Oregon Scientific vs. Radio Shack: Which is better?

This is the second weather radio I've purchased for my home; the first, from Radio Shack (a Model 12-259), cost about $10 more but was (and is) a much better buy. This review, while it will focus on the Oregon Scientific, will compare the differences between it and the slightly more-expensive model, in order to help you determine which would be a better choice for your family's safety.

Both of the models tested have been in regular use for more than three years and therefore I have been able to determine each one's good and bad points. Both get good signal reception and don't take up much shelf space. But that's where the similarities end.

First of all, the Oregon Scientific is rather complicated to use, unlike the Radio Shack model. The Mode, Channel and County buttons look like they'd be simple, but you must hold down each button for several seconds and then you have only a few seconds to make whatever adjustments you want before it reverts back to the default mode. And the adjustments are not intuitive -- I still get it wrong two or three times before I finally get what I want. By comparison, the Radio Shack has clear, understandable adjustments that you choose by pressing its Menu button and scrolling through them with the four-way keypad on its face.

The Oregon Scientific claims to have a loud siren that blasts when a watch or warning is received. Not true. It utilizes the fax machine-like tone that the National Weather Service broadcasts to trigger the radios. Unless you have the volume turned all the way up, the odds are that you won't hear it. The Radio Shack uses a shrill, distinct siren that is individually-adjustable and not dependent upon radio volume. It's easily adjusted, and wakes even sound sleepers such as myself.

When a test, watch or warning is received, the Oregon Scientific displays only those words on its screen. The Radio Shack displays the precise type of alert (and there are many!). If you'd rather not be bothered by Amber Alerts, flood watches or avalanche warnings (we don't need those in Kentucky), they can be disabled in the menu.

Each county across the United States has a five-digit SAME code that can be used to tailor these radios to warn you for only the area(s) you want to receive alerts for. That's handy, but here again, Radio Shack makes it simple. If you don't know your county's code, all you have to do is hold down the > key on the adjustment keypad and you get each state by name, and once that is selected, you get each county. It's foolproof. Oregon Scientific doesn't do that; you've got to know the codes.

And if you travel extensively as we do, in all kinds of weather, the Radio Shack does one other nice thing that the Oregon Scientific just doesn't do. It has a "travel mode." What's that? This setting, which is activated by pressing the "TR/HM" key on the top of the radio, causes the radio to automatically seek out the strongest signal and warn you of any alert within the listening area you are passing through. It's kept us out of trouble more than once in "Tornado Alley."

As I've pointed out in more than one of my reviews, I'm generally a cheapskate, but when it comes to my family's safety, I will spend extra to get the best. I've got a decent weather radio in the Oregon Scientific -- and don't get me wrong, it's a well-made device -- but it doesn't hold a candle to the Radio Shack 12-259 when it comes to ease of use or functionality.

The old adage "You get what you pay for" certainly applies. If you want the best, spend a little more. You'll get it.