CES 2009: Solar Powered Emergency Radio
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California 
on 01.10.09
This little renewably powered radio caught my eye. Called the Voyager, it's a cool device for emergencies, and uses both hand crank and solar for charging.
Read on for features.
Kaito makes a whole lot of outdoor items and radios, but this one really stood out. It's a weatherproof multiband radio that can also charge a cell phone and MP3 or iPod. It also has an LED flashlight, 5-LED reading lamp, and emergency light.
It can receive emergency weather alert signals, so is great to have on hand for weather disasters. It has Ni-MH batteries built-in to take the solar or hand crank charges, or it can be charged at an outlet.
Seems like a great way to utilize alternative energy for emergency situations...or just for taking on a camping trip.
More on CES:
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CES 2009: Nokia Working to Walk the Green Talk
CES 2009: Schwinn's Tailwind Bike Uses Exclusive Toshiba Battery Tech (Video)
Are Green Gadgets Really Greener This Year At CES?
CES 2009: The Greener Gadgets Wild Goose Chase
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In my opinion the best 'wind up' products are designed and made by Freeplay energy.
I have tested most other wind up products and the crank handle on those Kaito radios looks a little poor in quality, suggesting a cheaper copy of the Freeplay products.
Just my observation
Ben
Gotwind.org
Kaito has made some of the nearly one million solar/dynamo radios NATO and US forces have distributed in Afghanistan. These devices do not charge anything other than the dedicated, internal, hard-wired batteries. They do not even have a cell phone or USB output that can be rigged to charge AA and other dry cell batteries.
USAID is distributing 250,000 solar/dynamo FreePlay radios in Sudan over the next few years. Again, no outside battery charging capability. I do not understand this blindness. The ability to charge batteries allows for one solar/dynamo to power a multitude of devices. I've been writing about this idea for close to a decade and, so far, nobody is interested. Too bad.
SAme as the Eton - cheap junk made in China
Want to stop Global Warming?
Quit buying junk from China!
Good start anyway.
It looks great to me! I'd love to be self-sufficient for all electronic gadgets.