Why the checklist says FM radio, and which one to get
Published
Be Ready’s checklist asks for an FM radio that runs on batteries or a wind-up. In a long power cut, it may be how you hear local news. Our pick is a wind-up and solar radio, and the cheaper one runs on AA batteries.
What the checklist says
“FM radio (battery or wind-up)” is on the Be Ready checklist. It doesn’t mention DAB.
Most of us don’t have one
In the government’s 2026 survey, 23% of adults had an FM radio that works without the mains. That doesn’t count a car radio or a phone. Most radios at home now are smart speakers, DAB sets that plug in, or a phone.
Why it matters in a power cut
Radios that plug in stop when the power does. Mobile masts and broadband equipment need power too, so phone and internet signal can drop in a long cut. Ofcom expects networks to have backup power, but it doesn’t set how long that has to last.
A radio with its own batteries, or a handle you can wind, keeps going.
What to look for
- FM, not DAB only
- Runs without the mains: batteries, a wind-up handle or solar
- A simple dial or buttons you can use in the dark
Try the free option first
Check the loft, the shed and the car. An old FM radio with fresh batteries counts. A car radio works too, but it runs on the car battery, so don’t leave it on for hours.
Our picks
- Our pick: the iRonsnow wind-up and solar FM radio (Ad). Wind it, leave it in the sun or charge it by USB-C. It has a torch built in.
- On a budget: the PRUNUS J-166 portable FM radio (Ad). Simple, and runs on AA batteries.
- Batteries: if you go for the budget one, a big pack of AA batteries (Ad) covers the radio with plenty spare.
Both are on the light and power kit page, with a torch and a power bank. The power cut page has what to do when it happens.
Write down the frequency
Add your local BBC radio station’s FM frequency to your paper list of numbers. It saves hunting along the dial in the dark. The BBC lists them on its FM and AM radio frequencies page, and the checklist has a line for it.