Emergency radio

How to be ready

• Get a crank or battery radio
• Know SRF 1 as the information channel
• Store spare batteries with the radio
• Plan the car radio as a backup

Why a mains-independent radio is indispensable

During a power or mobile-network outage almost all communication fails – but broadcasting remains. Via radio the authorities can still reach the population across the board with instructions, even when internet and the mobile network have long been dead. That is exactly why you need a device that runs without a socket: a battery, crank or solar radio.

For precisely this case the federal government operates the protected emergency-radio infrastructure IBBK ("Information of the population by the federal government in crisis situations"). It uses hardened FM transmitters whose signal is receivable even in cellars and shelters – an essential reason why FM remains important despite DAB+.

• A radio with its own power source is the most reliable one-way information source in the event of an incident.
• Crank radios often also charge the phone via USB – handy, but the radio remains the core purpose.
• The car radio is a usable backup, but costs fuel and ties you to the vehicle.

FM, DAB+ and the upheaval in Switzerland

Switzerland is in the middle of the switch from FM to DAB+. SRG switched off its FM transmitters at the end of 2024, DAB+ is the official digital standard. Private radio stations, however, continue to broadcast on FM: parliament scrapped the originally planned FM ban, and OFCOM is granting new FM concessions for the period from 2027. There is currently no fixed switch-off date for FM.

For preparedness this means: a device that receives both DAB+ and FM is the safest choice during the transition. DAB+ delivers most programmes, FM remains the fallback level – and the federal emergency radio broadcasts on FM anyway.

• DAB+: digital standard, clear reception quality, the main distribution of the radio programmes.
• FM: abandoned by SRG, still used by private stations and the federal emergency radio – therefore not dispensable.
• For beginners: buy a combination device with DAB+ AND FM, ideally with crank/battery – then you are covered in every phase of the upheaval.
• Expert tip: do a full station scan on the device once (DAB+ and FM) and note your most important information stations along with their frequency/channel – in an emergency you do not want to search first.

Which stations and frequencies?

The most important information station in the event of an incident is, in German-speaking Switzerland, Radio SRF 1. Via the first SRG transmitter chain of each language region (SRF 1, RTS La Première, RSI Rete Uno) the authorities broadcast official announcements; SRF 1 also broadcasts regional journals with local news daily.

There is no single, universally valid list of "the" FM frequencies per location to memorise – the frequency depends on your region, and the ongoing reallocation changes the assignments. The only official source is OFCOM (list of Swiss FM stations and transmitter-location map). Therefore rely on your device's station scan and – very important – note your stations in advance.

• Note now (not only in an emergency): your regional SRF 1 FM frequency as well as the DAB+ channel/station name of your information station.
• Keep the note with the radio – scans take time and power, a noted station saves both.
• Official FM station list and location map: OFCOM (bakom.admin.ch). Other lists (Wikipedia, radiomap.eu) are not official.
• For beginners: set SRF 1 as the first station/preset button.
• Expert tip: store your regional SRF 1 FM frequency in the car radio and on a backup device too – in the event of an incident the IBBK emergency radio broadcasts on exactly this frequency.

Alertswiss and the official warning channels

Besides the radio, the federal government operates Alertswiss together with the cantons – the official warning app and website (alert.swiss) of the FOCP. They deliver messages in three levels: alarm, warning and information, with location, impact and concrete behavioural instructions.

Alertswiss and radio complement each other: the app warns quickly on the smartphone, the mains-independent radio remains the fallback level when power and mobile network fail. In an emergency the rule is: switch on the radio and follow the authorities' instructions.

• Set up the Alertswiss app (free, iOS/Android) and alert.swiss as the official warning source.
• In case of siren alarm: switch on the radio and wait for instructions.
• For beginners: install the app and look at the functions once before you need them.
• Expert tip: do not rely on the app alone – in a blackout without a mobile network, the radio remains your only reliable channel.

Good to know

• In case of siren alarm: listen to the radio
• DAB+ is Switzerland's digital broadcasting standard. SRG has not broadcast on FM since the end of 2024 – but private stations and the federal emergency radio continue to use FM.
• Alertswiss complements the radio but does not replace it

Further sources

• FOCP Information in the event of an incident
• SRF Radio programmes
• Alertswiss Official warnings
• OFCOM FM station list & map
• Satellite communication Level 4: network-independent satellite channel (Starlink/Iridium)