Category Archives: Reviews

A review of the Degen DE32 shortwave radio: compared with the DE321 and Tecsun PL-380

The Degen DE32 (Click to enlarge)

The Degen DE32 is one of the latest DSP-based analog radios to hit the market. In the past, I have reviewed two others: the Degen DE321 and the Kchibo KK-9803. Tecsun had announced a version of their own–the Tecsun R-2010–which I had eagerly anticipated, but I now believe it’s been dropped from their future offerings. [Update: Not true–the Tecsun has been released as the R-2010D, see review].

I purchased my Degen DE32 from this China-based seller on eBay. To my knowledge, eBay is the only place the DE32 can be purchased, at time of posting. As with the other radios mentioned above, my expectations were quite low for this little radio. After all, at $27 US (shipped), you can’t expect top-notch performance characteristics.

The DE32 un-boxed (Click to enlarge)

The DE32 comes with a carry strap, USB cable, a carry pouch, slim rechargeable battery, and operating instructions in Chinese. It does not come with a USB wall adapter (you’ll have to plug it into a USB port on your PC or other USB wall charger) and it does not come with a Micro SD card (for digital audio playback).

Audio

The DE32 has a small built-in speaker. The sound is a bit tinny, but is actually better than I expected from a speaker of this size. It makes for comfortable listening at close range–especially of spoken-word broadcasts. Happily, plugging in a good set of earphones helps audio fidelity tremendously. This is the only way I would listen to music on the DE32 for an extended period of time. On FM, in fact, audio via earphones is surprisingly good (again, for a $27 radio–check out the audio sample below).

(Click to enlarge)

Performance

The DE32 covers three radio bands: medium wave (AM), FM and shortwave (5.6-22 MHz). Performance between bands varies greatly. The best band, by far, is FM. Again, no surprise here, as the DE321 and KK-9803 performed quite well on FM.

Here’s a 20+ minute audio sample of a local classic rock radio station I recorded, 95.7FM The Ride:

From my home, I can pick up my benchmark distant NPR station quite easily if I hold the radio in my hand. If I place the radio in a window sill, its performance degrades somewhat and contains more static as the extra grounding (from holding the radio) made a positive difference. The audio, though, is still perfectly intelligible. Local FM stations come in quite clear and fidelity (through headphones) is excellent.

The Degen DE321 (left) and DE32 (right)

I found that strong local medium wave (AM) stations sound quite good on the DE32–better than its cousin, the DE321, by a small margin.

While traveling over the holidays in December, I recorded extended samples of local station (630AM WAIZ) with both the DE32 and the DE321. You can listen to audio samples below, but first it’s important to note that I recorded these (and the FM sample above) with my Zoom H2N digital audio recorder, with radios at a comparable volume and via an audio patch cord.

Note that these recordings represent what each radio sounds like via headphones, not their internal speakers.

This is WAIZ on the Degen DE32:

Compared with WAIZ on the Degen DE321:

(Click to enlarge)

You’ll note that the DE32 sounds a little fuller than the DE321, but reception is nearly identical on this local strong medium wave (AM) station. I also found that the DE32 was quite effective at nulling out local RFI (electrical noises) on medium wave. At the beginning of the recordings, above, you’ll hear the static increase and fade as I null out the noise by turning the body of the radio. The DE321 couldn’t null out the local noise quite as effectively as the DE32.

For medium wave DXing, though, you’re better off finding a different ultralight radio. The AGC simply can’t handle marginal signals. Indeed, the same AGC problems plague the shortwave bands as well. DXing would be very unpleasant as the AGC circuit simply can’t cope with weak signals or fading. All in all, as with medium wave, shortwave radio reception is fine for most strong signals.

Tecsun PL-380: What a difference an extra $23 makes

On shortwave, I decided to also compare the DE32 ($27) to the Tecsun PL-380 ($50). I tuned to a Radio Australia broadcast on 11,945 kHz. The comparison between these three portables is interesting:

First, the Degen DE32:

Now, the DE321:

Both the DE32 and DE321 struggled to receive the Radio Australia signal. In fact, if you really wanted to hear those broadcasts and had to listen on either radio for 30+ minutes it would be frustrating and fatiguing. Notice, however, the difference when listening to the same broadcast with the Tecsun PL-380:

The Tecsun PL-380 receives circles around the DE32 and DE321 on shortwave and medium wave (Click to enlarge)

There’s no comparison, really. In other words, you can hear it. The PL-380 has a lower noise floor, a fuller sound and no AGC problems as with the DE32 and DE321. Hence the reason I always take the PL-380 while travelling–and as a back-up if I plan to record a broadcast on-the-go.

On the shortwaves, as with medium wave, the DE32 is respectable when tuned to a strong signal. For comparison to the weaker signals above, here is a short recording of the DE32 tuned to Radio Havana Cuba:

Not too bad, really. Keep in mind, though, that in my part of North America, Radio Havana broadcasts are so strong that I can pick them up without even extending the whip antenna on most portables.

Conclusion:

The DE32 has a built-in LED flashlight (Click to enlarge)

I haven’t tested the digital audio playback on the DE32 yet, although I expect the audio to be pleasant enough. Of course, it lacks a display to show any information about the audio you’re playing, but it would be great to load a few podcasts or audio books on.

In summary, I’ve tabulated the pros and cons below from the moment I took the DE32 out of the box, below. Note that these pros and cons take into account the $27 price level of this radio:

Pros:

Very portable and lightweight
With micro SD card, storage for hours of pre-recorded content (though not tested in this review)
Adequate shortwave coverage (5.6 to 22 MHz) (see con)
Good audio fidelity, via headphones, on strong stations, slightly better than the DE321
Above average FM reception
Great nulling ability on medium wave (AM)
Features a built-in LED light (see con)
Overall build quality seems to be acceptable
Standard analog volume control (not digitally incremented levels)
Red LED tune light (see con)

Cons:

Shortwave sensitivity and selectivity are poor
Shortwave coverage lacks the lower tropic bands
Bandwidth is not adjustable and too broad for crowded conditions
AGC (as with many DSP portables in this class) cannot deal with weaker DX stations
Medium wave (AM) imaging on the shortwave bands if strong local station present
Antenna slightly loose in antenna hole when fully extended
No battery level indicator
No back stand
Tinny sound from tiny built-in speaker
To operate LED flashlight, you must press a button continuously to keep illuminated and LED bulb orientation does not help with reading display in dark (see pro)
No option for standard AA or AA batteries–only included li-ion rechargeable pack
LED tuning light only works with very strong stations (see pro)

Conclusion? Though slim, lightweight and inexpensive, I wouldn’t find the DE32 DSP radio/digital audio player a useful radio in my collection.

If I were you, would I buy it?

If you’re looking for a very inexpensive MP3/Digital Audio player with AM/FM and shortwave, and your expectations are fairly low, the Degen DE32 is a reasonable $27 piece of kit. Especially if you only plan to use the FM band.

If the digital audio playback abilities are not important to you, I would go with the cheaper ($18 US) Degen DE321.

But if you really want performance on medium wave and shortwave, and you could care less about digital audio playback, spend the extra $23 ($50 total) and buy the Tecsun PL-380, instead. As you can hear above, it’s a much, much better receiver.

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The truth about portable amplified shortwave antennas

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In the past week, I have had no less than 3 email inquiries from readers regarding which amplified antenna to purchase for their portable shortwave radio. My short answer? None.

