Many because of SWLing Publish contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares the next evaluation:
[Note that all Amazon and Radioddity links are affiliate links that support the SWLing Post.]
by Dan Robinson
It’s fairly extraordinary that in nowadays of lowered use of shortwave some producers proceed to develop transportable receivers for the worldwide neighborhood of radio listeners. We now have the Choyong LC90, which for the primary time tried to mix HF, MW, FM and Web radio (nonetheless a piece in progress). And now out of nowhere comes the Raddy RF919.
Like many receiver fanatics, I used to be excited after I noticed the primary images and movies of the 919, by Shenzhen Hanrongda in China. The corporate has an incredible variety of portables in its lineup–along with the 919 there are the: RF320, RF760, RF747, RF75A, and RF750 together with varied hand crank emergency units. The RF919 below the Raddy label additionally sells because the Retekess TR113 (which will be seen on its Amazon web page).
It’s attention-grabbing that the RF919 (TR113) appeared available on the market simply because the Choyong receiver continues to expertise rising pains, however clearly each had been within the planning levels for a while. One of many strengths is its very respectable SSB efficiency, although see my feedback under about one of many points with the RF919.
The variety of opinions of the 919 by YouTube influencers is quickly rising because the radios get into the palms of extra customers. For the needs of this commentary I received’t go into each single characteristic aside from to look at the excessive factors. And right here’s a headline – from a software program standpoint this can be a very complicated radio with a steep studying curve requiring common seems on the handbook. However sufficient use brings familiarity with the numerous options it provides:
The RF919 has two excellent shows: a foremost info heart below which there are buttons for activating varied features and choices, and a second stunning sign stage display screen that has quite a lot of info by itself, below which there are 4 buttons for TIME SET, ALARM, DISPLAY, and SLEEP. These shows are in all probability the most effective now we have ever seen in a transportable, providing 7 colours selectable from the entrance panel! The Eton Elite Satellit (now not made) provided a couple of colours on its show nevertheless it was nothing like this. Raddy publicity supplies deal with this:
“In contrast to different radios, you may select and set your favourite backlight shade to match your fashion or temper, all whereas staying up to date with a transparent 3.54-inch foremost display screen that reveals reception standing. It’s not only a radio; it’s an extension of your persona.”
The 919 is sort of a throwback to such basic receivers because the SONY ICF-5900W and different “navy fashion” portables from a long time in the past – one consumer famous the similarity to the previous Nationwide Cougar 877.
The 919 has a strong, assured, physique with an area on the prime rear that features as a hand grip. On prime are two jacks for a LOOP ANTENNA, and a cellular WHIP fashion antenna with an OFF/ON rotary swap. That swap is terribly near the LOOP jack. On the again is a 3.5 mm antenna jack with a 3 place slider management for particular tuning ranges. The backstand is mainly the identical sort discovered on the Tecsun H-501. One needs that there would have been a rubber friction grip positioned on it and that it had some further stress to permit it to carry the radio up in different diploma positions.
The telescopic whip antenna is spectacular – strong, and notably designed to work whereas the radio is positioned on a desk utilizing its backstand, one thing that the Choyong LC90’s antenna will not be capable of do.
I’ll notice that the whip antenna can’t be prolonged up and out of the radio cupboard which limits it to a single angle when the radio is used with the backstand – placement of the 919 left carrying strap hook on prime left is the limiting issue right here.
Once more the 919 telescopic design is a distinction to the LC90 which each lacks a backstand, and adaptability within the antenna.
A significant headline is the handbook antenna tuning characteristic on the RF919. Using the rear antenna jack and swap with MW, SW 1, and SW 2 choices, together with the aspect alter knob, the consumer can fine-tune sign energy, with the secondary display screen offering real-time viewing of sign energy adjustments. On prime of the radio, there’s a mini jack enter subsequent to an ON/OFF swap that, in accordance with the instruction card rationalization, permits choice of the LOOP (they name it “ring”) place. Wow. The final time we noticed this type of peaking functionality on a transportable was the SONY ICF-2001 again within the late 1970’s and maybe the Grundig Satellit 700. Hats off to Raddy for this design!
