Product Description
- Emergency Hand-Crank Power Generator
- Built-in Cell Phone Charger, Flashlight, and Emergency Siren
- AM/FM/TV-VHF/NOAA
- Rechargeable battery pack provides reliable, renewable, internal power for everyday use
- Stereo headphone jack
When an emergency strikes, will you have the vital information you need? The Etón FR300 answers that question with a resounding yes. This sturdy AM/FM radio is built to handle the elements, as well as a power outage, thanks to a hand crank that can be used to recharge the built-in battery. Thanks to the FR300's reception of NOAA weather radio, emergency information is always close at hand when you need it, making this radio a must-have for anyone who wants to be as ready as possible for unforeseen events.
 Emergency lighting, cell phone power, and radio tuning all in one compact package. View larger. |
 The easy-to-read radio dial. View larger. |
 The hand crank recharges the integrated rechargeable battery. |
Weighing in at just under a pound and a half, and measuring just six and a half inches across, the FR300 is light and compact enough to take anywhere. Simple, easy-to-grasp rotating knobs on the front of the device control tuning, volume, and band selection. The tuning knob also features a fine tuning control knob superimposed on the main tuning knob for extreme tuning accuracy. An analog tuning selector is clearly marked with key frequencies, making it easy to quickly tune the stations that matter most. Two switches on the front of the device control the flashlight and power supply selection.
Tuning and Bands
As mentioned, the FR300 tunes all seven NOAA weather channels, plus the all important alert channel. In addition to AM/FM tuning, you can tune into the audio from VHF television stations -- TV1 and TV2, channels two through 13.
Connections and Power
Because the FR300 is built for those times when normal power options are not available, it provides a number of options for providing the juice it needs. An AC adapter (not included) charges the built-in Ni-MH battery pack, but again, If the power is out it can be recharged using the attached hand crank. Power can also be supplied by three "AA" batteries, and if there is no battery at all in the device -- including the rechargeable battery -- the radio will operate with continuous operation of the hand crank.
Extras
The FR300's LED light system offers three emergency lights, plus a flashing beacon mode. There's also a siren for alerting emergency responders to your location, as well as a cell phone charger for keeping your other vital communications tool topped off with power. The radio includes cell phone adapter tips for charging select models of Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sony-Ericsson, and LG phones. Note that not all manufacturers or makes are supported.
What's in the Box
FR300 radio, 5 cell phone charging adapters, carrying case, and owner's manual.
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Best present we ever received!
My father gave us this little radio a couple years ago for Christmas. That Spring, we really started to appreciate it when we had frequent tornado warnings in our rural Missouri area south of St. Louis. If we were under a tornado or severe storm watch at night, we could go to sleep, knowing the alert (siren and flashing light) would most definitely warn us, whereas before we would have to try to stay awake to watch broadcasts in case the warnings were in our area, or go to sleep and pray that if the nearest tornado alarm went off, we might possibly hear it. When we were holed up in the basement, we had a link with the outside, whether weather station, radio, or television broadcasts - and, of course, the light is invaluable.
We never imagined it would come in handy in the Winter, but now, going on our sixth day without power after a record-breaking ice storm, we have come to absolutely depend on it. We have used it constantly and it has been worth its weight in gold - and still on the same set of batteries. We have to play a bit with the antenna and location of the radio, sometimes, but we are still able to pick up every broadcast we might want. And the light - well, did I mention that it is invaluable? An emergency radio is a must, and this one has served us very well.
I think we tell my father at least once a month how much we use and appreciate the radio. So once again, thanks, Dad! (and hope we won't be using it much longer this time around . . .)
Good Quality for $$
This is a good radio for 50 dollars, my radio arrived in excellent working order. I get two weather stations Newport and Astoria. Great AM tuner and FM tuner. I really like the light function for when the power gets knocked out, its great for finding your way around the house. I have used it for 3 weeks now and have yet to change the 3 AA batteries. The rechargeable battery pack lasted about an hour after cranking or several hours after I recharged with the adapter. Also if you shine a flashlight on the tuner dial it glows in the dark for an hour. It doesn't have all the adapters for all cell phones which is kind of impossible considering cell phone manufactures change all the time so you have to buy new. If your in a desperate emergency situation cut the charger cord off your phone and hard wire it to the charging cable for the radio. The siren and red light are cute and may come in handy in the event of a large scale disaster. The handle on this radio is also a good feature, it helps hold it stable while charging with the dynamo. I bought three more for Christmas gifts. I found nothing else I liked better.
No Auto Alert function
We bought this radio for our home in Seaside OR as a means of getting earthquake and tsunami warnings. In never responded over 2 Wednesdays, when the weekly test alerts are broadcast.
Also, it had very poor reception for the 7 weather band stations. None was strong, several were very weak, but most importantly, and probably why the alerts were not received, was that the weather band circuitry was likely defective. I would guess based on other reviews of these products and my own work experience as a Electronics Design Engineer for the last 33 years, that it is a combination of poor design and poor manufacturing that the radio sections do not work.
Sadly, it also says that the products are not 100% tested or even lot-sampled prior to shipping. The factory only finds these problems after the customer has reported them - the entirely wrong method.
We returned ours and are still seeking a quality replacement. Perhaps this is a business opportunity for my wife's and mine design company.......