Dan's Initial Thoughts on Raddy RF919

[@raymondmartin6737]

I have a Raddy 919 on the way, looking forward to receive it soon. 😊

[@raymondmartin6737]

Sorry 😞 to hear about the muting 🔇 problem again. 😊

[@hamrad88]

Thank you for your honest review. Muting while tuning? I will pass on this radio. Hopefully they will fix that problem.

[@STR82DVD]

At that price point, I'd still pick a Tecsun pl-990 just based on it's seamless tuning ability and overall build quality. Thanks for the heads up.

[@DavidBrown-in8hi]

I have one of those…it’s a piece of junk that is the Tecsun…not reliable with batteries, build quality isn’t good..the stand is always breaking. I spent over 200. For that.

[@STR82DVD]

@@DavidBrown-in8hi The Tecsen? Ok man. 73

[@STR82DVD]

I think I would have returned the unit based on that experience mate.

[@hamrad88]

I think it is important that you pointed out these problems and I did a short video referring to your review. Hope that is OK.

[@dxace1]

Thanks for that -- it's always good to have folks like yourself who automatically credit others

[@DC6NS]

Thanks for your videos, Dan! I was really upset when I first heard of the RF919, its features and looks. Its just the radio of our dreams and I decided to buy it immediately. Luckily I chanced to watch OM0ET´s youtube-video about this receiver and I realized the soft-mute issue just in time. It´s an absolute deal-breaker, I´ll never ever purchase a radio which mutes while tuning. For me, this issue makes a radio unusable. 73, Bernhard

[@Kw1161]

Thanks again Dan I commented on your LC90 update about my two week journey with the Raddy RF-919 to date. I agree with everything you have to say about it so far. I am glad I bought the Raddy and hope the receiver can update via either the USB cable attached to the computer or SD card. I use my Belka (All Mode DX) radio for SSB reception for modern portable radios especially if attached to an external speaker. I have ordered a stereo cable to use the Raddy as an external speaker for ESCC reception on MW, until Raddy upgrades their firmware. 73! Have a great day!

[@jimgordon1563]

Hi from Scotland. Thank you for this Dan. I agree that the RF-919 is a work in progress as is the R 286. In view of the fact that the 919 is available in several other brands, like RETEKESS, how do we know that Raddy is the manufacturer? However, I must admit that the 919 is very interesting and demonstrates that shortwave is far from dead! 73 and GDX.

[@robmccarthy1018]

I think its a by product of using a DSP chip to do all the work ie.tuning as well as signal processing. Smooth tuning like in a Tecsun pl-990 receiver is because the actual tuning of the front end and local oscillator is done by a phase locked loop oscillator giving frequency stability and accuracy with no need for muting. The signal processing is mainly done in the analog domain or with a fixed IF DSP. after tuning.😀

[@Metaconta]

Quiero saber dos cosas. 1. ¿Se puede dejar fija la luz de fondo? Al tiempo se apaga todo 2. A parte de usar baterías, ¿hay posibilidad de dejarlo conectado al enchufe sin usas baterías? Gracias y muy buen vídeo.

[@DG-zp2wz]

I have the HanRongDa version of the radio. A lot of good things about the radio but I found two problems aside from the SSB and soft muting. The lowest volume level, to me, is too loud. The radio has a digital volume control. MW reception has noise, from what I think is the display, on weaker signals when using the internal antenna.

[@howardgreenwood539]

I agree regarding the lowest volume setting, my radio arrived with no fixing screw holding the Antenna in situ, it pulled right out away from the casing of the radio, quality control at its best.🤔

[@kenharvey9714]

I also have the HanRongDa C919. On several fairly weak stations on medium wave I get whistles and squeaks, that sound like a gale whistling around the house at times. I live in the UK where we have BBC radio 4 on 198 khz. long wave. This is a real power house of a transmitter, but sounds very weak with a hetrodyne tone on top of it. it seems that this radio still needs a little work.

[@jrbaretta]

DAN, A lot of viewers don't even know what muted tuning means. You take for granted they do but many do not. Explain what it means and how it is a disadvantage over tuning that is unmuted. And do a side by side comparison with your new Raddy that has muted tuning and any other shortwave radio you own that does NOT have muted tuning so viewers can also HEAR the difference. You need to do anew video to do this but it will be necessary for your two videos about this Raddy radio to make sense. Please do so, thanks.

