Okay - in a pinch...

I have had this radio for more than a year now. It is quite compact and can be easily used in different vehicles. However, to put out a decent signal - or receive one, you must use a decent exterior antenna (the provided shorty is not that good). Even with a decent mag-mount antenna and using the power adapter for 12DC power; there is another overriding problem...

The unit really picks up engine noise and whine. I have seen this now on three vehicles. These vehicles had very quite AM band reception on the inboard radios, so I do not think they were particularly noisey vehicles. It is very annoying to continue to listen to the engine whine and or buzz with voices in the background. Setting the squelch to cut out the engine noise, also eliminates most lower power signals.

The unit is very quite, when used with the engine off. On some vehicles - running on batteries will also help. There are the weather channels, which are very helpful. However, for any time of moderate or serious trip use, I could not recommend it... I am dumping mine in favor of something that handles the all to common problems of electrical engine noise in a proper fashion.

Excellent for breaking down with no cell towers nearby... That's about it!