Eton FRX2 review
Eton American Red Cross FRX2 Hand Turbine Radio
By Tom Calder
Key specs
The maker's figures.
- Power
- Hand crank, solar, USB
- Bands
- AM, FM, NOAA weather
- Alerts
- —
- Charges a phone
- Yes (USB)
A small Eton radio sold with American Red Cross branding: crank, solar, AM, FM and NOAA weather, a flashlight and a USB port to top up a phone.
- Best for
- A compact Red Cross-branded crank radio
- Skip it if
- You want alerts
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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Compact
- Crank and solar
- USB phone top-up
Worth knowing
- No automatic alert listed
- Small battery
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Our review
Eton's FRX2 is a compact hand-turbine radio sold with American Red Cross branding. It takes AM, FM and the NOAA weather channels, charges from a crank, solar panel or USB, and has a flashlight and a phone-charging port. This researched review follows the Red Cross spec sheet and the National Weather Service's receiver advice, and notes what the sheet does not list.
What it is and who it suits
The Red Cross spec sheet calls the FRX2 a compact multi-purpose solar, DC or hand-turbine powered AM/FM/NOAA weather radio with a USB smartphone charger. It lists all seven NOAA weather band stations, a 3-LED flashlight, a glow-in-the-dark locator, a headphone output and a mini-USB power input. It stands 5.4 inches tall and weighs 0.56 pounds.
It suits a household that wants one small device for radio, light and a phone top-up in a kit or glove box. This review is researched, not tested. It relies on the Red Cross sheet and National Weather Service pages, and Eton's own manual was not available to us.
Power and charging
The sheet says to spin the turbine for one minute to get 10 to 15 minutes of radio and flashlight use, depending on volume, or to leave it in the sun for passive charging. It lists a 1000 mAh internal lithium-ion battery that dumps charge to a phone through the USB port. The sheet says that is enough for a few critical calls or texts, not a full recharge. Treat it as a top-up. The same sheet lists DC power through the included mini-USB cable.
What the sheet leaves out
The sheet lists no automatic alert, no SAME county coding and no tone alert. The National Weather Service says the most desirable weather radio feature is an alarm tone that lets the radio stay silent until a special tone is broadcast before watch and warning messages. A SAME receiver turns itself on for a pre-selected county code. With the FRX2 you listen on purpose, which makes it better as a source of information once you are awake than as the thing that wakes you.
Why a weather radio matters
NWS says NOAA Weather Radio is a nationwide network broadcasting official warnings, watches and forecasts 24 hours a day, from more than 1000 transmitters. It requires a special receiver, and all stations use one of seven frequencies between 162.400 and 162.550 MHz. The FRX2 lists all seven. Ready.gov's kit list includes a battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert. Our NOAA weather radio guide shows how they fit together.
How it compares with the other picks
On our hand-crank radio comparison, the Midland ER310PRO lists USB-C, solar and crank power with a NOAA alert and phone charging, and the Sangean MMR-99 lists crank, solar and USB-C with a NOAA public alert and a 2,600 mAh battery. The Raynic 5,000 mAh lists an automatic NOAA weather alert and a 5,000 mAh battery. The FRX2's 1000 mAh battery is the smallest of these.
Skip it if
Skip it if you want a radio that wakes you for warnings, if you want to charge a phone more than once, or if you want shortwave. Choose an alert radio with a larger battery instead. Check current availability and the exact model before you buy. See the power outage checklist for the rest of the kit.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and US listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: American Red Cross: Eton FRX2 spec sheet; National Weather Service: NOAA Weather Radio; National Weather Service: NOAA Weather Radio FAQ; Ready.gov: Build a kit.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want alerts: pick a crank radio with automatic alerts.
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the US price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
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Read the review →Questions
How long does a minute of cranking last?
The Red Cross spec sheet says one minute of cranking gives 10 to 15 minutes of radio and flashlight use, depending on the radio volume. A solar panel and a mini-USB input are other ways to charge it.
Can the FRX2 fully charge a phone?
Not really. The sheet lists a 1000 mAh internal battery and says it is enough for a few critical calls or texts, so treat the USB port as a top-up for emergencies.
Does it have an automatic weather alert?
The Red Cross sheet lists none. It lists AM, FM and all seven NOAA weather stations, so you can listen for warnings, but it will not wake you the way a SAME alert radio does.
Is it an official Red Cross product?
The sheet says it is an official licensed product of the American Red Cross, which carries the branding. Eton makes the radio, so read the spec sheet for what it actually does.