The RF919 has a big central concentric tuning exterior “shuttle” knob for quick tuning, and a smaller heart knob for high-quality tuning – the middle shuttle doubles as a selector with a push perform. I’m not a fan of encoders that rock backwards and forwards as the surface concentric ring does. No less than one consumer remarked that this feels flimsy. Time will inform whether or not these maintain up in every day use. The keyboard, which is properly backlit, seems to be fairly good. Frequency entry is completed by hitting ENT, then the frequency, then ENT once more. You’ll be able to enter in MHz or kHz. There are buttons for VOLUME UP/DOWN, and for TUNE/NEXT, TUNE/PREVIOUS.
One curious factor: when you’re tuning to 22 MHz you may simply hit 22 and ENT. However you may’t try this at 23 MHz and above – you must enter 23.000 and ENT. In the event you don’t, you get 2.300 MHz. No less than that’s what I discover on my 919 – maybe Raddy will have the ability to make clear why that is so. One other level on controls: the MW/SW1/SW2 swap on the again of the radio could be very flimsy and ought to be improved by Raddy.
The large front-firing speaker on the 919 produces excellent audio in all tuning ranges. Rated at 20 watts, it rivals the fantastic audio of the Choyong LC90 and mixed with the ten place EQUALIZER makes the 919 much more enticing for somebody buying it for this stage of sound manufacturing to not point out a receiver that tunes from LW all the way in which as much as 999 MHz.
Hearth up the BLUETOOTH on the 919 and you cannot solely use it as a speaker linked along with your cellphone, however it would play tracks from the microSD.
We now have all turn into accustomed to the comfort of ATS, from the superb efficiency on Tecsun radios, and the 919 falls proper in line. A scan performed on FM right here in Maryland saved 23 stations and I discovered sensitivity to be glorious.
Although noise ranges had been nonetheless excessive from the latest photo voltaic exercise, a scan on HF yielded numerous stations. It did take fairly a very long time to finish ATS on shortwave – about quarter-hour, so one hopes this might be improved in future firmware variations. And there’s this: when scanning with ATS, the 919 scans the complete HF vary moderately than simply bands. As compared, ATS on a Tecsun S-8800 takes about 3 minutes, and consists of solely the principle SW bands.
I’m not but certain if the 919 will be made to scan this manner, but when not it’s one thing Raddy ought to think about. Each shows stay on throughout ATS. This avoids the necessity to mess with the show features whereas scans are ongoing.
There are 1600 reminiscence channels on this radio! As soon as stations are memorized, they are often accessed by hitting the PRESET button on the decrease proper fringe of the principle shuttle dials and utilizing the TUNE/NEXT and TUNE/PREV buttons on the keyboard. Be aware that when going from one current to a different the very first thing that seems on the show is the CHANNEL quantity, adopted by the frequency. That appears logical nevertheless it prevents the consumer from seeing first precisely what frequency has been memorized with out having to attend for the show to shift to the frequency itself.
The 919 supplies bandwidth choices not solely on shortwave, various relying on whether or not one is utilizing AM or LSB/USB, but additionally in FM – a really nice characteristic for a transportable, and one thing seen on Malahit SDRs. Bandwidth readability in SSB is great. Most bandwidth in AM mode is 6 kHz, much like portables by Tecsun, with 4 kHz the utmost in SSB. Some customers have noticed that they want an 8 kHz AM filter place.
An in depth handbook goes over the entire controls, modes, and so on. – the downside right here is that the printing is so small as to make studying it unimaginable, so higher to obtain the handbook in pdf kind from the Raddy web site and print it out. A bonus is {that a} three web page card information comes with the radio displaying the circuit design and suggestions for handbook antenna tuning and the antenna switching on the again. A really considerate addition to the package deal!
