Category Archives: Guest Posts

More supermarket surfing!

XHDATA D-219: A Classic Budget Shortwave Receiver in Fresh New Colors

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Jamet, who shares the following article:

The XHDATA D-219 Receiver Gets a New Look

by Paul Jamet

Two and a half years ago, I shared my enthusiasm for an XHDATA receiver, the D-219, first launched at the end of 2022:

Read: Paul explores the incredible affordability of the XHDATA D-219

The XHDATA D-219 stands out for its low price and impressive performance. It combines nostalgic analog charm—with its needle dial—with the power of modern DSP technology, delivering excellent multiband performance for its class and cost. Whether you’re an enthusiast, a traveler, or simply discovering shortwave for the first time, the D-219 is a wonderful gateway into the vast world of radio.

More than 25 readers have commented on or contributed to discussions about this little receiver. The D-219 is very easy to use, has a vintage look, a classic needle dial, and runs on two AA batteries. Sources confirm that it is based on a Si4825-A10 architecture, with analog tuning (via potentiometer and voltage), mono audio output, and reception across the following bands:

FM1: 87–108 MHz (International band)
FM2: 64–87 MHz (East Asia)
AM (MW): 520–1710 kHz (10 kHz spacing) or 522–1620 kHz (9 kHz spacing, depending on version)
SW: 9 shortwave bands covering 4.75–22 MHz

Switching between bands is simple—just turn the side-mounted dial.

Recent events have also renewed interest in battery-powered radios and resilient technologies like AM radio, particularly during massive power outages such as:

Chile, February 25, 2025
“Ni el mejor celular pudo superar…” – Social networks pay tribute to battery-powered radios after the blackout
https://www.lacuarta.com/tendencias/noticia/ni-el-mejor-celular-pudo-superar-redes-sociales-rinden-tributo-a-la-radio-a-pila-tras-el-apagon/GRFM2C7EHZD7NLOBUC7ALJAZLY/
Spain and Portugal, April 28, 2025
“People were stunned”: how a massive blackout unfolded across Spain and Portugal
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/28/spain-portugal-massive-blackout
Battery radio sales increased by over 4000%
https://lisboasecreta.co/fr/forte-demande-de-radios-a-piles/

In such emergency situations, the D-219 becomes even more appealing: it’s lightweight (150 g without batteries), very intuitive to use, and powered by standard AA cells. On top of that, its performance is excellent.

Until recently, XHDATA offered the D-219 in just two classic colors: gray and silver-gray.

But in the past few days, XHDATA has introduced two new finishes on its website: malachite green and grayish white—still under €9 (excluding shipping). Stocks appear to be limited.

Personally, I was immediately drawn to the Malachite Green version.

Its matte finish looks elegant and really highlights the receiver’s craftsmanship. Honestly, I think it’s beautiful! The green gives it a distinctive character and elevates the quality of the finish.

Elegance, performance, and price all come together to make the D-219 an excellent way to discover—or rediscover—shortwave across its nine bands.

With the D-219 ‘Malachite Green,’ radio isn’t just something you hear—it’s something that catches your eye.

Building an SWL Chimera

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By Sam (WN5C)

Picture this: a cool July evening on the northern shores of Lake Huron, the water gently lapping on the beach. Feet being warmed by a smoldering fire with crystal clear skies and the Milky Way brilliantly displayed overhead. Radio in my lap, hastily deployed 20-meter vertical antenna in the sand, and zero RFI. Radio New Zealand coming in strong, and SSB contacts between Scotland and Australia sounding local. I’ve never felt so connected to the electromagnetic spectrum. The radio? Surprisingly, a cheap ATS-20+ from AliExpress.

I’ve been curious about the radios built around the si4732 chip for a while and purchased an ATS-20+ [affiliate link] to throw in my pack to try out. It’s pretty good (and cheap!), especially after flashing the firmware by Goshante. With a long wire it does well on HF (I carry 30 feet with a BNC connector) and even better on my dipole at home or a full-sized vertical. The UI is clunky but after some practice gets better. For my family trip to Michigan and the shore of Lake Huron it was a lot easier to just pull this out to listen versus setting up my transceiver and I’m glad I did, there’s a beautiful simplicity in passively taking in whatever the ether sends my way.

