Product Description

GRUNDIG FR200 - For entertainment, for awareness, for preparedness, you'll never be sorry you have the Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio on hand. This affordable analog portable receives AM (530 - 1710kHz), FM 88-108MHz and shortwave in two bands: 3.2-7.6 and 9.2-22MHz. As an all-in-one unit that can operate without batteries, FR200 Emergency Radio's functionality and versatility is ideal for emergency applications. From its heavy-duty, splash-proof ABS plastic case to its long-lasting rechargeable battery pack, this radio is designed to withstand and operate in emergency conditions. With access to AM, FM, and 11 international Shortwave bands, this radio receives hundreds of channels worldwide. The FR200 is perfect anytime but, in an emergency (when other power is unavailable), the crank powered feature makes this radio extremely valuable. Everyone should get one of these. Built-in emergency light (includes user replaceable bulb) Mini-earphone jack (earphones optional) Built-in 2.5 inch speaker Includes camouflage carry case with shoulder strap Input is available for optional AC adapter (AC adapter must be purchased separately) Dimensions - 6.75H x 5.75W x 2.75D

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3987 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Eton
• Model: FR200
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 5.75" h x 2.25" w x 6.75" l, 1.50 pounds

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

Amazon.com Product Description
The Etón Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio 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, as they did with the FR250, FR300, FR350 and FR400 models.

Tuning and Bands
The FR200 offers 14-band tuning -- AM, FM and 12 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.

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Customer Reviews

Emergency Radio
This radio is sold under several brands, and is good for daily use as well as for emergencies because it picks up signals from a longer distance than most radios. The wind-up feature is more fun than utilitarian since three AA batteries will power this little gadget for days. I am put out that the radio did not come with an AC adaptor, and I refuse to buy one at the high prices now charged for them. I think Radio Shack started this consumer-unfriendly trend of selling incomplete products, and Microsoft does the same through its Vista non-ware.

Best Radio for the Price
Grundig Radios are exceptionally good portable radios. I have two or three around the house each tuned to a different station, because they're so inexpensive. They're also light weight and small enough to fit anywhere. The batteries seem to last forever. The sound quality is very good for such small speakers.
In emergencies a battery pack inside can be charged with a hand crank if the AA batteries quit.
I recommend Grundigs very highly and since electronic stores often don't carry them, Amazon is the best place to buy them.

A decent emergency wind-up radio, albeit a bit dated
This is the Grundig FR-200. It's decent, but I do have some nits.

THE GOOD:

* Sound quality: Although mono, it's adequate.

* Battery life: The unit uses three AA batteries, plus a small plasti-sealed NiCad pack (about the size of an olive) for the recharge crank. I've been able to run the radio for an hour or two each day, for several weeks, before having to change the AA's. {BTW, I use Tenergy 2600 miliamphr NiMHi AA's in this, and they work great}. I rarely use the crank-driven NiCad, but it's runtime is rather modest - a full minute of cranking yeilds 45-60 mins of listening ... at a very modest volume.

* Portability is good.

THE MEDIOCRE:

* TUNING: {minus 1 star) The pre-printed plastic frequency indicator on mine is poorly aligned to the unit's actual frequencies, so unless you happen to recognize the voice of a familiar DJ, or stumble past while a given station is doing station identification, chances are good that you'll be as much as +/- 15% away from the indicated AF/FM frequency ... and you'll get no help at all on most of the other bands. I'd happily have paid 2-3x as much for a comparable radio with a digital tuner and a minimal LCD readout ... with only a modest impact to total battery runtime.

* CHARGING: (minus 1 star) The smallish handcrank generator is clumsy to use, and having to spend 1 second out of every 45-60 cranking like a crazed chimp, charging a dinky little NiCad mini-cell, is irritating. I would have liked an additional feature that'd allow you to directly charge instead the three AA's via a built-in smart charger connected to a universal power input ... thus enabling recharging (or direct play) from things like you're car's cigarette lighter, a portable generator, a PC, a portable roll-up solar pad, etc. I'm pretty sure there are newer versions of this sort of radio that have a larger & more ergonomic crank mounted to the rear, as well as solar recharge capability/compatibility. This model, as of this writing, has fallen behind the latest technology trends.

All in all, it's still handy, and recommendable ... but there are newer and better choices available out there.

(Note: I've reposted this review because the other product AISN number it was attached to expired.)