DAB+ Emergency Radio Sandberg® Power Bank Flashlight Bluetooth Speaker

Description

DAB+ Radio and Emergency Radio Sandberg® – Info, Light, and Backup Power

Sandberg Survivor DAB Radio All-in-1 20000 combines DAB+ and FM radio, a 20,000 mAh power bank, a flashlight, a reading lamp, and a Bluetooth speaker. It is a portable radio for home listening, the cottage, and camping, but also a tool during power outages.

The purpose of an emergency radio is simple: to allow you to listen to information even when home internet is down or you need to save your phone’s battery. The Sandberg radio receives DAB+ and FM programs via an antenna. You don’t need WiFi, a SIM card, or mobile data to listen. You just need a charged battery and a sufficient radio signal.

• DAB+ and FM reception – the ability to choose the reception method that works best in your location.
• 20,000 mAh / 74 Wh battery – for using the radio and charging USB devices.
• USB-C charging – the primary way to fully charge the battery.
• Hand crank and solar panel – for additional emergency charging.
• Flashlight and reading lamp – lighting for moving around and close-up reading.
• Bluetooth 5.3 – play audio from your phone or another compatible device.
• Color display – 2-inch TFT screen for displaying device and radio info.

Why keep an emergency radio at home?

In the event of a power outage, your TV and home router may stop working. During a longer outage, mobile communications may also be disrupted. A battery-powered radio provides an additional way to listen to news and official instructions, as its use does not depend on the home power grid or internet connection. However, a broadcasting transmitter must be operating and the radio must be in a location with sufficient coverage for reception.

Official emergency alerts and behavioral instructions are broadcast, among other channels, on Estonian National Broadcasting channels. Therefore, it’s worth checking in advance how to listen to Vikerraadio or Raadio 4 in your home and saving the necessary station to the radio’s memory. Notification channels are described in more detail in the Rescue Board and Ministry of the Interior emergency notification guidelines.

An emergency radio can be in daily use in the kitchen, workspace, or cottage. Regular use helps you get familiar with the buttons and menus and notice when the battery needs charging. This way, you won’t have to learn how to use the device only in the dark or at a stressful moment.

Three preparations that make the radio truly useful

1. Charge the battery and test the functions. Try the radio, lighting, and phone charging with your own charging cable.
2. Check the coverage where you use the device. Test both DAB+ and FM reception and find a suitable place to position the radio.
3. Show others how to use it. All family members should know how to turn on the radio, select a station, and change the volume.

In an office, apartment association, or other shared space, it’s worth appointing a person to periodically check the battery charge. You can place a short paper instruction next to the radio with details of the stations verified on-site.

What is DAB+ radio?

DAB+ is the standard for terrestrial digital radio broadcasting. Unlike FM radio, audio is transmitted in digital form. The radio signal reaches the receiver from the transmitter via an antenna, not the internet.

Multiple radio programs can be transmitted in one DAB+ frequency block. Such a set of programs is called a multiplex. For the listener, this means that after a station search, a list of programs appears on the screen, and you can choose the desired station by name. For example, the designation 7B indicates a frequency block through which several stations may be broadcast.

DAB+ allows for transmitting additional info alongside audio, such as the name of the radio station or program. The information visible on the screen depends on what the radio station transmits and what the receiver can display. You can read more about the standard on the WorldDAB website.

Which devices support DAB+ radio?

To listen to DAB+, a device must have a corresponding receiver. This is found in DAB+ table radios, portable radios, compatible car radios, and special add-on receivers.

A digital display does not automatically mean DAB+ support. A radio with a screen may also be an FM-only receiver. Look for the DAB+ mark in the device description. For older devices with only the DAB standard, DAB+ compatibility must be checked separately.

A phone’s radio app also doesn’t turn the phone into a DAB+ receiver. Listening with an app usually happens via the internet. Similarly, a Bluetooth speaker function does not in itself mean the presence of a DAB+ radio. More information about receivers can be found on the DAB+ Estonia website.

What are the advantages of DAB+ over FM radio?

• Selecting a station by name. After searching, you can choose the desired program from a list.
• Ability to offer more programs. Multiple radio stations can be transmitted in one frequency block.
• Hiss-free sound with sufficient signal. Digital reception does not come with the background hiss characteristic of FM.
• Additional info on the screen. It is possible to display text transmitted by the station and other supported info.

At the same time, DAB+ does not automatically mean better sound in every situation. Sound quality is also affected by the bitrate used by the station, encoding, the receiver, and the speaker. With a very weak signal, DAB+ audio may cut out or go completely silent, while speech from an FM radio might still be intelligible despite the hiss.

Comparison of DAB+ and FM radio

Having both reception methods allows you to choose the more suitable one. The effect of a weak signal is explained in more detail in the technical comparison of FM and DAB reception.

How to listen to DAB+ radio in Estonia?

DAB+ broadcasting is available in Estonia. To listen, you need a DAB+ supported radio, an antenna, and sufficient coverage. Levira describes its service coverage as approximately 85 percent of the population. This does not mean the same proportion of Estonia’s land area, nor does it guarantee reception in every building.

Check the possibilities of your location on the DAB+ coverage map. You can find transmitter channel blocks and the list of radio stations on the DAB+ Estonia technical info page. General coverage info is published on the Levira radio broadcasting service page.

At the time of checking, the DAB+ Estonia program list includes, for example, Vikerraadio, Raadio 4, Kuku, Star FM, Elmar, and MyHits. Reception of all stations may not be possible in every location, as the coverage areas of different networks may vary.

Information on Estonian stations and broadcasting networks was verified on September 9, 2026. Lists and coverage areas are subject to change.

