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The package consists of a MW/FM/SW/WB radio with stereo speakers, plus a repeater — an external device that is a radio itself, able to relay received audio to the base radio. The repeater adds AIR band and VHF/UHF.

Let’s start with a video. It’s a transmission of Radio Romania at 01:33 UTC on 30-June-2026 on 9495 kHz.

In the upper right of the radio display is an antenna symbol with the letters *EXT* underneath; when solid on rather than blinking, the icon informs us that the radio is receiving an external signal from the W3 repeater. The repeater was on the back porch about 5 meters away, and connected to the repeater was the 1 meter wire antenna supplied in the W3 accessories pack. In my opinion, this is the “normal” use case for this product.

The “9.495 MHZ” tells the frequency, almost. The bandwidth is fairly wide, so the station is easily heard on 9.490 and 9.500 (noting that this is a strong signal). The little number “5” is blank on frequencies that are multiples of 10 kHz indicating that 5 kHz is the smallest tuning step on SW. The display shows signal to noise ratio (SNR) is 16 and the relative signal strength (RSSI) is 72.¹

The video shows what an iPhone microphone picks up.

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:

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.

I 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.”