I'm looking for a fun home based cb radio. Is this the type of radio I would buy to listen to other people transmitting?

This radio operates on two different frequency categories: GMRS & FRS. This radio does not operate on the CB (Citizens Band) frequencies. You will not be able to listen or speak to anyone on the citizens band frequencies.The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a North American land-mobile FM UHF radio service designed for short-distance two-way communication. It requires a license in United States but can be used license-free in Canada. The United States permits use by an adult individual who possesses a valid GMRS license, as well as his or her immediate family members.1 Immediate relatives of the GMRS system licensee are entitled to communicate among themselves for personal or business purposes, but employees of the licensee, who are not family members, are not covered by the same license. In 2010 the Federal Communications Commission posed removing the individual licensing requirement. As of August 2013 no final action has been taken.Family Radio Service (FRS) radios, and share the FRS frequency band near 462 and 467 MHz. Mobile and base station-style radios are available as well, but these are normally commercial UHF radios as often used in the public service and commercial land mobile bands. These are legal for use in this service as long as they are GMRS type-approved. They are more expensive than the walkie talkies typically found in discount electronics stores, and are generally considered higher quality.GMRS & FRS radios are typically handheld portable devices.If citizens band frequency is our your goal, then you will need to purchase a citizens band radio. Frankly, I would say skip it because citizens band frequencies are cluttered with foul mouthed clutter. If you are interested in exploring over the radio, you might find it more entertaining too purchase a radio that can receive shortwave and long wave frequencies typically called "ham radios". You need a license to transmit on ham radio frequencies, but you do not need a license to receive. There are many radios available that receive shortwave and long wave ham radio. You will need to brush up on your foreign languages if you expect you to understand some of it. Remember, with ham radio you are receiving signals from across the world as well as locally. That's part of what makes it more interesting. Good luck to you and enjoy.

I've seen other (cheap) crank chargers described as having wrecked cell phones. Any experience with this one, positive or negative, w/ re cell phones?

My Best Method for Charging Electronics in The Outdoors: Buy a portable solar panel (like the Anker 21-Watt dual USB Port Solar Panel system on Amazon for under $60 dollars which includes 3 stackable solar panels) and a portable USB power pack (make sure the power pack is over 10,000 Milli-Amp Hours compacity; make sure it is waterproof, drop proof, dust proof; FOS brand USB portable battery has one that I use for this; charge the battery at home, in a hotel/motel/brothel, or at an available AC power source due to fastest available power source; RAVPOWER USB Battery Pack makes an excellent battery with Quick Charge 3.0 and USB Type-C ports as well as (most importantly) quick charge IN-Port for charging the external battery very quickly; note: USB portable batteries take several hours to charge (6-12+), unless the IN-Port has quick charge technology built in to charge the battery quickly). Use the solar panel to charge the USB battery pack (or two power packs) in the day time (put the solar panel in a clear zip lock bag to keep it out of the rain and hang it from your backpack has you walk around; buy 6 foot Anker or Aukey brand USB cables from Amazon to connect your Anker Solar Panel to your USB battery pack(s). Use the USB power pack to charge your electronics at night after the USB Power Pack has been charged in the day time (Note: Solar Panels can still charge batteries on an overcast rainy day). Don't use the USB Solar Panel to charge something like a cell phone that's turned on. The phone (or similar device) will use the solar power to operate and will barely charge the internal battery of the phone or device. Amazon also sells a SOAIY USB Fast Battery Chargers to charge battery types such as: AA, AAA, 18640, 18650 and many other battery types. Personally, I carry this system with the Anker Solar Panel and the FOS USB battery to charge my flash light batteries (AAA and AA), my Steripen Water Cleaning System (works best after running dirty water through a Organic Cotton Coffee Filter, then a Sawyer Water Filter System and finally killing all viruses/bacteria with the Steripen Ultimate - can be charged via USB charger or USB battery pack), my Midland 2-Way Handheld Radios, my cell phone - for emergencies or music to keep me moving, and any other portable electronic gadget you may need like GPS or medical device. Hope this helps someone. Sincerely Jacob

What is the ratio of time cranking to charge, to amount of time able to listen after cranking (ex., 10min crank, 40min listen time)?

2 tps for 90 sec = 60 minutes charge time is what the specs say

I have had the battery on charge for over twenty four hrs and still no charge from the battery. Any advice?

Try using the crank to charge the batteries. If it does charge the batteries then you know your charging cable is bad. If it does not charge the batteries then you know the batteries themselves are bad. I hope this helps. Btw I don't use this radio anymore. I've switch over to useing a BaoFeng 2 way radio now. It's much cheaper and is much much more impressive.

Midland® - XT511 - Emergency Radio - 22 Channel Two-Way Base Camp Radio with 5 Power Options, 121 Privacy Codes, 3-LED Flashlight & NOAA Weather Scan + Alert - Gray/Black

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