Raddy RF320 / HangRongDa HRD-A320 External Antenna Upgrade!

Рет қаралды 4,747

5 ай бұрын

A great upgrade to the Raddy RF320 / HonRongDa HRD-A320 Shortwave / Multi-band radio that will allow you to connect an external antenna, including magloop types. I also show you how to modify the amplifier to increase the power out put and fix a broken tuning knob. I have also released a teardown video of this radio here:
• Raddy RF320 / HangRong...
The same radio is also available under other brands including:
- Zhiwhis ZWS-A320
- Retekess TR112
If you are working on projects in need of high quality PCBs, head on over to www.pcbway.com/
Also take a look at PCBWay's project page - great for makers!
www.pcbway.com/project/

Пікірлер: 37

@MrKeys57 Ай бұрын

Smart solution with the knob fix! - i like innovative minds! - your nice cat thought:"i´ll just sit in the middle of the loop, then he cant ignore me"! 73 Levi

@ElectroBananasYT Ай бұрын

Thank you! Yes, that cat always wants to be involved in everything I do! 😺 73 from the cat.

@Kw1161 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for the update in this informative video. I have the ZhiWhis A320 which I managed to knock off my outdoor table. This in turn loosened that weight which cut the MW antenna wires. This makes your video so helpful…the knob on mine has become stiff so hard to turn that I have taken to using the step buttons before the weight loosening fall. I have a problem with sand here in Tucson, Arizona. I still have SW m VHF and FM but I have to keep the volume down less the weight starts vibrating with the speaker. MW is now useless so it good to see how to take it apart. I plan to use your external antenna solution as I have an extra MLA 30+ Magnetic loop antenna. Just going to order the extra parts now. Thanks! 73!

@ElectroBananasYT 4 ай бұрын

Very glad you found that useful 😊. I am surprised the metal block came loose, it was very difficult for me to remove due to all the glue. Good luck with the mod, should be great with a MLA 30+. Would be interesting to know how you get on. 73.

@emrilbennett8704 Ай бұрын

@@ElectroBananasYT first of all your username is hilarious. Second of all I love your innovative solutions to these little radio problems. It’s great!

@ElectroBananasYT Ай бұрын

Thank you! Well I am very happy to hear you like the video 😊

@Homer19521 5 ай бұрын

Nice job, but you could expound on your mag loop build. Since it was so dramatic, would be nice to see your design. 73

@ElectroBananasYT 5 ай бұрын

Thank you for your comment. The mag loop will be a separate short video.

@Kitsaplorax 3 ай бұрын

You've solved some of the basic problems. Thanks for sharing this! Mechanical durability and switch choice is definitely an issue in modern radios. The rubberized coating and knobs are a failure point, as well as the antennas that break almost immediately. If this radio had wider shortwave coverage, ssb, a bfo, switchable bandwidth from 500 kHz through 10 kHz that stepped in 500 Hz increments and external antenna jacks, it would be the perfect travel radio. I hope the company considers making an improved model.

@ElectroBananasYT 3 ай бұрын

Thanks your your comment. Totally agree, with just a little more effort it could have been a great travel radio. But for the price I still think it is great.

@Kitsaplorax 3 ай бұрын

@@ElectroBananasYTIt is on a short list of purchases. I will cover the white light port with a deep red filter, probably stick a strong magnet on the base and put it on a steel base so it doesn't get knocked over as easily at night.

@ElectroBananasYT 3 ай бұрын

Some interesting ideas there! Good luck with your mods 🙂

@mikeh8416 3 ай бұрын

@@Kitsaplorax Just get an SDR dongle for 1/3 the price!

@ElectroBananasYT 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment Mike. For hobbyists or those interested in exploring a wide range of frequencies and modes without a large investment, SDR dongles offer a great entry point. With the right setup and possibly some external filters or preamplifiers, they can perform remarkably well. On the other hand, this radio works straight out of the Box, has a remarkably powerful and great sounding audio stage and is also really fun to use. Ultimately, the choice between an SDR dongle and a dedicated radio should be based on your specific needs, budget, and interest level in either tinkering with software and hardware or having a ready-to-use solution.

@ultragorepictures 5 ай бұрын

Thank you for this great antenna mod video, looking forward to your antenna video!

@ElectroBananasYT 5 ай бұрын

You are most welcome. You actually prompted me to make it 😉. Yes I will try to get the antenna video out soon.

@quentinkundalini5010 4 ай бұрын

Please just do a vid on the antenna mod I got confused half way through when you started to look at the amp, it looks like a great way of improving reception, keep up the good work thanks😊

@ElectroBananasYT 4 ай бұрын

Hello, thanks for the comment. Good point, and I am working on a video for the mag loop antenna. Yes it makes an amazing difference if you live in a built-up area. Should be about a week until release. All the best

@quentinkundalini5010 4 ай бұрын

@@ElectroBananasYT Brilliant thanks

@ElectroBananasYT 4 ай бұрын

Please do subscribe so you can be notified when the video is released.

@quentinkundalini5010 4 ай бұрын

@@ElectroBananasYT will do

@adk5746 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for interesting video

@ElectroBananasYT 5 ай бұрын

Most welcome, thanks for the comment:)

@Joe_1sr9 4 ай бұрын

Great mods🎉

@ElectroBananasYT 4 ай бұрын

Thank you Joe .

@mikeh8416 3 ай бұрын

Get an SDR dongle and connect it to an android phone (for portable) for TRUE all band reception, for a LOT LESS $$$

@ElectroBananasYT 3 ай бұрын

@tedbell4416 5 ай бұрын

My retekess version doesn't have the replaceable battery it's wired in kind of annoying

@ElectroBananasYT 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment. Oh that is interesting. I wonder why they did that?!? Perhaps to pass some import rules?

@midinotes 5 ай бұрын

I can confirm this. I originally had the Retekess and it has a fixed flat Lithium Polymer battery soldered to the board. The rear battery cover still exists and they even give you a screwdriver to remove it! But the battery is wired in permanently. I now have the Raddy RF320, exactly the same radio except it has yellow orange backlights on the display and dial, case colour is slightly different and it has a replaceable 18650 battery. Oh and the Raddy came with a case and an external short wire antenna to clip on, which the Retekess didn't!

@ElectroBananasYT 5 ай бұрын

Sounds very much like the one I reviewed.