The CHEAPEST SDR Radio on Banggood. Is it any good ?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ค. 2024
- Shortwave radio SDR 4.3" Touch screen. Full Length review. Software Defined Radio SDR Radio Receiver 100K-149MHz Digital Demodulation Short Wave FM MW SSB CW HAM DSP Receiver. BUY Here. uk.banggood.com/4_3-inch-Soft...
UPDATE video here. • The CHEAPEST SDR Radio... - บันเทิง
Frid in the shed your utube videos are awesome
Impressive once again from Fred. Informative, honest, simple to understand. Fred got me back into SSB!
Nice one. Ive had loads of skip blasting into the UK this week.
Another good video Fred 😊
Great video Fred my thought are that these problems will probably be addressed in a future firmware update
Thank you so much for a great and detailed review. These SDRs that are cheap are so important for a base or emergency kit. Interface is tough, but understandably designed. If there’s a better cheap kit item, please link, but this is at least a base item.
As usual another really good review Fred. 👍🏻
Thanks for watching
I’ve just ordered one for my first radio and your video is extremely helpful so thanks for that.
I’m starting off as i said and I’m doing it at the start on a low budget and would help with finding an outdoor aerial for a low price.
Piece of 10m wire and some coax (tv) cable would do.
Hope your feeling better Fred, I heared on my cb last night in Sheffield, the skip from Scotland Dundee and he said he had coms with you, thats great Fred. Regards to you and Mrs Fred
Great you heard local short skip. I love those conditions.
Quite a few Charlie Tango stations coming up to Angus Scotland 🏴 yesterday hope to catch you over the summer Fred
I bought one of these radios this week . I'm very happy with it. They of course could've included a pair of Head-phones or Ear-Buds with it. Whenever I bought a new radio they usually included this item.
Well, I guess you sold me on this unit, I wanted the Russian version but that is far to spendy for my old pocketbook, under a hundred bucks though, that got me. I plan on using it when repairing old radios and taking it along on road trips to see my grand kids, and for visiting my doctors who are a hundred and some miles either North or South of me, depending on the specialty. My caner Dr. is to the South, my urologist is North, and my regular MD just retired, so I am not looking forward to meeting his replacement, but they come to our small town which is served by one Am station that rebroadcasts on a low power FM unit so we can get FM Stereo if we desire. To please most folks, they do farm radio in the morning, country radio (for the ranchers) in the afternoon and plug into an oldies station for we old farts who love old rock and roll after supper. I spent over 60. bucks just to get a decent amplified AM/FM/SW antenna that I have mounted to a down drain from my gutters in the corner of my Kitchen/living room roof system. It brings in the old stations we got when I was a kid living on the old home place with zero interference since we had no electric power or running water. Nights were amazing, you could see billions of stars, we loved laying out in the grass at night and finding constellations, I think it helped make me a moderate success writing Sci Fi short stories, I have had several published in magazines.
For low-power ham QRP applications when using a homebrew transmitter, this might be a good choice for a portable receiver. It does not have a hardware speaker mute automatic function like traditional communications receivers but seems compact enough that it could be worked around. The 800Hz CW bandwidth isn't horrible, but I have built 250Hz audio filters to plug into the speaker jack to help receive only the signal I am interested in. This is the first I have seen someone publish the receiver bandwidth specs, thank you, sir! Davey - KU9L
Thanks Davey. For £90 it does get a lot right and once the AGC is turned off it receives quite well on SSB. Its such a shame it does not offer touch screen tuning.
That's where I landed on this unit. It's close to good, but the interface just isn't there. It wouldn't take much for them to improve though. Just a few touch events so you can select functions and frequencies with touch. Seems like a no-brainer to include those features, but there was probably someone wearing a tie who wanted to get it out asap to impress someone with a nicer tie.
Frid in the shed your sdr defined shortwave receiver is awesome 👌 👏 👍
Thanks Greg. Hope your keeping well buddy.
Just now I’ve a telescopic dipole with a wire on it hooked up with a crocodile clip attached and picked up on 20m Ham someone in Italy wishing everyone he picks up a Merry Christmas,I also heard some of his contacts but couldn’t make out where they were from
Excellent review Tacky though just being honest 👍🏻
I wanted to buy that too, but then I decided on the ATS25x2. Thanks for your video, 🙏
ATS25x 10:26
How does this compare to the TinySA Ultra?
