @Thumperchick is right, but these actually have a 1 year warranty through Oregon Scientific so I would suggest contacting them first. If you have any trouble then give us a shout.
Dam. Bought one and it died after a week! Didn't even get a warning (about its imminent death) or any weather troubles(test tones every Tuesday). What a piece of crap. Of course if I sent it back to OS it will cost nearly as much as the item itself. Pfft. At least the free VMP saved the extra $5 from going out the window.
If that wasn't enough to rub it in my face(or feet) sorta speak, my VMP socks showed up today as if to mock me in some way. :'| Shame was hoping for a decent SAME warning radio.
Anyone was actually received a working advisory/warning, does the green flashing LED change to Yellow(advisory/watch) or Red(warning)? Cause it would seem to make sense since it flashes green all the time that it should change to a different color to alert you(visually).
@BabyBear Dunno, but I like purple.
@BabyBear The one I installed in the garage is flashing green, but it didn't fire for either of the test signals in my area. It sounds sorta weak signal wise, gonna move it next to my in house one and give it another chance at a test signal. I did have it on mute, but it was my understanding on mute mode it would still get the alert and flash red. I will try it on listen + sound next test day to see if that's a bug ;)
@BabyBear Yes it changes to RED when a warning comes up! Scared the crap out of me! We are having a lot of Winter Snow Storm Warning/Alerts lately. @thismyusername - Setting it on mute won't turn it on during a warning. BUT I think you are correct in that you should be able to read alerts if one has come up… I don’t know if this would be the same for a “test”! I put in my local station but got a poor/weak signal so let the thing find the best auto signal - turned out to be the same report!?! but from another station with a stronger signal.
OK I moved it next to my normal indoor one and it fired off the test message with no issue. That was with the siren enabled, I will try next week with it on mute and see if it works. Now to find an area in the garage that gets better signal ;)
@thismyusername It died today :(
Mine died today, green light won't blink and can't get it to turn on after resetting / trying new batteries / moving outlets
@w00tazn Bummer! Looks like the warranty is covered for a year by Oregon Scientific. Here is their Contact Page.
Mine died too after a week. No lights, nothing on the display. Tried all the same things plus tried the reset button and checked the voltage on the wall-wart (it's fine, must be the radio itself that's dead). Disappointing.
@tsarna as mentioned above by @Thumperchick there is a one year warranty through Oregon Scientific, check out their Contact Page.
@JonT and as also mentioned above, by the time I deal with shipping it to them it's probably just as expensive as throwing it out. Per the FAQ, Meh should take care of it themselves: Q: What's your return policy? A: If it's damaged, defective, or just DOA, we'll either refund or replace it at our discretion.
@tsarna that's correct, they are at our discretion. For this order the first step is to contact the manufacturer as they’re handling replacements on these for one year. If for whatever reason they're not able to honor the warranty we'll help out but going through the warranty is the first step.
@tsarna You may be surprised at how inexpensive the return process is through Oregon Scientific. I'm happy I called them when mine failed yesterday.
@JonT Might want to have the word "either" stricken from the FAQ in that case. As it stands, it reads as though the discretion is only between those two choices.
Mine still seems to be working just fine. It's better reception than the Craig unit I bought last year and the robot voices make the kids giggle.
Mine arrived DOA :( No amount of messing with it got it to turn on. I'm bummed I wanted to see the flashing lights and scary noises it makes.
Add me to the dead after a week list. I thought Oregon Scientific was a decent brand...
Died after about 2 weeks. It worked well until I received my first weather alert, then went kaput when I pushed the button to turn the alert off. Emailed Oregon Scientific support to ask for a replacement and got this reply:
"Since the unit is within warranty, I recommend to inquire a replacement within the retailer first (in which you have purchased the product) because it will only take for a few days or weeks to have it replaced with a new unit. We can replace the unit for you, however, it will take for at least 2-3 business weeks to have it replaced with a comparable replacement."
I will ask Oregon Scientific to replace it since Meh.com seems to have a bad batch. Meh! :-)
Mine just died, cracking open the 2nd unit I bought to see how long it lasts. Once I have heard if we have to pay return shipping or not I might pop it open to see what's going on!