I’m sold on the idea of these cheap general coverage receivers. Sure, they’re not as good as a radio with a real RF front end (gulp), but they’re more than toys. A perfect middle ground for tinkering.

And there are a lot of variations! In past few months one variety, the mini (it’s called many names), caught my attention. I purchased the AMNVOLT V3S version from AliExpress before my Michigan trip, and it was in the mailbox when I arrived home. New versions come out every couple of months but for the project described below it doesn’t matter the version, here’s something similar [affiliate link]. It’s tiny, but it’s not a Belka, and does best with FM and AM broadcast stations on the small whip. The advantage that this little guy has over the ATS-20+ is a much more capable microcontroller (an ESP32 versus an Arduino Nano) and a beautiful 1.9-inch color display. The included firmware is fine, but there is an active development community that makes it better. I’ve been using Max Arnold’s v2.30 firmware. This firmware has lots of features, but some of the standouts include being able to download shortwave schedules to display what you’re listening to and a lot of display customization.

But I wasn’t too impressed with the hardware design for my purposes. My version has a high-impedance RF amp for the whip and would overload with my dipole at home. The audio wobbles when touching the base of the antenna. The speaker is tiny and tinny. And, although the size is super novel I like using big antennas so the scale seems out of whack. Some of these design limitations have been addressed by Peter Neufeld (particularly addressing the wobble). But I decided to pursue a different route.

I stumbled upon a video by ElectroBananas on Youtube where he lays out, in exacting detail, how to create a hybrid of the ATS-20+ and the si4732 mini radio. The wiring isn’t difficult, and he even provides the design for a new front panel to 3D print.

The advantage of combining these radios is that I have the better-designed RF front end of the ATS-20+, the powerful ESP32 microcontroller and the beautiful display of the mini, and the big speaker/audio/battery of the ATS-20+. While I was in there I also added some protection diodes (two back-to-back 2N4148s) to the antenna input. What’s fun is that I added a “bail” using a single mini laptop stand [affiliate] and changed the display to an orange theme. It looks like a miniature version of my Icom IC-703 (and in A-B tests they’re not too far off). It’s the best of both worlds. And it’s still very small, a perfect bedside radio, or one to carry to the beach.

The combination of cheap hardware with open-source software development is creating a very exciting time in radio, and I look forward to see what emerges in the months ahead.

Until then, I wonder if I could fit a low-powered CW transmitter in the case…

Flash Frisbone surfing on shortwave

Retekess V112: An Ideal Ballpark Companion

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The Retekess V112 takes in the scenery at a Lehigh Valley IronPigs game in Allentown, PA

by Aaron Kuhn

In my previous post for SWLing Post, I suggested the characteristics of an ideal ballpark radio and considerations for radio selection. While researching that post, I came across the Retekess V112 which ticked a lot of the boxes I recommended – compact, cheap, unobtrusive.

The Retekess V112 has indeed turned out to be a compact, affordable, and unobtrusive companion for enhancing the game-day experience at the ballpark. Priced at a consistent $15.49 on Amazon [SWLing Post affiliate link] for over a year now, this little red (or Gold) radio has exceeded my expectations.

Unboxing and Accessories (and what to replace):

While the physical packaging is a distant memory to me, the V112 comes with earbuds, a neck lanyard, and a Micro-USB charging cord.

