Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Carlos Latuff, who shares the following guest post:
“The Beast”
Since December 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its height, I have had an inseparable companion: the XHDATA D-808 radio.
This receiver has accompanied me in many situations, on the beach, in the countryside, in light rain, in cold and hot weather, and its durability has been more than proven, which is why I affectionately named my radio set “The Beast”.
I have received everything with this receiver, from military and clandestine transmissions to radiofax of weather reports and news (Kyodo News). The selectivity and sensitivity of this model are useful for both DXers and radio listeners eager for news (like me). Since this is my field radio, “The Beast” has already lost its antenna (I currently use a 3-meter long wire), and has scratches and marks resulting from several falls. And it continues to work perfectly. Even the battery remains the same.
I don’t use FM much, my focus has always been on MW and SW, bands where the XHDATA D-808 has shown excellent reception. Maybe it’s time to buy a new model, but I’m reluctant to retire my beloved “The Beast”, since, even after so many years of continuous usage, this receiver continues to serve me very well.
I usually use other Japanese-made models from the 80s and 90s, but without a doubt, the China-made XHDATA D-808 has proven to be unbeatable. Here are some recent listenings made with this transistorized wonder.
Radio Nikkei 1
Radio Nikkei 2
(April 15) Kyodo News English Edition, received via radiofax in Porto Alegre, 16970 kHz:
China, Vietnam agreed to boost trade, Nvidia plans to manufacture AI chips in US, fugitive India jeweler arrested in Belgium, Ghana prohibits foreigners from trading gold, Philipines’ Antipolo church eyes Guiness, Japan govt mourns death of former US officer, India weighs Japan’s next generation of bullet train.
“Voice of the People”, clandestine radio station operated by the South Korea’s intelligence service, 4560 kHz, April 15, 10h03 UTC, listened in Porto Alegre (enhanced audio):
Audio Player
Hi Carlos,
That radio sure looks like it had a lot of stories to tell if it could talk, luckily it has an owner who does tell its story. I’m genuinely impressed by the battle scars and rust on the speaker grille it picked up, that it made it so far and how well it has served you. Thank you for sharing! I feel the same about radios being companions, I forget to bring my smartphone on a regular basis but I feel incomplete without one of my tiny radios in the pocket.
Ollie
I agree with you 100%, Ollie. Sometimes leaving my house without a radio in my pocket makes me feel like something is missing. My relationship with my smartphone is merely functional, but with my pocket radio it is definitely an emotional memory. Greetings from Porto Alegre.
Dear Carlos!
It’s interesting how a tool or equipment becomes part of our lives. A good radio is a true friend.
I’m an avid reader of Swling and, although I rarely write (my English is limited), I follow your posts with great satisfaction, you do a great job!
Greetings from São Paulo – Brazil
Alexandre
Thanks for the kind comments, Alexandre. Portuguese is my native language, but since most of the audience here is from outside Brazil, I prefer to communicate in English to make communication easier. Um grande abraço.
The best portable radios show it by being well worn and used, yet still working. Thanks for showing us yours Carlos. I had a YB-400 I bought in 1995 that went around the world with me when I was younger. It survived having the front panel distort when a 100 watt incandescent lamp got a little too close to it. It lasted for many years until it failed back in 2018. I miss it because, although it ate batteries pretty quickly, it had great audio. I used to use it as my primary clock radio when I was at home, picking up the Sackville NB transmitter of the BBC world service on 5965 every morning.
You know Jake, just as the scars on our bodies tell stories, so do the marks of a field radio. This receiver was a great companion during the lonely days of the pandemic and during the flood that hit hard my region last year. It may sound strange, but the radio has been my long-time friend.
Greetings from Brazil.
Carlos, thank you for the D808 “presentation”
I have one going on three years now, it’s in good condition, however yours is truly a well-seasoned “beast” as you regard it! I can certainly understand why you won’t part ways with it.., I wouldn’t either!
* I’m wondering if XHData will launch a follow up model?
Regards
John
Hey John, thanks for your feedback.
Looking at my radio set, I have the impression that it came out of some movie from the Mad Max series. Hehehehe. At some point I will have to buy a new one, but as long as it is working well, I will continue with this friend of mine at all times.
Greetings from Brazil.
Carlos, I agree 100% about the D-808. It’s hard to find something it cannot do well, except perhaps to brush my teeth. Actually I haven’t tried that yet so hold on…
I may stray to one of my many other radios but I always find my way back to my XHDATA D-808.
Exactly, John. I think the Xhdata d-808 is a kind of Swiss army knife of receivers.
The XHDATA D-808 has a couple of weak points:
The micro USB jack is not supported by the chassis – therefore one can accidentally break it. This accident happened to me.
As fixing it seemed too difficult I bought an external charger to be able to charge the radio’s battery.
The second weak point is the fine tuning knob.
It has a thin plastic shaft that can break easily.
I don’t know how I broke mine, but recently, I noticed that it is broken.
At first, it seemed difficult to fix but after some hesitation I managed to do a successful fix.
Thanks for sharing your valid points, K.U.
I really enjoyed the article.
You have done to that XHData D-808 in a few years what I did to my Sony ICF-2003 in 30 years.
I am nicer to my D-808’s
Thanks Art. Sony icf-2003 is a quite reliable receiver indeed. Greetings from Brazil.
Hey Jock, thanks for your input. I’ve been really into listening to Nikkei Radio, I need to get back to Kyodo News, it’s always fun to get their radiofax. Big hug from Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Carlos,
I always appreciate your reports and especially your artwork.
The resolution on today’s Kyodo news is remarkable.
Well done!
Cheers, Jock
Thomas, my good man, I’m always glad to share my reports with you and your great world radio community.
This is such a wonderful tribute to your radio companion, Carlos! The Beast has served us all so well in your many creative Illustrated Listening Reports and recordings.
It looks so well-loved in those photos!
Thank you for being a part of our community!
Cheers,
Thomas