Kaito KA500 5-way Powered Solar Power,Dynamo Crank, Wind Up Emergency AM/FM/SW/NOAA Weather Alert Radio with Flashlight,Reading Lamp and Cellphone Charger, Yellow

Really a great value for the money. So manydifferent functions. Very reliable and good sound. Works with AA batteries and can be powered with an AC adapter.

Let me start by saying that I've done wayyyy to much research on emergency survival radios. I'm talking hours and hours of research. Why? Frankly, I was looking for a radio to replace this KA500. My expectations for this radio were sky high and I was disappointed by some of the features of this radio. But after hours and hours of comparing the features of every survival radio I could find, I realized that this radio is literally the ONLY radio that combines all the features I wanted. You will not find a radio on Amazon or anywhere else that can do everything this radio can do.Radio Bands: The KA500 has a unique combination of AM, FM, SW, NOAA AND Weather Alert. Many radios can do AM, FM and NOAA but few can also do Weather Alert and almost none can also do SW. The reception is better than many reviews state. FM was crystal clear, NOAA was very sufficient, AM and SW were a mixed bag. I don't have much experience with listening to AM or SW so I can't compare them to other radios very well but I got several AM stations that were clear enough. I was able to get a few SW stations, inside my house, during the day, with no external antenna. I was impressed. A stand alone SW radio in this price range might get better reception but, as I said above, you will need several different radios to get all the bands this radio has. And that standalone SW radio won't have the added benefits below.Power Options: No other radio has the combination of power sources that this radio has. Period. This radio can run off crank, solar, AA batteries, Android cell chargers/external mini-USB batteries, or a DC wall outlet. But here is where the radio really fell short of some of my expectations. This radio does NOT charge efficiently from hand cranking or solar power. You're looking at 1:4 ratio at best for cranking. That means 10 minutes of cranking will give you around 40 minutes of play time. Solar is even less efficient. But after researching other emergency radios I realized this was a industry wide issue. Apparently crank radios used to be powered by a Baygen mainspring crank, which didn't even have a battery to store the energy and was extremely efficient (30 seconds gave you 30 minutes!) These radios no longer exist. Now all radios have gone the route of Dynamo and nimh batteries and simply aren't very efficient. So why did I give it 5 stars? Because the radio can operate just fine from these power sources. Cranking the radio at a slow and steady pace will power the radio. Placing the radio under sunlight will power the radio. Your alarm clock radio with weather alert or your fancy SW receiver will not work when the power goes out and the batteries die. Other, cheaper emergency radios can do this but do they take AA batteries? (It's important to standardize your emergency equipment to one set of batteries.) Can they run or charge from your mini-USB external battery?Added Benefits: Let's start with the most important: this radio is weather resistant. That alone sets it apart from so many other radios I was seriously considering, especially SW receivers and Weather Alert radios. Many emergency radios are weather resistant but can't do half the stuff this radio can do. The lights on this radio are also awesome, the flashlight is great and the reading light is even better. Lights are common on emergency radios but rare on SW and Weather Alert radios. Are you starting to see why the combination of features on this radio are truly unique? Finally, let's talk about the most contentious feature: the cellphone charging. So many emergency radios claim they can do this but none can do it well. If you plug in your cellphone and expect the KA500 to sit there and charge it from solar or it's internal batteries, you will be disappointed. The internal battery is too small, the solar charging too inefficient. BUT this is, without a doubt, still a feature because you can hand crank and charge a device. Will it be slow? Yes. But you're essentially getting the exact same thing the Eton BoostTurbine can do, and that alone is $20. A hand crank charger should be appreciated for what it is: an emergency feature that will work when no other options are available. If any other option is available, it will be more efficient.I challenge anyone to comment below if they can find a radio in ANY price range that has ALL the features of this radio.

item came well, packed durable housing not quite went through all of its functions yet short wave radio picked up excellent still have to read the directions on the crank charging apparatus overall, I am pleased I needed a good emergency radio and that’s what this product is a good emergency radio

I recently purchased the Kaito KA500 5-way Powered Solar Power, Dynamo Crank, Wind Up Emergency AM/FM/SW/NOAA Weather Alert Radio with Flashlight, Reading Lamp and Cellphone Charger from the Kaito Store and I am thoroughly impressed with this product.Firstly, the radio is incredibly versatile with five different power sources: solar power, dynamo crank, wind-up, AA batteries, and AC/DC power. This means that no matter what the situation, I can always rely on this radio to stay powered and keep me connected to the outside world.The emergency features on this radio are also top-notch. The NOAA weather alert system ensures that I am always aware of any potential weather hazards in my area, while the built-in flashlight and reading lamp come in handy during power outages or other emergency situations.Aside from its emergency features, the radio also has excellent sound quality and a wide range of channels to choose from, including AM/FM/SW. Plus, the ability to charge my phone through the built-in USB port is incredibly convenient.Overall, I highly recommend the Kaito KA500 radio to anyone looking for a reliable, versatile, and high-quality emergency radio. The Kaito Store provided excellent customer service and shipping was prompt. I am extremely satisfied with my purchase and will definitely be shopping at the Kaito Store again in the future.

Here's a concise, informative review focusing on battery safety and personal experience:After testing both AA and 18650 battery versions of this radio, I recommend the AA model for several important reasons:AA batteries are:- Widely available- Easier to replace- Safer to use- More reliableThe 18650 Lithium Ion batteries pose significant risks:- Potential for thermal runaway- Higher risk of fire- Expensive quality batteries ($15-$25)- Prone to damage if improperly stored- Market flooded with counterfeit versionsSafety considerations:- Lithium Ion batteries can release toxic gases during failure- Potential for explosive chemical reactions- Harmful particulate emissions- Risk to home and personal safetySafer alternatives include:- AA alkaline batteries- NIMH rechargeable batteries- Energizer Lithium disposablesMy recommendation is to prioritize safety and choose the AA battery radio version. The minor convenience of 18650 batteries is not worth risking your family's safety..My 18650 Kaito 500L version stays in the outdoor shed in a thermal runway fire proof bag.Not in my home any longer.My Kaito 500L stays in my home since it is far safer.