TEF6686 DSP AM/FM radio tuner - First impressions / review

[@DXPG]

Let me just add one thing: I have read reports that some DXers received devices that did not have the exact same quality properties. I bought this device from the seller "Ham Radioshop Store" on Aliexpress. I cannot guarantee that every device will be the same quality and cannot vouch for any other sellers and also just keep in mind it is after all "Made in China" so there is no manual or protective case included, you just get what you see in the first scene of my introduction. I can only comment on what I am holding in my hands. Also please note that this is not any form of advertisement or recommendation to buy from a specific seller. Just my personal review. I hope you will enjoy DXing with this receiver. :-)

[@digitalmediafan]

Yes that's the seller I noticed. Having to pay extra tax now here in the UK unfortunately. How good or bad on LW and certainly MW I wonder compared to XDR F1 HD ? A great review thanks. I bought one earlier but also wanting the larger version as it has a bigger display but also pre amp is this correct ?

[@fmradiodx9359]

part, set some weak fm station and touch the display with your hand, see if there is any interference, greetings

[@Sjef_PE5PVB]

Hi, I'm the original author of this software/project. It's fully opensource and can be found on my website. I don't know what the Chinese did to my software ;-)

[@DXPG]

Your project is truly amazing. Let me use this occasion to thank you for your work! For me as one of FMLIST's country editors it's so convenient to have all the RDS on one screen, something I had been looking for for decades. The Chinese certainly tweaked something with the software, some bugs included. I also haven't found out how to connect it to XDR-GTK software yet. In any case, as I am not so talented with technology, I was excited to find a ready-to-use portable device rather than putting everything together myself. That's why I opted for this model.

[@Sjef_PE5PVB]

@@DXPG thanks. In my version 2 you can also connect to stationlist over WiFi

[@goranjovic3174]

@@Sjef_PE5PVB thanks from me too for this amazing project! You know that i know that you are original author of this project! Hats off, all credits goes to You Man! Great Radio for us DXers who love to have all informations of Radio Stations on one display as DXPG who is my friend mentoied ! We talked today on Facebook too about my problems with blocking of chip F8602 with Marsel90's portable/TEF GTK version :) )) If i understand your version can be used on XDR GTK program/SDR console on PC too via USB cable ? Or if not are you planning to add that important feature for DXers? :)

[@Sjef_PE5PVB]

@@goranjovic3174 Yes it will. From version 2 you can also directly connect your receiver over WiFi with XDR-GTK, RDS Spy or Stationlist. Version 2 has more advanced RDS functions like Radiotext+, ECC detection, AF list overview and CT. A guy from Brazil builds portable versions of the v2, you can find him on KZbin. He experienced better reception with his design compared with the Chinese ones. One more tip for you DX'ers. When a received signal is too weak (so very noisy), enable the EQ function. Sometimes all noise dissapears. And if you are lucky to find a TEF6687 chip inside, weak stereo signals are almost always without noise.

[@lodomirfm]

@@Sjef_PE5PVB who is this guy from brasil?

[@AE971]

At first I only was very interested in that radio but your video gave me the push to buy one

[@goranjovic3174]

Great review @Amos! :) Big thanks! How i seen/heard , even better than Sony XDR, more sensitive! Better receiving lower signals :) Amazing TEF6686 based portable radio! Honestly, as i'm expected! Only not expected that he is so good on telescopic antenna too! Best portable ever! Good luck and enjoy in DX ing everywhere with him :)

[@DXPG]

Thanks! I think it is definitely comparable with Sony XDR. I can't say which one is better but they are both excellent. 🙂

[@davorlekenik9563]

@@DXPG gdje živite ??

[@DXPG]

@@davorlekenik9563 U Grazu.

[@user-yn9ok4vs6k]

These products are almost all made by individual enthusiasts in China, and there is no formal factory participation, so it looks relatively simple. Based on China's strong industrial manufacturing capacity, individuals will send drawings to the factory, even if only one piece, will get products. Individual enthusiasts in China have produced several products based on the open source project with different shells.

[@digitalmediafan]

Imagine a DAB+ version of this !

[@AlexeyDXman]

Thank you very much, very sensitive, especially 255km on FM!

[@AlexandruDX_]

Wunderbare Vorstellung! Ich denke es ist so gut wie die Version für PC.

[@ulliBG]

Danke für die gute Vorstellung des Gerätes !👍

[@HyperDX]

Very interesting review. Thanks for sharing :).

[@RGC198]

Thanks for an interesting and informative video about the TEF6686 receiver. Back on 19/02/2005, while using an online remote DX tuner located in Szekesfeyher Hungary, I managed to receive tropospheric DX from 89.2 MHz ORF-3 Graz Austria on one occasion. Here at home in Melbourne Australia, I mostly use a Sony XDR S3HD receiver for FM DX.

[@daveschmarder-1950]

I spent a week in Graz back in 1982. Eine schöne Stadt.

[@lqyKevin]

in Chinese version , it't not bug ,the XDR-GTK function has been manually blocked, switch to MEM mode, long press button 1, you can store the current frequency to the channel you want

[@DXPG]

Oh, that's interesting then, thanks for clarifying

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

Wish you did more shortwave on that mountain top

[@simonguettier]

Thanks so much for this ... can't find a manual online anywhere!

[@kenroar]

The first 2 weeks this radio worked like a charm. Then suddenly it quit picking up stations altogether. It appears to be an issue with the antenna port. The antenna doesn’t screw all the way down due to two screws in the way.

