I took a chance and ordered a new Chinese radio that I found on eBay. It's a
Klonda K-939.

It came yesterday, and I was pleasantly surprised to find another good radio
in addition to Degen and Tecsun.

This model is smaller than the 1102 by 1 inch width, 1/2-inch tall, and
about the same thickness. It fits easily in a shirt pocket. Its rounded
corners and solid feel are very nice to hold.

It is an analog radio with a tuning knob but with a digital display.

The radio is AM, FM, and several shortwave bands. And its reception on each
has been just about equal to my 1102. Two quirks about the radio, when you
turn it on, it always comes on FM rather than wherever you last listened.
Odd. Another is that the AM bandwidth is a little wide for my tastes. But I
usually keep all my radios on narrow, and it doesn't have that option. I
realize that wide gives you better sound, so I understand their decision.
Last night, the radio was able to separate three strong adjacent frequencies
(WWL on 870, WCBS on 880, and WLS on 890) so I guess the bandwidth is ok,
but I'm just used to a little more narrow.

Anyway, I urge everyone with $27 ($19.99 + $7 shipping from China) to try
this radio and see what they think.

I like mine. It's now my third favorite Chinese radio, behind the DE1102 and
the BCL2000 (I've got six others).

Here's more info about the radio:
http://www.its-a.com/ebayradio/K-939.htm

And here's the seller I bought it from:
http://stores.ebay.com/1coolshop

Hiya Corbin!
- First, thanks for the review; nice to have a real radio Post in her
occasionally ..

- Any comparisons to Jwin JX M-14 would be appreciated..
What are its dimensions
&
How is it on frequency drift & Overloading; Mult images
tks..!
Dan

In article , "Corbin Ray"
writes:



I took a chance and ordered a new Chinese radio that I found on eBay. It's a
Klonda K-939.

It came yesterday, and I was pleasantly surprised to find another good radio
in addition to Degen and Tecsun.

This model is smaller than the 1102 by 1 inch width, 1/2-inch tall, and
about the same thickness. It fits easily in a shirt pocket. Its rounded
corners and solid feel are very nice to hold.

It is an analog radio with a tuning knob but with a digital display.

The radio is AM, FM, and several shortwave bands. And its reception on each
has been just about equal to my 1102. Two quirks about the radio, when you
turn it on, it always comes on FM rather than wherever you last listened.
Odd. Another is that the AM bandwidth is a little wide for my tastes. But I
usually keep all my radios on narrow, and it doesn't have that option. I
realize that wide gives you better sound, so I understand their decision.
Last night, the radio was able to separate three strong adjacent frequencies
(WWL on 870, WCBS on 880, and WLS on 890) so I guess the bandwidth is ok,
but I'm just used to a little more narrow.

Anyway, I urge everyone with $27 ($19.99 + $7 shipping from China) to try
this radio and see what they think.

I like mine. It's now my third favorite Chinese radio, behind the DE1102 and
the BCL2000 (I've got six others).

Here's more info about the radio:
http://www.its-a.com/ebayradio/K-939.htm

And here's the seller I bought it from:
http://stores.ebay.com/1coolshop

I have no frame of reference comparing this radio with a Jwin JX M-14 since
I do not own one.

As far as size, the seller's info page
http://www.its-a.com/ebayradio/K-939.htm
gives the following dimensions: Size 4 3/8" wide by 2 5/8' tall by 1 1/8"
thick, but I think it's actually a little bit smaller than that. It's
noticeably smaller than my DE1102.

I would measure it, but I loaned my new radio to a friend to see what he
thinks. He will probably order one as well.

My friend likened the radio appearance and feel to a very small
point-and-shoot digital camera (maybe an Canon Elph, he suggested), and I
can see the resemblance. In fact, he thinks it would be fun to hand to a
tourist and say "could you take my picture" just to see how they reacted.

I took a chance and ordered a new Chinese radio that I found on eBay. It's a
Klonda K-939.

No meaning to flame Corbin or anyone else. But what has happened in here?

What I'm talking about is everyone (it seems) jumping on all these little
plastic toys of radios? If you add up the monet of the three of four or more
(in some posters in here) that purchase these, you can go out and get you a
real nice piece.

I hate to say "a real radio." But it kinda-sorta amounts to that. Or is it
that it's easier to justify spending 20/30/50 on a radio than spending over
$185/200/300?

I'm just curious is all. I have a Bell+Howell that was traded/given
practically to me. I use it here and there when I'm out in someones driveway
waiting on them or I take it to the Shoemaker Center at UC. But you can't do
'real' listening to it, not 'real' listening.

So, it's just a question, not a flame, just a question.:-)

~*~*Monitoring The AirWaves~*~
*****GO BEARCATS*****
Hammarlund HQ129X /Heathkit Q Multiplier
Hammarlund HQ140X
Multiple GE P-780's(GREAT BCB Radios)
RCA Victor *Strato- World*
RCA Victor RJC77W-K(Walnut Grain)
1942 Zenith Wave Magnet 6G 601M
Cathedral/ Ross#2311/Rhapsody-MultiBand
DX100/394/398/399/402
OMGS Transistor Eight/Realistic 12-1451
Henry Kloss Model One/Bell+Howell
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alpha Delta DX Sloper 57ft.
600ft. 12AWG. (non-terminated)
120ft. 12 AWG Sloper
2 Radio Shack Loop Antennas
Radio Shack Amplified Antenna
30X30 DiamondLoop(six section 830pf Cap)
* Diamond Loop mounted to Lazy Susan TurnTable*

Bearcat, you make a good point. I have spent about $300 dollars on Chinese
radios in the past two months. And I admit, I could have gotten a $300 radio
for my money.

