- Emergency radio is built to handle the elements, as well as a power outage.
- Endorsed by the American Red Cross.
- Tuning knob features a superimposed fine tuning control knob; hand crank can be used to recharge the built-in battery.
- Tunes AM/FM and 7 shortwave bands, including weather radio.
- Features emergency lights, plus a flashing beacon mode; cell phone charger.
Product Description
-------------------
Stay informed and prepared for emergencies with this
self-powered 3-in-1 radio, flashlight and cell-phone charger --
no batteries required. The Hand-Crank Power Generator gives you
unlimited power for AM/FM Radio, 7 international shortwave bands,
built-in flashlight, and cell phone battery life when you need it
most. So the FR250 is not only perfect for emergencies, but also
for camping, hiking, or anywhere you need to stay in touch.
.com
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The Etón Grundig American Red Cross FR250 is one of
Etón's American Red Cross branded emergency radios. 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 Grundig
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.
FR250 ( /exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EIB03Y/%24%7B0%7D )
FR300 ( /exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EDIKVO/%24%7B0%7D )
FR350 ( /exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EIDLWC/%24%7B0%7D )
FR400 ( /exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EIBVKG/%24%7B0%7D ) Hand crank
Cell phone charger Emergency lights Siren AC adapter included
Water resistant Tuning AM/FM, SW AM/FM, TV-VHF, NOAA weather
AM/FM, SW AM/FM, TV-VHF, NOAA weather Size (inches, WxDxH) 6.5 x
2.5 x 6 6.5 x 2.5 x 6 8.75 x 2.25 x 4.5 8.75 x 2.25 x 4.5 Weight
1 lb. 3 oz. 1 lb. 4 oz. 1 lb. 4 oz. 1 lb. 4 oz. Power Crank, 3
AA, NiMH battery, AC Crank, 3 AA, NiMH battery, AC Crank, 3 AA,
NiMH battery, AC Crank, 3 AA, NiMH battery, AC Other models in
Etón's line of emergency radios that we tested include the
Grundig FR200 ( /exec/obidos/ASIN/B000083CUA/%24%7B0%7D ), an
entry-level shortwave radio that also includes a flashing LED
light; the Grundig FR300 (
/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EDIKVO/%24%7B0%7D ), which includes the
emergency features of the FR250, but offers television and
weather station tuning instead of shortwave; the Grundig FR 350 (
/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EIDLWC/%24%7B0%7D ), a water-resistant
variation of the FR250; and the Grundig FR 400 (
/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EIBVKG/%24%7B0%7D ), a water-resistant
variation of the FR300.
Power When You Need It
At the heart of all of Etón's emergency radios, including the
Grundig 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.
Important Note: Until this year, Etón provided a package of
several different cell phone adapter tips with every radio. In
2007, Etón began instead including a coupon for a free adapter
for whatever phone you have. So, the first thing you want to do
when you get the radio is fill out the card with your cell
phone's make and model and send it in to make sure you have your
adapter.
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 large tuning knob and other controls make the FR250 a breeze
to use. View larger ( https://images-na.ssl-images-.com/images/W/WEBP_402378-T1/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/fr250arc-1-lg.jpg ).
The hand crank generator tucks neatly into the rear panel. View
larger ( https://images-na.ssl-images-.com/images/W/WEBP_402378-T1/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/fr250arc-3-lg.jpg ).
An emergency light is located next to the tuning dial. View
larger ( https://images-na.ssl-images-.com/images/W/WEBP_402378-T1/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/fr250arc-2-lg.jpg ). 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 Grundig
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, mail-in coupon for cell phone charging adapter,
nylon carrying case, and American Red Cross pamphlet.
