Kaito Voyager KA500 AM FM SW WB Emergency Radio Review

Рет қаралды 57,206

6 жыл бұрын

The gold standard of emergency radios. A great receiver for an extended, off the grid use.
▶ The Kaito Voyager KA500 at Amazon USA: amzn.to/2FDwDRW
▶ AC Adapter for the Kaito KA500 at Amazon USA: amzn.to/2W7PnzU
▶ Todd's Shop: www.amazon.com/shop/todderbert
(paid links) As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are no additional costs to you.
▶ The Kaito Voyager KA500 at eBay: bit.ly/Kaito_KA500
(paid link) As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase. There are no additional costs to you
Features I like about this radio:
FM and Weather Band reception is fantastic.
SW is good with attached wire. Buy yourself a retractable wire, it makes a great pairing with this radio.
AM reception was decent, grabbing stations 500+ miles away at night.
Solar Powered.
NiMH rechargeable battery.
Dynamo crank.
USB charging device.
The ability to use optional AA batteries. A very important feature.
Yellow!
Dial Light.
Reading Lamp.
Nice build quality.
Speaker sounds good for an emergency radio.
Dedicated seven position weather band selector switch.
Features that could be added or improved on:
A normal matte plastic finish like the KA700. Not sure how this soft touch coating will endure.
Upgraded tuner, the AM band suffers from some high pitched tones while moving through the band.
Upgrade the case to allow the use of an 18650 cell vs the NIMH pack. Allowing for better run time and power bank features.
Better flashlight, this one was not adequate. You will need to rely on the reading lamps as your main source for illumination.
Overall all, this radio is great. Probably one of the better emergency radios out there to consider. I feel this radio would get my family through an emergency situation that lasted from one days to a few weeks. Hint, buy the yellow one :)
Thank you for watching, comment below if you have any questions or own this radio and would like to share your thoughts.
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Пікірлер: 189

@todderbert Жыл бұрын

▶ The Kaito Voyager KA500 at Amazon USA: amzn.to/2FDwDRW (paid link) As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are no additional costs to you. ▶ The Kaito Voyager KA500 at eBay: bit.ly/Kaito_KA500 (paid link) As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase. There are no additional costs to you

@dinnerwithfranklin2451 4 жыл бұрын

I liked this review so much that I bought one. In the yellow of course.

@jeffking4176 6 жыл бұрын

I purchased one of these for my mom in Florida. I did a LOT of research on this (and the others). Kaito quality wasn’t very good, some years ago. All of the reviews and comments are constant. IE:: The early radios had problems, but over time ,quality has greatly improved. This radio is fantastic. I played around with it for several weeks before giving it to her. Not a DX machine, but not bad either. It did pretty good when tuning slowly. Got plenty of stations on AM. FM is decent. Short Wave is not the greatest but like most, it received all the bigger stations off the whip. Didn’t overload on my external (outside) antenna, but did very well. Tons of features. Build quality not bad. Pretty good sounding too. The weather stations came in very clear. Kaito now has facilities in California. And thy do honor warranty problems there.

@eddiedowning2571 3 жыл бұрын

I always watch your reviews on radio before I purchase thanks for all you do for the radio lovers around the world we appreciate it

@adventureseeker9800 3 жыл бұрын

Just snagged one of these in red on Amazon three days ago. The purchase was based on your review. I love it. Loads of fun and it was purchased to add to my Preps.

@tymz-r-achangin 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! A detailed review and was kept clean so me and my kids can watch it together. We just got our Voyager KA500 and learned a lot from your video :)

@tymz-r-achangin Жыл бұрын

@Dani Good to hear! Me and a couple other family members have tested our KA500 for a little over 5 months now and we're still happy that we went with it :) Seems to be a genuine quality-made product at a reasonable price which that is getting more and more difficult to do even before commi china unleashed the covid19 virus on the world

@barrybear2012 4 жыл бұрын

Just bought one of these on eBay to be prepared in the remote case that we end up with a quarantine/lockdown.

@SiriusZiriux 3 жыл бұрын

Same Here! Vancouver B.C. Canada.

@fuhwurd 3 жыл бұрын

that’s quite unnecessary but good choice

@SiriusZiriux 3 жыл бұрын

@@fuhwurd Rather have it and not need it than to not have it and need it.