But there's no $300 radio out there that I want. I either already have it or
I had it and sold it.

What my $300 has gotten me is eight experiences of getting a new radio. You
know, the pre-buy research, the actual purchase itself, the anticipation
during shipping, then actually opening the box, smelling the new radio
smell, putting in the batteries, and finally turning it on for the first
time and seeing just how good it picks up. I've been able to do that eight
times in the past two months!!! If I had bought just one radio, then I would
have gotten just one new radio experience.

Of my eight new radios, I have given away two, sold two, and have kept four.
The one radio that disappointed me the most was the Tecsun R-333. I kept it,
but it's really a sorry radio. My two favorites of the new bunch are the
Degen 1102 and the Tecsun PL-230. The 1102 has the best performance, but I
live in a house with four computers all networked with WI-FI and cable
internet (originating from my room), and the 1102 seems to be more affected
by all that noise, especially after I turn off my computer and go to bed.
And even though the 230 isn't as sensitive as the 1102, it seems to have a
much lower noise floor, and I can actually listen to some stations on it
that are drowned out on my 1102. That doesn't make sense, but it's just the
way I perceive it. Plus, to my ear, the 230's speaker seems to be less tinny
and less tiring to listen to. And at night, when a station fades out on the
1102, noise is pulled up in its place. On the 230, the AGC must be less
severe, because it actually allows some fade. That is helpful if I am trying
to go to sleep.

Bottom line, I didn't get a $300 radio for my $300 investment. But I did get
eight radios that have given me thousands of dollars worth of enjoyment so
far, and I hope to keep right on playing with my new radios, right up until
they -- or I -- wear completely out.

(GO BEARCATS) wrote in
:

What I'm talking about is everyone (it seems) jumping on all these
little plastic toys of radios? If you add up the money of the three
of four or more (in some posters in here) that purchase these, you
can go out and get you a real nice piece.

I hate to say "a real radio." But it kinda-sorta amounts to that. Or
is it that it's easier to justify spending 20/30/50 on a radio than
spending over $185/200/300?

I'm just curious is all. I have a Bell+Howell that was traded/given
practically to me. I use it here and there when I'm out in someones
driveway waiting on them or I take it to the Shoemaker Center at UC.
But you can't do 'real' listening to it, not 'real' listening.

I suppose the answer is in what constitutes "real" for a given situation.

I don't expect to do real dxing on a small portable, but that's not why
I'd buy one. For dxing I have two tabletops at home and I often use them
in tandem in case one hears what the other doesn't.

For travel or for situations where I'm away from the home set-up, a
smaller portable is fine, and for me a compact radio and the cost of same
are more important than its ability to pull in rare catches. When
travelling I need something packably small that will let me pick up my
regular stations, check up on international news, and provide a more
appealing counterpoint to local television. Even the Sony 7600GR and
Grundig 400PE were too big for me.

The Kaito 1102 costs a little more than the "toy" radios, I guess, but
it's just perfect for what I need. Last week I was in Indiana and was
able to tune in Sweden, Tunisia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Kuwait, Turkey and all
the regular powerhouses. Being a hybrid listener anyway (combo DX/SWL) it
was enough to keep me feeling connected while I was on the road, and for
me it was "real" listening, albeit a different sort of real.

I do a different type of real listening when I use my Tecsun BCL-2000 as
my "garden" radio---sitting out among the roses listening to Brazil or
New Zealand is a real treat on that thing, and it costs about what I paid
for the Kaito. And it's distinct from the pleasure I get when really
listening to the Beeb or Korea or Spain just after coming home from work
in the evening; I use an old tabletop tube unit (a Blaupunkt 'Paris'
model c. 1958). This radio has really expanded my horizons, so to speak;
the fidelity is terrific, it locks into a signal like nobody's business,
and it *still* cost me less than a Sony 7600GR.

Little plastic toy radios have their place too, I guess. I gave a Grundig
MiniWorld 100 to my nine year old son; I'm hoping he gets the SW bug at
some point...maybe he can graduate to some of my other radios in time.
:-)

----

Corbin, I agree with about 99.99% of what you say. I too, have to buy EVERY
stinking radio to hit the market. Each one is a little like Xmas! Where we
differ is I think my 333 is GREAT! The 1102 is ok, and my biggest
disappointment was the Degen DE-105. Actually, the Bell&Howell was worse
but it only cost like $10. I think I paid close to $50 for the DE-105.
Real disappointment....


"Corbin Ray" wrote in message
...
Bearcat, you make a good point. I have spent about $300 dollars on Chinese
radios in the past two months. And I admit, I could have gotten a $300
radio
for my money.

