C. Crane Blog

August 17, 2026

The Remarkable Power of Radio

America is better with radio, and after a hundred years, we still believe that. Happy National Radio Day!

Radio has always had the ability to connect people. A voice spoken into a microphone in one city can travel hundreds or even thousands of miles, allowing millions of listeners to experience the same moment together. For more than a century, radio has informed us, comforted us, entertained us, and reminded us that even when we’re far apart, we’re often listening together.

Over one hundred years ago, radio brought the presidential inauguration of Calvin Coolidge into homes far beyond our nation’s capital, something that seemed almost unimaginable at the time. During the Great Depression, families gathered around their radios to hear President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats, bringing comfort to Americans during uncertain times. In 1938, Orson Welles enthralled listeners with his dramatic broadcast of The War of the Worlds, creating one of the most famous moments in broadcasting history and demonstrating radio’s extraordinary ability to capture the nation’s attention.

Radio has also been there during moments of tragedy. Like millions of others, I first learned about the events of September 11, 2001, through the radio, not television. Throughout that day, radio delivered continuous news and updates when many people were away from a television or simply searching for reliable information. In times of uncertainty, radio has often been the first companion people turn to for trusted voices and timely news.

Despite smartphones and today’s streaming services, radio still has an important role to play. People listen while driving, working in the garage, camping, during power outages, or simply because they enjoy the companionship of familiar voices. It is simple to use, free to listen to, and provides local information and entertainment that many other forms of media simply cannot replace.

National Radio Day is an opportunity to celebrate more than just radio itself. It is a day to celebrate the people behind the microphones, the engineers who keep stations on the air, and the listeners who continue to make radio a part of their daily lives. Call or write your favorite radio station and let them know you appreciate them being on the air, and give them a shout-out below in the comments.

From historic announcements and unforgettable broadcasts to everyday weather reports, local news, and familiar voices, radio continues to connect, inform, and inspire. Here’s to another century of radio connecting people, and C. Crane being part of it.

July 24, 2026

Off the Grid, On the Air: How the CCRadio Solar with Bluetooth® Conquered the Lost Coast Wilderness

The best way to understand a radio is to use it. At C. Crane, our team members use our products every day, both at home and in the field. Recently, one of our technicians packed a CCRadio Solar BT (Bluetooth) for a week-long camping trip along California’s Lost Coast. With no cell service and limited power, it became a perfect opportunity to see how the radio performed outside the office. Here’s what he discovered.

A.W. Way Campground, nestled between Petrolia and Honeydew along Northern California’s rugged Lost Coast, is the definition of getting away from it all. Tucked under a dense forest canopy with zero cell service, it serves as the ultimate testing ground for outdoor gear. On a recent week-long camping trip, I brought along the CCRadio Solar BT. I expected a reliable emergency radio; what I got was a lighting, signal-boosting, and parenting Swiss Army knife.

Here is how this compact powerhouse earned a permanent spot in my backcountry kit, along with a few field-tested hacks that turned deep wilderness camping into a genuine luxury.

1. Power Options for the Long Haul

While built-in solar panels and hand cranks offer peace of mind during emergencies, extended off-grid trips demand convenience. The real hero of the CCRadio Solar BT is its removable, swappable 18650 Li-ion battery design.

Instead of waiting on solar charging or cranking in the sun, I packed a small battery case loaded with six pre-charged 18650 cells. Swapping batteries took seconds, giving us continuous, worry-free power for music, news, and lighting all week long.

2. Pushing FM Limits in Weak Signal Zones

Pulling in crisp reception in deep valleys can be a challenge. Out at camp, I was trying to tune into 96.3 FM—a notoriously faint station in the area. The built-in telescopic antenna caught a faint trace of the signal, but it needed a boost.

Field Hack: The 12oz Can Signal Booster

I slipped the pull tab of an empty 12oz aluminum cola can over the tip of the extended antenna, positioning the can horizontally like a wind direction indicator. The added surface area effectively doubled the FM reception, locking in a clean signal for the rest of the trip.

3. The Secret Sleep Hack: NOAA White Noise

Camping with a 7-month-old (our daughter, Lexi) introduces a unique challenge: sleep environment. At home, Lexi sleeps to the soothing sound of a dedicated white noise machine. Without wall power at our campsite, we had to improvise:

FM Off-Tuning: Yielded a harsh, erratic static that was too jarring for sleep.
AM Off-Tuning: Sounded warmer, but ambient crackles, pops, and long-range signal fading kept interrupting the noise pattern.
The NOAA Band Solution: I switched over to the NOAA Weather Band (WX) and tuned to an empty, unused channel.

