American Red Cross FR150 Microlink Solar-Powered, Self-Powered AM/FM/Weatherband Portable Radio with Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger (Red) Reviews

• Small, crankable and solar powered!

  
  By AEJAGHLC675A7 on 2008-07-29
  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 just 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, and for comparison it's about on the same level as my Garrity Power Lite 3 LED Crank Light. This is also brighter than some of the predecessors from Eton.
  
  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: 2 minutes = radio play time: 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. I 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. And speaking of emergencies, there's a simple but straightforward American Red Cross disaster preparedness tips booklet that's well worth the read.
  
  Must admit to liking Eton's emergency radio products. Part of this is due to happy prior ownership of a Eton FR400 Hand Crank Radio and Power Generator, 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 in white if you prefer:
  American Red Cross FR150 Microlink Solar-Powered, Self-Powered AM/FM/Weatherband Portable Radio with Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger (White)
  
  This one's a 5-star choice, without a doubt.
  
  UPDATE: Already received the free cell phone adapter tip from Eton, just days after registering the ARC FR150 Microlink. Plugged the tip into the cord that came with the phone, then plugged the phone in and started cranking... and the phone indicated that it's being charged as I crank!
  
  

• Extremely Dissapointed

  
  By A2K5OA5UKVDJWA on 2008-09-15
  We purchased this emergency radio/flashlight a week before Hurricane Ike hit us in Houston. We tested it as soon as we got it and were able to receive 3 FM stations, 2 AM radio stations and the weather band. The flashlight worked well. We could not locate a cell phone charging cable for the unit, rendering that function null. When Ike hit Friday night, the weather band went to 100% static, and only one FM station was clear enough to understand. The flashlight still worked fine. By Saturday morning we could get no radio signals at all no matter how much we cranked. In contrast, our four battery-operated radios picked up several stations. But, we really didn't want to use up the batteries - the very reason we purchased the hand crank in the first place. The flashlight switch stopped operating Saturday night, remaining stuck on low beam with no way to turn it off. This morning we were fortunate to find a commercial building with a generator, A/C and wi-fi - hence the ability to write this review. The only reason it gets one star is because the flashlight broke in the ON position. Otherwise, it was extremely disappointing. I certainly will never buy another Eton product.
  
  

• The best $30.00 NOAA radio out there!

  
  By A3W18SWPLC11L6 on 2008-05-08
  This is a fabulous radio for only $30.00! I live 12 miles from a NOAA transmitter in a house with 9 inch thick stone walls and this little set pulls in a strong, clear signal at all times! I previously owned a Midland WR10 which under exactly the same conditions could barely recieve with two antennas sometimes. I threw it away the minute I turned on the Red Cross(Eton) radio.
  
  

• Not meant for any 'typical' emergency

  
  By A2MSBIA18RXYQC on 2008-07-22
  I don't know what radio the other reviewers got, but they certainly couldn't have gotten the same model as I did. What a super disappointment...especially since this radio is supposed to be for emergencies (...see my comments near the bottom of this review). Sure, when it came fully charged from the factory it played (out-of-the-box) 13 hours. BUT, this was probably a charge via 'AC', which, unfortunately, you won't be able to have for a while since there is no AC adapter yet available for this radio. But when it fully dis-charged, and I cranked it for the 90 seconds recommended, I got a whole 20 minutes of 'play time'. (By the way, one of their support guys told me NOT to go much over 90 seconds of cranking, 'or else'...whatever that means.) And, according to that same Microlink tech support person, you'd better be in DIRECT sunlight if you expect it to 'fully charge' in about 5-6 hours...and, according to that same tech support person, going over 6 hours in direct sunlight won't add to the play time, which, according to that same tech support person, is about 2 hours. He also warned me AGAINST 'charging it up' via the sun, and then 'cranking' to try and charge it more. So it seems that a high level of play time is only available via the, as yet unavailable, AC adapter. I was going to try and charge it via the USB port, but according to the manual, you have to leave your computer on for 8 hours! So I didn't even bother. This is supposed to be a radio for emergencies. During most emergencies...which generally means no electricity in your house...who would have 8 hours of computer battery time to charge it up? And even if you charged it up prior to (let's say) a typical "weather emergency", what would you do after the radio plays and then discharges on 'day one' of the emergency? During weather emergencies, it's usually pouring rain for SEVERAL days, so, you're unlikely to get direct, daily sunlight that, if available, could give you a whole 2 hours of play time. If your only other option is the crank, that means you'll get only about 20 minutes of play time from this radio. If this radio accepted batteries, it might have given you an additional, viable, power option during weather emergencies.
  
  

• Not Very Reliable in Hazardous Weather.......