But there's no $300 radio out there that I want. I either already have it
or
I had it and sold it.

What my $300 has gotten me is eight experiences of getting a new radio.
You
know, the pre-buy research, the actual purchase itself, the anticipation
during shipping, then actually opening the box, smelling the new radio
smell, putting in the batteries, and finally turning it on for the first
time and seeing just how good it picks up. I've been able to do that eight
times in the past two months!!! If I had bought just one radio, then I
would
have gotten just one new radio experience.

Of my eight new radios, I have given away two, sold two, and have kept
four.
The one radio that disappointed me the most was the Tecsun R-333. I kept
it,
but it's really a sorry radio. My two favorites of the new bunch are the
Degen 1102 and the Tecsun PL-230. The 1102 has the best performance, but I
live in a house with four computers all networked with WI-FI and cable
internet (originating from my room), and the 1102 seems to be more
affected
by all that noise, especially after I turn off my computer and go to bed.
And even though the 230 isn't as sensitive as the 1102, it seems to have a
much lower noise floor, and I can actually listen to some stations on it
that are drowned out on my 1102. That doesn't make sense, but it's just
the
way I perceive it. Plus, to my ear, the 230's speaker seems to be less
tinny
and less tiring to listen to. And at night, when a station fades out on
the
1102, noise is pulled up in its place. On the 230, the AGC must be less
severe, because it actually allows some fade. That is helpful if I am
trying
to go to sleep.

Bottom line, I didn't get a $300 radio for my $300 investment. But I did
get
eight radios that have given me thousands of dollars worth of enjoyment so
far, and I hope to keep right on playing with my new radios, right up
until
they -- or I -- wear completely out.

GB,

I guess I fall into that category as well. I recently bought a Kaito 1102
from RadioLabs. It is a great little radio -- and unlike its similar Degen
Chinese-market cousins, it doesn't need a 220 to 110 adapter, it's U.L.
listed, and it has an actual radio dealer standing behind the warranty. If
you don't think the 220 adapter is a big deal, you didn't see the picture of
the melted one that was on the Yahoo site. I don't like them.

Every summer I go to a couple of conventions that always involve an extended
amount of time sitting on a sandy beach in Florida. There's no way I'd
subject my RadioLabs modded Super 909 to that environment (it's far too
precious to me) -- but the $80 Kaito -- perfect! I plan to build a slinky
antenna to connect to the rental beach umbrella.

My next purchase is going to be either an Icom R-75 or a Grundig S800. I'm
leaning toward the Grundig, because I like listening to "broadcast"
shortwave and MW, and the quality of the synch detector is important to me.

-- Stinger

"GO BEARCATS" wrote in message
...
I took a chance and ordered a new Chinese radio that I found on eBay.
It's a
Klonda K-939.

No meaning to flame Corbin or anyone else. But what has happened in here?

What I'm talking about is everyone (it seems) jumping on all these little
plastic toys of radios? If you add up the monet of the three of four or
more
(in some posters in here) that purchase these, you can go out and get you
a
real nice piece.

I hate to say "a real radio." But it kinda-sorta amounts to that. Or is
it
that it's easier to justify spending 20/30/50 on a radio than spending
over
$185/200/300?

I'm just curious is all. I have a Bell+Howell that was traded/given
practically to me. I use it here and there when I'm out in someones
driveway
waiting on them or I take it to the Shoemaker Center at UC. But you can't
do
'real' listening to it, not 'real' listening.

So, it's just a question, not a flame, just a question.:-)

~*~*Monitoring The AirWaves~*~
*****GO BEARCATS*****
Hammarlund HQ129X /Heathkit Q Multiplier
Hammarlund HQ140X
Multiple GE P-780's(GREAT BCB Radios)
RCA Victor *Strato- World*
RCA Victor RJC77W-K(Walnut Grain)
1942 Zenith Wave Magnet 6G 601M
Cathedral/ Ross#2311/Rhapsody-MultiBand
DX100/394/398/399/402
OMGS Transistor Eight/Realistic 12-1451
Henry Kloss Model One/Bell+Howell
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alpha Delta DX Sloper 57ft.
600ft. 12AWG. (non-terminated)
120ft. 12 AWG Sloper
2 Radio Shack Loop Antennas
Radio Shack Amplified Antenna
30X30 DiamondLoop(six section 830pf Cap)
* Diamond Loop mounted to Lazy Susan TurnTable*

Owning both the R-75 and the Sat-800, I can tell you that either one is a
winnerBeing as you want to listen to B.C. the Sat is the better choice. One
thing I can say about the 220 converters I've dealt with is that the things
never seem to stay plugged in. The slots are too big or something
similar...


"Stinger" wrote in message
. ..
GB,
My next purchase is going to be either an Icom R-75 or a Grundig S800.
I'm
leaning toward the Grundig, because I like listening to "broadcast"
shortwave and MW, and the quality of the synch detector is important to
me.

-- Stinger

The R-333 had the potential to be a good little radio. I think mine might
have just been a lemon. But since I paid only $15 for the radio, but also
$15 for shipping, there was no advantage in returning it. And I still don't
regret buying it.