I ordered the Kaito 1102 rather than the Degen, to be safe
if I had to return it DOA. The instant I took it out of
the box I gave it the squeeze test... it felt like a solid
brick and I was instantly reassured it seemed a quality
product. This impression was reinforced by the various
buttons and switches, all of which responded with positive
clicks. I chose the black version, and like it's dull
finish, not at all like cheap glossy plastic.

The Kaito's control ergonomics are easy to understand (RTFM!)
and I quickly verified the narrow filter switch made a
distinct difference. Within a few hours, using just the
whip antenna, I verified it seemed adequately sensitive and
selective, and tested SSB reception with AFRTS and some hams.
From my location near Washington DC I easily copied a 20M
QSO between hams in Ireland and Florida. More speaker
volume on SSB would have been nice, but headphones would
have fixed that.

About the only thing I didn't like was having the headphone
jack on the right side, rather than the left.

At the cost of $79.95 plus $7.25 shipping, it is a welcome
fully-portable addition to my Icom R75 and Ten-Tec R320; it
far outclasses my other Chinese toy radios, the $10 "Bell &
Howell" and $20 JWIN (which have no selectivity to speak of,
and no stereo FM).

While SWLing for half a century I went from a Hallicrafters
S38 to an NRD 525 with full filters and RS232 interface. I have
no experience with other current portables in the $100 to $300
price range, but for features and performance the Kaito is a
definite take-along bargain when you leave your big radios
at home... it fits in a coat pocket.

--
Anti-Spam address: my last name at his dot com
Charles Gillen -- Reston, Virginia, USA