Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio by Eton
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Our Price: $99.95 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Speakers See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio
Digital camera Review: Best Analog Portable Ever
Summary: 5 Stars
I first bought the DX-398, and the cheap B and H shortwave radio. And when I bought this radio from somewhere, the reception is excellent for shortwave DXing. I normally use this radio for in the car shortwave DXing, and also for band checking to see with bands to listen to. Also the FR-200 has
got great AM radio reception, but the FM reception is OK for 39.99, but it could improve. Still it is a great radio, and never overloaded yet, except on FM. In other words this is a great AM/SW portable radio, that beats my other boombox radio
back in the 80's.
Digital camera Review: Better than the Free-Play wind ups.
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this radio on the recommendation of other SWLs (shortwve listeners) and I was not disappointed. Simple. Lightweight. Tuning is touchy, but not as bad as one would expect. The radio is sensistive and remarkably selective. I dont find the light very useful and NOAA weather coverage would be nice, but that doesn't change the fact this is a nice, small, well built radio with great sound.Digital camera Review: Broadcast Rx Only-OK quality
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm a communications engineer & have designed radios This one is intended to be used for broadcast reception. Forget SSB or CW. It does drift a bit - but that is in part a result of trying to minimize power consumption (and cranking). I was impressed by the fact that the antenna is properly matched nearly everywhere in the SW band (as evidenced by the fact that touching the antenna does NOT increase signal volume. If you see that effect - the antenna is mismatched and your sensitivity is poor. Doubt me? connect an antenna 'matchbox' (impedance matcher) between an equivalent length of wire to the standard radio mounted antenna and such a radio - either use the ext antenna connections or collapse the stock antenna and use a clip. Now tune the matchbox for maximum background noise (indicating more RF is getting into the radio). Tune around and you'll then hear 3 times the number of signals that you heard with the standard radio mounted antenna. The ones you could hear before are now much louder too. A "Freeplay" radio is a typical example of this antenna matching design error. The Grundig is much smaller, lighter, runs (i believe) longer than the freeplay for an equiv amount of cranking, is half the price and more sensitive (on HF). (The Freeplay drifts too btw - i have 2 of them). If you want a no drift single sideband or CW radio get a AOR 3000. At $1000, it's out of the price range of the Grundig. It also doesn't have a crank. Why? the synthesized and microprocessed circuitry of the AOR draws WAY too much power - you'd need a treadmill, not a handcrank. The flashlight is handy, but not a substitute for a proper flashlight (torch). You can find the radio in the dark in a shelter..it's making noise. You can then find the flashlight..(it's built into the radio) - using it you can then find your 3 D cell Kleig light. This is a low price emerg radio built to fill a specific need - which imho it does quite well.. It is NOT the equiv of a $1000 - $3000 communications receiver. I own a couple of those too, being in the emergency comms/homeland defense business. They have their places too - but one has to consider what class of equipment one is dealing with - and for what it was designed.Digital camera Review: Buy it for emergencies, use it everyday (Updated 2 years later)
Summary: 5 Stars
From reading the other reviews, I see most people love this radio, but some dog it. They're both right. Your level of satisfaction with this radio will have more to do with your buying motivations than the product.
Grundig has a well established reputation for making fine products. If you are a shortwave enthusiast who is looking for a good shortwave radio, sadly I must admit that you need to keep looking. The tuner is iffy (by your standards) and it does not have the 'Grundig Feel' of their more expensive products.
But notice Grudig calls it an 'Emergency Radio,' not a shortwave radio.
If you want something for peace of mind -that you will never be caught without a radio because of dead batteries- then this is a great product. I live in a hurricane zone and every time there is a storm approaching, all my friends wait in long lines to buy batteries. I know I'm ready 24/7. As an added bonus I'll always have a flashlight with me. (which is more handy than I would have guessed)
(Here is the kicker-) If you want an emergency radio AND you like to listen to the BBC or Radio Canada every once in a while, then this is definitely the product for you.
I've had mine for a year and a half and I use it at least 3 times per week. The best way to describe the tuner is "credible." It can pick up all the big name stations, even indoors, but it is not stunning. The tonal quality is acceptable but I'm usually listening to the spoken word and not music. (I have an iPod for that ;-)
I bought it because I wanted a cheap shortwave. The fact it had a crank and a flashlight was gravy at first, but it is more and more important as I use it.
Some notes about the battery:
You'll never turn the hand crank enough to fully charge the internal battery. I have a fancy NiCad charger so I charged the battery fully and it lasted 6 weeks of near daily use during Gulf War II. (I'd guess 120+ hours, I was amazed) Problem is, your arm would fall off before you got there. Even if you don't give it a full charge, I find the cranking to listening ratio pretty good.
But do what I do- I run it on NIMH AA's and it lasts for weeks. I never pay for batteries but I never have to crank it either. (unless the batteries die)
And a final thought on durability which some people discuss.
I've dropped mine several times even once from about 6 feet up while I was painting. I have one scratch on it but other than that, it really does look much like the day I bought it. The case is still tight and the controls firm. I give it to my 6 year old nephew and he cranks for hours with no ill effect. I'd say durability is quite good.
I hope this review helps you get a feel for the radio. If your needs come even close to matching what this radio was designed to do, then I feel confident it will exceed your expectations in the long run.
=====Update=======
Well, 2 years -and Hurricane Katrina later- I'll never be without this radio. We left town 2 days before the storm and I brought it with me. At night I could pick up WWL radio (50,000 watt clear channel) from Memphis.
My nephew (who I mentioned above) broke the antenna off for me so no shortwave for me any more but AM/FM works fine... That was homicide, don't blame the radio. It's now approaching 4 years old, I still use it weekly and it is still in good shape otherwise.
BTW- I came back in town just a few days after the storm to rescue some friends' pets and help get some people out of town. I brought extra gas, extra water, 5 days of food and this radio. That probably say it all.
Digital camera Review: Disappointed with performance
Summary: 2 Stars
No, the FR200 is not an expensive radio, but I expected more from any product Grundig was willing to put its brand name on. I bought this radio to have with me when I was working in the yard, fishing, etc. The problem is that it drifts off frequency so badly and in such a short period of time that I have to keep it nearby to keep adjusting it. I guess there is a lot of truth to the adage that you get what you pay for.