Qodosen DX-286 And XHData D-109WB Comparison/Review

[ditto1958]

I’m a noob at shortwave, although not exactly at DXing.* A little over a month ago I got the XHData D-109WB, and a month after that I got the Qodosen DX-286. I’ve used both of them a lot, so I’d like to post some observations and comparisons. Skipping to the chase, I like both, I think they’re both excellent radios, and I’m happy I have them. But to expand on that:

XHDATA-D109WB:

Likes:
Very sensitive on AM, FM and SW
Has weather band and NOAA alerts
Is a Bluetooth speaker
Is an mp3 player
Nice case, nice build quality
Decent sound from speaker
Nice sound on earbuds
USB-C charging port
Amazing value at less than $50 from Amazon

Quibbles:
Initially non-intuitive to learn
Instruction manual leaves a lot to be desired and
A lot of breakthrough from other bands, particularly from strong local broadcasting baseball

QODOSEN DX-286

Likes:

Very sensitive on AM, and SW, super sensitive on FM
Little or no breakthrough from other bands
Antenna amp amp and adjustable attenuation
Nice case, good build quality
Decent sound from speaker
Nice sound on earbuds
Fast scans
Good manual written in good English

Quibbles:

Kickstand on back is pathetic, either strengthen or delete
Power hungry
TINY, a lot smaller than the D-109, perhaps a little too small?
Should include an 18660 battery, or even switch to AA batteries
A USB-C port would be nice for charging
Steeper than usual learning curve, non-intuitive controls

So, both are excellent radios… should you buy one, and if so, which one? As a DXing machine, if price is not an issue, the Qodosen gets the edge. It’s a radio, a radio only, and a very good one at that. On FM and SW it pulls in stations using just the whip antenna that the XHData needs a wire antenna to receive. It seems to scan faster than the XHData, and the antenna amp and attenuation features can be very helpful when DXing on SW.

However… if money is a factor, for less than half the price of the Qodosen, the D-109WB is almost as good as the Qodosen at picking up signals on AM, FM and SW. I’d give the DX-286 a clear edge on FM, but it’s only slightly better on AM and SW. So, the D-109WB, is almost as good a performer, but it also has features the Qodosen doesn’t have. Weather band and NOAA alerts are important here where I live in Wisconsin. It’s also a Bluetooth speaker and an mp3 player. It’s a bit easier to learn to use and operate than the Qodosen is. Part of that, however is due to the Qodosen having lots of more advanced radio settings.

Again, I like both radios a lot. For a pure lightweight DXer, you’ll likely prefer the Qodosen. But if you want more features and performance that’s almost as good, the XHData is an amazing value for half the cost of the Qodosen.

 

[ditto1958]

*It wasn’t called DXing back then, but as a lad in the 60’s and 70’s, my friends and I loved to tune through the AM band at night looking for distant stations. In those days some of the 50,000 watt clear channel stations could be caught from hundreds of miles away.

 

[Boombox]

^^^^^^ It was called DXing back then, it's just that those of us who did it, and didn't have access to a lot of radio mags and literature, didn't know it was called that.

 

[ditto1958]

^^^^^^ It was called DXing back then, it's just that those of us who did it, and didn't have access to a lot of radio mags and literature, didn't know it was called that.

Lol, back then we were just killing time, trying to entertain ourselves. We were DXing, though and our parents thought we were idlers. 🙂

 

[a727469]

Excellent review👍. I have the 286 and agree with all your points. One more quibble, I am pretty radio literate, but setting the clock is a real chore and the manual is not real clear. At current pricing for these radios, they are a steal in relationship to what we had to pay even 10 years ago for no where near the number of features or sensitivity.

 

[ditto1958]

Excellent review👍. I have the 286 and agree with all your points. One more quibble, I am pretty radio literate, but setting the clock is a real chore and the manual is not real clear. At current pricing for these radios, they are a steal in relationship to what we had to pay even 10 years ago for no where near the number of features or sensitivity.

I managed to get my time set, but even though I had the manual in front of me and a step by step YouTube video up, it still took a good 20-30 minutes.

But, I persevered, and all is forgiven now. I’ve learned enough now to enjoy operating it. Although… I do like to use the Qodosen and the XHData side by side, and it can be pretty hairy given that so many things are done similarly but at the same time completely different on each radio. 🙂

 

[MikeinDestin]

Might just have to get the DX-286.

 

[ditto1958]

I’m really happy with it. Once I got used to how it works it‘s easy to operate and it truly is a hot rod for DXing. It‘s small, the size of the CC Skywave, yet the sound from the speaker is surprisingly good.

 

[MikeinDestin]

If you order the DX-286 from Jay Allen's site, the $80 price includes two 18650 batteries.
Without a battery the cheapest I've seen is $70 on Amazon. I don't know about other sites except Ebay, where it's much more usually.

 

[a727469]

Might just have to get the DX-286.

I like mine but there is a learning curve with most buttons doing multiple things. Except for no ssb reception is excellent.

 

[ditto1958]

UPDATE: A few weeks after posting this thread I added a third radio, a Tecsun PL-660. My first impression of the Tecsun was not all that good. But as I began using it and learning how it works, it has continued to grow on me. The D-109WB has been somewhat pushed to the background, as I now do most of my DXing with the Qodosen and the Tecsun.

The DX-286 and PL-660 are interesting to use side by side, as they are both excellent performers, but are two entirely different radios. The hot rod versus the luxury sedan.

 

[N9JCQ]

I am wondering if you have tried the 660 on MW and how you feel it receives there. I have had two 660s. My newest is about 5 years old. On MW, with the wide setting, the radio is as broad as a barn door. It also seems to be about 10 KCs off. When I put it on Narrow badnwidth, the stations are dead on. I must have a lemon. On HF SSB, it kicks but though.

 

[a727469]

Recently spent some quality time with my DX-286 and it is a great receiver but not an easy one to navigate. I am pretty literate on these types of radios but the manual is always close by to help do many relatively common things. The buttons are confusing as to their multi function usage, but I finally mastered setting the time😊
The attached has been quite helpful

http://www.cosmos-monitor.com/radios/concise-dx-286-manual.pdf

 

[ditto1958]

Recently spent some quality time with my DX-286 and it is a great receiver but not an easy one to navigate. I am pretty literate on these types of radios but the manual is always close by to help do many relatively common things. The buttons are confusing as to their multi function usage, but I finally mastered setting the time😊
The attached has been quite helpful

http://www.cosmos-monitor.com/radios/concise-dx-286-manual.pdf

It also took me awhile to set the time, even though I was watching a YouTube video on how to do it. I’ve since learned to do everything I want to do with my DX-286, but it definitely was a bit of a struggle at first.

I am wondering if you have tried the 660 on MW and how you feel it receives there. I have had two 660s. My newest is about 5 years old. On MW, with the wide setting, the radio is as broad as a barn door. It also seems to be about 10 KCs off. When I put it on Narrow badnwidth, the stations are dead on. I must have a lemon. On HF SSB, it kicks but though.

Generally my Qodosen is slightly more sensitive on MW, FM and SW, but the PL-660 is close. I’m happy with it on MW.