@fuhwurd 3 жыл бұрын

DaVeY CrotchKick True

@TERPY70 3 жыл бұрын

Lol we’re in a quarantine

@billconnelly4840 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing. Just got mine today. In green. Yellow looks good to

@kneehighbyjuly4433 3 жыл бұрын

This raido just came in the mail for me today. I have to say, the tuning, clarity is amazing. I am so impressed. I don't know how the hand crank feature is going to be yet, so I'm going to play it till it completely runs out of battery. I like the hand crank because it's nice to be able to get the weather from cranking for 30 seconds to 2 minutes and have 5-10 mins of radio.

@Omaralkhudhayr Жыл бұрын

Does it have a bluetooth ?

@rmrpjm 6 жыл бұрын

I have 5 radios that you have reviewed and this is my FAVORITE....easy to use and seems to have the best sound

@todderbert 6 жыл бұрын

I enjoy this radio also. Easy to use, compact and great reception.

@25yearstolate 2 жыл бұрын

@@todderbert Hi...love your reviews....question.....if the rechargeable batteries are dead and you had the 3 aaa batteries in the radio....would it still charge a phone? TIA.

@edwardseth1230 5 жыл бұрын

Suggestion: in a bugout situation, the USB/Dynamo Hand cranked Radio is a great source of information (for a short time) 1. Carry a good company made extra (USB 2.0 to multi-socket 12 into 1 cable including charging pins & Type C 3.1) for all older/new samsung, iphone, motorola, Blackberry, Sony, Panasonic, tablets and torches/headlamp pins connector/charger. 2. Check at home for battery life, buy 4 extra AA/AAA Lithium ion mini usb chargable batteries 3.6v and 1.5v to charge with your radio, carry it in your inner jacket pocket in winter and in a fanny waist pack in summer. 3. Crossbreed EMP Proof Large Protective Bag, 19 1/2" x 22" by, ARK Protector Series The Resister (dust/water/fire/emp proof) Stay safe, God bless.

@Rambyren 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Have been wanting an emergency radio. Now I know what kind to get.

@cipher2 3 жыл бұрын

thank you for helping to educate myself as i work to prepare myself!

@dylandopsovic7045 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this review! I'm thinking of getting this one and was in need of an opinion beforehand and everything looks quite nice! Only thing I'm not a fan of but can overlook is that skippy DSP tuning.

@mickeybrumfield764 6 жыл бұрын

Very impressive really like the tuning/charging light very well done.

@todderbert 6 жыл бұрын

i wish it didn't have the high pitched whine when tuning on AM, but not a deal breaker. This is one versatile radio.

@mickeybrumfield764 6 жыл бұрын

todderbert Well I guess a high pitched whine is not too good, it wasn't that noticeable on the video to me. It is a hansome radio. Keep up the good work.

@alexandrefernandosousa917 5 жыл бұрын

Obrigado pela postagem !

@j.stormtracker4407 11 ай бұрын

I got 3 of these Kaito KA500 portable radios one each in Blue, Yellow and Green and bought them at least 4 years ago on Amazon.....they are great for off-grid use, when you have no power due to storms or whatever or even hiking/camping. I keep the blue Kaito KA500 handy for power outages. I use it mostly for weather info and some news. Great radios.

@HillbillyMusings 4 жыл бұрын

Nice review Todderbert, I just ordered one of these today.

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

Hopefully it serves you well. I still have mine, with no intentions of selling it or giving it away ;)

@janellewapola9392 4 жыл бұрын

@@todderbert I am ordering one today for a Father's Day present - in yellow! Thank you for time and research so I didn't have to!

@kneehighbyjuly4433 3 жыл бұрын

Yup. I LOVE how efficient the crank feature is! I cranked that sucker for only a minute, and it gave me 8 mins. GREAT for emergency. LOVE LOVE LOVE! So much better than the midland ER's with the crank. Though, The ER's have a much longer battery.

@todderbert 3 жыл бұрын

There is a 500L version of this radio that uses an 18650.

@kneehighbyjuly4433 3 жыл бұрын

@@todderbert Oh well, too late note, unfortunately.

