The Chinese-made Radiwow R-108 is a very compact AM-FM-LW-SW-AIR portable which
has recently become available to North American purchasers via eBay, where it
is currently offered at various prices (the lowest being $49.98, including free
shipping) in listings such as
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RADIWOW-R-108-Radio-Digital-AM-FM-Portable-Stereo-LW-SW-AIR-Band-LCD-fm-Receiver/173793532305?hash=item2876e6d991:g:esMAAOSw1YRcZTng
Since it is obviously an Ultralight-sized radio and a DSP-enhanced design
with multiple selectivity options, four of the R-108 models were purchased for
performance tests, technical investigation, quality control checks and
comparison with similar models. The Radiwow R-108 is manufactured by the same
company that builds the XHDATA D-808, so the styling is very similar, with dark
grey cabinets, orange colored power controls and company logos, and lithium-ion
rechargeable batteries. And like with the D-808, you will search the owner's
manual in vain for any type of manufacturer's warranty.
This Chinese company certainly draws a lot of "inspiration" (to use a very
generous term) from the C.Crane Skywave model (manufactured in the same Chinese
city, Shenzhen, at the Redsun factories). Whereas the company's reverse
engineers started their D-808 model with wholesale design appropriation of the
Skywave SSB's technical innovations, the new R-108 matches the CC Skywave
exactly in height, length and width, as well as in the location of the company
logo, speaker, wrist strap, display, keypad, power control, tuning knob and
volume control. As a crowning touch, the company's reverse engineers ensured
that the R-108's screened-on tuning and volume control legends match those of
the CC Skywave exactly.
Since only one of the R-108 test models has arrived here so far I haven't
yet done a full technical disassembly, although to its credit the R-108 does
have good shielding of the DSP chip, avoiding the irritating digital whine
which occurs in recent (post 2012) Tecsun PL-310ET and PL-380 models when the
display is grasped. The R-108 also seems to correct the internal heterodyne
generation issues of the Tecsun Si4734 DSP chip models (PL-310ET, PL-380 etc.),
although my first R-108 test model does suffer from a new digital issue--
intermittent, nasty oscillations at the extreme high end of the AM band
(1650-1700 kHz). Whether this a congenital issue or not will be determined when
the remaining three R-108 models arrive, but previous reviews of this model
have mentioned uneven quality control.
The AM band performance does seem to be competitive with the Tecsun PL-380
model as far as sensitivity, DSP selectivity and digital functions, although
the audio amp will max out more quickly on a weak signal. The multiple DSP
options are quite good at this price point, especially when combined with the
correction of the Tecsun PL-380's internal heterodyne issues. The AM antenna
connections on the RF circuit board are highly accessible for enhanced
loopstick transplant projects (see photos below), so assuming that the
intermittent oscillations on the extreme high end of the AM band are limited to
this one R-108 model, the R-108 could prove to be a real value winner as a
"Supercharging" platform. More performance details and technical reports will
be given when the other three R-108 test models arrive here, but so far, the
model does appear to have good potential for AM-DXing, both as a stock and
modified model.
Detailed photos are posted at the following links: RF Circuit Board
https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/456oocxphu0uytkz8i9trfdhb06750i3
Cabinet Disassembly (Digital and RF Circuit Boards)
https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/xxhqja4031uo16j1rma41xk0t84ujm0p
Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery
https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/zn97mtiathscw54qn5i8tdfs4jesem8d
CC Skywave SSB and R-108... the identical sized Shenzhen "siblings"
https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/jvenlc0mg6a8lqktld6ouyna3fjzbhaw
73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
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