Tag Archives: Guest Posts

XHDATA D-808 Radio

XHDATA D-808: Another User’s Review (and discount codes)

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By Robert Gulley

I admit to being hesitant to review this radio when XHDATA contacted me, as our own armchair portable radio guru, Jock, had written an excellent review of the radio back in June of this year, and because the radio has been out for some time (6 or 7 years, I believe). After a time, I decided my take on the radio, like any other, would be just another facet in considering its place in the radio world at large, or possibly on your radio shelf, and hence this review.

Lightweight and a Sturdy Antenna

As Jock mentioned in relation to other lightweight DX machines, this radio is indeed light, yet sturdy, and very easily portable. Unlike many small radios, care has been taken to make the antenna solid and tall. This means it can pull in a lot of signals safely (unless, like me, you are comparing it side-by-side with three other radios and find yourself having antenna sword fights as you move radios around, but I digress. Fortunately, nothing bad happened to any of the radios!). When sitting on a table, the built-in stand is stable, and allows pressing buttons solidly with one hand – the radio does not slide around or threaten to be knocked over in the process. That might seem like a minor thing, but many stands are less than reliable in this regard.

Operating the Radio

While I would prefer a slightly larger offset to the buttons from the surface of the radio, this did not cause much of an issue whether hand-held or on its stand. There were a few times when I thought I had pressed a button sufficiently but no response, but a second, harder press worked, so I just needed to take that into account when tuning in frequencies using the keypad, or when changing modes, etc.

The radio has a number of functions, clearly labeled, including operations performed when the radio is off, labeled in orange. Other orange labels indicate secondary or sub functions when the radio is on, such as the “Meter” function which, when in SW mode, cycles through the shortwave bands.

A small but useful feature I really appreciate related to this is the meter identification displayed along with the frequency as you cycle through the shortwave bands. For some reason I have a hard time remembering which set of frequencies is represented by which SW meter band. Perhaps with this radio I can finally get them firmly entrenched into my old brain!

Fine Tune Dial

The Fine Tune dial works especially well with a broad range of adjustment depending on the mode.

Another operating feature that I found very useful is the Fine Tuning dial on the side of the radio. This works as one would expect in Shortwave and SSB mode, allowing for slight adjustments to bring in a voice or CW signal in the amateur bands, but also allows one to off-tune from the standard receive frequency when a signal is being interfered with or picking up static etc.

This is nothing particularly new, but what is impressive to me is that it works for MW signals as well. Being able to go from 700 kHz to 701 or 702 kHz, for example, sometimes allows for a more intelligible signal, particularly at night when there can be multiple stations coming in on the same frequency.

On more than one occasion this was useful, especially since this means one does not have to change the tuning rate to make an adjustment. Your main tuning stays at the 9 or 10k you have set, and when you move the main tuning dial, it jumps to the next proper frequency. In this example, 701kHz becomes 800kHz with the next turn of the main tuning dial or up arrow,

Listening

The audio is good for its size due to the large speaker, and the multitude of filter options in the radio for every mode (except FM) allow you to tailor the audio to what you prefer, or what will allow you to mostly, or totally, eliminate interference from strong nearby stations. For those who like to listen to amateur radio bands, the filter capability is even more useful, particularly since it goes down to 500 Hz, great for listening to Morse code!

The number of filters is amazing given the price point of this radio, and it begs the question, if XHDATA can do this, why can’t other companies do this too? This is a big selling point for the radio in my book.

As I mentioned earlier, I compared three other radios to the D-808, a Sony 7600GR, a Sangean 909X2, and a C.Crane Skywave. The results were both predictable and surprising. Predictable in that the Sangean with the larger speaker had better audio, the Sony with SSB sync that actually works (unlike many models that try and fail!) was a bit clearer most of the time on SSB, and the Skywave was weaker in strength due partly, at least, to the smaller antenna, and lesser audio due to the smaller speaker.

What was unpredictable was when the D-808 pulled in stations better than the Sangean or Sony – not often, but some times. Similarly, the D-808 would sometimes hear two MW broadcast stations when the other three would only hear one. All three were used at times with a Tecsun AM loop antenna to boost MW signals, as well as with their bare ferrite antennas. Most of the time the MW signals were pretty even, but sometimes the D-808 won out.

While I have yet to own the perfect radio, and I have owned a lot of radios, this radio does what it promises, and does it well. As I note below, there are pros and cons and quirks to every radio, and what may be a quirk or a con to me may not be to others.

 

PROs, CONs, and Quirks

PROs

  1. Excellent sensitivity on FM (good telescopic antenna) and AM (internal ferrite antenna excellent given the size of the radio)
  2. Includes the AIR band, SSB with USB and LSB, and LW
  3. 6 filters for SW, 7 for MW/LW, and 6 for Air (WOW!)
  4. Fine Tuning Dial works in all modes to help reception
  5. Tuning Dial can be adjusted for Fast or Slow tuning steps, and can be set to STOP to lock in a station so that if the dial is accidently nudged, the station will not get changed.
  6. Direct Keypad entry of frequencies
  7. Feature rich for an (almost) ultralight radio
  8. External antenna jack
  9. Long-lasting battery
  10. Reset Button to go back to square one if needed

CONs

  1. While I do not mind soft muting, this radio does make a “chuffing” sound in certain modes when tuning manually (but not when finding stations with ATS). That’s not a deal-breaker for me, but it will be to some, I know. This is likely due to the AGC “attacking” the audio as it returns from the soft muting.
  2. Minor Nit: While the battery life is good with the rechargeable battery included, I always prefer AA-sized batteries for their almost universal availability.
  3. Memory access is limited, not by the number of memories, but by an easy way to tune through them. Memory Pages should link seamlessly for scanning purposes, but this is not an uncommon CON with many other radios.