Mine kicked the bucket sometime in the last couple days too. I guess I'll have to see how much I'm willing to deal with a warranty replacement for a $10 item.
It's worth the warranty replacement, IMO! I have to pay the return shipping to Oregon Scientific (using cheapest method possible), but they're replacing the unit with these two items!
WR601:
http://www.oregonscientific.com/us/en/Emergency-Portable-Weather-Radio-WR601N-P
BAR208:
http://www.oregonscientific.com/us/en/Silver-Advanced-Weather-Station-with-Atomic-Time-Weather-500-BAR208S-P
@subastute thanks for the info. I will be contacting OS tomorrow to have two of my three radios replaced.
thanks for the info @subastute, mine just died a silent death last night. was working when i went to bed, nothing this morning.
Mine died tonight - I'll be looking forward to the WR601 and the BAR208.
WTF with these things - were they ALL bad???
@Pavlov I broke down and mailed off my 1st dead unit, so I'm out another $6, I should have sent it media mail... I have the 2nd one I purchased running to see if it dies as well (right around 2 weeks for the first one).
@Pavlov Why is mine still working? I want the nice stuff! Just my luck. MEH.
@fjp999 I'm not advocating larceny, but a well placed kitchen knife . . . Okay, I'm sure you can take it from there.
@Pavlov Um, thanks for that... but I decided to wait it out and … THESE THINGS ARE CRAZY MEH! To All: I am guessing they know they have some issue going on! Maybe some huge shipment got just enough “mist/fog/etc” to eventually doa these units and they can’t test them so they send them out with the customers as guinea-pig Have the unit where my desktop mac-mini is & don’t go in there every day… When I go in I click on the button to un-mute the speaker. Last nite all the buttons were lit. Hit the button and it goes dead! WTF!?! I followed the instructions posted bellow, 10 mins, using new batteries, reset, etc. NOTHING! What is the cheapest shipping everyone is finding (would media mail really have worked?)? I see that it fits into a USPS Priority Small Flat Rate Box. I still have to call them up for an RMA How are the replacement WR601 and BAR208 doing?
@fjp999 The one WR601 I opened is still going strong... haven't tested the BAR208s or the other WR601.
@thismyusername I would hope they are NOT sending more crap out! I called and got an RMA. Talked to Chris who said that she had heard of meh! hehehe. Gonna send this sucker out asap as storm season is coming round real soon.
@fjp999 Got mine out! USPS online $5.25 sm. flat rate priority shipping box. comes with free tracking & free insurance. You are suppose to bring it down to a live person but since I know the postman - no problem w/him picking it up. - it is suppose to get there Mon, the 13th??? I think I am going to shoot OregSci an email giving them the tracking# so they can have my new stuff ready to go. The storms are really picking up here. UGH
2nd one died tonight... same as 1st no light, no display, no noise (except for the faint beep when the power is pulled)...
The third weather radio died today. Oregon Scientific sent me an RMA number for all three and will be exchanging them for the WR601N portable weather radio and the weather station.
Mine died too at some point in the last few days. Will be contacting OS for warranty replacement.
when they (os cust support)finally responded to my email, they suggested i try the following:
"We recommend you follow these steps to check if this will fix the issue:
1. Remove the batteries. (Unplug any AC adapter)
2. Wait for 10 minutes.
3. Re-install batteries. (Fresh batteries if possible)
4. Press the reset hole at the back of the unit."
well, steps 1&2 had already been in effect for the better part of a week, so on to step 3!
and it did work...for now. its back running, and remembered the SAME codes i programmed into it, just had to reset the date and time.
@earlyre Died again 4 days later (on a Sunday) waiting to hear back from them on further proceedings
Received my replacement WR601 and BAR208 today, which they must have shipped immediately upon receiving my return. Kudos to Oregon Scientific for turning this around so quickly! Now, do I trust these devices to keep working, or just sell them while new? :-)
@subastute Mine came fast as well.... I am thinking I'm gonna sell the "weather stations" asap. ;)
So I got the warranty replacements today... when I had originally written then I mentioned I purchased 2 but only 1 failed... well since that time the 2nd one failed... but.... they sent me 2x weather radio and 2x weather stations... so I guess they knew it was only a matter of time.
