Category Archives: Product Reviews

Top Ten Portable Shortwave Radios for 2025

Posted on February 22, 2025 by Kevin

Most “top ten” lists online are garbage. I found a top ten shortwave radio list, two of which didn’t even receive shortwave! I’m taking the question seriously, and there are no affiliate links in what follows. When considering candidates for … Continue reading →

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Surprise Radio: RTL-SDR Blog V4 SDR

Posted on February 4, 2025 by Kevin

See warning at the end of the post. I’ve had an RTL-SDR Blog V3 SDR for a few years, but I haven’t blogged much about it beyond the article on SSB. In the intervening years, RTL-SDR Blog has come out … Continue reading →

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Incoming Tool: UNI-T UT658DUAL USB LCD USB Type C Digital Tester

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Kevin

Cheap thrill here ($21.99). This little fellow can evaluate the performance and capacity of a USB power bank, and by extension an emergency radio that can charge a USB device. I have no confidence in product promises for battery bank … Continue reading →

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I Need a New Battery! Mregb YD-819?

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Kevin

I suppose you have to be a pretty old gamer to get the reference from Return to Zork. I really don’t need a new battery, but I wanted one. Technically the 81 kWh battery in my car will keep my … Continue reading →

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Zhiwhis ZWS-2415: On Shortwave

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Kevin

The Zhiwhis ZWS-2415 is shipped with a 3-meter clip-on wire antenna, so that’s how I did my initial test today. I went up to the local pickleball court where there is a convenient picnic table and set up the wire … Continue reading →

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Zhiwhis ZWS-2415: First Impressions

Posted on January 26, 2025 by Kevin

Unboxing It comes in a nice box with outstanding padding. Here are the photos and some initial comments.

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Incoming Radio! Zhiwhis ZWS-2415

Posted on January 25, 2025 by Kevin

But, but, but, I thought that unpronounceable green thing was the incoming radio (Incoming Radio: Sttfaishen S10). It didn’t work out. Not only was the product description wrong (color and size), it just didn’t work well on weather band. So … Continue reading →

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