@wdcworld 4 жыл бұрын

Got mine today 34.00 on eBay. Am sucks during the day but am nighttime really good overall 😊

@nFlames2 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info they are like for under $40 on Amazon today 02/28/22. Was looking in to getting the KA600 or KA700 but for the price I'll go the KA500.

@mikesmith6783 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the info on the port in/out switch so in means power from solar panel to the USB and out USB to battery recharge

@antwayanowens5529 3 жыл бұрын

Sweet im buying a red one 2020 been kinda unpredictable its a must have going into 2021 u neva know everything cud go off the grid, great for anyone especially preppers

@totallyfrozen 4 жыл бұрын

WANT!! I thought I wanted the Sangean MMR-88, but this one seems better.

@profd65 4 жыл бұрын

Jay Allen rated the AM and FM of the Sangean very high; I seriously doubt whether the Kaito is better or even as good as the Sangean is in those areas. The Sangean doesn't have shortwave though.

@martz1191 6 жыл бұрын

I have this radio. It's a great little device. It has the dsp step tuning. I am not a fan of that feature. The shortwave part is very hard to tune and seems to skip strong signals. Kaito did a nice job though.

@profd65 4 жыл бұрын

The Sangean MMR-88 seems to be the king of the inexpensive emergency radios. Jay Allen gave it very high marks in the AM and PM categories. It's small and light; even an ultralight backpacker could throw it in his pack without too much guilt. It doesn't have shortwave, but it does have the flashlight, weather channels, etc.

@jamesglenn6461 4 жыл бұрын

Bought 2 of these. SW is so-so. Other bands good. Uses less battery power than digital models. As they age, the colored plastic gets sticky. The Eton red cross models do the same thing.

@drleo6409 3 жыл бұрын

A bit long but covered throughly that is good before making a purchase. When listenting to different frequency’s not needed out I just skipped it .. Thanks for thereview

@jeffking291 3 жыл бұрын

After the last hurricane that came through, I talked to my mom. She asked me what time all the tv and radio stations came back on the air. WHAT❓ She lives in Gainesville Florida, and apparently, as the storm passed, all the stations shut down ❗️😬 She couldn’t get any radio stations at all. I asked to see her radio. It was marked as an “Emergency Radio”, AM/FM / Weather Band. I got local FM stations ok, but only the strongest AM (MW) stations, and barely one Weather station. So I got her one of these. I played around with it for about 3 weeks [ before I gave it to her]. I’ve been wanting one for myself since then. Today, on Facebook Marketplace, I found one, locally- brand new in the box, never been used, and includes all paperwork, and accessories. $20.oo‼️‼️ 📻😁✅

@daveroe8612 3 жыл бұрын

Just purchased this on Amazon for $49.95 great radio

@Mikey-ym6ok Жыл бұрын

Wow. I think you got jipped if you payed 5 grand 😂

@daveroe8612 Жыл бұрын

Haha just corrected that lol.

@barrybear2012 4 жыл бұрын

I just posted a review of my Kaito Voyager. AM and SW reception and sound is very good. NOAA WB reception is very good as well and is easy to hear. However, FM reception is lousy. I can pick up 99.9 WVAF (V100) and 107.3 (WKAZ-FM) fairly decent, but almost all the rest of the Charleston-area stations don't come in at all. However I use this mostly for AM and SW so it suits my needs. When it comes to FM, nothing beats my Kaito KA-345 and Realistic DX-350.

@sunday9519 5 жыл бұрын

Hello, how is the sensitivity of shortwave? and,how is the effect of shortwave receive? How is the reception of the AM band?

@baneverything5580 3 жыл бұрын

The effect of shortwave is dangerous because of Brother Stair.

@TheRealJaded 4 жыл бұрын

I want this one so bad!!!!!!

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

A Solid Emergency Radio. The prices have gone up recently. It always makes my Top Five Under $50 video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rsWBaK2r2dvWo2g.html

@EmilDragonul 2 жыл бұрын

Hello! Works with no battery inside? just with solar pannel or must be added battery accumulator which is charged by solar?

@vimbembrook7408 4 жыл бұрын

Hey Todd, is this Kaito belongs to the old school analogue or a DSP radio? If it is analogue, I will order one immediately through the link that mentioned in the description.

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

It is DSP.