The TinySA Ultra is a spectrum analizer not meant to be used as an SDR, but it has a much wider bandwidth uninterrupted from like 0.1Khz to 10ghz, and it has a listen mode. Plus the touch screen is actually implemented and you can click where you want to tune. It seems to me the TinySA Ultra would be a much better buy.
Note: there are two TInySA's, a standard one up to 930mghz for $60, and an Ultra version with bigger 4inch screen for $120 that can go up to 5ghz / 10ghz.
Not being able to tune from the waterfall is a deal breaker Fred.
Thanks for the info.
All the very best. AT132
Yes. Hopefully they can fix it on an update. Thanks
yep❤
So what is the best Ching-Chong SDR with waterfall tuning? anyone?
Pushing in that knob while selecting options is ridiculous, I like the price but not touching the screen to pick a frequency is a deal breaker. Thanks for saving my money with the review. Lol :)
For this price the device is more than good, if you want to pay more that's the way it is
@@Regalis77 Yeah, it's really not a bad little radio.
It doesn’t bother me at all. After just a few minutes i got used to it and now couldn’t imagine using it any other way
I bet a secondary and more comfortably located easy to press switch could be a easy add.
Good vid Fred learnt a lot from it so is there something thing as a total novice I could buy that has the CB bands on it as well and will search for channels in operation that has the same waterfall effect that will give me a chance to stop it when I hear something interesting that won’t break the bank or I don’t have to use a computer with ?
It will receive all the CB channels in AM LSB and USB. It wont receive FM CB though as it only has wide FM and not narrow. If you see a signal on the waterfall you have to manually tune to that feq. It works but would be about 1000 times easier if you could tap on the screen to tune. However it is £89 compared to twice that for others.
I recently bought this one off banggod
for about $100.00 US. I would say it's
good. Some good, such as the display,
but pushing the knob in to change
functions and frequency choices took
a bit to understand.
I also have the Silver ATS-120, the ATS-
25 original model and the newer ATS-
25 Decorder.
I also do SDR on my PC and tablet with
the Dongle RTL SDR V3, and recently
the version V4.
My new more expense one is the SDR
Play Duo, Dual receiver, with Uno and
the new Connect interface.
73 de W2CH Ray New Hampshire. 😊
Nice one. The radio does take some getting used to but i like the big screen and long battery. I ended up using mine for more than i thought i would.
@CB-RADIO-UK Thanks 😊 Like you said
it could be better with a touch screen , a
higher frequency range, at least to 70 CM
band, and Narrow FM for VHF, which in the
162.400 to 162.550 includes the US NOAA
weather and the weather in Canada too.
which would recommend, the ATS 120 or the 25 Decoder? I've been looking at both and cant really decide.
@johnrobinson1140 Well, I no expert in
the SDR field, though I have been an amateur
radio operator for 62 years, soon being
80 years old. The ATS-120 [s a nice slim
sdr portable, with a built in whip antenna.
The SDR ATS 25 Decoder is the latest
version of that series. I have the similar
first ATS 25 too. The Decoder version I
think does some digital modes, and an
update, it is said, will let it copy FT-8.
I just ordered one of these and I hope the bugs have been fixed. I’ll report back if they have or haven’t been resolved.
Ha, , it's got an IRQ "interrupt request" display, , , reminds me of my AMIGA Motorola 68000 assembly language days in 1992, , i think an IRQ 7 was high priority level interrupt
The larger USB connector is a USB-A socket which according to the USB standard can only be a host ie. output (or power).
The smaller USB-C connector on the other hand has an ID pin which depending on what you plug into it can be Host/Device/OTG. As this is a device guess what, that's where the computer connects.
I would suggest never buying something that doesn't follow the standard lest you smoke something else, or the device itself.
Looks nice but not very interface friendly. Thnx for video !
Can the firmware be updated? How to delete or modify a memory channel?
Hello, thanks for a great review. Does this radio have a ferrite bar/loop for AM MW Broadcast? Thanks! EDIT: I don't see one on the schematic on the back (Doh!) so, no.
