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American Red Cross FR400 Emergency Radio, Whitex$48.49
  (70 reviews)
Best Price: $80.00 $48.49
Always be prepared with this emergency radio – featuring a built-in flashlight, cell phone charger and NOAA weather info.- From Eton, makers of Grundig hand-crank radios
- The only hand-crank radio endorsed by the American Red Cross
- Broadcasts 7 channels of NOAA weather information
- LED flashlight, flashing beacon and cell phone charger built-in
- Emergency rescue siren and AM/FM radio
- Equipped with TV-VHF channels 2-13 (audio only)
- Water-resistant casing
- Multiple power choices: batteries, battery pack, AC adapter or crank power
- Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approved. UL is the worldwide trusted source for product compliance
- 1-year manufacturer's warranty
Make sure you're always in touch with news and vital information when emergency strikes. With four power choices, this is the radio you can count on when you need it most. The Etón Grundig American Red Cross FR400 is one of Etón's American Red Cross branded, weather-resistant 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 -- all surrounded by a sturdy, weather-resistant casing -- the lightweight and portable Grundig FR400 is an excellent 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. 
The FR400 is small and portable enough to go wherever life takes you. | Housed within its weather-resistant body, the Etón FR400 includes a two white-LED light source, and a flashing red-LED light source, as well as an emergency siren so that you can not only find what you are looking for, but others can easily find you. As an added convenience, this unit features a 3.5-millimeter earphone jack, a fine-tuning control knob super-imposed on the main tuning control knob for achieving the maximum in station clarity, and a built-in cell-phone charger with a 3.5-millimeter output jack and multiple adapter tips for charging select models of Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson phones. This Etón FR400 weighs only 1.5 pounds, and measures 8.6 x 4.5 x 2 inches (W x H x D). | 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 300, which includes the emergency features of the FR250, but offers television and weather station tuning instead of shortwave; and the Grundig FR 350, a water-resistant variation of the FR250.
While the FR400 shares the same features and performance of the FR300, its sturdy, weather-resistant casing and design modifications give it a distinct edge in emergency situations that's well worth the extra cost. |
|  (FR250 |
FR300 | 
FR350 |
FR400 | | Hand crank |  | | | | | Cell phone charger | | | | | | Emergency lights | | | | | | Siren | | | | | | AC adapter included |  | | | | | Water resistant | | | | | | 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, A | | Tuning and Bands The FR400 receives FM radio via a built-in telescoping antenna, AM via an internal ferrite bar, all seven NOAA weather channels plus an Alert function, and even picks up TV1, TV2, and VHF channels 2-13, so you can listen to your favorite television programs without a TV. 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 radio's weather reception. Television reception, happily, was quite another story. Though some stations 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. Power When You Need It
At the heart of all of Etón's emergency radios, including the FR400, 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. 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. In our test, after draining our cell phone of power, we recharged it using the FR400 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 FR400 can provide your compatible phone with power in a pinch. The Etón FR400 is extremely versatile, and can be powered by up to four different sources, including: the included AC adapter, three AA batteries (not included), the built-in rechargeable Ni-MH battery which can be recharged from the AC adapter or by hand, and the dynamo hand crank which not only can recharge the built-in battery but provides power even when no battery is installed.
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 FR400 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 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 1.5 pounds, and with dimensions of 4.5 x 8.75 x 2.25 inches (HxWxD), the FR400 is made to be tucked neatly into its handy nylon carrying case, ready to be stored in emergency box, or packed neatly for a camping trip. A white LED light is set on the side of the radio, just above the tuning knob, allowing you to use the FR400 like a flashlight. A red flashing emergency light is also included. This placement is an improvement over the designs of the FR200, FR250 and FR350, all of which place the emergency light on the radio's face. But similar to those radios, the light on the FR400 is only designed to help you down an unlit stairwell or enclosed hallway in a pinch, and 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 large band selection knob and other controls make the FR400 a breeze to use. | 
The rear connections are protected by rubber seals. | 
On the left, the hand crank, on the right, a flashlight, and tuning and volume knobs. | The mechanical controls of the FR400 are extremely visible and easy to use. The volume control is fairly easy to finesse, and the tuning knob, which features a smaller concentric fine-tuning control knob, offers much greater control. A sealed 3.5 mm earphone jack is set into the back, and the telescoping antenna tucks neatly behind the handle strap, 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 excellent volume for the radio's purpose. The tuner itself is self-illuminated, though in a darkened environment it is still somewhat difficult to pick out the bands. 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
What's in the Box FR400 radio, card for free cell phone charging adapter, nylon carrying case
MPN: ARCFR400W - UPC: 750254800320
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Customer Reviews
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Unacceptably Poor Radio Performance Can't Overcome Features
By A2YNF8D4ADUPD9 on 2006-06-16
This radio has an outstanding set of features that would appear to make it a great emergency radio for the home. It has nearly every conceivable feature in an emergency radio that covers al the bases in one small unit. Unfortunately, The radio's performance is so wide of the mark that I can't recommend it.
