Si4732 ATS Mini Firmware 2.30

Posted on August 10, 2025 by Kevin

This is an update to my 2.28 installation post: ESP32 – Si4732 ATS Mini: Firmware Upgrade 2.28 (Updated).

There’s a bit of a wrinkle with this installation that I didn’t have before. The method of storing settings has changed, which basically means that you lose your settings, including Wi-Fi credentials, after the update. Further, the radio will not boot automatically on power up the first time.

After completing the standard update (see my article linked above), power the radio off then while holding down the encoder wheel, turn it back on. This time you’ll see a message that the settings are being reset. Then release the wheel.

I’ve applied the update both to my V1, V3 and V3S radios.

For details on the changes in firmware 2.30, check out the release notes on GitHub.

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Incoming Radio: SPARKELEC DP-666

Posted on August 9, 2025 by Kevin

What have I done?

I’m trying a new seller, Banggood. A couple of discount codes handed me this SPARKELEC DP-666 radio, plus accessories for $71.63 including tax, insurance and free shipping.

It’s one of those new TEF6686 chip radios. As one might guess from the stylus, it’s touch screen. No SSB, but claims to be dynamite on FM.

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First Impressions: Sangean ATS-909

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Kevin

I wanted to compare a well-regarded analog-tuned radio against modern DSP radios and the Sangean ATS-909 fits that bill.

Sangean ATS-909
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First Impressions: Kaito KA1101

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Kevin

My new old stock KA1101 has arrived from eBay seller detroitmetromart, and I was excited to get into the box.

Unboxing

Despite the radio being 20 years old, it really was new old stock and looked like it had just come from the factory. The case was flawless, the display crystal clear, and the radio worked just fine.

Kaito KA1101 Retail Box
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Upping My Game

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Kevin

I have fun comparing radios. I have some “reference” stations like CFRX in Toronto, WWV and CHU that I like to use. I band scan on MW and FM at midday and count the number of stations received. It’s not rigorous and sometimes results aren’t repeatable, particularly on shortwave.

My AI friend 🤖 linked to a video about using a signal generator to test radio sensitivity. It was mostly a review of the signal generator pictured below, and the video wasn’t terribly insightful, but it did set me to thinking about how I test radios and how at the end of so many comparison posts I don’t reach a conclusion. I’m plagued by varying signal levels and background noise.

I have a big comparison in the works between a modern and some older analog PLL radios, and it could really use some help. So enter:

Signal Generator (Product Photo)
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Incoming Surprise: Kaito KA1101

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Kevin

Like a fish tempted by a juicy worm, eBay dropped this radio onto my front page and I was hooked.

It is a dual conversion superhet radio, as is the other current incoming radio, a Sangean ATS-909. This appears to be new old stock. It boosts my PLL analog radio options and fills out the list for the upcoming dueling-radios review.

Kaito KA1101 (eBay Auction Photo)

I’ve always had a soft spot for Degen/Kaito radios — compact, easy to use. This is just a radio I want to hug.

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Incoming Radio: Sangean ATS-909

Posted on August 2, 2025 by Kevin

No, not some shiny new toy from AliExpress, but something from the “old days.” The Sangean ATS-909 is an analog radio first introduced in 1996, available until roughly 2011 when the DSP-based ATS-909X was introduced . Read more at The Radio Museum. It’s quite respected still.

Sangean ATS-909 (eBay Auction Photo)

The ATS-909 was originally priced at $250 retail, which would be the equivalent, with inflation, of about $512 today in 2025. I snagged this one for $65 plus shipping from an eBay seller with 100% satisfaction. The photos show it in very good cosmetic condition (likely because it was stored in its original case). It doesn’t include a manual, power adapter nor the Sangean ANT-60 external antenna originally included. The manual was trivial to find online. The radio uses 4 AA batteries.

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