Kaito KA 1103 dealer

[safetyobc]

Looking for a reputable dealer selling "NEW" KA-1103 receivers. I see the ones on ebay going for $70 or so, anyone know of a reputable dealer selling these "new"? Or recommend an eBay retailer you used to buy one?

I would like to find a dealer selling them for around $70 new

I am reluctant to buy from eBay but if others have had success with certain dealers I would go that route.

I have read so many praises on this little receiver I have decided that I want one. I had a Sangean ATS-909 and although it was a good receiver, I sold it some time ago. I would like to get back into the SWL with SSB and this seems to be the best (and cheapest) way to go.

Thanks,

Matt

 

[SAR923]

I bought mine at http://www.radios4you.com/kaito-ka1103.html. Fast service and the price is $80 new. They also sell on e-bay for the same price. Comes with an English manual and all English labels on the radio and you get a nifty little multifunction tool with it for free.

 

[safetyobc]

Cool, thanks.

How do you like the 1103? Performance, features, etc.

 

[safetyobc]

I see that it shows this as an optional buy "KA1103 AM FM SSB SHORTWAVE RADIO with R4U Reel Antenna"

I was under the impression that a reel antenna came with the radio?

 

[SAR923]

I like the 1103 a lot. The sensitivity and selectivity is better than any portable I've ever used including the YB 400 and RS DX-398. The AM DX works very well, with sharp nulls using the ferrite bar antenna. The telescoping antenna has a built-in antenna amplifier and works well enough that most users won't need an external antenna. The controls are a little strange but you get used to them without much effort. I don't like psuedo analog display but you get a normal digital readout at the top and you can ignore the rest of the screen. The backlighting is good enough you can really use it in the dark. I have mine running with a trapped longwire antenna and there's virtually no overload or intermod. It's really pretty impressive for something that costs less than $100.

The 1103 comes standard with a 20 foot longwire that plugs into the antenna jack and has an eye on the other end to hang on a nail or whatever. The reel antenna is basically the same thing that comes on a reel so you don't have to fold up the wire antenna after you use it. Your call if the convenience is worth the price. Like I said, the performance with the telescoping antenna is good enough that the small wire antennas don't make much, if any improvement. I really only saw a big improvement running it through my long wire with an antenna tuner.

 

[safetyobc]

Thank you for the info.

You, along with all the other great reveiws have made me decide to give SWL another try. I hope to place my order for one (and an Icom R5) by the end of next week.

Thanks again,

matt

 

[GMP]

1103

I have owned the 1103 for 2 years now. Its a good radio but I have never liked the volume control and the audio quality is the worst I have ever heard on a portable. I fact I cannot listen to it for more than 15 minutes before I get tired of it. I find I hardly use it for this reason alone. However the build quality and performance is excellent for such a cheap radio and these factors alone make it a worthy buy.

 

[safetyobc]

I just placed my order from Universal-Radio.com.

I like how their website details information on the radio or scanner....so I decided to support them with my $$$

$96.90 shipped.

 

[jonny290]

Universal-Radio is a great shop, they've been around for years and I can remember them politely honoring my catalog requests years ago...not many ham shops would put up with phone calls from a squeaky-voiced, although polite and sharp, 10 year old.

They remain a very good store and I'd likely go to them for any new, big-ticket items.

 

[safetyobc]

Well, just got an email from Universal-Radio that stated my order of the silver 1103 was on backorder until 2-28-07. Me being impatient, I can't wait that long, so I changed the order to a black.

I was hoping they would offer speedier shipping or some other incentive for me having to change my desired color, but no such luck.

 

[safetyobc]

My KA1103 arrived around 11:00 a.m. this morning. I haven't had much time to play with it. Only about 30 minutes total.

I LOVE THE NO CHUFFING!!!!!!!!!!!! It never bothered me when I had my Sangean ATS 909 or the Eton E100, and I couldn't understand why everyone was fussing about the muting between every frequency when tuning, but now I know! I love it! It is great to just spin the knob and hear activity when as you go past.

It is a little clunky at first. Trying to figure it out before doing any reading. I don't like the pre selected bands when you get to the end of it, it jumps back to the beginning and to get for instance if you are at 10000 kHz, it won't go to 10001, it will start over in that pre programmed band at 9000 instead of going to 10001. You have to manually press 1 0 0 0 1 to make it go, then you can continue tuning until you hit the next preprogrammed band. Just take some getting used to that.

The volume control everyone complains about isn't that big of a deal. It doesn't bother me to have to press a button then adjust the volume. It has really good sound for a small radio. FM Stereo sounds pretty darn good, I was suprised at the sound quality.

The sensitivity just on the whip is really good so far. I have just bounced around and tuned through some bands and have picked up quite a bit during the middle of the day. I hope to dive into it tomorrow a little deeper.

I thought I wouldn't like the black (actually dark gray) but I think I like it better than the silver. It fits the color of my "shack" better. Here is the photos http://www.scanningarkansas.com/KA1103/