As a long time radio fan (like 60 years) and ham radio operator, I'm always intrigued by new radios and new technology. I started out with tube receivers, and just look where we are today.
I received the package, including the radio, the case, a soft bag, charging cable and a very detailed operators manual. I had also ordered a couple of button top 18650 batteries (button top 18650's are a requirement) and had them charged and ready to power this little radio that has received so much attention. As a ham radio operator, I have several antennas at my disposal, and I've been testing it with a 40-6 meter off center fed dipole.
From a short wave listening perspective, this radio is a little marvel. I've been allowing it to auto-tune through the short wave bands, and the results have been quite amazing. Quiet, clear reception of many stations on all the bands. It outclasses all my other shortwave portables including my Sihuadon D-808 and Tecsun PL-330. I am slightly disappointed that the radio doesn't process SSB signals, but I have other radios for that. For short wave listening, the DX-286 is a little marvel.
FM reception is also in a class by itself. I haven't tested it thoroughly, but all the stations in the Treasure Valley of Idaho are easily heard, and my favorite rock oldies station sounds perfect. Great stereo separation and broad, adjustable bandwidth. Listening through my Sony headphones is pure pleasure.
From a MW perspective, it astounds using the built-in whip, away from the inherent electrical interference of the neighborhood. It is so sensitive that noisy RF environments are unpleasant. It hears everything including the computer power supplies, flat screen TV's and your electric fence. Switching to the internal ferrite antenna, it has no problems picking up our local stations, but be aware you'll need to rotate the radio for best reception.
After only less than a day, I have so much to learn about this radio, and the detailed operators manual will help me get there. But first impressions are lasting impressions and I can tell you that for less than $100, this is one amazing little device. A word of warning, be prepared for a learning curve as this is not an intuitive radio to operate. You'll need to spend some quality time with the manual to get the most from it, and I've barely scratched the surface. But from what I've seen and heard so far? Just wow.
Note: For a detailed review, please read Jay Allen's take on the radio.
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This item: QODOSEN DX-286 Portable Radio, with TEF6686 Automotive Chip,LW,AM, FM, Shortwave,Data System(RBDS/RDS),Antenna Attenuator,Antenna Switch, AMP Switch,1000 Presets,Tone Switch,Clock/UTC/Alarm/Sleep
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Product Description
QODOSEN DX-286 Portable Shortwave Radios Introduction
1.DX-286 ( the performance is the same as QODOSEN SR-286 with more user-friendly operation) adopts NXP's high-performance automotive chip TEF6686 to ensure superior selectivity and ultra-high sensitivity.Better reception experience for you!
2.FM band support 64-108MHz, support RDS/RBDS Radio Data System, 5 kinds of frequency range selectable,6 kinds of step selectablesuitable for diferent areas to receive;there are 17 kinds of bandwidth selection, with excellent selectivity.
3.S/N Ratio ≥ 60dB, clear signal, low noise, built-in adjustable antenna attenuator, improve the overload resistance;LW/MW/SW band with built-in low-noise amplifier switch to improve the reception sensitivity.
4.All bands support external antennas, using an external antenna can make the DX-286's sensitivity even better.
5.LW and Mw bands support switching between telescopic antenna and internal ferrite bar antenna. In an outdoor setting with minimal interference, reception is even better with a telescopic antenna or external antenna.
QODOSEN Portable Shortwave Radio 18650 Battery Powered/Independent Amplifier Design
1. The DX-286 uses button cell 18650 batteries (note: batteries are not included in the product) rather than flat batteries, making them very easy to replace. When the battery is dead, it can also be charged using a standard 5V USB charger. (Avoid using a fast charger as it may cause damage).
2. The DX-286 uses separate amplifiers for speakers and headphones to reduce interference and enhance sound quality,with greater dynamics, wider range and less distortion.
External antenna interface, QODOSEN Portable Shortwave Radios supports all bands including LW/MW
1. Improved signal reception quality: By connecting an external antenna, the radio's sensitivity to receiving radio waves is enhanced, thus improving the quality of signal reception and allowing the radio to pick up more channels and clearer audio.
