{"id":14244,"date":"2015-08-01T08:04:01","date_gmt":"2015-08-01T12:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=14244"},"modified":"2016-01-20T20:59:25","modified_gmt":"2016-01-21T00:59:25","slug":"guy-discovers-the-13-99-babson-ds-858-shortwave-radio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/08\/guy-discovers-the-13-99-babson-ds-858-shortwave-radio\/","title":{"rendered":"Guy discovers the $13.99 Basbon DS-858 shortwave radio"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Babson-Shortwave\"<\/a>SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Guy Atkins, writes:<\/p>\n

I spotted this new listing on Ebay today<\/a>, and was wondering if it’s a new model, or perhaps a repackaged Tecsun PL-606? It’s lacking the rotary tuning knob and has a smaller display than the 606 however. It also has two rows of main buttons rather than three:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/ebay.to\/1KGjfrN<\/a><\/p>\n

Curiously, the seller doesn’t even list the brand name in their auction title; it’s only noted in the pictures. However, “Basbon” isn’t exactly a brand of communications receivers with a long, proud tradition :^)<\/p>\n

For $13.99 including shipping the the USA it’s hard to go wrong, so I’ve ordered one.<\/p>\n

[…]Three features that caught my eye with the little Basbon radio are that it’s DSP based, it has LCD backlighting, and shortwave frequency coverage down to 3200 kHz. There are 20 memories and a sturdy-looking whip antenna that rotates 360 degrees, too.<\/p>\n

I can’t wait to get ahold of this and open it up! I wonder which SiLabs chip it uses?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thanks for the tip, Guy! I’m also very curious about this little portable–indeed, curious enough, I purchased one, too<\/a>. Guy and I will compare notes and I’ll post an update after I receive the radio. It’s being shipped via ePacket from China, so transit time will be roughly two weeks if not held up in customs.<\/p>\n

Frankly, my expectations are very low, but like Guy, it’s a little too tempting at $13.99 shipped!<\/p>\n

Click here for a direct link to the Basbson DS-858 on eBay<\/a>—click here to search for the DS-858<\/a>\u00a0should the current item number expire or sell out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SWLing Post contributor, Guy Atkins, writes: I spotted this new listing on Ebay today, and was wondering if it’s a new model, or perhaps a repackaged Tecsun PL-606? It’s lacking the rotary tuning knob and has a smaller display than the 606 however. It also has two rows of main buttons rather than three: http:\/\/ebay.to\/1KGjfrN […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,3196,26,43],"tags":[4692,4690,4043,331,3446],"class_list":["post-14244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-portable-radio","category-radios","category-shortwave-radio","tag-basbon","tag-basbon-ds-858","tag-ds-858","tag-ebay","tag-guy-atkins"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-3HK","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14399,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/08\/guys-review-of-the-babson-ds-858\/","url_meta":{"origin":14244,"position":0},"title":"Guy’s review of the Basbon DS-858","author":"Thomas","date":"August 23, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post contributor, Guy Atkins, writes: My \"bargain bin\" $13.99 portable Basbon DSP receiver arrived yesterday from China while I was out of town. That was fortunate for the little radio, as my absence allowed it another day of life (in one piece) on planet earth. The good: the radio's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Babson-Shortwave","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Babson-Shortwave-e1438429857861.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Babson-Shortwave-e1438429857861.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Babson-Shortwave-e1438429857861.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21934,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/11\/jon-reviews-the-vite-vt-111-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":14244,"position":1},"title":"Jon reviews the VITE VT-111 receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"November 4, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Jon Tabor, who writes: I'm new to SWL, but found your site a few months ago, and have been loving it ever since. I recently picked up, for about $11 off eBay, a cheap MW\/SW\/FM radio called the VITE VT-111, which appears to be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"vite-vt-111","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/VITE-VT-111-e1477484925135.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/VITE-VT-111-e1477484925135.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/VITE-VT-111-e1477484925135.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/VITE-VT-111-e1477484925135.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21528,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/rare-hitachi-kw-wsi-worldspace-receiver-on-ebay\/","url_meta":{"origin":14244,"position":2},"title":"Rare Hitachi KW-WSI WorldSpace Receiver on Ebay","author":"Guy Atkins","date":"September 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"This is the first and only \"WorldSpace\" satellite receiver I've seen on Ebay, currently offered at a $175 Buy-It-Now price from a seller in Australia: http:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/HITACHI-KW-WSI-DIGITAL-RECEIVER-WS-FM-MW-SW1-SW2-\/282192383263 The radio is listed as in excellent condition with the original box and literature. Besides the long-gone WorldSpace satellite frequencies, the radio covers medium\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"hitachi-kw-wsi","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/HITACHI-KW-WSI-229x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":29528,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/the-wacky-and-rare-toshiba-rp-2000f-now-on-ebay\/","url_meta":{"origin":14244,"position":3},"title":"The Wacky and Rare Toshiba RP-2000F Now on Ebay","author":"Guy Atkins","date":"December 8, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Is this a receiver designed by MacGyver?\u00a0The Toshiba RP-2000F was a portable radio designed for the 1970s Japanese BCL (Broadcast Listener) and is not often seen on the used market. A fine example of this model is on the USA Ebay site right now:\u00a0https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/TOSHIBA-RP-2000F-Shortwave-Radio-Full-88-108-FM-Dial-Great-Cosmetic-Condition\/253300518829 \u00a0 The $495.00 starting price is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Portable Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Portable Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/portable-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/RP-2000F-1-184x300.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18043,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/what-would-you-pay-for-a-new-sealed-box-sony-icf-2010\/","url_meta":{"origin":14244,"position":4},"title":"What Would YOU Pay for a New, Sealed Box Sony ICF-2010?","author":"Guy Atkins","date":"April 2, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Every radio enthusiast knows\u00a0that the Sony ICF-2010\/2001D was a desirable, high performing portable receiver throughout its long production history. Manufactured from 1985 through 2003, few receivers were as consistently high on DXers' \"must have\" list as the ICF-2010. These Sony portables still command high prices on the used market, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Portable Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Portable Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/portable-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"sony2010","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/sony2010-300x165.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":19284,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/very-scarce-kneisner-doering-kwz-30-dsp-receiver-surfaces-on-ebay\/","url_meta":{"origin":14244,"position":5},"title":"Very Scarce Kneisner + Doering KWZ-30 DSP Receiver Surfaces on Ebay","author":"Guy Atkins","date":"May 31, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Hailing from Germany, the KWZ-30 communications receiver was one of the first DSP receivers available. This collectable and high performance receiver is rarely seen for sale, but one is now available for a $1890.00 Buy-It-Now price from a Russian Ebay seller. Even with the few dings visible on the radio's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Manufacturers"","block_context":{"text":"Manufacturers","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/manufacturers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"KWZ-30","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/KWZ-30-1024x565.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/KWZ-30-1024x565.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/KWZ-30-1024x565.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14244"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14244\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}