Off-tuning the WX band produced the smoothest, most consistent, beautiful white noise imaginable. It instantly calmed Lexi down and kept her asleep through the night—a total lifesaver for all of us.

4. Thoughtful Design in the Pitch Black

When sleeping in a blackout tent under a moonless canopy, darkness is absolute. Mid-night bathroom runs mean finding gear quickly without waking up the rest of the tent.

Glow-in-the-Dark Flashlight Button: C. Crane thoughtfully made the main flashlight button glow in the dark. A quick glance around a pitch-black tent revealed the glowing button instantly—no groggy fumbling required.
Bright, Ergonomic Lighting: The built-in LED flashlight provided plenty of beam strength to light up the trail across camp, and the radio’s body fits comfortably in one hand while managing tent zippers with the other.

At a Glance: Practical Highlights

Feature	Field Application
Swappable 18650 Battery	Continuous power with instant battery swaps
NOAA Weather Band	Emergency weather updates plus smooth white noise for baby sleep
Glow-in-the-Dark Controls	Effortless flashlight activation inside dark tents
Ergonomic Build	Comfortable one-handed carry on late-night trail walks

Final Verdict

The CCRadio Solar BT proves that well-designed gear goes far beyond basic utility. From signal mods and midnight trail navigation to keeping a baby sleeping soundly in the backcountry, it exceeded every expectation. Whether you are building an emergency prep kit or packing for your next remote getaway, this radio is worth every square inch of pack space.

July 1, 2026

Reflecting on 250 Years

These days there is so much noise in the media that at times it feels like our country is deeply divided.

We recently traveled from our Northern California home to New York for TALKERS 2026, an annual gathering of radio broadcasters from across the country. The journey there revealed a landscape surprisingly similar to the one we are used to. Lush trees, beautiful fields, flowing rivers, and a majestic ocean. Roads, power lines, bridges, and even airports all looked familiar. For most of the smaller to mid-sized communities the architecture was largely the same, but the fine details gave each place a signature of its own. New York is truly a marvel in its own right.

The people were largely the same as well; Americans through and through. We have many of the same concerns, the same hopes, and many of the same dreams for a brighter tomorrow for ourselves and our children. Families want opportunity, communities want safety, and parents want the next generation to inherit something even better than they received.

Throughout our nation’s history, we have debated ideas and disagreed on the path forward. Spirited discussion is part of what it means to be American. Yet through wars, hardships, celebrations, and triumphs, we have continued moving forward together as one nation.

There are countless things that connect us: helping neighbors after storms, cheering at local ball games, volunteering in our communities, and gathering with friends and family to celebrate holidays and milestones. These shared experiences often matter more than the headlines that dominate the news cycle.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence, we hope you’ll join us in reflecting on what our Founding Fathers built for us and the generations that followed who strengthened it. Their legacy lives on not only in our history books, but in our communities and in our hearts.

For more than a century, radio has carried the stories of America from coast to coast: news of triumph and tragedy, moments of celebration, and voices that brought communities together. In many ways, those invisible signals mirror the ties that bind us as a nation: often unseen, but always present.

May 26, 2026

Where Radio’s People Go: A Thank You to TALKERS and the Voices Behind the Mic

Radio has always been about connection, the feeling of belonging to something larger than yourself, of being drawn into a story told by a voice you trust. Perhaps that’s why you tune in as well. There is little that is more rewarding for us than finding a way to connect you to what you want to hear, whether that’s your favorite jazz station, a particular show, or your former alma mater’s student-run station. It’s why we do what we do, and why we show up for the people who keep those stories alive.

If you’ve ever wondered where the people who make radio gather, the hosts, station owners, program directors, engineers, the visionaries behind the scenes and in front of the mic, look no further than TALKERS. TALKERS magazine and its annual conference is one of the industry’s premier meeting grounds, where talk radio and the evolving world of spoken-word media get taken seriously as a craft, a business, and a cultural force. Talk radio: The original influencers.

Michael Harrison has spent decades as one of radio’s most honest champions. He has consistently pushed the industry to think harder, challenge the status quo, and defend the freedom of speech that gives every great story room to breathe.

