Sangean MMR-88 Emergency AM FM Weather Portable Radio Review

[@todderbert]

Quick Links: ▶ The Sangean MMR-88 at Amazon USA: amzn.to/2Cln9nX ▶ The Sangean MMR-88 at Amazon CA: amzn.to/2EEwJI6 ▶ The Sangean MMR-88 at Ebay: bit.ly/SangeanMMR88

[@Pyjamarama11]

I have owned this radio for >5 years and the battery is still good even after sitting in the box for 6 months at a time Great little camping radio

[@TheRadiogeek]

Nice job reviewing the Sangean radio. I got one for Christmas and like it a lot.

[@todderbert]

Thank you!, this was my Christmas present also. It is so useful and well made.

[@vivlund]

lol I gave this radio to my husband for Christmas as well!!

[@rickmcgarrah7111]

Just got this radio, and you were right about the AM reception. At night, I am picking up 850 KOA in Denver, which is over 750 miles away from me in NW Arkansas. I think it is even edging out my C Crane Skywave by just a little bit. Awesome radio! Thanks for the review! It helped me make the decision to purchase this one.

[@todderbert]

Your Welcome Rick, It's a great radio. I had it out for my Christmas video and was enjoying the AM reception.

[@rickmcgarrah7111]

@@todderbert I tested my battery and crank last night, since I have other crank radios that performed poorly in this area. I am not sure if the radios vary on test results, but mine exceeded those stated in the owner's manual. I ran the battery down until the radio shut off. I cranked it for right at 60 seconds, probably 120-150 cranks, and I got 23 minutes of radio, at a volume setting of 25(out of 30), before it shut down! Then, I plugged the radio in to charge by USB, and it charged to full in approximately 2 hours! I am amazed by those results, and just wanted to share my results with you. Thanks again, and keep up the great work. I have watched many of your reviews!

[@todderbert]

@@rickmcgarrah7111 Awesome Rick, thanks for that information. Pays to keep a few extra 18350 cells around. Did you by chance test the solar feature yet? Thanks again.

[@rickmcgarrah7111]

@@todderbert I plan to get a few extra batteries for it. I have not tested the solar charging yet, but I am curious if it also charges at a faster rate.

[@GG-kc6ie]

I didn't know I could change the steps from 10khz to 9khz until I watched this video, brilliant. Thanks for the lesson, I thought it wasted my money

[@Onyx88]

It's my go-to radio when the power goes out, great audio, fantastic reception, flashlight is great and the crank / solar power options put it A Cut Above

[@RadioRich100]

What good is it when you cant put standard batteries in it?

[@fixman88]

I just got mine today and discovered an undocumented feature regarding the flashlight. Once you select the mode you want, if you hold the flashlight power button down for a couple of seconds the light will turn off, and if you turn the light back on it will remember the mode it was last in and come on in that mode. Basically you don't have to push the button several times to go through all the modes every time you need to use the light; a very smart design decision by Sangean, it's odd that the instruction manual doesn't mention it.

[@todderbert]

Awesome find!

[@ghanaboyz]

Showing us every channel one by one and mentioning the usb feature and solar panel at the very end as an afterthought? Hehe, really loves listening to the radio... Fair enough, but using this device to power up OTHER devices could be an important feature for some. It doesn't tell you how much its own battery is charged? Pity, could be useful. Knowing how good the radio receiver is at different locations compared to other radio receiver for each same location could have been useful. So the receiver is fine where you are, but it doesn't tell me much as the receiving condition is unknown to me. I would have been nice to know how impact resistance it is in real life for outdoors usage. Yes, it has black rubber protection at the short ends, but will pieces break off the device if dropping it from 1 m on the floor indoors? (like wood or plastic floor). Or drop from 0,5 m on a stone? The battery door seems likely to break. It seems not very secure to begin with. If the door is broken or lost, I guess the battery may go next and then you done with the whole device are you not. Being able to completely secure the antenna when having the radio stored in a pocket or bag could be a good idea. Seems easy to press the siren button by mistake. Pity it is not separated more from the other buttons. May be a very bad thing to press the siren by mistake when tired and having poor visibility. Not a big issue. Seeing the screws in the front make me assume the lamp can be replaced, shame if it could not.

[@Moondog9322]

I just got this radio a few days ago and really like it. The charging light is green most of the time, gets dimmer and brighter depending on the amount of sunlight. Then, in optimal lighting conditions, the charging light turns red.(difficult to test this in NE Ohio these days) Does that sound about right? It doesn't explain that in the manual.

