Etón FR360B Solarlink Self-Powered Digital AM/FM/NOAA Radio with Solar Power, Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger (Black)

by Eton

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2.8 x 6.2 x 6.5 inches ; 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001QTXKCY
• Item model number: FR360B
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,790 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #86 in Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Radios > Shortwave Radios
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 1, 2009

Product Description

Color: Black | Size: Portable

From the Manufacturer

Tune_in: to Eton Radio Innovations

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 SOLARLINK FR360 helps you define your adventure

Radios for Everyday Adventure

The Etón SOLARLINK FR360 does more than keep you connected. This new spin on a top selling classic incorporates our award winning design and standard feature sets into a sleek easy to use package. It is a multifunctional, 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 SOLARLINK FR360 is a compact unit 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.

Now with a handy rotating telescopic antenna, the SOLARLINK FR360 also includes a powerful solar panel and digital tuner/display for precise tuning and optimal reception anywhere. If that wasn’t enough, we also added an AUX-in for the pure enjoyment of music from an iPod or mp3. It’s perfect for any room in your house or any outdoor venue.

Self-powered and multifunctional to give you what you need...         when you need it.

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.
	Digital Tuner/Display for precise tuning on any band weather it’s AM (520-1710 KHz), FM (87-108 MHz) or NOAA weather.
	USB phone charger charge virtually any phone or small electrical device with this added feature.
	AUX-IN & Headphone Jack simply plug any iPod or mp3 player and take your music with you. Listen to your music without distractions
	Flashlight 3 built in LEDs to light your way through the dark.
The technology featured in the SOLARLINK ensures that you will have everything you need whether you are hitting the beach or climbing the highest peaks. With its digital tuner, Alarm/Clock functionality and auxiliary input for use with other audio sources, one could argue it’s not just a radio, but a necessity for anyone looking for adventure.

Designed with your adventure in mind.

Rugged Design and Reliable Redundant Power Sources
The Etón SOLARLINK FR360 is rugged for outdoor use, and is more than ready to go in emergency situations. Clever case design protects the analog controls from damage, while rubber gaskets and plugs help keep moisture out of the unit. The easy-to-read backlit LED screen is recessed to keep it from being damaged. It displays radio and battery status, and also incorporates an alarm clock with snooze and sleep functions.

Having a device that sports multiple modes of communication means nothing if there is no way to power it. Etón has designed the SOLARLINK FR360 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 AC adapter. An array of water resistant, shatterproof, high performance glass encapsulated amorphous solar cells can also run the SOLARLINK FR360. They are efficient enough to power the unit under direct sunlight. Finally, three alkaline batteries can be used for on the go convenience. These multiple power supplies can also be used to recharge cell phones via USB charging cable (not included).

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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: 6.25" x 6.5" x 1.875" and 15.87 x 16.5 x 4.85 cm (W x H x D)

Weight: 1lb. and 450g

Accessories: owner's manual, warranty card

Product Description

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

121 of 123 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Emergency Use Only, June 27, 2009

By 

Andrew Fung (Winter Garden, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Etón FR360R Solarlink Self-Powered Digital AM/FM/NOAA Radio with Solar Power, Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger (Red) (Electronics)

Pros: Combination of emergency features, alternate power sources
Cons: Jack of all trades, master of none

While the Eton FR360 does many things, I bought this radio for 3 basic functions, all relating to emergency use.

1. Multiple power sources, notably solar cells and hand crank in addition to dry cells.
2. Weather radio, AM/FM as a necessary secondary.
3. Cell phone charger (via USB).

The ability to power this radio from multiple sources is good in theory but weak in practice. To maintain a battery charge sufficient to run the radio requires several minutes of cranking every 15 minutes. The solar cell's rate of charge cannot keep up with the radio's rate of discharge. This means that the radio will still require occasional cranking even if sitting in full sun. Given the effect that low charge has on radio function (more on this later) it's just easier to keep a set of spare batteries on hand. With the shelf life of modern alkaline batteries this is really the best option. It's not like this unit is ruggedized for go anywhere operation so don't imagine yourself riding out a hurricane in a waterlogged foxhole madly cranking so you can hear the weather report.

Radio reception is also less than what I expected of a $50 unit. Weather radio is intelligible. I don't expect great performance will make the voice sound any less robotic. I find there are two things that affect the radio performance. Fully extending the short telescopic antenna is a must for FM reception and battery power must be high. Operating from alkaline cells provides okay reception but with no power meter on the rechargeable battery (charged from the solar cells or hand crank) reception deteriorates with the battery charge without any indication. Not what you want in an emergency radio.

The most disappointing feature is the USB cell phone charger. The USB port derives its power from the crank only, not the batteries. This means that anything plugged into the USB port only charges as long as the crank is being turned. If you have a smartphone that takes several minutes to boot from a dead state then any appreciable charge that can be built up is expended before the phone is ready to use. I actually tossed an old Moto RAZR in with the FR360 because it boots fairly quickly, sips power and will provide 911 service without a contract.

While this review seems to cast the FR360 in a negative light consider that a few spare batteries resolve the major complaints and the solar cells and crank are really there for last resort use. (Seriously, who would crank or look for a sunny spot if they could just as easily duct tape three extra AAA cells to the back of the radio?) The radio isn't great but it's good enough for the intended purpose. The USB charge port is a bit of a disappointment but when all else fails, it's there. Is the FR360 worth $50? Maybe. It's a jack of all trades and when it's go time having only one thing to grab instead of three will probably be its greatest asset.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice little radio, August 9, 2009

By 

Jason Nordby "Uncle Mo" (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Etón FR360R Solarlink Self-Powered Digital AM/FM/NOAA Radio with Solar Power, Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger (Red) (Electronics)

I bought this radio for motorcycle camping because of its compact size, multiple power sources, and weather radio capability. I've been using it daily now for over a month and am not at all disappointed. Signal reception is somewhat weak on the Eton compared to the radio in my vehicle as distance from the transmitter increases, but this is the only issue I've found in over a month of use and is far from intolerable. As an added surprise/bonus, the Eton has a scan function built into the tuner. The manual tuning knob is quite slow at tuning up and down the scale, but the "MIN/DOWN" and "HR/UP" buttons digitally scan up and down the scale quickly. This is a feature that I don't remember seeing in the product descriptions. As far as durability goes, my daughter knocked our radio off of our kitchen table and it bounced off of our hardwood floor. This happened the very next day after I received the Eton. I was certain there would be damage of some sort, but I looked closely at the exterior and could not detect where the impact had occurred on the case. I shook the unit and could not hear anything rattling inside. Finally, I checked all functions and found nothing wrong. This little radio is durable, but I asked my daughter not to perform any more destructing testing. Lastly, the radio does not ship with its own a/c adapter. This struck me as a little questionable, given the price of the unit. But I looked at all of the a/c adapters I already own and found that my Remington trimmer adapter was perfect (3.6 VDC, 100 mA output) for a full charge of the nimh battery pack in lieu of waiting for the sun to top it off. If you've been considering purchasing this radio, I readily recommend it. Keep in mind that the reception issue has a great deal to do with your location.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Weak Reception, August 23, 2009

By 

R. Hawkins (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Etón FR360B Solarlink Self-Powered Digital AM/FM/NOAA Radio with Solar Power, Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger (Black) (Electronics)

Overall, it's not a bad radio for the money, however, the reciever is not very sensitive. I believe the main reason for this is the short antenna. It loses signal easily if it can get a decent signal at all. I have to carry a wire to clip on to this very inadequate antenna in order to get reliable reception. If you live in the city, I doubt you will have any trouble but if your going camping you will have trouble.

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