Author Archives: Kevin

About Kevin

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

Surprise Radio: RTL-SDR Blog V4 SDR

Posted on February 4, 2025 by Kevin

See warning at the end of the post. I’ve had an RTL-SDR Blog V3 SDR for a few years, but I haven’t blogged much about it beyond the article on SSB. In the intervening years, RTL-SDR Blog has come out … Continue reading →

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Incoming Tool: UNI-T UT658DUAL USB LCD USB Type C Digital Tester

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Kevin

Cheap thrill here ($21.99). This little fellow can evaluate the performance and capacity of a USB power bank, and by extension an emergency radio that can charge a USB device. I have no confidence in product promises for battery bank … Continue reading →

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Killing the Noise

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Kevin

I believe, and I think most other shortwave listeners would agree, that the biggest problem facing our hobby today is noise, radio frequency interference (RFI) from other electronic devices. Long Rambling Preface Just sitting here typing on my wireless electronic … Continue reading →

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I Need a New Battery! Mregb YD-819?

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Kevin

I suppose you have to be a pretty old gamer to get the reference from Return to Zork. I really don’t need a new battery, but I wanted one. Technically the 81 kWh battery in my car will keep my … Continue reading →

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Zhiwhis ZWS-2415: Just Curious

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Kevin

I like puzzles, one of which is figuring out where radios come from. The ZWS-2415 got its FCC Type Acceptance under model HD-2415 by a Chinese company called Shenzhen Huedeli Electronics Co., Ltd.  The company’s website says they make weather … Continue reading →

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Zhiwhis ZWS-2415: On Shortwave

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Kevin

The Zhiwhis ZWS-2415 is shipped with a 3-meter clip-on wire antenna, so that’s how I did my initial test today. I went up to the local pickleball court where there is a convenient picnic table and set up the wire … Continue reading →

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Zhiwhis ZWS-2415: First Impressions

Posted on January 26, 2025 by Kevin

Unboxing It comes in a nice box with outstanding padding. Here are the photos and some initial comments.

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