[@Pipefitter310]

I have spare 18350 batteries for this radio and really like this, very satisfied....

[@todderbert]

Great radio. The reception really impressed, and one of the few true emergency radios with stereo output on the headphones.

[@heidirieker4161]

Where did you find the spare batteries?

[@Pipefitter310]

Heidi Rieker Amazon but not sure still available

[@dexterslabmi]

Great review

[@garywest3763]

Time to Open up and make a change to the small Sangean MR88, I want to use my dremel tool and cut the Negative side of the Battery Terminal from the battery holder out and relocate it to the rear, Left side of the Radio, i will have to have the radio open for this as i may need to use a spacer to get the Battery fitment just right. I will secure the negative battery terminal using Adhesive type RTV, for Proper fitting of the new 18650 3000mah 3.7 volt Li battery, which should provide a Much Longer play time between charges.

[@todderbert]

I would like to see the finished project, sounds good.

[@garywest3763]

The Oem charge cord, Fully charged the PL880, 18650, and stopped charging, showing All Bars, as a full charge, so charging also works as it did.

[@Sepolden]

Excellent review as always....what is your favourite overall emergency radio?

[@todderbert]

One with a dynamo, solar, and optional dry battery usage, that would be the Tiemahun FS-089 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eajaanquo5qBm6c . My main "emergency" radio is my CC Skywave with a compact power bank to recharge it.

[@Sepolden]

todderbert fantastic thanks!

[@paulbainjr]

Very nice I like the look

[@todderbert]

An Amazing Radio. It tunes very well across all the bands. Plus FM Stereo on the Headphone jack!

[@messerschmitt3725]

So i can recharge the battery using the 5V micro USB port? and, without the batter in, can i still use it? i mean, it has an internal power backup? or it will only works with the battery in?

[@todderbert]

Yes, you may use just the Micro USB input without the 18350 installed, though a switching supply generates noise on the MW band. If you can get a linear supply, it would work with no interference. Also, in a pinch, you can spin the dynamo and turn on the radio if the battery is dead or removed..trick is to keep spinning the dynamo. I just tried it, this is an excellent thing to know if there is no power source anywhere. Mainly use this method to check the weather band.

[@messerschmitt3725]

@@todderbert DANKE!!!

[@SuperLaplander]

Great review!

[@ray_di_ohs739]

Nice review and radio but I would not buy it simply because it does not have AA or AAA batteries capability, I am looking closely at the Midland 310. On another note you don't control and if it helps you out I am all for it but I feel it helps Google more, on this 20-minute video I was interrupted for 6, yes six ads that's ridiculous and at the end, they try to sell me KZbin premium, Google will not get a cent from me. The ads are driving me from watching KZbin except your informative videos.

[@todderbert]

Ad revenue is split 50/50. So it does help the channel stay running by having ads. I appreciate your viewership. I have an ER310: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4bGZX6DoZmVqLM

[@tonyseely6473]

Hello. Great radio reviews! Thank-you. Is there any difference between this MMR-88 & the Sangean SG-112 other than the color? They look identical.

[@todderbert]

They are the same from all the specs.

[@tonyseely6473]

@@todderbert Thank-you

[@heidirieker4161]

I have had this radio 4.5 years. Decided to charge it up today and found the battery is no longer able to hold any charge. ICR 18350 3.7V , 850 mAh, button top. All I can find on Amazon is flat top and not very good reviews, so what can I do?

[@todderbert]

Try the NiteCores, they say High Drain, but it is ok to use them in low drain devices, at Amazon: amzn.to/30y8epe

[@agustinpericet1943]

the nitecore, the fact that it is of the IMR type, there is no danger of explosion or fire if it is left charging for a long time?

[@kennethmcdonald9736]

In the UK does it pick up UK weather alerts, or is it USA only? Can the orange display be made to continually stay on when listening? Thanks

[@todderbert]

North America Only on Weather Alerts. No way to keep the backlight on. To preserve battery life. They went with a rather small battery with this radio.

[@Moondog9322]

I enjoy your reviews. Do you have a favorite pocket and emergency radio?

[@todderbert]

CC Pocket, and CC Solar Observer...I know this is two years later, but even back then I would have picked the same.