The radio suffers from two serious performance flaws: Strong FM stations can prevent reception on some TV channels. This "image rejection" problem is well known in receiver design. You should check if the TV channel you intent to listen to can be received at your home. I had one strong TV channel that my 10 year old GE radio could receive just fine that was completely blocked on this radio. Keep in mind that in a real disaster you may not be able to hear same stations because the stations themselves have lost power. What if the only station you can hear is rendered useless because of this receiver's poor performance?
Secondly it is not nearly as sensitive as other, cheaper weather radios. The Midland WR-300 is a far superior performer at pulling in weak weather broadcast stations. In side-by-side tests over -several days the Midland could easily hear two stations while this radio could only hear static.
Also, the design had several ergonomic issues. If, like most of us, you're right handed, you'll find the crank placement cumbersome since it's on the left side of the radio. Also the tuning display has no back light making reading it in the dark very hard. Third it really needs a carrying handle, which the cheaper model FR300 has (but it lacks an AC adapter). This alone might have me decide in favor of the FR350 since, even after you purchase an AC adapter at Radio Shack, your still ahead dollar wise and you have a nice handle!
This unit was unable to charge my cell phone completely (an LG VX3200). The cell phone display indicated "charging complete" sooner than I expected. Sure enough it still kept charging on its own charger. I suspect that is due to the wimpy AC adapter included.
On the positive side: The tuning knob works well and the radio is easy to tune. The audio is very clean and clear even at moderately load levels. With the exception of the crank, most of the controls are well laid out and clearly marked. The operation is fairly self explanatory so any member of the household should be able to use it effectively in an emergency once they become familiar with it.
Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any real, direct competition for this radio given its excellent features. I'm disappointed that Eton, which prides itself on its radio design expertise, would have designed a radio with such poor performance. I'm also a little dismayed that the American Red Cross would put its name on a radio that might not work when it's needed most. I can't recommend this radio.
could be better thought out and built
By A34RLV8RAH5KDD on 2006-11-16
What do you need from a radio in emergencies? First is to be sure that it hasn't dissipated its power, but the switch at the top of this unit is left-light, middle-off, right-flash, and with experience in similar devices stashed in tool boxes or car trunks, etc. the switch is gonna get moved so it'll drain the batteries. This needs a better switch.
Second, another concern is the two flimsy plastic turn-knobs on the front. The knob on the left front lets you select the power input as to how to supply power to the unit (battery or crank-around-and-around), but the knob sticks out and feels flimsy, so it's a likely candidate for getting broken in any storage place or when being used, so that you may not be able to use it to select how you are gonna power the radio. The knob on the right front that sends out a siren (left), off (center), or sets up the weather alert monitoring (right) is built the same way, and it's also a likely candidate for getting moved away from the off-position, or getting broken off when you need it. It's too much a plastic toy and not durable enough.
Third, radio reception is decent, but the TV bands appear limited to channels 2 though 13, and if you are in an area where TV is channels 16 and higher, it won't help you there unless you get lucky to pull in some sideband or whatever it is called (I did once get a wisp of a higher channel, but I wouldn't want to depend on that in an emergency.) The maker does send 70 cents per sale to the Red Cross, so that is likely why this says Red Cross on it. I'm gonna keep it cuz who knows, but I have a better built Garmin unit.
Fourth,if I dropped the Garmin unit, I think it'd hold together. From handling this Eton unit, if I dropped it, I think I'd have 50 broken pieces of plastic. I'm not Consumer Reports so I'm not gonna try the drop test--why trash it needlessly--but I feel sure this'd shatter.
