Many thanks to SWLing Postal service correspondent, Gary DeBock, who shares his extensive 2021 Ultralight Radio Shootout.

This is truly a deep dive featuring five popular ultralight portable radios and examining mediumwave, shortwave, FM, and AIR Band performance.

The review is an astonishing 40 pages long! In social club to brandish the entire review, click on the "Continue reading" link below.

2021 Ultralight Radio Shootout

Five Hot Little Portables Burnish Upwardly the Pandemic

By Gary DeBock, Puyallup, WA, United states of america             April 2021

Introduction   The challenges and thrills of DXing with pocket radios have not only survived only thrived since the Ultralight Radio Boom in early 2008, resulting in a worldwide spread of the hobby niche group. Based upon the essential concepts of DXing skill, propagation noesis and perseverance, the human gene is critical for success in pocket radio DXing, dissimilar with computer-controlled listening. The hobbyist either sinks or swims according to his own personal choices of DXing times, frequencies and recording decisions during express propagation openings—all with the added challenge of depending on very basic equipment. DXing success or failure has never been more personal… but on the rare occasions when legendary DX is tracked down despite all of the multiple challenges, the thrill of success is truly exceptional—and based entirely upon one's own DXing skill.

Ultralight Radio DXing has inspired spinoff fascination not only with portable antennas like the new Ferrite Sleeve Loops (FSL'due south) only also with overseas travel DXing, enhanced transoceanic propagation at challenging sites like ocean side cliffs and Alaskan snowfields, as well as at isolated islands far out into the ocean. The farthermost portability of advanced pocket radios and FSL antennas has truly allowed hobbyists to "go where no DXer has gone earlier," experiencing breakthrough radio propagation, amazing antenna performance and unforgettable hobby thrills. Among the radio hobby groups of 2021 information technology is continuing to be ane of the most innovative and vibrant segments of the entire community.

The portable radio manufacturing industry has changed pretty dramatically over the past few years as much of the avant-garde technology used by foreign companies in their radio factories in China has been "appropriated" (to utilize a generous term) by new Chinese competitors. Without getting into the political ramifications of such behavior the obvious fact in the 2021 portable radio market place is that all of the top competitors in this Shootout come from factories in Red china, and four of the v have Chinese name brands. For those who feel uneasy nigh this rampant copying of foreign technology the American-designed C. Crane Skywave is even so bachelor, although even it is still manufactured in Shenzhen, Red china—the nerve heart of such copying.

Prior to purchasing whatever of these portables a DXer should assess his own hobby goals, peculiarly whether transoceanic DXing will be part of the mission– in which case a full range of DSP filtering options is essential. Ii of the China-brand models apply but rechargeable 3.7v lithium type batteries with express run fourth dimension, which may not be a skillful choice for DXers who demand long endurance out in the field. A hobbyist should also decide whether a strong manufacturer's warranty is important. Quality command in some Chinese factories has been lacking, and some of the China-brand radio sellers offer merely exchanges—after you pay to ship the lacking model back to China. Purchasers should not assume that Western concepts of reliability and refunds employ in Cathay, because in many cases they exercise not. When purchasing these radios a DXer should try to buy through a reputable seller offer a meaningful warranty—preferably in their own domicile country.

Ane of the unique advantages of Ultralight Radio DXing is the opportunity to sample the latest in innovative technology at a very reasonable price—and the five pocket radio models chosen for this review include some second-generation DSP scrap models with astonishing capabilities. Whether your interest is in domestic or carve up-frequency AM-DXing, FM, Longwave or Shortwave, the pocket radio manufacturers accept designed a breakthrough model for you lot—and y'all tin can try out any (or all) of them at a toll far less than that of a single table receiver. And so go set up for some exciting introductions… and an fifty-fifty more heady four ring DXing competition!

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As I mentioned in a postal service yesterday, I've been spending time with the Radiwow R-108 in an endeavour to give information technology a proper evaluation.

One quirk that has been a little difficult to pivot down is the occasional DSP birdie on the mediumwave band. [BTW: A "birdie" an unwanted internally-generated dissonance which, in this case, manifests itself equally a variable squeal. Click here to learn more.]

When I first received the R-108, I noticed that each fourth dimension I turned information technology on while tuned to the mediumwave (AM broadcast) band, I'd hear a temporary baboon/squeal that would concluding anywhere from two to seven seconds. Afterwards the initial noise, the squeal would become away.

During long (i hour plus) listening sessions, the squeal would sometimes reappear for a few seconds seemingly at random.

Turns out, at that place's a pattern that I disregarded.

Yesterday, I turned on the R-108 and a birdie was present on 1600 kHz. Dissimilar previous listening sessions, the variable squeal was persistent–it didn't go away afterward a few seconds. I pulled out my phone and took a quick video (moving quite far away to show that my phone wasn't the source of racket):

Click here to view on YouTube.

At that place were 2 factors I call up may accept been responsible for the persistent birdie:

  1. The broadcast signal on 1600 kHz was weaker than normal
  2. The R-108 battery was at fifty% or less

Perchance the bombardment has cypher to practise with this, other than it might accept had a slight negative bear upon on the receiver sensitivity?

Withal, my observations ostend that when the battery is fully-charged, the birdies are overall less prevalent.