No your right there is no built in ferrite for AM. It uses the whip antenna.
Great review. Too bad it doesn't do the NOAA weather band ! (162.4xx MHz) It is very close to being a perfect travel receiver. I agree with your assessment, especially the lack of NFM. So close !
Very true!
Being that it's an SDR it would probably be easy (for the developer) to add NFM and possibly even NOAA with a simple firmware/software update, that is if it's a true SDR.
Frid in the shed I learn lot from you about cbs radios with AM FM ssb
Hi Fred I do enjoy your content sorry about the Giuseppe post not sure how it got onto your TH-cam must be old age 😂
What your thoughts on AOR 8600? Scanner? I used to have the AOR 70/30 SW the one with the speaker 🔊 on top of set All with Antronn 99, plus starting to come back on the C.B this year
Hi. Ive never used a 8600. I wonder though if you would be better off with a used HF radio like the Yaesu 450 D
@@CB-RADIO-UK I hear you I want a decent Scanner inside the house 🏠 I've got a 25 ft Shake Sphere which I paid £200 for in 2000 it worth nearly double that now I'm going to clamp it on my Single garage shak with a T Bracket and Go for that lovely Alinco there aHF user around the corner from me his aerial has loads of guide wires around it from the top and middle section its on a proper pole though, would I need guide wires I was hoping not? are you on FB Fred? By the way thank you for the quick reply, I'm 45 now I said when I get older I'm getting in to radio, miss my Scanner, the dial was so good on the 70/30 you could hear two land line at once 😁👍🏻
One thing I would have liked to see is coverage of the 70cm band.
Yes and it would then tune to PMR as well.
Thanks for your excellent video, Fred. Do you have a recommendation for a better done Malahit clone that comes closer to the original Russian SDR radio? Short of the big color display and panadapter, perhaps the Russian Belka DX could be a superior radio. Thanks for your thoughts, Michael
Hi. Not really at the moment. For a better SDR radio the price pretty much doubles on the Malahit.
@Fred in the Shed Thanks for your reply....So, if you go to a $200 clone, could you tune by touching the waterfall? 73 Michael
Yes, additionally, while it tunes VHF up to 149 MHz, it does not allow narrow FM for 2 meter repeaters, or others below that freq.
Yes its a pity. Hopefully they will expand it on the next model.
What's spacing can u go to on airband 8.33 hopefully
hi Fred, thanks for hee vid, have you tried programming this receiver ?
Hi no ive not tried a firmware update.
The interface seems to have some similarities to that on the nanoVNA vector network analyser and TinySA spectrum analyser. Perhaps there was a companion software program with the original device, which might work with this one. Is there a user group for this device?
It does not seem as well supported as the malachite radios. Might be a Facebook group.
Very splendid review. Looks like they could improve operation with firmware updates? Yes or no? Seems like an excellent price for its abilities and build quality. Nice camera work in this video Fred.
Thanks. I have asked that my findings be passed on for a possible firmware future update. I think if you could click the encoder other than have to hold it down it would be a big improvement.
@@CB-RADIO-UK Click to get it in the mode click to get out. Free up the hand pressure and slipping. Sounds good. I like how you showed how to adjust the waterfall, very useful. You explain things very well.
I’ve not hooked mine up,that said I’ve seen a video where someone has tried on connect to a computer but it isn’t reconsidered
@@thunderwarrior1759 The clones of the actual DeepSdr are not recognized by the computer and no firmware updates. Sad it can't be updated, but the actual DeepSDR looks nicer also and more expensive also.
I have one. Not a bad radio. But I'm unable to connect it to any computer. No computer recognizes the 1 MB storage space. Anyone else have this trouble?
One thing, if you want to connect to the PC hold the encoder in and power on, it will take you into the pc connect mode
Is that by the usb a or usb c as I’m seeing people say different things
I ordered this one on Banggood and waiting for it....
If you can live with the interface / encoder then its a pretty fair radio.
What 'item' was selected when you were able to change the spectrum frequency width?
After several uses, my waterfall went nuts (looks like noise on an o'scope) and the spectrum section is now insensitive. I guess we get what we pay for.
Dale
I think you just select and click on the freq scale and then rotate the selector.
