Category Archives: Reviews

Carlos Explores the Sony ICR-N20: A Unique Radio Nikkei Experience from Brazil

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following guest post:

SONY ICR-N20 Quick Review

by Carlos Latuff

In the last century, several Japanese electronics manufacturers such as Sony, National-Panasonic, Hitachi, and Sanyo produced radio receivers aimed at the Japanese public and which had a peculiar characteristic: they came with crystal lock, preset frequencies from Radio Nikkei, which in the past was known by the acronym NSB (Nihon Shortwave Broadcasting) or “Radio Tampa”. For more information about this station, check out this post.

One of these models is the Sony ICR-N20, which, based on the date of the instruction manual I found on the Internet, must have been produced in the late 1990s. The device measures 150 mm × 75 mm × 36 mm and weighs 400 grams (with batteries). It has a 6.6 cm speaker (8 ohms) and a headphone output.

This device is analog and operates on the following frequencies:

Shortwave:

  • NSB1 3.925 MHz, 6.055 MHz, 9.595 MHz
  • NSB2 3.945 MHz, 6.115 MHz, 9.760 MHz
  • MW: 530 kHz ? 1.605 kHz

Currently, Radio Nikkei only broadcasts on two frequencies: 6.055 and 6.115 MHz.

It has a 7-segment telescopic antenna. No input for an external antenna.

It works on electrical power (DC 4.5 V) or 3 AA batteries.

As it’s primarily intended for the Japanese market, the buttons and dial panel are written in Japanese.

I have no complaints about the selectivity and sensitivity of the Sony ICR-N20 when it comes to medium waves. At night, in Porto Alegre (in the extreme south of Brazil), it was possible to receive (indoor) stations from Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina, but due to its proximity to these countries, this is not such a difficult task. It’s not a receiver for the most ardent DX fan, but it does a good job of being a radio for regular, everyday listening.

In the case of shortwave, I was able to receive the signal from Radio Nikkei 1 and 2 close to the Guaiba waterfront. The signal from active frequencies is weak, but audible. With favorable propagation, the reception is sometimes surprising. Following the instructions in the instruction manual, I used a long wire antenna for better reception.

In my region, the most favorable propagation window is between 08:45 and 09:15 (UTC), and yesterday, for example, February 7, 2025, the signal reached well until 10:00 (UTC). On other frequencies, it is even possible to hear other stations, such as China Radio International, and even amateur radio interference. Remember that this is not a radio receiver with all shortwave frequency bands, but only those in which Nikkei Radio 1 and 2 operate.

Here are some of the listenings made with this receiver.

Radio Nikkei 1: February 7, 2025

Radio Nikkei 1: February 7, 2025

Radio Nikkei 1: February 4, 2025

Listening Session Video

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Dan Reviews the Radel RT-860

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Van Hoy, who writes:

Because I [purchased a RT-470L last year], Radtel sent me news of their brand new RT-860. No need to mod the radio like a Quangsheng. It does LW/MW/SW with SSB/CW (rx only, of course) out of the box for less than $50! I just posted a short preliminary review of the RT-860 on YouTube:

Click here to view on YouTube.

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Comparing the Tecsun PL-880 and PL-660 in an RFI-Rich Environment

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahon, who notes that he’s published a new post on his blog, The Herculodge.

This time, Jeff examines the Tecsun PL-880 vs. PL-660, exposing the quirks and realities of DSP-based radios in his interference-heavy household. Jeff finds that in real-world conditions, the trusty PL-660 often outperforms the PL-880—especially when battling household RFI.

Check out the full post here.

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A Timeless Receiver: Going Old School with the Lowe HF-150

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dale (W4OP), who shares the following guest post:

Going Old School: The Lowe HF-150

by Dale (W4OP)

Lowe Electronics of Great Britain introduced their first shortwave receiver, designed by Jon Thorpe, in 1987: the model HF-125. The HF-125 was a 30 kHz to 30 MHz compact receiver with three filter bandwidths and AM/SSB/CW detection. As with all of the Lowe receivers, the HF-125 combined excellent build quality with no-nonsense operation. Options included a whip amplifier, keypad for direct frequency entry, and an AM synchronous detector. The diminutive receiver was an instant hit and was manufactured until 1989, when it was replaced by the HF-225. While slightly larger (9” x 10” x 4”), the HF-225 included the built-in whip amplifier, but AM sync was still an option. The HF-225 had a long run from 1989 to 1997. The front panels of the HF-125 and HF-225 were very similar and easy to operate.

