I have tested the XH Data D808 half year after it was produced , never reviewed, and then sold it because I didn’t like its audio and weird the button usage and because I had to slim my huge radio collection for some money . I did also the same with the PL880 and keeping only the PL380 instead of the others.
Notice : parts of this review has been sent to the TSM magazine which was refred only in the letters part.
From this point and below I will notice the names only by the number that is . 808 for the XHdata, 380 and 880 for the PL380 and PL880 respectively
Below are several important comparative things to notice about this ‘wonderful’ radio as some advised in the Greek Facebook groups. A Greek radio listener and possibly operator of an unofficial station has bought both 880 and 808 and Radiwow 108 all of which operated badly to him except the 808 Faulty radios?
- Weird usage of buttons that require double enter
button usage before and after dialing frequency.
Also weird usage of memories by changing
banks and then choosing 10 memories with
the corresponding number button.this is another
reason
- It sensitivity is quite good in SW, quite close to PL880 but significantly better to PL380. Both
PL880 and D808 are in par .
- The filter bandwidth especially on the higher numbers as 6 and
4 kHz is the double on what is noticed on the display ie 12
and 8 respectively. The 2.5 kHz filter is actually around ±7 kHz wide as heard with
the earphones.
- It can be used also for synchro SSB if required It does not support Synchro
AM. Signal indications this way can increase by 20 db in the SN readout
- Soft muting is one of the most
important problems of all DSP radios in contrast to what the person mentioned
advised me. This also happens to 808 in a lesser way. It has the sense of old analog radioin case of well fading signals .No perfect ACG as some signals can be heard louder than others
- There is a muting gap while changing frequencies especially in
the lower HF bands This seems nearly disappearing
once the radio is connected to an external antenna.
- D808 shows around 10 db of signal higher than the PL880
readout in both MW and shortwaves .
- Long antennas as my 2x16m inverted V connected to the antenna input can overload on nights to both PL380 and 808 . This does not happen to the PL880 and just in case there is an att switch to attenuate the signals
- MY auxiliary antenna of 8 m can also overload the 808 in in times
mega powered signals as Romania and China with signals around S9+ and above 20 /-50
to-40 dbm/during the nights. These signals can be found on 5 6 and 9 MHz in the
winter time.
- There is a RDS feature on FM that can also automatically adjust the inner clock Several stations in my city use faulty timing!
- I m not sure if the radio has a antenna in its package. I used a
Tecsun antenna reel with better signals but the real gain can come with wires thicker than 1.5 mm2 with signals
up to 10 db in the S+N display.
- VHF Air band seems a bit ‘deaf’ but you can receive many
signals. I assumed around 15 in my city. You
can enhance respectability with external wire connected to its antenna -not to the antenna socket!
- In terms of audio and fidelity, 808 lacks audio fidelity and is
ranked third 380 and 880. You need to use linear response earphones for natural sound in FM.
- With full battery it can operate around 35 hours with earphones. Not tested
with its inbuilt speakers. This is nearly the same time with
380 and 880. Once I used the 880 only with 85
hours of listening under very low background audio
- It uses a special battery as the PL880 type 18650 that is used for vapes.
There is also a interesting article in the Ultralight Dx in this address in doc format in case you want to download it :
https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/8y6855bnfmy45rnk46mzr7hb4pwjz8u8
https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/5d0pi85jfptgmrj4pd0jsmaybgb6gteh
Hoping that this info can help you before you buy!
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