Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Kaito KA1102

Category: Receivers: General Coverage

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Kaito KA1102
Reviews: 31MSRP: 99.00
Description:
This high quality world receiver is made in the best radio factory in Asia and it receives all the stations in shortwave spectrums , plus side bands, SSB.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.kaitousa.com/KA1102.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00314.3
K4IDX Rating: 2006-07-30
EXCELLENT Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I'm giving this little receiver high marks to everyone I know who's in the market for a new SW radio. I've said for awhile that there's really only two company's left making quality products, Sony and Kaito/Degen. The 1102 further proves my point. This has one of the best FM receivers I've heard and it does an almost perfect job where I live in an area with 3 broadcast towers within 5 miles! It really performs better than the 7600GL on FM. Shortwave is just as impressive, with great sensitivity and a nice filter (Local/DX). Previous reviewers stated that the Page system was complex, but I had no difficulty after reading thru the manual only one time.
KC2HWG2006 Rating: 2006-06-22
SWEEEEET!!!!!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
just ordered mine from universal radio and got it a few days after....after considering a sangean or a sony, i went with this puppy..I'm glad i waited out and found something simple and worthwhile..I too read the radio-intel reviews and looks at the guts pics....nice ferrite loopstick...probably as good or better than the cult popular GE 7-2887 or superadioIII...and a lot smaller too...great rx and i use it with a intensitronics select-a-tenna and it really wakes up the s-units on receive...i have a freeplay radio too and it kicks butt also ( the eyemax model)for my emergency radio....call me nuts but I really think this radio the kaito 1102 is fabulous and so is the degen version 1102, the kaito is more shipped to u.s.a. than the degen or tecsun equivalent...I just wanted a good all around little am/fm /sw radio and this one is the best bang for the dollar, sorry if im repeating the other reviewers words.... i agree great rig!!!!!! KC2HWG BILL OUT------
KG6RPX Rating: 2006-03-30
Outstanding performance, Great Price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Positives: The Kaito KA 1102 (~$69 US). The KA1102 is a PLL FM/MW/SW dual conversion receiver with excellent sensitivity and selectivity. It has an admittedly complex digital and paged user interface. Has a convenient flip out back support for tilted up operation. The 1103 uses an odd number (three) rechargeable AA's and the battery door remains attached so you can't loose it.

Negatives: Complex digital interface, you really have to read the manual and reference card. Can’t say its intuitive for my mind, maybe for yours.

We also tried the less expensive WRX911 you can refer to that review on this site, relative to the KA 1102, the WRX911’s performance was disappointing (in our application) but may be more suitable for urban users.

The performance delta between the 911 and 1102 was very evident when directly comparing station-for-station performance in the FM band of the WRX911 with the more sensitive/ expensive Kaito KA1102 the WRX 911 couldn't pull in weak FM signals at all. The performance delta between the two closed a bit when comparing selected AM and SW stations/signals with the WRX911 having adequate audio but the KA1102 having better overall sound quality.

