Product Descriptionmono AM/FM/Shortwave/NOAA radio * receives 7 NOAA weather channels plus NOAA alerts * built-in LED flashlight * flashing red LED emergency light * built-in cell phone charger (charging cable and adapter tips not included) *
What Others Say
Emergency communication
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
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
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 ... Read More
Solarlink FR500 -- Eton
works well, should have presets, solar generator is weak but the windup is adequate, C cells should replace the double AAs, all in all pricey but a 3 out of 5 star product
BB
Design is a little strange
Our radio arrived non-functioning. The indicator lights turned on, and all features except the radio worked. After about an hour of trying to get it to work, we banged on it and that fixed it. I have no idea how that helped. I find the design of the multifunction knob and the band selecting knob to be quite strange...they are the silver tubes in the cutouts in the picture. Not very intuitive. The solar panel is built into the top of the handle...where you would be holding it if you were carrying it on a walk. That doesn't make much sense to me either because your hand is blocking quite a bit of the panel so the unit won't be receiving much light for charging. I think the smaller unit like the American Red Cross FR150 Microlink by Eton is at least ... Read More
