{"id":14399,"date":"2015-08-23T09:12:00","date_gmt":"2015-08-23T13:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=14399"},"modified":"2016-01-20T20:58:38","modified_gmt":"2016-01-21T00:58:38","slug":"guys-review-of-the-babson-ds-858","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/08\/guys-review-of-the-babson-ds-858\/","title":{"rendered":"Guy’s review of the Basbon DS-858"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Babson-Shortwave\"<\/a><\/p>\n

SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Guy Atkins, writes:<\/p>\n

My “bargain bin” $13.99 portable Basbon DSP receiver<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

The good:<\/strong> the radio’s case is surprisingly solid and of good quality. To hold the receiver you’d think you had a $50+ portable in your hands. The smallish and very basic LCD display (cleverly labeled “DISPLAY” for those who don’t catch on too quickly) looks crude however, and gives forewarning that crude performance awaits.<\/p>\n

The so-so:<\/strong> strong, local FM signals sound intelligible but with lots of tinny audio and some distortion. Strong AM signals (which happen to be near or coincide with North America’s 10 KHz channel spacing) are adequate.<\/p>\n

The bad & ugly:<\/strong> Once you get past the puzzling multiple button presses to get past the clock display into shortwave operation, the noises and hisses coming from the speaker will make you wish you’d left well enough alone! Strong SW signals audible on Kaito’s $17.99 low-end (and analog) WRX-911<\/a> are simply a noisy, tone-covered mess on the Basbon receiver.<\/p>\n

I was curious if the digital hash and noise was the result of an unshielded DSP chip, so I opened up the receiver. These two pictures show both sides of the primitive PCB:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Basbon_PCB_front\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After removal of TEN (!) little silver screws holding the PCB board in place I could remove and flip it over. The square, multi-lead chip to the lower left of the LCD display is unmarked, and is presumably the DSP IC. I was contemplating making a small grounded metal shield to cover the chip, but as I moved the Basbon radio’s internals on my workbench the array of case buttons literally fell apart.<\/p>\n

That’s the end of THAT idea! I have more interesting radio projects to spend my time on.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thanks so much, Guy! While I’m a little sad the Basbon DSP radio performed so<\/em> poorly, at $13 I suppose we can’t be terribly surprised. My Basbon DS-858 is yet to arrive–it took the seller 10 days to ship it and now it’s on the ePacket journey from China. Once received, my expectations will be adjusted accordingly.<\/p>\n

In truth, like Guy, I often jump on radio deals like this in the off chance they may perform well for their price. Most of the time, though, I feel like I’m taking a bullet for SWLing Post<\/em> readers–! \u00a0(Ha ha!) Giving an honest assessment of a poor radio keeps anyone else from wasting their money.<\/p>\n

Many thanks, Guy, for digging into the Basbon and for sharing your review with us!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 case is surprisingly solid and […]<\/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":[3,129,43,154,3727],"tags":[4690,4691,3446],"class_list":["post-14399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-reviews","category-shortwave-radio","category-shortwave-radio-reviews","category-ultralight-dx","tag-basbon-ds-858","tag-basbon-ds-858-review","tag-guy-atkins"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-3Kf","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14244,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/08\/guy-discovers-the-13-99-babson-ds-858-shortwave-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":14399,"position":0},"title":"Guy discovers the $13.99 Basbon DS-858 shortwave radio","author":"Thomas","date":"August 1, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"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\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-e1438429838352-1024x647.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Babson-Shortwave-e1438429838352-1024x647.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Babson-Shortwave-e1438429838352-1024x647.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":14399,"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":30044,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/ssb-reception-examples-with-the-xhdata-d-808-portable-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":14399,"position":2},"title":"SSB Reception Examples with the XHDATA D-808 Portable Receiver","author":"Guy Atkins","date":"January 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In my earlier article on this receiver, I shared reception videos of three weak medium wave stations and a single shortwave outlet, all demonstrated in AM mode. These two videos are of reception in SSB. The first example is true SSB reception--in lower side band on the 40m amateur band,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/bXsSBktVZRM\/0.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":14399,"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":28891,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/discounted-new-tecsun-pl-310et-receivers-on-amazon\/","url_meta":{"origin":14399,"position":4},"title":"Discounted New Tecsun PL-310ET Receivers on Amazon","author":"Guy Atkins","date":"October 24, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I noticed that Amazon is offering an excellent price on the fine performing Tecsun PL-310ET portable AM-FM-SW radio. The current sale price is $39.80 with free shipping for Amazon Prime members. This is a good price on a compact portable radio normally selling for $48.00. Besides being a worthy\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Deals"","block_context":{"text":"Deals","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/deals\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Tecsun_PL-310ET.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Tecsun_PL-310ET.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Tecsun_PL-310ET.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Tecsun_PL-310ET.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20022,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/07\/vintage-unboxing-new-in-the-box-magnavox-d2935-receiver-from-1987\/","url_meta":{"origin":14399,"position":5},"title":"Vintage Unboxing: New-in-the-Box Magnavox D2935 Receiver from 1987","author":"Guy Atkins","date":"July 15, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Sometimes good fortune drops in our lap\u00a0at the least expected moment, but we have to act quickly to take advantage of it! This was the case with the receiver above; I spotted it on Ebay just moments after the seller posted a Buy-It-Now auction. Had I been planning\u00a0to buy a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Boat Anchors"","block_context":{"text":"Boat Anchors","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/boat-anchors-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"D2935 1000px","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/D2935-1000px.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/D2935-1000px.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/D2935-1000px.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/D2935-1000px.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14399","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=14399"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14399\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}