Is the Degen 1103 the same as the Kaito KA1103 on Amazon? Some of the reviews of that are rather negative. My birthday is March 5 and I hope I can buy myself something, but don't know yet.
The same; for the money, the Degen is VERY, VERY good.
For a portable, I would say EXCEPTIONAL, and I own a variety of receivers as my tagline shows.
For a 'tactical' field receiver, I don't think it can be beat ...
The only thing I would change is: make the narrow IF filter even narrower ... for SSB use.
Review, including technical testing:
http://www.radioscanner.ru/info/article11/Things I love about it:
o Sounds great for SSB and AM! I use it during morning walks to copy the 1990 kHz 160 Meter net (before dawn here in Texas) with W5VYY and the group and to listen to the AM guys on 3890 kHz during the Texoma AM Traders Net on Saturday mornings.
o I love the external antenna feature. GREAT for trying other antennas like loops, and dipoles and such.
o There is a AUDIO LINE OUT jack that is independent of volume control! And, it's STEREO (FM) output!
o Attenuator switch: sometime it's nice to be able to 'cut' the local noise (like switching power supplies) or static crashes while copying signals on 80 Meters
o Coverage: from like 9 kHz (below 200 kHz using 1711 trick; see below) through 30 MHz! And Stereo FM broadcast!
o The "Enter 1711 kHz and scan down" trick allows whip or external Antenna use in lieu of internal ferrite loopstick for MW and LW .. and extends coverage below 200 kHz ...