Finally: A Budget-Priced Digital Direct Entry SW Radio That Works!
I had expected, after the second round of the Cheap and Cheerful World Radio Contest, to move onto other things. And I will: for instance, on the schedule ahead is a look at the Grundig S350 receiver -- which is an apparent clone of the 1970s vintage Panasonic RF2200. Also on my 'to write' list is a look at some interesting indoor AM/FM antennas made by Terk Technologies (www.terk.com). In addition, there is a very useful Godar indoor TV antenna supplied by C. Crane Company (US$19.95/C$29.95 at www.ccrane.com) that I've tested which, although not strictly speaking for radio, performs extremely well on FM.
Finally, Freeplay has released the Lifeline radio: a US$40 cheap windup meant to improve life for the poorest, most-information starved people in Africa. I'm currently testing a prototype. It is quite amazing; designed for African children who have rarely seen radios, the Lifeline includes a thin wire antenna that, at a moment's notice, can be replaced with any old piece of wire. (Antennas break frequently in Africa; that's why Freeplay came up with this design.) The Lifeline also has a case with holes drilled in the bottom, to let rain filter through without damaging the internals. In addition, there is not one bit of lubrication inside, since grease attracts the ever-present African dust which eventually jams the mechanism.
All told, the Freeplay Lifeline is a remarkable radio with truly excellent sound, by the way. (Mine is playing in the background as I write this.) The only catch is that this radio is not meant for commercial sale. The Freeplay Foundation has designed it specifically for relief work, which is why it lacks features such as a headphone jack and conventional battery compartment. To find out more, log on to www.freeplayfoundation.org. Meanwhile, once I've gotten to know it better, I will write the Lifeline up in the Radio Addict's Corner.
By the way, the June 2003 issue of Popular Communications www.popular-communications.com includes my review of the C. Crane CCRadio Plus and Justice Antenna. If you're a serious AM listener/DXer, you will want to learn more about this radio. The pair are sold online at www.ccrane.com for a total price of $264.90.
Okay: a few factors have conspired to 'reload' the Cheap and Cheerful Contest. The main reason is that it has been generating a fair number of hits here at the Radio Addict's Corner, and has been cross-linked on the Radio Intel site www.radiointel.com. I cannot speak too highly of Radio Intel; this is a site I check regularly for the latest SW news, and its receiver reviews are outstanding.
Ack! I'm digressing again. Anyway, I decided another radio-to-radio comparison was justified for a few reasons. First, I have a Kchibo KKE-220 direct access digital receiver that I've been meaning to review. Sold for US$64.95/C$89.95 at The Shortwave Store www.shortwavestore.com, one of the RAC's faithful suppliers of test equipment, the KKE-220 is a great little digital radio for the money. Second, The Shortwave Store has sent me their version of the Kaito KA007 windup/solar powered AM/FM/SW/TV receiver. 'Their version' includes an LCD that, with the flick of a small switch under the handle, serves as an emergency flashlight. US$49.95/C$69.95. Third, I have re-entered the Megasound MT-500 (US$26.95/C$39.00) which didn't distinguish itself during Round One. I thought I would give it another chance. Finally, my benchmark receiver will be the Cheap and Cheerful Contest's Best Buy to date, the Grundig Mini World PE100 (US$39.95/C$49.95).
The Competitors
From left to right: The Kchibo KKE-220, the Megasound MT-500, the Mini World PE100, and the Kaito KA007.
The Test
The date was Sunday, June 1, 2003. Time: 0200 UTC; 10:00 p.m. local time. Propagation conditions were good. Location: Ottawa, Canada.
In contrast to previous tests, this time I scanned the 49 Meter band on each of the four radios. The rankings that follow include stations received, and how each set performed overall.
