Customer Reviews

Kaito KA1102 AM/FM Shortwave SSB Radio, Black

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is my fifth Kaito portable radio and it is indeed an excellent product. It seems extremely well made and should last a long time if treated with care. The radio is both very small and readily transportable yet the reception is still excellent on all available bands.

I especially like being able to change the AM(MW)/SW narrow/wide (bandwidth) filter setting, the DX/local RF gain switch as well as the news/music (narrow/wide) filter switch in order to improve reception of any desired signal. Using the SSB BFO fine tuner on page 9 is also very easy and straight forward as well. The ability to step tune with very small increments on pages 7-9 is also excellent in my opinion once a signal of interest has been located.

I also really like the highly useful system of storing presets with the ATS system on page 0 and then being able to use the copy command to transfer them to other pages after they have been thoroughly edited into a useful list.

I also really like the very pleasant blue backlighting system on this radio with ALL buttons as well as the LCD screen being nicely illuminated. This is especially useful for nightime listening while going to sleep.

I didn't think that I would like the digital volume controls before I got the KA1102 based on other digital volume controls that I have tried previously, but I have totally changed my mind on this very nice feature. The steps between each setting are sufficiently small that very precise control of the volume levels can be attained, especially when using earphones which is my most common mode of operating this radio. In addition however, since the volume controls are totally digital, the common problem of accidentally turning an analog volume control knob and thus changing the volume level significantly from the last use of the radio is no longer a problem at all. Too many times my ears have suffered from not properly checking an inadvertent change of the analog volume control knob setting on other radios that I have used!

In addition, several people have complained about the poor English Kaito/Degen manual, but if you can't figure something out, just download the Grundig/Eton G3/G5/E5 manual (based on the recent reworking by Grundig of the poor ergonomics of the Kaito KA1103 radio) where all other relevant details are readily explained. Grundig/Eton has recently significantly changed the fine manual that was available online until February 2008, but the new manual is still better than the Kaito manual for providing many explanations for poorly explained features.

The unavailability of the LW bands on this unit is something that should be rectified by Kaitousa (pun intended) at some future date (although the Kaito KA1103 was introduced to make that specific correction among others).

Also a screen version of the signal strength meter (now done using 4 red LEDS, except in FM stereo mode where only three LEDS are used for an indication of the signal strength- see also below) should also be added as well as an indication of the DX/local switch setting.

One additional idea: Kaito should make future editions of this radio so that the internal AM/MW ferrite antenna could be disconnected from the system and replaced through the external antenna jack by either an indoor or an outdoor antenna for even better AM listening (UPDATE- 5/06/2008: This am antenna decoupling has now been done for the Grundig G5 made for Grundig by Tecsun/Degen, the Chinese parent company for all Kaitousa products. The G5 is the updated and more expensive version of the KA1103 with all its odd ergonomic problems corrected including the famous volume control problem). Kaito still offers an antenna that inductively couples to the internal ferrite AM antenna along the top edge of the radio, but that is a clumsy way to get even better AM reception in my opinion since there is no easy way to attach the coupler directly to the radio.

Finally, the choice of listening in the stereo FM mode seems to be presented redundantly (twice) on the KA1102 by the presence of both the 4th small red LED below the LCD screen and by an indication on the LCD screen itself (through the symbol, ST)?

I look forward very much to having the fun of using this radio for the very high quality sounds of music, news and just general shortwave listening from all over the globe for a very long time.

In general I like this radio except that if you do not want the radio to automatically turn off in 99 minutes you have to remember to press the exit button within 2 seconds of turning it on to disable the default sleep mode. I would prefer a separate sleep button that you could punch once for 30 minutes, twice for 60 minutes, etc. before it turned off.

This is a copy of an earlier review

Kaito KA1102 - Worldband radio.

This is it! Performance of this little gem is outstanding! No other radio that I know of at this price will receive single side band signals (most "hams" use this mode).
The 1102 has a wide/narrow bandwidth switch, with well chosen bandwidths, allows fine tuning of AM in 1Khz steps and FM in 10 Khz steps, provides an indication of signal strength, and outputs STEREO to earphones in FM.
Sound quality is decent (for its size) through the built in speaker, with a "music/news" switch provided to shape the audio response for best results. A "bass boost" function is also provided, but it only works on FM...odd.
Alarm and Sleep functions are provided, and the display has a pleasing blue backlight, that is not activated in a bright ambient (to save batteries).
Speaking of batteries, a set of three NiMH rechargeable cells is included!
On the downside, the 1102 is NOT an easy device to operate, and the instruction manual is NOT well written/translated. Some of the functions (such as SSB or fine tuning) are activated by selecting certain "pages" of station memory. If you are willing to spend a bit of extra time reading the manual while experimenting with the functions of the various controls, you will be happy with the results!

Update: 03-11-2011

Recently I moved to east coast (50 miles of NYC). I was able to tune in to "Vividh Bharati" in the morning. It recieved lots and lots of SW frequency here (many europian and middle east). SO it depends on where you live and the surroundings/topology of your home locations.

June 06, 2010:
I receieved mine yesterday. It was shipped and delivered 3 days ealier than the estimated(and I like Amazon). I am new to dxing and wanted to try one with this Kaito KA1102. The AM and FM worked fine(better than my Panasonic Walkman with AM/FM). But on the SW band, I could not get single channel that is audilble. I have scanned all the frequencies from 3.0 to 23.0 Mhz in all meter band. The signal strengh indicator shows full strenght but they are all static. I am not sure if mine is defective or not.

If anybody owns this product in seattle area and could get SW station, please let me know so that I will return ASAP.

Awful. Poorly designed. Directions to trouble shooting even worse. I would never purchase another product from this company. Waste of Money.

I got this and the extra antenna, and even made a 100 ft random wire antenna with ajack soldered on to connect either to the external antena or with the attachment to the amplified telescopic antenna, I can hear LOCAL, VERY LOCAL FM and AM Stations, BUT CAN HARDLY HEAR ANYTHING FROM NEAR 3,000 KHz to 30,000 KHz! I could not even hear a CB radio on 27.285 (ch-19) 1 mile away, and it was set to DX mode, and the guy was running a grey 300 amp moded with 120 watt finals, so putting out at least 400 to 420 watts AM on 27.185 - and it was so weak, I could not even tell what he said, I picked up a cheap 3 channel radio shack walkie with the 8 AAs and talked and heard him fine with a 16 inch telescopic antenna, and INDOORS!
I can not get any SSB freqs and beacons on CW also I know are there and can hear on even cheaper radios with just a 102" whip! I can't get this one with 40 ft vertical or 100 ft in 2 directions on an inverted "V" wire antenna!
I tried to get a return # to send the radio back, and NO ONE WILL ANSWER MY EMAIL, LOOKS LIKE I HAVE TO SUE AMAZON OR KAITO??? I HOPE THEY MONITOR THIS, IT IS THE ONLY WAYI'LL KNOW THEY EVEN SAY IT IF THEY REPLY!