Customer Reviews

Etón FR500 Solarlink (Black)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

We are pretty happy with our Solarlink and use it during power outages (our recent outage was 4 days in length), in the yard, and camping. I will break down the review by parts and attributes.
LED light: Quite bright
siren: Obnoxious, questionably useful
flashing LED: A single flashing red LED. Perhaps useful as a signal.
handcrank: Easy to use, has a green LED to indicate adequate cranking speed. Can crank in any direction.
reception: FM, AM, and NOAA station very good. SW is weak.
sound: Clear
weight: ~2 lbs., very light
LCD screen: Large easy to read numbers with backlighting option
clock: Easy to read and set (can read from across the room)
alarm: Clock radio, easy to set, has snooze button
power options: Very versatile. Solar, crank, 3 AA batteries, and AC. Does not come with DC power adapter, but can use a mini-USB charger (like the one on my cell phone) or a standard 5V DC connection. Many car cell phone chargers are also mini-USB
other connectors: Regular USB out for powering cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players. Two mini-HPJ's; one for earphones, one for audio-in (ie MP3 players).
Knobs: Inset knobs keep your settings steady when transporting.
owner manual: The Solarlink is fairly self explanatory which is good because the owners manual was not very useful. I would like a much more technical owners manual.

In short, we were looking for a radio that has many power options, NOAA stations, and is very portable. The Solarlink meets these requirements well. Probably not the radio of choice if you want SAME capability, good SW reception, or excellent stereo sound. Overall though we are very happy.

I bought this originally from urban outfitters. The signal reception for this radio is fairly sensitive outdoors but once indoors (I have a computer, halogen lights, and T.V.) I tested this radio and it seemed that weak stations like KPCC (the NPR station) don't get through. I live in S. California and one of the NOAA channels works. Indoors is probably this radio's only weakness (and the plastic crank, I got big hands). I tried to boost the signal while indoors by connecting an antenna with a signal booster (by binding the signal boosted antenna to the telescopic antenna of the FR500) and the clearer channels came through pretty well but the weak channels in FM were still silent (this is indoors still).

With the little gripe out of the way I just want to say that I loved this radio's slotted case (it comes apart in two halves). The manual told me not to open the machine but I couldn't help myself. I was curious as to whether this radio was moisture resistant. I found that most of the buttons I could see were slotted in a way that would probably resist a dip. I also saw a rubber covering that sealed the antenna fairly well. But this radio isn't meant to be submerged. It were to fall into a puddle chances are it would remain unscathed (except maybe the digital readout; that could be a problem, depending on how it fell). The speaker has to be open in order to have adequate sound so the water might affect it adversely (but people can always stick this radio in a ziplock bag/s; the solar panel works even when I put put it in a ziplock). But this little weak point could be reinforced with a little bit of caulk or water sealant(ones that don't corrode the plastic casing).

Please note that when opening this case (the manual warns you not to do so) be careful as to not let the top three buttons fall into the circuit boards below. It took me a while to shake out one of the buttons and I ended up pulling out a soldered wire but it was easy enough to solder back on. Also you need to get a 5v ac adapter (FR500 doesn't come with one) if you want to charge the battery at home or listen to it indoors.

I've spent the whole day and late into the night testing the Eton FR500 Solarlink and I am impressed. No, it is not comparable to my Grundig Sattelit 800 Millennium that now is considered a classic - and weighs 14lbs without batteries.

Grundig/Eton has united their minds to produce (or reinvent) a really decent quality emergency radio - the FR500 Solarlink. Housed in a sturdy, mar-resistant and water resistant case, this radio is well protected and easy to operate. Getting a weather report is as simple as turning the radio on and moving a knob a few clicks to find the closest emergency weather broadcast. It can also be setup to automatically turn on and play emergency weather broadcasts.

AM and FM reception, and local weather broadcast bands, are strong and clear as I would hope for. However, the shortwave setting does not meet my standards. but reception can be improved by stringing a long insulated wire from the telescoping antenna to an insulated and properly positioned object - like a tree or a strong shrub. A signal boosting antenna will improves all FM and shortwave radio reception. Anyway, this is an emergency radio and owners will be primarily interested in local weather alerts, local AM, FM, and all local emergency broadcasts. For these purposes, the Solarlink is more than adequate without adding improvements for the antenna system.

Also of importance is that the radio can be powered four different ways. The solar panel (built into the handle) will power the radio from sunshine only, and will even charge the Ni MH battery while playing the radio. The crank-able electric generator (dynamo) also charges the Ni MH batteries. However, unless the radio is plugged in via a 5-volt transformer, the radio should should have 3 AA Alkaline batteries installed. This is a good idea because rechargeable batteries go flat when not regularly recharged. Without the alkaline batteries, or sunshine during an emergency, you might be reduced to using the dynamo crank. The dynamo works, but is kind of tedious to use. However, a 5-Volt AC adapter (not included) will power the radio while it charges the NiMH battery so you will not need alkaline batteries. I know this works because I happened to have a 5-Volt transformer in my junk drawer. For the price of this radio, I do not actually understand why an AC adapter is not supplied. One can just leave it plugged-in and you would have all power requirements needed to immediately use when an emergency occurs - even without sunshine or alkaline batteries.

