Sanjaya wrote:


"homepc" wrote in message
...
I was looking at the Kaito KA1102 advertised at
http://www.shortwavestore.com/kaito-ka1102.html

What do you think of this radio? Is it sturdy enough to take back and forth
to work? I want a good radio that will work in an office with lots of pc's
and concrete. Is this radio easy to use, or is there a steep learning
curve?


Save some money and get the Degen OEM version
DE1102
http://stores.ebay.com/V-COM-COLLECTIONS
For better sound and sensitivity get a DE1103
Both are excellent, but if I could have only one of the two
I'd pick the 1103.

I looked up Passport 2005 review for the 1103 and the pic shows a radio
with a combined analog/digital readout and the review mentions that it
doesn't have a volume control. I'd rather not have to mess with an
analog dial, even if it does have a digital component. The 1102 comes
supplied with an external wire antenna that plugs into the side, greatly
helping performance. This would be a big plus in an office building.

I can vouch for the seller at the above link (Liypn). He
sells the latest version of the improved 1103 and he tests
the radios before shipping.
I can't say either will work in your office with the pc's going.
But if you're near a window you might improve reception
by placing the radio in the sill and passing the included
external wire out the window. The 1102 comes with the
needed 220v step up transformer, the 1103 doesn't (from Liypn).
He sells it separately for that radio.
But if you have your own battery charger and at least 2 sets
of AA batteries you won't need the transformer for either.

It's my humble opinion that the plug is there for charging the batteries
(rechargeable batteries are supplied) and that the radio is meant to
directly run off batteries, not the plug. I run my 1102 off alkaline
batteries from the grocery store. Just don't try to charge alkalines.
Another excellent choice for your purposes is the Tecsun PL200.

Known as the Eton E100 in the US.

It doesn't have SSB like the other two, but it does come with
the step up transformer. Note that I am using facts about the
seller Liypn. I don't know about other sellers of these fine radios.

Liypn is an excellent choice to order Degens from. The 1102 I got from
him had a mfg date in January 2004, and I got it in March, so he keeps
his stock moving. He's located in Hong Kong, and the Degen factory is in
Shenzhen, which is just outside the Hong Kong border in China itself, so
Liypn must get the radios factory direct. The Degen manual has one side
in English and one in Chinese, as does the box.



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tommyknocker wrote:

I looked up Passport 2005 review for the 1103 and the pic shows a radio
with a combined analog/digital readout and the review mentions that it
doesn't have a volume control.


This seems strange. Could you please explain it?





mike

"m II" wrote in message news:1Nfod.14134$l65.14116@clgrps13...
tommyknocker wrote:

I looked up Passport 2005 review for the 1103 and the pic shows a radio
with a combined analog/digital readout and the review mentions that it
doesn't have a volume control.


This seems strange. Could you please explain it?





mike

Hi Mike.

I don't know what TK's reference means.. Maybe he means the radio doesn't have the usual
up and down buttons, or "wheel", to adjust volume.

The 1103 does have a volume control.
To increase/decrease volume one presses the volume button and turns the tuning knob.
The volume "steps" appear on the LCD as you hear the volume going up or down.
Some people find this counter-intuitive, but I don't mind it at all. It works fine for me.

The radio is indeed digitally tuned, and has a digital readout on the display. The display
also has a *simulated* analog pointer that imitates an analog dial. It's for show only. Frequencies
are accurately displayed by the digital readout above the simulated pointer.

Some people don't like that either, as the analog simulation takes up lots of space and causes the
number buttons to be laid out in a horizontal single row instead of the usual "keypad" fashion
we are used to. Again, I've had no problem getting used to that. I can easily enter
frequencies with the numbers in a row, and I think the simulated dial look cool.

Others would rather have the standard layouts we're used to. I've had no problems with the
ergonomics of the DE1103, no "learning curve" so to speak.

I guess it's a matter of taste. What I'm concerned with is performance and the 1103 gives me that.

Sanjaya wrote:


"m II" wrote in message news:1Nfod.14134$l65.14116@clgrps13...
tommyknocker wrote:

I looked up Passport 2005 review for the 1103 and the pic shows a radio
with a combined analog/digital readout and the review mentions that it
doesn't have a volume control.


This seems strange. Could you please explain it?





mike

Hi Mike.

I don't know what TK's reference means.. Maybe he means the radio doesn't have the usual
up and down buttons, or "wheel", to adjust volume.

The 1103 does have a volume control.
To increase/decrease volume one presses the volume button and turns the tuning knob.
The volume "steps" appear on the LCD as you hear the volume going up or down.
Some people find this counter-intuitive, but I don't mind it at all. It works fine for me.

Quoting from Passport's review, page 118:
------
Frankenvolume

Not only the keypad and weird LCD compromise ergonomics. Incredibly,
there is also no separate volume control. No knob, no up/down
buttons-not even a little stick. Instead, to adjust volume you first
press a key, then quickly start turning the tuning knob until the
desired level is reached, then wait about three seconds; alternatively,
you can enter the desired volume level (0-63) on the keypad, then press
the volume key.

In time you'll probably come across somebody who proclaims, "Hey, that
doesn't bother me!" He's probably the same guy who likes bee stings.
------

I'll pass.

The radio is indeed digitally tuned, and has a digital readout on the display. The display
also has a *simulated* analog pointer that imitates an analog dial. It's
for show only. Frequencies
are accurately displayed by the digital readout above the simulated pointer.

Some people don't like that either, as the analog simulation takes up
lots of space and causes the
number buttons to be laid out in a horizontal single row instead of the
usual "keypad" fashion
we are used to. Again, I've had no problem getting used to that. I can easily enter
frequencies with the numbers in a row, and I think the simulated dial look cool.

