Review on 🔋 Survive Any Emergency with the Eton American Red Cross FRX3+ Weather Radio by Awiwi Swift

Please note that there are reviews of OTHER similar models bundled which confuses people. The FRX3 [NO plus] has a dual battery although the text and images are for the PLUS model. The same applies to the capacity of the solar battery. There are some devices without. A disappointing start to owning this FRX3+ [PLUS note]. I read the instructions in the owner's manual first and connected the wiring harness to the battery pack as instructed as it is unplugged. I rotated the block to add battery power showing two stripes out of three, up to three stripes. About a minute to start. Tries to set the time and alarm. Have the time ok. Wouldn't change the default time for the alarm. I tried using the time setting instructions to set the alarm, thinking the manual wasn't up to date. Don't go. Note that the battery returned to two of the three strips. Cranked again to get to three bars. Reset the alarm. no I decided to start over so I disconnected the battery until the LCD screen cleared and waited another minute just in case there was a capacitor in the electronics. battery reconnected. Saw a charge from two of the three bars. I tried setting the default time and now it doesn't work. Tried to set the default alarm and changed hours not minutes by following the instructions for each. Disappointment. Eton contacted via email with a detailed description of the problem. Got an answer within an hour, surprisingly fast. I was told to FULLY CHARGE the device for FIVE TO SIX HOURS with the cable that came with it before using it for the first time. This is NOT in the instructions. Accordingly, using the HANDLE is also NOT suitable for the initial setup of the charging process. Charging was done with AC at home for six hours using a Samsung cell phone charger to convert to DC and an Eton device charger cable. Tries to set the time and alarm. NO. Very upset. Battery disconnected for five minutes. Restored. NOW managed to set the time function according to the instructions. NOW managed to set the alarm function according to the instructions. EUREKA! So before you attempt to set up a new FRX3+ device; CHARGE FROM THE WALL FOR SIX HOURS! If this is one of the ways to charge your model. Not hand-wound, not partially loaded. I have no idea what you guys can do with the manual load option if you're having setup issues like the ones above. Well, after this disappointment, I still have a few observations about the device - fresh out of the box. 1] The device must be designed to have a storage compartment for the AC/DC charging cable 2] It must also contain an AC/DC charger along with the device as a required component 3] The LED light is not that powerful ; the red blinker is even weaker. Instead I will rely on my MagLite. in a dark room. 5] The tuning (digital, in tenths, which is AWESOME) and volume controls are solid; the station selector lever is small but holds the election firmly; The push buttons below the touch control pad are responsive, but because they're under the handle and small, it may be annoying for some people with visual or hand disabilities. The power button is conveniently located on the front panel next to the LCD display; I don't use the Mute/Mute button on the other side of the display. 6] You must CAREFULLY align the battery in the compartment for the battery compartment cover to close properly. The wires exiting the side of the battery cylinder should be rotated to the 11 or 1 o'clock position and route straight up out of the battery compartment at 12 o'clock. The wires need to sneak into the gap between the red plastic case and the battery bend, AWAY from the back where the flap closes. There is ENOUGH space in the gap in the battery header where the wire harness connects to the device for the remaining length of wire. Section closest to the body of the device until all sections are retracted. NEVER press on the top of the antenna. (This is how all antennas should be handled; woe to those who ignore it.) Because of the antenna's location on the body of the device, and because it also twists and turns in addition to telescoping, pushing it off the top makes it easier to bend/too break. Sorry.9] DO NOT connect any cables to the device while turning it on to charge. ONLY connect the AC-DC cable if you are charging from the mains at home (I assume you can charge in the car if you have USB ports). INCORRECTLY, the promotional images SHOW someone with a hand on the crank and a cell phone connected. to unity. NOT CORRECT. To ignore. The user manual states that the device can only be charged in battery mode via a USB connection. (Radio is disabled when used as a charging station.) 10] Page 10 mentions "Dynamo Mode"; I have no idea how this feature is selected. Maybe it's the default mode?11] The charge hold indicator is only three segments on the display. I suspect based on my issues above that a full charge, three out of three bars, will last quite a while with use. But if two out of three bars are showing, it's actually a lot less than "two-thirds loaded". start time; after turning everything off. 12] The user manual says that FOUR MINUTES of start gives you the power to charge your phone for 1 minute of talk or 10 minutes of radio. So flex your MUSCLES and don't expect one spin to fully charge your phones. 13] The flashlight button is great for hand ergonomics. But it's in the WRONG position, otherwise on the bend of the corner of its "box shape". It's easy to accidentally hit during storage to activate light and discharge, rendering it useless when needed. The switch should be behind the light lens, on the same panel as the battery charge button, IMO. the only one of the seven we had an appointment for. 15] Using just two out of three bands, up to a 6 hour wall charge, this device charged a Samsung S4 phone from 85% to 100% via cable in 15 minutes. I hope this covers the initial questions and observations. Information on solar charging and long-term battery life between applications will be updated. I intend to keep this device in the car in case we need to charge cell phones that may run out of battery, while searching for a signal in remote areas (don't forget to turn on airplane mode!) or during prolonged photo usage.