The digital clock appears to keep reasonably good time. I set it with my Atomic Clock, and 24 hours later it was correct within a few seconds.
It is also a full featured alarm clock with a five minute snooze. And it includes a time adjustable shutoff timer so that the radio can lull you to sleep and then turn itself off.

To set the clock, you hold down the time button on the face of the radio while you press hour and minute buttons just below the solar panel that doubles as a handle. A third button, under the handle, is for lighting up the display - handy when trying to check the time in the dark.

I don't use a cell phone, but the Solarlink is able to charge them with only power from the sun. To accomplish this, it is necessary to write, telephone, or contact Eton on the Web, and ask for the type of connection that is appropriate for your cell phone. Instruction on how to do this is enclosed with the unit. The appropriate adapter will be sent without charge. I use a PDA and an MP3 player. The FR500 is supposed to be able to charge these too. I haven't tested these features because I have other means of protection and use.

The LED flashlight works and is sufficient to find your way in the dark.

The siren is awful sounding and very loud. It should attract attention if you need to be rescued.

The emergency blinking red light (LED's) certainly could be useful, especially if your car is stalled or you are walking on a road or highway at night. Even if the batteries have only a fractiion of power, the FR500 LCD's will blink for many hours.

One could plug in an MP3 player to the FR500, but the radio plays in mono only - even when using stereo headphones. Yet, the speaker on the radio is pretty good and will allow a group to share both the emergency information and all the other features.

The rubber seals are supposed to make the radio resistant to water. I think I would walk in the rain with it, but I would try to keep it covered as much as possible. It should never be submerged. If you are worried about a little rain, you could enclose the whole radio into a zip lock bag.

I've had other emergency type radios, but they didn't come near matching the quality and functions of the FR500 Solarlink. Although it has shortcomings, I would confidently recommend this radio even to my best friends. In fact, I think it would make a great gift to anybody you really care about.

Just one more thing: This radio is also available with the American Red Cross logo. . . as if they manufactured it. Anyway, it is the same radio, selling at the same price. And since the American Red Cross endorses this radio, it suggests that they agree with my evaluation. I'm buying and making gifts of this radio to as many poverty stricken fiends as I can afford. Everyone in the world should own an FR500 Solarlink radio. "The times, they r a change-in."

I bought the Etón FR500 Solarlink in black from Amazon, think that it deserves demerits instead of _any_ stars, and I am writing this review minutes before returning the radio.

The instruction booklet that comes with the radio tells you to plug the rechargeable battery pack's connector into the radio, and it tells you that you must either turn the crank or expose the solar panel to sunlight to charge the battery, although any bright light will also charge the battery.

The radio's controls suffer from bad ergonomic design. For example, the band selector ring and tuning knob are mounted concentrically, but turning the knob with large fingers can easily move the selector ring because it doesn't have firm detents to make the ring stay put on the band you chose.

The booklet doesn't tell you _how_ to use radio although it tells you how to turn on the LED flashlight, the red flashing LED, the anemic siren, and the weather radio alarm. It also tells you how to set the LCD clock, the alarm, sleep, and snooze functions as well as how to turn on the LCD display's light.

To use the Etón FR500 Solarlink as a radio, you must do _two_ things: You must press the power button, _and_ you must turn the power selector knob to DYNAMO to draw power from the rechargeable battery.

As a multiband radio receiver, the Etón FR500 Solarlink is a low quality device with a low gain radio frequency amplifier and excessively wide tuning filters in the FM band. At the low end of the FM band, low power stations may all be heard simultaneously.

Across the Hudson River from New York City, with a line of sight to the Empire State Building, where most radio stations in NYC have their antennas, I was able to tune in only a few of the strongest FM stations in the middle of the band!

On the AM band, I was able to tune in only strong stations anywhere on the band. On the shortwave band, I was not able to tune in any stations. Of the seven weather band channels, only the last one was active and came in loud and clear. As the instruction booklet recommends, I used the tiny, useless, whip antenna for the FM, shortwave, and weather bands.

If you tune in a station on the low end of AM band, the radio won't retain that station's tuned frequency when you switch to another band and tune in a station at the high end of that band.

On the shortwave band, the one foot long antenna is too short to be effective, and it's very difficult to move slowly and smoothly either up or down the shortwave band because too many frequencies are covered by the tuning knob and because the tuning knob springs in the opposite direction you were turning it after you release it. You may be able to live with that lack of resolution in the AM and FM bands but not in the shortwave band.

Also, while the frequency display is digital, the tuning knob turns the controls for an analog tuning circuit. The consequence of that is poor stability and a display that shows frequency drift on the AM, FM, and shortwave bands.