2. Expanded reception range: An external antenna can help broaden the radio's reception range, especially in areas with weak signals or limited signal coverage, allowing for a wider range of reception.
3. Reduced interference: Indoor environments often contain various sources of interference, such as electrical devices and metal structures, which can affect the radio's reception. Connecting an external antenna allows the antenna to be placed in a location with better signal reception, reducing the impact of such interference.
4. Convenient adjustment of antenna position: External antennas typically come with longer cables, allowing users to conveniently place the antenna in different positions to achieve the best signal reception. Users can optimize reception by adjusting the antenna's position and direction.
Portable Shortwave Radios by High Performance Automotive Chips
DX-286 radio adopts TEF6686 car radio chip,this car radio DSP tuner offer outstanding performance levels with the broad range of features and advanced algorithms(CEQ, EMS, lMS, and PACS,Noise Blanker..), software-defined radio signal processing,Especially in multipath improvement, adjacent frequency interference, weak signal processing, and noise elimination, it has significant advantages.
QODOSEN portable shortwave radios always have a method of operation that suits you!
DX-286 has 5 tuning modes, 100 editable pages, supports 1000 cross band storage stations, two storage sorting (ATS JUMP/ATS COVER), multiple search thresholds, multiple store/delete methods. Flexible operation.
ANTENNA SWITCHING
LW/MW has three antenna switching modes. Choose the right antenna for the environment to get the best reception.
1. In the case of indoor or electromagnetic environment with high interference, it is recommended to use Internal ferrite bar antenna to receive (ANT INT).
2. If you are outdoors or in an electromagnetic environment with little interference, you can try to use Retractable Antenna to receive (ANT EXT), Retractable Antenna can bring you a better reception experience.
3. To achieve better reception, you can use external antenna in ‘ANT EXT’ mode.
ANTENNA ATTENUATOR
1. Enhance Reception Clarity: An attenuator controls signal strength, preventing overloading and distortion, ensuring clearer and more stable broadcasts.
2. Mitigate Interference: It minimizes interference from strong electromagnetic sources like storms or power lines, improving reception performance.
3. Improves Selectivity: In multi-frequency environments, it helps filter out unwanted signals, enhancing the receiver's focus on the desired broadcast frequency for accurate and clear reception.
Built-In Low Noise Amplifier Switch
1. When reception is weak, you can enable the signal amplifier (AMP ON) to increase the strength of the signal, making it clearer.
2 If there is a signal overload when receiving a strong signal, you can turn off the signal amplifier (AMP OFF) to reduce overload.
3. When using an external passive antenna, it is recommended to turn on the antenna amplifier (AMP ON).
4. When using an external active antenna, it is recommended to turn off the antenna amplifier (AMP OFF).
FEATUERS OF FM BAND
The DX-286 radio has an FM tuning range of 64 MHz to 108 MHz with 5 adjustable ranges to meet the range requirements of different countries. It enables precise tuning with 6 selectable steps and 17 bandwidth options, ensuring excellent selectivity in all environments. It also supports the RBDS/RDS data system for an enhanced broadcast experience,, and four different FM signal processing functions to improve signal quality.
MUSIC VOICE TONE
The DX-286 is equipped with a closed-cavity full-range speaker in its compact size, which excels in vocal and music details; and has a tone switching function, which allows you to adjust the details and layering of audio by selecting different gears (MUSIC/VOICE) to satisfy the listening experience of different users.
ONE-KEY MUTE FUNCTION /SWTICH LCD ON/OFF
1.The One-Key mute quickly toggles mute on or off without adjusting volume gradually.
2.Turning off the display can reduce noise interference and improve weak signal reception for a better auditory experience.
