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Overall Rating:  (out of 21 reviews)
More Info
This all-in-one unit offers functionality and versatility that makes it ideal for emergencies. The FR300 provides you with radio, light, and cell phone battery life when you need it most. The Hand-Crank Power Generator charges the internal rechargeable Ni-MH battery pack. With the NOAA weather channels and TV VHF channels, you can find weather forecasts or listen to TV shows when you’re away from the set.The Etón Grundig American Red Cross FR300 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/TV/Weather radio, built-in LED flashlight, cell phone charger and emergency siren, the lightweight and portable Grundig FR300 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.
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FR250 |
FR300 |
FR350 |
FR400 |
| Hand crank |
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| Cell phone charger |
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| Emergency lights |
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| Siren |
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| AC adapter included |
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| Water resistant |
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| 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 |
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Other models in Etón’s line of emergency radios that we tested include the Grundig FR200, an entry-level shortwave radio that also includes a flashing LED light; the Grundig FR250, a shortwave radio that also includes a flashing LED light, cell phone charger and siren; the Grundig FR 350, a water-resistant variation of the FR250; and the Grundig FR 400, 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 FR300, 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, you can use the crank to power your phone. In our test, after draining our cell phone of power, we recharged it using the FR300 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 FR300 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 FR300 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 FR300 was still going strong over 75 minutes after we recharged the battery pack. The FR300 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 FR300 is made 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 FR300 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 FR300 a breeze to use. View larger. |
The hand crank generator tucks neatly into the rear panel. View larger. |
An emergency light is located next to the tuning dial. View larger. |
The FR300 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 surprising power 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 FR300 offers AM/FM reception as well as 7 NOAA weather channels and a weather alert, and TV-VHF audio reception for channels 2 – 13. 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. Because weather broadcasts are based on VHF, line-of-sight channels, and because we are slightly out of range of the nearest weather transmitter in our region, we were not able to test the weather reception of the FR300. Television reception, happily, was quite another story. Though some channels took some finessing of the tuner before we were able to hone in on a strong signal, most of the reception was loud and clear. In fact, we listened to the first half of the Academy Awards while preparing dinner, so we didn’t miss a single presentation.
It became clear during our testing that the FR300 is an emergency radio with several outstanding and potentially life-saving features, including its emergency siren and lighting, and particularly its self-charging functionality. So if you’re in the market for an economical emergency radio, the Grundig FR300 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
- Should include an AC adapter
What’s in the Box
FR300 radio, mail-in coupon for cell phone charging adapters, nylon carrying case, and American Red Cross pamphlet.
- American Red Cross-endorsed emergency radio with 4 distinct power sources
- Picks up AM, FM, and TV (2 to 13) bands and 7 NOAA weather alert channels
- Superimposed fine tuning control knob; hand crank recharges built-in battery
- Includes emergency lights, flashing beacon mode, and cell phone charger
- Earphone jack; measures 6.5 x 6 x 2.5 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty
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(out of 4 reviews)
Review submitted by Zaika
Author’s Rating:
When I was looking at this radio on-line, the idea seemed to be great, so I got it for my husband’s night table. He liked it at first, but then he realized that some of the features make it unusable for him. For instance, the LED display is too bright even when it is set to minimal brightness. The numbers on the display cannot be seen from a bed (you can only see them well enough when you stand in front of the alarm). There was not enough options to control ipod using the remote control. iphone in a protecting sleeve cannot fit into the connector, so my husband never used it to recharge his iphone.
Review submitted by Shop Girl
Author’s Rating:
This product has excellent features, as you’ve probably read. My only suggestion for the manufacturers is that they might want to make the display less bright. Even though you can regulate the brightness, I have to turn it all the way down at night because it emits a blue-ish glow. However, every time I hit the snooze button, the brightness goes up, so that’s why at night I have to turn it down. But otherwise it’s a great alarm clock.
Review submitted by Mohamed E. Elkady
Author’s Rating:
I liked this set, but the LCD design need to process because I can’t see the watch well when I be setting.
Review submitted by Sondogg
Author’s Rating:
I think iluv makes great products and was super excited about this alarm clock. I plugged it in and it looked great. Put my iphone on it and the sound quality was more than I expected. I was super happy. That night, as I was going to bed, I looked at the clock and noticed that you can’t read the numbers from eye level. The numbers are only visible when looking down at it. It is a major design flaw.