The 919 continues the development of radios utilizing 18650 batteries, acquainted to skilled flashlight customers and likewise seen in Tecsun and different receivers. It takes not one, however two 18650s just like the Tecsun H-501. I like to recommend buying high quality multi-bay battery charger along with the flexibility to cost the radio immediately on its USB-C port. Remember that utilizing these radios whereas charging will create noise, so don’t count on to have the most effective reception doing it that approach.
Wow! After years of seeing radios with a microSD slot however no recording perform, Raddy has gone forward and finished it. You’ll be able to report any audio to the cardboard and play it. Looks like we may have seen this characteristic years in the past from receiver producers, however we didn’t. Thanks Raddy! That mentioned, I’ve not but been capable of get recording to work on my unit, utilizing a 64 GB microSD (see under).
I’m very impressed up to now with the 919. Sensitivity on HF and AIR seems to be glorious. MW reception is nice as properly and will be additional improved utilizing the antenna tuning characteristic and the flexibility to make use of a loop antenna linked to the receiver. FM reception seems to be fairly good. On lengthy wave I used to be capable of hear beacons at ranges equal to what I hear on some premium communications receivers.
One commentary: when utilizing the RF919 inside my dwelling right here in Maryland, I famous what gave the impression to be some break-in on shortwave from AM or FM alerts. I’m nonetheless investigating this and can report later.
There are a lot of extra particulars to debate for the RF919. However I would like to speak about what I’d name the elephant within the room on a comparatively brief listing of CONS, however this can be a huge one and a little bit of a disappointment. The 919 suffers from the problem that’s so acquainted to us from different portables: MUTING WHILE TUNING. See my video discussing this at:
That is extra noticeable when in 1 kHz and 10 Hz increments, and at instances of the day when alerts are much less robust, and appears to be a bit higher within the night when alerts enhance. However it’s there nonetheless.
It’s not the worst mushy muting I’ve ever heard on a transportable. It’s actually survivable. However for these of us who worth what I name a steady listening expertise, even the slight muting skilled on the 919 is annoying. It could be that this may be improved with a firmware replace – it’s unclear although whether or not firmware will be up to date through the microSD if new variations had been made obtainable on the Raddy web site.
Paradoxically, what mushy muting on any receiver does is make the receiver extra helpful for these of us who over a long time of shortwave listening have memorized a number of SW frequencies – utilizing the 919 I desire to make use of the keypad to go on to a frequency moderately than put up with the irritating expertise of utilizing the 2 shuttle knobs particularly due to the mushy muting drawback.
I ought to notice that there’s a harshness one hears from this radio when utilizing the shuttle dials to tune – what I’d describe as AGC crashes when going from frequency to frequency. That is nothing new for DSP radios, although some do a greater job than others, such because the Tecsun PL-990 and 501 and Information/Sihuadon D-808. It’s clear that when a producer decides to construct a radio round these chips, such because the Si4735, there’s little or no that may be finished to easy out how the chip handles AGC, although I don’t declare to be an skilled on this space.
The opposite situation I noticed on the unit despatched to me can be acquainted – in SSB, the radio isn’t calibrated properly sufficient, so zero beat in LSB or USB range fairly a bit off the precise tuned frequency. Whereas we don’t often count on DSP portables to be precisely on frequency, this will be annoying as properly since in a great world we don’t wish to must off-tune from a recognized frequency of a broadcaster, or beginner operator, to attain readability. Tecsun offered a recalibration characteristic on its portables that permits the consumer to regulate zero beat. One needs that different producers would do the identical – if the 919 had been to have this it will be a welcome addition.
Although the 919 handbook states that the receiver accepts as much as 256 GB microSD, my first try to get a 64 GB card didn’t succeed. The cardboard is appropriately formatted so I’m at a loss to find out why that is. Acquiring the Radio-C app was additionally an journey – it comes up as an APK file which then installs. Two Bluetooth connections seem, however understanding the method is sophisticated. I used to be lastly capable of get the app working with the radio and proceed to experiment with the flexibilities it supplies.