C. Crane was part of that world very early on, when we attended our first TALKERS conference in New York. We’ve been back many times since as attendees and sponsors, and Michael and the TALKERS crew have always been genuinely good to us. We make the radios people use to listen to radio, and being welcomed into the room where those stories get made is something we don’t take for granted.

Over the years, those rooms have introduced us to some extraordinary people. Gene Burns was a favorite long before seeing him at TALKERS. C. Crane had advertised with him on KGO, and his gift for drawing you in came through in everything he did. He hosted many shows over his career; Dining Around with Gene Burns was a personal favorite, and Gene and his helper Joel could point you to the best restaurant in almost any city and just nail it. The speech Gene gave on freedom of speech was one of the best I’ve ever heard, a fierce and passionate defense that stayed with you long after it ended. I also remember the Chief Engineer (at the time), Thomas Ray, at WOR taking the time to walk me through the mechanics of radio towers while I was manning our booth. That kind of generous, unguarded knowledge-sharing is something you don’t forget.

We’ll be back in New York again this year for TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter. The landscape continues to change, but what hasn’t changed is the seriousness with which the people in that room take their craft, and their commitment to the stories only radio tells. We’re proud to be part of it. Thank you, TALKERS. Thank you to everyone in that room, past and present, who continues to show up for this event and for radio. We certainly wouldn’t be the company we are without you.

May 15, 2026

Ham Radio Has Its Own Secret Code — and It’s Been Around Way Longer Than Texting

Ham radio operators have their own secret language. Numbers that mean words. Letters that mean whole sentences. A code that’s been alive since the 1800s. Sound familiar? Millennials say they invented that kind of shorthand. Gen Z says they perfected it. Gen X has been there the whole time and honestly doesn’t care who gets the credit. LOL. BRB. IYKYK.

Welcome to ham lingo. If you know, you know.

Let’s start with the most legendary one:

73 means “best regards.”

But the backstory is better than that. Back in 1857, 73 literally meant “My love to you.” It softened over the decades… by 1908, it had become “best regards.” But the warmth never quite left it. Every time a ham signs off with 73, they’re carrying 160 years of friendly intention.

More from the codebook:

📡 CQ — “Calling any station” — A general shout into the ether: is anyone out there? The term comes from the French sécurité… pay attention. Ships were using it before it became the universal radio call. Some things are just too good to retire.

📡 CQ DX — Take that general call and add “DX” — telegraphic shorthand for “distance” — and you’re no longer shouting into the ether. You’re specifically reaching for someone far away. Usually foreign. It’s the difference between “is anyone out there?” and “is anyone out there… far out there?”

📬 QSL — “I confirm receipt of your transmission” — Hams even mail each other physical QSL cards as confirmation. A tradition that’s survived the entire digital age.

📍 QTH — “My location is…” — The original location share. No pin, no blue dot, no app. Just your call sign, your frequency, and where you are in the world.

🐌 QRS — “Please send more slowly” — the original “wait, what?”

💬 QSO — A conversation between two operators. Two people, a frequency, and something worth saying. Sometimes across town. Sometimes across an ocean. The format turned out to be so compelling that someone built a whole podcast around it. QSO Today has been running for over 530 episodes… weekly conversations with ham radio operators about their journey, their expertise, and how radio has shaped their lives. Turns out the QSO was always a good format. Just needed an audience and headphones.

🏠 The Shack — where a ham keeps their radio equipment. Every shack is different. Some are spare bedrooms with a single radio, some look like mission control. All of them have a story.

🎓 Elmer — an experienced ham who mentors a newcomer. Ham radio has had “Elmers” long before anyone called it mentorship.

📻 Rig — the radio itself. “Nice rig” is a real compliment in this world.

🔇 Silent Key — the deeply respectful term for a ham operator who has passed away. In old telegraph code, the number 30 meant “the end.” SK carries that same quiet weight. It’s how the community honors one of their own.

The Q Signals alone are a whole language.

They started as Morse code shortcuts… why tap out a full sentence when three letters say it all? Hams still use them today in voice conversations. It’s not unlike texting TY instead of thank you. Shorthand that started as efficiency and became just how you talk when you’re part of the culture.

And then there’s the phonetic alphabet. Another layer of the code.

When you give your call sign on the air, you don’t just say the letters. You say:

Kilo. Alpha. Six. Lima. Mike. November.

Clear, unambiguous, no matter how bad the static. It’s elegant engineering wrapped in language.

