{"id":60370,"date":"2024-08-11T05:00:47","date_gmt":"2024-08-11T09:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=60370"},"modified":"2024-08-08T07:39:01","modified_gmt":"2024-08-08T11:39:01","slug":"a-band-aid-for-the-xhdata-d-220","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/a-band-aid-for-the-xhdata-d-220\/","title":{"rendered":"A Band Aid for the XHDATA D-220"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post<\/em>\u00a0contributor, Bob Colegrove<\/a>, who shares the following guest post:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong>A Band Aid for the XHDATA D-220<\/h1>\n

By Bob Colegrove<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the olden days of analog radios, we would have generated a graph plotting frequency against a 0 to 100 linear bandspread scale. That permitted determination of a station\u2019s frequency with varying degrees of accuracy.<\/p>\n

The case of the charming little D-220 requires a simpler approach. The dial covers 5.6 MHz to 22 MHz in less than two inches. They could have cut off coverage at 18 MHz and gained a precious half inch of dial.<\/p>\n

With the shortwave scale well below the pointer, I needed some additional guidance indicating where I was. Best not to get too fancy. I cut a strip off a sticky-back label and attached it to the dial right below the pointer. Using the left edge of the pointer as a guide, I marked off the location of each international broadcast band and a couple time stations. The width of each band isn\u2019t much more than the point of a sharp No. 2 pencil. Any further resolution is hopeless, but at least you know what part of the spectrum you are in.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Red lettering is not part of the band aid.<\/p><\/div>\n

Again, going by the old logarithmic analog dials you would expect the frequencies to be increasingly mashed together as you go higher. This is not the case with the D-220, nor do the increments appear to be very linear. At any rate, it is now relatively easy to tune from band to band.<\/p>\n

The sensitivity and clarity of the D-220 is amazing. Perhaps it\u2019s the green one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor, Bob Colegrove, who shares the following guest post: A Band Aid for the XHDATA D-220 By Bob Colegrove In the olden days of analog radios, we would have generated a graph plotting frequency against a 0 to 100 linear bandspread scale. That permitted determination of a station\u2019s frequency with varying degrees […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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":[3194,627,3,43],"tags":[7988,4082,10579],"class_list":["post-60370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guest-posts","category-how-to","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-bob-colegrove","tag-shortwave-radio","tag-xhdata-d-220"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-fHI","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":60463,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/steffen-shares-some-xhdata-d-220-tricks\/","url_meta":{"origin":60370,"position":0},"title":"Steffen shares some XHDATA D-220 tricks","author":"Thomas","date":"August 25, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Steffen Schultz, who writes: Hello Thomas, As a regular reader of your blog, I was fascinated by the reports on the XHDATA D-220 [affiliate link] and ordered a black one. I was not disappointed. Of course it's not a DXing machine, but finally we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"XHDATA D-220 Portable","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/D220-03-e1722855811256.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/D220-03-e1722855811256.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/D220-03-e1722855811256.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/D220-03-e1722855811256.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/D220-03-e1722855811256.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/D220-03-e1722855811256.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65548,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/xhdata-d-221-a-d-220-now-with-weather-band\/","url_meta":{"origin":60370,"position":1},"title":"XHDATA D-221: A D-220 Now with Weather Band!","author":"Robert Gulley","date":"March 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Robert Gulley K4PKM XHDATA recently contacted me about a new portable radio, the D-221, which will look very familiar, as it is based on the popular D-220 pocket radio. While not exactly listed as such, this is basically a radio intended for the American market with the inclusion of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"XHDATA D-221","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/D-221.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/D-221.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/D-221.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/D-221.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":60321,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/a-nutty-idea\/","url_meta":{"origin":60370,"position":2},"title":"A Nutty Idea","author":"Jock Elliott","date":"August 3, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Official Disclaimer: \"Yes, XHDATA is a supporter of the SWLing Post but this is my own crazy idea, and we aren't getting any commissions from the sales. XHDATA doesn't even know we're doing it!\" It\u2019s all Robert Gulley\u2019s fault. He had the temerity to post an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"XHDATA D-220 available in three colors","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/d220-01.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/d220-01.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/d220-01.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":60337,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/special-update-to-a-nutty-idea-xhdata-d-220-dx-contest\/","url_meta":{"origin":60370,"position":3},"title":"Special Update to A Nutty Idea XHDATA D-220 DX Contest","author":"Jock Elliott","date":"August 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Originally, the XHDATA D-220 DX Contest was intended to be on shortwave, but prompted by a question from Dennis, K2DCD, I consulted with Thomas (our Maximum Leader) and he said \"I say with a radio this basic, simply go for anything and everything logged.\" That makes sense and sounds like\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Contests"","block_context":{"text":"Contests","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/contests\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"XHDATA D-220 Portable","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/D220-03-e1722855811256-1024x668.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/D220-03-e1722855811256-1024x668.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/D220-03-e1722855811256-1024x668.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61939,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/02\/modification-to-make-the-xhdata-d-220-dial-easier-to-read\/","url_meta":{"origin":60370,"position":4},"title":"Modification to make the XHDATA D-220 dial easier to read","author":"Thomas","date":"February 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jason Harvey, who writes: Just thought I\u2019d share, I\u2019ve seen the bandaid dial scale mod for the D-220 to help with tuning. Not sure if anyone else has been able to mod the actual dial marker yet to make it more visible on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","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\/2025\/02\/XHDATA-D-220-Dial-Modification-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/XHDATA-D-220-Dial-Modification-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/XHDATA-D-220-Dial-Modification-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/XHDATA-D-220-Dial-Modification-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/XHDATA-D-220-Dial-Modification-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58852,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/02\/guest-post-bobs-conundrum-with-the-radio-data-system-rds\/","url_meta":{"origin":60370,"position":5},"title":"Guest Post: Bob’s conundrum with the Radio Data System (RDS)","author":"Thomas","date":"February 6, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Bob Colegrove, who shares the following guest post: A Conundrum with the Radio Data System (RDS), or Why I Set the Clock Manually By Bob Colegrove There\u2019s an old story about a man who owned two watches.\u00a0 One watch ran but lost a minute every hour.\u00a0 The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "FM"","block_context":{"text":"FM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/fm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-06-at-06.17.03.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60370","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=60370"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60370\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60373,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60370\/revisions\/60373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60370"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}