Customer reviews from midlandusa.com
Midland - ER10VP - Portable Emergency Weather Alert Radio
Average customer rating
4.1
(29 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 29 reviews
5 Stars
17
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
2
1 Star
2
87%of customers recommend this product.
(
20 out of
23)
Customer Reviews for Midland - ER10VP - Portable Emergency Weather Alert Radio
Customer Rating
5
An essential piece of emergency equipment
on February 25, 2021
Posted by: TheMillerss
from Chesapeake, VA
Gender:Female
We’ve been needing an emergency alert radio for our adventuring and this Midland Emergency Alert AM/FM Weather Radio is perfect for our needs. There are so many features packed into such a small, lightweight package that you can easily throw into a hiking bag, backpack, car, or emergency kit. It has AM/FM radio and NOAA weather alerts (which we have already had to use when we were out of town and a big snow storm hit!) This is great little radio has had reception in the few places we’ve tried it so far, including on a couple mountain hikes and snowboarding where we’ve had spotty cell reception. It is super easy to operate, in fact my 4-year old figured it out and loves carrying it around to listen to the radio. The flashlight on it is awesome. It has multiple dim options and a strobe. I can think of multiple times this would have come in handy. Also, love that it comes with batteries – it is ready to go! It takes 3 AA batteries, so we’ve had to add some extra batteries to our kit in case these run out. For this price point, this is easily something that everyone should consider having in their emergency kit.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting midlandusa.com
Customer Rating
5
Handy little tool to have in the bag
on February 17, 2021
Posted by: I Roam Outdoors
from Topeka, KS
Gender:Male
I wasn't sold on having a device just for the weather as I could get that on my handheld ham radio while out on trips but I was wrong. This little thing made it east to find the weather station in the area I was camping in over the weekend. All I had to do was cycle through the 5 preset weather channels and the right station popped up in no time. Would have taken a LOT longer the old way I used to do it. Other features such as the radio and the flashlight are nice to have as well although may not be used as much. A backlit display would be nice but that would probably put too big a drain on an already short-ish battery life. It will be in my gear box going forward!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting midlandusa.com
Customer Rating
4
Smart addition to your gear
on February 17, 2021
Posted by: Kristin
from Vista, CA
Gender:Female
Midland’s ER10VP Emergency Radio has filled in a very specific gap in gear for us. While our cell phones are our main go-to for weather updates, once we’re out of service zones (which is more frequent than you might expect), it’s necessary to make sure you can see any changes in weather coming. From mountain-top hikes to camping in the backcountry, it’s important to make sure you can react according to impending weather. We’ve learned our lesson (more than once) and the very reasonable price point of this emergency radio helps us to mitigate that risk in the future.
I’m not a big fan of complicated instruction manuals for something that may be needed in an “emergency.” Lucky for me, the radio is super easy to operate and won’t require hanging onto that manual. Set-up is very straightforward and if you’ve ever used a car radio, you can use this device. The most important factor is that it runs on 3 AA batteries (included in the box) that will drain, so you may want to remove them when not in use or have a set of extra batteries nearby for when you need them. The radio had good reception while being used in most areas we’ve tested so far. The only issue we encountered was while tracking the massive winter storm in Texas while in San Antonio, we stopped receiving frequencies from any WX channels. A bit surprising around a metropolitan area, but it was lousy weather and we were covered with cell data in these areas so it wasn’t a critical moment. The manual says it will “receive broadcasts up to 50 miles from the weather stations depending on your location and conditions of weather, terrain, etc.” The device, therefore, is not a bulletproof system, but can offer a critical alert when it’s needed.
The radio is super lightweight and easy to carry in a pack or tuck into your car seat pocket. It has a flashlight/strobe feature which comes in very handy if you need to navigate a trail after sunset or are having evening car troubles. My favorite feature is that you can turn on the weather alert feature while the radio is off and it’ll signal you to any incoming weather alerts with an alarm and strobe to get your attention. There is no price tag to put on having a bit of peace of mind when heading out into nature, but Midland makes sure it’s within your price range to have the added security. Bonus points that it can fuel a dance party, too!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting midlandusa.com
Customer Rating
4
Small/Light Weight
on February 15, 2021
Posted by: Jeff
from New Mexico
Gender:Male
Initial impressions was good. The product showed up and I appreciated that the AA batteries were included. I messed with a bit in the house just to try the functions, please note that I do live in a rural mountain town. The radio is fairly easy to navigate. The flashlight is a nice feature although a bit bulky since it is on the end of the unit. Weather channels came in nicely as did the FM/AM stations (at least as good as any do here). I put the radio in my day pack to go hiking a few days later and up the mountain I went. When I stopped to refill water, I decided to test out the radio. To my disappointment the included batteries had died even tho I had only used the product briefly at home. With new batteries I ventured out on another trip. The unit worked great!! I scrolled thru the weather channels and had good reception on more than one. I also enjoyed some FM radio on my hike in the backcountry of New Mexico. The unit is light weight and I didn't notice it in my pack. The only functional drawback I found is that the buttons do bump on fairly easily. Overall, good product but get your own batteries.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting midlandusa.com
Customer Rating
5
Amazing audio clarity and LED brightness!!
on February 14, 2021
Posted by: Anonymous
from Mohave Valley, AZ
Gender:Male
I just got this unit from Midland and it is super awesome! So easy to use and setup! I didn’t even have to read the manual at all! Every feature is self-explanatory and easy to understand! Love this little unit! Had some storms blow through yesterday and it worked great as expected!! Clear and concise weather alerts and easy to hear!! Highly recommend!!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting midlandusa.com
Customer Rating
5
Great little piece of equipment.
on February 11, 2021
Posted by: Wilbur
from Lake Havasu, AZ.
