The Choyong LC90 AM/FM/SW/IN Radio. THE PERFECT RADIO DOES EXIST!

[@wxfreak]

I appreciate the concept of this radio integrating the internet, but at a price of $250, it lacks essential features for a shortwave radio. Firstly, for its cost, it should cover 0.2 to 30 MHz continuously. Unfortunately, the current shortwave band range of 2300-26100 KHz excludes CB and 160 m ham radio. Additionally, it lacks single sideband capability, a crucial feature in this price range. It should also include FM narrow for 10 m reception up to 30 MHz. While the radio has commendable channels and reviews, it falls short of expectations due to its limitations. The concept is promising but requires more features for the value it offers.

[@FarpointFarms]

I disagree with pretty much all of what you said. You are looking for a general coverage receiver that you intend to use to listen to Ham and CB comms. This is a AM/FM (commercial) and SW (commercial) band radio with the addition of an incredible Internet radio feature. I hear your complaint often here on the channel when I review radios, with Ham operators lamenting the lack of SSB or 1-30 coverage, but for 99% of users, no one wants to hear random Ham operators chatting about dr. appointments. They buy radios like this to hear commercial radio stations. There are no commercial radio stations operating on SSB. It's great that Ham and CB radio lovers want a radio that does everything, and It's a conversation I had recently with Cobra when I asked about a return to their SSB model CB's They gave me the same answer I sort of already knew. Only a few die hard fans of radio even know what SSB is, and of those even fewer are willing to pay to have a radio with it.

[@wxfreak]

@@FarpointFarms I'm looking for the best value for the money for $100 less I can get a Tecsun PL880.

[@markr.1984]

@@FarpointFarms "There are no commercial radio stations operating on SSB." But also there are very few commercial station operating in AM!! How many SW commercial stations can you pick up on even a really good night? Probably not a lot. And in way you are kind of wrong. All commercial stations operate in SSB besides AM! Because an AM signal has the carrier and both sidebands!! Both upper and lower sidebands. One of the great things with a radio that has SSB is to listen to a commercial broadcaster on only on sideband! You can eliminate interference that way and it often helps to prevent "shortwave fade" and pumping where the station gets weaker and stronger constantly which can be irritating. On a station at at 7400 kHz, if you had a station on 7405 interfering you can tune to the lower sideband to help reduce the interference because you're on "the other side" of the interference. So really all AM stations are also SSB too!! My Drake SW8 had synchronous detection to make it even easier to listen to only one sideband of an AM station. it kind of "auto-tunes" one of the sidebands, whichever one you want, LSB or USB. This can be done for the AM band stations too. I listen to only the lower sideband of KNRS 570 here in Utah all the time. You are smart but you still could learn a lot more about radio theory.

[@alglen9208]

​@@markr.1984I must concur with you sir.

[@misteredison2175]

​@@wxfreakI have the 880, and while it's a pretty good radio for what it is, it doesn't beat the versatility of this new Internet/ Multiband radio!

[@jastern949]

Thank you for the very helpful demonstration. And I certainly appreciate Choyong's effort. But in the end, I think I would rather have 2: a dedicated Internet radio (or smartphone app or website), and a dedicated airwave radio (Tecsun, Eton, etc). Each will do its own specific job better.

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks for sharing- I try to limit my devices if I can

[@brettogden6104]

Whats the sensitivity like for AM and SW , compared to other brands ? That would be a useful test. But make sure all other radios in the test aren't causing interference to others. Digital circuits designed badly could be a source of interference!

[@ThunderWarrior01]

I watched your update video in which you let us know that SSB is now installed and that sold it for me so i bought one literally an hour ago. I was happy with the SW and more than happy with the option to listen to the thousands of stations around the world. I’m UK based and I’ve always been intrigued with American radio and since childhood I’ve always wanted to be able to listen to it and thanks to this gorgeous little radio I’ll finally be able to. Thank you so much 🙏🙌

[@FarpointFarms]

I am glad I could help you with that- I hope it helps your dream come true

[@andrewwalsh531]

thanks for the coverage of this radio, I'll be checking it out further & btw it is back in stock on AMZ as of this morning :) Congrats as well to the haters for their contributions.....this upload looks to be well on its way to becoming one of your most viewed, despite being live for only a couple of months 🤣

[@FarpointFarms]

Thank you for the update- Everyone can have their opinion, I respect their right to say it even if I don't agree with it

[@terrytartu]

Nice speaker sounding however without SSB I would not be interested. For me the short wave bands are full of interesting machine chatter, noise ans signal solely for keeping that particular frequency open, so notvso many national broadcasters on there is great for me. As someone has already mentioned the range also needs to be improved etc etc. I guess this radio is designed not for the sw listening crowd but for families to listen to new stations worldwide and be available in times of crisis allowing one to hear a broadcast when the Internet is down and when emergency services are broadcasting on whatever "common" band and frequency they can. In that case this radio hits the mark. How long does the battery last? In an emergency does one needs a reliable source of power to enable it to work?

[@FarpointFarms]

You make some great points, the sw portion is good but the internet radio function is way better- I like that I am able to hear stations from all over and get some unfiltered news. There are so many stories that never make it to the new these days I have had the battery on for 4+ hours with no issues

[@HardcoreDXLithuania]

It would be perfect with full SW range + SSB. Flip stand at the back is missing and those two 3.5mm jacks is such a stupid position. Why not left side?

[@FarpointFarms]

It might be the board on the inside to why they are placed where they are

[@loveshisharley]

It does all that, but no HDFM? The very first station you tuned on FM was 89.5 WETS which has 4 sub stations on HDFM radios. That’s the dealbreaker for me! Hopefully they can upgrade that with software? Also, does it have FM RDS? You did a great review, but I’m holding out for HDFM (digital FM) like my Pioneer car radio has.

[@FarpointFarms]

The man who designed these radios is reading these comments. Maybe that is something he can look into

[@johnkelley6278]

We would never find out about this great radio if not for your channel.Hours and Hours of great listening.Thanks !

[@FarpointFarms]

Glad I could share it!

[@glynnetolar4423]

Not sure how this product is new. Internet radios have existed for years. C crain had had them and others, Sangean.

[@nrd515]

Without SSB, it's hard to justify the cost. When you can buy any number of SSB capable portables, I don't see the web features making up for the lack of SSB. And it's not Mid Wave, it's Medium Wave.