Quirks

  1. Setting the Sleep Timer to “On” actually turns it off. Really.
  2. Sometimes if the Clock adjustment is set to Auto, an FM radio station that broadcasts RDS time and date info might reset the time to something different, such as when hearing a station from a different time zone. I prefer to set the clock manually to my local time (or more likely, to UTC time) just to keep it consistent, and that option is available for this radio.
  3. I have noticed when another radio is near, when changing the frequency manually, in addition to the chuffing noise of the D-808, the other radio will make a popping sound with each change. This is not likely to be an issue in normal operation, but if comparing two radios, or listening to two different radios at the same time, you will likely hear it.
  4. The alarm time set shows on the main display when the radio is turned off, regardless of whether the alarm is set to go off or not. This was very confusing to me at first, as I expected the display to go off when the alarm was not set to go off.

Wrap-up

This is a neat little radio that, as they say, punches above its weight class. It can fit in a jacket pocket easily, it’s lightweight, it has features which not many other portables have, or have as fully, and the audio is quite good for its size.

This is indeed an armchair receiver, but with the addition of a MW loop antenna, or a longwire plugged in for shortwave/amateur or LW/MW bands, there are many more opportunities for bagging distant stations.

There are enough features to make it quite usable for travelling, but not so many bells and whistles that operation becomes cumbersome. And with keypad entry for when you want immediate gratification, there’s no long minutes or hours of tuning manually to get to the frequencies you want.

I believe the radio comes in at a good price point, ticks most boxes a user would want for a radio in this class, and has a track record of good reliability after a number of years on the market.

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As with the D-220 promotion specifically for SWLing readers, below are links and codes to save a bit of green (or is that plastic now?!).

XHDATA D-808 Homepage

Discount Information (from XHDATA)

Regarding the pricing details for the XHDATA D808 radio, the original price of the D808 is $108. Currently, it’s part of Amazon’s Black Friday promotion, offering a 20% discount.

Additionally, we’d like to provide you with a stackable 5% discount code, making the final price approximately $5 lower than the special Black Friday price.

(ed. Note: includes free delivery in the states when purchased through Amazon U.S.)

Here are the exclusive discount codes:

  • Gray  D808: 05dealforSWL
  • Black D808: 06dealforSWL
  • Effective time: From 2024-11-27 08:00 PST To 2024-12-3 23:59 PST (Pacific Standard Time)

Product links:

I tested the above links and codes, and as of this writing both were working properly at Amazon U.S.

73, Robert K4PKM

 

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Channel 6 FM Radio Stations

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Colegrove, who shares the following guest post:

Channel 6 Radio Stations

By Bob Colegrove

Even after all these years, I still find occasional surprises while playing with radios.  How did I miss this one?  I recently did what I thought was a definitive audit of the available FM stations in my area.  Then, just the other day I happened to tune down below 88.1 (FM Channel 201).  At 87.7 MHz I came across some delightful Latin music in clear stereo and proceeded to park the tuning knob there for a listen.  At first, I thought I might simply have some intermodulation from a strong local station, but the stereo signal was much too clear.  So, I resorted to the internet to determine what was going on.  Turns out, according to their website, I was listening to DC 88.7FM in Fairfax, Virginia – no call letters, just “DC 88.7FM.”

Further investigation indicated that the station is officially WDCN-LD a low-power operator, but you won’t find it listed on the FCC FM Query site.  That’s because it is something of a legacy station, a carryover from analog TV days when the audio for Channel 6 was broadcast with the carrier centered on 87.75 MHz, within the range of most FM receivers.  Having discovered this, I retuned the radio slightly to 87.75 MHz and found the signal strength peaked.  Wikipedia describes the history of WDCN-LD at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDCN-LD.

Of further interest is the history of so-called “Channel 6 FM radio stations.”  The evolution of present-day stations is long and involved.  Over several years, the FCC formed committees, requested comments, held hearings, wrote reports, published proposals, rendered rulings, and ultimately granted waivers.  For the full story, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_6_radio_stations_in_the_United_States.  What resulted are legacy stations dating back to analog TV days which continue to operate sans video as de facto FM stations.  For all practical purposes, we have a modest extension of the FM band.  There are, in fact, 14 such stations currently spread across the lower 48 states.  It is unlikely that the circumstances which created these stations will ever result in more stations being added.  As of July 20, 2023, an FCC report and order restricted these stations to those already licensed and current licenses untransferable.

Do you live near a Channel 6 FM radio station?

Just to complete the picture, there is also officially an FM Channel 200 at 87.9 MHz, which was established in 1978, but to my knowledge is not used.  Does anyone have any information on FM Channel 200?

