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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