[@FarpointFarms]

I think if you sat down with one and played for a few hours, you'd understand the cost. SSB is an afterthought once you slide down the rabbit hole that is internet radio. It's not the stations that I showed, it's the ones that I didn't stations like "The Payphone Network" that suck you in.

[@nrd515]

@@FarpointFarms I know about the Internet Radio features, but IMHO, it's crippled by a lack of SSB, when it can be done well with simply a chip change at this point in time, and the cost at the production level is very little.

[@kentuckygreg4725]

After watching your video a couple of weeks ago I ordered the radio and am not disappointed. It was a little pricey, but well worth it. It is one unit that does is all very seamlessly. I still need to spend more time with the radio exploring all the features.

[@FarpointFarms]

thanks for sharing, I am still learning mine as well.

[@Mgunny35]

I enjoyed your review and I may purchase one, however, the thing cannot tune SSB. I really enjoy your channel- it’s one of my favorites.

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks!

[@notrackscntfndme6156]

To bad to hear that, but great that u post the info before others bought it..... i.e. me ❤

[@midinotes]

Nice to see a hybrid internet and shortwave radio, and the speaker sounds pretty decent. A few worries though with internet radios, namely if it relies on an external website (which most do) as that might affect the long term reliability and lifetime. Not sure how you could carry that anywhere unless you had WiFi internet access close-by. I can see the attraction but these days smartphones and tablets.... anyway would be interested in how good the shortwave performance is, does it have SSB, what's the frequency range? Hope to see this available in the UK sometime. The UX seems pretty decent - didn't spot the power source, is it a Lithium Ion rechargeable battery? Did someone mention it can take a SIM card for the internet reception?

[@FarpointFarms]

Yes, you can use a sim card for internet away from wifi. The stations are Shoutcast based and they have been around since 1998 or so, so I think it's a safe bet they will be there for a while more.

[@isleifoterogarcia4478]

It has 2 18650 rechargeable batteries and they are removable.

[@jvanb231]

Seems like some odd frequency ranges.. lw stops at 279khz .. no 160m, cb or 10m.. and fm below 88mhz.. is that for other parts of the world?

[@FarpointFarms]

Yup! International freqs.

[@lindonprice2482]

Yes, Russia fm 64-73 and Japan 75-87

[@jvanb231]

@@lindonprice2482 Huh... 64-73.. I wonder if they ever pick up 4m hams on their fm radios over there

[@jacktaylor3001]

Love the new opening!

[@FarpointFarms]

thank you for the feedback

[@DonzLockz]

Its good to see radios catching up with the times. SSB and Airband would be a good upgrade for the next model. It's not cheap but worth looking at. :)

[@FarpointFarms]

I think if they added both of those it would make it a very expensive radio.

[@lunarbluesmusic]

Needs SSB and Airband for sure.

[@o00scorpion00o]

Probably best not having SSB because all the radios now have DSP and SSB sounds horrible on DSP radios which is why I believe that the Tecsun PL-680 is one of th ebest portable radios you can still buy new today because it is pure analogue and the pure audio quality makes ECSS a joy to listen to and this makes it one of the best and true DX'ers radio of choice ! DSP = cheap construction and expensive to buy as DSP is marketed as some kind of magic, it's far from it when it comes to SSB.

[@VE3FAL1Fred]

Yes SSB would be perfect

[@a.c.2219]

I mean that's cool but nothing I can't do with a few online sites or apps. My love of radio comes from sweeping some obscure bands in a dimly lit room while trying to max out my antenna capabilities.

[@FarpointFarms]

I think you would love the internet radio part then. It's the same experience to a large extent, but better. 40,000 stations and nearly all of them are run by a random person with their own flair for radio, talk radio, or whatever. While there are many commercial radio streams, it's channels like "The payphone network" that will draw you in.

[@mmwaashumslowww7167]

I can relate to that, early 1970s listening to a valve short wave radio with the lights turned off. Just the warm glow of the valves and tuning dial.

[@BoxerGuy-q3e]

I've been using a C.Crane WiFi 3 for a few years and Crane is hard to beat for quality and different models for different users, but they don't have an all in one like this. I would be most interested in the Choyong if it could be programed to record to the memory card when you are busy with something else.

[@FarpointFarms]

I know that Retekess makes a few models that can record to SD. I'll have to find a card and check this one.

[@LIVINGRETIRED310]

pretty radio but missing LSB/USB for ham & cb channels like my Tecsun PL660. The preset menu countries / state/ programs is really neat tho

[@FarpointFarms]

The thing Ham radio guys and gals need to realize is that there are exactly 0 commercial radio stations operating in SSB. I love to hear ham and cb comms too, but this isn't a general coverage receiver any more than it's a scanner.

[@Demy1970]

What frequency again with tecsum for cb and ham?

[@Homer19521]

Agreed. At $250 & no LSB/USB is dealbreaker.

[@markr.1984]

@@FarpointFarms But here in the west ( I live in Utah), you cant pull out any (or very rarely, anyway) commercial broadcast stations on SW. All we get is mostly ham using SSB. I do realize that on the east coast you guys can still get a small assortment of SW broadcasters. In Europe they still have a lot of SW broadcast, so SW is not dead there. They also still have longwave broadcasts (below AM band) but those stations are dying out. We have never had longwave broadcast stations in the US or any of the Americas, BTW. It was only used for directional navigation beacons in the old days.

[@O.G.LIL-MAN]

@@FarpointFarms but we listen to hams on SSB...thats the point and a major FAIL. And BTW, there are many utility and navigation stations that operate on SSB that broadcast by voice. NOAA and other government agencies across the world do...and theyre not in morse .

[@johnmfl61]

Will the Internet radio work forever? What happens when the URL's change. Who is maintaining the directory (if there is one)? Internet radio stations come and go.

[@FarpointFarms]

The radio stations are curated from Shoutcast. They have been around since the late 90's! I doubt that it will leave anytime soon. You can also add new channels manually.

[@captaincrunch5201]

I wondered too. So it's Shoutcast. The BBC ended its streams on Shoutcast last year. Bring me an internet radio where the radio directory can be reconfigured at will if needed, they never last.