[@dirkboon3296]

The muting isn't a super deal breaker for me.. my primary receiver is an SDR Play RSP1A on PC, also have a little Tecsun PL330 (has muting, but not really an issue) and a Tecsun S-2000. So if like me you own multiple radios this Raddy RF919 would just compliment the others especially with its unique features... Plus it looks cool !! If you own no radio's at all and are looking for a first and best, then i would say the Tecsun PL990 is for you (it lacks some features of the RF919 but is similar in price)

[@ry491]

I also have many receivers . In spite of some bad reviews regarding filters etc my favourite is the s2000 . Solid build , great audio , smooth tuning , sensitive , great battery life and as a bonus , looks great .

[@dirkboon3296]

@@ry491 couldn't agree more.. my S-2000 is used daily, primarily for FM broadcast stations.. well built radio.

[@originalgrantbob]

Thanks Dan. Look forward to seeing more. I hope they can make some changes (but I wouldn't bet much on it).

[@kenbaird7067]

I hate the mute when tuning feature on today's DSP receivers. Tecsun have gotten around this in my PL880 by having a PLL front end before the DSP section. No muting, just like old time radios.

[@dxace1]

Right -- though the PL-880 is challenged in the sync area

[@Homer19521]

Some don't mention SOFT MUTE because it doesn't bother them, I think. For me it is a deal breaker. I sold my PL-330 because of it. Otherwise it was an awesome performer. Has anyone overcome SM on a DSP radio? I can't think of one. SM certainly has no purpose/function so it can't be something they intentionally added.

[@robmccarthy1018]

I think its a by product of using a DSP chip to do all the work ie. Tuning as well as signal processing. Smooth tuning like in a PLL receiver is because the actual tuning of the front end and local oscillator is done by a phase locked loop oscillator giving frequency stability and accuracy with no need for muting. The signal processing is mainly done in the analog domain or with a fixed IF DSP. after tuning.

[@barmaley-division]

_Has anyone overcome SM on a DSP radio?_ >> The cheapest option would be ATS-20 (sold at ±23~) with custom firmware allowing to turn off both soft mute and AGC and reduced step size on SSB; the sound drop will be at each 16 kHz, and weaker/less irritating overall. Then, the top-tier Tecsuns are all based on hybrid DSP (the same SI4732x chip, but not muting while tuning manually).

[@Buglet720]

I own one & enjoy it for what it is. With all it's band coverage & options, I don't think it's supposed to be for any one enthusiast. I've also noticed that the bandwidths on VHF/UHF aren't well thought out. I think it's meant to give you an average taste of everything. I have already found many undocumented capabilities, though, such as demodulation of FM CBers & 6m AM. I'm thinking that these capabilities are firmware programming oversights.

[@bobknox9942]

i'd like to see Gilles review this radio too before i made up my mind

[@paulladdie1026]

It would appear your video camera, suffers from very low resolution.........

[@dxace1]

Here's URL to my just-published review on SWLing.com: swling.com/blog/2024/05/dans-in-depth-review-of-the-new-raddy-rf-919-shortwave-portable-radio/?swcfpc=1

[@Gest-wg2yb]

Great info, thank you

[@DirtRoadReset]

Your reviews are so informative. And you're a legend in the hobby. However... You have GOT to fix the camera situation. I'm afraid it severely devalues your content. Get a cheap gopro or heck, use your smartphone. 73 Dan. Hope all is well.

[@beerye9331]

It may be some type of filter. It is distracting.

[@dxace1]

Thanks, yes I'll be removing the background blur which is hard to use in OBS anyway.

[@nrd515]

The muting really annoys me to the point I'm going to pass on this receiver. I haven't played with one yet, but the muting is a huge strike against it. I have only one radio that does it, one of the old Sangean made Radio Shack ones, and it sits in a drawer, only used if the power goes out. A set of AA batteries last a long long time.

[@jrbaretta]

