KaitoKA500IP-RED Voyager Solar/Dynamo AM/FM/SW NOAA Weather Radio with Alert and Cell Phone Charger, Red

This is my favorite emergency radio. Decent quality sound and it will run all day on the little solar panel if you put it in the sun. I also really like that the battery is replaceable. I bought several extra so this radio should last me for a lifetime.

This review is actually for two radios, one which was purchase by me for my Dad and Mom, and a second for my wife and I:First: My Dad's review:Highlights: (1) Excellent Value (2) Good Quality (3) Good Reception (4) Great Sound for a short wave (5) Versatile Charging (6) Portable AND Rugged"Worth every penny! I waited to fully test the unit, and when I did I ran it through every aspect of use and charging. I surpassed ALL of my expectations, and worked even better with the external antenna I had my son order with it. The only function I was unable to test its charging ability from a wall adapter (hope to get a free one with the review). I am well versed in listening to short wave and in my opinion this Kaito Radio is superior to my C. Crane. For the price, It cannot be beat, and you cannot get a short wave as well built, does all the functions this one does, and have the price as low."************************************************************************My Review:When my Dad asked me if I would place an order for he and my mom (they have no credit/debit cards and prefer to use checks or USPS money orders) I was more than happy to agree after he told me it was for a short wave radio.Growing up I watched him rebuild and enhance broken electronics of all kinda: radios, generators, surround sound systems, Walkie-Talkies, CB Radios, ETC.). We were in the process of moving out to the to a rural part of the state (WV, and there was no internet, TV, and barely any cell service). This little guy and the separate antenna we purchased with it helped us stay entertained and up do date on weather and news. I'm not the electronics Guru my dad is, but I did my research and for a short wave that has all 7 NOAA radio bands, AM, FM, and 2 Shortwave bands; the ability to charge from a crank, solar, wall adapter (I too hope we get one), and USB; AND the ability to charge a cell phone or other USB devices from it is hard to find for this price! Add onto that fact that it is well built, though I would not recommend hammering on it or beating (it is and electrical device after all).Overall, my wife and I are very satisfied and my parents are with theirs too. It is a great product!

This is a nice radio with lots of features. It will not run on Solar power all day though. The solar cellsjust don't have the charging capacity. Plug it in and charge it, and it will run all day at a respectable volume.The crank does recharge it, but it's a LOT of cranking. In an emergency, something is better than nothing.The power switch for the lights is in a spot that may allow it to get turned on accidentally, Possibly leadingto dead batteries if you don't catch it. The light does come in handy at the camp site though...AA batteries didn't power the radio at first, but I was using older NiCAD rechargable batteries, and theymay be the issue. I have yet to run it on regular AA's to verify it.I took one star away for the seemingly underpowered solar cells... Otherwise, it gets good reception,has good sound quality, and makes for a good camp radio.

Overall, a very nice product. This was purchased for the NOAA alerts and Weather Band functions and these functions are excellent. The owner's manual is very complete. Numerous ways to power the unit, although I have not used the solar option. It would have been nice to have an AC adapter, but this is not absolutely required. I have not yet had problems with the crank function like some reviewers (and this is my primary means to power the unit). Reception is quite good on AM and FM bands. The Short Wave stations are not particularly clear, but this is not the reason I purchased the radio. While the unit is composed primarily of plastic, it has already survived two drops from a shelf. Some very nice touches, like the very "grippy" front and back surfaces, which allow for a firm grip, even with arthritic hands. While not a primary function, the reading lamp and flashlight are quite effective in a dark room.

The Kaito KA500IP Voyager offers reliable AM/FM/SW and NOAA weather alerts, and the solar/dynamo options keep it powered in any situation. The added cell phone charger is a lifesaver. Compact, sturdy, and perfect for emergencies or outdoor adventures. Highly recommended for peace of mind in uncertain conditions!

I think it is what it is advertised to be. I know one cannot judge a radio without a real antennae, using only the pop-up it comes with, the weather stations work great. I get at least one quite clearly, and frequently 2 or more quite clearly. Other bands are mixed, with AM-FM being fine, and the others not fairly tested enough by me so far. The power crank is as advertised, and does not take a great deal of cranking for the radio. Personally I like the red-look. The light is not bright, but I'll predict that in a power outage it would be plenty bright enough. Battery option of course, solar charge.USB and miniplug, and earphone (the larger of the two common ones) jack. So far, I could be critical and say the tuning knob could feel like a Collins radio and not an inexpensive weather radio. I could say "the light could be brighter." BUT for the price? And so far it all works? I'm a happy camper.