I imagined Chinese engineers, R&D folks, everyone, looking at this product through development with nobody testing it as an actual alarm clock, which most people view from eye level. I called iLuv and reported it and hopefully they will get this fixed. For now, I think I will get the other moderl that has a different readout.
Another odd thing was the weather feature which I didn’t really get. How often do tornadoes come by that I need this to be a major feature of my alarm clock? Hopefully, the company that sold it to me will take the return without restocking fees.
Review submitted by M. Turner
Author’s Rating:
Sounds to me like the folks who had a beef with this radio must have been looking for $300 quality in a $50 radio. I’ve been really pleased with this unit and its pretty incredible array of features.
I will concur that the plastic on the unit is not the most-durable feeling material, but it’s certainly sufficient. Plus it comes with a nice little nylon case to protect it and carry it, so that more than makes up for it.
First, the quality of the TV and AM reception is superb. I love talk radio, but hate the constant fade in/out. This unit does much better than any radio I have — a couple of which are pretty expensive — on picking up weak signals.
The sound quality also is good for the size of the unit. Clear, good quality sound that’s easy to hear and not tinny.
The plastic is lightweight, which doesn’t feel so great, but it does make the unit easy to carry. And a minute of cranking generates plenty of listening time. The three-LED light array is plenty bright and a great little area light in case of emergency. The variety of power sources make this a no-brainer for emergency use — cranking, built-in rechargeables, alkaline or lithium AAs or a power adapter, if you want to buy one.
Here’s what I found best though. I use a Palm Treo, so the unit didn’t come with a charging tip that would fit it. I contacted the company, Eton, by e-mail to inquire if I could purchase one somewhere. Within a few hours, they responded to say that not only was there now a Palm tip available, they would provide me one at no cost. So terrific customer service.
If you want a really thorough review of this product, I suggest you visit thetravelinsider.info. I think he’s spot-on with his assessment.
Great, fun little unit — great value. I highly recommend.
Review submitted by G. Ward
Author’s Rating:
My wife and I used the FR300 during the week-long Queens blackout this past summer and this little radio delivered. One 2 minute winding lasted for an hour on medium volume. The cell phone charger is cool, but it takes a lot of winding. The light is good in a pinch, but not particularly useful.
Review submitted by JillO
Author’s Rating:
I had a crank radio since 1999, and it finally gave out this year. I was excited to find this one at a decent price, and with the added bonus of a cell phone emergency charger! The adapters fit most phones, and it’s just good to know that wherever you are, you can make a phone call even with a dead phone battery. I read some reviews about a difficulty getting the battery case open, but I had absolutely no problem with it. Yes, it would be great if it came with an AC adapter (and I wouldn’t have it without); I just rigged up my own with a Wal Mart universal power supply for $15.00. It takes 4.5 -5 volts. It runs for HOURS after charging it with an adapter. Reception has been good, not only in northern Wisconsin, but in Illinois as well. NPR is great! and who really needs the TV stations! (though I do get one once in a while).Anyway, I recommend it!
Review submitted by M. Young
Author’s Rating:
I noticed that both of the negative reviews were written by owners in Hawaii. I agree that there are problems with getting a long charge out here. When I first got the radio, I got about 45 minutes with two minutes of cranking; after six months, two minutes of cranking got six minutes of radio time. I suspect our tropical climate is more the problem than the radio’s dynamo. I’ve put batteries in mine (rechargeable, of course) and have had great reception, even inside buildings that usually interfere with reception. I can also receive several TV stations with no problem, and the National Weather Service channel comes through loud and clear. I really like this radio, and it was my constant companion during the earthquake. I just need to make sure I’m proactive and keep the AA batteries charged up so it’s ready in an emergency.
Review submitted by J. Papps
Author’s Rating:
FR300 Emergency Crank Radio
An outstanding Emergency tool with AM/FM/WX Weather
receiving. Dynamo cranking allows one to always have
reception.Access to a TV channel sound is a plus.
