American Red Cross FR1000 Voicelink Hand-Crank AM/FM/NOAA Weather Two-Way GMRS Clock Radio with Flashlight, Siren and Cell Phone Charger (White)

by Eton

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 11.1 x 6.2 inches ; 4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0014SWPZK
• Item model number: FR1000
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,048 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 1, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer The American Red Cross FR-1000 Voicelink Radio is a battery or self-powered hand-crank radio that keeps you informed, even when the power is out. Tune into AM, FM and NOAA Weather Band frequencies for the most up-to-date information in case of an emergency. The FR-1000 Voicelink is more than just a radio though--it’s a multifunction powerhouse. The two-way walkie-talkie feature with GMRS technology lets you stay in touch with the outside world, while the cell phone charging jack ensures your access to available mobile phone networks. You also get a flashlight, a beacon light that can function as an SOS signal and a siren. And all of this can be powered with the twist of a crank.

Large, ergonomic knobs make operating the FR-1000 easy View Larger

A Lifeline to Information
Floods, fires, tornadoes, blizzards, and earthquakes--these are situations that nobody wants to find themselves in. The most critical resource during any emergency or natural disaster is information. Being able to make informed decisions and communicate with others is vital. The American Red Cross FR-1000 Voicelink Radio is built from the ground up to be a rugged, highly portable communication tool. It has an AM/FM tuner for news and public service announcements, as well as entertainment. The NOAA Weather Band radio receives weather broadcasts, warnings and other emergency messages. It can also be set to automatically activate on its own, informing you of any new alerts.

The American Red Cross FR-1000 also ensures that your voice can be heard by others. The onboard two-way radio utilizes the GRMS/FRS bands, and is compatible with virtually every handheld radio and walkie-talkie on the market in America. It can be set to automatically scan through 22 channels and 121 privacy codes, allowing you to monitor or broadcast to those around you. Additionally, the VOX setting allows for convenient hands-free transmission. The FR-1000 can even keep you in touch with those who are farther away by charging cell phones via its on-board batteries or hand crank.

Seven bright LEDs light your way View Larger

The FR-1000 Makes Your Presence Known
The American Red Cross FR-1000 offers multiple communication options, maximizing your ability to stay connected with others no matter the situation. During the day, a built-in siren can emit a continuous tone to announce your presence. Activate the bright red LED signal beacon and "SOS" is spelled out in Morse Code, perfect for long distance signaling at night. The FR-1000 also comes equipped with a flashlight, ensuring that you'll never be left in the dark.

Redundant Power Sources for Always-On Reliability
Having a device that sports multiple modes of communication means nothing if there is no way to power it, and the FR-1000 has been designed with that thought in mind. It can be powered via the included AC adapter and rechargeable battery pack, or by additional AA batteries. In the event that external power supplies are exhausted, the FR-1000 also employs a hand-operated dynamo. A few turns of its handle will bring light, news and information, no matter the situation.

Product Description

Self-Powered Hand-Crank AM/FM/NOAA Weather/2-Way GMRS Clock Radio with Flashlight, Siren and Cell Phone Charger. Stay connected with the Voicelink FR-1000. This emergency crank radio combines two-way radio with GMRS technology, built-in flashlight, cell-phone charger and access to weather channels to prepare you for any emergency situation. Get prepared and get connected with the Voicelink FR-1000 today.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Fails primary duty: AM/FM radio tuners barely work, September 26, 2008

By 

Captain Jack (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Red Cross FR1000 Voicelink Hand-Crank AM/FM/NOAA Weather Two-Way GMRS Clock Radio with Flashlight, Siren and Cell Phone Charger (White) (Electronics)