First Place: Kchibo KKE-220
Boy, am I impressed with this little receiver! Granted, it is not a Sony 2010, but when it comes to a balance between price and performance, the KKE-220 is truly a Cheap and Cheerful winner. Using the KKE-220's direct entry keypad, I went straight to the BBC on 5975 from Antigua (250 kW). The signal's SIO (Strength-Interference-Overall) rating was a solid 555. So was Radio Taipei International on 5950 kHz. Radio Havana Cuba on 6000 KHz came in at 433, with some high-pitched heterodyne squealing the background. Meanwhile, the rest of the 49 meter band was packed with signals, most of them reasonably clear and solid.
My only complaint was that there was signal slopover in the 5 kHz gap between stations. I suspect that the KKE-220's bandwidth filter is set to wide: a position that provides good audio response, but allows stations to bleed over each other.
Operationally, the KKE-220's buttons are noisy to operate, which doesn't make this radio a good bet for 'beside the sleeping wife' bedtime tuning.
Second Place: Grundig Mini World 100 PE
The Mini World performed slightly worse than the KKE-220 on BBC 5975 kHz. I gave it an SIO of 545 due to the fact that the BBC's signal was overloading the set slightly. Still, the audio was clear and solid. Scanning upwards, the Mini World also tuned in a number of stations successfully. On Radio Havana Cuba at 6000 kHz, the signal came in strong but with more squeal than on the KKE-220. I rated the SIO at 423.
Third Place: Megasound MT-500
The MT-500 performed better this time around, thanks to the fact that it was being tested during 'shortwave prime time' in North America. The BBC on 5975 kHz had an SIO of 343. Compared to the other two radios, the MT-500 was less sensitive in receiving this signal, which seemed a bit weak but still clear. Meanwhile, Radio Havana Cuba on 6000 kHz had an SIO of 233: the signal came in relatively well, but the het squeal was pronounced.
Fourth Place: Kaito KA007
On BBC 5975 kHz, the Kaito KA007 only managed a 211 SIO. The problem was a combination of poor sensitivity, het squeals, and a 'buzzy' interference that overloaded the signal. Meanwhile, Radio Havana Cuba came in better with an SIO of 242. Cross references with the other radios showed that the problem was definitely the KA007's sensitivity and selectivity. To get a broader opinion, I checked the KA007's FM performance, which was okay. Still, this is not a shortwave set of choice.
The New Cheap and Cheerful Rankings
- Kchibo KKE-220 -- Best Overall Performer Receiver
- Grundig Mini World 100 PE -- Still The Best Buy
- Megasound MT-500
- Kaiwa KA007
Conclusion: The KKE-220 Rocks!
Much as I still like my Mini World PE 100, the Kchibo KKE-220 has really impressed me. It is truly a Cheap and Cheerful direct entry receiver worth buying. I wouldn't recommend it as a DX'ing and/or primary receiver. However, the KKE-220 is a solid little performer, and worth its price.
In this round, the Megasound MT-500 did redeem itself somewhat. Still, for a few cents more, the Mini World is just a better buy. Its sensitivity and selectivity consistently surpasses the MT-500. As well, the Mini World's tiny size makes it great for travelling, or for keeping inside a coat pocket.
As for the Kaito KA007? If you want an all-round radio with a flashlight, solar, and windup power -- and if SW reception isn't a big issue -- then you could consider this set. Still, even though it lacks solar, I still prefer the better-performing Grundig FR-200.
The Kaito WRX-911: A New Dragonslayer?
A recent email to the RAC has alerted me to the new Kaito WRX-911 multiband receiver (www.kaitousa.com). Available at Radios4you.com (www.radios4you.com) for US$34.95 and ably reviewed by Radiointel.com (www.radiointel.com), the WRX-911 is reported to be very sensitive across the 4.60-5.20,5.75- 6.40, 6.95-7.65 MHz, 9.30-9.90 MHz, 11.55-12.10 MHz, 13.55-13.85 MHz, 14.85-15.80 MHz, 17.40-18.05 MHz and 21.30-21.95 MHz bands.
According to Radiointel.com, the $34.95 WRX-911 bested the US$39.95 Mini World in side-by-side tests! If so, it could be the next contender for the Best Buy Cheap and Cheerful title! I am going to be chasing down a sample of this radio, which comes in either blue or black, by the way. Stay tuned!