In my opinion, there’s one fatal flaw with amplified antennas: they amplify noise just as much as they do the signal you wish to hear.

The only portable amplified antenna I’ve had any results with is the Sony AN-LP1 (now only available in Japan), and I attribute this success mainly to the fact that a suction cup, mounted at the top of the loop, allows it to be mounted on a window. Even then, results are often only marginally better than with the telescopic whip.

There may have been a time when portable amplified antennas made sense–a time prior to noisy AC adapters, flat screen TVs, and other consumer electronics which spew RFI (Radio Frequency Interference), polluting our shortwave bands. Today, however, you’ll be disappointed with the results of one of these, particularly if you travel–turning on the amplified antenna in a hotel room will increase the noise you hear two-fold, while weak broadcasters will remain lost in the static.

The Sangean ANT-60 is inexpensive and vesatile

So what can you do to improve the performance of your portable while traveling or at home? I’m still a fan of the roll-up antenna; like the Sangean ANT-60. They’re inexpensive ($12 US), packable, and versatile–the clip on the end of the reel allows the antenna wire to be clipped to curtains and blinds. Place it near a window, or even hang it outside. Antennas love being outside–just take it down when not in use.

In lieu of buying a roll-up antenna, you could simply attach an alligator clip to the end of a 20′ (6 meters) length of wire. The alligator clip can then attach to the end of your telescopic antenna, and you now have the same properties of a roll-up antenna for pennies. This is possibly the most cost-effective way to improve the performance of your portable shortwave radio. One note of caution: don’t get too generous with the length of your antenna wire. Some portable radios lack a robust front-end and a wire that’s too long could actually overload the receiver. Some Grundig G5’s were even sensitive to static discharges over a wire antenna. If uncertain, I would not exceed 20 feet in length (6 meters).

An alligator clip offers serious bang-for buck–especially if you already have the parts lying around!

I’ll never forget: one of the first email questions I received on SWLing.com was from a fellow listener in Washington state who wanted to hear stations better on his Sony portable. I suggested the alligator clip/antenna wire. He wrote back enthusiastically, “This is the most cost-effective improvement I have ever made to anything!” He was so encouraged with the performance improvement, he invested in a tabletop and a proper outdoor antenna with grounding.

So, I urge you to try a roll-up antenna or the alligator clip antenna before you waste money on a portable amplified antenna. Just my two cents.

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2013 WRTH: A look inside

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I just received my copy of the 2013 WRTH directly from the publisher. As many SWLing readers know, I look forward to receiving this staple radio reference guide, and this year it even arrived early. While other reference guides have pulled out of the scene, WRTH has remained strong, resistant to the economy’s negative influence upon radio, and their quality, too, has been consistent. Not only does WRTH have a loyal readership among hobbyists, but also among commercial broadcasters.

WRTH’s team of noted DXers from around the world curate frequencies and broadcaster information by region; while I’m not sure how they orchestrate all of this, the end result is truly a symphony of radio information. In addition to broadcaster listings, WRTH’s radio reviews, feature articles, and annual HF report make for excellent reading.

With that said, I dived into the reference’s reviews first, as the writers often test radios that I never have the privilege to test in my shack, such as units out of Europe. This issue is no exception: WRTH reviewed the Cross Country Wireless SDR-4+, the Afedri SDR-Net, and one I have tested, the Bonito 1102S Radiojet––all receivers from smaller manufacturers throughout Europe.

The DR111 DRM Radio (Photo: Chengdu NewStar Electronics)

Although WRTH notes that there have been very few new additions to the tabletop or portable market for 2013 (I absolutely agree), it does cover the Newstar DR111 portable DRM receiver.

Low-band DXers who like experimenting with antennas will be happy to see that they also test the Wellbrook FLG100LN. Since 2009, WRTH has given attention to Internet radios, as many readers use these to supplement their SWLing; I certainly do. In this edition, WRTH reviews the Pure ‘One Flow’ and the Roberts Stream 83i, which they give their WRTH 2013 Best Internet Radio Award. Congratulations!

The Racal RA-3791 (Photo: Firmenprospekt)

WRTH also turns their reviewers toward some classic 1990s DSP receivers, like the Racal RA3791, the Marconi H2550, the STC STR8212, and the Rohde & Schwarz EK 085. I find these reviews, in particular, invaluable as a reference. Although many of these radios float around in the used radio market, I’m usually reluctant to invest in a product that was originally produced in smaller numbers, often for commercial/government use. If you’re knowledgeable enough to choose the right one, however, you could get benchmark performance at an excellent cost. Plus–well, let’s face it–they look cool.

I always enjoy WRTH’s human-interest articles as well. In this edition, WRTH features the Children’s Radio Foundation, who strive to give African youth a voice on the radio. As the director of a radio charity myself, I know the good folks at the Children’s Radio Foundation, and can assure you that you’ll love reading about their mission this holiday season; it’s very heart-warming.

WRTH also features an article on the island of Curacao and another on the new clandestine station, Khmer Post Radio.

Of course, WRTH also includes their digital update and HF propagation report.

All in all, this is another great edition of the World Radio TV Handbook. As I’ve said before, though I use online frequency databases fairly regularly, there is no replacement for a good printed frequency guide. Not only does WRTH contain more in-depth information on broadcasters and schedules, but it makes for quick reference, and doesn’t require a computer or Internet connection…much like your shortwave radio.

Purchase your copy of WRTH 2013 directly from WRTH’s publishers, or from a distributor like Universal Radio (US) or Radio HF (Canada). Happy reading!

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SWLing.com’s 2012 Holiday Shortwave and Radio Gift Guide

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One of the most popular posts on the SWLing Post each year is the annual Holiday Radio Gift Guide. I started this annual post in 2010 when I realized that it would be easier than answering an in-box full of individual emails from people seeking the perfect shortwave radio for their friend or loved one.

In the following, you’ll find a handful of select radios I recommend for this gift-giving season. I’ve arranged this selection by price, starting with the most affordable. I’ve included a few promising new radios that have recently been introduced to the market, along with models that have proven their reliability and are on their way to becoming classics.

For the benefit of those with less radio experience, this quick guide is basic, non-technical, and to the point. For more comprehensive reviews, please consult our Radio Reviews page.

Updated for the 2012-13 holiday season on 22 November 2012.

Simple, affordable and portable

The Kaito WRX911 is a classic, no-frills analog radio. Turn it on and tune. That’s its game.

Kaito WRX911 or Tecsun R-911 ($33)

I’ve owned this little radio for years. It has been on the market a long time and I know exactly why: it’s affordable and very simple to operate. While it has no tone control, bandwidth control or digital display, the WRX911 performs better than other radios in its stocking-stuffer price range. I find its medium wave (AM band) reception above par–especially its ability to null out interfering broadcasts by simply turning the radio body. The WRX911 is also a great radio to keep in the glove compartment of your car. (Another similarly-priced radio to consider is the DE321, which we recommended last year–also check out our review.)

You can purchase the Kaito WRX911 from Universal Radio.

Don’t live at home without it

No matter where you live,you should have a self-powered radio in your home. The Eton FR160 is like a Swiss Army Knife when power fails.

Eton FR160 ($34 US)

A good friend recently sent me a message: she had been without power in the wake of Hurricane Sandy for two full weeks. She also added that her little FR160 kept her family informed and provided comfort in the dark days following the hurricane.