[@garywest3763]

Excellent and honest Review, What is your favorite under $100.00 radio? I ordered one of these a few days ago, looking forward to seeing what kind of range and how many far away channels i can bring in with this little radio, I will using it with my Grounded Loop 50 foot long wire antenna for extending the range of the internal AM antenna, For FM I have a alligator clip stretched out 50foot wire then up to top of 32foot high shop roof. I think I may need one of the dynamo chargers hooked up to a stationary bike, haha. I hope this is durable and I like it if so I wouldn't mind buying a couple of 1500mah 18350 batteries and charger to extend the run time in a bad situation

[@todderbert]

My favorite normal AM FM Portable radio under $100 is the C.Crane-EP Pro. It is amazing. I'm using it more then my regular EP model. My favorite Emergency radio under $100 is actually the Kaito KA340. It's only $29.99 but gives you so much for your cash. The Sangean is a great radio and made my top five under $50 emergency radio vid. The Sangean has good audio, awesome reception, and easy to use digital interface. It lacks battery power. It comes with a smallish 18350 cell and no option for standard batteries.

[@joelashley3942]

Looking at weather radio.. I cant make up my mind between this one Sangean MMR-88 or the Midland ER310.... Which one is better? better crank charge, better solar charge? I saw that you can buy extra batteries for the Sangean on amazon. But the midland you have to buy their special rechargeable battery from them if it goes bad, but your able to use 6 AA if needed. plz help

[@profd65]

I don't know about the crank charge or solar charge, or the batteries. And I actually know nothing about the Midland. But Jay Allen gave the Sangean AM and FM very high grades; I can't imagine an inexpensive emergency radio doing better in these areas.

[@ivrsn_1569]

Can it use disposable cr123 battery to power it?

[@paul.steckler]

Just got one, good so far. But how the heck do you attach the strap?

[@paul.steckler]

I worked it out. Feed the little end through the strap holder, fish out the end from the holder with a paper clip, feed the long end through the loop that you've fished out.

[@todderbert]

Ok, good, I was about to get mine out to see.

[@User-bu6tu]

Hi! How is reception and sound compared to Tecsun-PL380?

[@todderbert]

I like the audio on the Sangean. AM Reception is decent on both radios. The Tecsun will have the fine tuning, and AM Bandwidth advantages.

[@georgemercado8676]

how’s the condition of your radio now?

[@lacrossewieas2411]

is this a good FM DXing radio or is a Tescun PL-310et better?

[@todderbert]

The 310ET would be the better choice for FM.

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

How do you activate USB OUT ??

[@bonnieallum786]

When I hit the Preset button it changes from am to fm. It mine broken?

[@todderbert]

No, that is how Sangean uses presets, you can have them intermixed. Say you saved two FM stations, then two AM Stations. If your on the AM band and press the preset button it will automatically change bands for you.

[@MatthewHajjar-Betters591]

How many presets can the radio contain on both AM and FM bands, respectively?

[@MatthewHajjar-Betters591]

Okay, so according to Amazon, it can store 19 presets per band each on AM and FM.

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

MMR-88DAB (FM RDS and Digital Audio Broadcasting DAB tuners only) and the European AM and FM only MMR-88. No NOAA bands on European version.

[@ggmann495]

Sangean or Midland ER310?

[@todderbert]

for best radio reception and compact size, the Sangean. For a strong flashlight, optional dry battery use, 18650 power, decent NOAA and FM then the ER310.

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

@@todderbert SANGEAN have 50 or 100 kHz step for FM, 9 kHz and 10 kHz AM stepping tuning switch. But for Midland, 200 kHz step for FM, 10 kHz step for AM. 2.5 kHz bandwidth AM for Midland, and 4.5 kHz bandwidth AM for Sangean.

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

@@todderbert how do you activate powerbank ?

[@adrianilie28]

The MMR-99 seems better. Better sound and bigger battery.

[@todderbert]

Most likely, since it is suppose to be the upgrade. Can't wait to test one out. I want to compare it to my CC Solar.

[@jamessalouros5393]

Hey Todderbert can I put a 18350 1200mAh battery KeePower brand from Amazon rechargeable battery into this Sangean mmr 88

[@todderbert]

If it is an unprotected, button top 18350 it should work.

[@agus117]

@@todderbert why unprotected?

[@todderbert]

@@agus117 Don't know why they went that way. A 16340 does work, and fits in the compartment. The length of a protected 18350 is too long to fit in the battery bay.

[@agus117]

@@todderbert ok, then the original is not protected, is it?

[@todderbert]

@@agus117 nope.

[@Jako1987]

18650 battery would have been better

[@digitalmediafan]

No RDS ?