Best Emergency Radio (Eton FRX3 Review) 2021

[@kellobyte1]

An emergency radio is critical. Not only does it give you info (nothing is scarier than the unknown), but it also charges your cell or arc lighter. Having music during an event is a huge comfort and morale boost. We all gathered around my running snail during the wildfire a few years back when we lost power for days.

[@forsale3195]

It has solar panel, but if you put that under direct sunlight, wont it damage the battery or the whole equipment under extreme heat of sunlight?

[@alanonsr3942]

How do you program this radio for a region? Mine goes off for the entire state, which is not helpful

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

No need to program. Just ALERT button. Canada, USA, Bermuda and parts of Mexico

[@sgrant4558]

I'm a fan of the Eton emergency radios! I've actually been looking for the frx3 instead of the frx3+ because it has the capability to use AA batteries as well, but can't find it anywhere. I guess I'll just have to go with the frx3+. Great review!

[@DownGridSurvival]

Thanks, I agree, which the battery could be easily changed.

[@superultragiggachigga]

Would you still recommend this? I’m looking to make a Good bug in bag and as a newbie I don’t know what’s good. I’m definitely looking for the best quality money can buy.

[@DownGridSurvival]

Its good, but I don't use it anymore. I purchased a GMRS two way radio for communication that also have the NOAA channels. So you can get emergency info plus if there are other GMRS radios in the area you can communicate with them. A simple license is required if you plan to talk on it, otherwise =, just listen. amzn.to/3VBGXw2

[@robertstrickland2121]

I’ve got a Running Snail radio, wouldn’t recommend it at all. Need to replace it soon, will take a closer look at this on. One question, is it easy to replace the battery?

[@DownGridSurvival]

Robert, its a great radio. The battery sits behind a cover that you can easily open with your fingers, no tools required. It can be unplugged easily and replaced. Hope this helps.

[@robertstrickland2121]

@@DownGridSurvival thanks!!!

[@franniefargo9454]

I have one of these and I hate it. Bought another small radio by midland which has the same features, is 1/3 the size and is easier to use.

[@Pre-Expatriate]

Midland radios are definitely higher quality

[@improvisedsurvival5967]

I’m trying to wrap my head around why I need this for other than the phone charger ability. The I phone spanks this. I like the crank and solar but I feel like the crank don’t make enuff power and the solar panel is too small. Not to mention the battery limitations.

[@DownGridSurvival]

Don't expect your Iphone to work. When the grid goes down, so does the cell towers and the equipment that runs it all. Radio waves will be your friend. However, since that video, I now recommend a GMRS hand held radio. It will receive emergency info as well as be able to hear other people in your area talking.

[@improvisedsurvival5967]

@@DownGridSurvival so your sayin cell towers will go down but radio towers will remain. I get emergency info on my phone too plus I can call people text and have a slew of apps like police scanner weather gps that tells me where the speed traps are. I believe the smart ohones are gonna be working after an emp too because it’s a high grade circuitry. The crank radio not so sure will survive emp. Jmo.

[@wdtony]

@@improvisedsurvival5967 Emergency weather transmitters have a better long term power source in the case of outages. Cell phone towers have power backup but it’s anyone’s guess how many hours or days that would last. And then there’s the issue of location to transmitter towers versus cell phone towers; ie reception. Personally, I have my iPhone, a hand chargeable weather radio and GMRS and HAM handheld transceivers with weather band frequencies.

[@wdtony]

@@improvisedsurvival5967 As for EMP, you would have to place electronic devices in a shielded box prior to attack.

[@trailguy]

Does it come with an adapter for apple products?

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

USB out like Power Bank

[@rhino5049]

My wife and I have had this radio for years. In a nutshell, here are the pros and cons......... PROS: 1. It is a clock radio which has an alarm timer, which can be very useful if your power ever goes out, and you need to get up the next morning. 2. (The best pro feature). When the Weather Alert alarm is activated, a strong tone signal is heard for about 5-10 seconds, and then it goes straight into the NOAA alert announcement. You don't have to hit any buttons to get to it. CONS: 1. It does not have an SOS alarm. If you are ever trapped in an area where nobody is nearby, you better pray your cell phone is getting great reception, or somebody arrives soon. 2. The flashlight in it is OK, but, most other Weather Alert Radios with this feature have much stronger beams. 3. The Weather Alert alarm is pretty loud, but, if you are a sound sleeper, it may not wake you up right away. We like this radio, but, I am reluctant to say it is the best one on the market.

[@mikev4089]

Do you need an FCC or other license to operate this?

[@DownGridSurvival]

No. It only receives, you can't transmit. So no licensing required.

[@fluffymacaw933]

what kinda question is that?

[@RadioRich100]

These so - called emergency radios are nothing but silly toys. With the ridiculous cranks, solar cells, sirens and lights all of which are almost useless . With all the junk they put in them theres no room for a good size set of batteries like D-cells which gives you hundreds of hours of operation instead of multiple ineffective options. The cranks break off and dont give you any real recharge time (your going to crank while driving or boarding up your house??) The solar cells wont run the radio and take hours to recharge tiny batteries. The multiple power options (a selling gimac) are what make these radios almost worthless. If they didnt do that you could fit 3 D-cells which will power a radio with no digital displays for 250 hours. You also dont want digital displays or flashlights draining your small batteries even when the radio is off. You want a slide rule dial AM,FM, WB , 3 D cells, slide rule dial, big speaker , detachable ac cord and long telescoping antenna (the fad junkers have short ones) The Kaito KA-390 , Retekess TR-640 and Prunus J-05 are far better for emergency use than these junky fad so-called emergency radios. There just a bunch of useless features to make you think "YOUR PREPARED" It like a swiss army knife with a bunch of useless blades.

[@samosamo6504]

Your right. Which would you recommend?