The Eton FR160 is a sturdy and useful little radio. This radio features AM/FM and the NOAA weather radio bands (at least, the North American versions do; international versions may have shortwave instead of weather frequencies). The FR160 also features a very bright white LED flashlight and even sports a small solar panel that can effectively charge the internal battery pack. The FR160 also features a USB port that you can plug your mobile phone, iPod or other USB device into for charging. (Note that it takes a lot of cranking to charge a typical cell phone, but I can confirm that it does work in a pinch.)

Over the past few years, these radios have become ubiquitous. I’ve seen them in sporting goods stores, RadioShack (Tandy in some countries), BestBuy, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond–indeed, they’re in practically every North American big-box store and in many mail order catalogs besides. Of course, Universal Radio sells them, too.

The CC Solar Observer has everything you need to weather a power outage

CC Solar Observer ($50 US)

Like the FR160, the CC Solar Observer is a wind-up/solar emergency radio with AM/FM and Weather Band, and an LED flashlight built into the side of the radio. It’s perhaps a nicer option for those who want bigger audio out of their emergency radio. The Solar Observer is rugged and well-designed, like many C.Crane products.

The CC Solar Observer is available at C.Crane.

Eton and C.Crane sell many other self-powered radio models. If interested in exploring more models, check out our self-powered/emergency radio reviews.

A shortwave radio with Bluetooth

When coupled with another Bluetooth device, this radio doubles as wireless remote speakers

The Tecsun PL-398BT ($100)

The Tecsun PL-398BT is a very unique shortwave radio. In fact, it may be the perfect gift for a radio enthusiast who is also very tied to their computer or smart phone. Besides being a very capable shortwave/AM/FM receiver in its own right, when put into Bluetooth mode and connected to a smart phone, PC, or other device, the PL-398BT’s speakers act as its wireless stereo speakers. I believe this may be an ideal way to listen to internet radio from your iPhone, for example. Of course, the PL-398BT comes from a legacy of great receivers, so the AM/FM and shortwave performance will not disappoint. It’s a little on the pricey side for a shortwave radio that lacks the SSB mode (for listening to utility and ham radio transmissions), but the Bluetooth function more than makes up for it, in my opinion. Some people may definitely prefer this function.

You can purchase the PL-398BT from Universal Radio or you can click here to search eBay.

Best performance for price

The Grundig G3 has a solid reputation and at $100, great value for the performance.

The Grundig G3 ($100 US)

Simply put, the Grundig G3 offers the best bang for your buck in 2012. I have a lot of portable radios, but the one I probably reach for the most–for recreational shortwave radio listening–is the Grundig G3. I wrote this review three years ago and even recently posted this update. Read them and you’ll see why I like the G3. At $100, the G3 will please both the shortwave radio newbie and the seasoned listener.

The Grundig G3 can be purchased from Universal Radio or Grove. Some local RadioShack stores also keep the G3 in stock (though unfortunately, less often than they used to).

Of course, two other excellent (though pricier) options are the Tecsun PL-660 and the Sony ICF-SW7600GR.

Small black box + PC = rich performance

The RFSpace IQ is small, but packs a big punch

The RFSpace SDR-IQ ($500 US)

If $500 is within your budget, and you’re buying for someone who would love combining their radio hobby with computer technology, a software defined receiver (SDR), like the RFSpace SDR-IQ, will certainly exceed their expectations. There are many SDRs on the market, but the SDR-IQ offers the most bang-for-the-buck in the SDR line (though the WinRadio Excalibur ($900 US)–which we recently reviewed–and the Microtelecom Perseus ($1,000 US) are certainly pricier benchmarks worth considering).

The RFSpace SDR-IQ is available from Universal Radio and is manufactured in the USA.

The Bonito RadioJet

The Bonito RadioJet ($700 US)

The Bonito RadioJet is new to the North American market in 2012. I reviewed the RadioJet this summer and even traveled with it extensively. I was thoroughly impressed with its portability, performance, and it did not task my PC as much as SDRs do. Like the SDR-IQ, it’s a small black metal box that hooks up to your PC to unlock its impressive features. The RadioJet, though, represents cutting-edge IF receiver design, and comes with an amazingly versatile software package. If you’re buying for someone who likes versatility and raw performance–and likes being an early adopter–the Bonito RadioJet may well be the perfect fit.

The Bonito RadioJet can be purchased from Universal Radio and is manufactured in Germany.

Tabletop Performance

The Alinco DX-R8T

The Alinco DX-R8T ($450 US)

We featured the Alinco DX-R8T in last year’s holiday gift guide. We also gave it a full review–in short, this radio thoroughly impressed us. It’s full-featured, performs well, and comes at a very affordable price. If you’re buying this for a ham radio operator, they’ll understand the reason why the Alinco DX-R8T needs a 12 volt power supply and an external antenna. It’s a receiver version of a ham radio transceiver, and as such, does a fine job on SSB modes.

Purchase the Alinco DX-R8T from Universal Radio or Durham Radio (Canada)

Want more gift options? Try our 2011 or 2010 gift guides, take a look through our shortwave radio reviews guide and/or our simplified reviews page.
Happy Holidays!

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A review of the WiNRADiO WR-G31DDC “Excalibur” software defined radio (SDR)

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The WinRadio WR-G31DDC “Excalibur” Software Defined Radio

I confess, I’m one of those shortwave radio listeners who has always believed the best tabletop radio is one that looks like a radio–a radio with knobs, buttons, a digital or analog display, and one sole purpose in life: to tune in the stations I want to hear. When software defined radios (SDRs) came to the market many years ago, I honestly thought I’d never use one, certainly never as my main receiver–after all, who wants to turn on a computer just to listen to the radio?

Who, indeed? I’ve discovered that I do!

The WinRadio WR-G31DDC “Excalibur”

Over the past year, since I’ve become more and more engaged in shortwave radio audio archiving, I realized I needed to get a tool for making this a simpler, even more automated process. Clearly, I needed to find an SDR for the job. So, last year, I started the process of evaluating SDRs to find the one that would best suit my needs as a discriminating shortwave radio listener, ham radio operator, and amateur radio archivist. And since I wanted to be able to record spectrum, I needed a true SDR, not a PC-controlled IF receiver.

The Excalibur packages includes the receiver, application software CD, low-noise power supply, USB cable, SMA to BNC connector, and, an excellent user’s manual.

Several considerations steered me toward the WinRadio Excalibur over, say, the Microtelecom Perseus, the RF Space NetSDR, SDR IQ, or the QS1R Quicksilver–all models with which the Excalibur is often compared. It was a tough decision, and I’ll go into greater detail about my selection criteria in a future post on SDRs. But the overarching factor that guided my final decision–? Simply put, it was the Excalibur’s robust recording functionality.

I’m grateful to WinRadio for giving me a loaner Excalibur to evaluate over a two month period of time–at the end of which, I decided that I liked the radio so much, I purchased it from them for the same price they offered to their customers at the 2012 Dayton Hamvention.

The WinRadio Excalibur is manufactured in Australia

First impressions–and installation

When I first held the Excalibur receiver in my hands, I was a little surprised by its size–it’s a bit smaller than I expected. The radio itself is not much larger than a typical portable shortwave radio, thus, it’s quite easy to fit into a laptop case for mobile DXing. The unit itself has very few connections; just three, in fact:

an SMA type RF connector (WinRadio supplies an SMA to BNC adapter), for external antennas
a control cable port
a DC power supply port

On the “front” of the radio, there’s only a blue LED light (which can be controlled by the Excalibur software), and a power button.

