Midland Weather Radios Compared: WR120, WR400 and ER310

On this page (10 sections)

1. Which Midland weather radio fits your needs?
2. How should you choose a Midland weather radio?
3. What does the WR120B offer for home alerts?
4. What does the WR400 add for home use?
5. Should you choose the ER310 or ER310PRO?
6. How do you set up county alerts?
7. How should you care for and use the radio?
8. What common buying and setup mistakes should you avoid?
9. Which Midland weather radio should you choose?
10. About this guide

The Midland weather radio range includes home alert radios and portable emergency models, with different choices for county programming, clock features and power. The WR120B suits focused home alerts, the WR400 adds alarm clock and AM/FM functions, and the ER310 models are built around portable emergency use.

Choose by where you will keep the radio and how you will power it. For more on the role these radios can play in an emergency setup, start with our guide to two-way radios and emergency weather radios.

Which Midland weather radio fits your needs?

Choose the WR120B for home alerts, the WR400 for a clock radio, or an ER310 model for portable use. The ER310PRO is the choice here when solar and hand-crank charging matter.

How should you choose a Midland weather radio?

Start with its main location, then match the alert controls and power options to that location. A radio that stays beside an outlet has different needs from one packed for a power outage or outdoor trip.

For a nightstand or kitchen counter, consider whether you need county targeting, a visible alert indicator, an audible alert choice, or a clock. The WR120B keeps the focus on weather alerts, while the WR400 combines alerts with daily clock and radio functions.

For a go-bag, vehicle, or outdoor kit, consider how you will keep the radio running when wall power is not available. The ER310PRO has solar and hand-crank charging; the ER310 offers a built-in flashlight.

Think through whether Bluetooth or a phone charging feature would be useful, rather than choosing extra functions you may not use.

Also consider who needs to hear or see an alert. A household that benefits from voice or flashing visual alerts may prefer the WR400's alert choices.

A simpler indicator-based setup may suit someone who wants the WR120B's color-coded display.

What does the WR120B offer for home alerts?

The WR120B supports S.A.M.E. programming for up to 25 counties and alerts for more than 60 kinds of weather hazards and emergencies. Color-coded indicators show alert type and severity.

S.A.M.E. stands for Specific Area Message Encoding. You enter a code for the area you want to monitor, which can be a county or, in some cases, part of a county.

The alert override switches the radio to warn of impending danger. A continuous backlighting option can keep the LCD on, and the radio can use corded power or batteries.

Choose the WR120B if your priority is county-based alerts and a clear alert indicator. Skip it if you specifically want an alarm clock, AM/FM playback, or solar and hand-crank charging.

Read our Midland WR120B weather radio review for a closer look at that model. If you are still comparing alert radios, our NOAA weather radio guide covers other choices.

What does the WR400 add for home use?

The WR400 adds an alarm clock, AM/FM radio and several alert styles while keeping S.A.M.E. programming for up to 25 counties. Its weather scan checks 10 available weather band channels and locks onto the strongest one.

You can choose an 85 dB siren, a voice alert or a visual LED flasher. The radio has 80 emergency alert types and can switch from AM/FM mode to relevant all-hazard alerts.

Its built-in clock has an alarm and snooze button. You can wake to local weather, an AM/FM station or a buzzer, and four AA batteries provide backup during a power outage.

Choose the WR400 if you want a home weather radio to serve as an alarm clock too, or if multiple alert styles would help in your home. Skip it if you want a smaller set of functions or need solar and hand-crank charging for portable use.

The USB output can charge devices, but do not treat that as a substitute for a dedicated backup battery plan. Keep the radio connected to its normal power source and have the specified AA backup batteries available for outages.

Should you choose the ER310 or ER310PRO?

Choose the ER310 for a portable alert radio with a flashlight; choose the ER310PRO if you want solar and hand-crank charging, Bluetooth and a power bank. Both are aimed at portable emergency use.

The ER310 offers NOAA Weather Scan and Alert, USB connectivity and a built-in flashlight. Its power setup uses six included AA batteries, so keep spare batteries with the radio if you plan to rely on it away from home.

The ER310PRO has an internal lithium-ion battery, solar and hand-crank charging, and Bluetooth streaming. Midland describes it as providing 200 hours of battery during radio use; it also has a power bank for external devices.

For signaling, the ER310PRO has an SOS flashlight beacon that flashes Morse code, a 130-lumen CREE LED and a rescue dog siren. Those features suit someone assembling a portable emergency kit who values signaling options as well as weather updates.

