Which GMRS HTs are rated IP 65 or better and have NOAA *alerts* (as opposed to channels)

[WRVE426]

Hi,

I am looking for a cheap GMRS HT with an IP rating of 65 (or better) and with NOAA alerts (as opposed to the ability to listen to  NOAA channels).

So far, only Wouxun KG-935G Plus does that very well, but it is pricey and somewhat heavy.  The same is true of my Wouxun KG-Q10G.

I also have the Btech GMRS Pro, which does that pretty well, except that a weather alert triggers an extremely loud sound which is not controllable (I asked them, they have no intention of fixing that in their firmware.

My dream receiver (for this purpose) would be something like the (fantastic) TIDRADIO MD-11 but with weather *alerts* as opposed to just the RX of channels.

Can you recommend such a model?

Thanks for any pointers!

[Guest]

Well. I have eyes, ears and I can see what is coming and I can turn a knob my self very easily so I don’t need Alerts.  I’ve spent waay more time in the wilderness than 99.9% of people.   I’ve been several days drive away from anything, in the middle of no where,   out in extreme heat, rain and snow and hail and storms and unpredictable weather of all kinds.  I’ve been camped out in the side of a rock wall 15,000 feet up hanging by a few ropes.  I’ve Been climbing, mountaineering, hunting, boating, off roading and in extremely hostile conditions in many different parts of the world.  Never one time ever have I needed a weather alert to break in and tell me something.  If I needed information I simply press a button or turn a knob and listen.  So for me….. the alert is the absolute last thing on my radio want list. Actually it doesn’t even make the list. 
 

the gmrs pro is one of the worst sounding radios out there.  I’d never own a tidradio and my wouxons sit in a shelf at home collecting dust.  None of those make any of my lists. 

[WRVE426]

Well, you are a true man's man, a tough nature conquering hero whose eloquence and perspicacity, I am sure, will amaze everybody!

Bravo, Sir, and thank you for your insightful comment!

[WRYZ926]

I've been very pleased with my Wouxun KG-Q10H and KG-935G. Both work well and the weather alerts are nice.

[WRVE426]

I have both of these, but the KG-935G had bugs with the weather alert feature, so that is why they had to come up with the KG-935G Plus which has these bugs fixed.  But yes, this is a superb radio.  I am just looking for something cheapo to toss in a bag when hiking/kayaking in the Florida boonies.  TIDRADIO came up with exactly that, the MD-11, it is dirt cheap (no biggie if you drop it while kayaking), it is IP65, and it has NOAA RX capability, but no alerts and that is something rather helpful with hiking the FL Cypress swamps and forests.

[JBRPong]

I have a Wouxun KG-Q10H that has weather alerts.  It's my favorite HT.

[DominoDog]

I would agree with the one user who said they've never needed a weather alert. I have never needed one. But that wasn't the question. Weather alerts are fun. They are fun to get and they are fun to think about getting when we need them. Regardless of if we have ever needed one while hanging from a rope or not, is irrelevant. We think we need them so we prepare.

Personally, I would just get the Wouxun KG-935G or the Plus version since it already has the features you want, and I have one and it's great. It does everything a cheap little 'feng does better.

They are more expensive but maybe you can snag one on a used marketplace or online swapmeet kind of deal. I found mine on FB marketplace, the guy was really nice and the radio was used maybe four minutes total and I saved on shipping, tax, and got it for way less than retail.

[WRUU653]

I also have the Wouxun Q10H and really like it. Since the question was about GMRS radios its sister the Wouxun Q10G has both NOAA weather alerts and is rated IP-67. 

[JBRPong]

With all the bad weather the past few weeks,  I started leaving the radio on a quiet channel/frequency and let the weather alert wake my up if/when something happens. 

[bd348]

Here in suburbia, we have a dedicated weather radio, which can supposedly customize the alerts to only trigger if they're for our own area.  We hardly use it, though, because once the storms approach we get a new alarm every minute or so.  Thunderstorm warning for each cell coming through, flood warnings, hail warnings, tornado watches, wind advisories, marine warnings, etc.  For all over the suburban area including stuff far away from us.  They issue warnings for five counties at a time, for example, so we hear them all even though we told it to limit to our own area.

The area radar map and the local tornado sirens can both be useful, though.

[NotARubiksCube]

5 hours ago, bd348 said:

Here in suburbia, we have a dedicated weather radio, which can supposedly customize the alerts to only trigger if they're for our own area.  We hardly use it, though, because once the storms approach we get a new alarm every minute or so.  Thunderstorm warning for each cell coming through, flood warnings, hail warnings, tornado watches, wind advisories, marine warnings, etc.  For all over the suburban area including stuff far away from us.  They issue warnings for five counties at a time, for example, so we hear them all even though we told it to limit to our own area.

The area radar map and the local tornado sirens can both be useful, though.

Your point about "over-alerting" is great. However, arguably the *first* notification of an emergency--or the first notification following turning the radio on--still has value regardless of repetition.