BTW, the battery door opened easily on this unit. Perhaps the plastic connection for the rechargeable batteries sometimes isn't turned 90 degrees to fit down all the way down inside a internal slot, and thus this plastic connection might stick up into the battery space, which then creates a narrower vertical space which doesn't let you shove the rechargeable battery package all the way down into its home, and then (still following me?) the rechargeable battery package, sticking up higher than it should, provides friction on the battery door making the battery door hard to open. Or hard to close if you don't position things just right. I can understand the complaints about this issue. This is yet another indicator of poor design, as with the top switch and the flimsy knobs on the front. Yet, everyone should have some emergency radio unit, thus I give it a 3 as it's a whole lot better than nothing, plus in buying it you've sent $0.70 to the Red Cross--woo woo.
Bad Crank, Poor Reception, ON/OFF Design Drains Battery...
By A2MLEH0NTNM0Q0 on 2007-01-19
Was very disappointed in this product for several significant reasons:
1. The thin plastic crank handle is WAY TOO flimsy. This "handle" provides a critical function-- you think/expect the manuf. would have invested a few pennies more for a thicker or metal handle. (The internal generator produces a fair amount of crank resistance-- so it's only a matter of time before this handle will break.)
2. The time needed to charge a dead cell phone for a brief call (1-2 min.) was way too long-- especially given the fragility of the plastic crank handle.
3. The ON/OFF is inadvertently turned to the ON position each time you slide the radio back into the very snug storage cover/bag. (Nice surprise to open your "Emergency" radio only to find it has completely drained batteries because of this design flaw.)
4. Radio reception is poor for FM stations, and was non-existent for TV stations-- tried tuning-in both at various location in my town.
5. For a price on $79 (currently on sale at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $65) these BASIC features should work as advertised.
6. Amazon customer service has been EXTREMELY slow to deliver the pre-paid return slips as promised. It has been over 30 days now-- and 5 phones calls-- (3) to India, (1) to the Philippines, and finally, one to the US. The international calls each averaged over 20 minutes because of language and phone connection difficulties.
7. Product is a great concept-- every home should have one. I would buy locally so you can test the features first-- and because of the slow/inept Amazon customer service... in this case.
NOT as advertised...
By A10KODCGJQ8ZTT on 2007-02-24
I just received my FR 400 from Amazon. I noted several problems right away. NO cell phone tips or cord were included. Instead you get a warranty card on which you are to specify what model phone you have, then (in theory) they send you a cord and that SINGLE tip. Not what they advertised, nor what I expected/wanted, as my wife and I have different phones. Possibly this is a recent change, but this kind of bait and switch makes me distrust the entire product. I would not have bought it if I had known this. Also, the AC adapter uses a barrel plug with reverse polarity (i.e. positive on the exposed outside, negative on the shielded inside), which defeats the entire purpose of a barrel plug. Apparently they wanted to make their charger useless for any other purpose, and prevent you from using any other charger. Not having a phone cord I'm not sure, but I would be afraid they reversed the polarity on that too, making any other cords and tips that might fit useless as well. An emergency product should be versatile, not proprietary. Additionally this arrived just before a severe storm (24 Feb 2007), but not to worry. If the power goes out and my phone goes dead, I can take comfort in my warranty card.
Poor Design for an Emergency Necessity
By A3LBF2GBBG3WD1 on 2006-08-31
I will not be sending this item to my frail 85-year old mother in law to help her survive in hurricane alley on the west coast of Florida. It is virtually impossible to open the battery case cover to assemble the rechargeable battery connection for this radio. Most folks would buy this and store it until needed and so would not know in advance that they cannot access the battery compartment. This is unacceptable design failure for something the Red Cross is touting as a household essential.
When the company was contacted for assistance, they suggested inserting a butter knife in the hinge and forcing the cover open!! Folks have already reported being injured in trying to force the cover open.
I will be returning this one as soon as I can.
- Who needs FEMA with this and CNN I'm ready.
By ATSGH2MRQLLYR on 2006-06-16
Just received the FR400 and tried it out. Everything works as stated. You get a wall charging unit extra along with a carrying case. My eyesight is not what it once was and all of the control are clearly labeled and easy to use. I am on the Gulf Coast, however if you're in an earthquake area, a flood zone, or subject to tornados, ect this is a no brainer purchase. You only have to need it one time to make the purchase price well worth it.
- Recharge your cell phones?
