Kaito Pocket-Size PLL Synthesized AM/FM Shortwave Radio, KA11
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List Price: $79.95
Features
• 1,000 permanently stored preset memories (Will not lose even without battery inside radio)
• 10-Level Signal strength indicator
• 7 shortwave meter bands that covers from 5.8 to 18.1 MHz
• 6 tuning options: frequency input, manual tuning, auto tuning, memory scan, random preset & ATS
• Alarm Clock Display & Temperature Display |
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Kaito Pocket-Size PLL Synthesized AM/FM Shortwave Radio, KA11 Customer Reviews
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♥♥♥♥♥
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Yet another fantastic digital portable AM/FM/SW radio from Kaito Electronics!
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PROS
1) The KA11 is a very small and highly portable PLL (Phase Locked Loop) Synthesized, Dual conversion (with image rejection capability) fully capable digital AM(MW)/FM/SW radio receiver. The full digital tuning capability means that there is no need for frequency retuning once a station has been received with adequate strength, unlike the digital display readout for analog tuning on the very popular Grundig Mini300PE AM/FM/SW and many other digital display analog radios for example.
2) The KA11 is an excellent starter digital SW radio with numerous bells and whistles. It replaces the much simpler Single conversion PLL Kaito KA105 digital AM/FM/SW radio, yet is almost identical in its size and weight (see below). The KA105 is also a far less versatile unit since a smaller part of the FM and SW spectrum is available for reception compared to the KA11, etc.
3) FM selectivity: > 40dB
Noise limit sensitivity:
FM < 10 Microvolts
AM < 1 Millivolts/meter
SW < 20 Microvolts
4) On SALE now for $39.95 at Amazon with a small amount more for a Kaito 23 foot Reel antenna (which I also recommend), it is absolutely a terrific bargain.
5) It has a great signal strength meter (10 levels), 1000 nonvolatile storage memories, a travel lock button to prevent turning it on, a fine orange controllable back-light which is great for reading the display in the dark, clock and alarm functions, battery level and also a charging indicator and even the temperature around the unit. Some of the many buttons have multiple and very useful functions. It also has numerous ways to tune as well as store any received signals.
6) The sides have very simple controls too with a plug for an AC power source (also provided by KaitoUSA), one for an external antenna and one for a set of headphones (with a set of earbuds also provided with the system). It also has a very useful local/DX switch which increases the sensitivity when trying to receive weak SW and FM signals from distant stations (with DX standing for a distant station, D of unknown range and origin and with X, an unknown as in mathematics, yet to be explored).
7) The internally stored whip antenna works to bring in very distant and some weak SW and FM stations on this quite sensitive radio receiver. I like this system of storing the antenna within the radio very much and I have found if you are careful that it works quite well. Adding the Kaito external Reel antenna does not overload the unit as reported by some other reviewers (not on Amazon), but greatly enhanced the reception of weak and very distant signals.
8) It has a 90 day return period from KaitoUsa and a full 1 year warranty in North America. The unit seems exceptionally well built however and will probably last a long time if properly handled.
9) It is a great receiver for young and old listeners alike. It doesn't bother me at all that many of these stations are also now available on the internet. The thrill of receiving distant stations with a small portable receiver started for me as a kid with analog devices of much less capability. Believe me when I say that this almost new miniature portable and digital radio (first available in October 2006) is a technological revolution when you appreciate the Heathkits available when I was young!
10) I also suggest buying the Passport to Worldband Radio paperback book (with the 2008 edition now available). It is a yearly publication with monthly updates available on the internet and also available for purchase on Amazon. It has many useful reviews of all available digital SW receivers and advertising from the major radio producing companies. It also lists radio stations available globally (for listening in North America) as well as their transmitting frequencies, power and the time of their broadcasts, etc.
CONS
1) Very brief manual (which as noted by other reviewers is a very poor English translation), but all functions can be figured out with a little patience and rereading of the brief manual.
2) No batteries are provided (it takes 2 AA batteries that last a very long time even with the back-light and the batteries can readily be recharged within the unit if desired). Also no carrying pouch is supplied with the unit, but the AC adapter (110 V) is provided by KaitoUSA as noted earlier.
3) AM(MW) reception doesn't seem quite as good during the day as it is on FM or on SW, probably due to the very small and highly directional internal ferrite AM antenna and probably with a small amount due to display synthesizer noise as noted by other reviewers. At night however very fine AM reception has been found here in the mountains of New Mexico.
4) The volume control knob is analog and a bit sensitive, but with care it is still very usable. The noise level for listening to a good signal is quite different between the three band select options so I frequently have to lower the volume level quite a bit when going from SW back to FM or AM stations (for ear protection). Also, there is no bass control for listening to music as there is on the fancier Kaito units, but the KA11 still sounds quite acceptable on its small internal speaker. On earbuds or headphones it sounds excellent however and uses much less power to boot and also it won't disturb anyone around you in a work or in a commuting environment.
5) Only part of the full SW spectrum is provided, namely the 49 m to 16 m bands (Others have mentioned the unavailability of the 60 m band on the KA11 for example). So far I have received so many SW stations that I haven't even noticed the lack of availability of the really long wave bands (up to 120 m, but with very few stations broadcasting at these wavelengths). Usually the most distant stations are also available on multiple sets of frequencies so that the unit seems to fully cover everything you might want to try to listen too except perhaps for SSB (Single-side band used by ham radio operators) which is available on the more expensive and highly rated Kaito 1102 and Kaito 1103 (which has recently been redesigned as the Eton E5 or the Grundig G5) SW receivers.
6) Check the LCD screen out very carefully. On my radio, if looked at from angles off perpendicular, numerous small folds in the display material were clearly evident. They in no way affected actually using the radio, but it certainly made me question the quality control procedures used for evaluating an individual LCD display unit.
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Kaito Pocket-Size PLL Synthesized AM/FM Shortwave Radio, KA11 ultimate electronics.