The newly released XHDATA D-220 seems to be one of the biggest surprises of 2024. All shortwave frequencies from 5.6 MHz to 22 MHz are squashed together in a very tiny dial space. But this radio is surprisingly sensitive on shortwave, despite its small size and deceptively simple look.

This video is a full shortwave scan, with a 5 metre wire attached as antenna. I picked up more than 40 shortwave stations, most of them very clearly. It is incredible how sensitive and selective the radio is. You barely touch the tuning dial and another station jumps in.

There are very many interesting stations here, not just the usual strong Chinese stations. There is even something that sounds like CW (Morse Code) and something that sounds like OTH radar.

I identify some stations, but not all of them. Identifying stations is a challenge with this radio, you will need to listen for IDs (like in the old days), or use another radio with a digital display to try and find the same signals. But this radio is loads of fun!

I recorded the sound digitally via the earphone jack, into the Tecsun ICR-110. My location is Johannesburg, South Africa.

00:00 SW band scan on D-220 finds 40 signals
01:08 Full SW scan
01:33 CW signal?
02:21 OTH radar?
02:53 VOA in Burmese 9730 and 9780 kHz
04:33 Turkish jammer and maybe some Dengê Gel
06:03 NHK in Hindi 11655 kHz
07:08 BBC from Oman 11995 kHz
08:01 CRI in English 13630 kHz
08:28 WRN in Russian from the UAE 13650 kHz
08:43 Voice of Turkey 13710 kHz
09:05 CRI in Russian 13860 kHz
09:36 AWR from Guam 15215 kHz
09:57 Radio Liberty from Udon Thani 15255 kHz
10:19 Radio Exterior de España 15390 kHz
10:47 AWR from Madagascar 15606 kHz
11:51 Ifrikya FM from Algeria 17600 kHz
13:10 BBC from Santa Maria Di Galeria 21470 kHz
13:46 Radio France International in Swahili 21690 kHz