Earbuds: While included, the provided earbuds are notably uncomfortable and were quickly relegated to the recycling bin. My ears are not your ears of course, and they might be salvageable with interchangeable eartips if you have some lying around, but it’s highly recommended to bring your own comfortable earbuds or headphones. This is especially important as the headphone wires double as the antenna, and reception can vary significantly between different pairs of headphones based on the cable. My older Apple EarPods offered good comfort and reception, while Sony MDRE9LP’s performed poorly. Experimentation of pairing the radio with low-cost IEMs would be an interesting project.
Neck Lanyard: Surprisingly, the neck lanyard is the hidden gem of this package. It allows the radio to hang around your neck, keeping your hands free for hot dogs and foul balls.
Micro-USB Charging Cord: While USB-C would be a welcome modern update, the included Micro-USB cable is understandable given the radio’s price point and older engineering. It’s hard to complain about the cable-port standard chosen when they give you the cable you need, and you probably have multiple other Micro-USB cables kicking around in storage boxes and drawers already.

Portability and Power:

Size and Weight: The Retekess V112 truly shines in its portability. Weighing 45 grams (0.1 lbs) and measuring 3.3 x 1.8 x 0.5 inches, it’s so small and lightweight that it’s easy to forget you’re carrying it, and easy to lose it in your pocket (like I have done multiple times!) This weight is even more impressive given the battery is built-in. I like to leave my earbuds plugged into it and wrap them around the radio body for transport, producing a tidy, tiny package of everything I need.
Battery: Battery life is another strong suit – I have yet to accidentally run it down, even forgetting to charge between games. I typically throw the radio on a battery bank on the way to the game, or shortly before the game, and have never run down the 500mah battery. I can’t find a stated battery life, and due to my experience really can’t estimate a runtime besides “long enough for extra innings.”

Features and Functionality:

Antenna: While relying on the headphone cable for an antenna does impact reception, it eliminates the bulk and vulnerability of a traditional antenna whip. This helps to make the radio instantly pocketable and prevents accidental seat-neighbor-pokes or damage. There’s nothing fancy such as selectable bandwidths to really help you out here, so you’re either going to have usable reception or you won’t.
Power/Mute Button: The power button cleverly doubles as a soft-mute, perfect for cutting out commercials between innings. A quick button tap when the last batter is out mid-inning mutes until you see the next batter up, and returns the previously set volume quickly.
Keypad Lock: The keypad lock function is invaluable for setting the desired volume and then tossing the radio in your pocket or letting it hang from the lanyard without accidental button pressings changing stations or volume.
Presets / Direct Frequency Entry: The lack of a number keypad for direct frequency entry is a minor inconvenience and my only real complaint, but in reality it’s lack of preparation. The radio does offer presets, making it easy to save your preferred stations before heading to the game – as long you remember to do so.

Future Wishlist:

If any radio manufacturers are out there listening (get in touch, Retekess or Tecsun!) I still think there’s a few features that would make an even better ballpark radio as discussed in my article from last year:

Bluetooth Headphone Support: There are a number of small radios on Amazon that advertise themselves as having “Bluetooth”, but when you dig deeper the feature just turns the radio body into an external speaker to your phone/tablet/laptop. The exception to the rule is the Prunus J-618 which claims actual bluetooth headphone support. Bonus points to manufacturers – allow two sets of paired headphones to be driven simultaneously. Finding comfortable Bluetooth earbuds is way easier these days at retail than finding a pair of wired earbuds, and you probably already own a pair to your liking.

Replaceable Parts: Implementing Bluetooth headphone support is going to require the move to an external antenna, and with that I’d love to see an antenna that can be easily replaced if it snaps off / is broken. I’m pro-repairability on electronics, so it would be great to see parts kits available at a small cost up-front with the radio to increase the likelihood the device lasts for years. Think antennas, plastic trim/doors, clips, lanyards, etc.

Selectable Bandwidth: I’d pay a little more for a radio that has a selectable bandwidth feature on both FM and AM. Legible commentary for a ballgame doesn’t require a very wide bandwidth, and this would go a long way towards turning an unstable/fringe signal into something more enjoyable. I’ve made use of bandwidth selection on Tecsun radios at the ballpark in the past and this is a sorely missed feature.

USB-C Charging: It’s 2025 – the world has moved to USB-C. Any device worth its salt these days should include a USB-C charging port, with actual proper USB-C PD support – none of that hacked up USB-A to USB-C junk.