Total, the app supplies some nice controls over the radio, however the truth that it doesn’t seem on Google Play and must be downloaded through a QR code might give some customers pause. Moreover, temperature seems to show solely in Celsius – one thing I’m certain can be corrected in future firmware updates. Additionally, on the cellphone app, urgent CB brings the radio to 25 MHz moderately than the CB vary. When initiating a scan inside one of many SW bands, the scan doesn’t cease on the prime of that band. And there doesn’t seem, primarily based on my first exams, to be a method to management SQUELCH from the cellphone app. Hitting V-UHF on the app display screen brings the radio to twenty,000 kHz. So, there should be refinements to the app to clear issues up.
So, right here’s my abstract of the RF919:
Swooping down on us out of the blue, that is an extraordinary entry into the transportable class, taking us unexpectedly with its considerate design, seemingly prime quality development, and options that set it aside from different radios available on the market right this moment.
Whoever designed the 919 absolutely needed to have some vital expertise as a listener as a result of the options included within the receiver transfer it straight to the highest of the listing of transportable receivers obtainable in 2024.
Evaluating the 919 with a receiver such because the Sangean ATS-909X2 there actually is not any contest. The place protection is worried, the 919 blows Tecsun and Sangean choices out of the water – on this receiver you may hear from LW all the way in which as much as 999 mHz, together with AIR band, climate frequencies, public service, and CB (although as noticed by customers there isn’t any FM mode reception for CB).
I’ve not been impressed by different Hanrongda (labeled Raddy/Retekess) choices. At one level I attempted a 747 solely to be totally disenchanted with its hard-to-see show, horrible SSB, and skinny telescopic antenna together with laborious thumb wheel tuning. I used to be cautious after I noticed preliminary movies of the RF919. However this receiver really is a significant step ahead for a transportable: excellent shows, extensive protection, glorious SSB (other than the zero beat/calibration situation), fantastic audio, bluetooth functionality and cellphone app management, microSD recording functionality – all of those add as much as one hell of a radio.
In response to my preliminary feedback on the mushy muting and calibration points, Raddy responded:
“We wish to thanks for bringing two essential issues to our consideration: muting throughout tuning and frequency accuracy. Please relaxation assured that we’re actively discussing these points with our technical group to achieve additional insights and potential options. We worth your enter and can preserve you up to date on any progress made.”
At a worth of $269 as that is being written, the RF919 might be a 5 star radio had been it not for the aforementioned points of soppy muting whereas tuning and calibration variation. We will solely hope that the designers can handle these points with future firmware updates and presumably make updating one thing we are able to do after buy. The 919 web site by the way in which additionally provides antennas for the 919 together with the Radioddity RD-771 which is described as an improve of the favored Nagoya NA-771, and the Radioddity RD-371 “Tri-band” antenna for 144-220-440 mHz.
As of this writing I’m not conscious of any opinions of the Retekess model of the 919, the TR113, however must assume that there are not any variations. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see how firmware updates happen and once more, one would hope that this can be a easy strategy of with the ability to obtain the updates from Raddy/Retekess and be put in on the radio. However up to now, there isn’t any signal of this so clarifications from the producer can be appreciated.
It’s superb that in 2024 we nonetheless have ANY radios coming to market as superior because the RF919. This can be a receiver that clearly was influenced in design by somebody who is aware of their stuff and included quite a few options comparable to antenna tuning, respectable SSB, and the flexibility to report content material. It’s irritating that there have been no advances in chip know-how that will permit SSB efficiency that extra carefully matches what we had in lots of basic portables of a long time previous. However for individuals who don’t thoughts issues like mushy muting whereas tuning, and might tolerate harsh AGC traits of DSP, proper now there isn’t something available on the market that matches the RF919 by way of simply extensive tuning vary and reception instruments in addition to excellent audio.
As for BUY or DON’T BUY, I’d edge towards the previous with a warning to perfectionists like myself who can be bothered by muting.
If Raddy can repair that situation, and guarantee a calibration course of that brings LSB and USB nearer to zero beat on frequency, and/or embody a recalibration perform as Tecsun has on its radios, the RF919 would then be a simple YES suggestion. Proper now it will get a 4.5 from me, however may simply be a 5.0 if these points are resolved.
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