Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Terry (N5RTC), who shares the following schedules for Texas Radio Shortwave (click here for a printable PDF):
Category Archives: Shortwave Radio
Initial Impressions of the Tecsun S-2200X
By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM
Bob Colegrove inspired this, with his excellent post “Pressing Buttons. Twirling Knobs and Throwing Switches.” If you haven’t read it, go do so now.
And it was our Maximum Leader, Thomas, who some time ago was asked “What’s the best shortwave radio?” His response (if I recall correctly): “The one you enjoy using.” That’s worth taking to heart. It doesn’t matter if you have the highest, techiest, super zoot receiver or SDR with the best lab numbers, if you don’t enjoy using it, how much will you really use it?
Given my age and my radio experience, my belief is that a real radio has a knob or button or switch for just about every function and a real tuning knob that doesn’t snap, crackle or pop as it changes between tuning increments.
The photos show the Tecsun S-2200X is studded with knobs and buttons, enough to satisfy an old retrocrank, but how would it perform? Dan Robinson had already reviewed it here. I respect his reviews, but I had to see for myself. With some trepidation I ordered the Tecsun S-2200X.
It arrived a couple of days ago. First impression: it’s a large radio – measuring approx. 15 inches wide, 7 inches tall, and 5 inches deep. It can run off 4 D batteries or 2 18650 rechargeable batteries, so technically it is a portable, but you’ll probably want something like a gym bag or backpack to transport it.
The fit and finish are pleasing, what you would expect from a radio in this price range. The front panel is studded with (if I am counting correctly) 33 buttons for activating various functions, 7 knurled metal knobs, a lighted analog signal strength meter, and a 3.5 inch by 1.5 inch (approx..) lighted liquid crystal display that serves as information central for the S-2200X.
On the right side are two BNC antenna connectors (one for FM and airband, the other for shortwave), a pair of clips for attaching a shortwave wire antenna, and a switch for selecting between internal and external antennas.
On the back are two hatches for installing batteries and inside one of the hatches, a switch for choosing between powering the receiver with D cells or the 18650 batteries. Also on the back, stereo line-out sockets.
On top, there are a retractable carry handle, a rotatable LW/MW antenna with a connector on the backside for an external LW/MW antenna, and a pull-up telescoping whip antenna for SW, FM, and air band.
On the left side is a port for plugging in the charging cable for the 18650 batteries.
Ease of Use
The S-2200X is straightforward to operate for basic operations (Memory operations will require consulting the well-written manual). On either side of the tuning knob are buttons for selecting FM, MW/LW, SW and Air bands, as well as selecting memory pages. Prolonged pressing of certain band buttons will activate Auto Tuning Storage of frequencies in that band, and these buttons are clearly labeled.
For shortwave, there are two buttons: SW+ and SW-, and, if you are in AM mode, these are used for incrementing between shortwave bands. However, if you are in either upper or lower sideband mode, these buttons will increment between amateur radio HF bands.
Below, and to the right of the tuning knob is a small button for switching between memory mode and frequency mode. A long press of this button will activate scanning of whatever band or memory page is active. To the lower left of the tuning knob is a button for changing tuning steps.
Below the signal strength meter is a 12-button keypad, and to the left of this are buttons for selecting synchronous detection, USB, LSB, and bandwidths. Volume and tone controls are knobs below the speaker grill.
As they used to say in the old sports car magazines: “The controls fall readily to hand.” If your goal is to pop in some batteries and start using the S-2200X right away, I found it easy to do. I particularly enjoyed the smooth tuning – both mechanical and audio – provided by the large, dimpled, tuning knob. On the unit I purchased, the tuning knob, though solidly mounted, wobbles a tiny bit.
Performance
The S-2200X acquits itself well. FM is top notch and the stereo audio is pleasing through headphones, which I routinely use to listen.
The MW performance was also satisfying, and I enjoyed using the rotatable LW/MW antenna to peak signals . . . it works! I tried plugging a Terk AM Advantage loop antenna into the jack on the backside of the rotatable antenna and found no discernable improvement in signal. To be fair, if you want the ultimate in MW DX performance, there are “hotter” MW receivers available, but I was not disappointed. I did not test LW performance.
Airband performance was average. An ATS scan of airband found five active frequencies in my area, and there is the ability to scan stored memories, stopping at each one for about five seconds.
On SW, the S-2200X delivers satisfying performance through its telescoping whip antenna. Using time stations as standards for testing, and switching between the whip and a 45-foot indoor wire loop antenna, the signal strength meter showed signals received on the whip often equaled or were only slightly less strong than those from the loop. Note well: if you conduct this experiment for yourself, there is a noticeable – perhaps one second – delay in the signal strength meter reacting to the change in antennas. If you are a SW program listener, there are a variety of bandwidths and tone controls to fine tune the signal to your liking. I tried using the synchronous detection, and it sharpened the audio but introduced a pulsing quality to the signal that I did not like.
