Many because of SWLing Publish contributor and supporter, Dan Robinson, who shares the next assessment:
by Dan Robinson
Some months in the past, I discovered from Anon-co that Tecsun deliberate to launch an replace to the S-2000 receiver, which for the previous 16 years additionally bought underneath different names such because the Grundig Satellit 750 and later the Eton Satellit 750 and Eton Elite 750.
To say that this radio was lengthy within the tooth is an understatement.
I bear in mind seeing one after they first got here out again in 2008 and I used to be by no means very impressed. To me, the radio regarded like a toy, and the efficiency didn’t impress. The standout function was the top-mounted rotatable antenna for MW/LW reception. That was standard with these of us who personal the Panasonic RF-2200 and it’s a fantastic device for MW.
Grundig Satellit 750
Whereas standard with a sure section of the listening passion – novices appreciated the 750 and even some veteran SWLs appreciated the retro design — the receiver was affected by annoying points, such because the well-known wobbly tuning knob. It additionally had restricted selectivity, no synchronous mode, and mediocre SSB.
In 2013, The Monitoring Occasions (Larry Van Horn) took one other take a look at the radio with the next memorable feedback:
[MONITORING TIMES 2013]
“For sure some of us weren’t pleased with our assessment of the 750 together with Etón. Looking back, over 4 years later, I might not change one single phrase I wrote in that assessment. I consider we actually gave a good evaluation of the unit that was shipped to us for assessment. In the event you learn my earlier assessment intently, you’d see that the majority of my issues again then needed to do with high quality management points and most in our business totally acknowledge that we had been seeing some nasty stuff popping out of China again in 2008.”
So, measuring from 2008 when the primary Eton 750 got here out we’re now in 2024 and Tecsun has determined to protect the cupboard design of the unique radio whereas considerably upgrading the internals.
Picture by Anon-Co
Reviewers have obtained models from the primary manufacturing run. Tecsun has offered long-needed upgrades that put this radio on the identical enjoying area because the very talked-about H-501 and PL-990 portables.
The 2200x provides a devoted SYNC mode with its personal entrance panel button. AIR band is retained, although sadly protection doesn’t lengthen as much as give us the NOAA WEATHER frequencies.
My preliminary testing of the S-2200x reveals that efficiency is superb on SW, AM, and FM. In distinction with portables from different producers, SSB efficiency is superb – in USB and LSB, tuning is clean with no “warbling” and utilizing the high-quality tuning management is a pleasure.
Picture by Anon-Co
The receiver has the same old ATS scanning capabilities, and a tremendous 9150 station recollections! Bandwidths are just like the H-501/PL-990:
- LW/MW bandwidth choice: 1.0, 2.3, 3.5, 5.0 and 9.0 kHz
- SW/AIR bandwidth choice: 1.0. 2.3, 3.5, 5.0 and 6.0 kHz
- SSB bandwidth choice: 0.5, 1.2, 2.3, 3.0 and 4.0 kHz
The LCD backlight is totally controllable. As for sign ranges, the radio shows sign energy and S/NR. There are additionally the same old TIMER and SLEEP management capabilities.
Picture by Anon-Co
Connections embody:
- SW exterior antenna socket: 50? (BNC sort), 500? (black/purple spring terminals)
- FM/AIR exterior antenna socket: 50? (BNC sort)
- MW/LW exterior antenna socket: ? 3.5mm (1/8in)
- Headphone socket: 32-300?, ? 3.5mm (1/8in)
- FM-stereo by way of headphones
- Audio enter (line in) socket: use as an energetic speaker (? 3.5mm, 1/8in)
- Audio output (L/R RCA) sockets: use as a radio tuner on your house audio system
- Battery choice change: select D-type (R20/UM1) or 18650 batteries
- DC 5V / 2A charging socket (USB-C)
Once I first used the 2200x I used to be disenchanted to search out that SSB was off the displayed tuned frequency by as a lot as 120 hz. Having not learn by means of the guide (duh) I used to be able to enter this on the CONS column till I made a decision to attempt the well-known re-calibrating process discovered on the Tecsun H-501, Pl-990, PL-368, and PL-330. And I used to be happy to search out that RECALIBRATION is certainly a function on the 2200x! For these of us who’re obsessive about radios being precisely on or close to the frequency being displayed, that’s enormous information!
Add to this the excellent rotatable antenna for MW/LW (the mini jack port on the rotatable antenna for connection of a separate exterior MW antenna is retained), implausible sound from the front-firing speaker with adjustable BASS and TREBLE, and twin battery sort energy from D cells or 18650s and now we have one other welcome addition to the world of receivers in 2024.
Picture by Anon-Co
One other very useful function is the addition of battery examine LEDs within the 18650 compartment. The guide states that if the 18650’s are drained, the LEDs can be dimmed. It seems that the 2200x can not mechanically change between its D cells and the 2 18650s – that will have been an excellent function. The Tecsun H-501 has an exterior change that allows use of both of two 18650s in that radio. It might have been good for Tecsun to make use of bar graph degree LEDs reasonably than single LEDs, however then we do have a battery indicator on the entrance LCD show.
Picture by Anon-Co
The late Dave Zantow offered a protracted listing of CONS for the previous Grundig/Eton Satellit 750/Tecsun S-2000/ Eton Elite 750 (see https://www.qsl.internet/n9ewo/s750.html). Studying his observations and evaluating them to the brand new S-2200x quite a few factors merely don’t apply anymore. One criticism of the S-2000/750 nonetheless does apply: many individuals don’t like the location of the VOLUME knob on the left facet of the radio – however it is a minor level that most individuals gained’t discover.