@lorettallorente3929 4 жыл бұрын

Hello There! Tobberbert, I was wondering if you can advise me were I can purchase the wire you attached to the antenna Kaito KA500 Emergency AM/FM/SW/NOAA Weather Alert Radio ? Do you know where to purchase this radio for $50.00 dollars? Where can I also purchase the cord to the wall? I sometimes like to listen for a long time without worries about losing battery power. Your help with these questions would be very much appreciated. Thanks Loretta

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

To improve your FM/NOAA and Shortwave reception, the Kaito T-1 wire: amzn.to/2U7lqhZ For the Radio try eBay, it is the least expensive option: bit.ly/Kaito_KA500 For the Power Adapter, the Kaito AD-500 at Amazon: amzn.to/2U5Rpiw

@janicewebber5584 3 жыл бұрын

I just ordered this! In yellow because if the power goes out at night..I live in Tn & we lost everything Christmas day because of the Nashville bomb. I don't have tv so I felt completely cutoff since all I have is my phone. Yay, breathe easier now!

@kygent508 4 жыл бұрын

It looks like the HQ Issue radio I just got but have not been able to find ac adapter.

@Melantho 4 жыл бұрын

I'm trying to decide between this and the runningsnail MD-090P for my bug out bag. The runnningsnail is rated IPX3 waterproof (which I know isn't much but it's something). I didn't see any rating for this pausing and reading the manual but the box stated it was water-resistant? Is there any info as to a rating on this one that you know of?

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

I don't think it's rated, but it does have a rubber jacket over the power ports. I would say very light moisture resistance.

@JeffKoenig 5 жыл бұрын

Where can I find the shortwave wire attachment you mentioned in the video?

@tomjones239 4 жыл бұрын

Jeff Koenig ... All you need for shortwave reception is a piece of insulated wire 20 feet long attached to the antenna on the radio.

@Fck-Iran 3 жыл бұрын

Can you listen to the radio everyday by plugging the usb into a surge protector that has a usb , and that plugs into the wall, or do I need a dc adaptor?

@todderbert 3 жыл бұрын

You would need a nice linear DC adapter to avoid RFI.

@ensoniqreducer Жыл бұрын

Todd, are you aware of any other modern, analog tuning radios that feature a dial light? (Besides the R9700DX/CCRadio EP.) Such a great feature, and I wish more radios had it!

@todderbert Жыл бұрын

the little mini HanRongDa HRD-700 has LED lights that illuminate the dial. Fun little guy. At Amazon: amzn.to/3D7KDzA

@hoboqueen4453 3 жыл бұрын

I've had my blue one for a couple years and the soft finish has become disgustingly sticky. Wish there was a way to get rid of it without erasing the lettering. Tried rubbing alcohol, but it barely penetrated the surface. Other than the tacky surface, this is a good radio.

@sookie4195 11 ай бұрын

Mine too. I might try vinegar.

@rodolfoschenzon8431 Жыл бұрын

Tanto la KAItO 500 & 700 son very good radio ..

@SJ-xg1uf Жыл бұрын

I was wondering if there was a way to get my radios solar panel to work

@WoodRatNat 5 жыл бұрын

Quick question, thanks for the review btw.. I'm curious about your clip on Radio antenna extension. I'm researching it but want to know if that device helps perform better, and is it suitable to boost the range for all frequencies/ reception? if you have time to answer I give you thanks! Nice review

@todderbert 5 жыл бұрын

It will improve your shortwave, FM and NOAA reception.

@WoodRatNat 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you sir! Now to find the best one. I appreciate the time to respond.

@WoodRatNat 5 жыл бұрын

@@todderbert I watched another of your videos and you showed the ext antenna box. I ordered the kaito T1 compact antenna, 1 for me and 1 for my good friend who shares a similar interest in survival stuff.... Thanks for the tip

@todderbert 5 жыл бұрын

Those wires will add a ton of reception. Mine is able to slide between my patio doors so I could get the wire outside. Amazing results.

@appalachiangunman9589 3 жыл бұрын

I believe I may get this for my “get home” pack.

@SoloHiker1 3 жыл бұрын

For a pack I would look at the more portable options like the Voyager V2. Personally for a get-home bag I'd through in a Baofeng uv5r or 82.