No question, this radio "looks good", seems like strong construction, and has quite a list of features. Yes, the flashlight, siren, and SOS beacon work well. The NOAA Weather channels seem to work, depending on your location. The GMRS/FRS radio performance is dismal. But most important to me as an emergency source of information - this unit fails its primary function: AM/FM radio reception. AM reception is nearly non-existent, and I live near very powerful AM stations. FM reception is very weak and includes a lot of static which I have never heard before on FM. Yes, I have tried the AM/FM radio bands in numerous locations - home, lake, mountains, flat lands. Little or no reception. One would think that with a digital display of radio station call signs that you could precisely tune in stations -- not so. For $150 - $200 and with a reputable name like ETON/Grundig, I expect MUCH more and much better performance. Like nearly all things these days, these units are made in China - so I believe ETON needs to look into their quality assurance process to ensure they are using top quality components and that assembly is complete. I have returned my unit - makes no sense at all to keep a radio which costs $150 but will not even tune in AM and FM radio stations. Also, I see many identical and similar reviews now across the internet - "pretty, feature rich unit; but very poor radio performance". I would advise against purchasing this unit until such time ETON acknowleges the problem and fixes it.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Design Marred by Poor Components, October 13, 2008

By 

R. Rosener "Photomatic" (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Red Cross FR1000 Voicelink Hand-Crank AM/FM/NOAA Weather Two-Way GMRS Clock Radio with Flashlight, Siren and Cell Phone Charger (White) (Electronics)

(What's this?)

I've had this radio for a few months and tested it so my review is based on some experiences.
First off I'd say if you don't have any emergency radio at all this one is worth consideration. It looks rugged, is easy to grab in a hurry, and has a ton of features. The weather band and Emergency alert alone are worth owning this. I have not tried the two way radio feature yet, so can't comment on that. This will run on batteries as well as a hand crank rechargeable battery. The problem is that the rechargeable battery they put in this thing will barely hold a charge! You'd have to crank for at least 10 minutes to get a 30 minute life cycle, and that's pushing it. I had another Grundig recharageable radio and it had the same poor battery in it. I would not depend upon this thing's rechargeable battery in a pinch, and that's a shame because the hand crank on this one is really well made and sturdy, with a positive friction.

Another problem with the radio is poor AM reception, even in a city! Not much range on the receiver, and lots of static. Similar experience with the FM band. Summing up, I'd say this is a decent emergency radio if you've got batteries on hand and have no other radios. It's a very well designed unit hampered by poor electronics and rechargeable battery. Take a look at some of the Freeplay radios if you want better reception and battery life.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This one may already have saved our life, August 5, 2008

By 

K. Corn "reviewer" (midwest, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: American Red Cross FR1000 Voicelink Hand-Crank AM/FM/NOAA Weather Two-Way GMRS Clock Radio with Flashlight, Siren and Cell Phone Charger (White) (Electronics)

(What's this?)

First, a confession: I'm not great with alarm sounds and noises. I tend to think something is about to swoop in and grab me or the world is about to explode. In this case, a tornado was in our area and the radio was my first warning system, faster than the television set or even the storm sirens in our area.

I was about to leave the house and I did not. Trees fell across the road and some people had parts of their roof torn off. One person was struck by lightening. Hail fell. It was nasty weather and I'm glad I stayed inside, thanks to this radio.

So that is how it affected my life and spared me anxiety, other than the initial rapid heartbeat I experienced when hearing the alarm.

I am totally bonded with my radio now and think of it as a trusty companion, waiting to let me know of impending storms. Having noted that, the manual (as another reviewer noted) can be a bit complex. It took a small bit of time to figure out all the features....but then....I was amazed. There is a radio, a cell phone charger, TWO types of battery backup, including a rechargable battery pack in case the regular batteries die. There is also a hand crank to recharge the batteries.

If the power fails or you don't have electricity, this radio will still work. That is worth a lot to me. Also, I admit we did drop this once and it didn't even get hurt. Another advantage? If anyone you know has a similar radio, you have a potential two-way connection. How cool is that? You do have to follow all certification requirements to use this to transmit or receive messages from others.

It was very easy to find our weather channel, unlike another weather radio we had. The flashlight is powerful, the siren is strong and I can verify that the warning info comes through quickly and accurately, alerting one to potential danger.

Also, the knobs are very user friendly and my elderly mother had no trouble turning them. There ARE quite few knobs so you do need to become familiar with which ones tune the radio and set it to weather channels or regular stations. But it really isn't that hard to do.