What would you recommend instead for a sdr that does do the things you mentioned with the waterfall and touch screen?
The Malachites are better. th-cam.com/video/HhrWcA1zplY/w-d-xo.html
several gaps in the frequencies and only 149MHz at the top. Strange to have a GHz prefix then.
I was the 1000th like do I get a prize !? :) Great video !
A good SDR can easy go to 2GHz with 0.5ppm stability.
Regarding firmware upgrade: I'm not an expert in USB standards, but it seems that the C-socket is only connected to the PCB by the outer two pins in each side, however the eight middle pins are not connected it seems.
On the other hand, the datapins of the USB-A power out port, seems to be connected to the ARM chip, via R30 & R32 - so I'm wondering if it's possible to make a connection via the A-port?
There is a pic of the PCB on Banggood.
Interesting. I think you need a generic driver for windows to work. Win 11 did not detect it.
@@CB-RADIO-UK Nor did Win 10 running in VMware. The DataSDR page indicates that this BA JEI is a "bad" clone and it does not produce a USB drive when connected. This radio is a copy of the "real" version and I think it's hilarious that when you turn it on while depressing the encoder, it IDs as the DataSDR radio. I joined their FB page and people are reporting that the 1.01 firmware does very little if nothing. That said, it's not a bad little radio at all and I'm not regretting the purchase.
I'm looking for a practical SDR transceiver?
From the looks of the front display, you would think you could CHANGE all the displayed parameters, but no...... Eh. Half-baked design. No thanks. But your review made all this EVIDENT! Thanks, fred!
Thanks. The software needs some work and the touchscreen needs expanding hopefully future models can feature this,
I never understood why are there so many different radio receivers, with all the buttons and options, switches, and whatnot... Obviously, I am not even an amateur, nearly an observer of this community.
Pity, that malahite DSPs dont include this 4.3inch display.
to bad this doesn't have an analog or hdmi input so the display could serve a second purpose like for a backup camera or with a raspberry pi.
Hi fred, I tested this one against the ATS 25 Amp on a Skyscan Desktop Antenna, and it outperformed the Ats on the 40m band, granted the encoder is a pain to use and I dont think the firmware can be easily updated
Thats interesting and thanks. I actually have used this a lot in many videos since. The controls are a bit of a pain but i found it receives less noise that the ATS 25.
@@CB-RADIO-UK that's right, I will let you know how it compares on an active loop antenna in the near future
@@CB-RADIO-UK picking up SP9N which is apparently in Poland
7.102
Bit of an update on the ATS 25 amp, connected it to an active loop antenna from Bangood, £30, receiving on 40m from Belfast as clear as a bell, 7.189mhz
Hmm... "I think it tends to overload so I keep the agc off" Well, do you know what the agc is ? It is a function to reduce gain so overload does not happen. Anyway thanks for the review. Interresting piece of gear for the price. It has multiple issues in the software though. May need to wait for a software update.
The agc balances the gain both up and down. Normally you have a fast / med and slow setting. The agc on these type of radios is too slow to react so often a closer station will overload the front end with a harsh sound. Your better to just set the attenuator yourself around the halfway point. Its an interesting radio to play with and ive used it a lot recently. Just a bit of a pain without a full function touch screen.
Is is possible the encoder knob is not adjusted properly. Maybe try loosening it, pulling it out just slightly and tightening it again. It will allow more inward travel to make the contact.
No i dont think so. Its just stiff.
I found that a longwire for 75 meters was easy to make
When it arrived, it only switched on, when it was plugged to USB power. Not enough time to test it because after three days, it stopped working completely.
have the same prob. First i thought the battery was empty, but it showed as full. Switching off works, so as on. But sometimes it wont switch on without usb connected. Very annoying.
WHERE CAN I BUY ONE PLEASE AU 😊
I want to tell you about the radio but I will get to that in a moment. It has a touch screen but I will get to that in a moment. It has quite a few features but I will get to that in a moment! Geez mate!
Yeah but i did get to those if you watched the whole vid :-)
Fred is there a version of this radio with waterfall with a big tuning knob like ats25?
Not that I am aware.
@@CB-RADIO-UK yeah I’d like to find one with waterfall with easier tuning. Works for now though.
impressive price.. i got the original Steepletone MBR7 Vintage Airband Radio awsome performance
Can you connect this to a PC and display a larger graph on your monitor?