Passport's review compares it to the Sony SW40, and notes that the 40
has been a weak seller, since people see it and automatically decide
it's analog tuned.

Others would rather have the standard layouts we're used to. I've had no problems with the
ergonomics of the DE1103, no "learning curve" so to speak.

I guess it's a matter of taste. What I'm concerned with is performance
and the 1103 gives me that.




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To me, the volume control on the 1103 seemed pretty weird as long as I used
the knob, but someone else recommended that it's much easier to adjust the
volume by pressing 1-5 Volume for volume level 15 or 2-0 Volume for volume
level 20. This works so naturally now for me that I don't even think of the
1103 as having any other way of setting the volume. Besides, most of my
listening is done at the same volume, so it hardly ever gets changed anyway.

"tommyknocker" wrote in message ...
Sanjaya wrote:


"m II" wrote in message news:1Nfod.14134$l65.14116@clgrps13...
tommyknocker wrote:

I looked up Passport 2005 review for the 1103 and the pic shows a radio
with a combined analog/digital readout and the review mentions that it
doesn't have a volume control.


This seems strange. Could you please explain it?





mike

Hi Mike.

I don't know what TK's reference means.. Maybe he means the radio doesn't have the usual
up and down buttons, or "wheel", to adjust volume.

The 1103 does have a volume control.
To increase/decrease volume one presses the volume button and turns the tuning knob.
The volume "steps" appear on the LCD as you hear the volume going up or down.
Some people find this counter-intuitive, but I don't mind it at all. It works fine for me.

Quoting from Passport's review, page 118:
------
Frankenvolume

Not only the keypad and weird LCD compromise ergonomics. Incredibly,
there is also no separate volume control. No knob, no up/down
buttons-not even a little stick. Instead, to adjust volume you first
press a key, then quickly start turning the tuning knob until the
desired level is reached, then wait about three seconds; alternatively,
you can enter the desired volume level (0-63) on the keypad, then press
the volume key.

In time you'll probably come across somebody who proclaims, "Hey, that
doesn't bother me!" He's probably the same guy who likes bee stings.
------

I'll pass.

The radio is indeed digitally tuned, and has a digital readout on the display. The display
also has a *simulated* analog pointer that imitates an analog dial. It's
for show only. Frequencies
are accurately displayed by the digital readout above the simulated pointer.

Some people don't like that either, as the analog simulation takes up
lots of space and causes the
number buttons to be laid out in a horizontal single row instead of the
usual "keypad" fashion
we are used to. Again, I've had no problem getting used to that. I can easily enter
frequencies with the numbers in a row, and I think the simulated dial look cool.

Passport's review compares it to the Sony SW40, and notes that the 40
has been a weak seller, since people see it and automatically decide
it's analog tuned.

Others would rather have the standard layouts we're used to. I've had no problems with the
ergonomics of the DE1103, no "learning curve" so to speak.

I guess it's a matter of taste. What I'm concerned with is performance
and the 1103 gives me that.





I gave my honest opinions of the DE1103.
I like the radio and find no difficulty with the ergonomics.
Each of us... you, me, Passport, RadioIntel.com, etc., has our own opinion. I
respect your feelings about what you've read, and your choice not to purchase it.
Best wishes and much good listening to you.

From: "Sanjaya"

I gave my honest opinions of the DE1103.
I like the radio and find no difficulty with the ergonomics.
Each of us... you, me, Passport, RadioIntel.com, etc., has our own opinion. I
respect your feelings about what you've read, and your choice not to purchase
it.
Best wishes and much good listening to you.

Sanjaya,

I've got to agree with you on the 1103! Even though Passport rated both the
1102 and 1103 highly, their beefs with the 1103 and their decision to rank the
1102 higher than the 1103 seem to be based off of a decision to not actually
"test" the 1103. I own both, and the 1103 is clearly a much better radio. The
volume control is no problem at all and I personally look at the digital
readout, not the analog dial. Sensitivity and selectivity are better than the
1102.

Easy call. The 1103 is the hottest little radio per dollar on the market.


Michael Bryant, WA4009SWL
Louisville, KY
R75, S800, RX320, SW77, ICF2010K,
DX398, 7600G, 6800W, RF2200, 7600A,
Degen 1102, Degen 1103, GE SRll,
Pro-2006, Pro-2010, Pro-76
(remove "nospam" to reply)

"Michael Bryant" wrote in message
...
From: "Sanjaya"

I gave my honest opinions of the DE1103.
I like the radio and find no difficulty with the ergonomics.
Each of us... you, me, Passport, RadioIntel.com, etc., has our own opinion. I
respect your feelings about what you've read, and your choice not to purchase
it.
Best wishes and much good listening to you.

Sanjaya,

I've got to agree with you on the 1103! Even though Passport rated both the
1102 and 1103 highly, their beefs with the 1103 and their decision to rank the
1102 higher than the 1103 seem to be based off of a decision to not actually
"test" the 1103. I own both, and the 1103 is clearly a much better radio. The
volume control is no problem at all and I personally look at the digital
readout, not the analog dial. Sensitivity and selectivity are better than the
1102.

Easy call. The 1103 is the hottest little radio per dollar on the market.


Thanks Mike.
No contest... in my opinion, and yours (others' too).

On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 06:35:41 GMT, m II
wrote:

tommyknocker wrote:

I looked up Passport 2005 review for the 1103 and the pic shows a radio
with a combined analog/digital readout and the review mentions that it
doesn't have a volume control.


This seems strange. Could you please explain it?

it has a volume control, but it is a bit strange.......