A selling point of Etón radios is that they have a crank that turns a dynamo, but their advertising doesn't tell you that their dynamo doesn't have a flywheel to keep the current running after you stop turning the crank. Clearly, a crank driven dynamo with a flywheel is the only way to build this kind of radio, but to be good a flywheel would have to be heavy. Of course, a heavy flywheel would require a much sturdier case than the Etón has.

Instead, the Etón dynamo uses rechargeable batteries to store charge. Of course, rechargeable batteries may be recharged only a finite number of times before you must replace them, and they might be dead during an emergency.

As a device for emergency use, the Etón FR500 Solarlink relies completely, and to your detriment, on three, small, rechargeable batteries, and the instruction booklet helpfully informs you that you may order new batteries from Etón.

The crank is flimsy, light, plastic and looks and feels as if it may break long before you have any emergency that calls for an emergency radio that is able to run off the power grid.

Don't buy an Etón FR500 Solarlink!

this radio does everything it is supposed to do. After only 90 seconds of cranking, the radio played as advertised. it is compact and seems hardy enough to use in emergencies. it would be great to have made this waterproof too. And, i entered the warranty info online and sent in the model of my phone and within about 2 weeks, the correct charging tip came to fit onto the supplied USB cord to charge my Motorola phone.

I already have a Grundi FR200 and, having enjoyed that radio, use it as something of a benchmark for crisis radio gear.

The FR500 is more bulky and feels less sturdy than the FR200. It could be that it has better lightweight materials or could be more cheaply made. I have only had it for a couple of months and it works fine though usage has been light.

An added feature is the solar power panel. This worked inside through a window but does not seem to last long. Still, the core of the rechargeable radio remains the hand crank. This one works and has an added light to indicate charging. However, I find the crank on the side of the FR200 to be easier to use.

As for the radio itself, FM and AM reception was okay (I am in SoCal). One weather band came in, though there was some interruption. Nothing at all came in on the short wave.

The siren works but having owned radios and flashlights with that feature for years I have never had the plausible occasion to use them. The flashlight also works and is more obviously useful. I like the placement -- on the side -- better than on the front as in the FD200.

The knobs are not very ergonomic. There is nothing intuitive about them and they are literally all over the flashlight (on the side, on the top but underneath the handle, on the right near the bottom between the case protrusions, on left near the bottom between case protrusions).

Cheap plastic switches and dials which do not click into place and stay there. I have already sent it back to the manufacturer for service and it was returned "functions properly as is" which is not very well. Weather bands do not come in, even though my old radio shack 3"x4" "transistor radio type (for you old folks)gets 2 radio bands clear as crystal. Not recommended!

Our radio arrived non-functioning. The indicator lights turned on, and all features except the radio worked. After about an hour of trying to get it to work, we banged on it and that fixed it. I have no idea how that helped. I find the design of the multifunction knob and the band selecting knob to be quite strange...they are the silver tubes in the cutouts in the picture. Not very intuitive. The solar panel is built into the top of the handle...where you would be holding it if you were carrying it on a walk. That doesn't make much sense to me either because your hand is blocking quite a bit of the panel so the unit won't be receiving much light for charging. I think the smaller unit like the American Red Cross FR150 Microlink by Eton is at least as good as this unit unless you need a feature that this unit has. One such feature is that this radio takes batteries while the other doesn't. I haven't had the need to use this during an actual emergency yet, so I'm not able to report on the features' use for emergencies.

I did significant research to find an emergency radio for myself and my kid's homes in view of the way things are in the world at present. I settled on this model for several reasons and am mostly pleased with the purchase, but.... I do wish it were waterproof and I do wish it had a wider range of reception. It also does not come with an adaptor which to my way of thinking should be standard equipemnt with such an item. However, for a price you can order one from Amazon.com to fit this radio. It takes a bit of poking around to get it going and the tuning is touchy but all in all it works and I am glad I got it.

I see that there are more negative reviews than positive for this radio, but I got an excellent deal direct from the manufacturer, and decided to order one for testing. Mine was promptly delivered, easy to set up, and to date has functioned flawlessly. I'm keeping it.

As a veteran amateur radio operator, I've come to appreciate solid, dependable equipment, and although this little receiver wasn't built to amateur radio standards, it makes an excellent 'power out' receiver with a host of useful features.

Mine differs slightly from the one pictured here mainly in that it offers fewer white LEDs for illumination...just four (4), but these are blinding bright. I can't see any other external differences.

The audio is monaural (even with stereo headphones), crisp and clean, and the controls are adequate. The digital display is very large and its green backlight is *extremely* effective, particularly after your eyes have become adjusted to dim lighting.

The manual is brief and occasionally confusing, but I discovered all the radio's functions easy to understand with a little hands-on experience.

Yes indeed, this is an interesting and useful little radio.

Just today I used mine at a picnic, and it performed admirably all afternoon via solar power only.

73 de KC5JLA