The unit uses a rechargeable Ni-Cad battery: a rechargeable battery that has the ability of recharging over 500 times. This remarkable radio and light recharges these batteries using either the hand crank and/or solar panel to charge them. You can simply charge the battery in the sun, charge it in artificial light, or charge it using the hand crank. After the battery has been fully charged and discharged, one minute of hand cranking produces 10 minutes of play. The radio is compact with dimensions of 7-1/2 inches in width, 5-1/2 inches in height, and 2-1/2 inches in depth. To charge in car, 4.5 volt DC auto lighter can be purchased separately.
AM/FM Radio and Weather Band
Find More Crank Powered Radio Products
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 and just 90 seconds of cranking provides up to an hour of radio play. With the NOAA Weather Channels, find forecasts when you’re away from the set.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 Etón 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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If you want a water-resistant radio, check out the FR 400.
Power When You Need It
At the heart of all of Etón’s emergency radios, including the 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 p! hone 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 t! he battery pack. The FR300 can also be powered via an AC adapt! er 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 flash! ing 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 weat! her 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 Etón FR300 more than fits the bill.
Designer Colors
The images shown here display the “Metallic Red” version of the FR300, but you have a wide array of colors to choose from.
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Pros
Cons
What’s in the Box
FR300 radio, mail-in coupon for cell phone charging adapters, nylon carrying case, and owner’s manual
The kit contains 246 items all enclosed in a handy book-style kit that features a tear-resistant carrying bag. This is the perfect kit for cars, RVs and for people who are on the go.
This innovative American Red Cross 67pc. emergency preparedness kit (manufactured by First Aid Only) comes in a convenient, all-inclusive package. Zippered pocketbook design provides easy access to contents and the smaller size makes it versatile enough for travel, home, office, school or car. Kit includes: first aid guide, call 9-1-1 banner, vinyl gloves, ample bandages and gauze pads, blister prevention, first aid tape, antiseptics, hand sanitizer, ointments, light stick, emergency blanket, emergency poncho, face mask, whistle with neck cord and germicidal wipes.
This 158pc. comprehensive responder kit contains essential first aid supplies needed in a medical emergency. This 100 denier cordura semi-rigid bag with handle, shoulder strap, side pockets, main compartment has removable divider & pocket, lid has zippered pouch, buckle closure, business card holder, includes CPR devices, dressings, bandages, tapes, biohazard bag, gloves and more. Plus, there’s still room for your own personal medical supplies.
This handy “candle” will outlast a 3 day emergency. Burns liquid paraffin for over 100 hours of light. It is also odorless and smokeless, making it a great emergency light source. Keep one handy with a book of matches taped to it for your next power outage. The liquid fuel is sealed inside, with only the wick exposed. You can extinguish, and use again and again. A very safe source of light!
Related Water Storage Products
What if your life was disrupted by a natural disaster, food or water supply contamination, or any other type of emergency? Do you have the essentials for you and your family? Do you have a plan in the event that your power, telephone, water and food supply are cut off for an extended amount of time? What if there were no medical or pharmaceutical services available for days, weeks, or months? How prepared are you?
With this guide by your side, you and your family will learn how to plan, purchase, and store a three-month supply of all the necessities—food, water, fuel, first-aid supplies, clothing, bedding, and more—simply and economically. In other words, this book may be a lifesaver.
Inside you’ll find 10 steps to an affordable food storage program plus how to:
• Prepare a home “grocery store” and “pharmacy”
• Use what you store and store what you use
• Store water safely and provide for sanitation needs
• Create a first-aid kit, car kit, and 72-hour emergency kit for the whole family
• And many more invaluable hints and tips
“This clear, concise, step-by-step program is not only affordable and doable, it’s essential in these uncertain times. Now, everyone from apartment dwellers to basement owners can store a three-month supply of the essentials, including peace of mind!” — Joni Hilton, author of Once-a-Week Cooking Plan and Cooking Secrets My Mother Never Taught Me
This water bottle delivers on essential needs while on the go. The AUTOSEAL Water Bottle with compartment delivers on a unique combination of style and function. Durable. Colorful. Functional. Holds your keys and credit cards. The AUTOSEAL Water Bottle is easy to drink from, easy to carry and has a protective cover at the spout . It’s the ultimate in on-the-go hydration with a compartment that holds your essentials while on-the-go.
The AquaPod Kit Deluxe Emergency Water Storage Kit model lets you store 65 gallons of water, a 14 day supply for a family of 4. Use it when a flood, water repairs or hurricane is predicted that could interrupt a safe water supply . Use the included pump to remove water as needed. The Aqua Pod Kit Deluxe is reusable: it comes with three liners. This water storage kit made of a low density polyethylene bag and a manual hand pump is a practical way to solve emergency storage needs without buying, carrying and storing 65 gallons of bottled water. Beware of using fire truck storage tanks or previously used cans or bottles for water storage: contamination with microbes or chemicals is possible. Plastic jugs or cardboard containers previously used for milk or fruit juice are like petri dishes in a lab: Milk protein and fruit sugars lingering in these containers provide an environment for bacterial growth when used for water storage. Don’t take the risk. Keep your emergency water supply in a closed system designed for safe water storage and water distribution. Remember, you need water to wash and to flush toilets as well as for cooking and cleaning. Each Aqua Pod Deluxe Kit Contains: 3 disposable tub liners, each 40 inches by 80 inches. This will fit in a Jacuzzi tub or standard 5 feet tub. An average tub holds 70 gallons. 2 disposable tie clamps to hold the bag to water spigot during approximate 10 minute time that it takes to fill the bag. (Dependent upon water pressure.) 1 reusable pump with locking system. Locks the pump to the liner bag. FDA approved plastic,LDPE Plastic. Low Density Polyethylene Plastic. Shelf Life: Up to 10 years depending upon storage. Made in the USA.
Water Preserver Concentrate added to fresh drinking water will allow it to be safety stored for an emergency up to 5 years!Drinking water is the key element in disaster preparedness and survival. A person can survive for several days without food, but only for a short time without water.
Water Preserver Concentrate Use with tap water to store emergency drinking water for 5 years. Water Preserver is the first and only product recognized and proven effective for 5-year water storage, registered and licensed by federal and state EPA.
Water Preserver was scientifically tested for 10 years to ensure its potency for 5 year storage. Guaranteed 100% effective. Water Preserver is a proprietary formula of stabilized, ph-balanced sodium hypochlorite with highly effective residual action that kills bacteria., viruses, mole, and fungus. Accept no substitutes
Water PreserverTM Concentrate is a liquid additive that disinfects, preserves and extends the safe storage life of emergency drinking water. Water PreserverTM provides guaranteed 5-year storage* for regular tap water or commercial bottled water.Water PreserverTM Concentrate is a liquid additive that disinfects, preserves and extends the safe storage life of emergency drinking water. Water PreserverTM provides guaranteed 5-year storage* for regular tap water or commercial bottled water.
The first and only product accepted and proven safe for 5-year water storage Proven effective in over 12 years of testing and use Recognized and licensed by U.S. and state EPA’s Proprietary formula and strict laboratory analysis insure potency
Water PreserverTM kills, and prevents the re-growth of Coliform bacteria and other disease-causing microorganisms for 5 years, when used as directed. Water PreserverTM kills the pathogenic organisms responsible for typhoid, dysentery and other serious diseases, and also kills and prevents growth of yeast, mold, fungi and algae which also make water undrinkable.