I tuned off of 1600 kHz and the the birdie disappeared. Even on 1590 kHz or 1610 kHz where there were only faint signals, at that place was no baboon.

I should notation hither that 1600 kHz is home to my favorite regional AM station, then quite ofttimes when I turn on the R-108, it defaults to 1600 kHz (hence the reason the birdie seemed to plague me).

I and then tuned down the dial in 10 kHz steps until I noticed another persistent birdie on 1200 kHz:

Click here to view on YouTube.

The birdie on 1200 kHz was fainter than the one on 1600 kHz–maybe half the intensity.

The design seemed way too familiar, and so I looked into the SWLing Post athenaeum and discovered that the Sangean ATS-405 also had birdies in the same locations on the MW dial.

Here'due south a video of the ATS-405 birdie on 1600 kHz:

Click here to view on YouTube.

Plainly, the ATS-405 and R-108 either share the aforementioned DSP chip, or the design/implementation is similar.

I checked the R-108's unabridged mediumwave ring and discovered one more than birdie on 800 kHz, although quite faint:

Click here to view on YouTube.

So far, I haven't had the time to exercise a total survey of the shortwave bands to see if the baboon is nowadays on HF as well.

I know that at that place are a few other R-108 owners out at that place who took reward of Radiwow'southward special pricing on pre-product models to do initial reviews. Please comment if you have also noticed birdies or any other quirks on your R-108 sample.

Many thanks to SWLing Mail contributor, The Professor, who notes that Radiwow is offering free and half-cost units to consumers willing to review their R-108 receiver. All of the details are on the Radiwow R-108 product folio at AliExpress.

Here's a re-create of the statement:

Dear friends

Are y'all all the same struggling to find a cost-constructive radio? At present the FREE  opportunity is coming!

Recently ,our store have launched a RADIWOW® R-108 Radio which has  not bad sound quality, selectivity and sensitivity .R-108 Radio is a expert world receiver with great FM Stereo/LW/SW/MW /AIR/DSP. It volition start selling on January 30, 2019.You deserve it!

We are looking for twenty people from Japan, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy, France to test and write an unbiased and honest review for our latest radio.

In add-on, we need friends from Spain, Italia, France to help us translate R-108 English user manual into Castilian, Italian and French.

In all top 3 users who apply for the test will enjoy the radio for free, and the three-20 will enjoy it at half price. Delight indicate in the subject when contacting us: your country; production model; leave review or translate user manual.

Click here to read this statement on the Radiwow R-108 product folio.

Please comment if y'all've successfully ordered a unit under this program. I'm currently evaluating the R-108 here at SWLing Post HQ.

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Concluding calendar week, I received a new portable shortwave radio past the post from China: the Radiwow R-108.

The make, Radiwow, was new to me, but I doubtable they're linked in some fashion to the folks behind XHDATA. They contacted me around the Thanksgiving vacation and inquired well-nigh evaluating this new portable receiver. I replied, request a few questions almost the unit–you lot encounter, I don't typically hold to take a look at a new product if I think it could only be a re-badged version of something currently on the market.

Their respond was uncomplicated:

"Yes, it is shortwave radio, like PL-310ET radio but add air band, and better reception performance. Your tracking number is…"

So patently, it was already on the way.

Radiwow claims the functioning is better than that of the venerable Tecsun PL-310ET. This, I will have to test because the PL-310ET is certainly a workhorse Ultralight radio. And the R-108 includes air band? Sounds similar a CC Skywave without weather condition radio. That could exist quite appealing if the price is competitive.

And it seems this little radio fits neatly into the requirements of Ultralight DXing, thus I hope Gary DeBock and Guy Atkins might take a wait as well.

In addition, the R-108 includes longwave frequencies. Something I know will delight a number of our readers.

Here are some of the key points I gleamed from a digital copy of the possessor's manual:

Radiwow R108 Features:

  • Frequency range:
    • Longwave: 150-450 kHz)
    • Mediumwave/AM: 520-1710 kHz w/10 kHz steps, 522-1620 kHz w/9kHz steps
    • Shortwave: 1711-29,999 kHz
    • FM: 87.5-108 and 64-108 MHz
    • AIR: 118-137 MHz
  • ATS memory scans on all bands
  • 500 available preset memories
  • Squelch control
  • Direct keypad entry of frequencies
  • Clock function with sleep timer, snooze and warning (buzzer or radio)
  • Keylock
  • FM stereo
  • AM bandwidths: half-dozen, four, 3, 2, and ane kHz selections
  • Music/Vocalism audio modes
  • Congenital-in intelligent charger for included 3.7V 1500 mAh Li-ion battery pack

Past the way, I suspect Radiwow is linked to XHDATA because 1.) they knew my shipping address without asking and 2.) their website prominently features the XHDATA D-808.

In add-on, the but other place I could find the R-108 listed on the Cyberspace is via AliExpress. As with the introduction of the XHDATA D-808, the AliExress price is (today) absurdly high. To me, this indicates that the page is simply a placeholder until the outset production run is ready to transport.

I have a PL-310ET and you can count on me to compare the two erstwhile after the holidays.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share a few photos of the unit of measurement.

I must admit, the front panel of the radio looks familiar, but possibly only considering about other DSP portables accept a similar layout. Please comment if you know of an identical portable.

Follow the tag Radiwow R-108 for updates.

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