There was also a “professional” version of the HF-225 called the HF-235. It was considerably longer than the HF-225 with rack handles, a front-facing speaker, keypad, and, I believe, a built-in 110/220 VAC power supply.

In 1991, Lowe, under the design of Thorpe, introduced the remarkable HF-150, the subject of this paper. Gone were the painted and bent metal enclosures, replaced by a beautiful anodized, extruded aluminum cabinet almost 1/8” thick. The HF-150 was also smaller (7.3” x 3” x 6.3”) and lighter. While the keypad was still an option, the HF-150 now contained built-in batteries and a built-in charger.* When the HF-150 came out, rechargeable batteries were NiCad, and typical capacity was 1000mAh. The HF-150 typically draws 250mA, so the NiCads in the HF-150 might give you 4 hours of run time. Today, we have NiMH batteries that have a higher energy density than NiCad cells, and I routinely see 2800mAh. That means around 10–11 hours of run time on a single charge.

In the HF-150, the whip preamp is built in, not an option. The whip and its preamp are equivalent to the short active antennas we often see in use today. This is a great feature and results in very good sensitivity from a very short antenna. A three-position slide switch on the rear panel allows for running from the active whip, a conventional antenna like a dipole, or a random wire. The slide switch also allows for introducing a -20dB attenuator to prevent overload. This was a condition often seen in Europe back in the day when there were so many high-power shortwave stations.

Also on the rear panel is a socket for the optional keypad, a socket for an external speaker, and a socket for a recorder output. The two battery boxes house a total of 8 AA batteries.

The front panel could not be simpler or more elegant in its design. There are only 2 knobs—AF Gain and Main Tuning—and three momentary push buttons. The use of these three buttons is the magic in this receiver.

The leftmost push button controls 60 memories. The main tuning knob cycles through the memories at about 25 memories per knob revolution.

While in the memory mode, the center and right-hand push buttons allow for recalling the current memory or storing the current frequency, respectively.

The rightmost push button changes the tuning speed to 100 kHz/step and allows for very fast QSYing through the entire receiver range. The frequency display in fast mode shows only the MHz and 100 kHz positions.

Press Fast again, and the display reverts back to displaying the 1 kHz least significant digit. The normal tuning rate depends upon the mode. In SSB, the steps are 8 Hz (1.6 kHz/revolution). Normal AM and AM Narrow are 60 Hz (12 kHz per revolution). There are four AM sync modes:

  • Double sideband sync  8Hz steps  1.6KHz/rev    7KHz filter
  • HiFi AM sync   8Hz steps   1.6KHz/rev                 7KHz filter
  • AM Lower sideband sync 8Hz and .8KHz/rev       2.5KHz  filter
  • AM Upper sideband sync  8Hz and .8KHz/rev      2.5KHz filter

Normal AM uses a 7 kHz filter, and there is also a narrow AM using the 2.5 kHz filter.

Recovered audio is the best I have ever heard on any receiver. I don’t make that claim lightly. It is just so smooth and wonderful to listen to—even using the internal 3” speaker.

Distortion is under 1% in all modes.

The synchronous detectors lock and stay locked. If you tune fast in sync mode, the receiver reverts to regular AM mode at a faster tuning rate and then relocks in sync once tuning is suspended.

In any mode, variable-rate tuning is used. Fast tuning of the main tuning knob will result in a tuning speed of 8x the normal rate in SSB and 6x the normal rate in AM/AM Narrow.

AM sensitivity is 1 µV from 500 kHz to 30 MHz and 0.3 µV if the whip amp is enabled.

SSB sensitivity is better than 0.5 µV from 500 kHz to 30 MHz and under 0.2 µV with the whip amplifier enabled. I have verified these numbers in my lab.

Dynamic range (reciprocal mixing) and 3rd order intermod are also respectable.

The receiver is simply luxurious to use. I know that is not a technical term, but it describes the receiver very well. The previously described aluminum extruded cabinet can likely be driven over without damage. Encoder tuning combined with the heavy tuning knob is velvet smooth. Black button-head cap screws add to a professional look.

When the 8 batteries are fitted, the receiver weighs in at just over 3 pounds and stays put while tuning or pressing buttons.

Third parties are making the optional keypad, and they may be found on eBay or the Lowe IO group. The same goes for the PL-259-fitted telescoping whip.

Lowe also offered an SP-150 matching speaker and S-meter (audio-derived, I believe) and a very nice preselector (PR-150). Both bring premium prices today.

