Great review Todderbert. This sounds like a pretty good emergency radio with some added features. It holds its own on reception even if the AM is not that selective.
It actually is a very cool idea to have a MP3 player. I like to put old time radio shows on mine along with voice recorded lists. Bluetooth is probably not needed on an emergency only radio. Though with the inclusion of it , I can see the average person buying this using it more often.
It looks solid, clean design. BT a nice touch, but saw no headphone jack. Good for the price with the features. I found it while searching the simpler KA336 that has similar features (am/fm weather bands, flashlight, solar, usb in/out) but doesn't have BT or MP3. It occurs to me that this could charge the little SuperSonic 1080 radio that has a cellphone type battery in it and has SW bands besides am/fm.
I had been watching that radio on eBay for a month or so but went ahead and got it once I saw your review. I actually have the orange and black one you showed a few times(the RD636W); it worked pretty well but one odd thing about was it had a faint hissing sound when listening to the radio...that went away if you turned the flashlight on (some kind of filtering issue maybe)? Other than that I really liked it; if the Kaito resolved that issue plus the additional features it has it'll be a winner.
Wow really good sound and receptivity on all radio waves. Impressive. I heard french, I think you picked up a Montreal am station. That's pretty far from Chicago. Wish you would do a review of the kato ka388.
Question, why do you keep the antenna stored when testing for radio stations? Is this to give it a harder test or is it better when stored for selectivity.
Most portable radios actually have two antennas. The one you can't see is inside the radio and is in the form of a ferrite rod with copper wire wrapped around it. This is used to receive signals on the AM band. The normal telescoping antenna is used for shorter wavelengths such as FM and VHF Weather. Since I can't to FM Band scans I leave the antenna collapsed. I also have a strong Weather station near me so I don't need to raise the antenna to receive its signal.
Like your videos, I ended up getting the Panasonic DC2400 - great sound and simple for someone like me that doesn't know anything about shortwave... - CAN I RECOMMEND... When doing your video reviews, don't bother going through the tuning. Do your review, and TELL US what is good, okay, and could be better, - SHORT, SIMPLE & QUICK - I think you will get a lot more views & most people will get the information they are looking for. (And of course you can always make a second "In depth review" - The take away: You Know Your Stuff. Tell Others with Quick & Concise Reviews = you will get a lot more views... IMO - Thank you either way...
I haven’t seen this one. Very nice. Glad to hear it’s got good reception. I’ll have to put this one on my list. (( And it’s perfect for NATIONAL YELLOW RADIO DAY :June 1st: Also start of Hurricane Season)) Cool. Kaito❗️ 📻🙂
Another excellent review, like the Radio I'd wish the rechargeable battery to be removable, that would make it perfect. I'm pretty much sure it is an 18650 hard-wired to the board. The option to use AAA's is nice. Thanks again!!!
You could probably dig the old battery out and carefully remove the protection board and attach it to a new flatop cell. Need some good soldering skills to do it safely.
Hey todderbert. I think I'm going to buy the KA400 for my emergency radio on a 3 day camping trip. Would like to know if you have any other recommendations. Long range and portability with various charging options are what I'm interested in the most for it. Thanks and keep up the good work!!
This one is decent sounding and has a decent 2300mAh 18650 powering it. You could go the Buzz4000, but the audio is not as nice. My Review of the Buzz: th-cam.com/video/So2rdw5WBxs/w-d-xo.html it has a 4.000mAh battery with a larger solar panel and dry battery usage as well. I just like the audio on the Kaito much more ;)
great reviews Todd. really been enjoying them. I am looking for a portable weather radio (am/fm a plus but not needed) with S.A.M.E. technology. Does one exist? Otherwise do you have a recommendation on a portable, durable weather radio with alerts for backpacking?
WTF.... I just bought one from Ebay and it says 1200mah battery. I confirmed this on the Kaito site so they have downgraded the battery to be the same as the KA336. Think I'll cancel since its not an easily replaceable battery. Bummer.
todderbert, You can’t activate it manually. There’s a standby mode and when it receives a 1050Hz tone, it activates the siren followed by the bulletin from the NWS.
todderbert, To get it into standby mode, move the switch to the “Alert” area. Then it’ll be on standby and silently monitoring the broadcast until a alert is issued.
Hello! I look with pleasure all your reviews abaut radios! But there is a wish, please demonstrate the sound in the FM range more often. In Russia, the AM band is almost closed, and only Pro-Kremlin propaganda remains.
the best radio review channel on youtube
Rock on!
The Bluetooth option is very nice because after you charge your phone on this system you can use your phone through this unit!
Great review Todderbert. This sounds like a pretty good emergency radio with some added features. It holds its own on reception even if the AM is not that selective.
Thanks TVRadio1972, I like this one for the price range it's in.
I'd be interested in a AM, FM stereo, NOAA, CB, and full coverage of SW and SSB
Nice to see such a large solar panel. Yellow is my favourite colour. Kind of bizarre to have an MP3 player on an emergency radio.
It actually is a very cool idea to have a MP3 player. I like to put old time radio shows on mine along with voice recorded lists. Bluetooth is probably not needed on an emergency only radio. Though with the inclusion of it , I can see the average person buying this using it more often.