@appalachiangunman9589 3 жыл бұрын

@@SoloHiker1 thanks I’ll have to check those out.

@a.s.m.3246 Жыл бұрын

I actually know somebody who has this radio but what's the lil thingy U put on the antenna 4 the shortwave & where to get it ? 🤷🏻‍♀️

@farooqahmadhakeem6692 3 жыл бұрын

What are the various short wave bands in the radio. Plz.inform

@JamesGMunn 5 жыл бұрын

Any thoughts on the KA500L with only the 18650 and the bigger solar cell?

@todderbert 5 жыл бұрын

Sure, I like it, just keep extra 18650s handy.

@easy10 2 жыл бұрын

Was that WWVB you picked up for the time?

@crtroost Жыл бұрын

I am new to this. I just got this radio. The NOAA Alert feature on the far right knob… if I have it on that option will it go off automatically for alerts in my area?

@todderbert Жыл бұрын

It will quietly listen on the weather channel you have chosen, then it will start broadcasting the Alert on the Speaker if an Alarm Tone is Issued. This uses battery power, just as if you left the radio on normally. Use when there is a upcoming threat.

@Andoy10 6 ай бұрын

Hello. Just bought one for my father. Can I use powerbank to power kaito ka500?

@debbietaylor8091 3 жыл бұрын

I'm just now seeing this video and I did buy this radio I was wondering what kind of shortwave antenna did you add on to the radios antenna or can you put a link below

@todderbert 3 жыл бұрын

I use the Sangean ANT-60 at Amazon: amzn.to/35Pse9R

@air4334 3 жыл бұрын

you must be in a city or suburb for that great radio reception. I've tried getting weather and radio in a Northwoods location and does not really pick up anything..not very impressed with purchase..but will keep trying to get good reception.

@Bruce_Wayne35 2 жыл бұрын

Run a 60 foot piece of wire (or longer) to a tree out side, then tie it to the tree. Run the other end inside your house and wrap several turns around the radio. You can also go inside the radio and wrap maybe 1 to 3 turns around the AM ferrite rod antenna. Tape can be used to hold it in place. This should greatly improve your reception of the weaker AM signals. Shortwave reception can be improved by attaching the wire to the telescoping antenna, using a jumper with alligator clips on the ends. Another option to improve AM is to get one of those AM loop antennas, the type you simply place near your AM radio, such as the Terk AM Advantage or the Twin Coil Ferrite AM antenna signal booster.

@PattyKuluCakes 6 жыл бұрын

Have you done any review of a weather radio that also has Public Alert capability? Any recommendation?

@todderbert 6 жыл бұрын

no, but the Sangean CL-100 comes highly recommended. Its more of a table top variety, but can become portable with batteries.

@martz1191 6 жыл бұрын

The AM and FM on that radio is excellent.

@ray_di_ohs739 4 жыл бұрын

Hi, your feedback is much needed and appreciated I almost pulled the trigger on this today but some further digging I saw a few concerning user comments, 2 years later your opinion is still good on this? one thing I saw a user mention the radio turns sticky have you experienced this? Watching your video I don't like the tuning light seems too bright also the dial light seemed to bleed over on the left of the dial. Thank you again is this still worth buying as I really like it even more from your review.

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

I like the radio, does well on the FM/MW and NOAA bands, not so hot on SW, I get MW bleed through. The tuning LED is bright, but can be modded if needed. Another solid radio is the Sangean MMR-88, just buy extra 18350s and a charger to go with it. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a75jrbl6rcy9hnk.html

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

Also my radio is not sticky. I think they are using a better silicone type of coating that will not break down like the rubber coated ones. Another option is the C.Crane Solar Observer. Excellent Radio. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Zplya6qqqLLIj4U.html

@ray_di_ohs739 4 жыл бұрын

@@todderbert Thank you, sir, I appreciate your time and feedback. One Amazon reviewer said there radio turned a sticky mess after a few years. Then last night I also watched your Ka-550 and at the end, you compared them and mentioned the rubbery feel of the 500 and I said oh oh but if yours is still holding up I will grab this as I love the look and the performance from your review.

@swtorseneca 2 жыл бұрын

What one do you prefer, the Ka500 or 700? Thsnks!