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

Sounds great

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

I like it its different very cool👍⚛

[@EastAngliaUK]

looks like a good radio good English and is helpful might order one and sell me Tescun one.

[@__FM__]

Hello Amos, thank you for your review. As a FM dxer I would really like to test it in a more signals-crowded area than yours, but the performances of this receiver seem very good anyway (especially if compared with the other portable radios for FM Dxing). But... haven't I watched carefully enough your video or the socket for headphones isn't available in this receiver?

[@DXPG]

I forgot to mention it, it does have a socket for headphones on the left side. :)

[@matthiase.1747]

If a bandscan near Rome is what you mean with "more signals-crowded area", you can find it here kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWepo3SPgM90oJo Same receiver chip with PC control.

[@corpo33]

Way is dxn please .

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

Love to try it on shortwave

[@cazkasjmir]

Thanx for posting. You have only shown the FM band. I would like to know how it does on medium wave and short wave.

[@DXPG]

I haven't reviewed the other bands as I focus on FM DXing. Maybe someone else will cover that topic. I hear that it is doing a good job on MW.

[@digitalmediafan]

Just got mine. Is there a way to flash down to older firmware as I've lost X band with v 1.18. Also got the problem of signal dropping without holding it

[@user-dd3sn3ig6q]

Danke, interessant und hilfreich

[@ominkan3129]

Thanks for a great look at this radio. An ad that I was looking at said it has SSB but I don't think it does. Am I correct, no SSB? Thank for sharing.

[@DXPG]

No SSB as far as I know.

[@ominkan3129]

@@DXPG Thank you.

[@fmradiodx9359]

🙂👍

[@RonanCantwell]

Interesting radio. How does it perform on the SW bands? Any options for SSB?

[@radiowavemaniac]

No SSB in this receiver

[@DXPG]

I haven't had the opportunity to try out SW yet and I usually don't use SW for DXing. Maybe someone else can comment in more detail

[@cazkasjmir]

I also bought one. But see that the medium wave band runs up to 1620Khz. Can this be adjusted to 1710Khz. And also preferably with steps of 1Khz. I would like to listen to the pirate channels. and they are between 1602 khz and 1710 khz

[@hectorltorresramirez8199]

Does it pick up 20 meter and 40 meter

[@dejantasic9209]

Kurze Frage zum TEF: ab wie viel dBuV entstehen bei dir Mischprodukte? Bei mir sind es z.B. ca. 75dBuV (wobei ich bei mir ein Offset von +13dB einstellen musste, da mein tef ohne Antenne einen Wert von -13 oder so ähnlich anzeigte), Ich will mich nur versichern, dass mit meinem TEF alles okay ist, weil woanders meinte einer, dass normalerweise erst ab einem Wert von 90dBuV Mischprodukte auftreten würden.

[@DXPG]

Mir kommt vor, dass er sich sehr gut schlägt, bei mir kommen Mischprodukte etwa erst dann vor wenn der Sony XDR-F1HD auch schlapp macht. Also erst bei extrem starkem Pegel. Wie viel dBuV kann ich dir jetzt nicht verlässlich sagen, aber 75 klingt wenig.

[@dejantasic9209]

@@DXPG also meiner empfängt an sich völlig normal und hat die für den TEF typischen Empfangseigenschaften (Empfindlichkeit und Trennschärfe). Ist es denn ein Qualitätsmerkmal, ab wann der TEF Mischprodukte erzeugt? Also ist dieser Schwellwert von Gerät zu Gerät unterschiedlich? (Meinen habe ich auch von HamRadioShop Store auf AliExpress gekauft, allerdings den mit drei silbernen Knöpfen und drei Drehreglern. Da gibts wohl auch verschiedene Versionen von dem kleinen silbernen Radio. )

[@DXPG]

@@dejantasic9209 Ich denke unsere Geräte sind identisch. Es gibt scheinbar ein paar Qualitätsunterschiede bei den Geräten, was ich von deutschen Kollegen gehört habe, die später bestellt hatten. Irgendwann sind die Chinesen schlampig geworden und haben irgendwo nicht mehr sauber gearbeitet. Aber Mischprodukte sind beim TEF eigentlich die Ausnahme.

[@scotttodd3506]

Is the audio in stereo via the headphone jack?

[@csongorprodukcio]

Yes!

[@yrath5034]

01:45 Bojler eladó

[@eldontyrellcorp]

What chip does it use ? Si4735 or similar ?

[@digiwizkid]

NXP TEF6686

[@dutchswlspain1880]

What did you pay for this radio . I did almost buy one but the builder stopped reacting ...😶

[@DXPG]

I paid €160 incl. mandatory EU import VAT and shipping from the seller "Ham Radioshop Store" on Aliexpress. I cannot vouch for any other sellers and also just keep in mind it is after all "Made in China" so there is no manual or protective case included, you just get what you see in the first scene of my introduction. ;-)

[@dutchswlspain1880]

@@DXPG Thanks for the answer. After a short search on the internet I found the shop you talked about and I ordered one. Watching your experience with the radio I noticed once switching on a callsign of a Dutch radio amateur he is the one that made the version you bought. So I will try to get a manual.

[@ETERERADIOASCOLTO2]

Belle radio ma senza registratore.. Solo ascoltare e non salvare. Grazie non mi interessa... Con i miei Harongda registro RADIO. VOCE E BLUETOOTH con soli 13€.....

[@ronaldpokatiloff5704]

no ssb, no buy

[@Radio_Activity]

I think most people are buying it for FM DXing.

[@viacheslavstarr3563]

Not serious. looks like a child's toy