Plus the MP3 would be nice to have in a situation where you were out of power and the kids want theyr music they could also use it
It looks solid, clean design. BT a nice touch, but saw no headphone jack. Good for the price with the features. I found it while searching the simpler KA336 that has similar features (am/fm weather bands, flashlight, solar, usb in/out) but doesn't have BT or MP3.
It occurs to me that this could charge the little SuperSonic 1080 radio that has a cellphone type battery in it and has SW bands besides am/fm.
I had been watching that radio on eBay for a month or so but went ahead and got it once I saw your review. I actually have the orange and black one you showed a few times(the RD636W); it worked pretty well but one odd thing about was it had a faint hissing sound when listening to the radio...that went away if you turned the flashlight on (some kind of filtering issue maybe)? Other than that I really liked it; if the Kaito resolved that issue plus the additional features it has it'll be a winner.
Wow really good sound and receptivity on all radio waves. Impressive. I heard french, I think you picked up a Montreal am station. That's pretty far from Chicago. Wish you would do a review of the kato ka388.
Question, why do you keep the antenna stored when testing for radio stations? Is this to give it a harder test or is it better when stored for selectivity.
Most portable radios actually have two antennas. The one you can't see is inside the radio and is in the form of a ferrite rod with copper wire wrapped around it. This is used to receive signals on the AM band. The normal telescoping antenna is used for shorter wavelengths such as FM and VHF Weather. Since I can't to FM Band scans I leave the antenna collapsed. I also have a strong Weather station near me so I don't need to raise the antenna to receive its signal.
Like your videos, I ended up getting the Panasonic DC2400 - great sound and simple for someone like me that doesn't know anything about shortwave... - CAN I RECOMMEND... When doing your video reviews, don't bother going through the tuning. Do your review, and TELL US what is good, okay, and could be better, - SHORT, SIMPLE & QUICK - I think you will get a lot more views & most people will get the information they are looking for. (And of course you can always make a second "In depth review" - The take away: You Know Your Stuff. Tell Others with Quick & Concise Reviews = you will get a lot more views... IMO - Thank you either way...
I haven’t seen this one.
Very nice. Glad to hear it’s got good reception.
I’ll have to put this one on my list.
(( And it’s perfect for
NATIONAL YELLOW RADIO DAY :June 1st:
Also start of Hurricane Season))
Cool. Kaito❗️
📻🙂
Another excellent review, like the Radio I'd wish the rechargeable battery to be removable, that would make it perfect. I'm pretty much sure it is an 18650 hard-wired to the board. The option to use AAA's is nice. Thanks again!!!
You could probably dig the old battery out and carefully remove the protection board and attach it to a new flatop cell. Need some good soldering skills to do it safely.
@@todderbert Thanks!
How do you go from using internal battery to using aaa?
When the lithium battery is depleted, and unable to charge, then install the AAAs.
Hey todderbert. I think I'm going to buy the KA400 for my emergency radio on a 3 day camping trip. Would like to know if you have any other recommendations. Long range and portability with various charging options are what I'm interested in the most for it. Thanks and keep up the good work!!
This one is decent sounding and has a decent 2300mAh 18650 powering it. You could go the Buzz4000, but the audio is not as nice. My Review of the Buzz: th-cam.com/video/So2rdw5WBxs/w-d-xo.html it has a 4.000mAh battery with a larger solar panel and dry battery usage as well. I just like the audio on the Kaito much more ;)
Do you happen to know of any SW stations that play them old radio shows?
I used to listen to one a few years back, but lost the freq they were on.
I have not heard OTR on SW. That is news to me.
I have heard old time radio on WWCR on both 4840 & 9350 KHz. It all depends on what time slots they buy on a particular day.
Old shows come on 4840 kHz sometimes late nights / early mornings on the weekends..
great reviews Todd. really been enjoying them. I am looking for a portable weather radio (am/fm a plus but not needed) with S.A.M.E. technology. Does one exist? Otherwise do you have a recommendation on a portable, durable weather radio with alerts for backpacking?
You can still find these on eBay, a great weather only portable radio with S.A.M.E. : th-cam.com/video/3moNOFC3EVo/w-d-xo.html
Thanks. This was one I was looking at actually. Do you think it has the strength to pick up signals from remote areas?
@@sacamono Maybe, Mine picked up signals fifty miles away. As long as the towers are elevated and not blocked by terrain.
WTF.... I just bought one from Ebay and it says 1200mah battery. I confirmed this on the Kaito site so they have downgraded the battery to be the same as the KA336. Think I'll cancel since its not an easily replaceable battery. Bummer.
Is this radio waterproof or water-resistant?
dew resistant mostly, I would bag it to be on the safe side.
Oh, it’s got a siren, and it’s LOUD
How is it manually activated?
todderbert, You can’t activate it manually. There’s a standby mode and when it receives a 1050Hz tone, it activates the siren followed by the bulletin from the NWS.
todderbert, To get it into standby mode, move the switch to the “Alert” area. Then it’ll be on standby and silently monitoring the broadcast until a alert is issued.
@@HawkinsWX So the Siren Sounds when in Alert Mode and an Alert Tone is received? Nice. it says 90dB in the instruction manual.
todderbert, You are correct!, that’s as loud as a Midland WR-120
Hello! I look with pleasure all your reviews abaut radios! But there is a wish, please demonstrate the sound in the FM range more often. In Russia, the AM band is almost closed, and only Pro-Kremlin propaganda remains.
Possibly in the future I may start doing dedicated FM bandscans.