Author Archives: Kevin

About Kevin

Just an old guy with opinions that I like to bounce off other people.

Incoming Radio: Degen DE1131

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Kevin

For the time being, there are pre-tariff Chinese radios for sale in the US at reasonable prices, and I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel for things to review. I came upon on this new-condition Degen DE1131 Touch Screen Controlled … Continue reading →

Posted in Product Reviews, Radio | Leave a comment

De maximus

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Kevin

I’m no fortuneteller and I don’t have any special expertise in international trade, but I can report what I saw today. I ordered a Chinese-made WWVB time signal receiver module from a Canadian seller on eBay. It cost $9.13. Here’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad Commerce | Tagged eBay, Tariffs | Leave a comment

Artificial Interaction

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Kevin

I thought I would try out the Grok AI today, so I asked Microsoft Copilot to make up a query to test it out. Copilot knows things I’m interested in and it came up with this challenge: Analyze the impact … Continue reading →

Posted in Artificial Intelligence | Tagged Communications disruption, Geomagnetic storms, Grok, Microsoft Copilot, Satellite communications, Shortwave propagation, Solar storms, WWVB | Leave a comment

WWVB

Posted on April 21, 2025 by Kevin

I was rummaging around in a drawer recently and came across an old clock/thermometer with the logo “Radio Controlled” on the front. Indeed, this pocket-sized fellow is a WWVB receiver. The symbol to the left of the time is a … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged National Institute of Standards and Technology, Oregon Scientific, Radio Controlled Clocks, Tariffs, ThermoClock, Time signals, WWVB | Leave a comment

The Last Incoming Radio: SI4732 Pocket Mini

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Kevin

I ordered this from AliExpress and have been promised delivery by April 29. This remarkably featured shirt pocket sized radio sells for around $32 with free shipping (even less from other sellers, and on eBay). It even detects single sideband. … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged AliExpress, OM0ET, SI4732 pocket shortwave radio, Tariffs | 1 Comment

Too Taxing: LiJiANi Rd908 Weather Radio

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Kevin

I received my LiJiANi Rd908 on time from Amazon, but there was some confusion about the weather alert feature. It didn’t work as the product description said, and the manual linked in the product description didn’t even mention an alert … Continue reading →

Posted in Product Reviews, Radio | Tagged Emergency Radio, LiJiANi RD908, Weather alert radios | Leave a comment

Incoming Radio: LiJiANi RD-908

Posted on April 13, 2025 by Kevin

I had some questions about the 14500 battery, one of the types supported by this radio, and asked Microsoft Copilot about it. That led to a discussion of the radio and its features. At the end, after sharing my purchase … Continue reading →

Posted in Product Reviews, Radio | Tagged LiJiANi RD908, Microsoft Copilot, Weather Radio | Leave a comment