Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who writes:
SWLing Post readers have no doubt seen the appearance of the Raddy RF-919, which is manufactured by Hanrongda in China. I have generally not been impressed by some receivers from this company, notably the HRD-747/757 and the reviews seem to support this.
However, from first appearances the RF-919 may be an exception. I am expecting a RF-919 soon, but one of the more recent reviews was by the very popular YouTuber NotaRubicon, and I was surprised to see that according to this review, the RF-919 actually is capable of recording to microSD.
Indeed, when checking the manual available online (Section 8.3) this feature is confirmed. This is an extraordinary development in the portable receiver market and it makes one wonder again why other manufacturers chose not to add this feature. Though we are lacking information about production decisions, it does seem like Tecsun in particular, with its otherwise excellent 990/501 portables, could have implemented recording to microSD.
As of the time I am writing this, there seems to have been surprisingly little discussion by those who have obtained a RF-919 about the recording feature, but I expect there to be more about this when users discover it. As for performance, I hope to have my 919 in hand in coming days and will review it for SWLing. From observing initial user videos, this radio is packed with some impressive features and coverage.
Thank you, Dan! I look forward to checking out the recording function. It would, indeed, be wonderful to finally have a capable portable with proper built-in recording.
Radioddity Discount: In the spirit of full transparency, Radioddity is a sponsor of the SWLing Post and they also offer us an affiliate code and link that will save you $15 off the purchase of an RF-919. Click here to save $15 off your purchase at Radioditty.
In addition, the RF-919 is also available on Amazon.com (affiliate link).
If you’ve purchased an RF-919 and would like to share your review, please let us know in the comments!
Unfortunately, as usual, this device, which plays as a communication receiver, does not have a classic S-meter!
Oh my gosh. The more I see receivers coming from China, the more I value the the effort of Japanese radios from Panasonic and Sony from the 70-90s.
It seems Chinese receivers are either a photocopy of a previous design, or something completely too “flamboyant”, too “exaggerated”, too “much”.
I’ve been following the @ObsoleteSony account on Twitter and it’s always a design lesson to appreciate their products from the “It’s a Sony era”. Every curve, button, recess, bubble, texture, shade, color had meaning and a function. And always a treaty to the eyes.
My ICOM IC-7300 which I use my main shortwave radio receiver has the ability to record audio onto its SD card.
I have used the Retekess V-115 for years to record radio programs. It isn’t anything new.
This is one heavy portable, but it is jammed with features. The manual, particularly the available online manual is a must, as reported by Randy “Not arubicon”. This is a “button pushers” radio. I have only had it about a week which is too soon to write a review. I am still discovering features and quirks. As in any radio there are things to like and things to dislike. I have yet to do a deep dive into the smartphone control feature other than to download the app and verify that it does work. So far, random comments: VHF/UHF/NOAA reception confirmed. I attached a dualband handheld antenna to the appropriate port and it worked well. BIG audio and an equalizer of sorts. Big readable display. This is a radio that will require some time at the controls with the manual nearby to give it a fair eval. Some things are intuitive, some are not. I’m still “peeling back the onion.”
Ha! Apart from whether it’s a good receiver or not, it has to be one of the ugliest I’ve ever set my eyes on. It needs an industrial design specialist.
The Retekess V115 will record to microSD and play with unusually good fidelity in mono.
I am thinking about buying this radio when a blessing comes by, but right now, I am just reviewing other reviewers and also doing my deep research about this receiver. I just found out if you’re a die in the wool long wave radio listener like myself, be disappointed in this radio, because it does not have the ability to demodulate lower and upper sideband and CW signals that are used in Non Directional Beacon finding, and also to listen to lower side band 600 meter and 1750 meter signals, it only receives AM modulation signals which is just part 15 AM broadcasts in the 160 kHz to 190 kHz and that Christmas special on 600 meters on 486 kHz from Forest, VA during the holiday season and also NDB’s can be demodulated using AM and LW broadcasts, but you won’t be able to listen and decode signals in the single side bands, unless you add a VLF converter and set it to 4 MHz (4.010 MHz to 4.500 MHz).
I assume this is a purely analog radio. Therefore the demodulated sound would have to be converted into digital. To do this and then convert it back to listen to it is fine. Virtually all mobile phones digitise the audio then compress it prior to transmission. At the other end the reverse occurs. When you decode a digital signal back to audio and then digitise it again or convert from one compression algorithm to another the sound quality rapidly degrades the more you do this in series.
So to remove the SD card from the radio and listen to it on the phone will be ok, On phones you would have to send it as a data file so none of the conversions occur.
Digital radio stations (DAB+/DRM/HdRadio digital stream) have found you cannot broadcast compressed files which come from the streaming services for the above reasons. They have had to buy either CDs or music on lossless files to stop the degradation of the sound quality
The Retekess TR629 accepts both a micro SD card or USB flash drive for recording and playback. On my radio, both options also record a low-pitched, rhythmic pulsing sound behind the audio. This artifact is much less noticeable in USB recordings.
Nice radio but way too pricey. Thanks for the review.
The Retekess V115 also records to an SD. Or the built-in mic. Sounds great, but the SW is marginal. But the 747 is the most annoying I have ever used, although full-featured.
I don’t know how anyone can quote or reference NotaRubicon. That guy is so negative and unpleasant. I don’t care for the form factor of the Raddy RF-919 and it’s too expensive for Chinesium.
Maybe recording on air radio programs could violate copyright laws. Since a microSD card can be downloaded to a cellphone or computer then retransmitted could violate copyright laws of some countries.
I have been recording on air radio for 60 years, and no-one has come knocking on my door yet. On reel to reel, cassettes, cd’s, dvd’s, computer drives, and memory sticks, cards. Mind you, I live in a free country, not the USA.
..then U sure don’t live in Canada, either!
They said the same thing about VCR’s right when they were coming out in the 70s, so this is not the reason….. I think it’s more to do with reception of stations interferring with the record feature is why more makers don’t feature this.