As the receiver was produced, the LCD did not have backlighting, making it difficult to use, say, bedside at night. As you can see from the first photo, I have backlit mine and those of a number of friends. It is not difficult, but also not for the faint of heart, as it involves delicately removing the silver film on the rear of the LCD display. The Lowe IO group describes a couple of methods for accomplishing backlighting.

There are no surface-mounted parts, and as the main board is uncrowded, repair is easy. There is a long service document that is so in-depth that you could build your own HF-150—assuming you could get the firmware into the microprocessor. I wish other pieces of gear I own were half this detailed.

Jon Thorpe designed one other receiver for Lowe, the HF-250. It is a thing of beauty, also with its 3D black anodized front panel. More filters and features and quite rare today. After designing the HF-250, Jon was hired by AOR, and the well-known AOR7030 was the result.

After Jon left, Lowe did not produce any other receivers I am aware of, but they did privately badge the Palstar R-30 under the Lowe HF-350 model.

I trust the numbers I have provided are reasonably accurate, and if not, Lowe documents will provide better information anyway.

*Note: Users must be very careful not to run the HF-150 from its AC supply while the receiver is fitted with alkaline batteries. The result will be corrosion of the two battery boxes.

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Jeff’s short review of the Tecsun PL-880

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahon, who notes that he’s recently published a short review of the Tecsun PL-880 on his blog, The Herculodge.

Jeff has discovered something that portable radio enthusiasts have known for more than a decade: the PL-880 sports some of the best audio fidelity in a modern portable radio!

His review prompted me to search for my original review of the PL-880. It turns out I published it in December 2013. Has it really been over 11 years since the PL-880 was introduced? It’s hard to believe—but I’ll admit it still holds its own. I’ll never let mine go.

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Qodosen DX-286 First Impressions

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By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM

There was quite a bit of excitement in the ultralight radio community in 2024 when folks “discovered” the Qodosen DX-286 radio.

The very first version of this radio was the Qodosen SR-286. Its Big Trick was that it was based on the NXP TEF6686 DSP chip which is designed for car radio use and delivered impressive performance on AM (medium wave broadcast band), FM, and shortwave (it also receives LW; I have not tested that.). The SR-286 was later refined and became the DX-286, which late last year I bought. The two versions of the radio look virtually identical except for the model designation on the front panel.

The bottom line: I can, indeed, confirm the performance of the DX-286 is, as my Dad used to say, “hotter than a two-dollar pistol.”

While I don’t actually know much about the thermal properties of cheap handguns, I can say with authority that the DX-286 is very pleasing to own and operate.

The DX-286 is a small radio, measuring 5.28″L x 1.18″W x 2.99″H. The fit and finish, for the most part, are excellent. The front is studded with 23 buttons, a speaker grill/opening, and a digital display. On the left side is a port for plugging in an external antenna. On the right side, you will find a tuning knob that can be pushed in to change the tuning step and auto tuning, a volume adjustment wheel, a charging port, and a port for plugging in headphones.. On the back is a hatch for accessing the rechargeable 18650 battery and a flimsy-looking flip-out foot for propping the DX-286 at an angle. On the top of the radio is a fold-out telescoping metal antenna that measure about 19 inches long when fully extended.

The DX-286 comes in a neat foam-cushioned plastic case that includes an extensive user manual, a drawstring bag for protecting the DX-286 when it is out of the case, a charging cable and an optional extra battery.

From the DX-286 manual, here are the frequency ranges that the DX-286 can receive and the tuning steps are available.

Frequency Range/Tuning Step

FM:

  • 64-108MHz (suitable for Russia/Eastern Europe)
  • 76-95MHz (suitable for Japan),
  • 76-108MHz (suitable for School)
  • 87-108MHz (suitable for Europe, Oceania, Africa, Asia)
  • 87.5-108MHz (suitable for China, Americas)

(Tuning step is 250kHz/200kHz/100 kHz/50kHz/30kHz/10kHz)

SW: 1711-27000kHz (Tuning step is 1kHz/5kHz)

MW:

  • 522-1620kHz (Tuning step is 1kHz/9kHz)
  • 520-1710kHz (Tuning step is 1kHz/10kHz)

LW: 144-519kHz (Tuning step is 1kHz/3kHz)

Note: the DX-286 does not receive SSB signals, doesn’t do synchronous detection, or receive NOAA weather radio or the air band.

One of the things I have discovered messing with radios over the years is that ergonomics matter. The first definition of ergonomics from the American Heritage Dictionary is: The applied science of equipment design, as for the workplace, intended to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort.

Let me give you an example of how ergonomics applies to radios. The XHDATA D-220 is a very simple radio. It receives FM/MW/SW bands and that’s it. As such, it has a very simple set of controls: a tuning knob, an ON/OFF/VOLUME knob, and a slide for selecting bands . . . and all that is needed.

