"Bob" wrote in message
om...
I see this Boy Scout type radio frequently on ebay. It has everything
but a secret decoder wheel but how does it operate as a radio?
It appears to be large enough to have decent audio but there is no
indication if the tuning has the reduction gear like the Grundig wind
up radio.
Would be interested to hear from anyone who had used one.

Regards, Bob

Hi Bob.
I've never heard of the Kaito 888 and can't find it on eBay, but...
I have a Kaito 008 and it's called an "emergency" radio for a good reason.
The only way I'd use it is in an emergency that included no electricity, and me
having no batteries for *any* other radio.

My 008 is difficult to tune to a desired frequency, even though
it has a digital readout. The readout is about 30 kHz off for SW and MW.
e.g. if I want 990 kHz I have to tune 1020, if I want 5.975 MHz SW I have to
find it at 6.05. If I didn't know what was at a given frequency I'd never be able
to ID it unless I heard an announcment. I found BBC 5.975 by tuning it on another
portable and then messing with the 008 until I heard the same thing... 30 k off.

The radio images all over the place, virtually everywhere. Selectivity is the pits.
It truly sucks and I wish I hadn't wasted my money on it. However, if I do lose
power at the same time as I've run out of batteries I'll be able to hear *something*
from somewhere on the 008. The only redeeming factor in my opinion is the solar
panel. The radio will play even if it's built in battery dies.

Unless the KA888 is a million percent better than the 008, don't get one.

Sanjaya