@kitten375 3 жыл бұрын

Hi, I've watched so many of your videos recently that I'm hearing you in my sleep. I'm trying to decide on an emergency radio and I can't decide between the Kaito KA500 or the C Crane CC Solar Observer. I was hoping you could tell me which one you'd pick between those two.

@todderbert 3 жыл бұрын

If you don't need Shortwave, I would pick the CC Solar Observer in a heartbeat. Amazing Reception on all the bands, high quality make, Great company with awesome support. Dial light is uniform and very handy. Easy to Use. To be honest I would stock some AAs with it. Leave them in their package until you need to use them. In an emergency, you will be using the Dynamo crank which is more robust on the Solar Observer.

@kitten375 3 жыл бұрын

@@todderbert Thank you for responding so quickly. Yay! I'm excited. I'm off to make my purchase. You have a new fan.

@todderbert 3 жыл бұрын

@@kitten375 Great, I would have a few AA powered flashlights as well to go with the radio. Most lights on emergency radios are ok in a pinch, but having a dedicated light is better :)

@kitten375 3 жыл бұрын

@@todderbert Thank you, I will. :)

@ritamaiorelle4801 2 жыл бұрын

Looking for the wire you attached to the antenna, is not in your description. Thank you in advance.

@michaelroy6943 Жыл бұрын

Did you have any luck finding the wire? I'm looking for one myself

@ritamaiorelle4801 Жыл бұрын

@@michaelroy6943 no, I did not

@Andoy10 6 ай бұрын

Hello. Can anyone pls help me because i just got one and I think it does not charge the battery because when I plug in the radio to the wall, the charging light does not lit. The only time it lit is when I use the crank. This is just a week old.

@paramus1943 5 жыл бұрын

Just got this radio. Curious how much radio reception to expect with 60 seconds of crank. How much with 1 hour in the sun? Thanks.

@todderbert 5 жыл бұрын

not much. I don't test the dynamos or solar panels, but from what information I have learned, you will not get much run time. Probably a few minutes on the radio with the 60sec dynamo and maybe ten to fifteen minutes with the hour of direct sunlight.

@paramus1943 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you! We live in the place that had "this is not a drill". Lots of sun so hope we will be able to get a good solar charge.

@channel-dw7ei 4 жыл бұрын

Which on has the best charge with wind up and good features that gives more bang for the buck????

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

Most Bang for the Buck, Todderbert style is the : kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ed2nbKqp05uylXk.html

@Agent_bIack 10 ай бұрын

What the wire for the antenna. I’m very knew to owning one of these an would like to have that as well. But can’t find it on Amazon or more then likely skipping over it without knowing :/ help plz

@todderbert 10 ай бұрын

The Kaito T-1 wire is great, at Amazon: amzn.to/3sRpMO2

@baneverything5580 3 жыл бұрын

(UPDATE...Kaito says that the new radio KA500L will function with NO BATTERY at all in the sun. Amazingly this is true! I removed the battery and tried it and it works great just off the solar panel! Plus, the solar panel should rapidly charge a dead battery!) I ordered one. No more AA batteries. Cost me over $60.00. Another bait and switch from Walmart. Even in the Walmart description it said it could use AA batteries.

@todderbert 3 жыл бұрын

The L means Lithium, and most of their models with the L designation give up the AA/NiMH format.

@baneverything5580 3 жыл бұрын

@@todderbert I forgot to add...the radio I got has great reception. When I first used it AM was deaf but now it`s great. Strange!

@waveriderz2687 4 жыл бұрын

Is it possible to use a 5v cell phone power adapter to charge the batteries? The AC charger is not included with this model, and a laptop USB charge port isn't always convenient

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

A power bank should be able to charge the radio. It accepts a micro USB in.

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

You can use a USB charger from a phone or car adapter as well.

@sookie4195 Жыл бұрын

How do I know which band to use?’

@sookie4195 Жыл бұрын

I was supposed to get a free plug in with the submission of a form. Never happened and it’s been 4 years.

