Kaito WRX-911 AM/FM Shortwave Radio, Blue

I wanted a small radio to listen to while I'm bicycle camping.It had to pack small, like to use same batteries as my other devices, simple to operate and be affordable.This radio met all these requirements.Likes:The radio fits into my pocket if need be but packs into my waist satchel.I can interchange the Qty 2-AA batteries with my LED flashlight, GPS or camera.I can hold and operate (rapid scan of the bands) with one hand.Sensitive to receive WWV on multiple frequencies; A band conditions tester.External wire can clip to radio's Mono rod antenna (use a length acceptable to frequency band).AM broadcast (USA) reception very good.Stable, didn't experience any drift in station frequency when setThe supplied ear buds don't sound bad, sound quality OK from speakerDislikes:No BFO (Beat Frequency Oscillator) for SSB or Morse code for Amateur Radio bandBand select is not lit up, must use flashlight at night or count clicks when adjustingSome FM band stations appear to tune in at different spots on the tuning scale.Some Shortwave stations seem to also appear on different spots of the tuning scale but to a lesser degree.The Shortwave band segments don't overlap when changing, there is missing frequency coverage, not contiguousOverall, I like this radio. I first turned it on inside my house (my house has steel siding, like a faraday shield) and got WWV (strong signal). The best operation for any portable SW radio nowadays is outside away from computers, light dimmers. I listen to Radio Australia late at night in my back yard with the only the antenna provided fully extended (around 15Mhz). The dislikes are really trivial considering less than the price of an Andrew Jackson. I think the gain is fixed to max as this is why it tends to overload with strong stations (multiple station images on the same band). I didn't purchase this for FM but it does a fairly decent job getting the 3 most favorite stations I listen to. If I wanted to spend closer to $50-$100 then maybe I would be more critical in my review. The simplicity of this radio compliments its size.This radio is more convient to turn on and operate than my two Hallicrafters tube receivers.I would consider this radio as a spare for disaster prepardness. Just remove the batteries and keep radio sealed in a zip lock bag.

The toll free number of 1-888-524-8676 is non-functioning to begin with. How can I get service if the toll free number is bogus? You tell me. I have some questions that I would like to ask Kaito.

--Pros---size: smaller than my hand+fingers while ~inch thick-feels solid and well built, very decent & nice styling-tuning scale is generally accurate (except FM) and includes a separate, linear 1-10 scale-AM:excellent sensitivity and decent ability to separate moderate signals 10khz apart MW&SW-very sharp null on MW, armslength compact whip antenna for HF/VHF is hot for its size (on SW)-good frequency coverage (60m band is a huge plus that many analogs do not have!-runs on two AA batteries for weeks/months! probably around 100hrs w low volume?--Cons---loose band selector switch (can affect capacitance value slightly)-your hand on the radio can sometime alter capacitance enough to partially detune.-NO Attenuator (dx/local) switch!!-NO tone/wide-narrow/bandwidth switch!!-has a useless separate power switch where an attenuator should be!!-empty space above power switch could fit the 2nd useful switch!-has a useless 3vDCjack (could have a gain or antenna matching knob there)-susceptible to adjacent and image freq interference, WITHOUT REMEDY-very quirky reception on FM; poor selectivity on weak/medium signals (cannot tune in)while reception of stronger stations is usually fine.-susceptible to images from 910kHz above tuned freq. (fyi, wiki "SUPERHETERODYNE")sometimes its just a carrier wave or maybe you can hear a station. eg. WWV on 14090, 9090khzthis is most apparent on 60&49m bands since they are < 910khz apart from the band above them910khz is the mirror image of the tune freq since the Intermediate freq is 455kHzone bandplan oddity: they actually have 13.4-14.3mhz labeled 21m rather than 22m (which is 13.5-13.9)china must have a different view on that band or maybe its a mistake?here are the details:my biggest gripe that "grinds in my gut " so much i want to scream at the designer of this radio in chinese!!!!THIS USELESS (dedicated) POWER SWITCH that some people love should have been a:wide / narrow SWITCH a.k.a. lowpass filter, IF bandwidth selector, music/news, bass/treble, tone, etc.also, an ATTENUATOR wouldn't hurt! Oh Please!! WHY DIDNT YOU PUT ONE ?these are needed to help filter out the screaming/squealing/howling/crackling/tornadoish sounding carrier waves and interference from adjacent frequencies and the 910 khz image frequency that this receiver is susceptible too.the power switch should be built into the volume knob like on almost ANY OTHER CHEAP RADIO! i mean, how hard would that be? its cheaper. this separate power switch is a lame attempt to make this radio appear more sophisticated in some way IMO.this model has the potential to be THE MAGIC BULLET among analog ultralights if these 3 slight changes were me:1. power switch integrated into the volume knob2. attenuator switch where the power switch is3. add a second switch above the attenuator for tone control/wide-narrow IF/bandpass/lowpass filter. there is more than enough space for this.if these SUPER SIMPLE changes were made, this would be a 5 star radio and I would buy it for $5 more ($25) i'm not asking for SSB or synchonous detection or even dual conversion or PLL!!! just two cheap switches - and maybe try to eliminate the increase of capacitance when your hand is near/on the radio.an example of what i mean about carriers and images:when i tune to 4840 khz, the carrier wave from 5755 khz ruins my listening experience and i must use tmy grundig g3 which has these two switches (dx/local and wide/narrow) which works magic to mute interference past 3khz or so set to narrow, while the attenuator (dx/local) helps cut out images totally in some cases.The G3 also has SSB w/ synchronous detection which are much more advanced bells and whistles, but even cheap analogs usually have an attenuator (dx/local) and tone switches (wide/narrow). i remember a little sony walkman i had when i was 12 that had these switches.2 missing switches = 2 missing stars.