- Emergency radio is built to handle the elements, as well as a power outage.
- Hand crank can be used to recharge the built-in battery.
- Tunes AM/FM and 2 shortwave bands, including weather radio.
- Tuning knob features a superimposed fine tuning control knob.
- Features a white LED emergency light.
Product Description
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Stay prepared and informed with the FR200 from Etón/Grundig. If
the power goes out and batteries aren't available, the FR200 can
function for up to an hour with only ninety seconds of hand
cranking. Its built-in generator means that even in the most
desperate situations, you'll still have access to local news and
information--as well as to news from around the world. The unit's
four-band tuning receives AM, FM, SW1 (shortwave 1), and SW2
stations, and an included rechargeable battery pack provides
reliable, renewable, internal power for everyday use. The radio
houses a 2.5-inch speaker. A .125-inch stereo headphone jack
offers private listening, a built-in light comes in handy during
lights-out emergencies, and the unit's fine-tuning knob makes it
easy to dial in hard-to-tune stations. A 4.5V DC jack allows an
external power connection (power adapter not included). A
360-degree tele antenna provides the best radio signal for
FM and SW, while a built-in AM antenna provides high sensitivity
for AM reception. The FR200 can run on three AA batteries.
.com
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The Etón Grundig FR200 AM/FM Shortwave World Band Crank Radio
and Light is the entry-level shortwave radio in Etón's line of
emergency radios. With a dependable hand-crank power generator
that powers the unit's AM/FM/Shortwave radio and built-in LED
flashlight, the lightweight and portable Grundig FR200 is an
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 and radio tuning all in one compact package.
View larger
( https://images-na.ssl-images-.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/fr200-r-1-lg.jpg )
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The easy-to-read radio dial. View larger
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The hand crank recharges the integrated rechargeable battery.
An emergency light shines the way. Other models in Etón's line of
emergency radios that we tested include the Grundig FR250 (
/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EIB03Y/${0} ), a shortwave radio that also
includes a flashing LED light, cell phone charger and siren; the
Grundig FR300 ( /exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EDIKVO/${0} ), 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/${0} ), a
water-resistant variation of the FR250; and the Grundig FR 400 (
/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EIBVKG/${0} ), 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 FR200, is an internal generator that recharges the
internal Ni-MH battery pack and powers the radio and flashlight.
According to the product manual, to achieve 40 to 60 minutes of
uninterrupted power 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 FR200 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. The FR200 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! A full 90
seconds of turning the crank can be tiring and may not be for
everyone. With that in mind, we also recharged 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 5.75 x 2.25-inches (WxHxD), the FR200 is designed to be
tucked neatly into its handy nylon carrying case and can be
easily stored in an emergency box, or packed neatly for a camping
trip. An LED flashlight is set on the front of the radio, just to
the side of the analog tuner. The flashlight is designed to help
you down an unlit stairwell or enclosed hallway in a pinch, but
the light is not directed or strong enough to help you much in a
pitch-black forest or other open area. The radio and light can be
operated simultaneously, though of course at the expense of
power.
The FR200 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, on the other hand, 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 for the
radio's purpose. The tuner itself is not illuminated in any way,
which makes sense for reasons of power conservation, but in a
darkened environment, it's literally impossible to see. For an
"emergency radio," it seems that Etón might have addressed this
problem with a self-illuminated background or lettering, For an
"emergency radio," it seems that Etón might have addressed this
problem with a self-illuminated background or lettering, as they
did with the FR250, FR300, FR350 and FR400 models.
Tuning and Bands
The FR200 offers 4-band tuning -- AM, FM and two shortwave
bands. 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 SW1. 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 FR200 is an
emergency radio, with several outstanding features that include
shortwave reception; its shortwave functionality, however, is not
its primary selling point. But for a basic, entry-level and
economical emergency radio to use in a pinch or during an outing
where access to electricity is an issue, the Grundig FR200 more
than suits the bill.
Pros
* Compact and lightweight; ideal for emergencies or travel
* Clearly laid out functions and controls
* Excellent internal power generator Cons
* Tuning dial should be illuminated for darkened environments
* Shortwave reception inconsistent
* Should include an AC adapter What's in the Box
FR200 radio, carrying case, and owner's manual.
