{"id":27791,"date":"2017-08-29T09:26:09","date_gmt":"2017-08-29T13:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=27791"},"modified":"2017-09-08T10:30:08","modified_gmt":"2017-09-08T14:30:08","slug":"video-shortwave-shootout-with-the-tecsun-s-8800","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/video-shortwave-shootout-with-the-tecsun-s-8800\/","title":{"rendered":"Video: Shortwave shootout with the Tecsun S-8800"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Tecsun-S-8800-shortwave-dial.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-27795\" src=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Tecsun-S-8800-shortwave-dial-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"625\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Tecsun-S-8800-shortwave-dial.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Tecsun-S-8800-shortwave-dial-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Tecsun-S-8800-shortwave-dial-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Tecsun-S-8800-shortwave-dial-624x351.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After enjoying an afternoon <a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/video-daytime-mediumwave-shootout-with-the-tecsun-s-8800\/\">testing the <strong>Tecsun S-8800<\/strong> on the Blue Ridge Parkway<\/a>\u00a0this past weekend, I decided to return to the parkway yesterday and test the S-8800&#8217;s shortwave performance.<\/p>\n<p>I carved out about two hours of my afternoon and spent the entire time comparing the S-8800 to the <strong>Tecsun PL-880<\/strong> and the <strong>Sony ICF-SW7600GR<\/strong>.\u00a0I tested the radios on several shortwave bands and in both AM and SSB modes.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/video-daytime-mediumwave-shootout-with-the-tecsun-s-8800\/\">On Sunday<\/a>, we discovered that mediumwave performance is lacking on the S-8800. <em><strong>Not so on shortwave!<\/strong> <\/em>Check out this short video:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"625\" height=\"352\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vKtdOn6PUAs?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vKtdOn6PUAs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here to view on YouTube.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In my comparisons, the Tecsun S-8800 has consistently outperformed the PL-880 and Sony ICF-SW7600GR on the shortwave bands. The AGC is pretty stable and sounds much like that of the PL-880 when QSB (fading) is present. Sensitivity is better than the PL-880, though, so the S-8800 can dig those signals out of the noise a little better.<\/p>\n<p>Note, too, I had to pick up both the PL-880 and &#8216;7600GR \u00a0in my hand to obtain the best performance&#8211;that additional grounding gave each a slight boost. Quite common for portables. The S-8800 didn&#8217;t require this.<\/p>\n<p>After I returned home yesterday, it struck me that perhaps a longer telescopic whip gave the S-8800 an advantage. Turns out, it&#8217;s only three inches longer than the PL-880&#8217;s whip.<\/p>\n<p>Next, I need to spend a little time with the S-8800 mapping out any birdies on HF&#8211;a tedious process. I hope to start on that today.<\/p>\n<p>To follow updates on this yet-to-be-released receiver, follow the tag: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/tag\/tecsun-s-8800\/\">Tecsun S-8800<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">UPDATE: <a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/a-review-of-the-tecsun-s-8800-shortwavelwam-mwfm-portable-receiver\/\">Click here to read our full Tecsun S-8800 review.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After enjoying an afternoon testing the Tecsun S-8800 on the Blue Ridge Parkway\u00a0this past weekend, I decided to return to the parkway yesterday and test the S-8800&#8217;s shortwave performance. I carved out about two hours of my afternoon and spent the entire time comparing the S-8800 to the Tecsun PL-880 and the Sony ICF-SW7600GR.\u00a0I tested [&hellip;]<\/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":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[836,3,3196,129,43,154],"tags":[120,2065,4397,4980,2778,495,121,479,2066,4396,4093],"class_list":["post-27791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-new-products","category-news","category-portable-radio","category-reviews","category-shortwave-radio","category-shortwave-radio-reviews","tag-icf-sw7600gr","tag-pl-880","tag-s-8800","tag-shootouts","tag-shortwave-radio-shoot-out","tag-sony","tag-sony-icf-sw7600gr","tag-tecsun","tag-tecsun-pl-880","tag-tecsun-s-8800","tag-videos"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-7ef","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":27762,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/video-daytime-mediumwave-shootout-with-the-tecsun-s-8800\/","url_meta":{"origin":27791,"position":0},"title":"Video: Daytime mediumwave shootout with the Tecsun S-8800","author":"Thomas","date":"August 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"About a week ago, I received a re-engineered version of the Tecsun S-8800 from Anna at the excellent online retailer, Anon-Co. If you recall, I evaluated an early production unit of the S-8800 in February and while putting it through the paces, I discovered loud, warbling DSP birdies throughout the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AM&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Tecsun S-8800","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/IMG_20170823_191416757_HDR-1024x690.