  
  By A1WXJ1I42UOQ2V on 2008-08-09
  The radio is small, light weight and easy to carry in your purse, while camping, to the office, outside, etc. Radio stations locally pick up great on bright, sunny days. The one time we had a severe thunderstorm (since receiving the radio) I couldn't get the local stations or the weather channels to pick up at all. The weather channels don't pick up on sunny day's either. Charging doesn't seem to be a problem as I placed in a sunny window and the battery has remained charged since taking out of the box and that's using approximately 1 hour per day.
  
  Overall I like the radio but wouldn't depend on it in serious weather situations.
  
  
  
  
• Lacks one basic function
  By A3VXNYC3R8A91V on 2008-07-12
  This is a nice radio and works pretty well but lacks the one basic function it was purchased for. It has no alert function to turn on and broadcast emergency warnings! So it is a mistake to call this an "emergency radio" even if it is endorsed by the American Red Cross.
  
  
• No cell charger
  By A8MU457KF97Z5 on 2008-06-18
  Great little device! Smaller than expected. Sturdy, with good AM reception and loud volume. Light and solar panel appear to work as well.
  
  One problem - you need an adapter to charge your cell phone, but I can't find the adapter anywhere (amazon, ebay, etc). So, the cell charging functionality is null. If you find it please let me know and post it here!
  
  
• Small, stylish, works well!
  By A1RR777XDB8BRT on 2008-06-25
  Great functionality, flashlight is bright, sound and reception are good, handcrank comfortable, worked right out of the box. The handcrank folds down along the back, which is nice. The flashlight turns on using a handy button on the top. The red is slightly metallic so this looks a lot more stylish than I thought it would - bonus!
  
  Rubber-covered inputs on the side are a headphone jack, a mini-usb port and a mysterious one with a picture of a cellphone. I realize you can send in a card to get a plug that fits your cellphone (though I doubt they can accomodate an iphone) and presumably that cable fits there, but there was also an unexplained short cable that came in the box that I could not tell you what it was for.
  
  
• Well designed radio
  By A2JXM4W2SRFW6K on 2008-07-13
  I like to listen to the radio in the shower, and outside. I bought this thing as a radio that can float between the bathroom, and that I can carry outside and listen to. I liked the idea that it has a solar panel, and can be charged by cranking, as I hate needing to change the batteries when my radio goes dead and I'm all soapy. This radio is probably not very waterproof, but it will hold up to getting splashed pretty well.
  
  The radio has great reception. I can even pick up the local college radio station that is fairly underpowered. The built-in telescoping antenna works properly, and folds flat into the unit. This is loud enough to be heard over the water flowing in the shower. This is not at all a hifi, and sounds kinda like the early transistor radios. Great for news, not really all that good for heavy metal or hip-hop.
  
  The solar panel is weak, but convenient for leaving on the window sill in the bathroom, which somewhat charges the unit during the day. There is an LED to indicate that it is charging. The crank works fine, and you don't have to crank the crap out of the thing to get it to play for a while, though it does help.
  
  The plastic shell and rubber fittings are well designed. Compared to other plastic shells of other products, this is a joy to use, and I have not been disappointed in its use. The crank handle snugly fits into its closed position via friction. There is a rubber gasket over the power and earbud connectors which also fits snugly. There is also a black rubber fitting around the flashlight portion. The unit is flat enough on every sides to stand on its own, which I've found useful for orienting both the speaker and the solar panel at the same time.
  
  For $30, this thing is very much worth every penny.
  
  
• Weathered Hurricane Ike Well
  By A196JLB5VDYQH6 on 2008-09-30
  I listened to AM and FM news stations on it during my 6-hour evacuation ride from Houston to Dallas. Tuning in stations was easy and the signal was clear and powerful throughout the trip. The bright flashlight is a nice addition and proved useful several times. I'm back home now and the radio is sitting safe and dry in a box with my other hurricane supplies.
  
  
• Seems fine so far
  By A3LLP0VSTSABK2 on 2008-08-20
  I haven't had an emergency yet to use this radio in, but everything worked nicely out of the box. My "complaint" is that the tuning wheel for the AM/FM stations makes it hard for me to get a station dialed in exactly. The scale showing the frequency is small and a small twitch of the tuning wheel moves you over quite a bit of frequency ground. So if you're trying to dial a station with a narrow frequency, you may find it hard to get a good lock. The flashlight is rather anemic as are all LED-based flashlights that I've tried so far. Is it better than nothing? Absolutely. Is it perfect? Not a chance. I did find this radio/flashlight to work better than the Eton FR500 Solarlink. This one is also smaller, but has fewer features.
  
