American Red Cross FR150 Microlink Solar-Powered, Self-Powered AM/FM/Weatherband Portable Radio with Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger (Red) Review

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(More customer reviews)First thing that should be mentioned is that this full-featured emergency radio is amazingly small. Reading its approximate dimensions of 5" wide x 2-3/8" high x 1-13/16" deep can be misleading, so imagine it placed on its side on top of a dollar bill: it's actually smaller than US paper currency, and that's just one of the things that make this small radio so appealing!

You can charge the FR150 in less than two minutes using its hand crank. You can also place it in sunlight (even on an overcast day, as I found out) and its built-in solar panel handily powers the radio and recharges its battery pack.
The radio's tuner pulls in both AM and FM stations, and with surprisingly clear reception. It receives all seven NOAA bands using a separate slide selector, so you can monitor changing weather conditions, along with tuning in to the FCC and EAS public alert systems.
It has a flashlight with three LEDs on the its side, providing surprisingly bright illumination, and for comparison it's about on the same level as my Garrity Power Lite 3 LED Crank Light. This is also brighter than some of the predecessors from Eton.

If you're looking for audio attributes on the level of Bose, JBL or Polk Audio speakers, this radio isn't for you... but the sound quality of this small radio is quite remarkable. Listened to a favorite "smooth jazz" station for awhile, switched to classical then to '80s rock, and was quite pleased all around.
A number of places list this radio as having the option of an optional AC adapter, but couldn't find anything definitive on this, so made email contact with Eton's Customer Support. Received a reply within hours, where they stated that at this time, they do not have AC adapters available for the FR150 Microlink or the FR500 Solarlink, but are expecting these items to be available in about 60 days. The support rep suggested:
1. Charge by using the USB port on the computer (this requires a cable that converts USB to mini-USB, available at your local electronics retailer). I did this with the same USB cable used for my digital camera.
2. Solar power: leave the FR150 Microlink in direct sunlight for about 6 hours.
3. Use the Dynamo Hand Crank of the side of your radio (crank time: 2 minutes = radio play time: 20-30 minutes).
Should also note that there is a registration card with the instructions inside the box, and you can mail the card in for a free cell phone adapter tip. I found it faster to do the same thing online with Eton.
This is one of those products that is reasonable enough to want to have more than one for household and family emergencies. And speaking of emergencies, there's a simple but straightforward American Red Cross disaster preparedness tips booklet that's well worth the read.
Must admit to liking Eton's emergency radio products. Part of this is due to happy prior ownership of a Eton FR400 Hand Crank Radio and Power Generator, which has proven itself. Should also say that this little radio, which is smaller and more practical than I originally thought, has quickly become a favorite. It's about 60% of the size of its predecessor, and small enough to fit in a jacket pocket for those outdoor excursions. It's also available in white if you prefer:
American Red Cross FR150 Microlink Solar-Powered, Self-Powered AM/FM/Weatherband Portable Radio with Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger (White)

This one's a 5-star choice, without a doubt.
UPDATE: Already received the free cell phone adapter tip from Eton, just days after registering the ARC FR150 Microlink. Plugged the tip into the cord that came with the phone, then plugged the phone in and started cranking... and the phone indicated that it's being charged as I crank!

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Solar-Powered, Self-Powered AM/FM/Weatherband Portable Radio with Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger. The Microlink brings together some of the most popular features of our Voicelink, in a more compact design. This ultra-portable device is ideal to have on hand when you're roughing it. It also makes a great addition to any emergency-preparedness kit. No plugs or wires are required. Instead, turn the hand crank to power the Microlink, or capture the sun's energy and run it on solar power. You'll always know what's going on, thanks to the AM, FM and weather bands. You can also tune in to the FCC and EAS public alert systems. Add the flashlight, the cell phone charger and you've got one versatile little device.

