The 2016 can receive the following four bands: FM, TV1 (audio of TV channels 2-6), TV2 (audio of TV channels 7-13), and NOAA/NWS weather. Reception is fairly good on all of the bands. It lacks an AM band, but this reduces the weight and size because it doesn't need to have a ferrite rod, which is used in most radios as an AM antenna.

It runs on three "AA" batteries and does not have a jack for powering it with an adapter. In general, it is a good quality receiver which is very portable and convenient to use. The newer 2150 is a similar portable model (receives the same four bands plus AM) with a different appearance.