Multiple Mounting Options: The lanyard on the Retekess V112 is great, what would be even more fun is some kind of clip that could attach to a stadium cupholder, or be attached to a seat in some fashion. Being able to strap a radio somewhere with bluetooth headphone support would be the ultimate convenience.

Conclusion:

For under $17 delivered to your door, the Retekess V112 is a great investment for live baseball enthusiasts. This radio has consistently enhanced my enjoyment of baseball games with its portable size, performance, and ease-of-use.

At $25, the Prunus J-618 looks like it might be a contender to the Retekess V112 throne and is one I’ll likely be checking out in the future. The Tecsun PL-368 is an attractive proposition for a ballpark radio, but in my mind provides more radio than you need, at a price-point ($75-$100) where I’d be afraid of breaking it or misplacing it in a ballpark environment.

For what it is, I’m not sure there’s much else that can compete at this price with the Retekess V112 for a low-cost, turn-key solution to live baseball play-by-play.

Bob’s Radio Corner: Illuminating Radios

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An operating 50C5 pentode is a thing of beauty.

The Book Lamp; or Shedding Some Light on a Radio

Illuminated by Bob Colegrove

There was a time in this writer’s memory when radios were well lit – well, at least the ones with glass tubes. Tubes emitted a warm glow which made the radio come alive, generated some heat on a cold winter night, and created an aura of mystery revealing signals from faraway places. Besides glass tubes, a #44 or #47 incandescent bulb was likely inserted just out of sight beside the dial. This illuminated the dial information, which, however, required some mathematical interpretation.

Today’s radios are dark. Inside them, circuit boards and ICs look like an unanimated scene from Tron. Most often, the only illumination is from the LED or LCD display, and that is often weak, or lasts just a few seconds. Unlike the old dials, displays do convey some useful information; but they have shortcomings which can be summarized into three general categories:

Some displays are very dimly lit.
Some displays don’t have continuous illumination.
Some displays have continuous illumination, but their use consumes power.

I have radios in each of these categories. A desk lamp, if available, can’t always be placed in the right position relative to the radio.

Having a natural bent to fabricate things, I began to conjure a solution. This would require three components:

An independent source of light,
a bracket to hold the light in place, and
a stand to counterweight the light and bracket.

I quickly began to see mechanical problems attendant to fabrication, plus the realization that construction would demand some effort on my part. My project quickly transformed into a search for a product on the Internet which would satisfy the requirements without me expending any work.

I found a book lamp has the advantage of illuminating the entire radio keyboard, not just the display.

There is a wide selection of book lamps. My search focused on LEDs with rechargeable lithium batteries. That didn’t narrow things down very much. There are a lot of them. My choice without a whole lot of research was a Vekkia 3000-K Warm LED Rechargeable Book Light [SWLing Post affiliate link]. It has not disappointed.

It’s the right size for most portable radios, ~7-in long flexible gooseneck, 2.01-oz weight. The clamp opens about 1.8 inches. It folds up into a compact bundle and it would be no problem to pack for a trip.

There are six 3000-K LEDs having three brightness levels. Some of the other models have multiple color temperature settings. 3000 K is relatively warm, easy on the eyes during long use.
The vendor claims up to 80 hours of operation at the lowest light level. I have been operating mine at the middle level. Full charge is claimed to take 1.5 hours. A short USB-C cord is supplied.
The clamp and battery assembly are heavy enough to serve as a stand and can support the lamp without clamping.
The clamp will fit on the end of the radio kick stand. This might be the preferred way to operate the radio if it is being handheld.
Most importantly, the lamp was operated separately near the radio and the antenna and did not produce any noise. This would not be the case during charging with a USB wall wart.

The photo below shows how the problems listed above have been resolved with a book lamp. The arrangement is complemented with a 7-inch Kindle Fire tablet displaying a current shortwave broadcast listing – a nice package at home or away.

Tecsun PL-990 with its switch-settable continuous light turned off

There is a certain charm operating the radio with only a book lamp for illumination – certainly not like vacuum tubes, but charm, nonetheless. Improving the radio listening experience is an on-going process.