Eton FR250 Emergency Crank Radio Metallic Silver

Eton FR250 Emergency Crank Radio Metallic Silver Review

Eton FR250 Emergency Crank Radio Metallic Silver Feature

• Emergency Hand-Crank Power Generator
• 7 shortwave bands, plus AM and FM bands; double-white LED flashlight and flashing red LED
• 3.5 mm cell phone charger output jack (includes other plugs); built-in siren for emergencies
• 4 power options; hand-crank generator, 3 AA batteries, AC adapter (not included), or NiMH battery pack
• 2.5-inch speaker and 3.5 mm headphone jack; 6.7 x 6.25 x 2.5 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

With a dependable hand-crank power generator that powers the unit's AM/FM/Shortwave radio, built-in LED flashlight, cell phone charger and emergency siren, the lightweight and portable Etón FR250 is an excellent and economical choice for anyone in the market for a radio that can be relied on in emergencies or in environments where there are limited power sources.

Emergency lighting, cell phone power, and radio tuning all in one compact package. View larger.

A clear, easy-to-read radio dial. View larger.

The hand crank recharges the integrated rechargeable battery.

Power When You Need It
At the heart of all of Etón's emergency radios, including the FR250, is an internal generator that recharges the internal Ni-MH battery pack and powers the radio, siren, and light. Also, by plugging your cell phone into the jack on the back of the radio (the FR250 comes with several cell phone adapters), you can use the crank to power your phone. In our test, after draining our cell phone of power, we recharged it using the FR250 enough to make a few calls. The rate of cell phone recharging will vary greatly depending on the cell phone and the state of its battery, but the FR250 can provide your compatible phone with power in a pinch.

According to the product manual, to achieve 40 to 60 minutes of uninterrupted power to the radio, you must turn the crank at a rate of two revolutions per second for 90 seconds. In our test, after our initial 90 seconds of rigorous cranking, the FR250 powered right up and was still going strong with radio reception after an hour. At the hour mark, we briefly turned the flashlight on, and that too was at full force, with no perceivable drain on radio reception. In fact, the FR250 was still going strong 75 minutes after we recharged the battery pack. The FR250 can also be powered via an AC adapter which, to our dismay, is not included, or from three AA batteries, also not included. The dynamo crank tucks itself nicely into the side of the radio and offers little resistance as you turn the handle. (Don't let the cranking requirements frighten you! While it's true that a full 90 seconds of turning the crank can be tiring and may not be for everyone, we were able to recharge the radio with less than a minute of cranking and achieved over 40 minutes of continuous power.)

Design and Controls
At slightly more than a pound in weight, and with dimensions of 6.5 x 6.00 x 2.5 inches (WxHxD), the FR250 is designed to be tucked neatly into its handy nylon carrying case and stored in an emergency box, or packed neatly for a camping trip. A white LED light is set on the front of the radio, just to the side of the analog tuner. The light is designed to help you down an unlit stairwell or enclosed hallway in a pinch, but it is not directed or strong enough to help you much in a pitch-black forest or other open area. The FR250 also includes a red flashing LED light that can be used as a distress signal. The radio and light can be operated simultaneously, though of course at the expense of power.

The FR250 includes a handy strap on the top of the radio for easy carrying, and the tuning and volume knobs are set to the side. The mechanical controls are extremely visible and easy to use. The volume control is a bit difficult to finesse, while the tuning knob, which features a smaller concentric fine-tuning control knob, is much easier. An earphone jack is set into the back, and the telescoping antenna tucks neatly behind the handle strap. The radio's 2.5-inch speaker is set directly in front and offers reasonable audio quality and excellent volume for the radio's purpose. The tuner itself is self-illuminated, though in a darkened environment it is still difficult to pick out the bands.

Tuning and Bands
The FR250 offers nine-band tuning -- AM, FM and 7 shortwave bands. As was the case with all of the Etón emergency radios we tested, our AM reception was outstanding; we were quickly able to tune into every station we searched for. Reception for FM was also very good, though there was some extra fine-tuning on some of the stations. Our shortwave reception, however, was a mixed bag. We tested in the early and late evening, searching for signals in the more heavily populated SW3 and SW4. While we found several signals during our test, honing in on them took a bit of finesse with the fine-tuning knob. And when we did find them, there was static and background noise with most of the signals.

It became clear during our testing that the FR250 is an emergency radio, with several outstanding and potentially life-saving features, including shortwave reception. Its shortwave functionality, however, is not its primary selling point. However, its emergency siren and lighting, and particularly its self charging functionality, are. So if you're in the market for an economical emergency radio, the Etón FR250 more than fits the bill.

Pros

• Compact and lightweight; ideal for emergencies or travel
• Clearly laid out functions and controls
• Excellent internal power generator; handy cell-phone charger

Cons

• Tuning dial could be better illuminated for darkened environments
• Shortwave reception inconsistent
• Should include an AC adapter

What's in the Box
FR250 radio, cell phone charging adapters, and nylon carrying case. For the most part, you'll be operating this radio using batteries or optional AC adapter. Let's say, however, you're out camping or find yourself in some other desperate situation where power is unavailable. Well, this radio will work! You can crank it to operate and, while cranking, you can charge its internal batteries - but it can also work without batteries. Survival aside, you've got AM/FM and 7 Shortwave radio bands so you can listen to most of the world. There is also a built-in triple white LED light source that is surprisingly bright to shed light after the sun sets. Listen from the built-in speaker or with an earphone from the built-in miniplug. Overall, The Eton FR250 is a radio everyone should have for both everyday use and for emergencies. In a sense, this is a radio for all seasons and all times. In an emergency, this may be the most valuable thing to have. We suggest getting this today.