Not that Iam aware.
Aloomium? Ee dont caul it aloomium.
seem like the same as the ats series etc,half work but assholes to use compaired to a proper radio,bit like a prc-320 compaired to a ham transceiver.
I just heard some Scottish guy shouting you on 19, at 19.59 on 5th June 2023, I'm in Manchester, couldn't hear you reply. 😄👍
Nice to get a call. Was not on myself. Love local skip.
Nice video, one minor niggle, when you cutbetween videos would you pleases let the video you cut from finish the sentenceas it ( at kest to me) is a pitt jarring having sentences cut off mid way, at any rate thanks for the video
Thanks for the tip!
I agree, that knob thing is a malfunction. Deal breaker for me. Too bad, it looks like a really decent sdr unit.
You could maybe add a pushbutton opposite the SMA connector parallel to the rotary encoder?
Looks to be a possibility for a second radio only for trips.
Yes the price is good. You can live with the encoder tuning.
Needs a software update to reach its potential
@Fred -- Write this on the blackboard 100 times:
Al-you-MIN-ium
If you want to say the American version, write this on the other side of the blackboard 100 times:
Al-oo-MIN-um.
LOL James :-)
Try Alu-MIN-um...... That is "the American way" I suppose it all comes down to how you pronounce "minium" ......and Americans see this as "minum" .... Still, would like to see the playing field leveled...😃
Nice Radio indeed, does it have gaps in the frequency range. E.a. Military band etc?
I think it might. I did notice a gap up in the air band.
@@CB-RADIO-UK Most of these clones do have a gap , especially the military band.
Alumium?
What software could you use with it from a PC and what would it identify as ?
I am not sure it supports PC use.
Some owners peel off the screen protector , they prefer it that way, it looks clearer too.
Greetings: SMA has no place in this application. BNC is the norm and good reason. From that U til about halfway thru presentation I have lost interest in such product. U keep mentioning a comparison unit. Perhaps U can reply the Mfr/Model. Perhaps I would B more interested in such. As amateur radio operator I prefer functionality. I am not a fan of SDR unless it is added feature of the older style (programming, memories, computer viewing. I do like the spectrum display however I have no use 4 wasted screen real estate on the 'waterfall'. Thx 4 the share.
Hi. Thanks for your comment. Yes i get what your saying about everything being spectrum touch screen control. I still like using my Yaesu 8800. I think you meant BNC antenna connection.
@@CB-RADIO-UK Greetings: Yes BNC. I made the correction.
Where do you get the stand from?
Just a cheap mobile phone stand from ebay.
Same as the deepelec, no firmware updates. Don't bother.
The sideband sigs weren't tuned in.....annoying.
where can i get one of these SDR units from online, can anyone point me in the right direction please, many thanks x
Try Banggood. Link in description.
Dors this receive better than the rtl sdr?
Not as many features as RTL but it fits in your pocket.
Can this be used for listening to the shipping channels
Dont think it can as shipping is i believe in the 160 MHz range.
Add a ten watt TX for another £100 and they will have a winner.
Hey Fred. What area are you in? I've got a new antenna for my handheld CB and would love to try and make contact if it's possible. I'm in NW London.
Hi Iam in St Albans. I can just get about on to Jakes Ch35 FM group.
@@CB-RADIO-UK thanks for the reply. I doubt my signal would make it to St Albans because I've put a few calls out on ch 19 and not heard anyone come back. Do you know if this group meets at a certain time on ch35?
Probably we have an RX here to keep an eye on.
A bit disappointed not having Narrow Band FM for CB 27MHz 10 Meters 29MHz FM and 2 Meters Band 145MHz
Yes it is :-(
That's the cool thing about an SDR, things can be added with a software/firmware update if it is indeed a true SDR.
I will try to build my own SDR based on raspberry pi and touch display + battery.
That could be a good project. You could do it cheaper with an arduino.
I have just received my radio today and sadly it all works except the touch number pad. You touch the frequency and the number input doesn't come up. You touch the spectrum display and the radio freezes you touch three more times and the number pad shows, you touch a number and it jumps back to the main window. No way to input a frequency from the number pad.