Skip the ER310PRO if you only need a basic radio and flashlight, or if you do not expect to use its extra charging and Bluetooth functions. Skip the ER310 if you specifically want solar or hand-crank charging.

How do you set up county alerts?

Set up county alerts by finding the correct S.A.M.E. code, entering it in the radio and confirming that the radio receives a weather broadcast where it will stay. The WR120B and WR400 allow programming for up to 25 counties.

Use the radio manual for the exact button sequence and settings. Decide whether you need alerts for one county, several nearby counties, or a partial county where supported, then enter only the areas relevant to your household.

Place the radio where its display and alerts can be noticed. Keep it connected to power if it is intended for home use, and install the correct backup batteries for your model so the radio has a power source during an outage.

Reception depends on the radio receiving a weather broadcast. If the signal is weak, try the setup steps in the manual and review our guide to NOAA weather radio frequencies and channels to understand the channel options.

How should you care for and use the radio?

Keep the radio powered, correctly programmed and easy to hear or see. A weather radio helps only when it can receive alerts and someone can respond to them.

Check the display and alert settings periodically, especially after moving the radio or changing the counties you want to monitor. Replace backup batteries as needed, and keep the manual with the radio so you can restore settings if you change them.

For a portable model, keep its charging method in your emergency routine. Do not assume sunlight or cranking will provide instant, continuous power; charge it ahead of time, learn how its controls work, and carry any needed cables or spare batteries.

Treat a weather radio as one part of an emergency plan. Keep a separate way to receive local information and know where household members should go when an alert arrives.

What common buying and setup mistakes should you avoid?

The main mistakes are choosing by feature count, entering the wrong area code and leaving the radio unpowered or out of hearing range. Match the radio to a real location and routine before you buy.

• Buying the WR400 for its extra functions when a focused alert radio would be easier to use.
• Choosing the WR120B when you actually want an alarm clock, AM/FM radio or voice and visual alert options.
• Selecting the ER310PRO for its charging features without planning to keep it charged or use its extra functions.
• Assuming S.A.M.E. programming improves reception. It targets alerts; the radio still needs a usable weather broadcast.
• Programming too many areas without considering which warnings are relevant to your household.
• Storing the radio in a drawer, where its alert may be hard to hear or see.
• Forgetting to install backup batteries or check the charging routine before a power outage.

If a radio is beeping unexpectedly or failing to receive alerts, use our NOAA weather radio troubleshooting guide to check common causes.

Which Midland weather radio should you choose?

Pick the WR120B for focused home alerts, the WR400 for alerting plus clock radio features, the ER310 for a portable flashlight radio, or the ER310PRO for portable charging and signaling options. Your main use location should settle the choice.

Choose the WR120B when county targeting and a straightforward home setup matter most. Choose the WR400 when its clock, AM/FM radio, and selectable alert styles will earn a place in your daily routine.

Choose the ER310 when you want a portable radio with a flashlight and battery power. Choose the ER310PRO when solar or hand-crank charging and its additional portable functions are useful for your kit.

For help interpreting the message once an alert arrives, read our guide to weather watches and warnings. The best Midland weather radio is the one you have powered, programmed for the right areas and placed where its warning can prompt action.

About this guide

We compared Midland weather radios by their alert, programming, power and extra features. Follow the instructions for your specific model when programming alerts and preparing backup power.

Frequently asked questions

Which Midland weather radio is best for home?

The WR120B is a focused home choice, with S.A.M.E. county programming for up to 25 counties and color-coded alert indicators. Choose the WR400 if you also want an alarm clock, snooze button, AM/FM radio, and a choice of siren, voice, or visual alerts.

What is the difference between the WR120B and WR400?

Both offer NOAA weather alerts and S.A.M.E. programming for up to 25 counties. The WR400 adds an alarm clock with snooze, AM/FM radio, USB output, four AA battery backup, and siren, voice, or visual LED alerts; the WR120B has color-coded alert indicators.

Which Midland weather radio can you take outdoors?

The ER310 and ER310PRO are the portable emergency radio choices in this group. The ER310 has a built-in flashlight, while the ER310PRO adds Bluetooth streaming and solar and hand-crank charging.

Choose based on the power options and extra functions you expect to use.

Do Midland weather radios need county programming?

S.A.M.E. programming lets you enter codes for areas you want to monitor, including a county or, in some cases, part of a county. The WR120B and WR400 support up to 25 counties, so program the places whose alerts matter to you and follow the radio's instructions.