I just plain like what I have heard & seen regarding the XHDATA D-608WB! Great sensitivity on the XHDATA with no apparent OVERLOAD and/or Bleed Through! Thank you, SWL, for your great video!
I hope to see a demonstration of the ATS band scan as well as whether the SOS klaxon is loud enough to wake up your neighbors if you had a real emergency! Does the D-608WB's Bluetooth speaker work well as a hands-free telephone device? 📻☺ Fun fact: Todderbert reviewed the D-109WB but declined to demonstrate the SOS alert, saying he was afraid it would be "too loud" for his video. 🤣
You will see all of these in my review video :-) I will test the SOS outside in a park, maybe tomorrow, then I will add that to the review video as well. I am scared to try it for the same reason as Todderbert, I am worried it might be too loud and scare all my neighbours.
Hello André, quite interesting to watch, thanks. I would have hoped for more comparison with the D-109, especially on strong signals because that's where it shows its flaws IMO. I've heard no sign of overloading from the D-608, so if they do share most of their electronics indeed, it seems that they've addressed this issue. I've noticed that the D-109 would appear to be less sensitive too on the REE signal, and this really makes little sense to me because this radio precisely is *too* sensitive in my experience and several other people's. Also because you've said that you've not experienced overloading when using it either, I'm starting to think that your D-109 somehow is less sensitive that it usually is for the rest of us. Like a slightly defective unit or a different revision? Which in some cases can turn to be a benefit. Mine is unusable most of the time on the MLA30+. I've found the MLA30+/long wire comparison instructive too. Not a whole lot of difference really. To my ears, the MLA30+ seems to bring in a little more noise on signals with fading, doesn't it?
Hi Alain, thanks for your comment! What you say about my D-109 made me think. I am using the very original, very first version. The one that had an issue with entering frequencies above 16000 kHz. It was recalled just after release to fix this frequency issue. But maybe they also made some other firmware changes that affected the sensitivity. I never really considered this, but now that you mention it, maybe that is why mine is not as sensitive. I do have the fixed version also, I will now have to test it also, and make another comparison video :-) I agree with you, I think the MLA30+ and the long wire perform pretty much the same, with, perhaps, a little more noise on weaker signals, as you say, on the MLA30+. These days I tend to use the MLA30+ only on my Kenwood, where it works well. And I use the long wire on the portables. That's why I haven't really bothered to find a proper connection for the MLA30 to my portables. If something is really weak on the portable with the wire, I'll move to the Kenwood, or the other way round.
Oh, I wanted to add, the D-608WB does seem to cope very well with the external antennas, no overloading, so that is a definite improvement on what many people experience with their D-109s.
@@swlistening what if the D-109 was improved at the same time too and newer makes of this radio no longer suffered from overloading? If D-109 and D-608WB do share the internal electronics... 🤔
@@ArnieDXer Interesting question indeed. Hopefully someone will test this, right now I'm not planning to get another D-109. But what you say here might very well be the case.
Hi André, how high is your 10m wire? The difference between the loop and the wire on MWV is just enormous... not so on Algeria and Spain despite higher frequencies LOL And isn't it remarkable that just a whip on the D-608WB performs just about as well as the MLA-30+?! 😱 Still looking for your comparison of D-608WB and maybe D-808 on some real MW DX with a Tecsun loop 😜
Hi Arnie, the 10 metre wire, at its highest point, is about 3 metres high, it stretches out of the study and then up towards the highest point of the garage. That loop MW comparison is coming :-) I am monitoring medium wave every night, waiting for some good propagation so I can do a real MW DX comparison. I did in fact already record a video comparing the D-808 and D-608 with their internal ferrite antennas, I'll upload that video some time this week. D-608 did well!
@@swlistening 3 meters, ok... So there's no wonder Madagascar did so well on 25m. A low-hanging dipole or long wire antenna radiates best up to the sky, favouring stations closer to you. It's interesting the MLA-30+ didn't show the same behaviour... well I think I know why but I'm sure... Try comparing it with a long wire (say, 3m or more) hanging vertically 😂
Andre It would seem this emergency radio is a little hot rod for SW program listening. I would say it as good as the D109 with exception of direct input of the D109. I didn’t look a the spec sheet, do they cover the same SW bands? If not that would be a drawback on the D 608 Now to the VOA question….short answer…..No we can’t all get along…😂! 73! Have a great day!
Good answer 😂 The D-608WB covers exactly the same frequencies as the D-109WB, except no LW. Shortwave coverage is the same. I think it is a very good little radio.
@@swlistening I'm on a radio spree right now 🤣. The new one will arrive in a week and I got today the Tecsun ICR 110. Soooo happy about that radio, it's awesome 👍👏💃
@@Ankjell That ICR-110 is a terrific radio, I am surprised that so few people actually use it. It works very well on MW. And the sound quality is something else!
@@swlistening _"I am surprised that so few people actually use it."_ Guilty as charged! 🙋♂ But one has to understand if I bought the ICR-110, it would become a single band, FM-only radio for me. 😭
@@StratmanII That's true, it's real strong point is the MW reception, although FM is excellent also. But the recording function can be useful, if you don't have a digital recorder.
I agree, but they are quite close, in my opinion. It is kind of as expected, the wire is better at higher frequencies, the MLA30 better at lower frequencies.
I just plain like what I have heard & seen regarding the XHDATA D-608WB! Great sensitivity on the XHDATA with no apparent OVERLOAD and/or Bleed Through! Thank you, SWL, for your great video!
Thanks for your comment John! I agree, I think this little radio actually performs remarkably well. I like it a lot.