[@charlich]

I’ve seen internet radios that were able to pull in the visual display provided by the radio station. Currently this radio seems only to have a generic place card(s). I wonder if they have plans to update the radio to add this feature?

[@FarpointFarms]

They do have some big plans for updates. They are hoping for April if everything goes right. I think I will do an update video when it happens.

[@johnblanton-fd3jf]

Good frosty morning!! Really neat radio, and I'm sure you'll get hours of fiddle time with it, and hopefully a follow up. Maybe there will be an upgrade with ssb, that would really put it over the top.

[@FarpointFarms]

Frosty and the snow will just not stop, I am over winter already. SSB would be cool, but I am sure it would add to the cost pushing it out of the price range for too many others

[@johnblanton-fd3jf]

@@FarpointFarms I agree how SSB would jack the price point , my Realistic DX-440 does just fine, got it for a song at a ham fest . Nothing like getting out and cutting firewood in 6 degree snowy weather, just glad the wind wasn’t blowing! ☃️

[@radiolistener7706]

I'm glad that this model has finally come out! There had been some rumours they were gonna make it through 2023. Now I see a lot of interest in radio enthusiasts groups. As a European I'd be also glad to see DAB+ added to this model (but it's not that important if it has the internet connection), and as an amateur shortwave radio listener it would be perfect to add SSB bands. But even without this it seems like a very interesting radio. Pretty nice sound, curious to see some more detailed bandscans to see its abilities. Moreover I'd like to hear your opinion on batteries (how long can they play at once) and external antenna tests. I'm curious it it uses the famous TEF 6686 chip cause it would mean excellent reception on FM. The SIM-card slot was something that I've been waiting for years! It also has Bluetooth and other stuff. Wow. It interests me where it gets the Podcast and Online Station list from - Spotify? Google Podcasts? MediaU or some other?

[@FarpointFarms]

The radio stations seem to come right from Shoutcast and Ice cast servers, and they are working with Spotify for the podcast list. It will come as a software update once they hammer out the contract according to my contact.

[@radiolistener7706]

@@FarpointFarms thanks for your answer! I have one additional question about the favourites list - is it one common list for all bands and Internet stations? I've always looked for a receiver that would make it possible to manage them on one list instead of separate favourites lists for each band. It's time consuming and tiring to switch between bands every time you want to check on your favs. All the best for you!

[@danedewaard8215]

Cool, a portable internet radio. Does it tune Upper and Lower Sideband signals?

[@FarpointFarms]

No this radio is AM/FM/Internet only. Still, I assure you, you'll spend so much time surfing the channels you'll never miss the SSB mode with this one.

[@popguynj]

I just ordered this from amazon its very cool it should be at my door by the 5th of this month its nice to know how to work it before you get it .

[@FarpointFarms]

It's a really nice radio. Fell asleep listening to the BBC last night on mine.

[@saevans63]

Very expensive radio for us down here in Australia (over $400). I guess the other alternative is to just buy a portable internet radio with DAB and FM (under $100) and listen to SW and AM on traditional receivers. Great review, I would like one but will wait until the price comes down

[@FarpointFarms]

I think once they come out and are widely sold the price point will drop.

[@tapptom]

@@FarpointFarmsnot available now

[@brettogden6104]

Unfortunately most of the world doesn't use US dollars and it's priced in USD even for Australia. US$250 = AUD$ 381. That's a lot for a radio that doesn't even have DAB .

[@ronaldzuccala-pv8tu]

Yes hello the radio i was speaking of is the grace digital mondo elite. However it is not portible but check c crane they sell it for 219.00 and it does do more. You mentioned bugs what are they. As always i find you always have interesting content. Thank you. Ron. Z.

[@FarpointFarms]

I'll look into the CC crane model. Thanks!

[@SolarDrew]

Came looking for sensitivity and performance data. Left with clone of a Grace digital review.

[@FarpointFarms]

Never heard of them. Sorry!

[@jackofalltrades28]

Purchased the mini version of this! Should be here in a couple days, real excited to get it!

[@FarpointFarms]

That is cool to know- I hope you enjoy it as much as I love mine

[@seanflynn6451]

Is there a stand alone ssb radio you can listen to? I like this radio but to much money for me

[@FarpointFarms]

I'd imagine that once this radio hits the market in larger numbers the price will come down.

[@robertenn6818]

I don't understand how that radio is unable to pick up any am stations.

[@FarpointFarms]

Welcome to my corner of the world. The nearest AM station is 30 miles away in mountain terrain and has only 1000 watts of power. The best radio I own barely picks it up. Now, night time with the clear channels is a totally different story, but during the day, I am cursed to not have a single station on AM in my location. It sucks! Back in Raleigh I had at least a dozen.

[@realBkay]

How useful is this device w/o internet access?

[@urizon41]

That's what I'm wondering too

[@FarpointFarms]

Well, it still would work on LW/AM/MW/and SW. It also has a sim card so it would work over cell networks without a wifi signal.

[@djs127]

Not available on Amazon today 3/2/24

[@FarpointFarms]

They are working on more shopments

[@mosfet500]

I don't get it. I can get any channel this can get on the net, why do I need it, is the SW section superior? I can even get a radio smartphone app. This is $250 US, I don't think it's worth it, I don't think I need internet radio on a radio when I have the same thing on a laptop. Maybe because I an amateur Extra Class with a full station with good quality shortwave, I don't know, am I missing something?

[@FarpointFarms]

For some, this is everything they want in a radio. Not everyone has a computer to do that kind of stuff or don't want to be attached to a device. I am sorry that you don't get it

[@mosfet500]

@@FarpointFarms To each his own but I've heard people complaining about the reception - check some of the reviews. Have you compared reception to other $250 portables?

[@FarpointFarms]

@@mosfet500Yes, I wasn't able to pick up a single internet radio station from them. Not even my Eton 750 was able to.

[@mosfet500]

@@FarpointFarms I'm asking about analog reception over the air, not WIFI or BT.

[@GoldenTrumpet24]

Might get that this summer if they'll be available then. How's the battery life on it, and is it a common battery that can be replaced fairly easy? I have a tecsun that uses a BL-5C, which is nice. I wonder if that radio uses something like a 18650.

