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Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio

fr200-s-1-sm The Etón Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio is the entry-level shortwave radio in Etón’s line of emergency radios. With a dependable hand-crank power generator that powers the unit’s AM/FM/Shortwave radio and built-in LED flashlight, the lightweight and portable Grundig FR200 is an economical 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.

Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio

Other models in Etón’s line of emergency radios that we tested include the Grundig FR250, a shortwave radio that also includes a flashing LED light, cell phone charger and siren; the Grundig FR300, which includes the emergency features of the FR250, but offers television and weather station tuning instead of shortwave; the Grundig FR 350, a water-resistant variation of the FR250; and the Grundig FR 400, a water-resistant variation of the FR300.

Power When You Need It
At the heart of all of Etón’s emergency radios, including the Grundig FR200, is an internal generator that recharges the internal Ni-MH battery pack and powers the radio and flashlight. According to the product manual, to achieve 40 to 60 minutes of uninterrupted power 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 FR200 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 FR200 can also be powered via an AC adapter which, to our dismay, is not included, or from three AA batteries, also not included. 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! A full 90 seconds of turning the crank can be tiring and may not be for everyone. With that in mind, we also recharged the radio with less than a minute of cranking and achieved over 40 minutes of continuous power.)

Design and Controls

At slightly more than a pound in weight, and with dimensions of 6.5 x 5.75 x 2.25-inches (WxHxD), the FR200 is designed to be tucked neatly into its handy nylon carrying case and can be easily stored in an emergency box, or packed neatly for a camping trip. An LED flashlight is set on the front of the radio, just to the side of the analog tuner. The flashlight is designed to help you down an unlit stairwell or enclosed hallway in a pinch, but the light 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 FR200 includes a handy strap on the top of the radio for easy carrying, and the tuning and volume knobs are set to the side. The mechanical controls are extremely visible and easy to use. The volume control is a bit difficult to finesse, while the tuning knob, on the other hand, which features a smaller concentric fine-tuning control knob, is much easier. An earphone jack is set into the back, 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 for the radio’s purpose. The tuner itself is not illuminated in any way, which makes sense for reasons of power conservation, but in a darkened environment, it’s literally impossible to see. For an “emergency radio,” it seems that Etón might have addressed this problem with a self-illuminated background or lettering, as they did with the FR250, FR300, FR350 and FR400 models.

Tuning and Bands
The FR200 offers 14-band tuning — AM, FM and 12 shortwave bands. 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. Our shortwave reception, however, was a mixed bag. We tested in the early and late evening, searching for signals in the more heavily populated SW1. While we found several signals during our test, honing in on them took a bit of finesse with the fine-tuning knob. And when we did find them, there was static and background noise with most of the signals.

It became clear during our testing that the FR200 is an emergency radio, with several outstanding features that include shortwave reception; its shortwave functionality, however, is not its primary selling point. But for a basic, entry-level and economical emergency radio to use in a pinch or during an outing where access to electricity is an issue, the Grundig FR200 more than suits the bill.

Pros

Compact and lightweight; ideal for emergencies or travel
Clearly laid out functions and controls
Excellent internal power generator

Cons

Tuning dial should be illuminated for darkened environments
Shortwave reception inconsistent
Should include an AC adapter

What’s in the Box
FR200 radio, carrying case, and owner’s manual.

Product Description
A radio for all seasons / Powered by AC, 3 AA batteries or hand crank / Analog tuner receives AM and shortwave bands

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Crank Power By Eton Radios

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Family Emergency Preparedness

by: Hugh Simpson

As the USA hurricane season wounds down some people are sighing with relief especially those on the Gulf Coast and Florida. Yes, we seemed to have dodged a bullet this year even though we still have until November 30th before the hurricane season officially ends.

So we are seeing at US Prepared people say: Well I guess that emergency preparedness is not the most important item on my radar for the rest of 2006.

WRONG!

This is the time that you need to prepare your family for 2007!

So what can you do?

First visit our site at http://www.usprepared.com and get your FR** Emergency Preparedness Guide and make sure to sit down with the family and read through it. After you have read through it then begin to take ACTION now!

Make sure that you have at least a week but preferably more of the items suggested on hand for every member of the family. And remember your pets are important for emergency preparedness!

We are strongly encouraging every family to purchase one particular item for Christmas this year – a family tent!

Why a family tent? Family tents usually have two or three room allowing for privacy.

Remember those poor souls that had driven away from Hurricane Katrina and Rita last year only to find the motels already booked to capacity and the stuffy concrete floors of the shelters packed like sardines?

Would it not be a heck of a lot more comfortable to find a state park or national park where you could set up your family tent without the added stress of hundreds of people crammed together?

We are going to be starting a national campaign at US Prepared to enlighten every legislator, governor, emergency preparedness official and media member about how we need to take advantage of our state and national parks during emergencies. We have learned that during Katrina state parks in Arkansas were utilized. That is a step in the right direction. Most state parks that I have visited in Georgia have bathrooms, showers and even electric outlets.

If you want to follow my venture then go to http://www.usprepared.com beginning around the first of November 2006 and you will see a video blog of my staying at a park for an extended period of time. You will see me in both a family tent and also an emergency preparedness tent that can be utilized for a larger amount of people.

We are strongly urging people to tell their friends and most importantly their elected officials about this project to better utilize our state and national parks for emergencies.

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Hurricane Katrina: A Lesson in Emergency Preparedness for You and Your Dog

by: Kimberly Zlatin

Heart wrenching images of Hurricane Katrina’s four-legged victims are too much for most of us to bear. Fortunately the majority of people around the country have their loving companions next to them while they are watching the devastating news of dogs left to fend for themselves and people making the choice of their pet or their own rescue. A disaster such as Hurricane Katrina is not a common occurrence, but it does bring up important questions about what you would do with your dog if an emergency did arise in your household and you were unable to return to your home. Some important facts to keep in mind:

• Is your dog microchipped? The majority of shelters have a scanning device that can read the microchip that is placed under your dog’s skin. The microchip carries important identifying information for your dog and can be provided at many shelters and vet’s offices for a nominal fee in a matter of seconds.

• Make sure your dog has a collar with updated identification tags. This is a simple way for people to contact you if your dog has been found.

• Find out where lost dogs are taken in your neighborhood. Some cities have a central location where dogs are placed for the first 24-48 hours before being relocated to area shelters. Save yourself time by doing a little research now!

• Have a sign in your window so emergency personnel know that there is a pet inside your home that needs to be rescued.

• Have a designated person(s) to check in on your pet in case of an emergency. Give them a list of reputable boarding facilities just in case they are not able to take your dog into their own home.

• Where are your local emergency vet clinics? You do not want to be scrambling for this information when your dog needs immediate care.

• Is your dog up to date on vaccinations? If your dog is placed in a shelter, boarding facility, or lost on the street you want to make sure that he is protected against diseases that he would not otherwise be exposed to in your home.

• Where can you go with your dog if you must leave your home unexpectedly? Keep a list of dog-friendly hotels so you know where you can go if you are unable to stay in your home.

• Bring familiar objects for your dog. If possible, grab a favorite toy or dog bed with familiar scents that can reduce anxiety in a stressful situation.

• Never underestimate the power of the internet! Email yourself or a friend a picture of your dog so you have a picture available to post in case of separation. You can send the picture to local shelters and websites such as Craigslist.com or Petfinder.com.

A little advanced planning on your part could be the difference between a happy reunion or heartache for you and your dog. While we all pray that we will never need to use this information, having it on hand as a quick reference can bring some peace of mind in an emergency situation.

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