Customer Reviews

Kaito Radio antenna, T1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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. :-)

As an antenna the Kaito works fine. However, I suggest for a little more money you will not be stuck with the cumbersome retractable feature of this SW antenna. The Kaito will not retract easily and the finger depression to wind it up is highly inadequate. You can reel up the Sangean at least five times faster. You will be happier with the Sangean version, believe me.

I use this with my Grundig. My only complaint is that the spool broke and now i cannot wind up the antennae.

I bought this item to see if it would improve SW reception over the factory whip on my Sony ICF-7600. The Kaito antenna worked as advertised with marginal improvement over the whip. However, the housing shattered upon being dropped three feet onto a carpeted floor. Thirteen dollars seems like too much for a cheap plastic housing and a few feet of wire.

Unit had no continuity at jack. I cut it aprt, soldered the wires to the jack, and now it works fine. I give it ZERO stars as arrived, 3 stars for function after I fixed it, so 1.5 stars

Don't even think about it, if you have the radio this is a no brainer. Works great! But the radio does not work so great without it, at least at my house.

I am pleased with this purchase. I have had success in bringing in clear stations on my radio. I am not an expert about shortwave usage but the antenna makes stations clearer.

I am very disappointed in the design of the Kaito AN-03L radio antenna. Once unraveled it works great as an antenna, but then go to wind it back up again and the fun begins. It obviously wasn't designed for human hands and fingers. The finger indents on the unit are just to shallow to enable easy winding, it is like trying to wind up a cord using a flat disk. It has become so frustrating that I'm now reluctant to use the unit as I know if I pull the antenna wire out it will take ages to wind it back up again.

Kaito needs to resign the unit to facilitate easier winding up.