Self-Powered Safety Hub with AM/FM/NOAA Weather Alert and USB Cell Phone Charger
$ 59.40
Eton ARCPT300W American Red Cross Axis Self-Powered Safety Hub with Weather Radio and USB Cell Phone Charger
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Good …. but has flaws,
Pros
– Decently built, crank seems solid. Charging while not fun is ok.
– DOES indeed charge newer cell phones. HTC Evo 5v usb connection tested and passed. Be prepared for a workout though. Highly recommend that you do this with at least a half charge in the onboard Dyno battery.
– Onboard Dyno Battery !!! Excellent. I have mine plugged into AC and near my battery storage. Always fully charged and ready to go in seconds.
– Also works with standard AA
– Decent reception and volume
– NOAA reception/WB channels quite good
Cons
– ONBOARD BATTERY LIFE IS SEVERELY NEGATIVELY AFFECTED WHEN USING THE ‘ALERT’ FEATURE — BEWARE NOT TO USE THIS FEATURE UNLESS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO AN AC SOURCE.
– Documentation is horrible.
– Alert ‘feature’ and NOAA channels not documented at all. User will have to research frequencies in their area.
– 4 leds are very low quality and light output is just passable. Red led is almost useless because it is so dim.
– No Solar charging on this unit
– Rear plastic/rubber cover over battery cover & connection options is cheap and flimsy
– Antenna does not reside flush in unit
– overall ergonomics are not great
– This unit is NOT waterproof or weatherproof. Beware.
Summary
Lot better than nothing and overall a decent unit. Priced too high for what you get, but it does provide enough current to charge a cell phone – which most units cannot.
I give it a pass, but will replace with something better as technology allows.
Used within the limitations described above. It will perform for you.
Currently this would have to be rated top in its class so I give it 4 stars.
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|Solid build,
I’m sick of plastic cranks and knobs, even on high-end emergency radios (you know who I’m talking about). This has a solid aluminum crank! It’s NOT stamped sheet metal. Its a solid chunk of aluminum, and the handle has a steel screw that magnetically holds it down when not in use. Not a big fan of the volume and tuning dials, though, as they seem kind of chinsy. The reception is outstanding and speaker quality is good for a 70 dollar radio. The case is about 1/4 inch thick plastic. The LED light is protected by an aluminum bezel, and the light is probably 1/4 the brightness of a surefire, which is pretty good, all things considered. Display is adequite. Definitely worth the money. I wish they made it in OD green or otherwise subdued.
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|4.5 Stars: Portable and Light,
I’ve been wanting a weather radio for sometime and I feel the Eton ARCPT300W American Red Cross Axis Self-Powered Safety Hub with Weather Radio and USB Cell Phone Charger is near perfect.
First off, I’m not a weather radio expert of any sort or have much experience with one. I’m just someone who lives in Tornado Alley that would like an extra measure of peace of mind while tornado season is in full swing.
So, my first impressions of this weather radio are very positive. The Eton ARCPT300W is small, lightweight and full of features.
Pros:
1. Small enough to fit comfortably in a backpack for camping
2. Can be charged three ways: Hand Crank for the rechargeable battery, 3 AAA alkaline batteries or USB charging cord plugged into a computer or an AC adapter (not included) for the rechargeable battery
3. Has 7 preset weather band channels
4. Has a Weather Alert mode so the radio only sounds off when there is an alert in your area
5. Can charge other portable devices using the USB/mini USB connectors, use the devices charging cords is best.
— I was able to charge my iPhone 4 and Kindle Latest Generation but I can tell they will be a huge drain on the radio’s battery
6. Has AM/FM radio channels
7. 1 AUX Audio in, 1 Headphone Jack
8. Programmable Clock/Alarm
9. An antennae to help with reception
10. Flashlight and Emergency Beacon Light
11. Easy to use right out the box, and the manual is easy to follow
12. The crank is easy to turn with relative ease
13. Decent volume level
Cons:
1. Didn’t come with an AC adapter
2. Doesn’t auto scan for best weather band channel in area
ETA: If you need an AC adapter, you would need a 5V AC Power with a mini USB connector.
Overall, I’m very happy this weather radio. It has for the most part what I wanted in a weather radio plus quite a few extras I didn’t even think of. If I’m stuck in a bad weather situation without power, it has all I will need short-term: News, Power Source & Light.
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