[@FarpointFarms]

I have listened for about 4 hours straight and had no issues, I am not sure about if the battery can be replaced easy as it is still too new to worry about

[@joeblow8593]

No SSB is a deal killer. Also currently unavailable at Amazon.

[@FarpointFarms]

I hope it works well for you- It make being frozen easier since you can clear your driveway way quicker than shoveling. A tip from another viewer was to spray the auger and chute with pam- it helps the snow not to stick

[@Laserguy2009]

New firmware 4.4 supports SSB

[@tomcat1fl]

Thanks for the review. I used to have an old Tecsun that I brought with me on a 1 year tour in Alaska… that was in 1989. Sadly it’s been lost over the years. I was intrigued enough to order one of these LC90s. This is the first portable BC radio that I’ve bought in a long time and looks like it’s got a lot of features that I know I’ll be able to use at home, at work and even while we’re out roaming the countryside in our RV.

[@FarpointFarms]

You can use you phone as a hotspot as needed to get the internet part of the radio. Might not work in areas that have poor cell reception though.

[@tomcat1fl]

@@FarpointFarms yeah that’s why I ordered it, it’ll add the Internet radio capabilities to my LP too.

[@tomcat1fl]

@@FarpointFarmsit arrived two days early!

[@spresc2180]

I have subscribed to Choyong Electronics KZbin channel. They have 2 vids on this radio. I will be looking forward your follow-ups to this radio, along with other KZbin vids on it when released to the market. So far, only your vid and Choyong’s are on KZbin. I am REALLY interested in this radio. The lack of SSB does not matter as I have any number of other radios for that aspect. Thanks for the introduction.

[@FarpointFarms]

I have been waiting on this type of radio for a long time. I have it by my bed so I can listen at night to it.

[@antemilisa1165]

I am interested to know is it possible to see anywhere online what stations are currently supportes by this radio? Thank you!

[@FarpointFarms]

I think they are from Shoutcast-

[@lonnieclemens8028]

I bought a 25 ft long wave antenna kit on eBay. Since I've put it up, I don't have problems finding enough SW radio stations.

[@IntoTheWild70]

What did you buy? I know it's very location dependant but I have a 25ft that bends at 90 and another 25 parallel to roof. Little reception.

[@IntoTheWild70]

I have a Techsun and use Rtl-Sdr

[@lonnieclemens8028]

@@IntoTheWild70 I bought this particular antenna kit from a dealer on eBay. He makes these antennas at home and puts the accessories in the bag. I read the instructions and followed the rules etc... The balun is included in the kit. It is a 25 ft long copper wire hanging between two plastic poles. It is mounted on top of an old mobile home. I am glad that I went with buying a kit. That way I got instructions and some extra coaching from the seller. I can send you the link if you would like.

[@lonnieclemens8028]

@@IntoTheWild70 wdx2radio

[@IntoTheWild70]

I actually took a 6 strand phone cable and cut each to a specific wavelength.

[@LeeLocke]

Real warm fireplace with all the popping and hissing of the fuel OR a digital screen with any fireplace and looping audio. I know what id choose and that feeling of making it all yourself even when the electric is off? Well thats the comfort i want. Warm fire and an old am 📻. Might even have a book to read while im relaxing or a pipe. Some times less is more.Thanks for sharing,73 Lee.

[@FarpointFarms]

No doubt, but most people have both a fire place and a gas heater. This is the equivalent.

[@urizon41]

It looks amazing for when there's internet! If the grid and internet down, it would lose half its capability. Or am I looking at this wrong?

[@roberthoffman4713]

This radio shines when the internet goes down. Yes you loose some of the capabilities, however it's when the internet, power grid or worse is down you can listen to the over the air stuff from all over the world and stay informed with what's going on. If you can't pickup local stations then you know the situation maybe going on in their area, so you can keep searching for stations that are broadcasting to get an idea of how far the problem extends. Plus it's always interesting to listen in on other countries news to see what they are saying and what spin they are putting on it. If it has single sideband and the ham bands you can hear them sending information back and forth, or just listen to them chatting. I didn't look to see how much this radio sells for however it could be a good life line in an emergency.

[@FarpointFarms]

If the grid and internet go down, I am going to have bigger concerns. If power is out, so are the cell towers (hotspots).

[@johnmiller8201]

@@Ankjell Agree way too much for an SDR radio

[@Traildraft]

Hey, love the vintage Pro-34 scanner in the background. Mine still works!

[@FarpointFarms]

Now that's old school!

[@starcityofva]

Cool I still have a Pro 34 that's like new alive and kicking

[@Wayne-Pr]

G''day & Thanks for the great review of the Choyong LC90 AM/FM/SW/IN Radio I'm an communications buff, & a full on Short wave enthusiasts as well as an Amateur from Melbourne Australia ( VK3ECS ) where 774 ( shown on your review actually transmits from ) in my professional opinion ( mas someone who works in the industry for ( Essential Communications Services in Australia ) there are 4 x major things that disappoints me about this radio with which I feel just a little bit more R & D time that they could have gotten right & it would have been the absolute ultimate radio. (1) The USB-C, Ext speaker & especially the External antenna ports are all in the wrong place what a pain in the rear end is the external antenna port that would directly interfere with using the tuning dial right next to the tuning dial surly they could have put this port, the USB-C port & the external speaker port on the left hand side where it did not interfere with the using of the dials on the right hand side what a huge over sight, hopefully they will bring out a V2 of this radio with these & the below things addressed & fixed then I'd buy one no problem. (2) The SW: 2300-26100KHz(Step: 1KHz/5KHz) band coverage who on earth makes a "Short Wave" radio that only covers up to 26100KHz what about the 11m CB & the 10M Amateur band as well as from the top of the 10m band up to 30Mhz or 30000Khz or at least 29.999Mhz or 29999Khz. (3) This radio does not have or support SSB ( USB & LSB ) so listening to the 40M amateur band that you showed in your review would not be possible neither would listening to ANY SSB utility services like Amateur, Aviation, Marine or the HFGCS just to name a few of many that use SSB be possible. (4) This radio does not have any sort of a fold out stand on the back that would allow you to lay it back on a 45 deg angle & use it in a portable situation. For me the above 4 things are an absolute deal breaker & I feel will be for many others as well. The one other thing that they could have added to the radio which would have made it even better again was AM Aviation Receive 114Mhz to 137Mhz I absolutely LOVE the SD card & the SIM slot as well as the fact that it can run off of WiFi Wow BUT for the 4 reasons above I don't think it will be incredibly popular amongst the "hard Core" short wave / communications enthusiasts. Regards Wayne.