Raddy is essentially selling a shortwave radio with a major DEFECT, what is known as, muted tuning, meaning you cannot hear what is being broadcast on all t he stations as you surf the channels when you tune the radio from frequency to frequency, whether you tune it manually with the fine tuning knob or when you press a button to tune the radio from frequency to frequency. You will see on the frequency meter as you do this a visual display that indicates the frequency strength of each individual through signals represented visually on the signal meter station or channel you surf through. But muted tuning means you will lose the audio momentarily so that the audio level drops off the board, as they say, completely, not allowing you to hear what is being broadcast unless you stop at any given frequency and stay there. Muted tuning can make it possible for you to inadvertently pass over channels or stations you might otherwise prefer to stay on and listen to. That this particular Raddy radio has this muted tuning is not a feature but a design flaw whereby the Raddy company should issue a recall and have their customers send the radios back to Raddy for a fix but Raddy will not do this unless forced to by either the US government or by a court ruling and neither one is likely to happen unless lawsuits are filed against Raddy and they will be forced to answer the lawsuits in open court or agree to an out of court settlement. Raddy has not been responsive enough to address customer concerns about this defect. They offer a quick-fix email link but so far, the half dozen people I've spoken to who have this radio and are stuck with this muted tuning defect have tried to follow Raddy's directions to correct this muted tuning flaw but this quick-fix does not work in actuality. At least not for the six people I spoke to. How many other Raddy customers have gotten similar run-arounds from Raddy, I don't know. But as I said in my prior comment below, Raddy is a company operating from Communist China and are likely owned the Chinese communist government or their military under the business banner they call, Raddy. And so far, from what I have seen of Chinese companies who produce products with defects, they always fail to correct problems or address customer concerns. Once they have your money, they could care less. In China, over the past 40 years, there have been a never-ending number of inferior shortwave radios being produced in China and sold from there. Only a few of them have had any merit. Most of these radios have come and gone because of inferior designs and built-in defects. Let's see what happens with this particular Raddy radio. Let's see if Raddy takes the initiative and accepts the responsibility it should and begin not only fixing these adios but all future models of this particular radio. They need a revised schematic upon which to base refute production of this radio. I personally will not buy this radio unless Raddy corrects the defect and markets all new versions of this radio with the problem of muted tuning eradicated. All such future models of this radio must then be sold with a new model number to reflect the fact the muted tuning defect has been corrected.

[@wavezone2566]

It's just a Degen 1103 dsp in a new case

[@ejc1956]

Why not show the radio in action. I will call this a fake and very unhelpful review

[@4nradio782]

Who said it's a review? Per the title, this is Dan's initial thoughts. I'm sure a thorough review will come later, with comparisons to at least one other receiver he owns.

[@spresc2180]

I agree with user who posed the question.

[@dxace1]

Don't know who you are but the whole point is to get this information out there to potential purchasers. The RF919 is indeed an amazing radio -- but muting while tuning is an issue that will not be liked by many...

[@jrbaretta]

This model was rushed to market by Raddy with no after thoughts of whether or not the radio should be recalled to fix this widespread problem with their design, which they really do not want to admit to because if they did, it would cost them and money coming out of the pockets of Chinese businessmen from a Marxist, totalitarian communist nation like China just doesn't happen. This Chinese company invested a lot of money in selling this model, as they did last year with a smaller version of this model. The Chinese communists at Raddy don't want to lose their investment simply because they began manufacturing thousands of these radios that had a very serious defect that they should have known existed from day one but did nothing to resolve the problem, so Raddy simply dropped that problem into the lap of their customers and is continuing to do so at the present time, which is scary and tells you something about the mindset of the people who own and operate Raddy. I think this gives us a little bit of a window into the minds of the way the Chinese communists think and operate. This shortwave radio receiver should be recalled but unless Raddy is forced to by legal action or threat of a governmental body, maybe a consumer affairs type of agency, they will continue selling this radio in the hopes the majority of their customers will not realize what they have purchased is a radio with a substandard radio design internally, even though the radio looks great on the exterior. Raddy will not officially admit, nor will they issue a public acknowledgment that this radio should be recalled in order for the company to install a newer, improved design. They won't do it. The only thing that will cause changes to happen with the Raddy company is if this particular radio stops selling, especially on Amazon, because of these design flaws and the only way for that to happen is if the company receives enough honest and yet negative products reviews of this radio that will chase potential customers away. Raddy will then be left will a lot of unsold units which they will continue trying to sell, maybe at a discounted rate, maybe not but unless they advertise this particular model with the muted tuning problem having been resolved, I and many other radio enthusiasts will not buy this radio, though a friend of mine did and he is pissed off about this problem and says it is so unnecessary a problem to have in a shortwave radio in the 21st century. He said Raddy's designer for this radio was an idiot who should have known better. And let's face it, Raddy is ripping off Sony and Panasonic military-style shortwave radios of the latter part of the 20th century. He said Raddy should have known what they were doing but they made the mistake of trusting the wrong design engineer to dream up schematics for this particular radio design and they, Raddy, went with it, hoping to cash in on the popularity these type of radios enjoyed in the 1970's and early 1980's when Sony and Panasonic made them, though they were analog back then.