Kaito Radio antenna, T1

by Kaito

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3 x 2.5 x 0.5 inches ; 3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 ounces
• ASIN: B00066Z9XG
• Item model number: T1
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #32 in Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Audio & Video Accessories > Antennas > Radio Antennas

Product Description

Shortwave radios brought the world together long before the Internet, and now the Kaito AN-03L antenna helps maximize your shortwave experience. Ideally suited for today's compact shortwave receiver and fully portable, the AN-03L extends to a full 23 feet and enhances the performance and reception of your shortwave radio beyond that of a typical built-in telescoping antenna. An adapter plug is provided for those receivers lacking a standard 1/8-inch (3.5mm) miniplug.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice addition to any FM/SW/TV/Weather band radio, February 11, 2008

By 

Ann E. Revelle (Los Alamos, New Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kaito Radio antenna, T1 (Electronics)

From what can be seen on the Amazon website as well as on other sites, this Kaito reel antenna (AN-03L) is essentially the same as the Sangean ANT-60 antenna (and 50 % cheaper in price!) right down to the supplied connector for a whip antenna (for radios without an external antena jack of any kind). The only notable, albeit quite small, differences are the presence of two separate finger holds used to reel the antenna back up when finished listening and a separate small attachment for hanging the unit up on a hook in the wall or on the ceiling, etc.). This Kaito antenna is designed to improve reception on FM/SW as well as for TV (UHF/VHF) and for the Weather bands for any such radio. AM (MW) reception is separately controlled by a ferrite antenna coil that is comonly incorporated inside of most radios. I have used this Kaito antenna on my Kaito KA1102. The antenna is 7 m (~23 feet) long which should usually be placed as high as possible near an outside door or window of any building for the best reception improvement. I have found an excellent improvement for weaker signals on the FM/SW bands (too long of an antenna can overload some radios like the KA1102, but this length of wire is perfectly adequate whereas other longer external antennas will not be. Always check your radio manual first before investing in a very long external antenna!). It must be remembered that the antenna not only allows an amplification of signal, but also of the prevailing background radio noise level so if it is very noisy at the time of reception at a certain frequency, the improvement in "hearing" may not always be as good as at other times when the background noise levels are much lower. Overall I am very happy with this very inexpensive purchase which is a simple passive fix for a generally quick improvement of signal strength for the weaker FM/SW radio waves.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good choice for shortwave, May 16, 2008

By 

Nick (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kaito Radio antenna, T1 (Electronics)

This little antenna is very similar to the Sangean ANT-60 antenna. I like, and I use, both models. This one is less expensive (at this writing), and the spool case has a very useful attachment that allows one to easily hang the spool onto something, like a curtain when using this random wire indoors. Outdoors, I used it to hang the spool onto a very tall hedge. I slightly prefer this Kaito model to the Sangean, although I'd easily recommend both.

I think the attachment for fitting to existing receiver antennae, while very similar to its Sangean counterpart, is good, but a bit flimsy. It could get bent out of shape easily. Still, the Kaito AN-03L works as advertised, improving shortwave reception as it should. I'm using this with my Eton/Grundig radios and I like the results. For the price, it's a very good buy, and a useful addition to a shortwave receiver.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Another windup antenna, April 27, 2008

By 

John Boyle "KB3CNY" (Northeastern PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kaito Radio antenna, T1 (Electronics)

The AN 03L reel antenna came with my Kaito receiver as
a bonus.

It works. It's an antenna. Reeling the wire back in
can be a chore; wind / pull / rewind / repeat ad nauseam.
The nice thing about this antenna is simple: You can
pack it up without its becoming unravelled in your pocket,
purse, suitcase, briefcase or backpack.

Is it an absolutely necessary accessory? Naw. The wire
antenna that comes as standard equipment with the Kaito
radios is entirely sufficient, albeit a birdsnest hazard.
Just put it in a baggie when you travel. :-)