The chassis is made of a durable transparent polymer, and inside, the receiver is protected by a metal enclosure. Frankly, it’s a pretty sleek looking piece of gear, and its footprint is small enough not to take up much space on a desktop. In fact, it resembles an external hard drive more than it does a receiver.

The Excalibur application software: a brief introduction

Allow me to begin by saying, the WinRadio Excalibur application software is very easy to install. The install package is surprisingly small–a little less than 10MB–thus it installs very quickly. In fact, if you want to check out the application for yourself, it’s a free download from WinRadio’s website. If you don’t have an Excalibur radio hooked up to your computer, the software will allow you to run in “Demo Mode,” in which you can explore settings, customization, etc.

Good news: the WinRadio Excalibur is purely “plug-and-play.” You load the application, you plug the radio into your PC, and it works.

The virtual control panel

The application software’s graphic user interface (GUI)–or as WinRadio calls it, the “virtual control panel”–has a very logical layout:

In the upper left part of the window (see screenshot below) you’ll find the frequency display and tabs for each of the three individual virtual receivers you can use within the allotted spectrum bandwidth (see above). In the middle of this section, you’ll find a tuning knob and configurable analog-styled meter. In the right portion of the upper pane, you’ll find all the mode controls, along with memory, filters, audio mixing, notch, squelch, gain, and the noise blanker.

The control panel, otherwise, is divided into three main spectrum windows:

The top right window displays the spectrum as seen by the currently selected virtual receiver. It’s within this window that you can tune, change the passband, visually adjust the notch filter, and even view the audio spectrum. It is, essentially, the IF spectrum–WinRadio calls this the “Demodulator Spectrum.”
The top left window contains the DDC spectrum, the bandwidth of which can vary anywhere from 20 kHz to 2 MHz, selectable in 21 steps. All three virtual receivers can be used simultaneously within the DDC spectrum bandwidth; in other words, if the DDC is set to a 1 MHz bandwidth between 9,200-10,200 kHz, you could listen to and/or record broadcasters on 9,580 and 9,625 kHz and 9,990 kHz. The DDC spectrum window will show shaded areas which represent the location and bandwidth of each virtual receiver.
The wide lower window contains the Wideband Spectrum Scope, which, essentially, gives you a view of the entire HF spectrum from 0-30 or 0-50 MHz. I typically keep mine set to 0-30 MHz, as I rarely use the 30-50 MHz portion, and it otherwise shrinks the wideband spectrum view to display the additional coverage. Perhaps what’s most useful about this scope is that it imparts the ability to “see” propagation conditions across the HF band. Also, in this setting, I can switch between two antennas in order to see what portions of the HF spectrum each one best receives.

The DDC window displaying spectrum (click to enlarge)

The DDC and Wideband spectrum windows are selectable between a standard spectrum look or a waterfall display. The waterfall has several color schemes to select from, as well. In the image above, I show a standard spectrum display for the DDC window, and the yellow waterfall display for the wideband spectrum. Unlike the Microtelecom Perseus, the Excalibur GUI is re-sizeable, meaning, it can be minimized or maximized to fill your monitor screen. Additionally, the spectrum windows can also be re-sized to your liking.

The DDC window displaying waterfall–note that there are several waterfall color schemes (click to enlarge)

Tuning in

Ease of tuning is a very important factor for an SDR–especially for someone like me, who really has an appreciation for the traditional, tactile tuning knob of a tabletop radio. Fortunately, the Excalibur is very simple to tune, and you have options in this respect, too. While you can use your mouse pointer to “turn” the virtual tuning knob at the top of the control panel, I find using my PC’s keyboard’s up and down arrows to be even easier, and using these allows me to retain a sense of tactile control. If you have a mouse with a scroll button (which I highly recommend) you can tune with this, as well. Of course, you can also easily tune the receiver by clicking or dragging the mouse pointer within the DDC or DEM spectrum windows.

So many SDRs and IF receivers I’ve reviewed or used have some limitations with tuning. For example, the Perseus requires that you click a button to display a keypad box before you can enter a frequency directly. On the Excalibur, you simply type the number–and if you wish, you can even specify MHz or kHz by trailing with an “M” or “K.” So, if you want to go to 15,550 kHz, you simply type “15550.” If you want 15,000 kHz (a.k.a. 15 MHz), you can simply type “15M.” No extra keypad windows to open. You can also assign frequency memory locations to your keyboard’s function keys.

Performance

Though the look-and-feel, layout, and overall usability of the Excalibur are important, the “rubber meets the road” in real receiver performance. The fact is, if you’re spending $900 US for a receiver, you want to know that you’re getting a good value.

Rest assured–with the Excalibur, you are.

I don’t often become giddy over a receiver, but I must confess…I love this Excalibur. Despite my initial hesitancy, this radio has proven itself, and thoroughly won me over. The Excalibur is, in short, the best SDR I have ever used. As far as I can tell, it runs neck-and-neck with the Microtelecom Perseus in sensitivity, selectivity, and overall receiver performance. The Perseus may have an edge with its adjustable DSP, but the Excalibur has an overall edge with its AM sync detector and flexible filter/mode controls. This is my SDR.

By using the AMS mode and only selecting the lower side band sync, the interference seen in the upper side band is completely eliminated from the reception (click to enlarge)

AM Sync Detection (AMS mode)

The AM sync detector (AMS) on the Excalibur is nothing short of amazing. Though it can be a little slow to lock and is noticeably slow to self-adjust if a transmission drifts off-frequency, it’s a highly effective tool to cope with weak signal selective fading.

I’ve even found that adjacent signal noise (or QRM) that bleeds into the passband can be effectively and often completely eliminated by simply engaging the AMS on the sideband that is clear of the adjacent noise. This is remarkable. For example, if you are listening to a weak signal on 15,585 kHz but a strong signal on 15,590 kHz is causing interference in the upper side band (easily seen on the spectrum scope), simply engage the AMS on the lower side band. Time and time again, I’ve found this to be even more effective than using a combination of the passband and notch filtering.

With strong signals, AMS is simply not needed most of the time. I have, however, engaged it several times while recording music (say, the Voice of Greece) to either lower noise from adjacent broadcasts, or simply to decrease the noise floor.

Automatic Gain Control (AGC)

The Excalibur’s pre-defined AGC levels of slow, medium and fast are quite effective, and easy to switch between. But if you wish, you can actually adjust the AGC yourself–controlling the attack and decay, setting the reference level and max gain to your own specifications, and even saving it as a personalized user setting. This personalized option will then appear as a selection under the pre-defined AGC settings.

Of course, you can also adjust the gain manually, but I find that I rarely need to do so.

The Excalibur’s notch filter can be adjusted by frequency and width (click to enlarge)

Notch

At first, I found using the Excalibur’s notch filter a little clumsy to use as compared with that of the Perseus. As with other mode adjustments and filters, the Excalibur employs a set of drop-down menus to adjust the notch. Initially I found it cumbersome to move the notch on top of interference by selecting the exact frequency from the drop-down menu. But as I’ve worked with the Excalibur a bit more, I find I now actually prefer the Excalibur’s method.

