Radio

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Radio

General

Category

Communication

Encumbrance

1.5

Function

Listen to broadcasts

Properties

Energy source

Portable

True

Two-way

False

Frequency range

88000–108000

Technical

Item ID

Radio.RadioRed
Radio.RadioBlack
Radio.RadioMakeShift

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.

Usage

This section may be in need of improvement.

this section and subsection could use some cleanups, crafting should probably go there too

Editors are encouraged to add any missing information to the article, while verifying that the article's current content is correct.

An example of the interactive radio interface.

All radios are batteries powered. They will spawn with a battery already installed, however, having the radio turned on will drain its battery until it is consumed. Some radios can be found already turned on, these will have their batteries drained based off how long they have been turned on.

To use a radio, right-click it in the inventory or the world and select "Device Options". This will open the radio control UI. 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 or headphones, and select and edit preset frequencies.

Two-way radios will transmit and reproduce voices at a distance, such as the Ham Radio, while the standard radio can only receive 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.

Radios can also listen to the Automated Emergency Broadcast System (AEBS) radio station, which is randomized every game. Once the player finds a radio with the AEBS present saved, they can then enter the frequency for it on any other radio and thus unlock the station. Paired with earbuds, the player can get hints about the oncoming weather, and possible helicopter event and power shutoff events.

Stationary or portable

Radios can be used either as stationary furniture, or as portable equipment. When portable, the radio must stay equipped in either the player's primary or secondary hand to be used. Walkie-Talkies function better as handheld devices (and transmit as well as recieve), but quick equipping of these will fill up a belt slot.

Strategy

• Place a radio in a preferred location, power it on, and tune it to the same frequency as your walkie talkie. Make sure it has no earbuds, and turn up the volume. *From a safe distance (within range), make noise using the shout command or voice chat.
• Nearby zombies should converge on the receiving radio where you can evade them, shoot them, toss a Molotov, etc.

Frequencies and broadcasts

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

Frequency	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.
Random MHz	Civilian Radio	Commentary, chatters.
Random MHz	Classified M1A1	Unknown.
Random MHz	Unknown Frequency	Unknown.

• Random MHz frequency stations require player to manually add preset with the correct radio spectrum. However, it should be noted that AEBS preset is the only one that player can find available on pre-existing radios.
• 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.

Disassembly

All radios can be dismantled with a screwdriver, producing a variety of components as well as two pointns of 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.

• 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 varies by model.

Icon	Tile	Name		Volume				Item 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	Ingredients	Tools	Requirements	Workstation	XP
Makeshift Radio	Scrap Electronics ×2 Amplifier ×1 Light Bulb ×1 Radio Receiver ×1 Electric Wire ×1 Aluminum ×2	Screwdriver	Guerilla Radio vol.1	none	none

Code

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

Premium Technologies Radio
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt

Retrieved: Build 41.78.16

item RadioRed
	{
	    DisplayCategory = Communications,
		Type			= Radio,
		Icon			= RadioRed,
		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,
		AcceptMediaType = 0,
		WorldStaticModel = RadioRed_Ground,
	}

ValuTech Radio
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt

Retrieved: Build 41.78.16

item RadioBlack
	{
	    DisplayCategory = Communications,
		Type			= Radio,
		Icon			= RadioBlack,
		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,
		WorldStaticModel = RadioBlack_Ground,
	}

Makeshift Radio
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt

Retrieved: Build 41.78.16

item RadioMakeShift
    {
        DisplayCategory = Communications,
        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,
        WorldStaticModel = RadioBlue_Ground,
    }

See also

• Television
• Walkie Talkie
• Ham Radio