Emergency Radio UK

Emergency radio questions and answers

Short answers on emergency radios in the UK: why FM, which BBC station to tune to, whether long wave still works, wind-up or batteries, and how often to test.

1 min. read | Review scheduled for 2026-11-08

The basics

Do I really need a radio? The government's Be Ready checklist includes a battery or wind-up FM radio in every home's emergency kit (gov.uk). It keeps you informed when mobile networks, broadband or mains power fail.

Why FM and not DAB? The checklist names FM. Every BBC local and nations station broadcasts on FM. A DAB radio is fine for everyday listening; make sure your emergency set has FM.

Which station should I tune to? Your BBC local station, or BBC Radio Scotland, Wales, Ulster or Foyle, for local news; BBC Radio 4 on FM for national news. Use the station finder.

Old radios and bands

Does long wave still work? Not for the BBC: Radio 4's 198 kHz long wave service closed on 27 June 2026 (RSGB).

And medium wave? The last local BBC medium wave services in England close by the end of 2026 (WorldDAB), and 5 Live's medium wave is being phased out.

Choosing and keeping it

Wind-up, solar or batteries? Two sources are best: a crank plus batteries, or a crank plus solar. See the comparison.

Can a wind-up radio charge my phone? Many have a USB port, but winding gives only a small top-up. A charged power bank, also on the official list, does that job better.

How often should I test it? Every six months, when the clocks change: batteries, a minute of winding, your station still tuned. The app can add a calendar reminder.