Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio (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 Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio (Red)
Digital camera Review: Grundig Radio
Summary: 5 Stars
Many years ago, I bought the prototype of hand-cranked radios, the Freeplay from South Africa. Today, the Grundig takes this to a much higher level and provides MUCH greater quality and adaptability. I give them as gifts to those who live in situations where the loss of electrical power is a fairly regular phenomenon.Digital camera Review: Grundig is a good radio, but I wanted weather channels also.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a very handy, size, radio with great reception. The only drawback is that it does not have weather channels as I thought it did when ordering. Very good for price but I would opt for an all in one, which would include SAMI weather channels, if doing again.Digital camera Review: Has Several Significant Flaws
Summary: 3 Stars
While I am a fan of Etón portables -- not least because they frequently turn up at tiny fractions of their MSRPs -- I found the FR200 pretty disappointing for several significant reasons that are overlooked by most reviewers here.
First, it is not a true dynamo radio like the Baygen, but a battery-powered radio recharged by a dynamo. This would not be as significant an issue if there were not potential problems with battery longevity. There is no AC adapter included and the use of a generic adapter of the appropriate voltage but higher amperage apparently will result in over-charging and damaging the battery, according to the supplied documentation. The Etón AC adapter (only optionally available) is very low-current unit. The life of the battery pack is also limited by the number of charging cycles, so one may not use this unit routinely as a daily radio with the crank without reducing the life of the batteries for subsequent emergency use. The FR200 FAQ on the EtonCorp site somewhat evasively addresses this:
"The rechargeable battery/dynamo-crank system is best used purely for emergency use, but it's not explained well in the owner's manual...When the emergency use factor is understood, this product is excellent for that purpose."
So, as supplied, the only way this product should be routinely used is with the normal AA battery option.
The shortwave analog tuner is adequate at best, but will get strong signals if they are available, which they generally are not in most daytime hours in some seasons. Users who are not experienced with shortwave listening are usually shocked by the difficulty with which audible signals are typically obtained. Shortwave, usually dismissed as an obsolete technology, is often critical in disasters -- I was in a major earthquake in the US years ago and for many hours the only accurate information locally available was from the BBC on shortwave. More expensive Etón SW portables come with a retractable longwire antenna, something that can be approximated with the FR200 simply by clipping a very long wire to the telescoping antenna.
The emergency crank seems relatively sturdy, but was broken on the display model where I purchased mine, so caution is advised.
Etón portables are coated with a thin, rubbery goo for non-slip handling, but this tends to wear off fairly quickly, giving a somewhat mangy appearance.
The mechanical analog tuning is, as always on a small portable, imprecise and approximate -- especially with shortwave. The fine-tuning knob helps this situation a bit.
The AM/FM sound quality is quite pleasant and much richer than one would expect from a unit of this type.
Assembly, fit and alignment are crude compared to other Etón products, but are adequate.
An additional oddity is that the included cloth case has magnetic snaps, so be cautious in placing these next to credit cards or other critical magnetic media.
Digital camera Review: I OWN THIS RADIO IT IS LIGHT SMALL AND VERY SENSITIVE
Summary: 5 Stars
THIS IS THE RADIO TO HAVE IN AN EMERGENCY.IT HAS A BUILT IN FLASHLIGHT.IT WORKS ON DOUBLE AA BATERIES OR RECHARGABLE BATTERIES,THAT GIVE 1 TO 2 HOURS OF USE VIA A HAND CRANK,THAT YOU TURN FOR LESS THAN ONE MINUTE.THE RADIO HAS GOOD TONE IS QUITE SENSITIVE FOR RECEIVING AM FM AND 8 BANDS OF SHORTWAVE RADIO.THIS UNIT HAS A`SEPERATE FINE TUNING KNOB TO MAKE IT EASIER TO TUNE STATIONS.THE SET ALSO COMES WITH A LEATHER POUCH TO STORE YOUR RADIO AWAY WHEN NOT IN USE.THIS IS A SET THAT IS OF HIGH QUALITY 5 STAR RECOMMENDED I OWN THIS RADIO...UPDATE 12/24/05...GRUNDIG UNDER THE ETON LABEL HAS SEVERELY,CHEAPENED THIS PRODUCT...IF YOU RECEIVE A UNIT IN A GREY AND BLACK INSIDE DOUBLE BOX,IT IS PURE CRAP...TINNY SOUND NO SENSITIVITY...TWO SAMPLES WERE LIKE THIS...THIS MAY BE WHY YOU MAY NOT LIKE THIS UNIT...I REGRET THAT THE COMPANY CHOSE TO TURN A GOOD PRODUCT INTO JUNK...WORTH NO MORE THAN 20 BUCKS...THANK YOU STEWART L. 12/24/05.update 01/03/06.I RECEIVED TWO REPLACMENT SAMPLES...THE SOUND IS STILL A LITTLE THIN,SOUNDING.THE RECEPTION IS FAIR TO GOOD..I WIOULD RATE THIS UNIT BASED ON 3 SAMPLES 3 1/2 TO 4.. IM SORRY I CANT CHANGE MY ORIGINAL SCORE...THANK YOU STEWART L.Digital camera Review: I got a dud!
Summary: 1 Stars
I'm very disappointed. This item died in the box itself. Neither the light works, nor the radio (any band), either off the built in dynamo, or the optional alkaline cells. The only thing that shows signs of life is the charging lamp, which lights up on the dynamo being cranked.
This item was gifted to me, and now I learn that Grundig/Eton do not have any service centers in India, or even Asia. So I will have to try and repair the thing, if possible, shipping it back to avail of the "guarantee" not really being much of an option.
As I said, I'm pretty disappointed.