Kaito KA900 review

What it is and who it suits

The KA900 is what Kaito's own description calls the newest and most advanced addition to its Voyager family, a digital portable receiver for everyday use and emergency preparedness. It lists AM, FM, shortwave and NOAA weather, dual 1.5-inch speakers, Bluetooth streaming, a 3.5 mm audio input and a micro-SD card slot that takes cards up to 32 GB for its MP3 player.

It suits a household that wants one bedside or shelf radio that is also an outage radio, with shortwave and several ways to power it. This review is researched, not tested. The description this review follows is Kaito's listing text on its own store, where the unit shown is a used one, and we could not find Kaito's user manual for the KA900. Treat any detail the text leaves out as unconfirmed.

Power: battery, crank, USB and solar

Kaito lists a built-in rechargeable 2,000 mAh lithium battery, which it says charges from the optional AC adapter, by hand crank or from a USB power source. The adapter is not included. A flip-up solar panel that swings through 180 degrees is described as powering the radio even when no battery is installed.

Kaito's text does not give charging times, crank minutes per hour of play or run time per charge. Charge the battery from USB or an adapter before you store the radio, and top it up on a schedule.

Weather channels and alert mode

Kaito says the seven weather channels are pre-programmed and numbered 1 to 7, and that you tune them with the tuning knob. It also says that if the radio is set to Alert mode, it is automatically activated when it receives the alert signal from NOAA weather stations. Ready.gov's kit list asks for a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, and Kaito's description of Alert mode is the closest match on this page.

Kaito's text does not say how loud the alert is, whether it works with the radio switched off, how long it can stay armed, or whether it can be limited to your county. The National Weather Service says NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts on seven VHF frequencies and needs a special receiver. Read the manual in the box for the alert steps and test it. If you need county filtering, confirm it before buying any model; our weather radio comparison lists alternatives.

Size and extras

Kaito lists 9.5 by 5.5 by 2.5 inches and a weight of 1 pound 11 ounces, so this is a shelf radio, not a pocket one. The extras are Bluetooth and the SD player, which are conveniences, not outage tools. Kaito's text does not mention a flashlight or a phone charging output, so do not buy it for those.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you want the smallest radio for a go-bag, a published run time or charging time, or a phone charger. Our hand crank radio comparison lists other models, and the Midland ER310PRO review covers another crank radio. Skip it too if you cannot read the manual before relying on the alert, since Kaito's text leaves the details out. The power outage checklist shows where a radio fits in the wider plan.

Does the Kaito KA900 have automatic weather alerts?

Kaito says an Alert mode automatically activates the radio when it receives alert signals from NOAA weather stations. Its text does not describe the alert tone, volume or whether it works with the radio off, so check the manual.

How can I charge it?

Kaito lists a built-in 2,000 mAh lithium battery charged by hand crank, a USB power source or the optional AC adapter, plus a flip-up solar panel that can power the radio without a battery. The AC adapter is not included.

Does it have shortwave and Bluetooth?

Yes. Kaito lists AM, FM, shortwave and NOAA weather, plus Bluetooth streaming, a 3.5 mm input and a micro-SD slot for up to 32 GB.

Can it charge my phone?

Kaito's description does not mention a phone charging output, so assume it cannot. Use a power bank for phones.