Eton FR160

Bottom Line

The Eton FR160 is a crank-powered emergency radio that can be a lifesaver when the power is out and batteries are running low. The FR160 can also be used to charge up a cell phone for brief calls, and it incorporates a flashlight. The radio covers the AM/FM bands as well as all seven National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather channels.

Performance

Solid for emergency and outdoor use. The Eton FR160 draws kudos for its performance during emergencies -- and in happier times as a camping radio. One drawback is that it can only be powered by the built-in crank generator or the solar cells. Fortunately, reports say that not a ton of cranking is needed to produce a decent amount of run time. Sound quality gets mixed reports: Some say that it's not too great overall, while others are pleasantly surprised.

Features

A few handy extras. The FR160 has a few features that can come in handy when camping or riding out a storm or other emergency. One is a cell phone charger that can put enough juice in your phone for a quick call or two. There's also a built-in flashlight; it's not blindingly bright, but it can still be a help when other lights are nowhere to be found. The radio receives all seven NOAA weather/emergency channels as well as the standard AM and FM broadcast bands. However it lacks Specific Alert Message Encoding (SAME) compatibility, which means you can't filter out alerts that don't pertain to your specific area.

Ease Of Use

Cranked to the max. Solar charging is a useful option for powering the Eton FR160, though you get more immediate results by using the hand crank to charge the battery. About 90 seconds of cranking generates close to an hour of radio play, depending on the volume. The radio's manual indicates that 10 to 15 minutes of cranking are needed to generate about one minute of cell time, which seems excessive. User reviews indicate that much less cranking time is actually needed to put a small charge on a cell phone -- though you should probably still expect a good workout. However, we also spotted several user reviews that indicated that the FR160 doesn't play well with the Apple iPhone.

Value

A lifesaver. Low price and good performance in its primary role as an emergency radio make the Eton FR160 a good value -- and a priceless lifeline if disaster strikes and power is out. Its small size and light weight also make it a good choice for more enjoyable occasions like camping or hiking. However, the limited charging options and lackluster audio quality mean that you won't want to use it as your everyday radio.