Reviews Kaito Voyager Pro KA600 Digital Solar/Dynamo AM/FM/LW/SW & NOAA Weather Emergency Radio with Alert & RDS, Black

The digital version of these Kaito Voyager Pro KA600 radios is the way to go. I've had the analog version for a while and liked it, but I wanted the precision of a digital tuner. The ability to program stations is a bonus and I like the ability to charge my cell phone from it.

This  Kaito Voyager Pro KA600 Digital Solar/Dynamo AM/FM/LW/SW & NOAA Weather Emergency Radio was purchased primarily to be an emergency grid-down (power failure) or off-grid (camping) radio. The radio is loaded with features that will be very useful when faced with a grid-down or off-grid situation.
This radio fills the niche of a "go to radio/light" when the lights go out or really bad weather is on the way. This radio has become my first choice for a dependable portable emergency radio.

• AM/FM/LW Shortwave & NOAA weather radio with back-lit digital display, NOAA all hazards alert & RDS
• 4 tuning methods including manual, direct digit entry, ATS & memory tuning with 335 memories for easy access to favorite stations
• Calendar, alarm clock with dual settings, sleep timer, thermometer & humidity meter
• 180-degree adjustable solar panel with 5-LED reading lamp
• Auxiliary input jack available for external audio devices

Loaded with 3 alkaline AA cells the radio weighs 23.4 oz. (600 grams), reasonable weight for all the features. The Kaito Voyager Pro KA600 Digital Solar/Dynamo radio has nice rounded corners and hinges, buttons and pieces fit very tight. The construction is first class, unlike a lot of other poor quality "emergency" radios also on the market.

The NiMH batteries can power all the features of the radio and lights.  The Weather band is a real plus for this radio, you can receive 24 hour a day regional weather forecasts. Most Weather radio stations also have emergency power available to keep them on the air in a power outage, so you can count on them in a dangerous weather situation.

Estimated Life with 600 maH NiMH batteries:

Backlight Only---------(6 ma): 100 hours
Radio Low Volume----(28 ma): 21 hours
Radio High Volume---(35 ma): 17 hours
Weather Alert On-----(26 ma): 23 hours
Flashlight-------------(25 ma): 24 hours
Reading Light---------(28 ma): 21 hours

Estimated Life with 2000 maH Alkaline batteries:

Backlight Only---------(6 ma): 333 hours
Radio Low Volume----(28 ma): 71 hours
Radio High Volume---(35 ma): 57 hours
Weather Alert On-----(26 ma): 77 hours
Flashlight-------------(25 ma): 80 hours
Reading Light---------(28 ma): 71 hours

For these measurements on radio power consumption "Low Volume" was the minimum to hear the radio clearly when it is a few feet away. "High Volume" was the volume control turned about 50% of the way up, plenty of volume for a room or outdoors.

The Kaito Voyager Pro KA600 Digital Solar/Dynamo AM/FM/LW/SW & NOAA Weather Emergency Radio has an Alert feature that silences the radio unless severe weather is forecast, like a tornado, flood, hurricane, etc. The radio speaker will remain on if a Weather Alert was issued (must be manually shut off). During a recent test of the nationwide emergency broadcast, I discovered the Weather Alert feature is also activated.

The weather radio alert system also works with other Federal, State, Local Emergency Managers and other public officials to broadcast information on non-weather related emergencies and warnings (such as, chemical spills, earthquake, flood, tsunami, evacuation, etc.).