Compare with similar items
This Item  QODOSEN DX-286 Portable Radio, with TEF6686 Automotive Chip,LW,AM, FM, Shortwave,Data System(RBDS/RDS),Antenna Attenuator,Antenna Switch, AMP Switch,1000 Presets,Tone Switch,Clock/UTC/Alarm/Sleep | Recommendations  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $79.99 | $108.00 | -18% $59.90 List: $72.90 | $56.90 | $59.99 | $55.90 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 31 | — | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 31 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold By | Qodosenradios | xhdata US | xhdata US | LIJIANI | Electronnix | LIJIANI |
| power source | Battery Powered | Battery Powered | Battery Powered | AA battery or LI-ION battery | Battery Powered | — |
| supported bands | FM/ AM | 5-Band, AM/FM/SW/LW/Air | AM/FM | 6-Band:FM AM SW AIR VHF WB | AM/FM | 6-BAND AIR FM AM SW WB VHF |
| connectivity tech | USB | USB | USB | Bluetooth | USB | Bluetooth TYPE-C Auxiliary TF Card |
| hardware interface | usb | usb c | usb, 3 5 mm audio | usb c | usb3.0 c, 3 5 mm audio | bluetooth 5 |
| display type | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD |
| power rating | 3 watts | — | — | 3 watts | 0.2 watts | 3 watts |
| frequency | 108 MHz | 108 MHz | 108 MHz | 87 MHz | 108 MHz | 87 MHz |
| voltage | — | — | 240 volts | 5 volts | 5 volts | 3.7 volts of direct current |
Stellar FM and AM and Strong Speaker for the Size
To fill the kitchen with radio sound, I use my Tecsun PL-660, but when I wake up early and I don't want to disturb my family, I play the small Qodosen DX-286. At this price, I compared it to the Tecsun PL-330, but with no kickstand on the 330 and with reports of superior AM, FM, and speaker sound on the DX-286, I went with the latter. The key is to only play your Qodosen on the battery. Never play it while it is plugged in because you will compromise its superlative reception. Learn to turn off the beep button so you won't have annoying beeps (hold the RDS Meter button for 2 seconds) and use direct key entry for your favorite stations, and you will have one of the best portable options available.Update:I've been playing jazz and classical in my office, and I'm surprised how good the speaker sounds for its size. This is another feature that makes me give the DX-286 a strong recommendation.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2024
- Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2024
Executive summary: Quite impressed with this small footprint radio. Reputable sources like radiojayallen say its great and it is!
- Lets get this out of the way. No battery comes with it. I knew this and I have a large collection of 18650 batteries for several of my other radios. It does chug when tuning and does not have SSB. There RF noise from the display circuit on LW and MW but you can turn that off once you are on a station)
- FM rx is stellar, blows everything out of the water. Part of this is due to the small size. It is very easy to move the radio in all directions quickly. In contrast, my CCRadio 3 is so large that its not easy to repositon in the same manner. Selectivity is also stellar, I can receive distant stations 200 KhZ from a local.
- LW is very good. With the internal antenna it is good (comparable to my H501x and leaps and bounds better than the horrid LW performance on the Eton Elite Exec). With the whip antenna it is even better. I live in the USA so can only get my local airport beacon. There is a lot of noise from the display but you can turn that off holding down the 1 and 3 buttons simultaneously. A small negative.
- MW is meh on internal antenna, excellent on whip when away from RF interference (and can turn off the display to get rid of the display noise). I still give the slight dx nod to the CCRadio 3 with its auto tune and 8" ferrite. That is still quite a feat.
- SW is very good. I cannot say its better than my H501 or Eton Elite Exec. But it's up there. It does chug like the Eton. I knew there was no SSB going in. No sync of course.
- Good sound for the size. Comes with nice hard case. Tons of user selectable options. Good quality build.
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Top reviews from other countries
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ErickReviewed in Mexico on January 15, 2025
Excelente radio
Es un excelente radio, tiene un buen sonido para su tamaño, con tres modos de equialización en FM y un predeterminado. Se agradece la función RDS en un pequeño portátil como este, tiene un diseño elegante. Hay muchas reseñas en diferentes medios sobre su desempeño y funciones especiales que no se encuentran en otros modelos de su tamaño, en mi experiencia sólo diré que usando algún tipo de antena externa podrá verse con claridad las ventajas de su sensibilidad. Detalles que no me gustaron, el hecho de que consume pronto la batería, por lo que es recomendable conseguir dos para intercambiar si requieres uso continuo y prolongado, y su pie parece frágil. Se agradece su maletín y funda blanca para transporte y cuidado.ErickExcelente radio
Reviewed in Mexico on January 15, 2025
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- The5BowReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 21, 2024
Big radio in a tiny body!