Review submitted by Hector Rivera
Author’s Rating:
I haven’t tried all the features on this radio, but so far it’s very good. Extremely solid with very clear sound and reception (mono – the radio only has one speaker). Very good battery life. About water resistance… I don’t know about that. As a product designer there’s a serious design flaw I can spot right away, and it’s about water. Once you pick up the radio by it’s handle, the battery compartment gets facing up. Frankly, the compartment will not keep water outside, even less if water is dripping from your hand in case of a shower to a facing up cheap battery compartment’s cap. Inside the compartment there are a couple of holes that give direct access to the interior of the radio. Well… You do the math. The problem could have been prevented by using a simple water tight cap attached with screws. Lame. Anyway I’m still loving the device. I’ll handle the water problem myself. It has a very readable green display and crank operation is very smooth. Solid antenna. Flashlight is bright indeed. I hope this helps.
*** UPDATE ***
I returned the FR1000 and purchased a FR500. The FR500 has all the attributes of the FR1000, but is solar (it works), has way better water protection and shortwave! Yeah I’m missing the two way radio thing, but is not such a big deal. The range is short anyway (~10 miles)I can always get a good receiver with the money saved in the FR500. Uff… now I’m in love indeed.
Review submitted by Robert Goldschmidt
Author’s Rating:
I have owned an earlier model of the Eton hand-crank emergency radio for several years. That product works quite will. I purchased this new model for the several functional enhancements it comes with: 1) Digital receiver, 2) NOAA receiver, and 3) FRS/GMRS radio base station transceiver capability.
Once I started to use this new FR1000 model, I realized just how much of a piece of junk it is:
1. Bad battery pack – The rechargeable battery pack failed from the beginning. I charged it overnight out of the box. Two days later, when I used the radio in the field, it lasted all of 5 minutes.
2. Terrible reception on all bands – I used the FR1000 in two separate and very different environments, and compared it to two other common radios. In the field, where there was very limited reception, the FR1000 could not pick up any FM stations, and only 1 AM station. My mini-van radio picked up all sorts of stations on both AM and FM bands. In town, the FR1000 could pick up a few local stations if the signal was strong. My motel room el-cheapo clock radio picked up far more stations on both AM and FM bands. The FR1000 never did pick up any NOAA stations.
3. Poor station change dial switch design – On the FR1000, in order to change stations, you have to turn the upper right-hand dial upwards or downwards. On order to do that, you have to get your finger into the space alloted for the horizontal dial. I found that doing so caused my finger to jam into that limited space. Searching for stations was both uncomfortable and difficult. This is a really annoying design flaw.
4. No radio carry case – My older model radio came with a carry case, for protection and easy transport. This model does not have any such case. That is really annoying. I feel like Eton added insult to injury when they decided to go the cheap route and not include a carry case. Jeez, this radio costs $150, and is supposed to be used in emergency situations! What were those guys/gals thinking about?
I returned the FR1000 and will stick with my older Eton analogue model. Half the size, half the cost, has a carry case, and is far more functional. Oh, and it actually picks up radio stations! Wow … what a concept!
Oh well.
Review submitted by B. Nyleen
Author’s Rating:
First, don’t buy the case Amazon Bundles this with. I can not see any application with the two and the case is about half the size of the Radio.
Yes the radio isn’t water proof or resistant. It would be nice if they would fix that, it really wouldn’t take much. I went out to a local store and payed $3 for a water proof bag to seal this in.
It would also be nice if the radio had a shortwave feature since they have everything else.
As for everything else this is the radio you have to have for emergencies! It has everything in a rugged design and you never have to worry about stupid batteries. In an emergencies the last thing you are going to find is batteries.
Review submitted by D. Barksdale
Author’s Rating:
I bought this radio at a sharper image closeout. I wish I didnt, as now I cannot take it back. TERRIBLE reception! The piece of junk radio I found on the side of the road picks up more stations than the FR1000 does. In order for me to get it to work I have to attach a jerry rigged aluminum foil antenna to the radio. Even then it still does not work very well. Eton tech support have been totally unresponsive. The hand crank dynamo only works while you crank, as the battery does not hold a charge very well.
Avoid this model…
Review submitted by J. Haskell
Author’s Rating:
The radio doesn’t get good reception. We had to attach an antenna, and still can’t hear it well. I figured with the quality and price, it should receive better than it does.