Here’s what’s fascinating: every generation invents its own shorthand for connection. Telegraphers in 1857. Hams on HF bands. Kids texting. The medium changes. The human instinct… to communicate efficiently, to belong to something, to have a language that’s yours… that part never changes.

Humans have been inventing coded languages for centuries. Some to protect secrets, some to move information faster than the enemy (or the bureaucracy) could follow. Ham radio operators inherited that tradition, even if their codes were born more from necessity than secrecy. But the effect is the same: if you know, you know.

73 to all. 🖐️

Curious what all the letters and numbers mean? The full ARRL ham radio glossary is a rabbit hole worth falling into: arrl.org/ham-radio-glossary

Sources and further reading: ARRL Ham Radio Glossary (arrl.org/ham-radio-glossary) and QSO Today Podcast (qsotoday.com)

May 11, 2026

A Salute to Amateur Radio Operators — America’s Volunteer Communications Network

I wanted to take a minute to recognize all of the amateur radio operators out there and say thank you. One thing that’s stood out to me about almost all of the amateur (ham) radio operators I’ve met is their willingness and interest in being of service. They truly are a national resource. What surprises many people is that this isn’t a government agency or a well-funded organization — it’s a volunteer network of individual licensed operators.

These are the folks who step up and are prepared to help in any emergency and, after an emergency, coordinate disaster recovery. Some operators are trained SKYWARN storm spotters, reporting real-time severe weather observations directly to the National Weather Service. Others serve through ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service), providing critical communications when normal infrastructure fails during disasters. Search and Rescue (SAR) is another common role, as is participation in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). Ham operators can also be found at hospitals, shelters, and command centers during major events. Many volunteer at public and charity events such as marathons, parades, and festivals. Places where cell service isn’t available or is unreliable.

Hamvention has been taking place since 1952 and remains one of the largest amateur radio gatherings in the world, drawing over 35,000 attendees from across the globe. Hundreds of vendors, a massive outdoor flea market, and technical seminars make it worth the trip, whether you’re a seasoned operator or just getting started. People come to buy, sell, and trade gear, attend forums, connect with manufacturers, and meet the operators they’ve only ever known by callsign. If Dayton isn’t practical, most regions host their own smaller hamfests, and your local amateur radio club is a great starting point for finding one near you. Search the ARRL club finder to get connected. If the thought of learning Morse code kept you from pursuing a license in the past, it’s worth knowing the FCC removed that requirement back in 2007, making now a great time to get started.

73 to you!

— Jessica Crotty CEO, C. Crane

March 18, 2026

One of the Most Unique Uses We’ve Heard for a Radio

I love hearing stories from our customers about how they use our radios. Honestly, after 30 years of talking to people as part of C. Crane, I thought I had heard them all, but it turns out I was wrong.

A great customer came in and shared that he has several of our radios, loves them, and uses one to deal with his bear problem and keep bears away.

I have to admit, I didn’t see that coming, and I couldn’t help but laugh when he told me.

For some context, this gentleman lives on a hill here in town with a forest bordering his backyard. He has several fruit trees, which are, of course, very appealing to bears. For a long time, every night, a bear came in to damage and destroy his trees.

CC Radio 3 - Radio outside as a bear deterrent

One day, he was talking to a friend, lamenting his bear problem, and the friend said, “Oh, you just need a good radio. It will take care of the problem.”

Truly intrigued, he said, “A radio? How?”

The friend explained that you put it on a talk radio station, not music, and turn it up loud enough that it sounds like people are having a conversation. Then you place it in the yard, and the bears will stay away. The idea being that bears don’t want anything to do with people.

Since he already had several of our radios, he decided to give it a try. He placed one on his deck, and that night, no bear. The following night, no bear. And this continued until one night the bear was back. I’m sure you can guess why… the batteries had run out.

Since that first night, he’s only had three instances of the bear returning, and every time it was because the batteries had run out. Thank goodness many of our radios last a long time on a set of batteries. He also mentioned that only our radios work because they get such good reception, which makes sense since you need clear voices for this to work.

Below are actual pictures of his yard and the CCRadio he uses to help keep the bears away. So if you have a bear problem, it may be worth a try. He definitely swears by this solution.

This is by far the most unique use I’ve heard of for our radios. If you have another creative use you’d like to share, please comment below. We love hearing these stories and discovering problems we didn’t even know radio could solve!

Happy listening (or in this case deterring bears)!

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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