With the take a look at unit despatched to me by Anon-co is a sheet itemizing HIDDEN FEATURES. And at the very least to date, there are solely 4: MAX VOLUME LEVEL, CALIBRATE MW/SW, CALIBRATE USB/LSB, and SWITCH BETWEEN INTERNAL FERRITE ROD TO WHIP ON AM (MW & LW). It’s fascinating that there are separate recalibration procedures for MW/SW and USB/LSB.
I ought to add that the cosmetics of the take a look at unit I acquired are wonderful. Paint end is excellent. The telescopic antenna is strong with a thick base, and swivels 360 levels – considering again on the issues Eton had attempting to get the antenna proper within the short-lived Elite Satellit, one wonders why that is such a problem. The 2200x comes with the same old wonderful instruction guide, and one thing else we’re acquainted with from Tecsun, the additional massive fold out Fast Begin information with a world newbie radio map on the again. It additionally comes with a twin USB-A charging plug, a USB-C cable, and with my unit at the very least, two antenna connectors.
On the Anon-co web site, the 2200x is proven as an anticipated September launch so clearly Tecsun can be ramping up manufacturing. The radio is described as “Triple Conversion IF”. That places it in the identical league because the S-8800 which, in line with the Tecsun description, is “geared up with an analog Excessive-IF circuit and DSP triple conversion decoding expertise.” The PL-990 and H-501 are additionally described as triple conversion.
One other headline, although predictable primarily based on Tecsun’s different fashions, is that there may be NO SOFT MUTING on this receiver! This makes an actual distinction for these of us who worth the flexibility to listen to steady audio when tuning across the bands and is in stark distinction to another producers who nonetheless don’t appear to have the ability to produce radios with out muting.
As my testing of the S-2200x continues, I’ve recognized just a few issues within the CON column:
- Although there may be now a devoted SYNC mode with its personal button, precise implementation of synchronous stays a bit difficult, shedding lock in some cases relying on sign degree. However I’ve to look at that even compared with a H-501/PL-990, the SYNC on the 2200x seems to be very, superb. Will probably be fascinating to listen to from Tecsun whether or not something was executed to enhance SYNC within the 2200x
- AGC choices (FAST, SLOW, and so forth) are lacking on this receiver – it appears this might have been a simple addition although there’s a RF guide management.
- A problem that was seen on Eton’s ill-fated Elite Satellit – on my take a look at unit turning SQUELCH utterly clockwise doesn’t totally zero out sound from the speaker. This needs to be a simple subject for Tecsun to resolve.
- On my pattern of the 2200x the precise facet of the highest rotating antenna is a bit raised. One of many criticisms of the previous S2000/750 was that the rotating antenna was additionally not completely horizontal and ended up scraping the highest of the radio cupboard (we see an identical subject with the Raddy RF919, with the offered loop stick not utterly clearing the left prime of that radio’s cupboard). That is an apparent QC subject that Tecsun wants to deal with.
Not technically a CON, when exiting AUTO RF GAIN (after the press) the RF degree stays at most, then declines with full clockwise turning of the management. Some could also be confused by this at first, since on some older portables most guide acquire is achieved at full clockwise place. On the 2200x, most guide RF is simply after the AUTO place.
Additionally famous: the FINE TUNING knob accommodates a darkish mark that signifies heart / 12:00. However for the reason that high-quality tuning management has no bodily detent stops, while you’re on a particular frequency (15,770 kHz for instance) zero beat will not be achieved when the knob darkish marker is at 12:00. So, a easy direct key re-entry of a frequency when the knob marker is positioned again at 12:00 returns the management to a symmetrical illustration when utilizing high-quality tune (most likely vital just for obsessive of us like myself).
SOME FEATURE MISSES
- Provided that the S-2200x is bigger and heavier than the S-8800, one would suppose that one other good addition would have been to make the radio distant controllable, just like the S-8800, which has an exquisite distant management.
- It might have been fascinating to see Tecsun do what Raddy has executed with its RF919 and add microSD assist with recording functionality. There could also be causes for not placing in Bluetooth for app management – maybe the considering was that an excessive amount of new stuff would degrade reception capabilities of the S-2200x.
- Tecsun has proven itself to be very succesful in radio design. We discovered earlier this 12 months that Tecsun offered some help to Choyong on that firm’s LC90 Web/SW moveable. Maybe in coming years we’ll see Tecsun designing a conveyable with a spectrum show as seen on Russian/Chinese language Malahit/Malachite receivers, although this is able to absolutely require engineering steps – together with satisfactory shielding — to keep away from interference from the display screen.
Picture by Dan Robinson
What now we have with the S-2200x is a radio that retains the retro styling of its predecessors whereas including the wonderful efficiency traits of Tecsun’s different receivers. This can be a receiver that each starting and veteran SWLs and DX’ers can lastly be proud to personal and use.
Assuming Tecsun can preserve a excessive degree of QC in manufacturing, and contemplating that the vital RECAL function has been retained with no muting, I might give the S-2200x a 4.8 out of 5. If Tecsun can deal with the highest rotatable antenna subject – absolutely a easy factor to resolve, and the SQUELCH subject, this radio will get a 4.9 from me.
