Alpha Survivalist

Eton FRX5BT Emergency Weather Radio Review

DannyM
Eton FRX5BT Emergency Weather RadioEton FRX5BT Emergency Weather Radio

The Eton FRX5BT is Eton’s highest spec emergency radio and is by far the best hand crank weather radio currently on the market.

Not only does the Eton FRX5BT provide the best radio reception, the best hand crank to power ratio, and the loudest speaker, on top of the durability expected from an Eton emergency radio, it has Bluetooth too!

The Eton corporation are renowned for the manufacture of exceptional emergency preparedness gear in particular their range of hand crank radios, so much so that their entire range is endorsed by the American Red Cross.

How Does the Eton FRX5BT Perform for Power?

The Eton FRX5BT is sitting pretty at the top of our list of best hand crank emergency radios but that isn’t the only way the radio can be powered, it can also be charged using other means; a standard AC adapter, a car charger, a USB connection, and solar power can all be used.

However, we’ll obviously be concentrating on the exceptional hand crank function of this radio to see how it measures up to other similar radios.

In short…It blows them out the water!

Mad Performance Levels!

The FRX5BT operated for 13 minutes after just two minutes charging with the hand crank which is considerably more than the average of all other hand crank radios and a good 4 minutes longer than its nearest competitor that, as it happens, is also an Eton emergency radio; the Eton Scorpion 2!

The excellent charge rate that the hand crank provides is reason enough for the FRX5BT to be rated as the top radio on our list but that is just scratching the surface, this emergency radio has so much more to back up its number one status.

When you first receive your FRX5BT it is advisable to fully charge it using main electricity which usually takes around 5.5 hours to complete which is about the norm. What isn’t the norm is that the fully charged radio can operate at full volume for a whopping 15.5 hours, which although not the longest out of our rated radios, it still comes a pretty close second.

The solar power option is built in and comprises of a large panel that covers the whole of the back of the radio. In direct sunlight it produces enough power to operate the radio without any stored power being used. It will take between 5 and 6 hours to fully charge the lithium battery whilst not in use, using solely the solar panel in direct sunlight.

The radio also has a USB port for charging up your mobile devices, as well as a micro-USB port.

Okay, Great for Power, but what about the Radio?

With the excellent power properties of the FXR5BT you would expect the radio to perform just as well too, and the good news is, you would not be disappointed. The reception of both AM, and FM frequencies are exceptional, better than any other hand crank radio covered on this list.

As well as excellent frequency reception the FRX5BT is able to receive reports from all seven NOAA stations, absolutely vital if the locale you are in frequently experiences severe weather conditions. The ability to provide NOAA weather reporting is something that most, if not all good emergency radios should provide, however, the trouble with NOAA reporting is that it is regional.

The FRX5BT is a cut above most of chasing pack in that it not only has NOAA capability it has the added feature of SAME alerts.

SAME alerts are similar to NOAA reports except they offer localized weather reporting rather than regional and will therefore help you make even better informed decisions about your next course of action.

What Else Has the Eton FRX5BT Got to Offer?

Quite a lot actually! Though I think I’ll start with the speaker, or rather the volume. The volume that an emergency radio can pump out is extremely important because a loud speaker is actually very valuable as a survival tool as it can attract attention when you are in trouble. The FRX5BT creates an extremely audible 90 decibels of sound which is louder than any of the other hand crank emergency radios featured on this page.

The FRX5-BT is also equipped with a built in alert siren (very handy when combined with the 90Db speaker!), a red flashing beacon, and an LED flashlight. It also has an auxiliary socket that can be used for an MP3 player or even a microphone! There is no need to use an auxiliary socket though as the FXR5 is Bluetooth compatible.

If you are ever trying to find the radio in the dark it has very useful luminous rims built in around the rear solar panel.

But can it stand up to the Rigors of Outdoor Life?

It would be a pretty poor emergency radio, hand cranked or otherwise, if it couldn’t!

Made from hard plastic the FRX5BT is very durable, however, you should remember that it is a radio and not a hammer, so as with all emergency radios you should be careful not to expose it to too much harsh treatment.

It has a relatively high water resistant grading of IPX4 which does not mean it is waterproof but it is far more water resistant than most of the other radios on this list and is able to withstand a good down pouring of rain without damage.

What’s the Customer Support Like?

A company does not get an endorsement from the American Red Cross by offering a support system that doesn’t match the same level of quality their product line delivers! Eton offers the industry standard one year warranty with all their products and support is offered via social networks as well as by telephone and email.

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Last Word on the Eton FRX5BT…

In our opinion the Eton FRX-5BT is the number one hand crank emergency weather radio by a country mile! Do not leave home without it!

Check out our reviews of other weather radios below:

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