  
• works great but questionable quality
  By A15VBU4V3O4Y8M on 2008-09-17
  I bought this primarily to pick up the weatherband, and for that it works great, in fact it blows away the walkman that I was using for the weatherband before. AM and FM are average, for local stations only, but for 30 bucks you cant expect a lot in this price range. The solar panel is very sensitive, it even will run the radio if placed under a incandescent lamp. Unfortunately, though, this particular one has a volume control that cuts out at the lower end of its range. If it gets worse down the line I'll either send it back to Eton under the year warranty, or just plain junk the thing. To sum up, if you are considering buying one, check it out completely and be prepared to send it back if something dies or does not work right away. personally, this experience is one reason I dont usually like to buy stuff online - theres no store to bring it back to without paying shipping to return it and get another one. if it wasnt for the bad volume control I would give this 4 stars.
  
  
• Always has power
  By A28L701RSWHFD3 on 2008-06-16
  No batteries, so you never turn it on in an emergency only to find out the batteries are dead.
  
  
• Compact and powerful
  By AJM5CGPQVWX01 on 2008-06-19
  This little radio is smaller and handier than I thought.
  It is powerful, and yet easy to take along.
  A bargain at this price.
  I am so glad I ordered it...
  
  
• Love it!
  By A1MBLH4280KZL5 on 2008-06-20
  Smaller than I expected. You can fill out a form and provide them with your cell phone model and they'll mail you the correct charger adapter. I haven't had to wind it once, the solar panel doesn't need direct sunlight, in the shade it works great! $30 is a steal!
  
  
• exactly as expected
  By A2H3X7BDEWTY8P on 2008-06-29
  Wanted a light, packable radio for hiking over multiple nights (mostly for weather)...clear sound, solar charge works well, tuner not overly sensitive, hand crank not to flimsy either. As advertised.
  
  
• AWESOME!!!!
  By A3T0D67D4URO7G on 2008-07-07
  I'm amazed. Works wonderful. I cranked it 5 hours ago and it is still working. I cranked it for 30 seconds. Now my whole family wants one. I got the red one, it's beautiful!!!!!
  
  
• Emergency light and radio
  By A2U5LQ82T3L5EZ on 2008-07-20
  Solidly built, good ergodynamics. Little green light shows when solar panel is charging battery, and this occurs even in lower sunlight levels. Weather band radio works well, tuning light for am/fm helps find stations. Battery life appears good.
  Only complaint is incomplete instructions for using cellphone charging function. It comes with a short cord with 2 plugs, one which plugs into radio and the other is supposed to plug into cellphone???, but the plug doesn't fit either of our cellphones, and I haven't been able to find an intermediate adapter.
  
  
• Great for emergencies!
  By A2SH6A32BE6NEV on 2008-07-24
  It's always a good thing to have emergency use devices for those "you never know" when it's going to happen days. In this case, it can be weather related, or a simple power outage affecting your city, town, or even isolated to just your street. The FR-150 unit has the ability to operate a typical AM/FM plus NOAA radio. The NOAA radio is what really makes this unit shine as you can find 24 hour weather information on these channels and in emergencies, NOAA is used to announce public safety information. The hand crank power or solar panel recharger works great, as in a tight spot you may find dead batteries in a regular radio, or simply run out of battery juice after extended use. No such issue here! It's this "always available" functionality that I love. The built-in flashlight is a little on the weak side, but that's typical for LED types. Headphone jack makes this unit even better -- you can plug it into headphones or a line-in jack of a computer or external speaker. Built in speaker, however, is plenty loud and clear enough -- rather surprising for its size! Unit is built solid enough such that it can take the bruising of operating outdoors, but also strong enough to just be tossed into the closet when you don't need it. At an affordable price, I cannot say how much of an investment in your safety can be made by having one of these.
  
  
  
• Good, but came without the cell phone adapter
  By A16ZKIWAIGG4VC on 2008-08-07
  I bought this after the earthquake in LA last week to improve my stash of emergency supplies. It definitely seems like a good addition to my kit. However, I was disappointed that it shipped without a little cell phone adapter that is necessary in order to plug your cell phone into a cord that plugs into the radio (the cord did come with the radio). The instructions indicate this adapter is necessary, but it was nowhere to be found in the box I received.
  
  I emailed Eton's customer service and received a response within a few days that I was missing this adapter. They are shipping the adapter no at no cost, but it will take 2-3 weeks for delivery.
  
  
• Neet little package!
  By A1RI8EOGQU6EWE on 2008-08-15
  Well, I finally took the plunge and bought one of these little critters. Overall, this radio fits the bill for my semi-emergency needs, I don't need the cell phone power option, and the built in flashlight is cool, but you should have a better flashlight in your emergency kit or bug out bag. I'm able to receive three NOAA stations, which is nice. The AM and FM bands work well and come in crystal clear. My only complaint is a minor one, but, I wish there was the option for commercial battery power. That one added option would have taken care of just about any power need. Regardless, this is a cool little radio. If you can snag one on sale, then get it. If you don't like it, then you are not out of too much money.
  