MLA 30+ seems to work well with the D-608WB in your review. Thanks for posting
Thank you! It does seem to work well and not overload.
I hope to see a demonstration of the ATS band scan as well as whether the SOS klaxon is loud enough to wake up your neighbors if you had a real emergency! Does the D-608WB's Bluetooth speaker work well as a hands-free telephone device? 📻☺ Fun fact: Todderbert reviewed the D-109WB but declined to demonstrate the SOS alert, saying he was afraid it would be "too loud" for his video. 🤣
You will see all of these in my review video :-) I will test the SOS outside in a park, maybe tomorrow, then I will add that to the review video as well. I am scared to try it for the same reason as Todderbert, I am worried it might be too loud and scare all my neighbours.
You make this very easy to follow very good videos thank you
Thank you very much Michael, glad you like them!
Hello André, quite interesting to watch, thanks. I would have hoped for more comparison with the D-109, especially on strong signals because that's where it shows its flaws IMO.
I've heard no sign of overloading from the D-608, so if they do share most of their electronics indeed, it seems that they've addressed this issue.
I've noticed that the D-109 would appear to be less sensitive too on the REE signal, and this really makes little sense to me because this radio precisely is *too* sensitive in my experience and several other people's. Also because you've said that you've not experienced overloading when using it either, I'm starting to think that your D-109 somehow is less sensitive that it usually is for the rest of us. Like a slightly defective unit or a different revision? Which in some cases can turn to be a benefit. Mine is unusable most of the time on the MLA30+.
I've found the MLA30+/long wire comparison instructive too. Not a whole lot of difference really. To my ears, the MLA30+ seems to bring in a little more noise on signals with fading, doesn't it?
Hi Alain, thanks for your comment! What you say about my D-109 made me think. I am using the very original, very first version. The one that had an issue with entering frequencies above 16000 kHz. It was recalled just after release to fix this frequency issue. But maybe they also made some other firmware changes that affected the sensitivity. I never really considered this, but now that you mention it, maybe that is why mine is not as sensitive. I do have the fixed version also, I will now have to test it also, and make another comparison video :-)
I agree with you, I think the MLA30+ and the long wire perform pretty much the same, with, perhaps, a little more noise on weaker signals, as you say, on the MLA30+. These days I tend to use the MLA30+ only on my Kenwood, where it works well. And I use the long wire on the portables. That's why I haven't really bothered to find a proper connection for the MLA30 to my portables. If something is really weak on the portable with the wire, I'll move to the Kenwood, or the other way round.
Oh, I wanted to add, the D-608WB does seem to cope very well with the external antennas, no overloading, so that is a definite improvement on what many people experience with their D-109s.
@@swlistening what if the D-109 was improved at the same time too and newer makes of this radio no longer suffered from overloading? If D-109 and D-608WB do share the internal electronics... 🤔
@@ArnieDXer Interesting question indeed. Hopefully someone will test this, right now I'm not planning to get another D-109. But what you say here might very well be the case.
@@swlisteningHopefully the XHDATA marketing people will notice that you don't have the D-109WB and send one to you for a review, Andre. 📻🙂👍🏼
Hi André, how high is your 10m wire? The difference between the loop and the wire on MWV is just enormous... not so on Algeria and Spain despite higher frequencies LOL
And isn't it remarkable that just a whip on the D-608WB performs just about as well as the MLA-30+?! 😱
Still looking for your comparison of D-608WB and maybe D-808 on some real MW DX with a Tecsun loop 😜
Hi Arnie, the 10 metre wire, at its highest point, is about 3 metres high, it stretches out of the study and then up towards the highest point of the garage.
That loop MW comparison is coming :-) I am monitoring medium wave every night, waiting for some good propagation so I can do a real MW DX comparison. I did in fact already record a video comparing the D-808 and D-608 with their internal ferrite antennas, I'll upload that video some time this week. D-608 did well!
@@swlistening 3 meters, ok... So there's no wonder Madagascar did so well on 25m. A low-hanging dipole or long wire antenna radiates best up to the sky, favouring stations closer to you. It's interesting the MLA-30+ didn't show the same behaviour... well I think I know why but I'm sure...
Try comparing it with a long wire (say, 3m or more) hanging vertically 😂
Andre It would seem this emergency radio is a little hot rod for SW program listening. I would say it as good as the D109 with exception of direct input of the D109. I didn’t look a the spec sheet, do they cover the same SW bands? If not that would be a drawback on the D 608
Now to the VOA question….short answer…..No we can’t all get along…😂!
73! Have a great day!
Good answer 😂
The D-608WB covers exactly the same frequencies as the D-109WB, except no LW. Shortwave coverage is the same. I think it is a very good little radio.
Is it just me or does it perform exactly as the D109?
I think in some cases it is actually better than the D-109.
@@swlistening I'm on a radio spree right now 🤣.
The new one will arrive in a week and I got today the Tecsun ICR 110. Soooo happy about that radio, it's awesome 👍👏💃
@@Ankjell That ICR-110 is a terrific radio, I am surprised that so few people actually use it. It works very well on MW. And the sound quality is something else!
@@swlistening
_"I am surprised that so few people actually use it."_
Guilty as charged! 🙋♂ But one has to understand if I bought the ICR-110, it would become a single band, FM-only radio for me. 😭
@@StratmanII That's true, it's real strong point is the MW reception, although FM is excellent also. But the recording function can be useful, if you don't have a digital recorder.
9560, 17600 and 17715 are equal, 7475 MLA30 is winner, 13670 long wire is winner.
I agree, but they are quite close, in my opinion. It is kind of as expected, the wire is better at higher frequencies, the MLA30 better at lower frequencies.