As an historical aside, the present-day FM band, 88 to 108 MHz, is located directly between analog TV Channels 6 and 7.  In 1958, to foster FM use, Regency Electronics, Inc. marketed a converter, Model RC-103, in a handsome Bakelite case, which could be attached between the antenna (generally “rabbit ears”) and the TV set.  The converter contained a single transistor and was powered by three AA batteries.  By tuning the TV to Channel 6, turning on the TeleVerter to FM, and rotating its dial, one effectively detuned the Channel 6 audio frequency upward, and could listen to the entire FM band.  As this converter was manufactured prior to the advent of stereo broadcasting, the sound was in mono, and fidelity was limited to the audio quality of the TV.  My dad bought one of these.  It was connected to our Arvin 12”, B/W tabletop TV, and it served as our first FM radio for a few years.  There were only a few stations at that time, mostly classical as I recall.  Thus “FM” came to stand for “fine music.”

Source: Sams Photofact Folder, Set 397, Folder 11, Regency Model RC-103, May, 1958.

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Bob asks: “What’s Your Favorite Corner of the Dial?”

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Colegrove, who shares the following guest post:

What’s Your Favorite Corner of the Dial?

As asked by Bob Colegrove

Let’s suppose you’ve been listening to radio for a while.  Consciously or not, you’ve probably favored a range of AM, SW, or FM frequencies.  These are areas where you go to DX or just listen to your favorite stations.  One area I seem to keep returning to is the very bottom of the medium wave band, roughly 530 kHz to 600 kHz.  With the convenience of today’s digital radios, I have consciously pushed the envelope somewhat lower.

The main reason for specializing in that frequency range is the challenge.  In the very beginning there didn’t seem to be much at the extreme lower end of the AM broadcast band.  Growing up in Indianapolis in the ‘50s, the local stations were all at the upper end of the mediumwave dial.  WXLW held down 950 kHz – lower than that nothing.  I would say the stator plates on the variable capacitor got very dusty, never being closed any further than that on many radios.

Another challenge was sensitivity.  In analog times, the sensitivity of a tuned circuit had some falloff as the inductance/capacitance (L/C) ratio decreased.  Sensitivity is highest with the variable cap open at the high end of the band.  As you tune lower by increasing capacitance (inductance remaining constant), the Q and consequently sensitivity drop off – not dramatically, but somewhat.

Finally, not all old analog radios tuned to 530 kHz; some were even challenged to tune 540 kHz.  By performing a little mischief with the alignment, I could sometimes venture into unknown territory.

This was all part of the challenge.  So, what could I do to coax some activity out of the bottom of the band?  I spent many hours poring over Bill Orr’s Better Shortwave Reception (Radio Publications, Inc., Wilton, CT, First Edition, 1957) and tweaking caps and coils trying to squeeze the last few kilohertz and microvolts out of my radios.  This exercise fascinated me and became a hobby within a hobby.  If I may be allowed a self-deprecating aside here, the first time I took a radio out of the cabinet, I just assumed that all these alignment screws were loose, and dutifully torqued them down.  The alignment problem is not comparatively complex with today’s digital receivers.  Note, I didn’t say it was unimportant.

I still tend to favor the bottom of the medium wave band.  Below is a list of my catches over the past couple of years.  It’s just a sample of what one might hear by casual listening over time.  Highlighted stations are heard during daylight hours.  This is NOT intended to impress anyone, rather it is hopefully a stimulus for your own efforts.

As another attraction of the lower mediumwave band, you will find a potpourri of stations.  Besides regular North American broadcasting stations, one might possibly hear an occasional high-powered trans-Atlantic station which is not synchronized with the 10 kHz spacing.  530 kHz is interesting.  It is not used in the US by commercial broadcast stations.  Instead, stations from Canada and Cuba at roughly orthogonal directions from me are regularly audible at night on this frequency.  Thus, the radio is tuned by simply rotating the antenna.  530 kHz is also home to several Travelers’ Information Stations (TIS) throughout the country.  Question:  How will this long-time service fare if travelers don’t have AM radios in their new cars?  Finally, the very bottom of the frequency range still contains a few holdouts of non-directional beacons.

Frequencies below 530 kHz probably put a strain on the medium wave bands of old radios, but they are likely no problem on most digital radios having both LW and MW coverage.  As mentioned, there are a few non-directional beacons down there.  They are Morse coded using amplitude modulation.  I have found placing the receiver in SSB mode makes detection much easier, as the heterodyne from the carrier can be heard well before the signal is strong enough to produce any audio.  These beacons generally fade in for brief periods of time and then fade out like passing comets.

My most recent catch was experimental station WI2XLQ, 486 kHz, during its annual Fessenden Event on Christmas Day and again on New Year’s Day.  See https://swling.com/blog/?s=Fessenden+ .  The experience was not the armchair listening quality one might expect from FM or the Internet.  Instead, it was weak and fraught with atmospheric noise.  The station came in periodically, then disappeared, in short, DXing to its highest degree of satisfaction.

The antenna is the key to good reception, and there is no exception to this rule at the lower end of the AM band.  Many years ago, I switched to an indoor, resonant loop antenna.  The selectivity, directional properties, and noise rejection of a loop antenna in this frequency range are superb.  The figure below shows my 40-year-old loop antenna, which is still used in its original form.  It tunes from ~485 kHz through ~1710 kHz in two bands.  The antenna can rotate 360 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically.  Further, it is mechanically balanced to remain in any position without locking.  For those not inclined to construction projects, the Tecsun AN-100, AN-200, and Terk Advantage will perform quite well through inductive coupling with a portable radio’s ferrite bar antenna.