Here’s why. To use the notch, you simply select the notch tab, click the engage button, and then the center frequency button. Now, by selecting the frequency drop-down menu and using the scroll wheel on your mouse, the notch will move across the passband accordingly. Once you’ve covered the interference with the notch, you can adjust its width with a drop-down menu–it can be widened up to 2 kHz, if needed.

You’ll find the notch especially valuable when listening within crowded ham bands or where the ham bands and AM broadcasters overlap, of course. Again, most of the time, I turn to the AMS for eliminating QRM on the broadcast bands.

Other features

Frankly, the Excalibur has so many features that it’s beyond the scope of my review to include them all. By and large, I find I like them all. Though I rarely need or use the squelch feature on HF, it is effective and highly adjustable. The Excalibur also has a noise blanker which I rarely need to use, since I no longer live in an area with RFI or an electric fence (though I would love reader comments on this). The noise blanker is so adjustable, I imagine there must be a modest learning curve, but it will probably pay off to master it if needed.

The Audio filters are also amazing–I use them frequently to tweak audio fidelity while making broadcast recordings with wide bandwidth. Indeed, in the Demodulation window, you can select the audio spectrum and actually move the filter threshold within the spectrum. This is a great–and highly visual–way of eliminating unwanted audio noise.

The only feature I feel like WinRadio falls short in, is its Memory. I don’t have an issue with assigning user memories–this is a quite simple process, and you can even assign key memory locations to the function buttons on your keyboard–but I don’t like the display of frequency databases like EIBI and HFCC. The scrollable window for the frequency databases is simply too small, and doesn’t contain enough information. I find that the Microtelecom Perseus’ memory display strikes the right balance–it reads the broadcast times and only displays what should be on frequency. The Bonito RadioJet (an IF receiver I recently reviewed) even has the option of displaying the broadcaster info within the spectrum display. While this isn’t a make-or-break item for me, as I routinely check my copy of WRTH or other online sources for frequencies and schedules, I just hope WinRadio takes note, and considers enhancing this feature in a future update.

Recording

Recording, in my opinion, is where the Excalibur really shines. For many readers, the recording feature may be one of the least important. But for me, a busy dad with an active family life who enjoys recording and archiving shortwave broadcast, as well as listening at my leisure when my home is quiet, I rely on both automatic recording and spectrum recordings.

With the ability to record up to 2 MHz of bandwidth, you can easily capture an entire meter band, and play back the DCC recording later as if it were live–meaning, you can fully adjust every receiver parameter and every filter. Indeed, each of the three virtual receivers can be adjusted and filtered independently of each other, and are only limited within the bandwidth of the captured spectrum.

One glance at the wideband spectrum display–in the lower portion of the display– will tell you what meter bands the current propagation conditions favor (click to enlarge)

I often use this recording method to capture late-night openings or broadcasts I might miss while sleeping or away from home. I have even recorded the entire medium wave band throughout the night, then listened later for late-night trans-Atlantic DX.

Capturing large chunks of spectrum, however, is not for the hard drive-challenged. A 2 MHz recording could easily use up 100 GB of hard drive space per hour (depending on other factors, like your demodulator filter length). In reality, though, there’s never really a need to capture that much spectrum at once.

You can also make a basic audio recording within a virtual receiver without recording the spectrum. This is an important feature that the Perseus lacks–it can only record spectrum. You can actually schedule the Excalibur to record broadcasts automatically–it even allows you to set the bandwidth, mode, and other parameters you prefer.

If I want to record something particularly important, like a one-time event on one frequency, I record the spectrum at 20 kHz wide. This does not take up much hard drive space and allows me to go back later and tweak the filters throughout the broadcast (say, if QRM appears halfway through).

Again, the remarkable recording functionality of this SDR is truly what prompted me to pull the trigger on the Excalibur over other similarly-priced SDRs.

Owner’s manual

I generally find that manufacturers give very little thought to writing a proper owner’s manual. In fact, perhaps some of the worst culprits are manufacturers of SDRs and PC-controlled radios: instead of including a printed, informative, and edited owner’s manual, they opt for either online discussion boards, or inadequate built-in/online FAQs and help databases.

Thankfully, WinRadio bucks this trend! I am very impressed with their English owner’s manual. While the Excalibur and its software are fairly intuitive, the owner’s manual explains very thoroughly how the Excalibur works, how to tweak settings, how to customize the interface and function keys, and how to troubleshoot simple problems. I have learned a lot by simply reading the manual from cover to cover. I hope other receiver manufacturers take a note from WinRadio’s book, and follow suit.

At this price point, it is the least the buyer/user can expect.

Excalibur limitations

The Excalibur is not perfect, and like all radio receivers, it lacks some capabilities that may actually be deal-breakers for some.

Firstly, the Excalibur is a Windows (XP/Vista/7) only device. You cannot use the Excalibur with Mac OS X, Linux, or Free BSD operating systems, unless (as with some Mac OS X devices) you can run the Excalibur application within a Windows partition. Many other SDRs, noting the RF Space line, can be used with a variety of open-source SDR applications. As the name implies, with WinRadio, you’re stuck with Windows.

Also, unlike the Perseus and NetSDR, the Excalibur cannot be networked over the internet. While it may be possible to use a remote desktop application to control the Excalibur, the Excalibur application does not allow for native remote operation. By contrast, the Perseus makes this quite easy–you can even find remote stations via a dedicated server.

The lock icon on RX2 indicates that this receiver is locked, however, the frequency is not locked. One touch of the tuning knob, or one click a spectrum window can move the receiver off frequency.

This may be a personal preference, but I find the tuning lock function is a bit misleading. It does, effectively, lock a virtual receiver on frequency so that the DDC spectrum swatch can’t be moved beyond that frequency. It does not, however, prevent one from accidentally moving the frequency within the virtual receiver. In other words, it does not “lock” the frequency as other receiver locks do.

Finally, I wish the Excalibur software would embed UTC time code into recorded DDC-captured spectrum. I got used to this feature while testing the Microtelecom Perseus, and find it a very useful. While going back through recorded spectrum, I could see the actual time passing in the spectrum. When I asked WinRadio about this feature, they didn’t say that this will/could be added to the Excalibur, but they pointed to the fact that their new Excalibur Pro’s application embeds time code. Yet I wish they could sneak this feature into a future WR-G31DDC software update…(Are you listening, WinRadio?)

Summary

When I begin a radio review, I keep a checklist of pros and cons as I discover them to remind myself of my initial discoveries.

Here’s my list from the WinRadio Excalibur:

Pros:

Top-class receiver in every respect—especially at a price point below $1,000 US
- Superb sensitivity
- Superb selectivity and adjacent signal rejection
- Effective, visual notch-filtering
- Effective pass band control
- Amazing sync detector with switchable sidebands
- Highly customizable RF gain and noise blanker (see con)
Spectrum/waterfall displays are responsive on my 2 year old laptop (see con)
Graphic user interface is
- stable,
- somewhat customizable,
- intuitively designed,
- and resizable
Three virtual receivers can be used independently within a max 2 MHz spectrum
Superior recording functionality
- From 20 kHz up to 2 MHz of spectrum recording with 21 levels selectable
- All three virtual receivers can record independently and simultaneously
- Programmable recording with built-in scheduler
Wideband spectrum display shows 0-30 or 0-50 MHz of live spectrum
Simple DRM implementation which has been well-reviewed elsewhere
Extensive, programmable keyboard shortcuts
Direct frequency entry from keyboard number pad
Small footprint and sleek design even blends in with home office peripherals
Excellent, well-written proper owner’s manual
Courteous and responsive WinRadio customer service

Cons:

Windows only–not available on Mac OS X or Linux operating systems
WinRadio GUI cannot be easily replaced with an open source GUI (see pro)
When recording spectrum, time code is not embedded in the waterfall display as with the Perseus and other SDRs
Not natively networkable (like the Perseus and RFSpace NET SDR)
RF gain and noise blanker are slightly complicated to tweak (see pro)
Lock feature does not lock tuning, it only limits DDC spectrum movement
A 2 GHz dual core CPU is the minimum system requirement. In truth, I’ve found that a much faster PC is needed if you want to avoid stuttering in wide (1 MHz +) spectrum playback. Extra RAM will also help

Conclusion

If you’re in the market for a high-performance software defined Windows-based receiver, I suggest you seriously consider the WinRadio WR-G31DDC Excalibur.

