Hello: The best thing to do if you already haven't done so is to
get a shortwave frequency guide with broadcast times for international
broadcasters, and the frequencys they broadcast on. Popular
Communications magazine, and Passport to World Band Radio have such
timetables. There are other sources also.
Also you will get much better reception at around sunset and
later.....daytime is not the best.
Reception is always better outside. Or string the wire around your
window...... If you have a lot of emi/rf souirces in your home...
that will make things worse.

My KA11 is as good little radio for its size.,.... I can pick up a
surprisingly high number of stations on all bands....

So I am still wondering if you got a bad KA11 that slipped past
their quality control inspectors. If you have your bill and the
warranty is in effect, I would think of taking it back and trying
another one or two. The only thing is... being in a store full of
electronics... and possibly with a lot of shielding in the building...
even the best radio might get next to nothing in reception on SW.

Get a couple of issues of Popular Communications..... get Passport
to World Band Radio.... do some searches on the sites that others have
mentioned here.... There is some learning to do as far as finding out
how to increase your reception with your radio.

Perhaps a short outdoor antenna would be good for you.... you
wouldn't want it very long with such a small radio.... you could
easily overload it.

Best of luck....
Cato

(Greetings Cuhulin...... I use all my radios with re-chargeable
batteries, except my Panasonic RF2200 that I have plugged in in the
back room. I don't like to leave anything plugged in that doesn't
really have to be plugged in. Is it the wall-wart that comes with the
Kaito? How about a better wall-wart? Would that stop the hazard?)