As all experienced medium wave DXers know, for success you need to have patience, “set a spell,” and let the radio do its thing.  Radios are living organisms, kind of like cats, very independent at times, and will let you hear only what they want you to hear.  On many channels, stations will come and go over time.  If you’re lucky, you might catch an ID; lacking that, you might be able to identify it by the format or network.  You might try to compare the contents you hear on the radio with what you can hear online either over the station’s website or via streaming sites such as TuneIn, iHeart, or Radio Garden.  There may be a delay between the Internet stream and the live signal.

When you feel you’ve exhausted the possibilities, there’s still more.  Turn the antenna 90 degrees and start over.  You’re only half finished with that frequency.  Don’t forget a headset or earbuds.

What’s the next challenging rung on the limbo bar?  Well, possibly the 633-meter ham band, 472 to 479 kHz.  I’ll have to pad the old loop with a small capacitor to tune down there.

What’s your favorite corner of the dial?  Why?

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QT80 10 meter Radio

Radioddity QT80 10m Radio

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Guest Review by Robert Gulley K4PKM

The Radioddity QT80 is a very interesting addition to the Radioddity line of CB and Amateur radios. It cleverly walks a line between being a CB (channelized) radio, and a channelized/VFO capable amateur radio.

You are likely to have heard of this radio already, as there are a number of video and written reviews out there for the QT80, with most all of them praising the radio’s features and capabilities. For those who have not heard about the radio, I list the basic information below, and then talk about my impressions of the rig.

What’s in the box?
1 x QT80 10 Meter Radio
1 x Detachable Microphone
1 x Install Bracket
1 x Power Cable
1 x PC003 Programming Cable
1 x Spare Fuse (15A, 250V)
2 x Adhesive Case Protectors
4 x Adjusting Screws
4 x Screws
4 x Pads

Included in the box

Functions & Features
– 7-color screen display and backlight dimming
– FM, AM, USB, LSB, CW (need DIY work), PA modes
– SSB TX audio bandwidth control
– Frequency Tuning Steps: 10Hz, 100Hz, 1KHz, 5KHz, 10KHz, 100KHz, 1MHz
– ± 500Hz, 5KHz Clarifier (R/T/R+T selectable)
– Flexible menu functions and PC programming software
– RX and TX NRC Noise Reduction
– SQ, ASQ Function (FM and AM mode)
– RF GAIN Adjustment
– RF PWR Adjustment
– VFO / BAND / Memory Channel Modes
– Repeater Shift / Offset Frequency Function
– CTCSS/DCS with RX/TX Split functions
– SCAN Function
– CTCSS/DCS scan
– NB/ANL Function
– DW DUAL-WATCH Function
– SWR, S/RF meter Function
– TOT function
– HI-CUT Function
– EMG CALL
– SWR Protection
– Power Supply Voltage Protection
– Key-Lock Function
– DTMF Function
– BEEP Prompt
– Enhanced VOX Function (VOX.SPK can support digital mode operation)
– ECHO Function
– Programmable RB Function
– AM TX NPC
– User Defined (PF) key on microphone
– Audio path select 31.+10KHz Function

80W High Power: Experience clearer and stronger signals in challenging conditions with our 80W high-power radio. Perfect for amateur radio enthusiasts and professional operators, it guarantees reliable long-distance communication in any environment. FCC ID: T4K-AT6666PRO

Versatile Communication Modes: Seamlessly switch between FM, AM, SSB (USB, LSB), CW, and PA modes to adapt to various communication needs, from casual use to professional applications, catering to various communication scenarios.

Advanced Noise Reduction: Customize your listening experience with adjustable TX & RX noise reduction. Enjoy crystal-clear audio with minimized background noise and enhanced voice clarity, ensuring smooth and intelligible transmissions every time.

ASQ Function: The Automatic Squelch Control (ASQ) function intelligently filters out unwanted noise and static, providing a cleaner and more enjoyable listening experience. Say goodbye to constant manual adjustments and enjoy hassle-free communication.

7-Color LCD Display: Personalize your interface with a vibrant 7-color LCD display that complements any environment. Choose your preferred color for optimal visibility and a modern touch, enhancing your communication setup.

CTCSS/DCS: Use CTCSS/DCS codes to prevent interference and enhance privacy during group communications, ensuring clear and secure conversations.

Precision Frequency Tuning: Tune precisely with 7 Frequency Tuning Step options (10Hz/100Hz/1KHz/5KHz/10KHz/100KHz/1MHz), enabling accurate adjustments for clear communication.

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Data modes using DIY interface using the built-in VOX system

What you will need for QT80 – There are not many parts needed to get our own data-cable prepared.

– For the connection to the Radioddity QT80 you will need a 6-pin GX16-A6P plug, often called “aviation plug”.
– For the connection to your PC, you will either need a shielded stereo audio-cable with 3.5mm TRS plugs on both ends or two shielded open end stereo audio cables with 3.5mm TRS plug.
– If your PC does not have a built-in sound-card you will also need a USB soundcard with 3.5mm TRS sockets for MIC-in and Audio-out.

