Tecsun R-909 review: Good analogue radio for beginner shortwave listeners

[@terrytartu]

I was delighted to hear this. It slide into stations, even quiet ones, there is no suddenly pop in station sound like my DSP radios or SDR. They show on the screen that a station is present. You go to the line (station indication) and there's nothing! You wait and sometimes a station comes through sometimes not. They appear to have a threshold as to what signal they can receive, so if you let them scan they will not pick up anything that is below their threshold - set to try and eliminate, or make quiet the noise base. While this makes for good listening to powerful stations it literally vanishes smaller distant ones stations. I want to listen the way I did in the 50's and 60's and even the 70's - until my children limited that for me to return only to find DSP radios dominating. Other that this what other truly analogue radios can you recommend please.

[@swlistening]

Thank you so much for your comment Terry. Yes, it takes a whole lot of getting used to the DSP-based radios, some are better than others. I never realised how irritating the soft muting on the XHDATA D-808 was until I started using the Qodosen SR-286, which is much better. But none of the DSP-based radios come close to a real analogue radio. There are very few that are still available, but the Tecsun PL-660 and PL-680 are great choices, very good radios and they are both full analogue. Also the small Tecsun R9012, and the Tecsun DR-920C, which has a digital display but it is full analogue inside.

[@Hunkiralyfi]

Where the station is strong, the sound is not bad. I like it!

[@swlistening]

That's true, when it picks up a signal nicely it does sound quite good. I also like this radio.

[@F4LDT-Alain]

Got mine today eventually! Not easy to get hold of, I had to order from China. It does seem to be a lovable small radio and a very respectable performer in SW. Thanks for the tip.

[@swlistening]

I also had to order mine from China, seems to be the easiest way to get it now.

[@silviusas5309]

It doesn t have 25 meter band!from 12.10 to 14.95 this is a big minus

[@tmthanhable]

This 909 is a fantastic analog compact radio ! I have two 😊😊😊

[@swlistening]

I agree, it sure is!

[@o00scorpion00o]

The Tecsun R-9700 DX is an amazing radio and it has a backlight for the dial and buttons, looks absolutely gorgeous at night and is a joy to use, can't beat analogue radio and tuning, DSP radios are shit especially on SSB.

[@swlistening]

I do enjoy analogue radios. I ordered the PL-680 recently. Really looking forward to that one, especially for SSB listening. The R-9700DX sounds like a great radio, I have seen many reviews and videos of it, I would like to get one some day also.

[@palgotzoona]

Oh if I could find a green one I'd buy it in a heartbeat! 😃 The ones on Ali are all black.

[@swlistening]

I was lucky, I think. Mine did not show a colour when I ordered, and then this green one arrived!

[@SeanFlaherty]

I have this radio, I got it so I would have a truly analog radio. The ergonomics are wonky. The on/volume switch is on one side, the tuning knob is on the other and worse of all, the MW/SW band switch is on the top of the radio (and hard to see which band you are on.) You have to have the radio facing you to see what SW band to use, then look at the top to make the switch. My other radio (a XHDATA D-219) has the band switch on the front with the dial, so you can see the dial and switch at the same time. The D-219's indicator for SW band is also MUCH easier to see. I find the dial (and band switch) on the R-909 very hard to see, the D-219 is much easier to see/read. It had a high noise floor on AM and SW which makes it hard to tune weak stations. The SW is helped a great deal with a long wire. For the money, I think the D-219 is the better buy.

[@deepakkumardas5480]

But xhdata D-219 produce harsh sound😢

[@swlistening]

​@@deepakkumardas5480True, the D-219 sound is a little bit harsh, but I still find it quite OK to listen to. The R-909 does sound better.

[@swlistening]

Thank you for your comment Sean! I agree the ergonomics on the R-909 are a bit unusual, but for me it works OK, I got used to it. I actually prefer the volume on one side and the tuning on the other so I don't accidentally change the wrong one. As for the noise floor, I think on my version it is not so high, I think signals come through quite clearly without too much noise on shortwave. I do agree with you that the D-219 is the better choice between these two. But for true analogue this R-909 is one of tbe few options available and it does OK overall, in my opinion.

[@deepakkumardas5480]

@@swlistening acjectly right sir

[@samkam4984]

​@@StratmanIIyou are %100 correct.....the D109 is the best for its price

[@FamtechVideos]

I think that was a good radio to purchase. Also, I guess you can sort of allign it by disassembling it. Enjoy it, and I can't wait for you to take into the bush!

[@swlistening]

Thanks Deniz, I agree, I am quite happy with this radio. It is a nice, sturdy radio. Reminds me a bit of my Tecsun R-808, very small, very simple, and it just works. You are right about the tuning needle, if I open the radio up I can probably re-align the needle.

[@FamtechVideos]

@@swlistening It should be easy. Good luck.

[@FamtechVideos]

​@@swlisteningAlso, the "Come to WeBuyCars, the best by far!", absolutely made me laugh. I haven't heard it from at least a week or 2 ago.

[@swlistening]

@@FamtechVideos Thanks!

[@swlistening]

@@FamtechVideos It is quite a funny tune they use! Don't know if you are interested in cars or if you have ever walked around in one of their showrooms, it is quite an experience. I have never seen so many cars for sale in one place, from really old, cheap cars to some real luxury cars. That company is very successful.

[@Dr.kuldeepyadav777]

Rispected sir, On Which base you saying XH DATA D-219 is DSP Base Analoge Radio.

[@swlistening]

It is well-known that the D-219 is a DSP-based radio, but when you use it, it is quite easy to identify that it is DSP-based. The tuning is not continuous, like on a real analogue radios. Signals pop in and out, as the DSP chip processes them. There are also several peaks on strong signals. I also opened it up and saw the DSP chip inside :-) These days almost all new radios are DSP-based. Sadly, real analogue radios are becoming quite scarce.

[@Dr.kuldeepyadav777]

Respected Sir, With your Experience Which Model is Better or Exactly Difference Between Analog Tecsun R-9012 & R-909. I'm from India. 📻❤️

[@Dr.kuldeepyadav777]

Sir What is DX Mode Exact & Is it Really Useful....📻

[@swlistening]

I replied to one of your other posts about this.

[@ferysubarkah7573]

Pilih tecsun 9012 atau 909??

[@swlistening]

I would choose the R-909, I think the sound is clearer and the sensitivity is slightly better than the R9012.

[@Dr.kuldeepyadav777]

​ But What About DX-Mode Facility...???

[@swlistening]

@@Dr.kuldeepyadav777 I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you mean? There is a DX switch, which, as I explained in my previous reply, does not work very well.

[@tmthanhable]

My choice is 909

[@tmthanhable]

@@swlisteningi agree because I compared both in a local radio shop