When you are roughing it outdoors or going on a long trip into uncharted land or want to make an emergency kit, the emergency crank radio is an important device to have. It is a dependable radio which can practically never run out of power. It has a cranking mechanism that works on the principle of a dynamo to generate power. When you turn the handle you will be running the small generating motor inside and producing electricity which gets stored in the radio's rechargeable batteries. With this radio you are always prepared as this device will run when you most need it.

Eton corporation makes many different types of emergency crank radios and many of their models are endorsed by the American Red Cross as a device which can be included in any emergency kit. The American Red Cross FR150 Microlink is one such popular model, and it includes a powerful flashlight and a cell phone charger.

The American Red Cross FR150 Microlink is a powerful radio having AM frequencies from 520 to 1710 Khz and FM frequencies from 87 to 108 MHz. Apart from these it also has all 7 channels of the NOAA Weather bands. The FM and AM channels will provide you with entertainment, general news and public announcements and the weather bands provide you with important weather forecasts and alerts. The weather channels also regularly broadcast emergency messages and warnings when there is a possibility of extreme weather and other hazards. These announcements are particularly important if you are backpacking or traveling.

The American Red Cross FR150 Microlink emergency crank radio is a rugged device built for outdoor handling. Built to be a device which can be used in emergency situations, it incorporates several power sources to make it more dependable. Apart from the cranking mechanism, the Ni-MH rechargeable battery can be powered by an AC adapter which can be bought separately. The radio also has an array of highly efficient solar cells which can recharge the batteries in sunlight and even when the sky is overcast. These amorphous solar panels are enclosed in shatterproof glass which is also waterproof.

The American Red Cross FR150 Microlink emergency crank radio's flashlight is quite powerful having three LED lights and is ideal to light up your path in the night. It can also be used for signaling over long distances as the beam has a long reach. The radio also has a jack for headphones if you prefer to listen to the radio in private. When you buy this radio you are provided with a card in which you have to fill up information regarding the model and type of your cell phone and the company will provide you with the adapter suitable for your phone so that you can use it with the cell phone charger of the radio. The cell phone charger is another important utility which is vital when you are traveling and have no access to electricity. The best feature of the radio is that all the utilities and built-in devices can be powered by the cranking mechanism and you do not have to depend on batteries.