Full instructions may be found here:

https://www.radioddity.com/blogs/all/qt60-pro-qt80-data-mode-operation-guide?_kx=kFwIrsBfpgRCg9VuXhVWtqVpfz_NH8taLFTR4MEj-tU.HYtn7C

__________________________________________________________________________

I have included above some recently released information about how to use the radio for TX and RX with digital modes such as FT8/FT4 and SSTV, PSK etc.

While not indicated as such on the Radioddity website, the radio is capable of going down to 15 meters with a slight modification, demonstrated by some of the YouTube videos, which also includes the 11- and 13-meter bands.

QT80 with case removed

Internal main PC board and large speaker

Additionally, Radioddity offers a Model CBL-561 15-30mHz vertical antenna option which can be attached to a mobile mount by way of its PL-259 connector. My sample copy of the antenna is extremely sturdy, and has an adjustable whip section for matching the chosen band.

My Impressions

The radio is well-built, solid, and has a heavy heatsink for handling the 80-watt output power, as there is no built-in fan. There are a number of nice features in the radio, including multiple color screen options, VFO tuning and scanning features down to 1 kHz, and very usable noise reduction and clarifier options. There is also a PA function which could come in very handy for emergency response situations.

The speaker is quite capable of being heard even with loud road noise, but due to the speaker placement on the bottom of the radio, where you have to mount the radio in your particular setting might determine if you need an external speaker.

The audio quality is quite good as I listened around to stations on 10m USB and 11m CB, as well as shortwave signals.

The noise reduction feature is designed to filter out unwanted noise on receive of course, but is also designed to work on the TX side of things to help with voice clarity. While the primary goal is clarity, if possible, I would recommend testing the TX side of things with someone who is familiar with your voice so you can adjust the noise reduction levels more accurately.

There is a USB connection which allows for firmware upgrades, programming capabilities, and, with some DIY effort, TX for Digital modes.

VFO Tuning vs. Channel Hopping

The QT80 offers both a channelized scan and tuning feature, as well as a scan and VFO option. Scanning/tuning of channels is as you would expect, allowing you to scan through 40 programmed channels, or 99 memory channels.

Scanning using the VFO method allows you to scan in various steps of 10 kHz or above. It should be noted that to tune to a level of 10 or 100 Hz accuracy, this must be adjusted by pressing the tuning dial in, which then allows you to select these tuning steps. For all automatic and manual tuning of frequencies using the tuning dial, the smallest step is 1 kHz. That can be a little confusing for those who are used to free turning VFOs on desktop/portable receivers.

As the tuning dial/channel switch (the big dial on the right-hand side of the unit) is designed primarily for channel selection and incremental tuning, there is both muting and an audible click as the dial is turned.

As the radio is clearly designed for mobile-style operation, the memory channels can easily be used to store 10-meter repeater stations (along with the necessary offsets), CB channels, as well as storing simplex frequencies to quickly tune in desired frequencies for scheds with other amateur radio operators.

The freely available programming software allows for easy programming of memories and channels, as well as controlling most all of the radio’s functions.

As you can see in the image below, the microphone has up and down buttons for tuning, as well as a PF button which can be assigned for specific programmed functions. The mic does not have a keypad, a nice, but not necessary function. As an aside, I have not seen any data as to what microphones might be interchangeable with the stock mic, so I would certainly do extensive research before trying a keypad-style mic with the radio.

QT80 in use

Receiving California QSO Party signals clearly

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Advanced features such as noise reduction and receive clarifier
  • A reasonable number of memories which don’t get ridiculous in size like some radios (i.e. 1000 memories!)
  • Simplified front end with menu options (see also Cons)
  • Feature-Rich radio beyond many similar mobile radios (see Cons below)
  • Multiple color options for the screen to enhance viewing in different lighting conditions
  • Large heatsink
  • Capability to store 10m repeater stations in memory with offset info
  • Great audio
  • Ability to work digital modes using the built-in VOX capabilities with DIY solution, no separate sound interface needed
  • CW TX possible with DIY solution shown on website
  • Free programming software
  • Standard antenna connections giving many antenna/tuner options

Cons

  • Bottom-mounted speaker (common, but not good if mounted near floor or in compartment) but external speaker port available
  • Non-removeable front-end, useful for more localized placement/ease of operation in vehicle or tight spaces
  • Many special functions require menu options which make mobile operation more difficult or dangerous when driving
  • Fairly steep learning curve to take advantage of all the features (see Pros above)

 

Conclusions

I believe most folks will be very pleased with the advanced capabilities of this rig. There is a bit of a learning curve for those who may not have used this style of radio before, but the time spent learning its features so as to make use of all these features will be well rewarded.

The radio has excellent audio, a clear display, many adjustments to make the radio function as desired, and has expansive capabilities to broaden its appeal. 73, Robert K4PKM

Radioddity Link

Amazon Link

 

 

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Bob talks ergonomics and radio buttons…

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XHDATA D-808 on a 5” × 9” neoprene pad.

Ergonomics and Radio Buttons

By Bob Colegrove

Am I being too picky?  Are the buttons on some newer portable radios hard to press?  I’ve read many reviews and watched as many videos, but haven’t encountered many complaints about this.  Perhaps it’s an age-related affliction.