It is, quite simply, the best SDR I have used to-date. And if, like me, recording functionality is a high-priority, then the Excalibur is your best choice, hands-down.

I’ve been using the Excalibur extensively since June 2012 to make recordings of broadcasts, many of which have been posted on the SWLing Post (check out a few).

Again, though WinRadio was kind enough to loan me the Excalibur for review on the SWLing Post, I put my money where my mouth is, and purchased it from them. Honestly, I can’t imagine my radio shack without it, now. Though I still love my traditional analog and digital tabletop radios, the Excalibur has proven to be not only an excellent tool, but also a superb receiver.

If you are an Excalibur owner, or have any comments/questions, please leave them in the comments section below.

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Three years (and counting!) with Grundig G3

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My trusty Grundig G3 (Click to enlarge)

It’s hard for me to believe that it’s been over three years since I published my first review of the Grundig G3 shortwave radio. My initial impressions were mostly positive, and since then, the G3 has become a staple in North America and a fixture in my radio collection. I bought one of the very first G3s in production in the summer of 2009, and about a year ago, I replaced it with a current model.

So, what do I think of it now? After having two different production-run models and traveling with my G3s for over three years?

The G3 now

I have to admit, I continue to love this radio. In fact, if you write me an email inquiring about a good portable shortwave radio in the $100 price range, you can bet that I will still recommend the G3.

The G3’s biggest competitors (roughly in the same price range) are the Sony ICF-SW7600GR and the Tecsun PL-660. I may very well review them all side-by-side in a portable showdown in the near future–but until then, it’s worth noting that the G3 is the least expensive in this crowd, and is simply an excellent performer for the price. So I just can’t hesitate to recommend it.

Why do I like the G3?

Quite simply, the G3 features the following:

Superb shortwave sensitivity and selectivity for this class of portable
Effective sync lock (that is, if you adjust the frequency 1 kHz below the actual frequency with sync engaged)
Tuning is simple, fast and ergonomic
Adaptive tuning wheel–mounted on the right side–keeps speed with your thumb; it’s a band-scanning demon!
Sync can be adjusted for USB or LSB
Audio, via built-in speaker, is pleasant
Line-in and line-out
Excellent backlighting
RDS on the FM band–a handy feature when traveling
Not to mention, all that I mention in my first impressions post!

Simply put, the G3 functions as a portable shortwave radio should. It’s easy to tune, great to listen to, it functions well, has SSB and line out, has an external antenna jack, has two well-apportioned filters (wide/narrow), and still manages to be relatively inexpensive.

Perfect? Well…almost. Though I never use the Air band, and I rarely use the MW (medium wave) band (mainly for DXing), many reviewers and critics of the G3 point to less-than-stellar performance in these areas.

I’ll admit, the Air band is a nice add-on, but is certainly no reason to buy the G3. I find MW listening quite pleasant and I’ve certainly heard a little DX on it, but it probably doesn’t compare to some of the well-known ultralight radios which handle the MW amazingly well.

And a couple of years ago, some reviewers complained of quality problems; I assume these were associated with specific production runs. As I’ve had two radios from two different production runs and have never experienced a quality-control issue, I must have been luckier in obtaining solidly-produced units.

Perhaps it was my recent review of the Degen DE1129 that made me realize that many of the newer, smaller portables add features, but toss out many of the basics I expect from a shortwave radio. In other words, the things that make a radio pleasant to use, like ergonomics, performance, and an intuitive design. The G3 has these in trumps.

So, if you’re sitting on the fence about a $100 shortwave radio, I would snag the G3. I did–and haven’t looked back.

NOTE: At time of this posting, Universal Radio is selling the G3 with a Grundig Mini400 for $99.95 US. I have no idea how long this promotion will last, but I certainly believe it’s a good deal. Check it out…

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A review of the Degen DE1129 portable shortwave radio

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My Degen DE1129 as tested (Click to enlarge)

The Degen DE1129 is the latest compact, full-featured, DSP-based, AM/FM shortwave radio from Chinese manufacturer, Degen. It’s available from TecsunRadio.com at $100 US, shipped. I received my sample radio last week, and published my initial impressionsof the unit. Since then, I’ve had time to put this tiny radio through its paces and learn the functions of the various buttons labeled in Chinese, which I don’t read. In the following review, we’ll study the positive characteristics–and the drawbacks–of this little radio.

Getting started: the unit

I’ll begin by discussing some of the positive attributes of this radio. First, it should be noted that the DE1129 I have reviewed is one of the first to be produced, and as such, it currently has 18 buttons screen-printed in Chinese. Last week, Degen announced that they will be producing an English version, and (importantly) adding a number pad for keying in frequencies directly (see photo above). I have confirmed this via the manufacturer’s retailer. It will require squeezing a lot of buttons into a very small area, but I imagine this alteration will be easy enough, and probably remain functional even for those with larger fingers.

Degen has confirmed that they intend to produce a DE1129 with a number pad and English print in the future (Click to enlarge, Photo: Degen)

On the topic of buttons, those on the DE1129 are easy to push and have a very tactile response–very much like those on the Tecsun PL-380 and PL-390. I don’t expect these buttons are likely to be compressed accidentally if the radio is in your pocket, but just in case, there is a number lock button (with a key icon) that will further protect the radio.

The body of the radio is made of a hard, smooth plastic–without a rubberized coating–and seems durable enough. The speaker is not exactly flush-mounted. Instead, it protrudes from the rest of the body by about 1/4 inch. At first, I thought this quite odd, but I’m fairly sure this was in order to accommodate a larger speaker than it otherwise would have had.

For more on the DE1129 unit itself, be sure to read my initial impressions, which go into greater detail.

This little speaker packs a punch!

Audio

The audio from the built-in speaker is impressive–in fact, this is possibly the best feature of this little radio. Just the other day, I was able to listen to an NPR FM station, with the volume turned up, as I cooked a meal; typically, I wouldn’t be able to hear a radio this small while doing other things–the output would be tinny with too much emphasis on the treble end of the audio, and the sound lost in all but a quiet room. However, the DE1129 speaker offers just enough bass to keep the audio (especially on FM, or from a quality digital audio file) comparatively rich and full. In essence, it sounds like a larger radio. Though the speaker lacks a bit of mid-range, the overall experience of listening to AM is quite pleasant, while FM is exceptional.