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks. The actual designer of the this radio is here to read these comments and to make improvements. I'm sure he will find this useful.

[@metroreal954]

Looks like an interesting radio. Was curious how well it receives shortwave.

[@FarpointFarms]

Very good so far with just the built in antenna. I'll post a follow up when I hook it to a long wire.

[@JD144-]

Cool little radio, but your sweatshirt is definitely the coolest part!

[@FarpointFarms]

That was a gift from fellow KZbinr Dallas Rife!

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks-it was a gift from a pretty cool fan.

[@danvitale923]

Hello, thank you for the review, but have you ever try Short Wave reception or just the popular AM bands with this radio???...this radio is deaf about AM bands, short wave bands are very noisy, with external antenna you can improve a little bit the quality of SW because you isolate the radio circuit from the signal, but in black and white, this radio is excellent for internet radio, but that's it...

[@FarpointFarms]

I've been happy with mine. SW bands pick up the big US stations and a few from down south. AM? It sucks. No clear channel reception for sure. To be honest though, I use the Internet radio portion a lot more than any other mode. It's the best radio I've ever used in that regard.

[@nicklendt1128]

I can do the same thing with my smart phone. Admittedly it's kind of pretty but not worth $250 I would be concerned that after a while the links programed into the radio would eventually become broken as these things change all the time.

[@FarpointFarms]

I don't use a smartphone, so I have no point of reference there, but I can say that you can easily add in new stations. My own shoutcast stream wasn't listed so I manually entered it in with no issues and it's working fine. Shoutcast has been around since 98 or so, so I'd say its a safe bet it will be around for the long haul.

[@ericfrederick1227]

I bet you love Russia radio

[@nicklendt1128]

@@ericfrederick1227 Huh?

[@FarpointFarms]

The stooges are all over these days. I just ignore them.

[@FarpointFarms]

Ha! What a tool. Keep on trusting everything they tell you.

[@robertclymer6948]

Dang it! Radio not currently available on Amazon as of 2/18/24. No price was available either.

[@FarpointFarms]

It has proved to be VERY popular. I think they just sold out their 3rd batch over on Amazon as well as Radioitty.

[@W5NWA]

How on earth do you set the time & date? Have you found a way?

[@FarpointFarms]

Ha! Nope!! Still trying to figure that one out as well.

[@W5NWA]

I emailed them, no response so far but yeah, I tried every trick I knew too.@@FarpointFarms

[@W5NWA]

After a few exchanges, pictures, etc. here is the final solution in this reply. Dear Terry, I'm really sorry, we have asked our friends in the United States to do this test before, and found that after connecting to the internet, The radio can automatically adjust the time to US time. After receiving your email, I asked him again and found that he had inserted a Sim card before connecting to Wi-Fi, which means that at present you may only be able to adjust the time by connecting to the 4G network. You don't need to keep the machine connected to 4G all the time. As long as it connect to the internet once, it can automatically adjust to US time. Then you can take out your 4G Sim card. I am very sorry for this, we will upgrade a software version as soon as possible to achieve automatic adjustment to US time after connecting to Wi-Fi. @@FarpointFarms

[@W5NWA]

It has now updated after three days of being connected to Wi-Fi. Their customer service has been very responsive and they are going to do an update so that it can be manually adjusted which would be preferred by most I would think. As info @@FarpointFarms

[@johndrees830]

Does it support single side band?

[@FarpointFarms]

Only the ones listed

[@italy74]

Hiya from Italy! By chance do they think to sell one also to Europe? May you ask them or point their website? Or is it only for US market ? I found a couple of website (starting with your link) but it seems Italy isnt listed

[@FarpointFarms]

I am not sure about that- I wish I had a better answer for you

[@italy74]

@@FarpointFarms better: apparently it allows me to start the order but once I tell it I am in Italy something goes wrong with the address (despite it's google auto filling it) well, it doesn't matter, I hope they will open their market over here too. I saw there's a choyong radio channel

[@roberthoffman4713]

If they can add a few more OTA bands, like ham and have SSB I would definitely be interested in it. Even if it was a little bit bigger. Many of the radios on the market that have all that stuff, less the internet stuff. Just don't seem to work very good. I had ordered one that you reviewed a while ago for a friend who wanted to get into shortwave and when it arrived I opened it up to check and try it out. It was loaded with features and it looked very nice. I just found that the tuner was not very sensitive. I had it hooked to a long wire antenna and it seemed like it just had trouble with stations that were not fairly strong. I had 2 other radios that I was comparing it with. That being said it was about a $100 radio and it came with many extras and I felt it would be great for them just starting out. If it would have had a little better tuner I probably would have ordered a second one for myself. Maybe if I wasn't into it like I am I would have thought it was awesome and that would have been that. Would you ever consider doing a video showing how to make a shortwave antenna out of slinkys? I purchased one many years ago on ebay and I must say it works really well and the length is self adjusting. I have strung it up in the house from curtain rods to door knobs and it works plus you can change directions real easy to help pull in stations from different locations. It's made of two metal slinkys, a piece of wire, two pieces of plastic pipe as insulators, and a alligator clip. Just something that I think others might be interested in.

[@FarpointFarms]

Thank you for sharing that- some of the cheaper models are better for the novice users as they might not get their money worth with the fancier ones

[@davidward3991]

I have a sw radio from Radio Shack that I purchased while living in Juneau, Alaska. It could pick up literally hundreds of channels. I still have it and it works even better now that I live in the open plains of Oklahoma.

[@FarpointFarms]

Cool! Those old Realistic radios from Radio Shack were very nice!

[@anulearntech]

Ive heard it doesn't have SSB and does its SW limit till 26100?

[@FarpointFarms]

Yes, No SSB. There are no commercial stations that broadcast in SSB. Yes, coverage ends at 26100. No SW stations broadcast above that line.

[@Steven-re7xt]

Last time i had a radio w/video. The display caused a hum that precluded any weak signal. And pressing on the display. No better. So it sets on the shelfe.. hope the smart radio is better tks om

[@FarpointFarms]

I did not notice too much interference with this one. I hope you have better luck in the future

[@IntoTheWild70]

How are updates when the stations come and go?

