First, I am an FCC licensed broadcast engineer and have been since 1968. Along with that, I am a licensed amateur radio operator...again, for many years. I purchased several Midland NOAA radios perhaps 20 years ago to give as gifts and as promotional giveaways for a television station when we were "pushing" NOAA alerts. The "one" I kept for myself finally gave up the ghost...about 6 months ago. No signal coming in. Not a problem, as I ordered a WR120 as a replacement. Of coiurse, because of "COVID", as with everything else, the price had jumped up, but it was still a great buy for the protection it offers. Problem is...the signal is weak, even in areas where I had a great signal before. No changes at NOAA, I checked with them. And, even when I could receive a signal, only one station came throuog. Ok, I quickly put together a 1/4 wave vertical antenna. Signal was improved, but not nearly the quieting I expected, and the entenna had to be located in "just the right spot" inside the house. That spot was at the tope of a window that actually faces the NOAA transmitting site. I tried vertical polarization as well as horizontal polarization. To no avail. I removed the rubber duckie antenna from one of my Marine VHF portables, changed the antenna connector, and the signal on my handheld was great. Mattered not where the antenna was located, or whether it was vertical or polarized. In other words, my antenna was perfect. Replaced the connector, back to the RCA male, "metered" it out to verify good connection with no shorts (always delicate when working with those RCA "phone" connectors), and all was good. Reception was still sketchy with the WE120. Another local TV station is running a promotion in the area. So far, they have partnered with retail outlets and have managed to get a lot of radios in the homes of people in the area. I'm not sure which Midland unit they're selling. Next promotion is 14 May in a nearby town. Local "hams" have been helping customers program the radios they purchase at no charge. I plan to purchase 2 more radios, one for a gift, but I will take along some batteries and test both before I leave the retail location. By the way, there was a slight, barely noticeable improvement with two external antennas I used compared to the attached telescoping antenna. I suspect with a radio issue, or an antenna connection issue (internal of the radioi), I'll let you know, one way or the other, if the next radios I get work ok.
Read More
