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Eton FR500 Solarlink (Black) | 
| Brand: Eton
Category: CE
List Price: $100.00
Buy New: $69.90
You Save: $30.10 (30%)
New (10)
Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 1239
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.3
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 7.9 x 3.6
MPN: FR500
Model: FR500
UPC: 750254803345
EAN: 0750254803345
Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days
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| Features:
| • | Includes owner's manual, warranty card, card for cell phone tip, and USB/cell phone charging cord | | • | 520-1700 KHz AM, 88-108 MHz FM, 6000-12100 KHz Shortwave | | • | Can be powered from four different sources - From the built-in rechargeable Ni-MH battery that takes charge from the dynamo crank and from an AC adapter (not included), from 3 AA batteries (not included), from the AC adapter alone (not included), and from solar power | | • | Dimensions - Width 7-3/4? x Height 8-1/2? x Depth 2-1/2? (196.9x215.9x63.5mm) | | • | Weight - 1.9 pounds (0.86 kg) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
When your outdoor adventures take you off the grid, you need a device that can fill multiple needs. The American Red Cross FR500 is a compact unit that you can toss in your rucksack and take anywhere. It functions as an AM, FM, and shortwave radio with NOAA weatherband. It also has a flashlight, an emergency beacon, and an emergency siren. Plus, you can use it to charge your cell phone or MP3 player.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Great radio except for tuner! December 30, 2008
G. Miller (FT Bragg, NC (SOF))
It's such a nice radio with the rubberized surface, ability to charge your phone, light, radio, crank etc.
My only complaint which caused me to return it was the tuner.
It couldn't receive the only local station I wanted to get.
It was puzzling because cheaper radios easily receive the station but the expensive radios like this and the Grundig shortwave radio couldn't receive it.
If they develop their tuners more I'd consider buying one in the future but until then, I'm out.
 Hurricane Ike spurred this purchase, but it would come in handy during a zombie invasion too. December 14, 2008
Ryan Barnhart (Cincinnati, OH USA)
Build quality seems good. The case is rubberized and it seems fairly rugged. The crank and solar charging worked as advertised, and you can even charge it from a USB port on your computer. The LED flashlight was nice and bright. The AM/FM worked as you would expect, and I really liked the shortwave capabilities. There are so many religious and anti-government conspiracy wackos transmitting on shortwave you wouldn't believe. The only disappointment thus far has been the weather bands. There are 7 weather band channels to choose from, and you're supposed to tune to whichever one is the strongest, clearest signal. I get static on all 7, both indoors and out. And I'm really close to Cincinnati, aka I don't live in the boonies. Oh, and the phone charger adapter that Eton sent me was dead wrong. Doesn't matter to me because my Razr phone uses a standard USB cable anyway, which I have. So I didn't bother to contact Eton to replace the adapter, but I'm sure they would have.
Emergency communication October 25, 2008
W. Case (Naples, FL USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Acquired the radio to have in case of an emergency. The product had all the amenities I wanted which checked out very well. No emergency has taken place thankfully, but we will be ready if we remember to keep the batteries current and the radio where we are.
FR500 Solarlink October 24, 2008
Anthony K. Brown
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The FR500 is OK, I'm not sure it's worth the money . Where I live I have trouble getting the weather & short wave is weak, I had to make a long wire anntenna. It helped and the cel charger cable came quickly BUT either the cable is the wrong one or the radio does'nt have the power cause it will not charge my LG phone. If I would have known I would'nt have purchaced this higher doller model !!
So-So October 15, 2008
C. Price (Southern California)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I already have a Grundi FR200 and, having enjoyed that radio, use it as something of a benchmark for crisis radio gear.
The FR500 is more bulky and feels less sturdy than the FR200. It could be that it has better lightweight materials or could be more cheaply made. I have only had it for a couple of months and it works fine though usage has been light.
An added feature is the solar power panel. This worked inside through a window but does not seem to last long. Still, the core of the rechargeable radio remains the hand crank. This one works and has an added light to indicate charging. However, I find the crank on the side of the FR200 to be easier to use.
As for the radio itself, FM and AM reception was okay (I am in SoCal). One weather band came in, though there was some interruption. Nothing at all came in on the short wave.
The siren works but having owned radios and flashlights with that feature for years I have never had the plausible occasion to use them. The flashlight also works and is more obviously useful. I like the placement -- on the side -- better than on the front as in the FD200.
The knobs are not very ergonomic. There is nothing intuitive about them and they are literally all over the flashlight (on the side, on the top but underneath the handle, on the right near the bottom between the case protrusions, on left near the bottom between case protrusions).
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