[@FarpointFarms]

There are software updated for this unit, and you can also manually enter in new stations as well. My own station wasn't listed so I manually entered it in, and it works fine.

[@Starman2440]

Went on the Amazon link... Currently unavailable. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.

[@FarpointFarms]

Apparently, the popularity of this video has now sold out the first 4 batches that arrived to the states. Check back daily.

[@Starman2440]

I hopethat you get a cut---what was it selling for?@@FarpointFarms

[@FarpointFarms]

No, but I'm happy it's been successful. The creator of this radio seems like a nice guy.

[@toml.8210]

You'll need to go outside the building if you want to get signals from Australia, Tonga, Europe, etc. You may even need a long wire antenna.

[@FarpointFarms]

I have a long wire antenna and will hook it up at a later date.

[@walleyvideo8297]

I just got one. I'm trying to check to see if it has the latest software, but I'm having trouble. I can't find support from Choyong. Do you have their contact info?

[@FarpointFarms]

I know that they have a KZbin channel, you might be able to reach them there. I will see if I can find another contact for you

[@walleyvideo8297]

Thank you! @@FarpointFarms

[@walleyvideo8297]

BTW I tried using the SIM card from my phone with the radio witj no success. @@FarpointFarms

[@FarpointFarms]

Hmm.. I read that it should have worked. Were you able to make contact with someone? I wonder if there is a software update that they need to do

[@roncaruso931]

I can stream shortwave stations on my smartphone or laptop computer. I do not need to spend $250 for a radio to do this. This radio does not include single side band which I listen to the Ham stations on. Ill stick with my analog short wave radio that covers signals up to 30 MHz. I use a long wire antenna from my house to a tree. I get excellent reception.

[@FarpointFarms]

Your loss. The Internet side of this radio is incredible. I've found myself on it every night for the past two weeks. So many great never heard of stations run off of personal computers. It reminds me of the old days of BBSs.

[@roncaruso931]

@@FarpointFarms Not my loss. My gain. I didn't waste $250!! I get all the streaming shortwave stations I need. Like I said, that radio does not have SSB. My analog receiver suits me fine.

[@mikeh8416]

Grab an SDR dongle and an antenna for your computer. You can get the entire frequency band up to 2Ghz (depending on the dongle). FREE software lets you do every mode INCLUDING DIGITAL. With 2 dongles, you can do TRUNKING on P25 Public Safety bands. I have an 8 yr old laptop set up as a police scanner that runs 24/7, and I can tune in everything from Longwave to Satellites. AM/FM/SSB. I can even receive and DECIPHER Ham Radio FT8 signals (DIGITAL). If you NEED portable, all you need is a USB adapter for your phone, and do everything listed above except the police scanner.

[@roncaruso931]

@@mikeh8416 Thanks. I know that. Just lazy.

[@alabamared2568]

​@roncaruso931 he sure is snarky of late

[@floid33556]

Thank you. Do you like it better than your short waves?

[@FarpointFarms]

It is just different type of radio than my traditional SW radios.

[@lonnieclemens8028]

I recognized the woman's voice on 5935. Looks like a nice radio. I like the knob style tuning.

[@FarpointFarms]

That was Eugene Scott' wife!

[@jkholley1118]

Cool radio, is there an app to listen to Internet radio say on a tablet?

[@FarpointFarms]

I don't know. I know my Roku for the TV had a shoutcast app for years, but they took it down and without it, I can't hear my own station. Now I can!

[@girkgirkus7236]

That is a nice radio, has a lot of great features. I'm looking forward to when they build a full color touch screen version, with multi-frequency display. If you can do a review on this - 2nd Generation Malahit-DSP2 SDR Malachite Receiver 3.5" Screen Firmware 2.30, it is in the $400 range though. Very cool though.

[@FarpointFarms]

I can review it if the company wants to send it to me. Money is too tight to buy on

[@foldsofblubber]

Have you done anything on the Uniden Beartracker 855? A common man's opinion would be useful. I want a CB radio for safety reasons when I'm way out there and away from the grid, but an emergency is something you never want and work hard to avoid- if you're smart. So some extra listening in features like the 855 has, I would find very attractive. Any plan to review it?

[@FarpointFarms]

I would love to review it- Maybe I can get Uniden to send me one to review

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

This certainly appears to be a radio worth having yet…I see no questions or reviews on this listing at Amazon. I didn’t think that was even possible. This does not make me doubt the product yet does makes me concerned about the seller. I guess I better give this some further thought. Thanks for the great video.

[@FarpointFarms]

I am quite literally the first person state side to play with one. The designer of the radio is the person I've been chatting with since the start with this. This new company has just this radio on the market now, but I'm sure will offer new ones as the months go by.

[@spresc2180]

There are now reviews on Amazon for this radio.

[@aulii11]

Currently unavailable on Amazon! 😒

[@FarpointFarms]

I guess my video was to blame- You can look at Radioddity and see if they still have some

[@ezl8002]

Several years ago I had a real good shortwave portable radio and it would not work on SSB so I found a BFO kit on the internet and put it together to try out on the old AM/FM/Shortwave radio. That small kit was easy to put together and worked flawlessly on the old radio. The only requirements were that the receiver should be stable in receive and not drift plus, it had to have a 455 Khz IF which the BFO generated. All a fella has to do to use it on SSB is have a short length of wire near the radio's antenna The Shortwave radios have come way down in prices so I haven't had a reason to use the external BFO for a few years since I've got several general coverage radios around plus Amateur Radios that have multi functions like SSB and AM. .

[@FarpointFarms]

Cool idea!

[@patriot9455]

It is no longer available on Amazon as of 3/1.2024

[@FarpointFarms]

They are working on more shipments

[@patriot9455]

@@FarpointFarms good.

[@SigSoftNC]

Interesting indeed. Thanks for posting. Does it have a remote control? Be nicer if it also had weather band. The display looks nice; what are the dimensions? I agree this looks like an intuitive easy to use and cool device that blends OTA and internet radio that can be used at home and when traveling.

[@FarpointFarms]

Not sure of the demensions, but it doesn't come with a remote. I will say the key pad layout is perfect for searching stations in bed.

