a car can pick up the signals because of the antenna length it says to get the retractable 21ft antenna for a smooth sound. all radios require you to do that and its not fair to put it as a negative for this.
It’s difficult to get FM stations 100 miles away on any radio without an external antenna, because FM is line if sight. The further you are from the signal the taller an antenna you need to capture the signal.
Not only USA need survival radios. I think your FM settings miss out the range of most European or even UK channels. What are the best Emergency Radios in the UK? As I want to hear Europe more than unreachable states in America. Any idea? Thanks!
For long range FM I`d suggest the CCrane EP PRO. It has antenna inputs for both AM and FM. Find an old analog FM high gain TV antenna and put it up on a pole. No radio with a whip antenna can be expected to receive FM stations at great distances except during seasonal skip conditions. There`s a physical limit to FM signals caused by the curvature of the earth...line-of-sight. The CCrane EP PRO is one of the best stand alone FM receivers and without a proper antenna it`s only slightly better than this Kaito simply because it has a much longer whip antenna. The CCrane is one of the best AM radios made as well which does allow you to hear radio stations over 100 miles away during the day and get much more news than 99% of FM stations. Simply put, the whip antenna on a radio isn`t a proper FM antenna.
Just went through hurricane Michael and neither of the two short wave bands on my KA500 were of any use--they worked--but I did not get any useful information from it. I think a two meter band would have of more use getting situational information.
Use the crank to charge a phone enough to text a few times or make an emergency call. That`s about all you can expect. The newer model KA500L has a much better crank, battery, and solar panel. The solar panel on it will run the radio with battery removed and will likely charge a phone. Reception on the one I bought is excellent on all radio bands.
@@survivalistboards The KA500L has no AA battery option though but you can get 18650 lithium batteries for this radio pretty cheap on Amazon. I was amazed when I discovered that my radio would work on just the solar panel. I took the battery out and tried it and it actually worked! On FM the volume would distort when I turned it up but it worked great on AM/SW/Weather using the solar even when it wasn`t directly facing the sun. But on other videos I`ve watched this evening they`re saying the bigger solar panel doesn`t charge the battery fast. Maybe the output power to the phone charger is better? I don`t use a cell phone so I can`t test it. Still, having a radio that will work off nothing but the sun is a big plus. I ordered another one! Another great radio for power outages is the $29.00 SONY ICF-19 AM/FM. It has a loud four inch speaker and will run between 400-500 hours off three D-cell batteries. It has excellent long range daytime AM reception and works well at night too but the DSP chip causes muting on fading signals at night. I used one after the recent hurricanes hit Louisiana and it was a lifesaver. Radiojayallen website ranked it 3 1/2 stars in the AM mega shootout which is a great score for such an inexpensive radio.
First of all, I need to thank you for saving my money! Since the end of 2015, I was struggling to get one, I like the design, but that could have a better reception. Maybe an amplified antenna could be incorporated. Sadly
Basic radio propagation understanding will tell you why your dinky little radio has a hard time going past the line of sight. Hook up a larger antenna, and you will receive better, but 100 miles is tricky unless you have GOOD equipment...
Here's an idea... MOVE!!! Jesus. I have five of them and they work perfectly. I live 26 miles above Detroit, and I get stations from Albany NY. Your accent speaks volumes, Gomer.
I received this today, and was totally not impressed with build, quality, cheapness. Repacked it and sent straight back for a refund. However I had the higher model a few years ago and yes it was a quality item. The more robost build, digital readout and reception quality well worth the extra 25/30 quid. So I may aim for the higher model.
I got it working again. Don't ask me how, it just started back up on its own after letting it sit for five months... However it is time for a new replacement. Thanks.
Full write up - www.alloutdoor.com/2017/04/24/review-kaito-ka500-emergency-radio/
a car can pick up the signals because of the antenna length it says to get the retractable 21ft antenna for a smooth sound. all radios require you to do that and its not fair to put it as a negative for this.
If you had the radio once already why would you buy it again if it's no good?
It’s difficult to get FM stations 100 miles away on any radio without an external antenna, because FM is line if sight. The further you are from the signal the taller an antenna you need to capture the signal.
that's exactly what I was thinking
Not only USA need survival radios. I think your FM settings miss out the range of most European or even UK channels. What are the best Emergency Radios in the UK? As I want to hear Europe more than unreachable states in America. Any idea? Thanks!
