Radio

Navigation:

Project Zomboid > Items > Radio

Radio

General

Encumbrance

1.5

Technical

Item ID

See Types

A radio is an interactive item added in build 33. It allows the player to listen to radio broadcasts, including music stations, talk-back stations, news reports, military stations and adverts. Unlike walkie talkies, radios are receive only. Most vehicles also include radio equipment, with civilian vehicles having basic radios whilst military or emergency service vehicles can have two-way-capable sets.

Stationary or portable

All radios can be used either as stationary furniture, or as portable equipment in the primary or secondary slot, although ham radios may be prohibitively heavy to carry. Likewise, they can be found in containers as lootable equipment, or sitting on counters and desks as furniture. To convert a furniture radio to portable, pick it up like any other furnishing:

• Enter "Pick Up Mode".
• Highlight the tile containing the radio.
• Cycle through the tile's objects if needed (default key R).
• Click to add radio to player's inventory.

To convert a portable radio to furniture:

• Put the radio in main inventory, not in a bag or equipped.
• Enter "Place Mode".
• Click the radio in the inventory.
• Click the desired tile to place it.

How to use

An example of the interactive radio interface.

All radios require batteries to function, but every radio is found with a full battery included. (This applies even to "furniture" type radios, and is in contrast to televisions which always use wall power.) To use a radio, right-click it in the inventory or the world and select "Device Options" to open a control panel window. Here you can see information about the radio's specifications and current settings, power it on or off, remove/replace the battery, adjust the volume, add earbuds for stealthy listening, mute the mic on a two-way, and select and edit preset frequencies.

It is a good idea to check if radios have the Automated Emergency Broadcast System (AEBS) preset, which is randomised every game. The player can then select "Add Preset", set the frequency to the AEBS, and it will be saved for all future presets on radios. If the player has a walkie talkie and some earbuds they can then listen to the AEBS, stealthily, anywhere. Alternatively, radios in vehicles can be tuned to the AEBS for more mobile listening. The AEBS is important to listen to for the helicopter event and the power shutoff.

Two-way radios will transmit and reproduce voices at a distance. While the radio can only recieve and not transmit, the reproduction will be silent to nearby players and zombies if the receiving radio is using earbuds; otherwise, it will make noise in the environment depending on the volume setting. Bear in mind that only one radio in a given area will reproduce the voice, and if the person speaking is nearby, it will not reproduce it at all to prevent feedback. Radios farther away (generally beyond visual range) will still pick up and reproduce the voices.

Frequencies and broadcasts

Most radios will be found with one or more preset frequencies, usually one of these local commercial stations:

Station name	Purpose
89.4 MHz Hitz FM	Music station.
93.2 MHz LBMW - Kentucky Radio	News, music.
Random MHz Automated Emergency Broadcast System	Weather, emergency.
98 MHz NNR Radio	News station.
101.2 MHz KnoxTalk Radio	Talk show, music.

• There are also "hidden" broadcasts on non-commercial frequencies, which include civilians noting military presence, and military broadcasts. You are free to add presets for any frequency in the radio's spectrum.
• Throughout the first week of the infection, news media and music stations will report on the Knox Event, and give the player outside information on world events, including riots, curfews being put into effect, and eventually, the breaking of the quarantine.
• Both scripted and non-scripted radio broadcasts will still occur after media blackout.
• The frequency of the Automated Emergency Broadcast System varies each game. Radios with the frequency preset can be found in the world.

Disassembly

All radios can be dismantled with a screwdriver, producing a variety of components as well as 2 Electrical skill XP.

The obtainable items are as follows:

Icon	Name	Amount	Affected by Electrical skill
	Aluminum	0-4
	Amplifier	0-1
	Electric Wire	0-4
	Scrap Electronics	1-5
	Light Bulb	0-1
	Radio Receiver	0-1
	Headphones	1 (if present)
	Earbuds	1 (if present)
	Battery	1 (if present)

The odds to receive items affected by Electrical skill:

50 + (Electrical Level)*5)%

Recipes that use the Electrical skill to produce radios from components can be unlocked by finding the right magazines.

Types

Radios are one of the three types of communication devices. As a rule of thumb, weight increases along with range and frequency band; a radio with greater range and more available frequencies will weigh more, with high-quality ham radios weighing as much as 20 or more.

