Customer Reviews

Eton FR100 Blackout Buddy Radio (Silver)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Like the idea and the digital radio is a nice touch. My biggest problem is the plug. When the unit is plugged into a wall outlet the top of the unit covers part of the outlet above. This makes it impossible to use a 3 prong device and nearly impossible to plug in a 2 prong device. So you are dedicating an entire outlet to this one device. Seems they should have figured that one out.

I have 2 of these one for each floor of my house. When we lose the power there is no more fumbling for batteries for the flashlight or candles. As soon as the power goes out it is right there shining brightly from the outlet, ready to unplug and use as a flashlight! I'm buying them this year for father's day gifts!

Nice enough if on sale, but rather compromised overall:

#1: On full multi-day charges, the battery pack dies after a mere 45-55 minutes of standalone radio play. Has wired-in 4xAAA NiMH battery pack, could be changed out for better NiMHs if a techie person wanted, but....
#2: Rounded bottom means it has to lie flat on its back.
#3: Plug design, again.
#4: Switches a bit underbuilt/underdesigned.

Positives:
#1: Nice blue LCD display when plugged in (not if standalone). Like a nitelite.
#2: Combo of digital/rotary tuning, is precise.
#3: Sounds a bit thin but very clear/clean, pretty good reception.

Bottomline: keeper if $5, return it if paid asking retail $. Try try again.

Likely discontinued because I bought this on sale at Frys for only $4.99. It was worth that price.
Like the other reviewer said it dominates the electrical receptacle. Even a four plugger becomes hard to use.
Radio sounds very tinny, but works OK. It picks up the local AM stations. I have it on the wall in a workshop where the nicely lit digital clock comes in handy. One problem I noticed was that there is a loud hum when I played the radio while it was plugged in (nothing else active on the line). I got around this by clipping a thin ground wire to the outside antenna. This seemed to also boost AM reception.

As I sit in the dark night after night after Hurricane Ike here on the Texas Gulf Coast, I can only wish that this product had performed as promised. It has failed horribly, and I would tell anyone NOT to buy this product. Yes, it has been plugged in and charged at all times. When the power lines went down, this radio played one obnoxious talk radio station for all of 5 minutes, then died out. Do not buy this worthless product.

This radio has a variety of radio bands which means it is useful anywhere in the world. The built-in flashlight provides good illumination. The battery hold enough juice that the light can be left on all night as a night light, something I have done several times in hotel rooms with no nightlight in the bathroom.

The digital turner version is well worth the extra price.

I have had this thing for quite a while. It stays happily in the outlet waiting for use. We have had about three power outages since I got it and the automatic led light proved quite useful. The radio was our only contact with the outside world for three days during the last storm. It was used on and off for hours and never went dead. I recommend it.

Last winter the electricity went out & my blackout buddy went on. It was 4:00 a.m. when it happened. I ran down the basement to my sum pump & started to empty it out before it came into the basement & ruined my finished basement. To me that is a lifesaver. Thank God the power went on & I went back to sleep.

I use it in the bathroom so I can listen while I get ready for work. Plugs right into the wall outlet so it DOESN'T TAKE UP ANY SPACE! I have mine for about 5 years and it still works perfectly. You could also use it anywhere you want to save counter space (kitchen, etc.) I bought another one a few weeks ago (thru Amazon) as a "spare" just in case my old one dies and they stop making these. A great product!

I purchased the Eton Blackout Buddy primarily as an emergency flashlight when the electricity goes out and also as a backup flashlight. I found out that it has little to no illumination. I am very dissapointed. For me it turned out to be a waste of money because it not like buying something at a store where it is easy to take it back.