The Quest is the latest (and most expensive) emergency radio yet from Eton. It has AM, FM with DAB+ (supposedly), Shortwave, and Weather band with alerts.
The weather radio works great. I pick up our local station perfectly clear, and most of my other weather radios (an old one from RadioShack and several from Midlands) are hit and miss. It has alert functionality, but not S.A.M.E., so the alarm will go off for EVERY alert in the broadcast area, not just your county. FM has excellent reception as well. The radio claims to have DAB+ capability, but that is worthless in the US, since we use HD Radio instead of DAB, which is used primarily in Europe. It also claims to have RDS capability, but I went through the entire FM band and never found a station that displayed any data. The FM radio has the ability to scan and automatically set up to 20 presets, but you cannot set your own presets manually or delete ones you don't want.
AM reception is pretty terrible. I'm not sure if there's some kind of interference nearby, but nothing was what I would call listenable. I could only pick up a few stations, and all had interference. The AM antenna is an internal ferrite bar, so you have to rotate the radio to pick up the strongest signal. Shortwave was even worse. The tuning knob only moves 5 kHz at a time, and it has a range from 3.2 to 22 MHz, so it's going to take a LOOOOONG time to get anywhere. I tried tuning in WWV, which broadcasts on 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz and I was just barely able to pick up a signal on 5 MHz. It was so garbled as to be nearly useless. I'm about 500 miles away from the transmitter in Ft. Collins. It was still daytime, so it presumably will work better at night, but I should be able to get something during the day. There is no provision for an external SW antenna.
The radio also has Bluetooth and Aux input capability. Setting up Bluetooth was a piece of cake and it probably took me longer to type this sentence than it took to pair my phone. The Play/Pause button works as you'd expect, and the tuner knob works as a forwards/backwards control.
Pressing the light button cycles through the side flash light, which is pretty bright, the rear ambient light, which isn't quite as bright, and a red ambient light. There's also a dedicated "SOS ON/OFF" button, which flashes the red ambient light and sets off a rather loud siren. You're probably going to hit this button by accident at some point, since it's pretty close to the power button. They should have made it so you have to long-press it to turn it on.
The instructions in the manual for setting the clock are incorrect. In standby mode, long-press the Menu button, select 12/24 hr time using the tuning knob (not the buttons), then press Play (the manual says to press Menu, this is wrong). Use the tuning knob to adjust the hours, then press Play. Then use the tuning knob to adjust the minutes, then press Play. The instructions for setting the alarm are similarly wrong.
The input charge port is USB-C, but the output charge port is USB-A. The radio comes with a (short) USB-A to USB-C charge cord. It does not appear to support any sort of fast charging in either direction. This model has a 5,200 mAh lithium battery, which appears to be the biggest one Eton has used yet and double the capacity of the Sidekick. The lithium battery is user replaceable, and it appears to be a pair of standard 18650 cells, but they are soldered together into a battery pack; in the future you're either going to have to buy a replacement pack from Eton, or break out the soldering iron. It can also use 3 AAA batteries, and like all Eton emergency radios, has a solar panel and hand crank. The battery door does not require a screwdriver, and appears to be better designed than previous models.
Switching off the unit using the main power switch under the protective cover kills power to the internal clock, but does not appear to erase the FM presets or the Bluetooth pairing. It does not appear to be able to charge the battery when the main power switch is off.
All the buttons are on the front of the device (except the light, which is on top of the handle), they're not hiding under the handle like the Sidekick or FRX3+, so it's a lot easier to see what you're doing.
Overall it appears to be the best, most capable radio Eton has made yet. The only things that appear to be lacking are S.A.M.E. support on the weather band, a faster way to move through the shortwave band, a provision for an external SW antenna, and for the love of God, make it so you can't turn on the blasted siren by accident!
Eton - American Red Cross FRX3+ Emergency NOAA Weather Radio, Red, Digital Display, Hand Turbine, Solar Power, Red LED Flashi
4.4 | 3,593 ratings
Price: 67.92
Last update: 11-24-2024
About this item
Emergency Radio: Be prepared for any emergencies and disasters with this rechargeable, weather alert radio with solar panel and hand turbine power generator; No emergency kit is complete without this multipurpose tool.
Stay Alert: The “Alert” function automatically broadcasts any emergency weather alerts for your area; Keep it charged VIA solar panel, hand crank or a built-in rechargeable battery.
Multifunction Digital Device: This AM/FM/NOAA weather band digital radio with display and alarm clock can also charge a smartphone via USB port; Also features an LED flashlight and red flashing beacon for visibility anywhere.
Keep Connected: From World Band and Weather Alert radios, to solar powered sound systems and connected home products, we'll keep you connected and in the know at home, in the office, on the road or in the great outdoors.
Eton's Commitment to Preparedness: We're committed to helping you be prepared for everyday fun and unexpected emergencies, whether you’re out on a 10-day backpacking trip, or just barbecuing in the backyard.
Stay Alert: The “Alert” function automatically broadcasts any emergency weather alerts for your area; Keep it charged VIA solar panel, hand crank or a built-in rechargeable battery.
Multifunction Digital Device: This AM/FM/NOAA weather band digital radio with display and alarm clock can also charge a smartphone via USB port; Also features an LED flashlight and red flashing beacon for visibility anywhere.
Keep Connected: From World Band and Weather Alert radios, to solar powered sound systems and connected home products, we'll keep you connected and in the know at home, in the office, on the road or in the great outdoors.
Eton's Commitment to Preparedness: We're committed to helping you be prepared for everyday fun and unexpected emergencies, whether you’re out on a 10-day backpacking trip, or just barbecuing in the backyard.
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 6.9 x 5.8 x 2.6 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 14.9 ounces |
| ASIN | B00HSHH5DI |
| Item model number | ARCFRX3+WXR |
| Batteries | 1 AA batteries required. (included) |
| Customer Reviews |
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars
3,593 ratings
4.4 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #36,516 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #159 in Weather Radios |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | December 14, 2014 |
| Department | Unisex-Adult |
| Manufacturer | Eton -- Dropship |
Top reviews from the United States
Captain Packrat
The Quest is the best Eton emergency radio yet, but still lacking in a few spots
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2024
Terry Texas
For Emergency Use, probably great for people camping.
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2024Mike
Excellent Emergency Radio with only one main flaw; The Battery
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2024