Digital Audio Player/Recorder

The “Music” mode will allow you to play pre-recorded MP3 files

With several of their latest DSP radios, Degen has added digital audio recording and playback features. The DE1129 is no exception, and offers the following capabilities:

Records from a built-in microphone
Records directly from the radio while playing
Plays any MP3 formatted audio files
Offers many standard music playback options, like repeat, shuffle, etc.
Provides expandable memory via the insertion of a micro SD card into the radio, has 4GB of storage built-in

Perhaps the handiest feature is the fact that you can connect the Degen DE1129 to a PC, via supplied (standard) USB to miniUSB, for file transfer and maintenance. In my case, no additional software was needed for recognition of the DE1129 by my Windows 7 PC, which simply interpreted the radio as a storage device.

The “Voice” mode must be used to playback any recordings you make with the DE1129

NOTE: The DE1129 divides recordings into two different categories: “Music” or “Voice.” “Music” is basically any MP3 file that is stored in the root directory of the radio (when viewed on your PC). “Voice,” on the other hand, is stored in the “Voice” folder on the radio and is accessible only via the radio’s “Voice” mode. I could not find a way, for example, to record music on the FM radio and save it in the “Music” category–I believe anything that is recorded on the radio itself will be filed under “Voice.” Of course, you can connect the radio to your PC, then manually drag the files from the “Voice” folder into the root directory to have access within the “Music” mode. If you actually used the built-in microphone to make a live recording, it will also be saved under “Voice.”

My DE1129 came with two preloaded MP3s–a Kenny G song and a Chinese pop song. I added a few of my own choices and, again, was favorably impressed with audio fidelity from its tiny speaker.

Recording from the radio, however, was a different story…

First of all, a note of caution: I know that some of the DE1129’s predecessors had quality issues, when users tried recording from the radio without setting the volume to a very precise level. I assume that’s the reason why, when you record from the radio, the DE1129 auto-adjusts the volume level to a rather specific setting. Therefore, while the radio is recording, you cannot adjust the volume. This wouldn’t be a problem, save the fact that the volume level it sets is rather loud. The first time I tried recording from the radio, I was using in-ear, noise-cancelling headphones; the radio rapidly shot the volume level up to such a level that I had to jerk the phones out of my ears to protect them. In many situations, I find the volume level via the built-in speaker a little loud, as well. You will not be able to discreetly record your favorite show during church or while eating dinner with the in-laws! During recording, I believe this radio adjusts the volume to 20.

Oddly, while recording, the DE1129 will allow you to engage the mute function–it even shows you the audio muted icon–but it has no effect on the audio level, whatsoever.

The “Record” mode is only used to record via the tiny built-in microphone–quality is quite good for voice

There are two levels of quality when recording: 129K or 96Kbps. Regardless of the setting, I find that there is a loss of quality when recording via the built-in recorder, though perhaps slightly less than with previous Degen models. When I recorded a stong FM station at 129K, I notice at least a 20% degradation in audio quality. The recorded audio sounds slightly muffled and garbled, more like an MP3 recording made at 48 Kbps. There was a noticeable lack of the higher and lower tones which make the DE1129’s internal speaker otherwise sound quite crisp.

There is a less noticable difference in audio quality while recording AM radio (whether shortwave or medium wave/AM). No doubt, this is due to the fact that AM radio lacks the higher and lower audio characteristics and general fidelity of FM radio. While AM recording quality is acceptable and content is intelligible, for playing back a recorded program, it certainly leaves a lot of room for improvement. As with FM recordings, AM recording sounds muffled.

I would not recommend purchasing the Degen DE1129 if you’re seeking an all-in-one unit to record quality radio on-the-go. If you can settle for a mediocre recording, and you don’t mind the fact that while you’re recording, the radio will be playing at fairly high volume, then this may be a useful feature.

Radio performance

The “FM Radio” mode is actually the mode for all radio bands, including shortwave and medium wave

While I spent the bulk of my time testing the DE1129 on the shortwave and AM/MW bands, I will cover all three bands in order of performance, starting with the best.

The Degen DE1129 is an excellent FM radio. In my tests, it received both strong and weak stations with relative ease and compared very favorably to my Eton S350DL, which I routinely use for receiving weaker FM stations in my area. Again, FM sounds great via the DE1129’s built-in speaker, providing nearly room-filling sound from a very tiny package.

The DE1129 (lower right), with its competitors, the Grundig G3 (top) and Tecsun PL-380 (lower left)

Shortwave

I always spend the bulk of my radio review time on the shortwave bands, of course, and to test the DE1129, I pitted it against my trusty Tecsun PL-380 and Grundig G3. Note, however, that neither the G3 nor the PL-380 have recording capabilities.

Sensitivity

First, the good news. Shortwave sensitivity, in general, is fairly good on the Degen DE1129. With it, I was able to hear most of the weaker stations that were received by the PL-380 and G3. I believe adding a length of wire to the antenna with an alligator clip–as there is no external antenna jack–could slightly improve performance. I may test this further. Again, since the radio lacks a fold-out stand and the telescopic antenna cannot rotate, attaching a wire to the antenna will be less than practical, as this will tip the radio over.

But unfortunately, the DE1129 suffers from several shortcomings that make it the clear loser against its two similarly-priced competitors. Note that I mentioned a few of these problems in my initial impressions post. Here is more detail, by function:

This image, with English translations for the keys on my DE1129, helped me identify each button’s function. Since there aren’t many buttons, I found that only after a few minutes of using the radio, I no longer needed to reference it. Click to enlarge

AGC (Automatic Gain Control)

The pre-defined AGC level is simply inadequate for comfortable shortwave radio listening of weaker signals. As mentioned above, though the radio has the sensitivity to detect the weak signals that its competitors can readily detect, the AGC gets in the way of comfortable listening. It creates a sort of pumping effect on weak stations, and truly seems to be “all or nothing:” at times, the radio’s signal will pop into clarity, then back into obscurity–obviously, it does not handle fading very well. The G3, in contrast, even without the sync detector engaged, did a much better job.

Bandwidth

The bandwidth is fixed–non-adjustable–on the DE1129. It is adequate for general shortwave broadcast listening, but a little too wide when you have two strong stations crowded together. Several times, adjacent broadcasts would bleed into the broadcast I was monitoring. I would expect even some rudimentary bandwidth control on a radio in the $100 US price category; the G3 (at $99) has wide/narrow, and the PL-380 (at $60 US) actually can be adjusted in 1 kHz increments from 6 kHz down to 1 kHz.

Single-Side Band

The DE1129 does NOT have SSB, thus would be useless for monitoring ham radio traffic, or listening to pirate radio stations in SSB, for example. The similarly-priced Grundig G3 does, of course, have SSB.

Shortwave can only be tuned in 5 kHz steps

Frequency steps

Unfortunately, the DE1129 has fixed frequency steps at 5 kHz; you cannot adjust it to be more or less. In comparison, both the PL-380 and G3 can be adjusted down to 1 kHz steps.

Since the DE1129 mutes between frequency changes, it creates a “chuffing” sound while band scanning or tuning much like the PL-380. The Grundig G3, in contrast, tunes with smooth, continuous sound–much like an analog radio.

Tuning Speed

I normally don’t bother commenting on tuning speed, but I find that band scanning on the DE1129 leaves something to be desired. It’s rather arduous.

The DE1129’s hard plastic band covering the tuning wheel may protect it if dropped, but it’s also in the way of your thumb for easy tuning on the side

The tuning speed is not adaptive. Meaning, if I turn the tuning dial faster, it doesn’t increase the speed of tuning. This is very frustrating, especially since the model I reviewed does not have direct frequency entry via a number keypad. If I want to move from 5800 kHz to 6100 kHz, it takes a lot of tuning to get me there!