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/IMG_20170823_191416757_HDR-1024x690.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/IMG_20170823_191416757_HDR-1024x690.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23898,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/the-tecsun-s-8800-tuned-to-radio-guinea\/","url_meta":{"origin":27791,"position":1},"title":"The Tecsun S-8800 tuned to Radio Guinea","author":"Thomas","date":"February 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday, while comparing the new Tecsun S-8800 with the PL-880 and ICF-SW7600GR (on the tail gate of my truck) I tuned to Radio Guinea and was instantly reminded why I love music over shortwave. Here's a clip I kept rather short for fear that YouTube might note the off-air music\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Music&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-SpeakerGrill.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-SpeakerGrill.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-SpeakerGrill.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-SpeakerGrill.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-SpeakerGrill.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28139,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/a-review-of-the-tecsun-s-8800-shortwavelwam-mwfm-portable-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":27791,"position":2},"title":"A review of the Tecsun S-8800 shortwave\/LW\/AM-MW\/FM portable receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"September 8, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Earlier this year, Tecsun released its long-awaited newest large portable: the Tecsun S-8800 portable shortwave\/LW\/AM-MW\/FM receiver. Though I fully intended to buy a Tecsun S-8800 for review, our friendly Hong Kong-based Tecsun retailer, Anon-Co, sent an S-8800 to me before I could. I\u2019ve worked with Anna at Anon-Co for at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AM&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Angle.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Angle.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Angle.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24111,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/tecsun-s-8800-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":27791,"position":3},"title":"Tecsun S-8800 update","author":"Thomas","date":"February 12, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"UPDATE: Click here to read our full review of the re-engineered Tecsun S-8800. Note that the post below refers to the first production run units only. If you're considering purchasing the Tecsun S-8800, this is an important post. I've had the S-8800 for about two weeks and\u00a0had planned to have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Manufacturers&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Manufacturers","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/manufacturers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-WWV-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-WWV-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-WWV-1024x576.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34871,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/dan-compares-and-reviews-the-tecsun-s-8800-portable-am-fm-shortwave-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":27791,"position":4},"title":"Dan compares and reviews the Tecsun S-8800 portable AM\/FM\/shortwave receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"November 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, for the following guest post and review: Tecsun's S-8800: \u00a0Is This All The Radio You Will Ever Need? These days, we who still derive enjoyment from listening to shortwave broadcasts, be they larger international broadcasters or smaller stations that remain on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AM&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Front-Table.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Front-Table.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Front-Table.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Front-Table.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33724,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/bill-discovers-a-number-of-tecsun-s-8800-hidden-features\/","url_meta":{"origin":27791,"position":5},"title":"Bill discovers a number of Tecsun S-8800 Hidden Features","author":"Thomas","date":"August 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Bill (WD9EQD), who writes: I\u2019ve owned a Tecsun S-8800 for about eight months and have come to enjoy it more all the time. It, along with my PL-880, have become my main work horses for shortwave listening. The S-8800 is perfect on the desk connected\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-in-lawn.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-in-lawn.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-in-lawn.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-in-lawn.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27791","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=27791"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27791\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}