Midland 74-250C SAME Handheld Weather Alert Radio

Another valuable function is the radio's Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) reception. SAME allows users to program the radio to sound an alert only when weather and other emergencies threaten a specific county or counties. The technology eliminates all alerts from other areas, so users won't perk up their ears each time the alert sounds only to learn that the emergency is actually 100 miles up the highway. The 74-250C's memory system accepts up to nine counties, so you can monitor a broad swatch of counties at once or restrict it to one.

Should an alert occur, users have a choice of three warning systems: a 90 dB siren, a voice alert, or a flashing red LED light. The siren is the best option for people who might not have their radios nearby at all times, while the latter two alerts are a bit less extreme on the ears. The digital panel, meanwhile, displays up to 56 messages, so you'll instantly know what's coming your way. Additional features include a built-in thermometer with a freeze alert that notifies you when the temperature drops below freezing, a full-function clock with an alarm and snooze button, an external earphone jack, and a water-resistant housing.

The radio, which works with two AA batteries (not included), measures 2.38 by 4 by 1.25 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
74-250C radio, user's manual.

When I purchased mine, It was listed as having rechargable batteries and a wall charger. It apparently no longer comes with it. From the Midland web site (an older page):

"Includes:
Alarm Clock
Digital Thermometer
Digital Clock
9 Programmable S.A.M.E
Rechargeable Batteries
Wall Charger"

and from the FAQ:

"Q. What charger for the 74-250 Handheld Weather Radio?
Ans. 200 Milliamp 6volt charger, and please make sure that the plug fits the jack."

Midland does not list a charger.
The radio loses the date and time when the batteries are changed, but it keeps the county code.
Programming is difficult, keep the manual handy.
Both alarms are turned on when the batteries are changed.
It requires a coin or similar item to open the battery door.


Great for emergency -- but of no use as a warning monitor   February 5, 2006
Thomas Murphy (Seattle, WA USA)
20 out of 20 found this review helpful

Like others have said, this radio performs poorly with respect to battery life. The display is good, reception is fine, but put it in warning mode where it is just listening for alerts and batteries are lucky to make a week. The controls are not hard to use but the quality is poor and I have buttons that stick on occasion. So, you need something to dump in an emergency backpack for use after an emergency this is great but if you want to monitor for events you want wall power combined with batteries.


Piece of junk   May 6, 2007
Fidel Castro (Habanna, Cuba)
20 out of 29 found this review helpful

I consider myself to be fairly computer literate -- I chase storms with a laptop hooked up to a GPS unit attached to a virtual COM splitter feeding into several mapping and radar programs, all while sucking data down via EVDO on my mobile phone. I've been using computers since before there were graphical user interfaces. That said, figuring out how to even change the channel on this radio was like learning how to defuse a bomb built by a dyslexic, colorblind spidermonkey. Doing anything requires pressing a recursive set of buttons in a specific order, and each button press is accompanied by a loud, shrill beep that will kill mosquitos and make everyone within 20 feet of you begin stabbing each other in senseless anger. I swear to god whoever designed the user interface to this radio was angry with the world and was misanthropically looking for ways get back at the universe that created him. The feeling you get once you manage to actually figure out how to set the time, station, and SAME code on this radio would be akin to the feeling one gets after summiting K-2 without oxygen, sherpas, or legs, if only for the fact that deep down inside you will realize that you are not cool and you will never see K-2 and that the sum total accomplishment of your life is getting the cheap, plastic piece of junk you hold in your hands to turn on. The AA batteries run down after about a week even if you never turn the actual radio on, and the settings all go away when you replace the batteries, so you are sure to have hours of fun several times a month rexplaining your radio with six digit random Navajo code numbers exactly where you live.

The plus side to this radio is that the cheap speaker hides the hiss of static fairly well, which you will hear often due to the extremely poor reception. The stylish "eyerape" yellow will go great with your Mexican Hornet wrestling costume, and handy belt clip-on will be sure to attact muggers who will beat you for your expensive radio and then come back and beat you again after they spend three fruitless hours trying to program in the SAME code for their cardboard box under the bridge.

In summary, I suggest that nobody ever buy this radio. The only useful purpose I can devise for these units are to mark land-mines, since surely a field full of these radios would be enough to deter people of any nationality from approaching.


Don't buy this Radio   April 5, 2006
Melissa A. Gold (Portlan , Maine)
15 out of 18 found this review helpful

Living here in Maine weather counts and moves fast. Unlike those in the Midwest at least we do not have tornados. Thank goodness because the best thing this radio would be good for, in that part of the country, would be throwing it into the wind and hope that it's poor quality would come back and kill you cleanly. Why? Because a radio with dead batteries that is almost impossible to program is much less useful than all of our basic senses, sight, sound etc, so if you counted on the radio you would hope a clean exit from this world.

If you want a radio that will help you make life and death decisions don't buy this one unless you have pockets full of batteries, the manuel and internet access. This radio will never go into the wilderness with me.

My best from Maine