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Etón FR1000 Voicelink Self-Powered Hand-Crank AM/FM/NOAA Weather Two-Way GMRS Clock Radio with Flashlight, Siren, and Cell Phone Charger (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I haven't tried all the features on this radio, but so far it's very good. Extremely solid with very clear sound and reception (mono - the radio only has one speaker). Very good battery life. About water resistance... I don't know about that. As a product designer there's a serious design flaw I can spot right away, and it's about water. Once you pick up the radio by it's handle, the battery compartment gets facing up. Frankly, the compartment will not keep water outside, even less if water is dripping from your hand in case of a shower to a facing up cheap battery compartment's cap. Inside the compartment there are a couple of holes that give direct access to the interior of the radio. Well... You do the math. The problem could have been prevented by using a simple water tight cap attached with screws. Lame. Anyway I'm still loving the device. I'll handle the water problem myself. It has a very readable green display and crank operation is very smooth. Solid antenna. Flashlight is bright indeed. I hope this helps.
*** UPDATE ***
I returned the FR1000 and purchased a FR500. The FR500 has all the attributes of the FR1000, but is solar (it works), has way better water protection and shortwave! Yeah I'm missing the two way radio thing, but is not such a big deal. The range is short anyway (~10 miles)I can always get a good receiver with the money saved in the FR500. Uff... now I'm in love indeed.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Etón FR1000 Voicelink Self-Powered Hand-Crank AM/FM/NOAA Weather Two-Way GMRS Clock Radio with Flashlight, Siren, and Cell Phone Charger (Black)

Self Powered Hand-Crank AM/FM/NOAA Weather/2-Way GMRS Clock Radio with Flashlight, Siren and Cell Phone Charger. Stay connected with the Voicelink FR-1000. This emergency crank radio combines two-way radio with GMRS technology, built-in flashlight, cell-phone charger and access to weather channels to prepare you for any emergency situation. Get prepared and get connected with the Voicelink FR-1000 today.

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Grundig S350 Deluxe AM/FM/Shortwave Radio, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this radio to replace a Panasonic RF1100 that I have had since it was new sometime in the 1970's. The 350DL has a lot of useful features and the primary ones for me include the sleep timer, alarm colck and the published claim of good sensitivity. The overall sound quality of this radio is pleasing. The sensitivity compared to cheap radios selling for a lot less is good although not as sensitive as my GE Super Radios models 2 and 3. As I have more sophisticated equipemnt for listening to shortwave, this was not one of my primary objectives for buying this radio although the inclusion of shortwave is a nice plus.
The controls are nicely laid out, the instruction manual quite easy to understand to enable you to derive the full enjoyment of all this radio has to offer.
The big drawback and dissapointment I found with the 350DL is the tuning control. There is a lot of " slop " in the control, not just the knob but from what is behingd the control panel. Another problem with the tuning control is an overabundant " backlash " when trying to set the tuning on a station, particularly when tuning in shortwave stations. You tune in the station or desired frequency, let go of the tuning knob and you can actually see it change as it moves forward or backward from where you left it. For those desiring to tune around the shortwave bands to see what is there this is a big drawback. I actually wonder how long the tuning control will last on this radio before it falls apart. The entire tuning knob assembly wiggles and wobbles while you turn it. This should not happen, and I feel is a major cause for concern. For the $100 price tag I am not expecting a mil-spec radio by any means but the poorly designed tuning system in this radio gives me no other choice than to down rate it. That is unfortunate too as this radio has many other features so worthwhile.
If you are planning on purchasing this radio to use for AM & FM broadcast reception and not change stations too frequently, it's a decent radio. If you plan on tuning to different stations frequently you may wish to consider looking at other makes and models befoe buying this.
I purchsed this radio primarily to use as a bedside clock radio with sleep timer and only occasional tuning. The digital display is not absolutely accurate but for the price it is good enough.

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AM/FM/Shortwave Radio. With its rugged body and military-style controls, the S350 Deluxe is ready for any challenge you throw its way. The large, full-range speaker gives you crisp, clear sound, wherever you are. The external antenna output allows for excellent AM, FM, and shortwave reception, and the separate bass and treble knobs put you in control. Whether you're out in the field, or just out in the backyard, you'll enjoy listening to the best that radio has to offer.

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Cobra HHROADTRIP 40-Channel CB Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased two of these units for our emergency "go" kits and regularly carry one in the truck.
I like the size and features where you have both CB and weather channels, the hot swap between services is handy as is the CB channel 9/19 hot key. The noise filter does work and gives better reception under some conditions.
Some limits I've found: The antenna designed for use with the unit in CB hand held mode limits communications to under a quarter mile line of sight in my case and the magnetic vehicle antenna will go about half a mile. I'm looking for a better mast antenna for the vehicle.
The weather channel reception is comparable with my scanner.
One thing that I didn't realize when I purchased the radios, and this would have made a difference to me, the A/C charging adapter is NOT part of the package and must be bought separately so if you want to stay off of the battery charger merry-go-round I recommend buying the charger when you buy the radio. Be aware also that the power cord provided for use in a vehicle does NOT charge the radios batterys.
What I really don't like and almost caused me to return the radios: These units use 9 - "AA" batteries, I purchased 18 rechargable batteries - about 5 bucks each, I hadn't purchased the chargers with the radios and ended up buying the biggest stand-alone battery charger I could find locally, all of the chargers I found work in paired sets and mine handles 8 at a time, so 9 is a real pain.
Tom