If I were stuck with the DE1129 as my only shortwave radio, I would be forced to fill its memory bank with all of my favorite frequencies, just to make tuning easier.

The DE1129 does have two different ways to navigate the shortwave spectrum:

By pressing the “Shortwave” button repeatedly, the DE1129 will move you from one SW meter band to the next highest. This is the only practical way of tuning.
The other way, (practical only if you want to listen to something outside of the normal broadcast meter bands) is to manually tune the entire SW spectrum (2.3 – 23 MHz) in 5kHz increments. Since the tuning rate is rather slow, this is a cumbersome process to say the least. To make it go a little faster, you could allocate memory locations, say at 3, 4, 5, 6 MHz etc. to make points (or bookmarks) from which you could tune.

Noise

My observation is that the radio’s internal processor and/or display seem to inject noise into the DE1129. This is especially noticeable on medium wave (see below).

While testing the radio against the G3 and PL-380, I even noticed that I could hear the (tuning) encoder noise of the DE1129, emanating from it, and even from other radios operating within two feet of it. Each tuning increment (via the tuning wheel) would produce a clicking sound in the audio of not only the DE1129, but even more noticably in that of other radios. The DE1129 is obviously generating a little RF noise of its own.

SW Summary

At $100 US, the DE1129 is simply not a good value for those interested in shortwave radio performance. Perhaps if it were in the $40-50 category, my expectations would be lower, and it might meet them at this price point. At the very least, a wide/narrow bandwidth control and the ability to speed up/slow down tuning speed would make this a more pleasant and functional radio. The sloppy AGC alone, though, would still keep me from recommending the DE1129 as a good shortwave radio.

AM/Medium Wave

On the positive side, the DE1129 can be used in any ITU region as the user can specify either 9kHz or 10 kHz spacing, although there is no option for choosing frequency steps less than 9 kHz.

How well does the DE1129 perform on medium wave? Not so well, I’m afraid–it’s mediocre at best. Medium wave suffers from many of the same problems as shortwave (described above), including the fact that the DE1129’s AGC (Auto Gain Control) simply cannot handle the up-and-down nature of weak AM stations.

Ticks like a clock?

Perhaps worst of all, though, is a “ticking” sound that plagues this Degen’s audio on the medium wave band. Spaced almost at second intervals, this “ticking” sound is present most anytime I listened to an AM broadcast. It was less noticeable in robust local broadcasts, but was still there, nonetheless. Recording a broadcast only seemed to make it more noticeable.

Unfortunately, if you purchase the DE1129 to listen to medium wave, you are likely to be disappointed.

The DE1129’s thin rechargeable pack fits neatly into the battery compartment on the back of the unit

Battery

As mentioned in my initial impressions, the DE1129 operates on a slim 3.7V 850 mAh Li Ion battery pack. Unlike most other shortwave portables on the market (but similar to the Grundig G2 and Degen DE1128), it does not operate on AA batteries.

No doubt, the slender battery pack allows for the compact form factor of the DE1129. In my testing, I found that the battery life is very good. Indeed, I have not needed to re-charge the battery even though I’ve played the radio for many hours in testing. I cannot speak to the overall longevity of the battery pack, however.

While I’m sure these battery packs are convenient, I still prefer the traditional AA battery. If this battery pack wears out, I will have to order a replacement, whereas most portable radios only require the ubiquitous AA cell.

Stacking up the pros and cons

The rechargeable battery pack is very slim

Every radio has positive and negative attributes, and the DE1129 is no exception. Alas, in this case–especially since I’m reviewing this with a focus on shortwave and radio performance–the negatives outnumber the positives.

Pros:

Audio from built in speaker is superb for size (see con)
Sturdy, smooth plastic body (see con)
Perfect small size for travel
Strong FM radio performance
Ability to record either via built-in microphone or directly from radio (see cons)
One-button recording from any radio band
Crisp, easy to read backlit display
MP3 playback and functionality
Simple interface via supplied USB cable to both charge the radio and add/maintain recordings and MP3s
MW frequency steps can be adjusted between 9/10 kHz
Up to 32 GB of additional storage via micro SD card
Built-in microphone recordings of voice notes are excellent

Cons:

DE1129 plastic body lacks a back-stand and telescopic antenna cannot rotate
Shortwave performance is mediocre, AGC can’t handle weak signals and QSB
Mediumwave performance is poor, AGC flounders on weak signals, and most of the MW band is plagued with a ticking noise
Bandwidth cannot be changed and is too wide for crowded SW broadcast conditions
No direct frequency entry (though Degen plans to add this very soon!)
No complete (stand-alone) charging adapter; USB cable only, to plug into PC or wall-mounted USB charger
Tuning rate is fixed on SW at 5 kHz and not adaptive if you turn the dial faster
4 or 5 second delay when turning radio on
Additional delays in response when changing frequency, mode, band and starting/ending a recording
Protective tuning knob strap prevents thumb tuning
While recording from radio, the volume level will spike loudly and cannot be changed or muted regardless if using built-in speaker or headphones
Recorded radio audio suffers from compression and is significantly degraded from the original broadcast–less noticeable on SW and MW/AM
No external antenna jack
No English manual (at time of this review, though I imagine this will be forthcoming)
In the current firmware version, the radio mode is displayed as “FM Radio” in the menu selection, though this mode covers all radio bands
There are no backlight options or modes that I could find–if you touch a control or move the frequency, the display will remain backlit for only about 10 seconds (please comment if you know how to change this)

Summary

I really should have started this review with the following disclaimer: it is possible that there is functionality to this radio, and adjustments that can be made to it, that I have yet to discover. To my knowledge, I have toured and tried every menu option and explored every possibility with the radio’s settings. However, since this is an early production unit and all of the instructions are in Chinese, I could easily have missed something. Future firmware updates and the forthcoming numeric keypad could also change my opinion of the DE1129.

With that said, I can freely comment on my experience:

If you are looking for a very compact radio with good FM reception, with MP3 recording and playback, with a compact form factor and a wonderful built-in speaker, you may want to consider the Degen DE1129 in your search.

If you are seeking a good shortwave or mediumwave radio, however, I would look elsewhere.

Overall, I feel like the DE1129 has much room for improvement, and I hope Degen is listening and will make firmware upgrades to quickly address some of my criticisms above. It’s as if the DE1129 was built around the MP3/FM functionality and shortwave/mediumwave was simply an add-on, a bonus feature. I would never use the DE1129 for shortwave DXing, and certainly not for mediumwave DXing. The fact that the radio receives noise from its CPU–especially the ticking sound on MW–makes me believe that it was not thoroughly tested before production.

The Degen DE1129 & box (Click to enlarge)

For the price point (currently $100 US, shipped from the manufacturer), I simply expect better performance. In my tests, the Grundig G3 and Tecsun PL-380 outperformed the DE1129 in every respect on shortwave and mediumwave.

TecsunRadio.com provided a sample unit for this review and I paid for DHL shipping. I can say that I’ve been very pleased with customer service at TecsunRadio.com. Since they are in a different time zone, and English is their second language, communication was slow, but they answered my many questions.

To my knowledge, the Degen DE1129 is only available from TecsunRadio.com and can be purchased for $80 US plus $20 shipping internationally.

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