C. Crane Blog

This is the image from the front cover of the ARRL magazine.

November 25, 2025

Confidence in Preparedness Starts with Knowing Your Equipment

Even experienced operators fall into the trap of tossing a new radio into the go-bag and never touching it until it’s needed. That’s when mistakes happen. Spending just a few minutes now and then to practice using your radio, run through power options, or even watch a short demo builds confidence that can’t be fake in a crisis.

The latest edition of On the Air, an online publication by ARRL (The National Association for Amateur Radio), features an article by C. Crane CEO Jessica Crotty. In it, she highlights the importance of knowing your equipment before a disaster and the vital role radio plays during emergencies.

To learn more about ham radio operators and how ARRL supports them through education, advocacy, and community programs, visit their website. Click here for a free sample magazine or to learn more about subscribing to On The Air, where they share approachable techniques and real stories for every level of ham radio operator. From making your first contact to choosing equipment and joining local clubs, it helps you get the most from your amateur radio license.

Please click the images below to enlarge and read the article:

_{Shared with permission from the ARRL. © ARRL. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced, distributed, or modified without prior written permission. All trademarks and names are the property of their respective owners.}

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This is the new front cover of the C. Crane catalog. It details vibrant colors in a painting of the redwoods. It has different flowers, berries and a peaking bigfoot.

October 20, 2025

Better Sound, Longer Reach: The New C. Crane 2026 Catalog is Here

Words From Jessica

Jessica Crotty, CEO of C. Crane, stands at the bank of the Eel River, located in Fortuna, Humboldt County.

Our area up here in Northern California is often referred to as “Behind the Redwood Curtain.” Reception-wise, that curtain is tough to get through. This challenge of getting reception is what gave birth to C. Crane’s radio division. When the Cranes (founders of C. Crane) moved up from the Bay Area, they couldn’t get their favorite station, KGO. They found an antenna that helped them receive the signal and started selling it from their home.

C. Crane was born solving reception problems. We still help people pull back the curtain and let the signal in. Whether it’s AM, FM, shortwave, internet radio, or long-distance WiFi, we work to get the signal where you need it. With fewer local stations and more interference than ever, we’ve seen more interest in internet radio. That connection to radio, no matter how it’s delivered, is what keeps us close to the people who make it happen.

This past year, I was fortunate to be on calls with station owners, hosts, and station managers, and even visit a few stations. One phrase I kept hearing was “Last man standing.” It spoke to me about holding on and keeping the signal alive when others fade away. We understand that feeling. We’re one of the few American-owned radio companies still around, and we’re proud to join many of these stations in promoting “Every Home Needs a Radio,” so you’ll have one when you need it most.

Thank you for continuing to support us in all the ways that you do. The work never stops, and neither do our efforts to improve. Every product is built to solve real problems and backed by service you can count on long after the sale. We believe people deserve to be treated the way we’d want to be treated, and that will never change.

-Jessica Crotty, CEO C. Crane

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An artistic illustration of an antique radio in the foreground with a stylized view of the Earth behind it, showing radio waves or magnetic field lines arcing across the globe from a point on the surface. The radio is a classic, brown wooden model with two large knobs, a tuning dial, and a retractable antenna. The Earth is depicted with swirling shades of green and tan continents against a dark blue ocean, set against a star-filled background with glowing, golden-orange lines flowing from its surface. The image evokes the concept of "skywave" radio propagation.

July 23, 2025

Why AM Reception Can Get Worse in the Summer – And Tips on What to Do About It

If your AM radio reception seems worse in the summer, you’re not imagining things. Between long daylight hours, more interference, and changing atmospheric conditions, summer can throw a wrench into even the best listening setups.

Whether you’re parked at a rest stop trying to catch your favorite talk show, listening in bed at home, or sitting in your garage workshop with the radio on, those familiar fades and static bursts might be showing up more often.

Here’s why that happens – and what you can do about it.

March 10, 2025

The Sounds of Baseball: A Timeless Connection Between Radio and the Game

“HOT DOGS!” “SODA!” “BEER!” “PEANUTS!” – if you’ve ever been to a major league ballpark, those familiar calls from vendors instantly transport you back. The scent of fresh popcorn lingers in the air, the crack of the bat electrifies the crowd, and the collective roar rises as a deep fly ball takes flight.

February 14, 2025

Reducing Static: How to Improve Your AM Radio Reception in a Noisy World

We’ve noticed some questions and concerns about increased static on our radios compared to others. This feedback is common with radios as sensitive and selective as ours. While this sensitivity allows them to pick up weaker, distant signals, it can also mean they’re more affected by unwanted interference, including static from electronic devices in your home or environment.

January 15, 2025

7.0 Earthquake in Humboldt County: Are You Prepared?

On Thursday, December 5^th, 2024, just off the coast, our little area in the Pacific Northwest (of California), was hit with a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, along with hundreds of aftershocks. We’re beginning to associate December with earthquakes, as we had another large earthquake in December of 2022 that caused a tremendous amount of damage.

October 22, 2024

The Power of Radio in the Face of Disaster

Every year, we try to write an updated blog post about being prepared for an emergency. This year, we’ve decided to do something a little differently. As we witness the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, the importance of reliable communication tools becomes clearer than ever. Our friend Thomas Witherspoon from SWLing recently shared a powerful firsthand account of the role radio played during Hurricane Helene in Swannanoa, NC.

September 18, 2024

Radio Day by the Bay 2024

I recently had the pleasure of attending the California Historical Radio Society’s (CHRS) “Radio Day by the Bay” event in Alameda, California. This year marked the organization’s 50th anniversary, and the event was a vibrant celebration of radio’s rich history and enduring legacy.

July 19, 2024

Storytelling, Passion, and Radio: A Look Back at Talkers 2024

Have you ever felt the power of a story well told? That was the magic that permeated the Talkers 2024 Radio and Beyond event. I felt so lucky to be there, surrounded by a community of talented creators who are all passionate about honing their craft. We were especially fortunate to experience Michael Harrison’s legendary hospitality and showmanship.