Qodosen DX-286

[ditto1958]

It uses one battery not batteries

 

[Boombox]

Well, I now have this radio, and I’ve spent a few days with it. It’s an excellent receiver.

Is it $80 well spent? That’s a very valid question, and a very interesting question. I think the answer lies I’m what a person is looking for. The Qodosen is a radio. It’s a really good radio, all the same, it’s a radio only.

The XHData D-109WB for about $40 is almost as good at being a radio, and also adds weather band and NOAA alerts in in the US, AND, it’s a Bluetooth speaker and an mp3 player. The DX-286 has none of those features. So… good value? You be the judge. 🙂

I recently got a D-109WB, and it's a great radio, but does have some faults. Not as sensitive on MW by itself as some other portables I have, although plug in some headphones and add an external loop it's an amazing MW DX radio, because of performance and also the great sound. Main lack on MW it seems is probably the internal loopstick.

On SW it's good. Matches my other portables on a 25 ft wire. On very strong signals it will overload, however. The DX/Local switch gets rid of 90% or more of the overload. It has several usable bandwidths and a tone switch, which also helps. I've been using it a lot lately for MW DX at night, and it's a great radio for that.

I would say it's a great value for the $50~ spent, but from what I've read of the Qodosen DX-286, I think that radio is undoubtely worth the money, being that it's raved about by MW DXers and SWLs. FM DXers seem to like it as well.

 

[T680]

I recently got a D-109WB, and it's a great radio, but does have some faults. Not as sensitive on MW by itself as some other portables I have, although plug in some headphones and add an external loop it's an amazing MW DX radio, because of performance and also the great sound. Main lack on MW it seems is probably the internal loopstick.

On SW it's good. Matches my other portables on a 25 ft wire. On very strong signals it will overload, however. The DX/Local switch gets rid of 90% or more of the overload. It has several usable bandwidths and a tone switch, which also helps. I've been using it a lot lately for MW DX at night, and it's a great radio for that.

I would say it's a great value for the $50~ spent, but from what I've read of the Qodosen DX-286, I think that radio is undoubtely worth the money, being that it's raved about by MW DXers and SWLs. FM DXers seem to like it as well.

I've found adding an external antenna doesn't improve the SW or FM reception if my D-109WB much at home in the Chicago burbs or when I'm 50 miles west of there out in the country visiting family. I've had better luck clipping the reel antenna I got from Xhdata into the whip than plugging it in either partially or fully.

It definitely pulls in more SW stations when I'm out in the country too, but my Radio solar definitely beats it on FM, MW and WB.

If Qodoson ever adds WB to the DX286 I'd get one, I wish they would.

 

[ditto1958]

I recently got a D-109WB, and it's a great radio, but does have some faults. Not as sensitive on MW by itself as some other portables I have, although plug in some headphones and add an external loop it's an amazing MW DX radio, because of performance and also the great sound. Main lack on MW it seems is probably the internal loopstick.

On SW it's good. Matches my other portables on a 25 ft wire. On very strong signals it will overload, however. The DX/Local switch gets rid of 90% or more of the overload. It has several usable bandwidths and a tone switch, which also helps. I've been using it a lot lately for MW DX at night, and it's a great radio for that.

I would say it's a great value for the $50~ spent, but from what I've read of the Qodosen DX-286, I think that radio is undoubtely worth the money, being that it's raved about by MW DXers and SWLs. FM DXers seem to like it as well.

Since that post, I’ve used my Qodosen a LOT and I’ve also acquired a Tecsun PL660. I would now rank my radios 1. Qodosen 2. Tecsun 3. XHData. They are all really good, but for sensitivity on AM, FM and SW, the Qodosen beats the other two. Not by a mile, but it beats them. The DX-286 in my opinion is definitely worth it.

 

[a727469]

Since I started this thread I have used my 286 at various times but not consistently since my primary interests currently are not in these bands.
I still love the radio and find all the comments about it correct. I use it from time to time mainly for AM/FM DX and it truly shines. SW is not on my list of interests.
However, the one problem I have is trying to remember the multiple usages of all the buttons. Maybe my memory is not what it used to be, but, because it has so many features and functions, it requires someone to use it consistently rather intermittently as I do. The manual stays next to me🤪😀
Would I recommend and buy again? For the price and performance, definitely YES.👍