Above: Top – Original Model – Bottom – BT Version

When C. Crane introduced the original CC Radio Solar, I was very impressed with it. Now it has been upgraded with the addition of Bluetooth which is perhaps the only feature the original model lacked. In every other way the new radio seems identical to the previous model. It is currently selling for $99.99 which is the same price the original model sold for.

Let’s look at the Specs and Features of the new model:

Band Coverages: AM/FM/WX NOAA Weather with Alert

FM Band: 87.5 – 108 MHz/76 – 108 MHz

AM Band: 520 – 1710 kHz (10K/9K/1K Tuning Steps

Weather Band: Ch 1 – 7: 162.400 – 162.550 MHz

3 AM Bandwidths 2.5, 4, 6 KHz

5 Memory Presets per band

Lighted Display

Bluetooth Playback

LED flashlight with glow in the dark button

Micro USB input charging port

USB out port for phone charging

Aux Line In jack 1/8”

Headphone jack 1/8”

Clock, Alarm, Sleep Timer (120, 90, 60, 30, & 15 minutes)

Runs on included 18650 Protected 3.7V Li-ion 3400mAh Rechargeable Battery or 3 AA batteries

Reset Function

Weight: 1.1 lbs.

Size: 6″ W x 3″ H x 2.25″ D.

Above: Can optionally use 3 AA’s in addition to Rechargeable Li-ion battery

In Use Tests: I am happy to report that in every detail I could discern the new CC Radio Solar BT matches the performance of the original CC Solar which is good news. Here’s what I wrote about the original model with updates for the new BT version:

About the size of a brick (and every bit as solid) the CC Radio Solar BT features AM/FM/NOAA Weather Band reception with Weather Emergency Alerts. It also features a nice rubber surround and bottom panel for protection and secure handling. The CC Radio Solar BT can be powered by an internal Li-ion battery or three AA batteries. There is a switch under the connection flap to choose between the rechargeable or AA batteries which offers a uniquely redundant power backup which might come in very handy. The Li-ion battery can be charged via a standard Micro- USB charger or computer, by hand crank or the solar panel – a low-noise charger is offered as an optional accessory. You can even charge it while listening with the AA batteries. The CC Radio Solar BT features a backlit LED display, a bright flashlight with a glow in the dark control button and the ability to charge a cell phone. In addition, you will find an Aux Input jack for an external audio source, the usual Clock, Alarm and Sleep Timer functions, a Beep defeat mode and FM Stereo at the headphone jack. You can also select a High-Power amplifier mode for more power and volume when needed, or switch to Low Power for listening at lower volumes while extending battery life…C. Crane says the rechargeable battery should power the radio for approximately 50 hours.

This is a great list of features but there are several more, many of which you don’t usually find on emergency radios:

Lock: Press and Hold the Band and Power buttons for 2 seconds to lock or unlock the controls.

Beep Disable: With power off press and hold the Memory Button 3 for two seconds.

Designate Frequency or Clock while listening: With power off press and hold Memory Button #4 for two seconds to toggle between “C” (clock) or “F” (frequency).

Choose 9 KHz/10 KHz Tuning Steps on AM: With power off press and hold Memory Button #5 for 2 seconds. When set to 9 KHz the FM band is expanded to 76 – 108 MHz. You can also tune in 1 KHz steps for fine tuning. To activate 1 KHz AM Tuning Steps while listening to AM quickly press Memory Buttons 1 and 4 at the same time.

Enable High Power (Audio) Mode: While listening to the radio quickly press Memory Buttons 1 & 5 at the same time. (High Power Mode is always on when using the Aux input).

Select from three AM Bandwidths: While listening to AM quickly press Memory Buttons 1 & 3 to select from 6 KHz, 4 KHz or 2.5 KHz.

Reset all Settings to factory defaults: With Power Off press and hold Memory Buttons 1 & 5 for five seconds.

Change Memory Pages: Quickly press Memory Buttons 3 & 5 to enter Page Selection mode. Then press Memory Buttons 1 – 5 to select the Page number This will give you 20 additional presets for AM and FM.

Although these are described as Hidden Features, they are all outlined in the Owner’s Manual and once you start using them, they become second nature. They are also listed in a cheat sheet inside the battery cover for quick reference which is handy. I don’t know of any other multi-powered emergency radio with this long list of features.

Above: Inside of battery cover

Performance: With all of these unique features there is no doubt that the CC Radio Solar has more capabilities than other emergency radios, but how well does it perform?

AM Reception: I was pleasantly surprised at how good the AM performance is on this little radio. It rates *** on the AM Mega Radio Shootout Article which places it in the top category of emergency radios. Not only did it pull in stations as well as other *** AM portables but its choice of three bandwidths, the availability of 1 KHz tuning steps to help with problem signals and the optional high-power audio mode combine to make this little jewel sound great for its size. I use it as a daily player and never feel I am compromising on performance…this raises the bar for Emergency Radios.

FM & Weather Band Reception: Here again the CC Radio Solar is top tier with ***** reception on the (FM Mega Shootout) ranking on both bands. I put it side by side with my reference portables (larger and more expensive radios) and even on difficult FM frequencies which feature multiple faint signals the CC Solar kept up with the big boys. FM and Weather reception are excellent. Remember, with ANY portable Weather Radio, if you use the special Alert Mode be sure the radio is plugged into external power since in Alert Mode the radio is on all the time even when it is silent, waiting for an alert signal. Your battery would be depleted in a day or so…again the ability to use either the rechargeable Li-ion battery or 3 AA’s gives added power  backup. Of course, this only applies to Alert mode, not regular Weather Band reception. You can also listen to AM or FM while the Weather Alert remains active.

Sound Quality: As I mentioned above this radio sounds excellent for its size with what I would describe as crisp rather than mellow audio. The High-Power Audio mode gives plenty of volume and overall audio is well-balanced and pleasing…better than most other emergency radios. On AM the three bandwidths function as a de facto tone control, but I could wish for some sort of tone control for FM.

Solar Charging: During several weeks of daily use for about 2-3 hours a day I stored the radio when not in use in a window which gets direct sunlight most of the day. It maintained or increased the charge so I would say the solar panel functions well. I also found it could completely charge a fully depleted battery in a day or perhaps a day and a half so it is clear that the solar panel is very effective. Of course, if you get less direct sunlight, use the radio more or play it louder you may need to supplement the solar panel with some cranking or an external USB power source, but the solar feature does work very well and in most cases it should power the radio sufficiently for normal use. I recommend USB charging when possible because it is thr quickest way to charge…cranking takes a bit of time.

Conclusion: I’ve got to say I am still impressed at how nice this little radio is overall. It is unique among Emergency Radios in terms of its overall level of performance and features. In this category, reception, sound and ergonomics are all first rate and I couldn’t find any negatives to report about it. If you’re looking for an Emergency Radio this is one I can highly recommend…it is a reference in this category.

See it at C. Crane:

Jay Allen