Eton FR400 Hand Crank Radio and Power Generator (Red) by Eton
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List Price: Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Eton FR400 Hand Crank Radio and Power Generator (Red)
Digital camera Review: Good Radio!
Summary: 5 Stars
This handy little radio has plenty going for it. Every family should have one in case of emergencies, which as we know, can happen anytime or anywhere. What I really like about it is the fact that in addition to AM/FM stations and Weather broadcasts -- it picks up the audio from our local TV stations. This can be great because they are the ones that will be broadcasting news and weather as it happens. One added benefit that I didn't realize was also included is a great carrying case with shoulder strap. You can't go wrong for the money on this one.Digital camera Review: Great Sound, Great Looks, Great Product!
Summary: 5 Stars
The inexpensive Eton FR400 is a nice little radio as well as a potential lifesaver. For its size it has a surprisingly good balanced tone (not adjustable), and very clear reception on NOAA, AM, FM, and TV bands alike. The power crank/dynamo doubles as an exercise machine...not the easiest thing to crank (especially if you follow the recommendation to crank at 2 revolutions per second for 90 seconds to acheive maximum power charge), but you get up to an hour and a half to rest up before you need to recharge. I wish the case had a compartment for the power and cell phone adapters though, to keep all parts in one place. I gave mine to my electronically picky and critical sattelite-TV field manager brother-in-law (to keep at his home in the US Virgin Islands for hurricane use), and immediately bought another for our own tornado, thunderstorm, icestorm and power vagary usage here in beautiful rural West Michigan. I'll take it camping and its light weight and weather resistant design may even cause it to join me in my treestands this deer season (I wish an earphone was included as well, but as I seem to be the last living man without an iPod I can't blame Eton for my not having my own headphones, I suppose...). By the way, the available metallic colors offered on these are "way cool"! You won't regret buying the FR400, regardless of the weather in your part of the world. BTW: after sending in the registration info I received cell phone power charger adapters for two (2) different phones within 10 days' time. Murphy's law being immutable, our cell plan replaced our phones with a new model in the interim. One call to the eton toll-free customer service line sent another adapter out the same day to accomodate our upgrade...free of charge!Digital camera Review: Has just about everything
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this emergency radio. It has just about everything you might need during a power outage. I use the FM radio regularly, and keep it handy for tornado warnings. Since it comes in fun colors it makes a nice gift: an emergency radio sounds a bit dull, but a cute pink one is a radio of a different color.Digital camera Review: It's the Little Things That Raises Questions
Summary: 3 Stars
It's the little things that define the quality of a product. Having just received the Eton FR400 I can't attest to how well it will work under emergency conditions -- which is, after all, why one buys something like this. But there's a few little things that make me nervous about its quality and design.
The plastic strikes me as cheap. How will it stand up to getting knocked around?
The case is a textbook case of poor design. It fits the radio so tightly that it turns on switches when you insert the radio -- if you can get the radio into the case. Plus there's no room for the AC charger. This may sound peevish, but it's this kind of poor craftmanship which can be symbolic of a short sighted company. What good is a case if it's a pain to use? What good is it if it turns on features that drain the battery? What good is it if you can't carry accessories that comes with the radio?
And the key question, how good is a company that puts out a product so poorly designed? Was Eton trying to cut corners? If so, where else did they scrimp? Did anyone test the case before manufacturing it? If so, what kind of standards do they have?
Bottom line: the device has all the features listed here, but their execution makes me wonder if it was worth getting.
Digital camera Review: Just Right for the Price
Summary: 4 Stars
I originally bought a "Jeep" all weather radio for my husband for Christmas - I thought paying more might mean a better product; not so, the hand crank broke on 2nd use. I then ordered this one - my hubby loves it. It contains everything we would want for an emergency radio; we have no problems picking up any of the t.v., National or local stations. The light is sufficient for an emergency and the Alert would definitely get you out of bed. The only issue we have seen is that we had it on one night and the alarm went off for no apparant reason...If not for that I would have given it 5 stars. I think this is a must for any household that lives in a storm prone area (which seems to be just about anywhere now a days): I definitely feel comfortable going to bed if severe storms are predicted using this radio rather than spending the entire night watching the t.v. which is what I always did in the past...A good buy in my book.