Local first, national second

In an emergency affecting your area, your BBC local station (or BBC Radio Scotland, Wales, Ulster or Foyle) is where local news and travel information go first. BBC Radio 4 on FM carries national news. Tune both now and note them on your radio.

How the finder works

Type your town, city or county. The finder searches each station's coverage area and the places each of its transmitters serves, so "Harrogate", "Isle of Wight" or "Swansea" all work. Each result shows:

the main FM frequency and any relay frequencies, with the places they serve;
any medium wave frequency still in use, with a warning where it is due to close;
a button to make a radio card with your station and Radio 4, to print and keep with the set.

England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands

England has 38 BBC local stations, from BBC Radio Cornwall to BBC Radio Newcastle (Wikipedia). Scotland has BBC Radio Scotland (with Orkney and Shetland opt-outs) and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal; Wales has BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru; Northern Ireland has BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Foyle; the Channel Islands have BBC Radio Guernsey and BBC Radio Jersey.

For Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of Wales the sources give a range of FM frequencies rather than one per transmitter: scan within that range until the station comes in clearly, then leave the radio set there.

BBC Radio 4 on FM

Radio 4 is on FM between 92.5 and 96.1 MHz, and between 103.5 and 104.9 MHz in some areas, depending on your transmitter (Wikipedia). It is no longer on long wave.

If the signal is weak

Extend the aerial fully, move to a window or upstairs, and try the other frequencies listed for your station: you may be nearer a relay than the main transmitter.

No radio yet?

Any radio that receives FM and runs without mains power will do: see the features to look for. A wind-up model with a battery compartment covers you whatever happens.