By A181TC3OL7EJZX on 2007-01-18
The primary reason I bought this product was because, in addition to all the normal emergency features, it advertised a built in cell phone charger. Well, if you happen to own one the selected brands and models for which they provide adapters, you can. Once you receive the product, the fine print on the box tells you that not all cell phone manufacturers and models are supported. I don't own any of those they support. So I am very dissappointed about that.
- Save your money
By A2YJMLCMVDRJGC on 2006-07-11
Living in a hurricane prone area I thought this might be a good investment. I received it today and am very disapointed. It reminds me of something I could have ordered out of a comic book as a kid. My first impresstion is it's light weight,poorly made,very bad sound and doesn't receive stations very well.Maybe in a storm I'll be glad I bought it ,but I doubt it. Hope I don't have to find out!
- Eton Red Cross Emergency Radio
By A2L88W4SS3XDUN on 2006-09-13
This radio is poorly built. When you set it down the little door in back opens and the batteries fall out. You put them back in, carefully set it down, then when you pick it back up the little battery door falls open and the batteries fall out again...Now, I put rubber bands around the whole radio to keep the battery door in place....stay away from this particular model unless you have lots of rubber bands...good luck and thanks for the opportunity to write the review...
Bruce Payne
- TV reception? Not after 2/16/09!
By AR121G6ZC2SV7 on 2006-12-05
If you're buying this radio for emergency preparedness and expect to use the TV feature then you should also expect a disaster in the next 2 years. That's because after Feb 16, 2009, all analog TV transmitters will be shut off and the TV tuner in this will be worthless. You can thank your friends at the FCC for this great idea
- Does Everything You'd Need In A Disaster
By A3BL87QHIEQ1NE on 2006-09-11
I was hesitant to get this, since other reviewers gave it poor ratings on reception. Now that I bought it, I'm very glad I have it. It does all the things you might want in a disaster, inluding a flashlight, red flashing light (especially if your car breaks down at night), a siren (if you're trapped in a building), AC, battery, and crank power, and multiple radio bands. While some reviewers complained of not getting a lot of stations, in a disaster, you only need a few stations, as everyone will be broadcasting disaster news. Between the AM, FM, TV, and NOAA bands, my radio will received a huge number of stations--many more than would ever be needed in a disaster. (I didn't try the cellphone charging function.) It comes in a carrying case.
Only minor criticisms: The case seems like an afterthought: it doesn't hold the AC adapter; the knobs tend to turn the radio on when putting it in the case, and the knobs could get broken off if the case is hit (not that protective). However, it comes in a strong box which is perhaps better storage for everything.
Overall, this is all you should need for light, siren, and broadcast information from multiple power sources in a disaster.
- This Unit Is Everything I Hoped It Would Be!
By AIKWHRGMXUNVP on 2006-11-14
I'm not sure what some of the other reviewers were having a problem with here... this is a great little package!
I just opened the box, got the radio out, opened the door on the radio's back without any difficulty (or breaking it!), hooked up the rechargeable battery, and everything worked just fine immediately.
The tuning was just fine for a non-digital radio, and the sound quality was much better than I expected... I tried all the bands: the AM was fine, the FM was pretty much static-free, the TV bands were excellent, and 4 of the 7 weather radio settings had no trouble pulling in a signal... my weather-radio-only products can't even do that... I was getting great reception in the house on these bands (surrounded by more electrical products, computers, wireless networks, and you-name-it than I care to think about), and I didn't even have the antenna up....
The siren is annoyingly loud (I agree that I wouldn't give this unit to a pre-teen), the flashing red strobe was sufficiently bright as a warning beacon, the 3 bulb LED flashlight was bright enough to see OK in a dark house or for whatever other emergency purpose most people are going to use it, though I'm not going to throw away my $50 3 watter LED flashlight.
And, it's all powered just about anyway I want it, though I haven't rigged it up yet for generator power from my bicycle...
I'm so impressed I'm ordering half a dozen as presents for co-workers, kiddos, spouse, and, most importantly, the big boss... :-) Enjoy!
- Antenna broke within 2 days
By A2RRK4ILD4UZSL on 2006-07-10
I purchased two of these radios to have for emergency purposes. However, the antenna broke on one within 2 days of receiving the radio. This of course makes it virtually useless since I cannot receive radio signals clearly. Prior to the broken antennae, I thought the sound quality was good and clear. As for the charging of cell phones, I have not attempted this, but it did include an adapter that fits my cell. I recommend that Eton make a more durable antenenna since this radio will be used in emergency situations. I should note that I was simply listning to the radio in my backyard when I began adjusting the antenna for better reception. The antenna broke with no unusual pressure from me.
