Select-A-Tenna – AM Antenna
C. Crane started in 1983 selling AM antennas. After starting to gain momentum selling mostly antennas and radio accessories, we received our first real technological challenge when customers starting asking for recommendations on the best radio. It was pretty easy to select the Sangean 803A as the first radio we offered to our customers. Tuning was precise and voice audio was sharper and more legible than most other radios on the market. With the Select-A-Tenna that we sold, it turned into one of the best radios made for reception. It was a little complex to use as a regular daily radio but it met many customer’s needs. We also carried the GE Super Radio which was much easier to use but lacked some of the functionality customer’s wanted and supply was erratic. It seemed that there wasn’t a good blend of features, performance and ease of use.
In the background we went about acquiring and testing just about every popular radio made at the time. It turns out that most radios are tuned for music and FM. There are many that have too much bass or filtering which distorts the human voice for talk radio and even voices found in music tracks. It turned out nobody was making a radio that made voices sound realistic and very few had good reception. If they did, they were so complicated that you needed a PhD just to turn it on or they were so expensive you needed a small loan to pay for it. It took 10 years to convince a manufacturer to help us make the radio we knew our customers needed and wanted. Something that had some of the most desired functionality (memory presets, clock, alarm), audio tuned for voice, excellent reception and wasn’t too difficult to use.
We started the CCRadio by selecting a speaker and an amplifier designed to react well with voice frequencies. Trying to make a sensitive radio that picked up weak stations was the real challenge. The new solid state chips generated their own static noise that masked the weak signal so that is all you heard. It took months to reduce the noise and make the radio quiet so a weak station was above the noise level. The original CCRadio was introduced in July of 1998 and we haven’t looked back. Grandma Faye gave the best compliment; “You can hear the voices with this radio”. It’s gone through a few different iterations based on customer feedback and changes in technology but the idea behind it remains and it continues to be one of the most popular radios we offer. Models based on our design are still popular worldwide. It took several more years but we eventually invented and received a patent for the Twin Coil Ferrite AM antenna. This allowed us to exceed the reception of our original AM antenna and radio.
Our line of CC Radios has expanded to include different types and styles but the focus on reception and audio remains. C. Crane has talked first hand with over one million radio listeners concerned with improving their reception. There is a considerable group of listeners who enjoy or by circumstance choose to use radio as their primary source of news and entertainment.
Enter to win: In honor of our CCRadio anniversary month, 20 years of CCRadios, tell us your favorite anniversary story in the comments on this blog and win the CCRadio of your choice. Drawing will be held July 31st. Please only one entry per person.
CONGRATULATIONS William for winning a brand new C.Crane radio of your choice!!! Thanks to all who participated. We value our C. Crane fans and enjoyed all your comments that show how much people truly love Radio. See you next contest!
C. Crane Blog 
Excellent products, very satisfied long term customer
I had purchased the CCrane Sonido radio years back, I’ve got to say after trying to listen to any AM stations like Coast to Coast, that alone was nearly impossible until I got my Sonido radio! I also love the built in weather alarm system, it has come in handy during many nasty storms here in Indiana. I’ve shared CCrane links several times over the years on facebook and twitter singing the praises of this Co. and it’s products! Definitely worth the money I spent on my radio, but being as old as my favorite radio is getting, I would love to win a new one, especially since tomorrow is my birthday yay!
Thanks for sharing your love of Radio & C.Crane over the years Melissa! Its the passion and support of our customers that have kept us going for over 30 years. Wishing you the Happiest Birthday!
I love C. Crane! My friends have one and I love his when we go camping. I can’t wait to get mine…
I recently purchased CCRadio’s EP PRO. The AM sound is lovely (I can’t stand a high pitched sound like tin & static.) and I’m able to get signals that my other radios couldn’t pickup due to wireless interferences. Now, I can listen to Coast without interference.
When I had my CC Radio, I would use the Select-A-Tenna in order to get those out of area radio stations like KGO, KCBS, and AM 610. It all depends on where you use this radio from.
I have always been a fan of your company. My first CC Radio I purchased almost 20 years ago for my office to help improve reception. Mostly I listen to NPR in the background as I worked. My office was on a hill in the highest location in the area.
A couple years into owning the radio we took a lightning strike & the LED screen went blank. I used the radio for 15 years searching for the station I wanted & locking it into a button. The hardest thing was knowing what band I was on.
The radio since died but I loved that radio & I now have the one we had bought for my father.
As we speak I am awaiting a new EP Pro for my mother-n-law who ask me how to improve the reception on her radio.
I am a big believer in your companies premise of quality products that are easy to use.
I do believe your ads should mention your speakers ability to reproduce music as well as speech.
A fan for life!
We appreciate your story and following us all these years WTMILLER! Great to know you are a family of Radio lovers. Thanks for the tip on sharing about our speakers. Hope your MIL loves her new EP-PRO. Happy Listening!
Earbuds, built to listen To the human voice! Not what you usually find.
