I’ve been waiting to order this since early May when an early version appeared on the AliExpress website with prominent warning that SSB tuning step was 5 kHz and that there was no printed English manual, to be remedied by a new version on May 27 with a 0.5 kHz SSB tuning step. I left a message yesterday for the seller CLOOBLUT asking if the new version were available yet, and this morning when I looked for a reply, instead of a reply, there was a product listing of the new version.
Dangerous outdoor temperatures have kept me indoors and away from necessary outdoor testing for my ZWS-802 review, so to pass the time I clicked on a CNBC video on YouTube about Walmart’s attempt to boost online sales and complete with Amazon.
According to the video 90% of Americans (myself included) live within 10 mines of a Walmart retail store, and for what it’s worth, I live within 10 mines in a major Walmart distribution hub (Amazon is building one even closer). But I don’t think I’ve ever bought a radio at a Walmart store or their website. The selection or the price just didn’t make sense last time I was shopping.
Both Amazon and Walmart rely on third party sellers for their product diversity. Some sellers employ both platforms. I tried the term “shortwave radio” on Walmart to see what popped up. Foremost was an ad from Midland, featuring weather/emergency radios and walkie talkies. When I scrolled down, I did see some brands that might interest a shortwave listener. The table below lists some comparison prices between Walmart and Amazon:
| Model | Walmart | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| ATS 25 max | $99.00 | $99.80 |
| Choyong LC90 | $249.00 | $249.00 |
| Kaito KA500 | $49.88 | $49.99 |
| Retekess TR112 | $89.99 | n/a1 |
| Retekess TR113 | $179.99 | $179.99 |
| Retekess V115P | $25.29 | $23.32 |
| Sangean ATS-909X | $389.99 | n/a2 |
| Sparkelec DP-666 | $88.29 | $139.99 |
| Tecsun H-501 | $329.98 | $329.98 |
| Tecsun PL-330 | $85.49 | $84.99 |
| Tecsun PL-998BT | $139.00 | n/a |
| XHDATA D-808 | $86.99 | $90.10 |
One problem I had with Walmart was that some items didn’t have a model number or I couldn’t tell what version was offered on a Si4732 Mini. Walmart tended to have older models.
Anyhow, Walmart could be worth a check. But check shipping costs, delivery times and return policy.
E-gad, this shipping box is heavy: 4 lbs. 6 oz. It may have something to do with the 5 x 18650 batteries, 3 for the radio and 2 for the repeater. And unlike almost every radio in my experience, it’s bigger than I anticipated.
I compared a couple of color screen models in a photo:
Both have a big tuning knob that also acts as a switch and of course the ATS25 max-decoder has a touch screen compared to buttons on the ZWS-802. In fact, all three knobs are also push buttons.
Continue readingI noted before a new variant of the LiJiANi Rd239 for sale at AliExpress, interesting because it added app control, SSB, and communicating with an external (possibly outdoor) repeater. The repeater model was identified as “W2.” This was clearly interesting to me because of all the internal noise in my house.
Now there is another that popped up on Amazon today when I went browsing for Prime Day deals.
I’ve listened to Canadian time station CHU for a very long time. I have a QSL card from 1967. That reception was from southern Alabama on 7335 kHz (a frequency that was later replaced with 7850), probably using my Lafayette Radio Electronics KT-340 and a 75-foot long wire antenna under the eaves of my house.
Here a photo of my setup from 1967 with the CHU QSL on the wall.
CHU ceased operation some time around 10:00 UTC today, June 22, 2026, but not without some “activity” on the 7850 kHz frequency on USB:
I only got bits of the transmission because my phone kept shutting off for over-temperature. It has references to “the original wiener bender,” “Dick Bulger” and “roast beef.”
June 1 was National Yellow Radio Day, and all I can say in my defense is that I was traveling 6 time zones away from home without a yellow radio on that day.
I have a few yellow radios:
The thing they all have in common is weather band coverage, suggesting an emergency theme.
For 2026, I’m highlighting the ZHIWHIS ZWS-2415.
I can’t say it’s incoming until I order it, and I can’t order it until it goes on sale, but when it does, I’ll be placing my order. No question.
I snagged that photo from a video from Andre on the SWL YouTube channel. He says it will employ an Si4735 DSP chip. From the photo we see both SSB and SYNC tuning modes and FM RDS. The photo also shows SW tuning range from 1711 to 30000 kHz, plus AIR band.
In this pre-release photo, the actual size of the radio seems rather small, clearly a shirt-pocket model. Reports also say that the radio will be available in multiple colors — probably not yellow, sigh.
The battery is an 18650. The tuning knob is on the right side next to what appears to be a USB-C charging port. There is also an alarm, and ATS scan feature (ATS button on the top).
Initial release in 2 months, first to the Chinese market?
Give it a listen!
