Make your own 'crank' calls - by generating your own power.

Eton often teams up with the American Red Cross to produce useful safety devices. One of their newest products is the Axis self-powered Weather radio and “safety hub”. (Model Safety starts with being able to power this device from three different power sources. You can use 3 AAA batteries, AC power, or hand power. The person powered (meaning you!) aluminum crank charges the internal rechargeable NiMH battery. The NiMH battery is included. (But it’s not connected, so do that first if you get this radio.) The AC adapter is optional. I guess Eton figured you’ll mostly be carrying this device in the great outdoors, miles away from power. The Axis contains a digital AM and FM tuner with bright red LED readout. For emergencies, all seven NOAA weather band channels are available. The radio can alert you to oncoming storms. The company says you’ll get 15 minutes of radio or light power for every 90 seconds of hand cranking. But wait, there’s more! There’s a built in white LED flashlight and a red flashing LED light for emergencies. And this is really great for emergencies: a USB port that can provide power for charging many cell phones! Connectors on the Axis have rubber gaskets and plugs so you won’t have to worry about moisture out in the elements. On a camping trip you can listen to the tuner with your headphone via the built in 3.5 mm headphone jack. You can also listen to your own MP3 tunes via the Aux-In jack. To help improve radio reception in the wild, there’s an adjustable telescoping antenna. With the built in battery and 3 AAA batteries installed, the Axis weighs one pound six ounces according to my MyWeigh postage scale. Height: 6.38 inches Length: 6.63 inches Width: 2.13 inches Suggested retail is $69.95. Amazon and Brookstone should have it by the time you read this.

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