Kudos to Oregon Scientific for fast turnaround, and proactive replacements ;)
to anyone who has gotten the replacements, does the cradle thingy, have screw holes on the back for wall mounting?
@earlyre No, but it does come with a belt clip you could re-purpose I expect.
I bought nine of these to send out to our regional offices. They're all dead. NEIN!!!
Bought 2 of these, one for us, the other went to my son's house. They both nearly woke the dead when the thunderstorms came through last evening.
I guess we got lucky on the radios, but no rain. Just lots of noise and blowing dust, wind gusts up to 80 mph.
Mine died as well. Right before we had a thunderstorm so bad/close it hit or leasing office and fried all the electronics, even the ones on surge protectors. We never heard it coming. Or the tornado warnings. Thanks to everyone who posted the replacement infirmaries and success stories. I feel better about the whole experience.
This was a piece of crap. Worked for a week then just went stone cold dead.
Now that everybody has their WR601N NOAA radio + replacements ... and as everyone said AMAZING response time on shipping out the replacement!
I called them up to confirm that USPS had delivered & was given a UPS tracking # back! Nice!
Open box and only weather station! No NOAO! All SOLD OUT! Thanks everybody for getting yours first before mine crapped out. lol... Of course, they don't have anything similar with a NOAO radio - so just sit and wait.
Maybe I will see if this weather station works and if it does see if I can get them to send me a couple of extra sensors.
@fjp999 Just to update this. They are back in stock. I guess. Mine was shipped out about two weeks later and working great! I don't think the different Oregon Scientific depts speak to one another. I was suppose to get an email when they came back in stock but NOTHING. btw, just too busy to ever ask for extra sensors, would have been nice to have one in the basement during the winter for humidity levels.
I purchased 3 of these and while it was working it was great; however, I had it plugged in and batteries for backup and it only lasted a couple weeks then just stopped working. I tried to reset but nothing. This is my first and only not good purchase.
@lizzyg If you read the comments above yours, you'll see that this issue happened with several people, and that Oregon Scientific made it right for them. You should contact them directly about your issue.
I hereby retract all of the positive things I said about these radios.
Both of mine are officially DRT (dead right there).
Hopefully OS has something they can send me.
I wasn't following this discussion until my second radio died, and severe weather is coming. Damn. Must run out to wally world or somewhere in the rain. Not happy, meh. Not happy.
Yep, mine are all dead. Worked great for about a week and now are DEAD!!!
Both of my weather radios are dead as a door nail. Talked to my brother, his three are dead too...all within a week. Now we know why they are ere a good deal. But with this being severe weather season...and my location in tornado alley...it's a bit different than a defective keyboard. Lives are on the line. Meh!
@enzy @enzoca Contact Oregon Scientific. They've been good with replacing the bunk units for other users.
@enzoca Mine died in May, contacted them, got an RMA and lo and behold! a box appeared on my doorstep wth the BAR208 and a WR601. way ahead even with the postage to return the bricked weather radio....
2/3 dead garbage. Maybe the A.C. adaptor is killing them? Just powered up #3... batteries only!
Maybe an O.S. replacement would be worth the aggravation & shipping if they replace with something else that has some reliability.
@sdb it's worth it... they send a WR601 to replace the weather radio and they tossed in a BAR208 as well.
The WR601 I opened is still going strong in the garage.
Totally amazed by Oregon Scientific.
For whatever reason the BAR208HGA they sent us - which had been working great - Main Unit (indoor) has stopped sensing the Remote Sensor (outdoor).
I tried resetting both units, changing batteries, etc.
Called up Customer Support and after a back & forth with them was told that since it was a replacement thru them they will be sending out another replacement of both items and I dont need to send in anything.
Really hope the sensors last a bit longer than however long this last pair.
Late to the party but mine died last week after 6 months of loyal service. Decided that trash was best option. Fool me once...
@lehigh I hope you didn't throw it away. Oregon Scientific provided a 1 year warranty on these!
@lehigh and they toss in a weather station to boot.
man got it almost a year ago and havent got it to work yet.....meh
Looks like they're no longer offering the replacement. I can have anything on the website that is 49.99 or less, but they don't do NOAA radios anymore. Lame.