I bought a Sangean from C. Crane many years ago, Only had one problem with it, sent it back to be fixed an had it back in less than two weeks good as new, What great service. I have since purchased a small portable, an antenna for the Sangean and an internet radio that receives 1000’s of stations. My only problem now is where to get a bigger bedtable for all my radios. My wife thinks I’m running NASA from our bedroom at night. Thanks for all the great products through the years and also all the great information…………………Tom Snow
Thanks Tom for being a C.Crane fan over the years! We appreciate your loyalty and love of Radio. Happy Listening!
I love the NASA quip, Tom. Women have their Shoes but we have our radios, eh?
73, Bruce VE6XTC.
Years ago I knew how scarce the AM reception was “up north”! In the early 1960’s,I lived in Eureka,Calif and one of my earliest memories was being carried home late at night from the neighbors while holding an early transistor radio; a Sceptre “Boy’s Radio”,that was playing “Mr.Lonely by Bobby Vinton. Years later,in northern Indiana,I couldn’t usually receive AM with any regular reception any farther than Denver (KOA 850). One early morning when I was unable to sleep,I was very surprised to pick up a somewhat strong signal just to the left hand side of Nashville (WSM 650). I almost fell over when I heard that it was Los Angeles (KFI 640) as the strong signal of WSM usually overpowered any weaker signals nearby! This was received on a mid 1950’s Zenith Trans Oceanic tube portable. Years later,I discovered a mid 1940’s Capehart 400 console,a 28 tube monster that was missing several tubes and needed work. Imagine my surprise when I turned it on,and the first thing I heard out of the huge Western Electric loudspeaker was “This Is The Republic of Vietnam”!!! Lol! Congratulations to C Crane on you’re anniversary, and for helping to keep radio enjoyable for all!
Thank you C. Crane for making such cool stuff..🐨
Great radios
I always take my cc radio and the pillow speaker with me where ever I travel to and listen to coast 2 coast am to fall asleep
I “only” have 4 CCrane radios
You are quite the “collector” Donald! Thanks for supporting us over the years and Happy Listening!
I have been happily listening to my ccradio for years.
After my grandmothers passing, we gathered to talk about her personal items. One of the items to disperse was a CCrane radio. I made it very clear that I wanted it but it went to one of my uncles.
I hope your uncle tires of the radio and gives it to you.
I know that if C Crane carries a radio, then it is good quality. I’ve had several radios from your company, including the original CCRadio.
My favorite C Crane radio to date is the CC Skywave. I love how it receives on AM and FM, but the big surprise is shortwave.
With the just the little whip antenna and the ATS function I can find all of the currently active AM shortwave stations by scanning the bands in just a couple of minutes. This has enhanced my shortwave program listening very much. No more hunting for stations or finding them in program guides with the possibility of not hearing the station at my location. I know of no other shortwave radio that does this as well.
My old CCRadio is gone, but I’ve been thinking of getting another one so I can listen to the Cincinnati Reds baseball play by play from North Carolina. I can receive
WLW once the sun goes down, but it’s hard to receive at 7:00 or 7:30PM when the games start.
Thank you C Crane for giving us a place to find quality radio gear. Please keep up the good work!
Kelly Mills
Great to know you are are enjoying your CC Skywave so much Kelly! We appreciate your feedback and support over the years. All the best & Happy Listening!
I love both my Skywave radios. So many great features are packed into such a small receiver. When I travel, that SSB radio is sure to be in my suitcase. As it is, both the regular and the SSB model get daily use.
I can still hear that Voice from the Desert in the early 2000’s…before Ramona passed.
I was listening the night he came back to the microphone and told of the night Ramona died. Amazing guy that he was able to hold it together. Will never forget the “time traveler”…..and whenever there was a disaster anywhere…..Art would dedicate a phone line to that area for whatever help may be available. Oh yes, he is missed!!
I got my first CCradio at least 20 years
ago I had it until earlier this year
I got my 2nd around Y 2K, it’s still on my
nightstand and plays every night l am
Getting ready to get the CC2E very soon.
I also have a super Wi-Fi antenna that
Does a fantastic job. I have a CC pocket
that works great for it’s size on the
downside I purchased a CC SW that didn’t
last very long.
Thanks for many night time hours of
listening enjoyment.
Don Brown
We sure appreciate you Don! Over the years you have been a great supporter. You’re going to love the CC Radio 2E! Thanks for your continued support and Happy Listening!
My favorite anniversary comment: How Sweet And Great CC Radio Has Been !!!!
Looking forward to my recent first purchase
I learned about C.Crane from listening to Art Bell, as a teen, in the 1990s. Art always said something like, “Give Bob Crane a call in the morning and they’ll take care of you”.
Now as an adult:
My wife made fun of my wind up radios and LED lights from you guys. Once Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy hit here in NJ, the joking stopped. They helped us keep our sanity with the extended power failures. I have now added the CCRadio2E, the CC Solar Observer and the CCSkywave to my home office. I love listening to the EWR pilots above my home with the Skywave!