Most of my HF listening concentrates on single-sideband voice signals: the HF ham bands, Coast Guard weather forecasts, aeronautical voice communications, and the like. Here the S-2200X also delivers satisfying performance with impressive sensitivity on the whip antenna, a variety of bandwidths to choose from, and a fine tuning knob for dialing in the signal.
Noise Control
Now here is where the S-2200X got really interesting.
Not long ago, I became aware of a technique used by some of the experienced old hands. They would tune up on an SSB signal, then reduce the RF gain to remove as much noise as possible while preserving an intelligible signal. It made listening much more enjoyable and less fatiguing.
I tried this on my Icom IC-706 MkIIG and found that it was indeed an effective technique, but I wanted a radio I could park bedside so I could listen SSB signals on headphones while the Better Half drifts off to sleep. The Icom requires a separate power supply and an external antenna, and that seemed impractical for a bedside radio. Further, none of my portables have RF gain control.
The S-2200X does have a gain control. Here’s what the manual has to say about it: “When listening to longwave, medium wave, or shortwave, use the RF Gain control knob to adjust the gain for signals of different strengths and obtain the best reception.” I tried it on a SSB signal and it reduced the noise a little, but not nearly as much as the Icom IC-706.
Then I idly tried the squelch knob below the RF gain knob, and – tah dah! – substantial noise reduction, rendering the signal much more pleasant in my ears. The manual says: “Using the squelch control knob may reduce or suppress background noise when listening to LW, MW, SW, and airband.” As they say in the informercials: it really, really works!
Yes, but is the S-2200X really better than the other Tecsun radios that have similar basic circuitry but don’t have RF gain or squelch controls? The short answer is a definitive YES. Doing A/B comparison with my Tecsun PL-880, I found the two radios sounded about the same on a noisy band. But when I activated the RF gain and squelch controls on the S-2200X, it demonstrated a substantial advantage in “listenability” over the PL-880 with no RF gain or squelch controls.
Bottom line: based on my usage so far, I can heartily recommend the Tecsun S-2200X, particularly if you are interested in using it as a communications receiver for monitoring ham and utilities SSB signals.
Jim’s travelling on a flying carpet this week
A big hello to the SWLing community far and wide. Here’s what Imaginary Stations are transmitting over the airwaves this weekend. The first is on Saturday 12th April 2025 at 1100 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and on Sunday 13th April 2025 at 0900/1300 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and at 2000 UTC on 3975 kHz and 6160 kHz. It’s another James, Jamie, Jimi, Jimmie, Jimmy, Jimbo and Jacob special. Tune in at the allotted time and enjoy KJIM 2.
On Wednesday 16th April 2025 at our new time of 0200 UTC via WRMI we bring you Flying Carpet Radio. The show is an exotic journey through the skies on what looks like a common floor covering made from thick woven fabric or even on a flying raft made from a collection of carpet tiles (depending on how fast you want to travel). Expect all sorts of exotica and underlaid with some good vibes as ever.
For more information on all our shows, please write to imaginarystations@gmail.com and check out our old shows at our Mix cloud page here.
FastRadioBurst 23
Harry Truman’s Hallicrafters
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Robert, who shares the following:
Hi Thomas – I visited the President Truman Library today and noticed an interesting item in their Oval Office recreation. It appears that not only did Mr. Truman have the first television inside the Oval Office, he apparently also had a Hallicrafters model SX-28 right behind his desk.
One wonders what stations he would specifically listen to, and what type of antenna was installed at the White House for this radio?
Cheers,
Robert
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Radio Nikkei 1 (April 7, 2025)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist Carlos Latuff, who shares an illustrated radio listening report of a recent Radio Nikkei 1 broadcast.
Carlos notes:
Tokyo stock market crash, Radio Nikkei 1, 6055 kHz:
Part of Nikkei Electronic News bulletin (in Japanese) about Tokyo stock market crash dueTrump’s tariffs. Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on a Panasonic RF-B11 receiver.
Bob’s Radio Corner: Buttons, Knobs, and Switches

Source: The Great International Math on Keys Book, Texas Instruments Inc., Dallas, Texas, p. 4-7, 1976.