• Consumer radios: Receive only, lightweight, commercial frequencies only. Consumer model radios serve as the radios installed in most (but not all) cars.
• Walkie Talkies: Short-range two-way, lightweight, more frequencies. Can be put in belt slots.
• Ham radios: Long-range two-way, exceedingly heavy, most or all frequencies. Earbuds cannot be used. Ham radios are best used as stationary furniture in a safe location. Ham radios are quite rare, but can be found in vehicles that would require a two-way radio such as those used by emergency services; fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, and so on.

Radios come in a variety of styles and qualities. The range of available frequencies vary by model.

Model	Icon	Name		Volume				Base ID
		Premium Technologies Radio	1.5	15	88 MHz	108 MHz		Radio.RadioRed
		ValuTech Radio	1.5	10	88 MHz	108 MHz		Radio.RadioBlack
		Makeshift Radio	1.5	10	88 MHz	108 MHz		Radio.RadioMakeShift

Crafting

Product	XP gained	Skill(s)	Recipe	Ingredient 1	Ingredient 2	Ingredient 3	Ingredient 4	Ingredient 5	Ingredient 6	Ingredient 7
Makeshift Radio	0 XP	none		Screwdriver (keep)	Scrap Electronics x2 (consumed)	Amplifier (consumed)	Light Bulb (consumed)	Radio Receiver (consumed)	Electric Wire (consumed)	Aluminum x2 (consumed)

Code

Premium Technologies Radio

Code snippet! This section contains source code from Project ZomboidShow / Hide

Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt

Retrieved: Build 41.50

item RadioRed
{
  Type				= Radio,
  Icon				= Radio,
  Weight          	= 1.5,
  ConditionMax		= 100,
  DisplayName		= Premium Technologies Radio,
  UseDelta			= 0.009, 
  UseWhileEquipped	= FALSE,
  DisappearOnUse	= FALSE,
  TwoWay			= FALSE,
  TransmitRange		= 0,
  MicRange			= 0,
  BaseVolumeRange	= 15,
  IsPortable		= TRUE,
  IsTelevision		= FALSE,
  MinChannel		= 88000,
  MaxChannel		= 108000,
  UsesBattery		= TRUE,
  IsHighTier		= FALSE,
  WorldObjectSprite	= appliances_radio_01_8,
  Tooltip			= Tooltip_item_Radio,
}

ValuTech Radio

Code snippet! This section contains source code from Project ZomboidShow / Hide

Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt

Retrieved: Build 41.50

item RadioBlack
{
  Type				= Radio,
  Icon				= Radio,
  Weight          	= 1.5,
  ConditionMax		= 100,
  DisplayName		= ValuTech Radio,
  UseDelta			= 0.007, 
  UseWhileEquipped	= FALSE,
  DisappearOnUse	= FALSE,
  TwoWay			= FALSE,
  TransmitRange		= 0,
  MicRange			= 0,
  BaseVolumeRange	= 10,
  IsPortable		= TRUE,
  IsTelevision		= FALSE,
  MinChannel		= 88000,
  MaxChannel		= 108000,
  UsesBattery		= TRUE,
  IsHighTier		= FALSE,
  WorldObjectSprite	= appliances_radio_01_0,
  Tooltip			= Tooltip_item_Radio,
}

Makeshift Radio

Code snippet! This section contains source code from Project ZomboidShow / Hide

Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt

Retrieved: Build 41.50

item RadioMakeShift
{
  Type				= Radio,
  Icon				= Radio,
  Weight          	= 1.5,
  DisplayName		= Makeshift Radio,
  UseDelta			= 0.007,
  UseWhileEquipped	= FALSE,
  DisappearOnUse	= FALSE,
  TwoWay			= FALSE,
  TransmitRange		= 0,
  MicRange			= 0,
  BaseVolumeRange	= 10,
  IsPortable		= TRUE,
  IsTelevision		= FALSE,
  MinChannel		= 88000,
  MaxChannel		= 108000,
  UsesBattery		= TRUE,
  IsHighTier		= FALSE,
  WorldObjectSprite	= appliances_radio_01_16,
  Tooltip			= Tooltip_item_Radio,
}