hyundai_fan's Full Review: First Alert CR-100 AM/FM/SW Radio
When my father ordered a few products through a magazine he got in the mail, he got the First Alert CR-100 AM/FM/SW Radio as a free gift. It is actually built by Sima Products (http://www.simaproducts.com), and if this product has anything to prove about the company, it's that Sima Products' offerings are nothing better than budget alternatives to real products.
Features
The CR-100 is a direct competitor to the Grundig FR-200, which costs about double when new. Both offer the same features; dynamo hand crank for charging; ability to run on three AA batteries or AC adapter; two short wave bands, plus AM/FM bands; built-in flashlight, and handle.
Compared to the Grundig, the CR-100 has a few advantages--at least on paper. There's a small back light so you can see what station you're on (Grundig doesn't have it, but the flashlight gives enough light to illuminate it unintentionally). The flashlight uses an LED as opposed to the Grundig's conventional bulb. There's a clock (which the Grundig doesn't have), and the included Ni-MH battery is a 3.6 V, 650 mAh type compared to the Grundig's with "only" 600 mAh of power.
Build Quality
Put simply, the CR-100's build quality is laughable. The tuning knob is uneven and wobbles on its axis when turned (and can be pulled off), not to mention the knob appears to have a fine tuning adjustment (it looks identical to the knob on the Grundig). This is not the case, and in my opinion is the most infuriating aspect of this radio. It's like those mini FM radios you find in stores that look identical to the Apple iPod, or Chinese cars that look like vehicles from well-established brands (may I mention that this radio was made in China?). It does not help that the knob squeaks and makes odd clicking noises when it's turned.
In fact, all the knobs have different amounts of resistance and don't feel any better. The volume knob turns loosely and could easily adjust itself if you bumped your hand into it. The band selection knob is quite the opposite, and is too stiff to turn. On the bright side (excuse the pun), the flashlight switch, radio switch and back light switch are easy to use and don't feel so cheap.
The hand crank on the CR-100 is also a little rougher to use than the Grundig's, mainly because the crank on the Grundig feels linear and smooth, like churning butter. The CR-100's crank instead reminds you you're turning a set of gears and a generator. It doesn't make the device feel any more expensive, let's put it that way.
The handle will not satisfy those with large hands, either. The Grundig's can rise high enough so I can put three fingers between it and the radio vertically. The CR-100's? Only one. And my hands are relatively small for a guy.
All-in-all, the radio is not built very well.
Design
The CR-100 excels in only two areas design-wise compared to the Grundig. While the Grundig's light is facing outwards on the front, the flashlight on the CR-100 is on the side. It's more natural to hold onto the handle and point the side of the radio ahead of you rather than holding the radio like a lantern and pointing the front of it. There's a reason why flashlights are always longer than they are wide. To add to this, the LED is acceptably bright considering there's only one.
Secondly, there's a Power light that lets me know the radio is on. It's easy to drain the battery on the Grundig if you turn down the volume and forget the radio is still on.
However, everything else regarding the CR-100's design is poorly done. The band knob is not only hard to turn, but it's also tiny. Everyone knows a wide knob is easier to turn, and the Grundig's is easily three times the size. The band knob uses the term "MW" instead of AM as well. I don't get it.
The tuning dial only shows MHz, KHz, MHz, and MHz. Now tell me which one is for AM, which is for FM, and what two are for short-wave bands. You can't? Me neither. And once you do figure out which is which, you soon realize the numbers go from right to left rather than left to right. Again, I don't get it.
Battery Life
According to the CR-100's instructions, 60 to 90 seconds of vigorous cranking allows the radio to run between 40 and 60 minutes on low volume. This is probably true, and considering the battery is nearly identical to that in the Grundig, I could safely assume battery life will be no problem. On the other hand, if you turn on all the lights and the radio at the same time, the battery will drain completely in about three minutes.
Overall
"Scott, why give it two stars when you clearly don't like it?"
The First Alert CR-100 AM/FM/SW Radio is only $15. The LCD light is more efficient than a conventional bulb, and the radio can do pretty much everything the Grundig FR-200 can do at half the price. If it wasn't for how poorly built it was, I would have actually given it three stars. At it sits, though, the CR-100 will constantly remind you that you're too cheap to buy something from a better brand. If this was sold at the store, I would have skipped it. But as a free gift, well, I can tolerate it.
Emergency light and backlit display Water resistant, rugged, high-impact plastic caseDigital clockIncludes bag with carryingstrap and ear phone jackPo...More at eBay
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