Hi Guys,

Am new here, but after searching around on the net I read a lot of
positive reviews about this particular site; particularly in regard to
beginners to shortwave radio having their queries answered by guys
with a lot of expertise in the subject matter. Well anyway, now that
introductions are out of the way, I just have a question regarding the
Kaito brand of radios. I have spoken to several people who HAVE had
first hand experience with these, and I have heard nothing but glowing
reports in terms of their build quality, design, auto scan and preset
features, plus the fact that the particular model I AM looking at
purchasing also has the advantage of dual conversion receiver
technology.

Now the model I have fallen for, the KA1103, is currently available
for a price of less than $90 US! From what I have been told, a Kaito
model for this type of price IS a steal, and I have been advised that
for a beginner such as myself, the price represents tremendous value
and getting used to the Kaito won't be as steep a learning curve as
some other, more feature-rich models (such as the type most of you
guys would have).

What I DO need to know, however, before I make the purchase, is am I
able to try 'AM DXing' and listen to medium wave stations' with a
model such as the one I have my heart set on? Sorry guys for the long
post, but it's just that I have so many questions and am trying to
learn as much as I can as fast as I can so that I am able to really
get stuck into things and get on the airwaves asap heh.

Thanks so much in advance for your advice and guidance,
Brian Anasta

On Aug 3, 8:22*pm, Brian Anasta wrote:
Hi Guys,

Am new here, but after searching around on the net I read a lot of
positive reviews about this particular site; particularly in regard to
beginners to shortwave radio having their queries answered by guys
with a lot of expertise in the subject matter. Well anyway, now that
introductions are out of the way, I just have a question regarding the
Kaito brand of radios. I have spoken to several people who HAVE had
first hand experience with these, and I have heard nothing but glowing
reports in terms of their build quality, design, auto scan and preset
features, plus the fact that the particular model I AM looking at
purchasing also has the advantage of dual conversion receiver
technology.

Now the model I have fallen for, the KA1103, is currently available
for a price of less than $90 US! From what I have been told, a Kaito
model for this type of price IS a steal, and I have been advised that
for a beginner such as myself, the price represents tremendous value
and getting used to the Kaito won't be as steep a learning curve as
some other, more feature-rich models (such as the type most of you
guys would have).

What I DO need to know, however, before I make the purchase, is am I
able to try 'AM DXing' and listen to medium wave stations' with a
model such as the one I have my heart set on? Sorry guys for the long
post, but it's just that I have so many questions and am trying to
learn as much as I can as fast as I can so that I am able to really
get stuck into things and get on the airwaves asap heh.

Thanks so much in advance for your advice and guidance,
Brian Anasta



*******BLOODY RIPPER..............Birdbrain Brian has joined the fray.

Welcome old bean welcome.

My Kaito/Degen 1103 has worked fine for a couple of years. If you are free
from electrical static the AM band works just fine. My receiver receives
well on the AM/FM band.

I have the KA 1103 newer brother, the Grundig G5. It's really the same
radio inside.

The AM is good on the radio and like others have said, stopping
interference inside your house is the main culprit in AM dxing. You
find a good place and your have a good radio.

SC Dxing wrote:
I have the KA 1103 newer brother, the Grundig G5. It's really the same
radio inside.

The AM is good on the radio and like others have said, stopping
interference inside your house is the main culprit in AM dxing. You
find a good place and your have a good radio.

Have you tried a Select-Atenna [sic]?

On Aug 5, 5:45*am, dave wrote:
SC Dxing wrote:
I have the KA 1103 newer brother, the Grundig G5. It's really the same
radio inside.

The AM is good on the radio and like others have said, stopping
interference inside your house is the main culprit in AM dxing. You
find a good place and your have a good radio.

- Have you tried a Select-Atenna [sic]?

Dave that would be Select-A-Tenna
http://www.selectatenna.com/

Select-A-Tenna AM/MW Loop Antenna
http://www.radiointel.com/review-2loop.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAXPfnuCwTg
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...782591c4093837
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...1044517569c38b

Select-A-Tenna 541 Antenna with 1/8" Mono
http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT21.html
* External Longwire Antenna Input
* Antenna-to-Radio Output
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/mwant/4316.html

Your AM/MW Radio plus AM/MW Loop Antenna :
Three Ways to Use Them Together
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...fb9c2d38f1c53a

Setting-Up a 'portable' AM/FM Shortwave Radio with
the Select-A-Tenna on a Lazy Susan for AM/MW DXing
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...d078c37631cae7

It was around 1997 or 1998 when I bought a Sangean 909 AM/FM/Shortwave
radio, at the same time I also bought a Select A Tenna, both items from
C Crane company in Fortuna,California.

I tried out that Sangean 909 radio (it was the top of the line, highest
priced model radio,) and the Select A Tenna for one week.HUMPH! neither
one of those items showed me Sh.t! I packed them up and I sent them back
to C Crane company!

I also tried out that Select A Tenna (it was the lowest price model
about $52.00/$57.00, sompin like that, when I bought it) with many of my
other radios.

Save your money! Hard times are ahead.
cuhulin

Here is a review of the Degen 1103 (same radio as the Kaito 1103). Kaito is
the USA branded version of the 1103 and runs on 120 volts. Degen 1103 is the
Chinese version of the same radio, but runs on 220 volts.

http://www.radiointel.com/review-degende1103.htm

Before I tried out the Sangean 909 radio, I had tried out a Sangean
AM/FM/TV/Weather band radio, for one week.That radio didn't show me Sh.t
either, it was no better than any of my hundreds of old working radios I
own.I sent that POS back to C Crane company too.

I have Absolutely NO desire to Ever try out Anything Sangean makes, Ever
Again!
cuhulin

I own a Kaito 1102 (because I wasn't willing to deal with the cumbersome volume control on the 1103), and it has been solid and reliable for 4 years. I also own an Eton E5 (a derivative of the 1103 as someone else mentioned, but typically $150) which has excellent sensitivity for mediuwave and shortwave. $80 US has been the standard retail price (via mailorder at least) of a new Kaito 1103 for years.

From Northern California, with my E5, I've picked up AM stations as far away as British Columbia, Texas, and Louisiana. This is just with using the built-in ferrite antenna; no external antenna. Local stations broadcasting in AM HD cause adjacent channel interference on both sides of their signal (for me, 740 kHz causes heavy static on 730 and 750 kHz, frequencies I used to be able to hear fine for DXing).

Good luck!