  
• Excellent investment
  By A25CHLYEQZ1YX0 on 2008-08-17
  The American Red Cross FR150 is every bit what it claims to be. AM/FM/Weather bands all are very clear. The crank was used only once - on the initial charge up. After that the solar panels have been powering the radio. I have used it at least 8 times so far for extended times of 2 hours or longer without it ever fading or going out.
  Living in Hawaii where hurricanes are a threat every year this radio is in our preparedness kit. Definitely a wise investment on my part. Mahalo & Aloha.
  
  
• good buy
  By APYRJCPVDLVWX on 2008-09-30
  this is a great deal,. much better than the cheap yellow solar light/radio,. which fell apart,.
  this is very durable,. and good quality,.small,.
  only complaint is volume is not real loud, as I have bad hearing,. must hold up kinda close to me ear,.
  
  
• Eton FR150 Emergency Radio
  By A2SJQ11VUS2NJS on 2008-10-18
  Good product with great features. Seems to be well-constructed. Small size is easy to store in an emergency kit. Built-in LED flashlight is good for emergencies but not as bright as a 2 D-cell regular flashlight. Hand-crank recharging feature works well but cable to charge cell phone is not included. Owner must send in coupon with model number of cell phone-good luck finding the model number of your two-year-old cell phone. Reception of weather band broadcasts is not as clear as reception of AM/FM, and is not equal to other weather radios I have owned, otherwise I would rate it as 5 stars.
  
  
• Radio, Flashlight, Phone charger
  By AZF7LR3CPB1EI on 2008-11-03
  Great little radio. And I do mean little. I've put off buying a self-powered radio for my emergency kit because so many were larger than I wanted. With several ways to obtain power, a built-in flashlight, and the ability to charge my cell phone [I requested the proper tip for my phone from the manufacturer online and quickly received it for no extra charge] this device is an esxcellent addition to my kit. And I like the red color.
  
  
• just another chinese made plastic radio
  By A6PD44PNKM8IZ on 2008-11-13
  i ordered this after seeing an advertisement for it. i am a big am/fm radio fan and my frustrations are that that the dying medium has been reduced to cheap plastic poorly made devices. i had hoped the eton radio would be different. it is cool, does seem to work as described and the crank functions well.
  
  the box says canada then in small print it says designed in california assembled in china... translation MADE IN CHINA just like every other crappy plastic piece of electronics you'd find at a dollar store. it feels like a chinese made device. lacks the rigidity and quality of something made in north america. nothing special about it's construction at all.
  
  for 10 bucks i wouldn't mind but for $40 and the glossy advertisements that wreak of integrity i had hoped for a quality american made product not just another chinese made piece of soon-to-be-broken plastic.
  
  
• Great when the lights go out
  By A23EKXKIH1SHS4 on 2008-07-30
  I bought 3 of these for my household just in case of the frequent power failures we have experienced. They were such a hit that I had to order more for my married children.
  
  
• Works great
  By A1TIJM7MW4WLXA on 2008-08-04
  I have ordered solar radios in the past and this is much improved. I was surprised it was so small, but it feels like it's well made and it works great. I've been using the solar and crank, and it always works. It's comforting to know that if the electricity goes out this winter I can listen to my solar/crank radio to find out why I'm going to freeze to death. I've also used the flashlight and it does give off enough light to find my way around my yard at night. I really like it and am considering buying another one for the car.
  
  
• Works as Advertised
  By ABD2YOAZDRTGW on 2008-09-07
  American Red Cross FR150 Microlink Solar-Powered, Self-Powered AM/FM/Weatherband Portable Radio with Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger (Red)
  
  This product works as advertised. After communicating with Eton regarding my wife's cell phone, I was quickly sent the correct adapter tip for my wife's cell phone allowing it to charge it by using the crank. There was a misunderstanding regarding the communication of Eton sending my cell phone adapter tip. As a result I am awaiting the adapter tip for my cell phone.
  
  I did find a USB adapter from one of my digital cameras, that I own, that fit into the radio. Once plugged into the radio, I can plug it into a laptop or PC USB port and wait for it to charge.
  
  I tested the solar charging by placing the unit on a window sill and watched as the charing indicator light up. The radio works and sounds fine for my intended use. NOAA weather alert stations can be reached as expected. Finally, the flashlight works as advertised as well. Simply crank and turn on the flashlight to illuminate the area you need lit.
  
  
  
• Great little radio
  By AIGNDQOMT4ETP on 2008-09-12
  Over all a good product. Only con is the limited battery. I wish I could add a AA or AAA battery to exented this.
  
  

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