Is there some way to reset the whole radio?
Also how to set the time and date? Oh, that's because the radio is defective.
Is there a way to see the firmware version? I have found out this is what DeepSDR is called a a BAD clone and cannot be updated. Sad, I got a defected clone. 😢
The update for the DeepSDR 1.0.1 you can adjust the volume and the frequency on the screen easily by touch.
If the PC can see this clone as a drive I would love to know because my PC cannot.
It does sound like you have a defective screen. Personally i would email them fro a replacement. :-(
@@CB-RADIO-UK Yes I will do that because now after using it more manually it is not functioning properly at all. It just freezes after turning it on. Thank you for the suggestion.
@@CB-RADIO-UK Can you connect yours to the PC Fred? Does it come up as a drive on the PC. Mine does not. Hold down the knob and turn it on when connected to the PC.
@@ominkan3129 Thanks for that. I could not get mine to connect via the large USB.
I fixed the problem by running a light gauge plastic guitar pick along the top of the screen and frame of the case. Now it is working as it should. I can access the date and time and the keypad screen and enter frequencies. What a difference that makes. 😊
Hello, I received the SDR from Banggood today. Actually the knob is difficult to play for all functions. Unfortunately it does not connect to the PC (Win 10). He tells me he can't find the driver. Can I download it from some site? Thank you
My radio did not show up on PC either.
@@CB-RADIO-UK 😱 And how do you update the memories?
Same problem here - tried the USB-C connector, as written on the bootloader-screen, Win 10 error msg - will try Linux now, don't think it will help though.
I wrote to Banggood yesterday that I want a refund!
@@RollinJo On banggood, there’s a picture of the PCB, it seems that only a couple of the outer pins of the USB C socket are connected, all the middle pins are not. I too, will ask for a refund, seems like a design-error.
Have they fixed this by now? Seems like there is almost no reason for it to have a touchscreen if you can do almost nothing with it.
No there is no touch screen. It would be better with one but i actually used it quite a lot during 2023 and it worked well.
@@CB-RADIO-UK Thank you for your reply!
To me a "radio" means transmit and receive. Does this do that?
No its not a transceiver
So i hear that the drift of volume up and down using shortwave is caused by the waves of the sea
No its just radio propagation as the signals bounce of the ionosphere.
Good presentation Fred, but I can't see the point of it. Someone please explain it to meplease. Cheers.😁
These pocket SDR's can be a good portable solution. Something you might take on holiday. The large screen allows you to see if the bands are open at a glance.
I have this radio and you can just keep pressing the button to get to your selection.
This model only selects about 5 functions when you press. You have to hold down the encoder to access all the features.
this one is US$108.00 but it only goes up to 149 Mhz
Yes correct.
Thanks for the review. Is there a way to turn that horrible waterfall off?
And could anyone please explain me which child invented that waterfall and what the added value might be?
No on this model its fixed. On Malahite radios you can change it to a retro vintage looking display. As for value it allows you in one glance to see right across your chosen band and see if any freqs are active. On a touch screen model you simply press on that freq on the waterfall and the radio tunes. However i get where your coming from. :-)
@@CB-RADIO-UK Thanks, but both you and I know there's no need for a waterfall to see which frequencies are active. That's shown in the upper half where you see the signal strength. The upper half makes sense.
The Chinese just copy whatever they assume is popular, and therefore this nonsense waterfall continues forever.
Hi,i have the atx25-x1 hows it compair,any better,maybe do a comparison vid?,cheers de m3vuv 73
the ATS-25 is a DSP radio, and the one in the video is a SDR radio. You can look at the specs of each on websites to show you their capabilities.
Will the screen die and the lithium batter both die in a years time? Mine did..what about yours...my radio biddies
Hard to say. Mines going strong at the moment and I am still using it regular in videos.
They answer me: "the machine doesn't connect to pc" 😱. But when you try to connect to pc the sdr write on screen : " attaching the device to pc by usb c, is appears appears as a removable disk. So they say false!!! It is definitely a tactic to not refund the customer
I think its down to the firmware. It has been set up to use with a PC but the windows driver has not yet been written. Prob rushed on to the market.
that is good but 100K-149MHz......