Etón FR360R Solarlink Self-Powered Digital AM/FM/NOAA Radio with Solar Power, Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger (Red) Review

Pros: Combination of emergency features, alternate power sources
Cons: Jack of all trades, master of none

While the Eton FR360 does many things, I bought this radio for 3 basic functions, all relating to emergency use.

1. Multiple power sources, notably solar cells and hand crank in addition to dry cells.
2. Weather radio, AM/FM as a necessary secondary.
3. Cell phone charger (via USB).

The ability to power this radio from multiple sources is good in theory but weak in practice. To maintain a battery charge sufficient to run the radio requires several minutes of cranking every 15 minutes. The solar cell's rate of charge cannot keep up with the radio's rate of discharge. This means that the radio will still require occasional cranking even if sitting in full sun. Given the effect that low charge has on radio function (more on this later) it's just easier to keep a set of spare batteries on hand. With the shelf life of modern alkaline batteries this is really the best option. It's not like this unit is ruggedized for go anywhere operation so don't imagine yourself riding out a hurricane in a waterlogged foxhole madly cranking so you can hear the weather report.

Radio reception is also less than what I expected of a $50 unit. Weather radio is intelligible. I don't expect great performance will make the voice sound any less robotic. I find there are two things that affect the radio performance. Fully extending the short telescopic antenna is a must for FM reception and battery power must be high. Operating from alkaline cells provides okay reception but with no power meter on the rechargeable battery (charged from the solar cells or hand crank) reception deteriorates with the battery charge without any indication. Not what you want in an emergency radio.

The most disappointing feature is the USB cell phone charger. The USB port derives its power from the crank only, not the batteries. This means that anything plugged into the USB port only charges as long as the crank is being turned. If you have a smartphone that takes several minutes to boot from a dead state then any appreciable charge that can be built up is expended before the phone is ready to use. I actually tossed an old Moto RAZR in with the FR360 because it boots fairly quickly, sips power and will provide 911 service without a contract.

While this review seems to cast the FR360 in a negative light consider that a few spare batteries resolve the major complaints and the solar cells and crank are really there for last resort use. (Seriously, who would crank or look for a sunny spot if they could just as easily duct tape three extra AAA cells to the back of the radio?) The radio isn't great but it's good enough for the intended purpose. The USB charge port is a bit of a disappointment but when all else fails, it's there. Is the FR360 worth $50? Maybe. It's a jack of all trades and when it's go time having only one thing to grab instead of three will probably be its greatest asset.

Buy it here now!