For long range FM I`d suggest the CCrane EP PRO. It has antenna inputs for both AM and FM. Find an old analog FM high gain TV antenna and put it up on a pole. No radio with a whip antenna can be expected to receive FM stations at great distances except during seasonal skip conditions. There`s a physical limit to FM signals caused by the curvature of the earth...line-of-sight. The CCrane EP PRO is one of the best stand alone FM receivers and without a proper antenna it`s only slightly better than this Kaito simply because it has a much longer whip antenna. The CCrane is one of the best AM radios made as well which does allow you to hear radio stations over 100 miles away during the day and get much more news than 99% of FM stations. Simply put, the whip antenna on a radio isn`t a proper FM antenna.
Just went through hurricane Michael and neither of the two short wave bands on my KA500 were of any use--they worked--but I did not get any useful information from it. I think a two meter band would have of more use getting situational information.
Was wondering about this radio from your solar video, thanks for the review
Use the crank to charge a phone enough to text a few times or make an emergency call. That`s about all you can expect. The newer model KA500L has a much better crank, battery, and solar panel. The solar panel on it will run the radio with battery removed and will likely charge a phone. Reception on the one I bought is excellent on all radio bands.
Thank you. Next radio purchase I make will be the KA500L.
@@survivalistboards The KA500L has no AA battery option though but you can get 18650 lithium batteries for this radio pretty cheap on Amazon. I was amazed when I discovered that my radio would work on just the solar panel. I took the battery out and tried it and it actually worked! On FM the volume would distort when I turned it up but it worked great on AM/SW/Weather using the solar even when it wasn`t directly facing the sun. But on other videos I`ve watched this evening they`re saying the bigger solar panel doesn`t charge the battery fast. Maybe the output power to the phone charger is better? I don`t use a cell phone so I can`t test it.
Still, having a radio that will work off nothing but the sun is a big plus. I ordered another one! Another great radio for power outages is the $29.00 SONY ICF-19 AM/FM. It has a loud four inch speaker and will run between 400-500 hours off three D-cell batteries. It has excellent long range daytime AM reception and works well at night too but the DSP chip causes muting on fading signals at night. I used one after the recent hurricanes hit Louisiana and it was a lifesaver. Radiojayallen website ranked it 3 1/2 stars in the AM mega shootout which is a great score for such an inexpensive radio.
What radio do you recommend
Mine does fine with reception (numerous testing)
First of all, I need to thank you for saving my money! Since the end of 2015, I was struggling to get one, I like the design, but that could have a better reception. Maybe an amplified antenna could be incorporated. Sadly
Basic radio propagation understanding will tell you why your dinky little radio has a hard time going past the line of sight. Hook up a larger antenna, and you will receive better, but 100 miles is tricky unless you have GOOD equipment...
Here's an idea... MOVE!!! Jesus. I have five of them and they work perfectly. I live 26 miles above Detroit, and I get stations from Albany NY. Your accent speaks volumes, Gomer.
You've already owned one before.Why'd you buy another one if it's no good.
Why did you buy it???????????????/
the radio works better when you put the antenna up
........SO.....why DID you get it❓❓❓❓❓❓❓
They can send pictures from Mars, Jupiter etc. because they have operating budgets of BILLIONS of dollars. This radio goes for 50 bucks.
I received this today, and was totally not impressed with build, quality, cheapness. Repacked it and sent straight back for a refund. However I had the higher model a few years ago and yes it was a quality item. The more robost build, digital readout and reception quality well worth the extra 25/30 quid. So I may aim for the higher model.
I prefer my Eton FR500 radio. I can get some good reception a couple hundred miles away, and the shortwave reception is great.
after having it 1 year rechargeable battery doesnt hold. tried with 3 AA batteries nothing. fm sucks and so does the shortwave.
I got it working again. Don't ask me how, it just started back up on its own after letting it sit for five months... However it is time for a new replacement. Thanks.
CCrane radios, I have them all and they are great!
The spend more than $50 to get a rover on mars.
I’ll explain it to you, is because we never left the earth we never been to the moon and we don’t have satellites