[@Seekthetruth3000]

Good review. I wish it had a programmable MP3 player and recorder. Is the sound stereo through the headphone jack? Thanks.

[@FarpointFarms]

I think so

[@metroreal954]

How about a review with an actual antenna hooked up to the radio so you can figure out actually how good it is

[@FarpointFarms]

I mean i did pick up a ton of SW stations with just the built in antenna, You need more proof than that? I guess I can when I make a follow up, but I had planned on focusing on the Internet radio part of it more in depth instead.

[@dansloss2566]

Interesting radio, but not without its quirks. While listening to RNZI on 17675KHz, the local AM 666 broadcast was bleeding through in the background. I thought maybe my headphone cord was the culprit, but it seems like the bleed is in the circuitry. Also have not figured out how to delete/edit the memory channels after the auto search.

[@FarpointFarms]

The creator of this radio is reading all these comments so they know what to improve upon. There have been some of the quirks that were fixed via updates over wifi

[@dansloss2566]

How do you download updates over wifi when the radio says to turn off wifi before doing updates?

[@FarpointFarms]

I am not sure how it worked, but I noticed a change (update) the last time I used it. Sorry I don't have an exact answer

[@Indieauguste]

That’s internet radio that buffers. Let it not fool you.

[@FarpointFarms]

3 weeks of daily use and my radio has yet to buffer. Another commentor that doesn't own the radio.

[@popguynj]

thank you i just saw back lighting your a great help just need how to set the time ?

[@FarpointFarms]

Give it time, It will auto update. There are some updates that trickle in on these the first few days of usage.

[@popguynj]

Your right this radio go on for ever I'm just stuck on the Florida area better then satellite radio I'm from NJ what is the difference from the sim card and the TF card i know ones for mp3 music not sure whats the other is for .

[@OffGridAussiePrepper]

i wonder if this radio's 4G will work in Australia and does the batteries easily replace? or swap out?

[@FarpointFarms]

I'll ask and report back next week.

[@johnkieffer5854]

Do you require an internet service provider for this wonderful reception?

[@FarpointFarms]

You only need internet or cell (sim card) for the internet stations, the rest you will not

[@christianwootton100]

As an internet radio, this looks more user friendly than the Grace or the CCWifi, however, if this unit had ssb capability i would buy right now. Hopefully the next rev will provide ssb. 🙏

[@FarpointFarms]

I'm loving this one. Gets all the big SW stations and 1000's of internet ones too.

[@christianwootton100]

​@@FarpointFarmsOK, I bought one!! The amount of Internet stations is incredible, upwards of 200 stations for Indonesia alone....the Bluetooth function works just fine. For terrestrial radio, however I am not impressed. At 1300UTC for example I scanned the SW bands alongside my XHDATA D-808 and the Choyong was very disappointing, even utilizing a PAR end fed longwire and "unplugging" all other devices. Can only receive strong frequencies comfortably. Nevertheless I really like this radio. Will be my primary Internet receiver. 👍

[@n1kkri]

Do you plan to do an other review on this radio to address some of the issues that others have noticed. Birdies every 10-30KHz, crackling sound in the audio on shortwave when the WiFi is turned on and connected?

[@FarpointFarms]

I am working on a follow up to this great radio. A software update has added a lot of features. I don't know what a birdy is, so please fill me in.

[@Bourbon_Wood]

Might not be a fair question for obvious reasons, but if you had to purchase this radio or the Eton 750, which one would you go for?

[@FarpointFarms]

As my video states, and maybe it's that I'm biased as I've been running an internet radio station since 1999, but this is my all time favorite radio. Great for FM, ok for AM, and really good for SW, and of course perfect for Web based radio.

[@bradl2636]

The 4G network bands in Australia are FDD Band1, 3, 5, 7, 8 and TDD band 40, while this radio supports 4G FDD bands 2, 4, 5, and TDD band 40. Only Band 5 and Band 40 are common bands, which leads to the inability to normally connect to the 4G base station network. There is apparently a European version that is available to get around the issue but not sure who offers that one for sale.

[@FarpointFarms]

Good to know for overseas listeners. Thanks!

[@mpetrovic030]

If I can share my two cents, I had a terrible experience with two internet radios so far. One was Pure, the other one was Microspot reciva radio. Both were sold to someone else and that company discontinued the use of the servers. Pure can be used as a great dab+/fm radio. The other one was purely internet radio, and I am trying to reload it's firmware so that it can stream radio stations from a different server (didn't have much luck so far, though). So think twice before buying an internet radio, friends. The good thing is that I got both from a market used but in great condition for a fraction of the price.

[@FarpointFarms]

Good to know. This one seems to be a full Shoutcast/Icecast service.

[@kchedville]

There is a new LC90 , but i could be wrong - you know how the Internet is,,, called the LC90 Mini --- is smaller in size-- you Amazon link to this LC90 says "No Longer Available".. :( Great Videos

[@FarpointFarms]

The mini is a smaller version of it. They are hoping to have more in stock soon

[@kchedville]

Thanks for the Info :)@@FarpointFarms

[@o00scorpion00o]

Thanks for the review ! Probably best not having SSB because all the radios now have DSP and SSB sounds horrible on DSP radios which is why I believe that the Tecsun PL-680 is one of th ebest portable radios you can still buy new today because it is pure analogue and the pure audio quality makes ECSS a joy to listen to and this makes it one of the best and true DX'ers radio of choice ! DSP = cheap construction and expensive to buy as DSP is marketed as some kind of magic, it's far from it when it comes to SSB. Internet radio, doesn't do it for me, I'd rather a high quality analogue design. I have roberts internet radios and been through having issues with storing stations and the service behind this now wants to charge a subscription service but this is not just for roberts radios. Without this service you have to manually enter every ip and port number of every station ! Can't beat tuning around the bands on SW but this radio has the typical dreaded muting when tuning, = fail, Just my opinion but it seems like it's not much of a Radio for those who like to tune around the bands, no SSB and if I want to hear highly compressed audio I will use tunein radio on my phone.

[@FarpointFarms]

Thank you for sharing your opinion- I like the radio as I am able to listen to all kinds of internet stations, but everyone has what works for them

[@o00scorpion00o]

@@FarpointFarms as long as your happy, nothing else matters. Enjoy 😊

[@ry491]

DSP has ruined nearly all of these new radios . It's dreadful . Manual band scanning is painful as well as bad ssb resolution .