By contrast, the Qodosen DX-286 is an extremely sophisticated receiver that offers a ton of interesting options: switching amplifiers and attenuators on and off, selecting internal and external antennas, choosing bandwidths, tuning steps and much more, each depending on what band you are trying receive.

In my view, in an ideal universe, a radio as sophisticated as the DX-286 would have a knob (or switch) for every job on its front panel, but that would make the front panel huge. However, in a small radio as sophisticated as the DX-286, many of the buttons serve more than one function, and those functions may change depending on band. As a result, you will be richly rewarded by studying the manual, which can be downloaded here [PDF], to take full advantage of the many functions of the DX-286.

But here’s the really good news: you don’t need encyclopedic knowledge of the user’s manual to use and enjoy the DX-286. I have been listening with it for three weeks and have consulted the manual exactly twice: once to find out how to switch to an external antenna while receiving MW (press and hold the RDS button) and once more to find out how to switch between medium wave and shortwave (quick-press the AM button until you get the selection you want; FM has its own button). In short, you can take a very un-sophisticated approach to the DX-286 and still have a bunch of fun with it.

The performance of the DX-286 is impressive.

I habitually listen with headphones (that helps to compensates for a hearing deficit that hearing aids can’t correct). Cruising the medium wave broadcast band, I’ve been able to hear very faint medium wave stations that I could not detect with other radios in its size class.

In addition, the DX-286 is the only ultralight that I own that allows me to connect an external antenna through a hardwire connection to boost medium wave reception. It’s easy: while in MW mode, plug the external antenna into the external antenna socket and then use the RDS button to switch from internal to external antenna. One of my joys has been to “sneak up” on very faint MW stations in the early morning using the DX-286’s internal MW antenna, then switch to the Terk AM Advantage loop antenna (connected through a hardwire) to attempt to boost the signal sufficiently to hear (or deduce) a station ID.

FM reception seems similarly robust . . . although I must admit that I am by no means an expert FM DXer.  One evening, while poking around the FM band, a faint station popped up. Wiggling the telescoping antenna around, I found that if lowered the antenna to a horizontal orientation, I could receive an entirely different FM station. Cool! The DX-286 has RDS to help in IDing FM stations, but I wasn’t using it at the time.

SW performance, in my view, is also remarkable.

One mid-morning I used the AUTO seek buttons to search for SW stations using the whip antenna and found 20. Plugging in an external 45-foot wire loop antenna and using the seek function again, the DX-286 found 38 stations, some of which were at the extreme edge of detectability.

There are a couple of additional items that deserve mention. First, it seems there is something going on with the audio/signal processing within the DX-286 that renders the audio more pleasant to listen to on a “rough copy” MW/SW signal than some of my other radios. I might be deceiving myself, but I don’t think so.

Second, the DX-286 is quiet to operate. Pushing various buttons and turning the knob results in little noise, and this preserves domestic tranquility when I’m doing my horizontal DXing with the Better Half trying to drift off to sleep next to me.

Now, if this were a trip to Santa’s Lap, improvements to the DX-286 I would like to see would include SSB operation, NOAA weather radio, the air band, and operation off ordinary AA batteries . . . but lack of those aren’t deal breakers.

In the end, I can happily use and recommend the DX-286 just as it is.

Finally, a neat anecdote involving the DX-286. One of my pals bought one in the fall. He checked into the Radio Monitoring Net, which I run Tuesday nights on a local 2 meter repeater.

“I’ve got an election story to tell you, and it involves radio,” he said.

“Like you, I watched the election results on TV Tuesday night, but with the sound off. Instead, I was using the Qodosen DX-286 to listen to results on radio direct from Atlanta and Philadelphia (he lives in upstate New York). I got the results for Georgia and Pennsylvania two hours ahead of the national news!”

I told my wife about this, and she asked, “What radio was he using?”

I bet you can figure out the rest of the story.

Click here to check out the Qodosen DX-286 at Amazon.com
(Please note: this is an affiliate link that supports the SWLing Post at no cost to you.)

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Why Jeff Returned the Qodosen DX-286

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahon, who notes that he’s published his thoughts about the Qodosen DX-286 [SWLing Post affiliate link] over on his blog, The Herculodge. While the DX-286 had solid AM reception, its audio quality and build didn’t quite meet his needs.

In the end, Jeff opted for a more robust choice for his setup. Curious about his experience with the DX-286 and why he made the switch? Read Jeff’s review here.

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