The most succinct description of the problem was expressed in the review of the Tecsun PL-660 way back in the 2012 edition of the WRTH.  In referring to the buttons, “All are in our view rather too small for comfort and have breakout forces which are out of all proportion to their size; the combination of this with excessively long travel and weak tactile feedback does not give much pleasure to the user.”  The problem has only gotten worse with some newer portable radios.

I see two problems here.  First, too much pressure is required; what the WRTH called “breakout force.”  Designers may say, “that’s so you won’t accidentally turn the radio on and run down the battery.”  Well, I reply, “isn’t that what the ubiquitous lock button is for?  They all have one.”

If you’ve ever taken one of these radios apart, you’ve likely seen a pliable membrane between the buttons and the switches or traces on the PC board.  This provides some spring action necessary to return the buttons to the upright position.  Couldn’t this be thinner or more elastic?

Second, some radios have flat buttons that don’t protrude very far above the case.  By the time the fleshy part of your finger bottoms out on the surface of the case, still more pressure and button travel is required to activate the function.  Couldn’t the buttons be slightly higher?

The result, if you operate the radio on a desk or table and apply the requisite walnut-cracking pressure on a button, the radio might well rocket off its foundation.

Pads for Portables

A partial solution without violating the integrity of the radio is a stable foundation.  In today’s euphemistic world the term counterpoise is use when referring to what we used to simply call an electrical ground.  It seems some sort of mechanical counterpoise would be useful to better anchor a portable radio for operation.

Neoprene is a synthetic rubber developed by a DuPont scientist in 1930.  It is tougher than natural rubber and relatively impervious to solvents.  This stuff is virtually skidproof.  There are perhaps other materials suitable for this application, which is simply to get the radio to stand its ground while you operate it.  After some thought and experimentation, I bought a 1/16”-thick neoprene pad.  A 12” × 12” pad is more than enough.  Mine came from https://amzn.to/3XsmQDe [Note Affiliate link supports the SWLing Post].  I cut this into three smaller pads as follows:

7” × 12” for a Sony ICF-2010, which has nice easy-touch buttons and really doesn’t need a pad except to anchor the radio in place.

5” × 9” for a Tecsun PL-990 and many other similar size radios.

3” × 5”, the scrap piece can be used for a C.Crane Skywave, which already has nice raised buttons;  a Tecsun PL-330, which needs a pad most of all; and an XHDATA D-220, which doesn’t even have buttons.

A Tecsun PL-330 lying flat covers a 3” × 5” pad.  But that’s OK.

There are a couple of alternatives:

  1. You can leave a large pad uncut to accommodate various sizes of radios; or
  2. You can cut bits of neoprene and apply them as feet to the bottom rear corners of the radio and bottom of the stand.  There might be some difficulty getting them to stay in place or allowing the stand to fully collapse.  Some portables already have rubber feet.

It’s probably apparent that neoprene will adhere best to a smooth surface such as glass or Formica.  However, I have tested it on a cloth-covered, memory foam chair cushion, and it works just fine.  Pressing down the material will make it adhere to a surface even more.  I would estimate that a lateral force of at least 10 or 15 pounds is required to make a small radio break loose from three or four points of contact with the material.

Besides holding the radio in place while you operate it, much like a large table radio, neoprene offers the radio some cosmetic protection against abrasion from rough surfaces.  However, the material is so sticky it will pick up every bit of dust or dirt.  This can somewhat compromise its adherence requiring an occasional rinse in water.

Admittedly, the neoprene pad isn’t going to be very useful while you’re sitting in a beach chair using the radio in the handheld posture.  However, in the shack, a suitable pad has a purpose.

XHDATA D-220 sans buttons on a 3” × 5” pad.

Caps for Buttons

In the case of buttons which are too low, some additional help is desired.  On the Tecsun PL-330, I glued plastic caps on top of the STEP and ETM buttons, which raises them about 1/16” and helps considerably.  I am still looking for some transparent material to use as caps on the numbered buttons.

STEP and ETM buttons with caps on a Tecsun PL-330.

Further validated suggestions are solicited.

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The Tecsun PL-990/PL-990x as an MP3 Player, Bluetooth Receiver, and PC Speaker

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Colegrove, who shares the following guest post:

The Tecsun PL-990/PL-990x as an MP3 Player, Bluetooth Receiver, and PC Speaker

By Bob Colegrove

Source: PL-990x Operation Manual

Sometimes after a medium wave or shortwave DX session I just like to kick back and listen to good music.  Perhaps this is an age-related malady.  I recently did a scan of the FM band and came up with 60 listenable stations in my area.  By listenable, I only mean they can be received clearly.  In practice, I only listen to a couple stations.  Although, my tastes in music are quite varied, apparently, they do not coincide very well with local FM broadcast station formats.  No matter, I can still indulge myself listening to diverse favored artists.

The Tecsun PL-990/990x offers a ready solution having both an MP3 player and Bluetooth connectivity.  Actually, there are several compatible audio formats available on the player, but for simplicity I will merely refer to them as MP3.  I really didn’t buy this radio purposely for these additional features.  I bought it as a follow-on to the PL-880, which I still like very much for all its well-known features as a multiband radio.

I spent some time on the Internet reading all the reviews and watching many YouTube videos.  Among useful things, I learned how to take the radio out of its box.  The aggregate of all this information was thorough coverage of all the salient features of the 990 – all except the treatment of the MP3 player and Bluetooth connectivity.  These generally appeared at the end of each review in a by-the-way fashion with little detail.

