Kaito KA1102 AM/FM Shortwave SSB Radio, Black

• AM + FM + Shortwave + Single side band
• Dual conversion technology, wide/narrow AM filter
• Four tuning methods: direct, manual, scan and preset
• Alarm clock + sleep timer
• 1-year USA manufacturer's warranty

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 strengthsee 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 (UPDATE5/06/2008: 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.

Buy Kaito KA1102 AM/FM Shortwave SSB Radio, Black Now

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!

Read Best Reviews of Kaito KA1102 AM/FM Shortwave SSB Radio, Black Here

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.

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The Amazon description says this radio covers "the whole shortwave spectrum". This is just plain false. It actually covers ONLY selected bands. For example, it does not cover the 10-meter band and not even the 20-meter band, which is a very active DX amateur band.

Other minuses --

-When switching on/off or changing presets, it makes an electronic noise in the earphone/speaker.

-The sleep timer is amazingly complicated to set. The default is to turn off after 99 minutes. If you want less, and who wouldn't, you press the power button, then hold down another button for 5 sec, then press 2 digits for the number of minutes you want. If you did all that correctly (most likely in the dark while you're in bed), it will turn off after those minutes. Want to have another X minutes of radio? You have to repeat that entire process! That's absurd! Sleep timers should start low, like at 5 or 10 min. -then with each button press it should add 10 or 15 minutes.

-The volume is changed with + and buttons -a variable knob would be easier and faster to use.

-The buttons are fairly quiet, but they still make a bit of click -which might annoy others in the room.

-While tuning, you can hold the + or tuning button down. But it only works in "seek" mode -it stops at the next loudest signal (or noise). This is really dumb. Most radios will seek if you press for a second and let go; if you want to rapid-tune to some other frequency, then you hold it down. With this Kaito, you press and hold and it seeks (although you can direct-enter a frequency).

-They have 3 buttons devoted to having the radio turn ON after various periods of time. That's in addition to an alarm. Who needs that?

I'm returning this radio to Amazon. Kaito needs to describe their radios better and also beta-test them with average users.

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The Kaito KA1102 is one of the least expensive shortwave receivers than can receive SSB but its performance is so poor I can't find any SSB stations to receive--even the huge high power ones like W1AW. It has a hard time even receiving any of the WWV time stations at 5, 10, or 15 MHZ which even much cheaper radios can receive. Perhaps I got a lemon as there are many reports of Kaito quality control being poor.

The user interface is also far from intuitive. Without the manual you'll have a hard time with this radio as several abbreviations and button functions are neither typical nor obvious. If you use it regularly I'm sure you'll get used to it but for occasional use you may need the manual. Such quirks like SSB only working on "bank 9" and even getting to "bank 9" are not obvious.

The build quality is also rather poor. The buttons feel cheap and sometimes require a second push to even work. The fit and finish are sloppy. It looks and feels like a radio that should cost half as much. I wouldn't expect it to be very rugged or long lived with much use.

The reception and sensitivity are marginal at best. With the built-in antenna fully extended the radio is mostly deaf from 3 Mhz to 20 Mhz. With the external wire antenna you mostly get more noise rather than more listenable signals. The AM radio band (0.5 1.6 Mhz) is decent but the AM/FM Sony ICF38 does better for less than half the price of the Kaito with much longer battery life (but doesn't have shortwave).

Ultimately you do get what you pay for. In my experience the Sony SW7600GR, and shortwave models from Sangean, C Crane, Grundig and Eton all outperform the Kaito, are easier to use, and have much higher build quality (but do cost more). My Kaito is marginal Chinese designed junk.

Tecsun is made in the same factory as Kaito and they likely suffer similar issues (at least at this price level). Both are examples of products designed in China to be as cheap to make as possible and it really shows in the KA1102.