Gender:Male
I received this a couple weeks ago. It will be handy to have while out traveling around. Will alert you to emergency weather situations in your area. Also has AM and FM tuner, pulse 7 NOAA weather stations. Has a handy flashlight and a strobe if you need help. It's small and light, has a clock, a lanyard, and telescopic antenna. Sound quality isn't the best, but for the price and security of knowing about the weather it's very handy.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting midlandusa.com
Customer Rating
5
When Weather Aware, You Are Weather Prepared
on February 10, 2021
Posted by: Tornado Ted
from Bothell, Washington
Gender:Male
It took only a matter of a few minutes to get this cost-effective weather radio receiver in operation. And what features! Not only able to receive any NOAA Weather Radio station wherever I go, but also AM and FM radio. When the big event (e.g. - earthquake) occurs and power and communications go down, this little handy radio will still be in operation. I just got this beauty, but I can see slipping it into a pocket while hiking, fishing or other outdoor activities, or in the car. And it has the alert feature too! No excuses at this price. Be sure to tell family and friends to help them stay safe. Remember - when you are weather aware, you are weather prepared!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting midlandusa.com
Customer Rating
3
Average product
on February 10, 2021
Posted by: MAD.P
from Swanton, Vermont
Gender:Male
For me, the Midland ER10 emergency alert radio has some pros and cons.
PROS
*light weight and compact. It allowed me to easily pack the radio with my related camping gear or back pack.
*I found the set up to be simple and the the instructions easy to understand.
*The light is a nice feature and seems to be sufficient for navigating in the dark.
*The automatic
S.O.S. feature in the light is a nice touch that I hope to never use.
* I like that 3 AA batteries are included. That's one last thing I have to shop for.
*battery life indicator is an excellent feature that came in handy as I will explain the the cons.
*Midland's website was helpful in clearing up misunderstandings that I will explain later.
CONS
*The closest broadcast tower ( KIG60 ) sits atop the highest mountain in Vermont. Although, I can not see it from my house, it is clearly visible in areas close to my home. The owners manual says that the ER10 can receive NOAH weather broadcasts from up to 50 miles away, depending on my location, weather conditions, and terrain. When I experienced poor reception from my home, I consulted Midland's website, only to learn that my model can only receive up to 40 miles away under the same conditions. Not impressed. To be fair, my home is probably around 45-50 miles away as the crow flies.
. I tried the FM band for my favorite station only to find it had the typical stand on your head with your right leg cocked at a 90 degree angle for optimum reception. I eventually found a spot without touching it.
*A substantial snow storm rolled in shortly after receiving the ER10. I was disappointed when I was not alerted by a flashing light and siren as designed. I learned from Midland's website that the alert only engages when there are life threatening weather conditions. My bad for misunderstanding. However if it alerted me when there is severe thunderstorms and the such, I would be very pleased.
* I kept the ER10 on the weather alert mode only, and ran out of battery power after 4 days. I replaced them with rechargeables. This would not serve me well as I camp remotely for weeks at a time.
*light weight and compact. It allowed me to easily pack the radio with my related camping gear or back pack.
*I found the set up to be simple and the the instructions easy to understand.
*The light is a nice feature and seems to be sufficient for navigating in the dark.
*The automatic
S.O.S. feature in the light is a nice touch that I hope to never use.
* I like that 3 AA batteries are included. That's one last thing I have to shop for.
*battery life indicator is an excellent feature that came in handy as I will explain the the cons.
*Midland's website was helpful in clearing up misunderstandings that I will explain later.
CONS
*The closest broadcast tower ( KIG60 ) sits atop the highest mountain in Vermont. Although, I can not see it from my house, it is clearly visible in areas close to my home. The owners manual says that the ER10 can receive NOAH weather broadcasts from up to 50 miles away, depending on my location, weather conditions, and terrain. When I experienced poor reception from my home, I consulted Midland's website, only to learn that my model can only receive up to 40 miles away under the same conditions. Not impressed. To be fair, my home is probably around 45-50 miles away as the crow flies.
. I tried the FM band for my favorite station only to find it had the typical stand on your head with your right leg cocked at a 90 degree angle for optimum reception. I eventually found a spot without touching it.
*A substantial snow storm rolled in shortly after receiving the ER10. I was disappointed when I was not alerted by a flashing light and siren as designed. I learned from Midland's website that the alert only engages when there are life threatening weather conditions. My bad for misunderstanding. However if it alerted me when there is severe thunderstorms and the such, I would be very pleased.
* I kept the ER10 on the weather alert mode only, and ran out of battery power after 4 days. I replaced them with rechargeables. This would not serve me well as I camp remotely for weeks at a time.
I have concluded that the Midland ER10 is a nice unit, but there is nothing about it that is super spectacular. I rank it with my 11 year old Radio Shack am/fm radio that just happens to have a weather band on it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting midlandusa.com