- Red Cross radio
By A9ZR85V03AA1 on 2006-07-11
less than expected. The first one came with a broken latch for the battery compartment and I had to go through the exchange hassle. Reception is not that good and the T.V. mode of reception is very weak. Will keep it but disappointed.
- Very disappointing
By A2SD23EITE17WS on 2006-08-01
There are some nice features to this radio, but on the key measure, radio reception, it fairs dismally in my location. The weather stations could be pulled in with lots of static, but FM and TV channel reception were impossible. The receiver so lacks sensitivity that two local FM stations totally overwhelmed reception from all other stations, both on the FM and TV channel bands. AM worked okay. The manual that comes with the radio says that you'll probably have to crank the hand charger for 10-15 minutes to get a cell phone charge sufficient for a one minute phone call. And that's basically a dismissive guess on their part. Thus, this feature seems pretty useless. I was unhappy enough with this product to return it.
- Wow!!!!!!
By A3622U129H4KKK on 2007-05-16
Wow!!!! I bought this to use for camping trips. I read though all of the reviews here on Amazon, and was a little leary. I thought i would give it a try because it was the only radio that had all of the features I was looking for. We recieved it the morning we left for are first camping trip of the year. We triied it out with nothing but the crank, and listened to the radio all day. We were able to receive all radio and TV stations very clearly. I think it has something to do with the region you live. Must people that hated this item lived in the east. I live in Utah. We go camping in most areas that have no services and are at least a half hour to the nearest town. I am so glad I gave the radio a chance. I am also purchasing 2 more for Fathers Day gifts.
- Cell phone charger? Not really!
By AGNM6HRQ8VRME on 2007-08-19
What the vendor fails to tell the buyer, until the radio is unwrapped, is that it takes at least 15 minutes crank time to get less than a minute of cell phone charge. Secondly, the appropriate cell phone adapter tip and charge cord have to be sent away for separately.
- Battery compartment door almost impossible to open
By A18J7BTWHCH6N8 on 2006-07-13
The battery compartment door is so tough to slide open - almost impossible without a screwdriver to pry it - that my finger slipped and was cut trying to do it. I don't know if this an issue with just my particular radio or is generally the case.
The radio itself seems OK and charged up right away with the crank.
- A bit disappointed.
By AFLONVBSFG6MH on 2007-03-04
The FR400 does everything it is supposed to do passably well but I'd hoped to see some cell phone adapters instead of having to send for one which they might or might not have. And the radio does not have a fine tuning knob. Either I misread the description or it is just another discontinued feature.
- Coolest radio ever
By AR5Q0A2EF3ROH on 2006-08-09
I received this radio a couple weeks before we had a major power outage in St.Louis caused by heavy storms. My power was out for 48 hours, and many didn't get power back for 7 days or more. I was able to listen to the TV news broadcasts using the radio. The built in flashlight was also great to have. The radio brought a lot of comfort, as did taking cool showers (having no power for air conditioning in 100F weather!) Everyone should have one of these!
- Garbage!!
By AO5GXMESEDMLG on 2007-01-05
Absolute garbage. Poorly built, no way it is water resistant, (battery case does not even close). POOR RECEPTION, WORSE SOUND! Do dot waste your money!
I'd give it 0 stars if it were a choice!
- First you have to get it open!
By A35Z3THAWNBECY on 2006-08-03
I have not been able to even try out this pooduct because no one can get the battery door open. Bedsides myself, five other adults have tried and cannot get the door to the battery compartment open. This is necessary, according to the instructions, to use the radio. Maybe we should try a kid? Anyway, if we cannot fix this defect, then we must reject!
- In an Emergency, This Is Worth the Investment
By A2T8HO2TXCF0ZP on 2006-11-10
I purchased an emergency radio to have in the event of an emergency. Duh! And it seems like the charger, lights, siren, and radio reception will all perform adequately should that happen. My teen wasn't awed by the sound quality, but that's not the criteria here.
I do have concerns about the quality of the product. For starters, like many others, I had trouble with the strange latch on the battery compartment. Even though I had been warned by other reviewers, I broke the latch trying to get it open. Amazon accepted an exchange without question, and I'm very grateful. The next time, having experimented with the broken one, I was able to get this one open, and connected the rechargable power supply. Hopefully, if I ever have need of the radio in a real emergency, I won't break the latch in attempting to open it.
