C. Crane Blog

October 5, 2026

The IQ40: A Radio Show Inspired by a Father, Son, and a CC Skywave

All the Top 40 Songs in 30 Minutes!

Radio has a way of bringing people together and sometimes in unexpected ways. For Chris O’Brien, listening to shortwave with his young son on a C. Crane Skywave eventually led to something neither of them could have anticipated: a new radio show. Chris recently shared his heartwarming story of how the show came to be, and with his permission, we’re sharing it with you in his own words.

I had the honor of working for many years with veteran radio programmer and CHR voice icon Mark Driscoll. Working with Mark was what my buddy Tim would call “a lifestyle.” More than once we talked from sundown to sunrise. He first taught me through his work at my hometown CHR Top 40 station, Q102 WIOQ. When we began collaborating in 2005, his encyclopedic knowledge of radio and marketing became a daily masterclass. Mark passed away on August 22, 2022. I went through a rough period—I was a new father who had just lost one of my best friends and the best voice in radio imaging with whom to create.

I spent two years on a project that ultimately didn’t work out. Importantly, I had never been—and never had any desire to be—a radio DJ. Then, a little over a year and a half ago, my then-three-year-old son and I started listening to shortwave together on my C. Crane Skywave radio. One day he asked, “Hey, Daddy, how does a radio show come out of the radio?” I played him some old recordings. He stopped me: “No, Daddy… the real radio,” pointing at the Skywave.

So I arranged some time on WRMI in Miami, a 100,000-watt blowtorch on 9455 kHz. The show had to feature me on the air—per my son’s instructions. I had always thought it would be great to just play the hooks of the songs. Attention spans are shrinking; in a TikTok world, a four-hour countdown could be distilled into 30 minutes. All the Top 40 songs in half an hour.

What to call it? Since it would be heard globally, it became The International Queue Forty—or The IQ40 with Chris O’Brien. The concept evolved into a weekly time capsule: news, pop culture, gossip, and radio history sprinkled throughout.

After the first few episodes, emails started coming in, and the rest was history. In February the show gained a great opportunity to air on the Las Vegas-based streamer Max Hits Now (MaxHitsNow.com) throughout the day on Sundays.

You might hear me comparing which KYW Newsradio jingle in Philly is the best, recording thunderstorms in stereo and ranking them, or following a certain Goodyear Blimp around the world just because. And who can forget the time we aired 1190 AM WOWO Fort Wayne’s old C-Quam stereo jingles? They still sound great.

The C. Crane Skywave inadvertently helped create a new radio format I dubbed “Micro-40.”

We now have listeners all over. Our first listener, “Rich from Tampa,” has his own jingle during our weekly thank-you segment. Sue from Manning, South Carolina, received a birthday jingle. Predictable unpredictability is the name of the game—the show is never produced from a rigid template, so each week feels unique.

We just surpassed 40 shows.

And guess what? I love being a DJ. My now five-year-old son works on the show most weeks—unless his duties with the Paw Patrol keep him from the studio.

Thanks, C. Crane.

Today, The IQ40 with Chris O’Brien can be heard around the world on shortwave via WRMI and online. Tune into WRMI with one of our shortwave radios or listen via YouTube (we think you should).

About Chris O’Brien:

I was blessed with a fun career in radio imaging. At 20, Tim Sabean (of the Howard Stern world) hired me as Imaging Director at WYSP in Philadelphia. Later, Lee Abrams and Dave Logan brought me to XM Satellite Radio as one of the original Imaging Directors—Audio Animators for the network. There I produced the imaging for BPM, served as a station voice, and produced XM’s flagship Comedy Channel. Legendary program director Gerry DeFrancesco then hired me to return home to Philadelphia and craft the female-friendly sound of Mix 95.7.

Beyond radio, I co-wrote, shot, edited, and directed the independent feature film Tapped in 2008. I also directed and produced Lou Nolan: A Hockey Life, which screened at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia before several NHL Flyers games, and Penning the Pursuit, an independent documentary about the writer of HBO’s 24/7 series featuring actor Liev Schreiber. I hosted a talk show on XM and, years earlier, on shortwave radio.

September 25, 2026

The Enduring Connection of Radio: A Message from Jessica

Late-night storytelling holds a special place in the heart of C. Crane. Before there was on-demand streaming, satellite, and all things digital, radio was the perfect medium to connect those battling insomnia, driving through the night, or working the graveyard shift. I would argue it still is.

When I first started at C. Crane, I spoke with so many listeners whose companion was their radio. What I learned from them and what I saw firsthand is that anyone can deliver a news story and tell you what happened (at least that used to be true), but not everyone can connect to an audience and tell a story. This message was reinforced over and over at the TALKERS (radio industry) convention we attended this past year.

What I know for sure is that the late-night listeners are some of the most loyal listeners. The people up when the rest of the world isn’t. In a world where attention spans are ever shrinking, this unique group is often listening to shows that are two, three, or even four hours long. Late night offers room to explore the unexplained, the paranormal, the edges of what science can explain. With live callers, there’s a unique intimacy. There’s always the possibility of something extraordinary and unexpected.

The Wall Street Journal recently wrote about how Americans are craving “analog rooms” free of digital distractions. Screen-free zones. Given the constant demand for our attention, it’s not surprising that people are choosing a more analog experience, and radio definitely fits that bill.

More now than ever, every home needs a radio, not just for emergencies, but also to connect. We’re currently working on some new radios and updates to the current lineup with features you’ve been asking for. We want to make sure the radios we offer continue to meet the needs of the people who rely on them. The parts landscape is a moving target, with something new to navigate each day. To that point, we are working toward some U.S. manufacturing. If my psychic abilities were more attuned, I’d provide a timeline. Alas, that skill set continues to be beyond me.

And that brings me back to the people who make all of this worthwhile: our customers. As always, thank you so much for your trust and support. I appreciate receiving the emails and handwritten notes about the products and the service. They remind us that what we do matters, and they help us continuously improve.

-Jessica Crotty, CEO C. Crane

Our 2027 catalogs are mailing now, if you haven’t received yours by October 15th, please give us a call or fill out this form and we’ll mail one to you.

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)!