Product Description

Solar-Powered, Self-Powered AM/FM/Weatherband Portable Radio with Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger. The Microlink brings together some of the most popular features of our Voicelink, in a more compact design. This ultra-portable device is ideal to have on hand when you're roughing it. It also makes a great addition to any emergency-preparedness kit. No plugs or wires are required. Instead, turn the hand crank to power the Microlink, or capture the sun's energy and run it on solar power. You'll always know what's going on, thanks to the AM, FM and weather bands. You can also tune in to the FCC and EAS public alert systems. Add the flashlight, the cell phone charger and you've got one versatile little device.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2460 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Eton
• Model: FR150
• Dimensions: 2.36" h x 4.96" w x 1.81" l, 1.50 pounds

Features

• AM (520-1710 KHz), FM (87-108MHz), NOAA weather on all 7 channels. Built-in hand crank power generator.
• The built-in rechargeable Ni-MH battery that takes charge from the dynamo crank and from an AC adapter
• All antennas built-in: telescopic antenna for FM; internal ferrite bar antenna for AM.
• Power source: solar power; built-in rechargeable Ni-MH battery pack; AC adaptor (not included) recharges built-in Ni-MH battery pack.
• Weight: 7.5 oz. and 200 g. Accessories: owner's manual, warranty card, preparedness guide, card for cell phone tip.

From the Manufacturer
The Etón FR-150 Microlink brings together some of the most popular features of the Etón FR-1000 Voicelink in a more compact design. This ultra-portable device is ideal to have on hand when you’re out roughing it. It also makes a great addition to any emergency-preparedness kit. No plugs or wires are required. Instead, turn the hand crank to power the Microlink, or capture the sun’s energy and run it on solar power. An optional AC power supply can also be used. You’ll always know what’s going on, thanks to the AM, FM and NOAA Weather Band tuners. You can also tune in to the FCC and EAS public alert systems. This, along with the flashlight and cell phone charger, make the FR-150 Microlink one versatile little device.

Your Ultra-Portable Link to the World
Tackling the great outdoors can be a daunting task. The Etón FR-150 Microlink is designed to keep you in touch with the rest of the world, even when you are miles away from civilization. It has a high-quality AM/FM tuner, providing you with news, entertainment and public service announcements. Not only that, but it also integrates a NOAA Weather Band receiver that brings you weather forecasts, alerts and other emergency messages--information vital to backpackers and travelers.

Convienient Features and Reliable Redundant Power Sources
The Etón FR-150 Microlink is ruggedized for outdoor use, and is more than ready to go in emergency situations. The bright white 3-LED flashlight is perfect for lighting the way at night, or for signaling to others across long distances. Additionally, the integrated headphone jack lets you listen in privacy.

Having a device that sports multiple modes of communication means nothing if there is no way to power it. Etón has designed the FR-150 Microlink with that thought in mind, and it can be powered in several ways. The built-in rechargeable battery pack can be charged from the integrated dynamo hand crank, or from an optional AC adapter. The optional AC adapter can also power the unit directly. An array of waterproof, shatterproof, high-performance glass encapsulated amorphous solar cells can also run the FR-150. They are efficient enough to power the unit whenever the sun is up, even in overcast weather. These multiple power supplies can also be used to recharge cell phones with the Etón charging cord--available by returning the included card and specifying your phone's model.

Customer Reviews

Nice product, but an incomplete package.
For the price, I expected the typical thin, creaky plastic chassis common on many similar products, but everything about this is pretty solid. I wouldn't be too afraid to just drop it in a backpack and go. My only complaint is this...the radio has a built-in rechargable NiMH battery, which will die permanently if left discharged too long. People will buy this as an emergency radio, stick it in a drawer, and when they really need it some day, the battery will be bad. To solve this, I ordered a USB-A to USB Mini-B cable and a plug-in AC to USB adapter. Now, I can leave it plugged in and charged or charge it from any USB port.