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Cobra's aptly named HH Road Trip 40-channel handheld CB radio is ready to travel anywhere you do, bringing access to 10 NOAA weather channels and a four-mile range from its 4 watts of power. The onboard SoundTracker system reduces audible noise and interference by up to 90 percent over non-SoundTracker devices. Whether you're using it for emergency backup or convenient conversation between vehicles or camps, the HH Road Trip brings you quality CB communication.
High/low power switch reduces power consumption, extending battery life during spells when high power is not required. The unit operates on nine AA batteries (alkaline or Ni-Cd; batteries not included), or runs off your vehicle battery through the supplied DC cord with cigarette-lighter plug. An included magnet-mount antenna ensures maximum range.
The Citizens Band lies between the shortwave broadcast and 10-meter Amateur radio bands and was established by law in 1949. The Class D two-way communications service was opened in 1959. FCC regulations permit only "transmissions" (one party to another) rather than "broadcasts" (to a wide audience); advertising is not allowed on CB Channels because it is considered "broadcasting." Citizens Band (CB) Radio operators are not required to obtain an FCC license to operate their CB equipment or provide station identification. Nevertheless, an operator of a CB radio station is still required to comply with the communications act and with the rules of CB Radio Operation.
What's in the Box Handheld radio receiver, DC cord with cigarette lighter plug, magnet-mount antenna, user's manual.

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Etón FR500 Solarlink (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)We are pretty happy with our Solarlink and use it during power outages (our recent outage was 4 days in length), in the yard, and camping. I will break down the review by parts and attributes.
LED light: Quite bright
siren: Obnoxious, questionably useful
flashing LED: A single flashing red LED. Perhaps useful as a signal.
handcrank: Easy to use, has a green LED to indicate adequate cranking speed. Can crank in any direction.
reception: FM, AM, and NOAA station very good. SW is weak.
sound: Clear
weight: ~2 lbs., very light
LCD screen: Large easy to read numbers with backlighting option
clock: Easy to read and set (can read from across the room)
alarm: Clock radio, easy to set, has snooze button
power options: Very versatile. Solar, crank, 3 AA batteries, and AC. Does not come with DC power adapter, but can use a mini-USB charger (like the one on my cell phone) or a standard 5V DC connection. Many car cell phone chargers are also mini-USB
other connectors: Regular USB out for powering cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players. Two mini-HPJ's; one for earphones, one for audio-in (ie MP3 players).
Knobs: Inset knobs keep your settings steady when transporting.
owner manual: The Solarlink is fairly self explanatory which is good because the owners manual was not very useful. I would like a much more technical owners manual.
In short, we were looking for a radio that has many power options, NOAA stations, and is very portable. The Solarlink meets these requirements well. Probably not the radio of choice if you want SAME capability, good SW reception, or excellent stereo sound. Overall though we are very happy.

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When your outdoor adventures take you off the grid, you need a device that can fill multiple needs. The American Red Cross FR500 is a compact unit that you can toss in your rucksack and take anywhere. It functions as an AM, FM, and shortwave radio with NOAA weatherband. It also has a flashlight, an emergency beacon, and an emergency siren. Plus, you can use it to charge your cell phone or MP3 player.

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Cobra 148 GTL 40-Channel CB Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)First unit shipped to me received fine but the transmit audio was terrible. Even with the Dynamike turned up all the way people could barely hear me. Had to literally shout to be heard at all.
To Amazon's credit they sent me a replacement unit 2nd day air. Amazon has been great to deal with, as always.
This second radio seems to transmit fine so far. However, the speaker of this radio emits a constant, low volume, high pitched whine when receiving. The first radio did not have this "feature".
The good news is all of the controls and features seem to work correctly and the noise blanker and automatic noise limiter do a terrific job stopping car ignition noises. I figure I will keep this radio and live with the whine and hope no other problems crop up. If they do I will change my rating.

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COBRA AM/SSB CB RADIO 40 CH AM 80CH SSB

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