Other design considerations: I might have recessed the buttons, or maybe built a more rugged frame, if I was designing it. But then, I might have priced it out of the market doing so.
My purpose is that this radio goes in a kit of supplies in case of an emergency-earthquake, tornado, flood, etc. (ask FEMA for a great manual, or see if your local fire dept offers a CERT program-Community Emergency Response Training). My emergency radio is there in the box, and I think it will be worth my investment if I ever need it.
- Overall-great except...
By A3OQ3K9S5VLKFU on 2006-11-10
I'm very satisfied w/ the radio. The tuner works great. The only complaint I have is that it is impossible to remove the battery compartment door without using a screwdriver to get enough leverage to pop it open to hook up the battery for the 1st time out of the box. I don't think it's because of the seal on the door for the weatherproofing but more a small fault in the design.
- So cool.
By A3BEAHNHBPQ8XN on 2007-05-21
I love this radio, the features are so cool yet is is compact and affordable. I gave it to my dad who lives in an area susceptible to hurricanes. I feel a little better knowing he has it in case of a disaster. The unit can be cranked in case the batteries are dead, and it is water proof. It also has an emergency flashlight and siren. Too cool. Also, the purchase provides assistance to a great cause.
- Very cool! Features + usability
By A4G843BICHT6N on 2006-08-24
This little radio is just what I was looking for - TV audio (since how often do radio stations have live djs anymore?), NOAA weather stations, an "alert" mode which turns it off until there's a severe weather notice and then it squawks; flashlight/emergency beacon, siren, and more power sources than you could hope for. It even will charge your cell phone (even with the hand crank). Usability factors are very good, with the exception of the siren, which is too easy to turn on when you don't want to (and it's loud).
The radio is light, but that's exactly what you'd want in your car, camping gear, or go-bag. I'm buying a second one for the car, as well as one as a gift for a country-living relative.
My only disappointment was that there isn't currently a power adapter included that will charge a Treo.
- better than I expected
By A3GATJNV3U3QTO on 2006-10-29
After reading other reviews, I purchased this with more than a little uncertainty about the product. I simply could not find another radio with all the same features. As far as the battery compartment is concerned, it took less than a second to open and very easy to use...same for my husband when he tried it. You may have to fiddle with the antenna directions a bit but we were able to get any radio or TV station we wanted to clearly. One station that does not come in well on our stereo and other radios was clear on this one. One problem- none of the cell phone adapters worked on our samsung phones- but easy enough to get an adapter somewhere (if you remember to do it!). Also, it says it takes a lot of cranking to generate even one minute of cell phone time....but I suppose that it is better than none at all. I have not tried this. I like that it takes batteries and I've been using it around the house for weeks with no sign of running low yet. I originally pruchased this for my parents in Florida, but am keeping it and ordering another for them and my mother-in-law too! I have not used the case since I use it all the time.
- An "OK" Product, But Not Great
By A2VPLI6JXD6UCR on 2007-01-05
I purchased several of these radios--one for myself and others for gifts since everyone should have some type of emergency radio. Here's my thoughts on the product so far:
- Reception seems pretty good.
- Overall construction seems a little flimsy for an emergency product. The battery compartment cover, crank handle, some of the knobs and switches could easily be broken without careful handling.
- Save the box! The case won't hold anything except the thin instruction manual. It would have been much better to have a case that would hold the accessary cords, recharger, etc.
- Great thing to have around
By A339DGMXNBSME0 on 2006-07-10
I was very impressed by this radio. Great functionality and a really good combination of features. Haven't used the cell phone charger but that's a plus. One of those things that you hope you never need but good to have around. I highly recommend it.
- The Little Radio that Could
By A25Y0RZPPLT9YN on 2007-01-10
Shortly after we got this little radio, we were involved in an eighteen hour blackout. The radio provided non-stop weather and travel conditions for our area. We also appreciated the built-in emergency flashlight. It's a good little product.
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American Red Cross FR400 Emergency Radio, White Accessories
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| Product Features |
- Emergency radio with water resistant housing
- Endorsed by the American Red Cross
- Hand crank can be used to recharge the built-in battery
- Tunes AM/FM, seven NOAA weather alert channels, and TV channels 2-13
- Features emergency lights, plus a flashing beacon mode; cell phone charger
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