I bought a PL-990x with expectations that it would be a good radio performer, and that has proven to be the case.  During its setup and checkout, I realized the potential for its MP3 and Bluetooth capabilities.  A few years ago, I digitized all our vinyl recordings and cassette tapes, so I had many hours of material readily available for inclusion on a micro-SD card, which can be inserted on the bottom of the cabinet.

Source: PL-990x Operation Manual

The radio, MP3 player, and Bluetooth modes are available by toggling a single switch.

Source: PL-990x Operation Manual

As an MP3 Player

Unfortunately, the display does not have a multi-segment set of characters for text.  This is the way random RDS information is displayed on radios such as the XHDATA D-808 and Eton Elite Executive.  So, selecting albums and tracks on the 990 is limited to numeric representation, which doesn’t provide much of a clue identifying the musical selection.  The user must either remember where favorite files are stored by number or keep some sort of number-title log.

Files are stored on a micro-SD card having up to 128 GB in capacity.  That’s a lot of content.  The radio comes with a 16-GB card, which will probably be large enough for many users.  There are some details to consider when setting up the card.  This information is lacking in the manual, but I have tried to fill in the blanks below.

Some rules:

1. There is no purpose in trying to alphabetize or otherwise edit album or track titles to locate them in a specific sequence.  The 990 doesn’t understand this.

2. Generally, albums and tracks will be assigned numbers by the 990 in the order in which they are saved to the SD card by the computer.

3. Albums equal folders.  Tracks equal (MP3) files within each folder.  You can mix and match the content in albums and tracks any way you want to.  It does not have to conform to the publisher’s album content.

Source: PL-990x Operation Manual

4. An album/folder can contain both its own tracks/files and nested folders containing other albums.  A nested album/folder will be numbered in sequence after the containing folder.  Any previously saved album/folders will be renumbered higher in sequence.

Rule 4 offers some flexibility.  You can come back later and prioritize any album/folder by simply nesting it with another album/folder.

The table below is an example of five different musical genres compiled into separate albums.  On the computer, the polka album was transferred to the SD card first, then classic country.  At that point, the polka album was A01 and country A02 on the 990 display.  Later, Dixieland and waltz albums were added to the tracks in the polka folder.  They then became A02 and A03 respectively, and the country album advanced to A04.  Finally, the chorus album was added in the root directory and became A05.

  • The 990 recognizes the SD card quickly after it is inserted into its slot.
  • The number of tracks and albums (files and folders) is only limited by the SD-card format, which for all practical purposes, won’t be a limitation.  By way of example, I used the default exFAT format and loaded an album with 657 tracks; I don’t recommend that many.
  • A single track can be repeated by long-pressing the PLAY/PAUSE button.
  • The tracks in an album will be repeated continuously.
  • There does not appear to be a way to shuffle tracks.

I did encounter some difficulty with micro-SD card compatibility, which was independent of brand.  A couple micro-SD cards were prepared on a computer using an adapter card and a micro-SD card reader and operated correctly in the computer, but the content was not recognized by the 990.  I suspect this might be due to the early manufacture of the cards, but I’m not sure.

The 990 manual picks up the explanation from there describing operation of the control keys.  I found it most convenient just to scroll through the albums with the FINE TUNING knob and through the tracks with the main TUNING knob.  The number pad buttons will also work for direct album or track selection.  Their application depends on the last tuning knob turned.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a hidden feature of the 990.  Activation is partially covered on the hidden feature sheet.

  1. With the radio off, press and hold the PLAY/MP3 button.  If OFF (for Bluetooth) appears in the display, press and hold the button again until ON appears in the display.
  2. Turn on the radio.
  3. Toggle the PLAY/MP3 button until “BT” appears in the display.  The display will have a horizontal, animated dashed line for a few seconds, then it will change to an animated rectangle indicating that the Bluetooth feature is on.
  4. Follow the procedure for your tablet, computer or phone to pair the device with the 990.  “Tecsun PL-990” should appear on the device as a choice for pairing.  The 990 only pairs with one device at a time.  If you have trouble, ensure that the 990 has not inadvertently paired with another device.

Bluetooth, of course, opens Internet streaming from a phone, tablet or computer.  These ‘remotes’ have the convenience of full text capability and offer easier selection of content.  I paired my PL-990x with a Kindle tablet; it has a range of at least 25 feet.  The same micro-SD card could in theory be transferred from the radio to the tablet and function the same way.  A smart phone would add cellular connectivity.

Control:

Three of the four player control buttons above the display are active in Bluetooth.  The stop button has no effect.  As with the MP3 player, the main TUNING and FINE TUNING knobs will also advance or reverse the track selection.  Interestingly, this works with audio player apps as well as services such as YouTube, where it advances or reverses videos on the tablet, computer or phone.  In addition to the RADIO/MP3 button, pressing any of the band buttons will immediately exit Bluetooth and tune to the selected radio band.

Source: PL-990x Operation Manual

In MP3 or Bluetooth mode, there is no noise from a USB wall wart.  It might be a good time to charge the battery.

As a Computer Speaker

Finally, there is what the 990 manual calls the computer speaker mode.  Sounds inconsequential.  Why would anyone want to use a monaural radio on a computer that’s likely outfitted with stereo speakers?  Actually, it’s more than that.  By plugging your 990 into a USB port on your computer you have the normal charging feature, but you will also have complete USB connectivity with your PC.