Crank it up!
This is one amazing product, and should be on your priority list for your household emergency kit. It's also a handy item to have in the car or by the bedside.

The first thing that should be mentioned is that this full-featured emergency radio is amazingly small. Reading its approximate dimensions of 5" wide x 2-3/8" high x 1-13/16" deep can be misleading, so imagine it placed on its side on top of a dollar bill: it's actually smaller than US paper currency! And that's one of the things that make this small radio so appealing.

You can charge the FR150 in less than two minutes using its hand crank. You can also place it in sunlight (even on an overcast day, as I found out) and its built-in solar panel handily powers the radio and recharges its battery pack.

The radio's tuner pulls in both AM and FM stations, and with surprisingly clear reception. It receives all seven NOAA bands using a separate slide selector, so you can monitor changing weather conditions, along with tuning in to the FCC and EAS public alert systems. It has a flashlight with three LEDs on the its side, providing surprisingly bright illumination, about on the same level as my Garrity Power Lite 3 LED Crank Light (Titanium Silver/Black).

If you're looking for audio attributes on the level of Bose, JBL or Polk Audio speakers, this radio isn't for you... but the sound quality of this small radio is quite remarkable. Listened to a favorite "smooth jazz" station for awhile, switched to classical then to '80s rock, and was quite pleased all around.

A number of places list this radio as having the option of an optional AC adapter, but couldn't find anything definitive on this, so made email contact with Eton's Customer Support. Received a reply within hours, where they stated that at this time, they do not have AC adapters available for the FR150 Microlink or the FR500 Solarlink, but are expecting these items to be available in about 60 days. The support rep suggested:

1. Charge by using the USB port on the computer (this requires a cable that converts USB to mini-USB, available at your local electronics retailer). I did this with the same USB cable used for my digital camera.

2. Solar power: leave the FR150 Microlink in direct sunlight for about 6 hours.

3. Use the Dynamo Hand Crank of the side of your radio (crank time of 2 minutes equals radio play time of 20-30 minutes).

Should also note that there is a registration card with the instructions inside the box, and you can mail the card in for a free cell phone adapter tip. Personally found it faster to do the same thing online with Eton.

This is one of those products that is reasonable enough to want to have more than one for household and family emergencies. Must admit to liking Eton's emergency radio products. Part of this is due to happy prior ownership of an Eton FR400 Self-Powered Water-Resistant AM/FM Radio with NOAA and TV-VHF, which has proven itself. Should also say that this little radio, which is smaller and more practical than I originally thought, has quickly become a favorite. It's about 60% of the size of its predecessor, and small enough to fit in a jacket pocket for those outdoor excursions.

It's also available as American Red Cross FR150 Microlink Solar-Powered, Self-Powered AM/FM/Weatherband Portable Radio with Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger, in either red or white, and those versions include an American Red Cross disaster preparedness tips booklet that's well worth the read.

Whichever version you go with, it's a 5-star choice, without a doubt.

Eton FR 150 - A backpackers must
Eton FR 150 Microlink: Radoo/Flashlight/Handcrank Charger


The Eton FR 150 Microlink is a must-have backpacker radio/flashlight/charger. At about 7.5 oz, it is not the smallest am/fm/NOAA weather available. It simply is the best quality palm-sized radio for $30.00. Grundig via Eton designed this radio in their American Red Cross Emergency Radio series. It is very well built with excellent reception and sound qualities. It is partially soft-armored for backpacking use. It is well sealed not waterproof, as in water-submersible, but
survives creek crossings and trail-soaking rains.
Its renewable power sources are distinct advantages. The hand crank is easy to use. The FR 150 has Solar energy panels built into the case providing constant outdoor daylight charging. The rechargeable batteries can be used to recharge a runned-down cell phone. Its bright LED flashlight provides backup for other heavier backpacker flashlights.

This is a high quality, well-built, inexpensive device for backpackers as well as for anyone's emergency survivial pack.