Grundig FR200 Emergency Radio (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

Hurricane season here in South Florida was a tad awesome this year - and with that reality check, my hurricane grab-bag has included as many multi-power source units as possible. This little radio made the list with it's built-in generator.When I recieved it, I tried out the generator immediately. Following instructions, I cranked for 3 minutes - no problem there, the equipment isn't pissed-off-gorilla proof, but it isn't fragile, either. After my crank time, I flipped the switch, and the radio worked immediately. THEN I pulled out he antenna. Great reception.What more could I ask for? Radio works, generator works, it also takes batteries. It has a hole for an AC adaptor - however, mine did not come with one... but while I have this generator, who cares? Radio works a long time for 3 minutes of cranking.

As an emergency radio, it works great. The "crank generator" is relatively easy to use, the case and controls are solid and the sound quality is very good. It is not the flimsy plastic emergency radio I have seen elsewhere.However, I was looking for a radio with excellent AM reception. Grundig's reputation and reviews of other similar radios made by the same manufacturer (It is not made by Grundig) made me think this unit would meet my needs. Regrettably, the AM reception is no better than my cheap Walkman combo tape/radio. The frequency fade is average. It also doesn't have a jack to plug in an external antenna.I didn't meet my needs, but it is a Good Value for its intended purpose.

I'm a big fan of AM radio, and especially the late night "High Strangeness" talk show Coast to Coast AM. I've always wanted a hand-crank powered radio that will work no matter what is happening outside. The recent Mid West black out made that even more urgent. The Sangean Freeplay radio was my first choice, but when I saw this little Grundig for 1/3 the price, I was extremely curious.As a kid growing up in the late 60's and early 70's, my parents always had a radio playing on the kitchen counter. They had the same analog dials and tuning as this little Grundig, and they ran for decades without a hitch. AM reception is superb! Better than on my Onkyo stereo receiver. I have the feeling that if the lights go out,this little world band radio will be worth its weight in gold.But even if it doesn't, this little guy has a permanent place on my kitchen counter.Addendum; four years later I cannot recommend this radio. The battery no longer holds a charge for more than a few minutes. You might think this is not bad, since rechargeable batteries have a limited life. However I have rarely used the rechargeable battery. It's just not very good! It works OK on AA batteries though. Wish this thing had come with a AC adaptor to plug in. Also, it's falling apart. The clear plastic over the station numbers popped off after a minor bump. The knobs are loose and the volume control now has only 2 settings; loud and barely audible. If this were an emergency radio I'd be done for! The one good thing I'll say is that it can pull in distant AM and Short Wave broadcasts. However the tuning dial is so sloppy that the minute adjustments needed to tune in are nearly impossible. If you're looking for a GOOD self powered radio check out the similarly priced Freeplay EyeMax.

I would give this five stars for its hand-crank charging, which lasts for about an hour of ordinary radio listening. The charging mechanism is easy, not tiring, and, unlike other products in this category, not flimsy.I give it only three stars because the radio tuner is of low quality; in downtown NYC the FM dial only gets a few stations clearly and without interference.

HiI ordered the Grundig 200 as we enter the hurricane season here in Florida. I like the hand crank generator feature the best.The radio will play at moderate levels for at least one hour after cranking the generator for 90 seconds. I was suprised at the sound quality from this little radio. I recently beamed the signal from my satellite radio through it as I waxed my car and was very pleased with the sound. The shortwave section is of reasonable quality when you consider the $39.00 price tag of the Grundig 200. The fine tuning feature is very helpful when scanning for shortwave signals. The FM & AM sections performed well. Overall this is a home run.Steve

The radio works well. The dynamo for working the radio does not last as long as I would like so it is a good thing that I bought the plug in adapter separately since it does not come with it. The light did not work but is not worth returning for something I would rarely if ever use. I just like to get what I pay for and I did not get a fully functioning product.

No longer being made, it's excellent as an emergency radio. You can still find them new unused stock or used, and I would have no problem buying either, as they're sturdy and well-made. The crank power producer makes it perfect for use anywhere, and yet also has its own AC cable rechargeable batteries and also works with AA batteries, making it the most versatile emergency radio in the world. And it also includes two shortwave bands besides the AM and FM bands. I love this radio!

This is a small, lightweight crank radio (with flashlight). It is constructed of plastic, but it is relatively sturdy for something made our of plastic. A few minutes of cranking permits you to listen to the radio sans battery. The flashlight feature is nice, but don't forgo keeping a 'real' flashlight in your emergency kit.The radio picks up your local AM and FM stations about as well as a typical low-end transistor radio. It does support some shortwave bands, but don't expect to be picking up Radio Johannesburg on a regular basis (unless you are reading this review in South Africa). Has the option of running on batteries if you are too lazy to crank.We keep it in our emergency kit and consider it to be a valuable resource. However, I am sure when the day of critical need arises we will wish we had crank internet instead.

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