Etón FR160BL Microlink Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger (Blue)

by Eton

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.8 x 5.2 x 2.5 inches ; 11.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001QTXKBA
• Item model number: FR160BL
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (264 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,118 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #15 in Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Radios > Shortwave Radios
  • #37 in Electronics > Portable Audio & Video > Radios
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 1, 2009

Product Description

Color: Blue

From the Manufacturer

Tune_in: to the MICROLINK FR160 by Etón

For the calm of a sailboat, the curves of a bike trail, the midst of a hurricane, for baseball fans tuning into a game, a bevy of kids camping in the backyard. For everyday adventure, Etón corporation is there to keep you connected, empowered and informed all year round, 365 days a year.

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Sleek and portable MICROLINK FR160 helps you define your adventure

Radios for Everyday Adventure

The Etón MICROLINK FR160 does more than keep you connected. This new spin on an Etón classic incorporates our award winning design and standard feature sets into a sleek easy to use package. It is a multifunctional, ultra-compact companion ready for any adventure.

When emergencies or outdoor adventures take you off the grid, you need a device that can fill multiple needs. The Etón MICROLINK FR160 is so compact that you can easily store in a safety kit or toss in your rucksack and take anywhere. It has a high-quality AM/FM tuner, providing you with news, entertainment and public service announcements. Not only that, but it also integrates a NOAA Weather Band receiver that brings you weather forecasts, alerts and other emergency messages--information vital to backpackers and travelers.

At only 5.25 inches, the MICROLINK FR160 literally fits in the palm of your hand. It also includes a powerful solar panel, which gives you the freedom to explore without the hassle of batteries or adapters. If that wasn’t enough, we also added a full sized USB port to easily charge any small electrical device such as an mp3 player or cell phone. You’ll always know what’s going on, thanks to the AM, FM and NOAA Weather Band tuners. With the additional flashlight and cell phone charger, you can’t go wrong with the MICROLINK as it is one versatile little device.

Ultra-portable and packed with all the features you need.

Features

	Solar/Hand Crank Generate energy to power this sleek unit by simply setting it under the sun or with a few turns of the hand crank. Free yourself and ease your mind with self-powered radio broadcasts anytime anywhere.
	AM/FM/NOAA Weather Band Easy tuning to any band whether it’s AM (520-1710 KHz), FM (87-108 MHz) or NOAA weather band. This keeps the listener tuned in to weather forecasts, alerts and other emergency messages—information vital to backpackers and travelers.
	USB phone charger charge virtually any phone or small electrical device with this added feature.
	Flashlight 3 built in LEDs to light your way through the dark.
The technology featured in the MICROLINK ensures that you will have everything you need whether you are hitting the beach or climbing the highest peaks. With its solar panel, hand crank, AM/FM/NOAA weather bands and flashlight, this ultra portable unit is perfect for your car, home or any outdoor activity.

Designed with your adventure in mind.

Rugged Design and Reliable Redundant Power Sources
The Etón MICROLINK FR160 is rugged for outdoor use, and is more than ready to go with no plugs or wires needed. Clever case design protects the analog controls from damage, while rubber gaskets and plugs help keep moisture out of the unit.

Having a device that sports multiple modes of communication means nothing if there is no way to power it. Etón has designed the MICROLINK FR160 with that thought in mind, and it can be powered in several ways. The built-in rechargeable battery pack can be charged from the integrated dynamo hand crank, or from an optional USB adapter. An array of water resistant, shatterproof, high performance glass encapsulated amorphous solar cells can also run the MICROLINK FR160. They are efficient enough to power the unit under direct sunlight. These multiple power supplies can also be used to recharge cell phones via USB charging cable (not included).

Award-Winning Designs

Etón Corporation’s line of independent, self-powered radios have won numerous awards and recognitions. We are committed to progressive product development and stellar design technologies. Some of the awards Etón has been honored with are:

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Crank Up Your Next Adventure

There are more adventures to be discovered. Let Etón help you guide the way with unique radio innovations to fit your personality. Define your adventure today.

	Etón MICROLINK FR160 A self-powered AM/FM, NOAA weather radio with flashlight, solar power and cell phone charger
	Etón SOLARLINK FR360 A self-powered digital AM/FM, NOAA weather radio with flashlight, solar power and cell phone charger
	Etón SOLARLINK FR600 A self-powered digital AM/FM/SW, NOAA, S.A.M.E. weather radio with flashlight, solar power and cell phone charger
	Etón VOICELINK FR1000 A self-powered AM/FM, NOAA weather radio with GMRS walkie-talkie function, flashlight, siren and cell phone charger

Comparison Chart - Etón Family

	SOLARLINK			MICROLINK		VOICELINK	CLASSIC
Features	FR600	FR500	FR360	FR160	FR150	FR1000	FR250	FR300
AM
FM
NOAA Weather
S.A.M.E.
Shortwave
GMRS
Digital Tuner
Crank Power
Solar Powered
Cell Phone Charger
LED Flashlight
Flashing Beacon
Emergency Siren
Alarm Clock
USB Compatible

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Technical Specifications

Dimensions: 2.5 x 5.25 x 1.75in and 13.3 x 6.3 x 4.4cm (W x H x D)

