Tecsun Beating Qodosen Tonight

[ditto1958]

On shortwave, my Qodosen DX-286 normally edges out my other two radios, an XHData D-109WB, and the one I was using tonight, the Tecsun PL-660.

The DX-286 easily picked up Radio Nacional da Amazonia at 11780 kHz. But when I tuned the Tecsun to it, I was able to get a clearer signal than with the DX-286.

 

[AB5ID]

It's Halloween. Are you going to go pirate hunting below 40 meters?

 

[ditto1958]

It's Halloween. Are you going to go pirate hunting below 40 meters?

Oh, I hadn’t thought about it, but it is Halloween tonight, isn’t it? I think I will try that, thank you.

 

[ditto1958]

On two other frequencies strong frequencies, 7435 kHz and 9565 kHz, both Radio Marti stations, the XHData D-109WB actually got the strongest and clearest signal.

 

[abit64]

On two other frequencies strong frequencies, 7435 kHz and 9565 kHz, both Radio Marti stations, the XHData D-109WB actually got the strongest and clearest signal.

What antenna were you using? I am thinking of getting the Qodosen for SW broadcast reception, but I already have the Tecsun PL-680, so would I be wasting $? I thought it was better than other portables for SW as well?

 

[ditto1958]

What antenna were you using? I am thinking of getting the Qodosen for SW broadcast reception, but I already have the Tecsun PL-680, so would I be wasting $? I thought it was better than other portables for SW as well?

I just use a retractable wire indoors. As for “wasting“ money, that’s a subjective thing. As
with your Tecsun, the Qodosen is a quality product. Is the Qodosen more sensitive than the Tecsun? Yes. Enough so that you should buy one? Depends on your listening style and needs. I’m glad to have both.

 

[ditto1958]

I just use a retractable wire indoors. As for “wasting“ money, that’s a subjective thing. As
with your Tecsun, the Qodosen is a quality product. Is the Qodosen more sensitive than the Tecsun? Yes. Enough so that you should buy one? Depends on your listening style and needs. I’m glad to have both.

abit64, I think I need to elaborate on this a little more. The Tecsun PL-680 and the Qodosen DX-286 are both excellent portable radios. They are also very different. The two biggest differences are size and tuning. The Tecsun is much larger and heavier than the Qodosen. The latter is the size of a C. Crane CC Skywave SSB.

The Qodosen is MW/LW/SW/FM. Period. No other bells or whistle. It excels at receiving those bands. The Tecsun adds SSB and air band. It’s also different tuning a radio with analog tuning.

Some hardcore DXers will buy a radio like the Qodosen simply to try to get that one extra catch that’s out there somewhere that their other radios aren’t getting. And the Qodosen is good at that. But… once it finds a signal, the reality is that most of the time my Tecsun and my XHData can both get the signal. There are many ways to do shortwave listening. If you like doing auto scans, the Qodosen excels.

Bottom line is I’m glad to have choices. My three radios are all good, but also all three are different.