Shortwave Crank Radio and Light (Red)

Grundig FR200 Emergency AM / FM / Shortwave Crank Radio and Light (Red)

Product Description
Product Description
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 telescope 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.

Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio (Red)
Average customer rating:

Don't expect much

Tippy radio spills its batteries

Grundig FR200 Radio

Good Basic Radio

OK for Emergency Radio/Terrible Shortwave Radio

Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio (Red)

Manufacturer: Eton
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

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

ASIN: B0002AHRVI

Product Description

Be prepared and stay informed with the FR 200 from Grundig. If the power goes out and batteries aren't available, the FR 200 can operate for up to one hour with just one minute of cranking. Its built-in generator means that even in the most desperate situations, you can still have access to local news and information as well as to news from around the world. This radio features analog four-band (AM/FM/SW1/SW2) tuning with a concentric Fine Tune knob. This permits very smooth, precise tuning. The FR200 package includes an integrated padded carry handle, the rechargeable battery pack and built-in emergency light.

Amazon.com Product Description

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.

The easy-to-read radio dial. View larger.

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, a shortwave radio that also includes a flashing LED light, cell phone charger and siren; the Grundig FR300, which includes the emergency features of the FR250, but offers television and weather station tuning instead of shortwave; 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 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.

Customer Reviews:

Don't expect much.......2007-06-22

I have the FR-200 which I purchased through Amazon.

Don't expect much.

The antenna will break and when you try to buy a replacement you will not be able to use Eton's web site to do it becuase it does not work.

When you call Eton on the phone they will tell you that the antenna is "back ordered" and you should call in about 45 days.

More crap from China.

Tippy radio spills its batteries.......2007-05-22

I use my Grundig FR200 around the house to listen to AM talk radio. It works fine for that. I've had it 2-3 years now.

The pot (potentiometer) is awful -- you have to really play with the knob to get the volume where you want it.

It is very "tippy". I must knock it over weekly. This always causes the battery cover to fall off and the 3 AA batteries and the built-in rechargeable battery pack to fall out. It's a very tight squeeze; difficult to get them all back in and the cover closed. I'm considering duct-taping it shut.

Cranking the radio, instead of using batteries, is fun for about 2 days. Too much work for too little listening. I no longer bother and just buy AA batteries, which last a good long time.

I like the strap on top for carrying it around. I like that the radio is durable (especially since it *will* be knocked over often).

The light works OK, but there are better emergency lights (such as the fantastic Panasonic SQT555W601 Automatic Power-Failure Light).

Grundig FR200 Radio.......2007-04-02

I am very pleased with my radio. I love that if I forget to turn it off I'm not wasting batteries!!!

Good Basic Radio.......2007-03-10

I had this radio for 2 years Fm reception is good AM is a bit more difficult I found battery life to be excellent with good quality AA's Hand crank works get about 10 mins for 1 min of cranking. Light is bright enought to be useful within 6 feet
Used it during Hurricane Rita. A good radio would recommend. For limited use around the house and emergency backup Case will not hold up to hard outdoor use.

OK for Emergency Radio/Terrible Shortwave Radio.......2007-03-05

At first the novelty of this Grundig FR-200 radio due to the crank generator is impressive, but the longer you own it the more it seems like a useful toy versus a true "emergency" radio. The generator requires a lot of cranking to keep it operating without using batteries, the light is useful in a pinch for short periods, the AM/FM reception is good, but the shortwave reception is almost useless for trying to tune in and hold regular broadcasts.

Like the other low cost analog tuner shortwave radios I have used, you may be able to find the station eventually (if you know what to listen for) but the reception fades and is very poor in most cases. Nothing like the clear AM/FM reception.

In most cases you need a digital tunner to have a truely useful shortwave radio to use for regular daily broadcasts. The digital tuner on the Eton E5 and Sony 7600GW allows you to input the desired frequency directly, or seek for available stations. It also holds the frequency and does not fade out requiring constant retuning. You basically get what you pay for with shortwave radios, but I am still somewhat disappointed that the FR-200 is not more useful as a shortwave radio except for a few strong channels that I have no interest in receiving.

I think the FR-250 model that can charge your cell phone battery would be a more useful emergency radio.

Grundig FR200 Emergency AM / FM / Shortwave Crank Radio and Light (Red)

Average customer rating:

Grundig FR200 Emergency AM / FM / Shortwave Crank Radio and Light (Red)

Manufacturer: Grundig
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics

Grundig | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics
Similar Items:

Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio (Red)

Product Features:

4-band tuning (receives AM, FM, SW1, and SW2 stations)
Built-in power generator lets you "crank up" the radio and listen under emergency conditions
Built-in light makes candles obsolete
Rechargeable battery pack provides reliable, renewable, internal power for everyday use
Includes stereo headphone jack, FM/AM antennas; uses 3 AA batteries

ASIN: B00065HM1O

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