Weight: 8.5oz

Accessories: owner's manual, warranty card

Product Description

Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power, and Cell Phone Charger

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

224 of 227 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cheap and high quality emergency radio, August 23, 2009

By 

Mark Fellows "Gadget Guy" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Etón FR160B Microlink Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger (Black) (Electronics)

This radio is a great little investment. It does exactly everything it states it should. On a 60 second crank I got hours of play. I ran the radio completely dead by leaving the light on and the radio playing at half column. I let the radio play like this with the light on for at least an hour before it went dead. I then put it out in the sun and let it charge with the solar charger for about four hours and then turned the radio on and let it play for only about an hour and then just didn't want to complete the experiment. I am very pleased with this radio. 60 seconds of cranking for hours of play is very reasonable. Letting it charge out in the sun and getting hours of play is very reasonable. I have other brands like this in the past that you would crank for 5 to 10 and get maybe 10 minutes of play.

186 of 191 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good product for what it's designed for, July 10, 2009

By 

Amazon Feedbacker (CA & TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Etón FR160R Microlink Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger (Red) (Electronics)

I read numerous reviews about this product and had concerns re: people's feedback -- quality, lack of A/C power adapter, time/effort to recharge a cell phone, USB charger which is useless when there's no power, etc. But I decided to buy one just because I've got a young family and it's my responsibility [gulp] to be at least minimally prepared. You got to admit that these storms in recent years (not to mention tornados, earthquakes, fires, and other disasters that occur constantly) demonstrate that help may take days or weeks to arrive. That's a long time when you remember that lights, ATM's, radios, etc don't work when bad things happen.

So I pulled the trigger w/ low expectations and am I glad I did. These FR-160's are ideal for their purpose: they provide basic lighting & communication (read: radio/weather) in case of emergency. The quality was shockingly good for only $30. And they're small -- pretend your hand is in a mitten and subtract your thumb...about that size. They're not meant to provide music for a party so don't expect it amazing quality sound. They're not designed to be used on the ocean as your boat's only radio. Don't drop it off a cliff and expect it to be good as new. They're designed to be a compact combination radio/flashlight that can be a lifesaver if you ever need it.

Keep safe...

70 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasantly surprised with the battery life, November 29, 2009

By 

Mark Wagner - See all my reviews

This review is from: Etón FR160R Microlink Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger (Red) (Electronics)

This radio is an excellent radio for the price. No, it is not a top-end emergency radio, but it should work rather well for anyone looking for a basic AM/FM/Weather radio with both a solar and hand-crank charging option. I purchased mine about a year ago and used it only occasionally for the first few months. Then I placed it on a shelf with limited light and there it sat for about six to eight months. About six weeks ago I dusted it off and it actually worked for about an hour or so with no hand-crank charging. Later that day I sat it in the front window where it would get plenty of direct sun light. A couple days later I picked it up from the window and have been using it a few hours each day since; some of those days it was used for more than six hours in the basement. I have not needed to crank it at all, but did crank charge it for about one minute total just while playing with it - for the record. Since then, I have been keeping it on the shelf out in the open where it is exposed to normal room daylight, no direct sunlight. The charging light does not light up in this setting, and I would not expect it to. I have occasionally taken it out on the front porch to sit a listen where there is direct sunlight, but only for about an hour or so each week. I really like the idea of not having to buy batteries, and the convenience of knowing I always have a charged radio.

The flashlight is minimal, but I would not expect more from an LED light source. I have my 6-D-Cell Mag light if I need a powerful (luxury) light source.

Tuning the radio is a bit sensitive and can be difficult to fine tune. I would consider this to be a SIGNIFICANT problem for an elderly person or anyone without the use of fine motor skills in their hands; but for me it is a minor hassle I am willing and able to deal with. I have considered getting the Eaton FR600 for its digital tuner. The reviews for that model suggest the battery life is pretty bad, so I have decided to wait for an improved model. For now, my FR160 is just fine. I would consider giving this 5-stars if the fine-tuning was much easier.

The USB charge does work, but know that it will not charge an iPhone 3Gs. This is more a problem/restriction of the iPhone 3Gs (a widely discussed complaint across the Internet for many-many generic charging devices) and is not because of the radio. Charging my old Samsung phone was not a problem.

The weather bands do pick up a signal, but to be absolutely honest, I have not used it much to provide any real opinion.

The hand-crank charger feels solid enough (I wouldn't abuse it) and tucks away securely when not used. I have found the manual crank-charger will provide about 25-30 minutes of radio time (at about 1/4 to 1/3 volume) for every minute of crank-charging. I average about 2 cranks per second or about 120 rotation per minute. Now I just count to 120 or so instead of watching the clock. This play-time per craink-time yeild has been very acceptable for me. After two minutes of crank-charging my hand does begins to tire a little, but just a little. If I leave the radio in a place with good direct sunlight when not using it, changing via the crank is never even needed.

In short, it works for what I want - a radio that that can be charged by sunlight or by hand-crank when absolutely necessary. If you want the construction and feature-set of a $100+ radio - buy a $100+ radio. But, for $30 (or less), I am pleased with the FR160.

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