Turn on the 990.  You may have to press RADIO/MP3 button until “PC” appears in the PL-990 display.

  • You will not be able to use the radio.
  • The content of the micro-SD card in the 990 should appear as a USB drive in the computer’s file directory.  You can transfer files on or off the 990, but the process will be very slow.  Transfers from the computer to the 990-installed SD card follow the same rules listed above for the MP3 player.
  • The computer will provide the MP3 play function through its own app.  You can select files from either the 990 SD card or those on the PC and play them through the 990 speaker.
  • You can switch speakers between the 990 or those on the computer by selecting the speaker icon on the computer task bar, then selecting the available speakers.

  • The pause/play button on the player controls will work, but the reverse, stop, and advance buttons will not.

Final Thoughts

Some disappointment was registered in the reviews that the 990 does not have a recorder.  Yes, this would have been nice.  One thing it does have is a line out jack which has adjustable gain.  This makes my outboard recorder much happier than when it is used with some other radios.

Since we are talking about audio, I have noted that some reviewers still prefer the sound of the PL-880.  To my ears, the 990 sounds every bit as good.  Remember, these are mid-size portable radios.

The inclusion of MP3 player and Bluetooth capabilities on the 990 adds very useful functionality to this radio.  After nearly four years of consumer availability, I must wonder why they haven’t received more attention.

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The Giant Antennas of Shanghai Coast Radio Station (XSG)

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael (BD4AAQ) who shares the following guest post:

Shanghai Coast Radio Station (XSG):

Those Giant Antennas!

The 17th of May is the World Telecommunication Day. It is also the open day of Shanghai Coast Radio Station. On this day, a group of amateur radio operators were invited to visit the transmission facility, a huge antenna farm, of the radio station, located on Chongming Island of Shanghai, the third largest island in China.

Google Satellite Photo

The transmission site of Shanghai Coast Radio Station is as shown below in the map of Chongming Island. Other sites of the station include a central control/receive station in Zhangjiang, a receive station on Hengsha Island and some VHF base stations in a number of other locations. All these locations in Shanghai, linked via cable and microwave connection, form Shanghai Coast Radio Station, also known by its callsign as XSG.

(Google map of transmitter location for Shanghai Coast Radio Station. Note the antenna farm on the left.)

Presentation by Station Officials

Fifteen or so local hams were cordially invited to have a tour of the station. The radio enthusiasts were greeted by station representatives, including Mr Wan, Mr Wang, Mr Zhou and Mr Niu (BH4BFS), who also gave them an overview of the coast radio station’s history and development. 

Antenna Farm

Mr Wang then showed the visitors around the antenna farm. Many of us, myself included, saw and were deeply impressed with these huge antennas for the first time! Indeed, many professional radio facilities and operators of similar coast radio stations work quietly around the globe and around the clock to provide for distress, navigational, business and personal communications needs of ships!

[Click on images to enlarge.]

The antennas cover a wide range of frequencies, from MF, HF, to VHF and UHF. Many of them are, however, shortwave (HF) antennas.

Transmitter Room

(I placed a Tecsun PL-330 radio near the transmitter at 12380.1 kHz (weather fax). The signal strength, in dbu, is 96. Given the margin of error of the receiver’s display, that’s probably as high as it could go.)

Shanghai Coast Radio Station (XSG) operates on a wide range of frequencies. Its HF frequencies include 4207.5, 4209.5, 4215.5, 4369, 6312, 6326, 6501, 8414.5, 8425.5, 8770, 8806, 12577, 12637.5, 13176, 13188, 16804.5, 16898.5 and 17407 kHz. Of particular note is that they have kept a CW frequency of 8665 kHz for general broadcast of information on a 24 hour basis.

The station’s VHF phone service covers 25 nautical miles of the coast. Its MF NAVTEX covers 250 nautical miles of the coast. And its HF phone and weather fax and HF NAVTEX extend to 1,000 nautical miles.

History and Current Status

Founded in 1905, Shanghai Coast Radio Station has been around 119 years. The XSG callsign has since remained in use.

China has in place DSC watch and NAVTEX broadcast in coast stations (including XSG) in accordance with GMDSS requirements. Among services provided by XSG are Radio Telephony (RT), Narrow Band Direct Printing (NBDP), “Voice of the East China Sea Coast” (voice broadcast on 161.600 MHz and 8806 kHz) and marine radio weather fax. The station is without a doubt one of the largest coast radio stations in the Asia Pacific region and plays an essential role in the region’s marine safety and communications.

QSL Cards

Shanghai Coast Radio Station issues QSL cards in Chinese and English, traditionally in paper form and nowadays electronically.

(This is an electronic QSL card issued to a Shanghai listener, who received their signal over the radio. Examples of QSL cards in English can be found online.)

Show Room

[Click on images to enlarge.]

Ham Station

Mr Niu of Shanghai Coast Radio Station, one of the tour’s organisers, is a ham himself with callsign BH4BFS. According to him, there are intentions to start a ham radio station within the establishment, possibly incorporating the letters XSG. However, there is much work to be done to make it happen. An amateur radio station with overlapping callsigns with a professional one would be really charming.

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