Pressing Buttons. Twirling Knobs and Throwing Switches
Move along. Nothing informative to read here, just the wandering of an idle mind scheming with meandering fingers on a keyboard. On the other hand, if your curiosity can’t be controlled, consider that a significant amount of enjoyment in this hobby is the mere operation of the radio – seeing what all the buttons, knobs, and switches do, both separately and in combination. It’s always been this way. Beginning in the Amplifiozoic Epoch there was continual rotation of the knobs. This occurred before the discovery of ganged capacitors, when each circuit had to be tuned independently to resonate at the proper frequency. Otherwise, nothing.
It could be quite confounding for a non-radiofile trying to break into the sport. Just getting some sound out of a two-knob radio could be a challenge. My late mother solved this problem on all our radios by painting a dab of red nail polish at the points on the dial where each local station came in.
The Complexities of Shortwave
Later, with the humble entry-level shortwave “set” there was conundrum in the way the bandspread interacted with the main tuning control, and the curious effect of the BFO switch. Even the venerable Hallicrafters Company, which catered to the hams and SWLs of the time, recognized the problem. They tried to solve this by prescribing a default setting in installation and operating procedures for model S-40 receiver, The Hallicrafters Company, Chicago, USA, p. 4, 1946:
“NOTE. – Some of the control markings are in RED. This is an added feature incorporated for the convenience of the listener who is not familiar with radio terminology as an aid in setting the controls most used for the reception of standard broadcast stations.”
That was the nice way of saying it. After many years, I still chuckle to myself thinking of an old ham radio mentor of mine who insensitively explained that the purpose of these markings was for certain members of the household who could not otherwise make the radio work. On my S-40B, the “convenience” markings are white dots.
Modern Radios
Modern radios have many buttons, which can work in different ways. A short press will do one thing while a long press will do something else. Some buttons do one thing with the radio turned off and another thing with the radio turned on. On many radios you can lock the buttons and knobs, in which case they won’t do anything. You must get it right.
Hidden Features
Today, the possibilities with all these variables are boundless, even beyond the control of the manufacturers who incorporate the complex TEF6686 30-pin IC chips in their designs. Qodosen has set the bar high by making a plethora of user-adjustable functions available on the DX-286. An uncommonly informative 40-page manual has been included with each radio and is highly recommended as an essential tool to assist with its operation.
In recent years, Tecsun has capitalized on this by incorporating “hidden features” in some of their models; that is, their operation and even their very existence are not revealed in the manual. In computer gaming parlance, these features are called “Easter eggs” for which one must hunt. Originally, the inclusion of hidden features may not have been intentional, but with the introduction of the PL-880 in 2013 they became a veritable sensation, as testified by the countless owner postings on the PL-880 Yahoo users’ group of that time. A prize of unbounded esteem and self-satisfaction went to the intrepid listener who discovered and solved a hidden feature. This interest went on for several months as Tecsun tweaked the firmware and the “features” migrated somewhat. But unfortunately, a spoiler has been introduced. Hidden feature data sheets are now packaged with current models. In case you are missing any, here is a sampling.
For the Tecsun PL-368 see https://swling.com/blog/2021/08/troys-tecsun-pl-368-hidden-features-quick-reference-sheet/
For the Tecsun PL-990 see https://swling.com/blog/2020/10/johns-pl-990-hidden-features-quick-reference-sheet/
For the Tecsun PL-880 see https://swling.com/blog/2019/10/40072/
For the Tecsun S-8800 see https://swling.com/blog/2018/08/bill-discovers-a-number-of-tecsun-s-8800-hidden-features/
SDR
The complexity of radio operation is compounded still further by the advent of SDR, wherein combinations of various hardware and software components result in a host of possibilities. Features and their placement seem endless as they are distributed on multiple menus. As my personal experience is limited to WebSDR, I leave the pursuit of this point to others.
Manual Power Generation
Finally, the inclusion of some elementary form of leverage and dexterity is present in some radios. Isn’t the hand-powered crank on today’s emergency radio akin to the vintage treadle-operated transcription machine pictured at the beginning of this posting? Perhaps we have come full circle.
Conclusion
Today’s radios are a sort of Rubik’s cube which can continually be manipulated to provide many hours of discovery and complement the listening and DXing experiences. So, the next time you crawl underneath the headset and unconsciously tune to the object frequency, zero beat on the necessary sideband, and adjust the proper bandwidth and volume, reflect on all the time and practice it took you to develop this useful skill.
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Reports and Recordings of CNR and Radio 2 (April 2, 2025)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist Carlos Latuff, who shares illustrated radio listening reports of recent CNR and Radio 2 broadcasts.
Carlos notes:
Myanmar earthquake death toll, Malvinas Veterans Day in Argentina: CNR (China) and Radio 2 (Argentina)
Click here to view on YouTube.