[@o00scorpion00o]

@@ry491 Yeah the issue is DSP is cheap to make and that's all that matters these days, not quality.

[@rtcurtis5858]

Wonder which wifi aggregator it uses. Many have simply disappeared, rendering the wifi radios useless, like a early 20th century sw radio with strange places listed on the dial.

[@FarpointFarms]

The stations appear to be directly from the Shoutcast stream.

[@godfellas483]

Needs a Weather Band channel. Also, an external antenna jack for the AM band would be convenient. I love the combo of the Internet radio capability with the AM/FM band availability. The only radio that does that didn't work very well on broadcast modes. Someday, the weather band channel will be available on the internet as well. Nice review, I wonder what the battery/charging situation is, and how many amp hours it will hold. Are the batteries swappable? I wonder which IP provider network it uses? Seems like this radio would be a candidate for an all-round emergency radio. Save for SW and WB.

[@FarpointFarms]

I've been very pleased with the battery life. 4 hours of use and it still reads full.

[@whollyunaware5185]

Are the batteries removable/swappable?@@FarpointFarms

[@lsgretic4397]

Super radio! What is this ssb?

[@vitogriffin8902]

Single side band. For listening to HAMs, CB and some other radio traffic on the upper or lower side bands...and the radio now has SSB via an update download.

[@FarpointFarms]

@vitogriffin8902- thanks for chiming in on the question

[@jimsmith9056]

It's an interesting concept but as a new SWL (just picked up a Tecsun Pl-368 and loving it!) the thing I like the most about the hobby is the analogue nature of it. If I wanted to listen to Internet radio I could have bought a smartphone. I adore the simplicity and complexity of analogue. It's a century old technology that is still relevant and still evolving. Internet anything is just Internet. I got my first eQSL a few weeks ago and I look forward to checking my email a few days after sending off my reports. I even have an Echo show that I use to display them. (I love the alligator from the good people at WRMI Okeechobee 😅) can I get that joy from an Internet radio? I don't speak a word of Chinese but I enjoy getting a hit reception from half a world away and logging it for simple posterity. The weird thing is I was going to buy a Roberts pocket DAB. I'm so pleased I went with an SW receiver because it's reingnited a love of the persuit in me. I just don't think I'd feel the same about another Internet device

[@FarpointFarms]

I am glad to hear that you have reignited your passion- That is the best part of this hobby

[@jimsmith9056]

@@FarpointFarms I literally just got my XDATA AN-80 longwire antenna yesterday and the first transmission I picked up was Western Australia (I'm based in the UK and that was from inside my ground floor flat lol) I couldn't wait to email off my SQL request template. My next purchase is going to be a Retekess VR-115 radio recorder with line in so I can record some stations and hopefully upload them to here myself.

[@JuniorKnowledge]

this is very amazing Radio. I like to buy it, where can I get and order it please. I'm in somalia.

[@FarpointFarms]

Try Amazon?

[@jamesdurham7158]

Question. Do all those 'extra' radio stations come in WITHOUT an internet connection?

[@FarpointFarms]

Yes, You have the option of using a sim card so that you don't need to be near a wifi signal.

[@ناصرالسنهوقاهرالمرتدينوالم-و9ذ]

Which is better, this radio or the Japanese Sony radio?

[@FarpointFarms]

Not sure what Sony radio you are referring too. This radio has the advantage as it also has 60,000 internet radio stations available.

[@ناصرالسنهوقاهرالمرتدينوالم-و9ذ]

@@FarpointFarms I don't have a Sony radio, but I'm torn between the two. I want to buy a Sony radio, or like this radio with you, and I want your opinion, which is better?

[@ElectricityTaster]

The only reason I got into radio is because it doesn't rely on the internet.

[@FarpointFarms]

This doesn't either. It simply adds those features to it.

[@ElectricityTaster]

@@FarpointFarms I know, but I already have a smartphone.

[@anthonyeack2510]

Great radio Eric. Its because of your vidios i now started to get into this hobby as well as cb radios since the 70s. 360 from Rock hill SC and morganton NC waving the hand. How do i get one of those. ?

[@FarpointFarms]

Looks like Amazon and as of this morning Radioitty have it listed on their websites.

[@karl-heinzruttimann8133]

As always, a great video. I'm thrilled... In my opinion, this fills a gap between smartphones and laptops. The only thing missing is the ability to communicate. But that will surely come one day...

[@FarpointFarms]

If someone would come out with a shoutcast streaming device that allows easy hookup to a mixer board and broadcasted to the web without the need of a laptop, I'd be the first to buy it!

[@Juno_Beach]

WHY WHY CAN'T these breakable antennas be switched to flexible rubber ?

[@FarpointFarms]

Radio Shack used to sell a screw on type rubber ducky type antenna for this type of radio.

[@ronaldzuccala-pv8tu]

Well sort of impressed. However not nowhere near the 1st inter net there are more than several for half the price currently on the market.. i like your show. Thankyou.

[@FarpointFarms]

I am unable to find any other SW portable with the additional 40,000 channels via wifi. Can you send them to me?

[@geez-hd6dn]

I congratulate Choyong for designing and making fabulous radios. Sadly I don’t think this is for the DXer but a good radio for listening to radio daily.

[@FarpointFarms]

I can see that point, with the new updates that they have come out with, it is way better.

[@UDX4570PalmSprings-yh1mv]

I love the new intro!

[@FarpointFarms]

Thank you

[@bettinanstevens9259]

I noticed as you were scanning through your channels to check reception of MW 1200, 1290, and 1450 there was no reception. Is this because the antenna was not deployed or would that not matter with those channels?

[@mikeh8416]

The AM antenna is generally a rod INSIDE the radio. You typically have to turn the radio for best reception.

[@FarpointFarms]

It would have helped to raise the antenna, but at my house during day time the AM band is dead. No local station.

[@jcp312]

A nice little piece of equipment... but without access to the Wi-Fi / Internet it'll soon become just a good radio. Still good to own though!

[@FarpointFarms]

I've been waiting for the internet to fail since 1997. I still have a dial up BBS here for when that happens, but I feel confident that if that happens, this radio will be the least of all our worries.