First-time setup of a DAB+ radio

1. Charge the radio battery. Perform the first setup with a sufficiently charged device.
2. Pull out the telescopic antenna. Start listening near a window.
3. Select DAB mode with the MODE button.
4. Run a full station search. Use the search in the DAB menu and let it run to completion.
5. Select a found station. Check the stability of the sound and save the desired program to memory.
6. Also test the FM mode. This way, the alternative listening method is already familiar.

You can find the exact use of buttons and menus in the user manual for Sandberg model 421-38.

What to do if the DAB+ radio doesn’t find any stations?

The absence of stations in one room doesn’t necessarily mean a device failure. First, check that DAB mode is selected, not FM or Bluetooth. Then move the radio near a window, change the antenna position, and run the full search again.

Reception can be degraded by reinforced concrete walls, metal structures, building placement, and other obstacles. If necessary, test in another room or a safe place outdoors. Also try searching with the charging cable removed to rule out potential interference from the charger.

For the Tallinn transmitter, the channel blocks in the list at the time of checking are 7B – 190.640 MHz and 10D – 215.072 MHz. If manual tuning is available, you can try these. In other regions, follow the data of the local transmitter.

If the DAB+ signal remains weak, select FM mode. For an emergency radio, the most important thing is a stably audible program, not the use of a specific reception method.

Does the radio work in a basement or shelter?

This depends on the building and local coverage. An underground room, thick walls, or metal exterior cladding can strongly weaken the radio signal. Check reception in the desired room before a potential emergency and agree on an additional way to receive info. During a threat, do not ignore sheltering instructions to search for better coverage.

20,000 mAh power bank: how much use is it really?

The nominal capacity of the Sandberg battery is 20,000 mAh at 3.7 V, or 74 Wh. This energy is used by the radio, lighting, and charging connected USB devices.

The number of phone charges cannot be accurately found simply by dividing the power bank’s mAh number by the phone battery’s mAh rating. Battery voltage, conversion and charging losses, and the phone’s simultaneous energy use must be taken into account.

Illustrative calculation: if a phone has a 15 Wh battery and the efficiency of the entire charging chain is assumed to be 75%, 74 Wh × 0.75 ÷ 15 Wh would give approximately 3.7 full charges of energy. This is an explanatory calculation, not a measurement made with this device. The actual result depends on the phone, cable, battery condition, and use of other radio functions.

Three charging methods – different tasks

USB-C charging is the standard way to fully charge the battery. The manufacturer gives a charging time of 8–9 hours with a suitable power source. With a weaker charger, charging may take longer. Charge the radio from a USB power source before a trip or a predicted power outage.

Hand crank charging is intended for short-term additional charging in an emergency. According to the manufacturer, one minute of cranking provides approximately 1–2 minutes of radio operating time. The result depends on the cranking and usage. This does not mean that a few minutes of cranking will fully charge a phone battery.

Solar panel provides an additional charging option in situations where USB power is unavailable. The panel’s maximum power is 0.33 W, so it is not intended for quickly charging a large battery.

For comparison: dividing 74 Wh by 0.33 W gives about 224 hours of work at nominal power, even before accounting for charging losses. In actual use, the result is affected by cloudiness, sun angle, and nighttime. This calculation explains the relationship between the panel and battery size and is not a time forecast for solar charging.

Practical principle: fully charge the battery via USB before use and treat the solar panel and hand crank as backup options.

How long can you listen to the radio?

The manufacturer states a maximum listening time of up to 160 hours in FM mode and up to 140 hours in DAB mode. Actual usage time depends on volume, temperature, battery condition, use of lighting, and phone charging, among other things.

These maximum times should not be treated as a promise to simultaneously listen to the radio, use the lamp, and charge a phone. All functions use the same energy reserve. Charging and operating time figures come from the manufacturer’s product page.

Flashlight and reading light

The radio’s lighting helps you move in the dark, find a necessary item, or read instructions written on paper. The flashlight provides directed light, while the reading lamp is suitable for illuminating a nearby surface.

Combining several functions is convenient, but for a longer outage, it’s worth keeping a separate light in your gear as well. For example, a headlamp leaves both hands free and allows you to preserve the radio’s battery for listening to news.

Bluetooth speaker and audio listening

Bluetooth 5.3 allows you to play audio from a paired phone or other compatible device through the radio’s speaker. The phone only needs internet if the content being listened to comes from the network. Playing audio files previously downloaded to the phone does not require functioning mobile communication.

Additionally, the device supports up to a 128 GB TF/microSD memory card and has a headphone output. Bluetooth does not increase DAB+ coverage: these are different functions used for different purposes.

The radio weighs 890 grams. At home, at the cottage, or when going camping by car, combining several functions can be convenient. For a longer hike, it’s worth separately evaluating which functions you need and how much weight you want to carry.

What do the SOS function and IP53 protection class mean?

The SOS function provides an audible and visual signal on-site. It does not call the emergency number or send your location to rescuers. A separate communication method is needed to call for help. Also, DAB+ reception does not in itself mean support for waking up to automatic emergency alerts.

IP53 does not mean waterproofness when submerged in water. Keep the radio away from heavy rain and water jets, and protect open connection ports from moisture. The operating temperature range published by the manufacturer should not be treated as the battery charging temperature range; follow the device’s safety instructions when charging.

Technical specifications

Technical specifications: Sandberg product page and user manual.

What’s in the box?

• Sandberg Survivor DAB Radio All-in-1 20000 radio
• 50 cm USB-A to USB-C charging cable
• Carrying bag
• Quick guide
• GPSR safety guide

The manufacturer’s kit list does not include a wall power adapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Info verified: 09.09.2026. The DAB+ station list and coverage area are subject to change. Operating times are maximum values published by the manufacturer. Calculation examples are explanatory and do not replace measurements made with the device.

To compare other solutions, also see our dynamo and solar-powered radio power bank.