@offgridcitycouple5695 Жыл бұрын

My one only lasted a couple of hours today after having been fully charged 2 months ago. Then I read in the instructions that you can overcharge the tiny little battery if you leave it plugged in? Not sure if I'm missing something but for a survival product this large I was hoping for a way bigger battery to last for at least one full day, and also putting in better circuitry to avoid the battery from being overcharged, as this can end up in an explosion.. Otherwise, it was good at picking up channels and the hand crank worked well. Just feels a bit like a cheap eBay special as opposed to a product designed for SHTF situations.

@todderbert Жыл бұрын

If you don't need SW, look into the CC Radio Solar. The Best out there.

@offgridcitycouple5695 Жыл бұрын

@@todderbert yeah that one looks pretty solid, Cheers 🙂

@thomasniner001 6 жыл бұрын

The AC adapter or the micro phone charge are good for the standby/ weather alert mode which could go on for hours.

@todderbert 6 жыл бұрын

Good information, I think the A/C adapter was mentioned in the manual to be used for this function. Thanks!

@qwertykeyboard5901 2 жыл бұрын

why the hell is my mind jumping to that chinese portable lcd tv/radio/mp3 thing I was gifted at Christmas when i was little? If only it didn't break...

@cgvoxakis 4 жыл бұрын

Can you give details on that wire for the antenna? I am a total novice and have no idea what to buy.

@tomjones239 4 жыл бұрын

You can simply connect a 15-20 foot length of insulated wire to the existing antenna. A reel antenna is what he`s using but you need one with a clip.

@cgvoxakis 4 жыл бұрын

@@tomjones239 Thank you!

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

Sorry I missed your comment, here is a video I made about improving reception: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q5mAfJBjz7GbmGQ.html

@chriscrocker6783 3 жыл бұрын

How does the NOAA function on the smaller right knob work?

@todderbert 3 жыл бұрын

First tune in a local NOAA station, then turn the little knob on the right to NOAA Alert. The radio is on, but silenced. When it receives an Alert Tone the Radio will Unmute and start playing the NOAA Radio Station.

@TexasPrisonStories 4 жыл бұрын

I have a red one

@hanaesolomon 6 ай бұрын

Can anybody tell me abt the battery does it take normal battery

@brandonhamilton370 4 жыл бұрын

Ok so I'm stuck deciding between the 1) Kaito Voyager KA500, 2) Sangean MMR-88 AM and the 3) American Red Cross Emergency NOAA Weather Radio. They are all pretty much the same price on Amazon right now. I've watched quite a few reviews and I'm still stuck. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

The best radio is going to be the MMR-88. Just pick up extra 18350 batteries. If you can't find them call Sangean USA. The reception and build quality of the MMR-88 is fantastic. It also has excellent sounding FM Stereo when using headphones. Love it. You can pickup a "renewed" one from Sangean through Amazon for $37. They give you a 90 warranty as well. At Amazon: amzn.to/30FItm9

@brandonhamilton370 4 жыл бұрын

@@todderbert Thank you for your response! I appreciate all of the information. Unfortunately I live in Canada, so the price is more but I'm willing to make the investment none the less! I have some CR123A lithium batteries from when I used to install alarm systems but I believe they are only 3v not 3.7v. Do you think they would still work as backups? I got a lot! Great reviews by the way!

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

@@brandonhamilton370 I think they recommend against using 123s since they can not take a charge.

@brandonhamilton370 4 жыл бұрын

@@todderbert Thanks again, one more quick question. I received mine today and I noticed that the clock is always on. Does this mean that the battery will constantly be draining? I know it has a 90 min auto - shut off, but I was thinking of ways to preserve battery power.

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

@@brandonhamilton370 You could always store it with the battery removed. That is what I do. Otherwise charging it monthly will keep it running.

@cosmo742 4 жыл бұрын

Do you think the KA500L is worth spending $10 more Edit: from what i heard it has an 18650 2000mAh battery as an improvement and a bigger solar panel, along with a slight better speaker.

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

If you use 18650s in other devices then yes. If not get the regular version. It has a small capacity NiMH pack, but can use AA batteries also.

@cosmo742 4 жыл бұрын

@@todderbert I do have 2 flashlights that use 18650s I think i'll probably get the KA500L seems alot better with those improvements, also will you do a review and possibly compare to the old model someday in the future?

@baneverything5580 3 жыл бұрын

@@cosmo742 The KA500L can be used in the sun with the internal battery removed. It actually works!