We live on a hilltop in the foothills of an urban fringe area (30-40 miles out) and FM radio reception is understandably problematic in shadow areas. We need sensitive, selective FM receivers for family members to get reasonably “listenable” reception w/o going to satellite radio and its unique equipment and in the long run, costly subscription rates.
KC2JFS Rating: 2006-01-30
Just Buy IT !! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Are you kidding me? This baby is a little dynamo. Small but with big ears. I am amazed at what this receiver picks up. If you are afraid of overload then pick up a Yaesu FT 1000 MP ( which I have ) however the Yaesu is a little big to be portable. BUY THE KAITO. Green Hornet says it's great!
DB2EH Rating: 2005-04-05
good for it´s price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This neat little radio is very good for it´s price. Low PLL noiselevel and proper sensitivity
make it a nice "go everywere" partner. As it shows
warbling/FM-effects on CW/SSB it is not first choice for a ham, (as the SONY 7600GR and the SW100 is not). If you compare this TECSUN, DEGEN or KAITO with SONY´s 2010 or the famous PANASONIC RF-B65 you`ll know the difference regarding "rock stable stable CW/SSB reception and other experiences. Of course the SON and the PAN need AGC-modification also, just a little extra tantalic and SSB sounds smooth, (Attacktime). I´m using the second 1102, beside the negative FM-effect on SSB this one shows a remarkable LO-drift during use. That´s not a must for such receivers! Hoping TECSUN as the manufacturer will read this. I would like this radio very much after some mods.
MARK1218 Rating: 2005-03-29
Not good for newcomers Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I will rate the '1102 as good. More experienced listeners would rate it as a solid 5. This thing is definately a proven performer. Again as a newcomer to the SWL hobby, I found the '1102 to be very confusing to operate. The whole "page" thing was just more of a pain in the neck than anything, and the way Kaito asigns multiple functions for one button. You'll spend more time looking at the instruction manual than you will anything else. And what's the deal with this SSB only available on page 9? I actually returned it in exchange for the much easier to operate and less expensive '1101 model. Again being a SWL "newbie", I really have no use for or any interest in SSB, and 190 memory presets. I actually ordered the '1101 and was told they were on backorder, so I opted for the '1102 based on good reviews. And by the way, the folks at Universal Radio are awesome to deal with! Yes, I ate the return shipping costs, but they waived the 15% restocking fee for me, and sent out my '1101 same day. So, in a nutshell, I'm sure the '1102 is a fantastic performer, but for a hobby newcomer like myself, it was a little too much radio. Just figured I'd save someone in my shoes a little hassle.
W1PPJ Rating: 2004-11-03
Outstanding Receiver Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Outstanding Radio! Blows away my New Seagean 505P
Highly Recommended. Rock Stable SSB/CW . Works per all Specs. Paid $48.00 on eBay. I bought 2!
A22EW Rating: 2004-10-20
KA1102 - not impressed Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Based on feedback, I purchased KA1102 one week back. It was returned as problems existed with the reciever.
1. Battery connections were faulty causing charging not to happen.
2. Battery when charged would loose contact intermittently.
3. Back light operation was faulty; would come one and off on its own despite shutting it down.

The menu is a headache to work with. Reception is Ok. Compared it to kenwood ts-440 with same antenna being fed in; signals strengths were very different.

Rather spend a bit more and get a Sangean AT-505 as a minimum or YB-400; if you are a serious listener. Although, for travel purpose this radio is mediocere in performance to a 13 year old Phillips 9 bander that I have.
K9FTB Rating: 2004-06-17
Good Value, but Quirky Interface Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've had the 1102 for a few months now and like the RX and features. Everything is there and it works as advertised. My dislike is nothing is intuitive except the power switch. I find I need to read the manual everytime I use SSB or store a memory or change the freq. step size. Not that this is a big deal, but it's not "hackable" by spending a little time, like many other radios (ham and SWL).

I like the backlite keypad and display. Battery life seems acceptable so far.

The radio is small, the book is small, and it travels well.

When shopping for this radio (I paid ~$75) be sure to check several internet sites - some on ebay some not. Be carefull you'll find a large price variance. Also, some low priced units with a different model number (but the same radio) have no USA warranty in case you need help after the sale.

Good luck and happy SWLing.
Dean, K9FTB
KE8WO Rating: 2004-05-13
Solid "5" For The Price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Here is a very subjective view based on owning one of these units for a month.

Pluses:
+ Good sensitivity & selectivity on all bands. Many stations are able to be received from the whip antenna, often without it even being extended.
+ Good audio quality from speaker and headphones
+ The two IF bandwidths and two audio "tone" selections are helpful
+ Provided rechargeable batterys and charger work well and provide many hours of use between charges
+ Very small size make it a pocketable receiver in slightly larger "shirt" pockets. Great size for travel.
+ Seems solidly built. Whip antenna seems a little flimsey.
+ Sideband reception easily used and stable.
+ Backlite display and keypad

Minuses:
- Fairly complicated to use because of the multi-functions assigned to the buttons.
- SSB only available on "Page" 9 is a small limitation.
- Some internally generated buzzing is audible in the speaker on a small number of frequencies (all bands), usually more so when the received frequency signal is weak.
- Will easily overload when more than a short external antenna is used.

The above is in the context of a radio with a price of under $100 (I paid about $75). For reference, I also own a Sony 2010 & 7600G along with a RS DX399. Performance of the Kaito is very comparable to, but not so good as the Sonys. It is very similar to the DX399 (except the Kaito has more features.).

For a under $100 radio, definitely a "5".