Based on your recommendations, I purchased one last week, and am awaiting 
delivery. 

I own the original CCrane Skywave, and found it to be a great performer on both 
AM and FM, even stock-out of the box. 


73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114
EM63nf

Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA. 

Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy 
Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders, Korner 9.2 
Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum Phaser, 
Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip. 

“Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song…” 


> On Jul 28, 2018, at 9:09 AM, <shaf...@earthlink.net> <shaf...@earthlink.net> 
> wrote:
> 
> This is the best portable I’ve seen yet.
> 
> 
> 
> Rick Shaftan
> 
> Rodanthe NC OBX FM25go
> 
> 
> 
> From: nrc...@googlegroups.com <nrc...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Gary 
> DeBock
> Sent: Friday, July 27, 2018 1:18 AM
> To: America, Mailing <irca@hard-core-dx.com>; NRC <nrc...@googlegroups.com>
> Subject: [nrc-am] XHDATA D-808-- The Summer Travel "Smoke Test"
> 
> 
> 
>     Detailed information concerning the new, Chinese-made XHDATA D-808 
> AM-LW-FM-SW-AIR portable has been posted previously, including its 
> hot-performing AM-DXing loopstick, SSB capability and rechargeable 
> lithium-ion battery. This model was "inspired" (to be generous) by the 
> C.Crane Skywave SSB model, which was manufactured in the nearby Redsun 
> factories in China-- with the first model sold a few months before the D-808 
> was "reverse-engineered."
> 
>     As reported previously, the D-808 makes a few significant improvements 
> over the Skywave SSB model-- a longer, more sensitive AM loopstick, a much 
> stronger audio amplifier, and a much lower price ($112 on eBay, versus 
> $169.99 for the Skywave SSB). After a few months with the company declining 
> to ship to North American customers (apparently to avoid a copyright lawsuit 
> because of the SSB circuitry, identical to that of the Skywave SSB), a single 
> Chinese eBay seller is now doing a booming business, shipping the model to 
> North American customers through Israel.
> 
> After performing two MW and one Longwave 7.5" loopstick transplants on the 
> D-808 model, I can confirm that the model is well engineered (or maybe well 
> reverse engineered?), with the loopstick connections on the RF circuit board 
> unusually accessible, and ideal for soldering larger diameter Litz wire. 
> There are actually two terminal connections for this purpose-- most likely to 
> make it easy for the XHDATA engineers to test out various loopsticks.
> 
> And a loopstick transplant on the D-808 may be easier to contemplate if you 
> consider the fact that you will not be violating the XHDATA warranty by 
> replacing the loopstick. Why not? Because there is no evidence of any XHDATA 
> warranty on the model, either online, or in the documents shipped along with 
> the portable :-)
> 
>     As such, I thought I would submit a D-808 model to a very rough break-in 
> test during extensive summer travel these past two weeks. A 7.5" MW loopstick 
> D-808 model was taken along during road trips to eastern Washington (complete 
> with 100 degree F/ 43 degree C temperatures), rough mountain roads (on Mount 
> Rainier, Mount Baker and Hurricane Ridge) and a visit to Vancouver, BC.
> 
>     Once the supplied 3.7v Lithium Ion battery is fully charged (via a 
> supplied USB-type connector cord), the battery provides exceptional run time. 
> I was able to use it for many hours of DXing over two weeks, with no apparent 
> loss of power. The audio amp delivers a lot of response, even when signals 
> are weak. It takes a little time getting used to the volume control being on 
> the left side when the tuning control is on the right, but you catch on 
> pretty quick. The enhanced 7.5" MW loopstick model is like the "King of 
> Compact Portables," with sensitivity enough to dig out practically everything 
> that any other portable on the planet could come up with-- with SSB 
> capability and multiple DSP filtering selections to boot. For someone making 
> an overseas trip or extended travel from home, it would be a dream portable. 
> This is the first radio to use the full capabilities of the 
> American-engineered Si4735 DSP chip-- with exceptional results.
> 
>     What finally got my undivided attention, though, was when the model was 
> accidentally left in the trunk during our visit to Ellensburg, WA-- a 
> location famous for 100 degree days in July. Multiple items in the trunk 
> (shampoo, food, electric shavers, etc.) were zapped by the 104 degree 
> temperature inside the trunk, and were either ruined, or refused to operate. 
> As I turned on the burning-hot D-808 model I certainly expected the worst, 
> especially when the temperature indicator showed "43 degrees C." Much to my 
> astonishment the model performed flawlessly, though, delivering an S9 signal 
> from the Snoqualmie Pass TIS station on 1610 kHz. Not once had the D-808 
> missed a beat over a tough two weeks, which included quite a few rough bumps, 
> extremely hot days and long DXing hours. Despite the rather dubious design 
> pedigree and lack of any manufacturer's warranty the D-808 had gained my 
> respect as a hot-performing AM-DXing portable, ready to perform and persevere 
> when conditions are rough. Although it's not an Ultralight radio, it 
> certainly is an exceptional portable for the price. 
> 
> 
> 
> 73 and Good DX,
> 
> Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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