@arctichare8185 4 жыл бұрын

I suppose one could tie a piece of florescent survey ribbon onto it if one could not get a red or yellow unit.

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

Simple and Smart idea. Thanks!

@fuhwurd 3 жыл бұрын

kind of sad that the KA500 is not **SAME** encoding, if it were in the WXR option, it would be alerting you

@tonyz6421 3 жыл бұрын

You'd send it back cause of red? Any color...it's a great radio

@todderbert 3 жыл бұрын

for filming Red on Red doesn't work, plus I prefer Yellow.

@grifter1964 Жыл бұрын

Is it made of that material that gets gummy after a while?

@todderbert Жыл бұрын

It might be, mine hasn't gotten gummy yet.

@sookie4195 11 ай бұрын

Yes. Mine collects white cat hair.

@dcorey96 Жыл бұрын

Do you prefer the KA 700 or the KA 500 ??

@todderbert Жыл бұрын

KA500 for simplicity.

@bessermt 3 жыл бұрын

A few things I think every emergency radio should have but none has all. 1. A compartment that holds ALL extra items, including extra long term battery storage. 2. Unbreakable antenna 3. Weatherproof 4. Low power LED find in the dark switch and Strontium Aluminate body Not that other features aren't needed or nice, but none has these basic things. Does such a thing exist?

@KRAFTWERK2K6 3 жыл бұрын

It's a shame there's no non-north american version of these radios it seems… They just need to ditch the NOAA bands, add some warm-white LEDs and i'd be happy. The banana yellow looks even nicer than the green version. There's not many emergency radios that also come with a little photo-voltaic collector which lets you harness another energy source so you can save the hand-crank dynamo from wearing out too much and really only leaving it for when you have no other choice to power it.

@burt5057 5 ай бұрын

Hi. Is the rechargeable battery replaceable?

@todderbert 5 ай бұрын

Yes, it is a simple NiMH pack, that can be found at Batteries Plus or other type stores. The battery is similar to what we used in our cordless phones back in the day.

@burt5057 5 ай бұрын

@@todderbert Many thanks.

@burt5057 5 ай бұрын

@@todderbert Found it.

@rohalsuryawanshi1114 4 жыл бұрын

Can we use it in india

@Buglet720 6 жыл бұрын

Another great yellow radio.

@todderbert 6 жыл бұрын

Loving the yellow! Actually this is a pretty solid emergency radio for the money.

@shaneg4969 2 жыл бұрын

Is there any way to turn the back light for the radio dial on without the flashlight being on as well?

@K2LNick 4 жыл бұрын

the red one is faster

@dennisevans5499 3 жыл бұрын

How i change my dial back to english its on Chinese thank you

@BudsRitova 2 жыл бұрын

😁😁😁

@channel-dw7ei 4 жыл бұрын

Does it have Bluetooth

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

No, but the Kaito KA700 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hNqDg7dquNevmqM.html and the Kaito KA900 does kzfaq.info/get/bejne/i7N7qsR82ZjPYac.html .

@kygent508 4 жыл бұрын

Wish I could find one made in America.

@todderbert 4 жыл бұрын

You may in a kit form, but it will have Chinese parts.

@lomgshorts3 3 жыл бұрын

Nice radio, but weak on AM and SW. I use a tuned loop on AM and a 350' Rhombic antenna to bring the SW stations in on some nights, and the antique 200' Marconi antenna (both at 70') to bring in talk radio at night. Seems to me all Chinese made radios are like this. It is what it is, an emergency portable radio that can't do it all the best but tries. I think it is worth the $50, but not much more, even today. I build crystal radios that work much better, more sensitive and more selective, yet no batteries included or needed! With your fascination in radios, why not build a crystal or regen receiver like a variation of the Doerle Twinplex? Definitely American made by YOUR hands, and assembled piece by piece including the variable capacitor out of single sided copper clad PC board! Go back to the days of Marconi and the inventor of radio, Tesla himself. Give it a try, no disappointment at all there! Best Wishes, Fred.

@gabriellabri7305 3 жыл бұрын

I appreciate your video but no word on charging. crank charge, Solar charge, battery charge???? Why??? I subscribed the same . Thanks for your information.