Keep up the creativity, the neat features, the thorough user manuals and the new product launches. I look forward to being a life long customer!
What a great story. People often mock us who care about being prepared for power outages until it happens. I have the CC lanterns and the CC Observer solar. I also have the 2-cell solar battery charger so I can keep both Skywave radios running.
And speaking of being prepared, I had a large gas heater and a gas stove installed. Those helped when the power went out during the winter and I was able to keep warm. I could cook dinner and make hot cups of coffee while I waited for the electricity to be restored.
73,
Bruce VE6XTC
C Crane has kept me supplied with radios, flashlights, adapters, Select-A–Tenna, etc., for years.
My first purchase was my Sangean ATS 818cs.
I bought it the day after I first heard Bob Crane talk about it on Coast to Coast.
It lasted until recently when it retired and went to radio heaven.
Now I plug my CC Radio EP into my VersaCorder and it’s good to go.
My CC Radio has such great reception, I listen to classic radio shows from Utah, here in Phoenix.
I get talk shows from all over the country.
In my opinion, I don’t know how the reception could be improved upon, it’s nearly flawless.
My CC Observer is by the bed in case of a power outage.
I know I can depend on it.
If I were rich, I’d buy duplicates of everything I’ve bought.
In this day of everything being disposable, C Crane makes products to last because they’re quality.
I‘ve never been disappointed in anything I’ve purchased from C Crane Co.
To me, CC stands for Complete Confidence, which is what I have in everything I buy from C Crane.
MH Ellen
I live in Guerneville Ca. I heard about CCCrane from Art Bell when he was on KDWN Las Vegas. Being in the redwoods I had a bad time getting a signal. I was born in Eureka so on my way to visit relatives I stopped in Fortuna. Bob was hooking up a wood stove in an old house he moved from another old house, this was his headquarters. I think it was on 10th st. Bob sold me a radio and a Select-A-Tenna. This was quite a bit before the famous CC Radio. I have 2 homes and 3 CC Radios,3 Select-a-Tennas a Terk A Tenna, pocket radios, accessories,etc. Good job Bob. The best part is that first radio that Bob sold me is still working in my shop!
Stan Buck
Love my new CC-2e. It is a great complement to the Skywave that I got last year.
I particularly enjoy the adjustable bass/treble that provides the great sound. The tap buttons to retrieve station choices and the easy to use top mounted power switch make the radio easy to use.
So far I don’t have a CCrane radio. So it would be fantastic to win one 🙂
I still use my Select A Tenna,I purchased from you in 2001.
I have bought quite a few radios from C Crane! Let’s see, 2 C Witnesses, (totally super for recording mp3! Not a bad radio either), a couple Sangeans, the CC Pocket, the C C shortwave, the original Skywave, and I just got the latest Skywave SSB. This has been quite a blessing! Every one of these are still working and that goes back a long time! I sold a couple of the older ones to friends that I knew would appreciate them and they have! My one friend got the older C Witness and was so happy to record his final choir before his old church closed. He used the good external mics sold by CCrane! Many of the other members wanted copies as it came out so good. My little Skywave SSB outperforms most my other top radios including the Grundigs, all but one Tecsun, and even a couple older Sangeans! Kudos C Crane! Here’s to another major anniversary! I hope I’m around for your 60th! I hope to see you sell a full-sized radio with all the Skywave SSB features plus 2 meter? That would be so awesome! Believe me, I would your first customer! You do have you eliminate the muting while tuning though.
I have 3 ccrane radios, and they all get used everyday. I live in the Sierra’s, radio reception is poor during the day, and I like to listen to the SF Giants baseball game. All the radios get the game. We also have power outages, so it is nice to turn on the radio and listen to the local weather reports, NPR, and jazz from one the NPR station out of Sacramento. A glass of wine, heat from the wood stove, and jazz from the radio makes a great night. I do not worry about shoveling the snow or snow blowing the driveway until the next morning.
I love my radios.
I feel the same way about my CC radios. My Skywave, Skywave SSB, and my CC Solar Observer get used daily. Power outages happen here in the country as well, mainly due to worn-out power lines. I tune into Environment Canada’s weather broadcasts and I use those to tell if troppo DX is happening.
73,
Bruce, VE6XTC.
I have an original CCradio, you replaced the display after a few years and we have bought 3 more. I was disappointed to find that my wirfi adio was becoming obsolete but as usual CCradio has supported the old customers in a fine manner.
I Still have my original CCradio from 1999. It still works. The display went dark years ago. Bought the second generation in 2006. That one no longer works!
I am sorry to hear about your CCRadio Plus no longer working. Parts for that older model are a bit scarce. We do have a refurbishment program. I recommend phoning in to customer service 1-800-522-8863 to inquire on getting your CCRadio Plus refurbished.
I might consider doing that. Do you have any idea what the cost would be? Thanks.
You will need to discuss pricing with the customer service representative. I cannot give you an exact number without knowing the specifics. Thanks again!