XHDATA D-220 Review

I’m a huge fan of XHDATA radios.  Recently, they reached out to me and asked me to review a couple of radios.  The best part is that one of them was yet unreleased.  Introducing the XHDATA D-220 (orange) available on Amazon for $15.98.  Additionally, you can get one in black, or green.

It looks like a pocket sized transistor radio.  And that is precisely what it is.  Radio enthusiasts these days want radios with bells and whistles and single sideband.  But guys like me still want, need, and use a pocket sized radio.

Case in point.  We are going to the beach tomorrow.   I am not about to take a $250 radio to the beach.  Also, I’m a bicycle rider. Having a pocket radio is perfect for grabbing the local rock station while I spin.   I’ve also been known to have a drink or two and sit on the back porch.  Small radios fit the bill in so many ways these days.  I also like to hike and camp.  This radio is so small and lightweight that it belongs in your backpack, your camper or your bug out bag.

Quick Overview

XHDATA D-220 Features

Bear in mind I did this review without the benefit of reading any other reviews.  There was a manual in the box, but this radio is so intuitive to use that you won’t need it.  Let’s look at some of the features.

• Medium Wave (520-1730 @ 10K separation) – US
• Medium Wave (522-1728 @ 9K separation) – Europe
• FM 1 (87-108 MHz)  US
• FM 2 (64-108 MHz) Other parts of the world
• Short Wave (5.6-22 MHz)
• Telescoping Antenna (10.75″ Full Extension)
• Headphone Jack
• Uses 2 AA batteries (not included)

Band Selection (click pic to enlarge)

Band selection is location on the left side of the radio and has 4 steps.  FM1, FM2, MW, SW.  Next to the band selector is the headphone jack.

Tuning And Volume (click pic to enlarge)

Tuning is pretty precise.  You need to use slow, steady movements to lock in on channels.  This is really not unlike any other transistor radio you’ve used in your life. But I do like how precise the tuning is.

Next,  a close up of the front of the radio.

D-220 (click pic to enlarge)

Performance

The very first thing I did after I opened the box was to test shortwave.  I have never had a pocket sized transistor radio EVER pick up a short wave station inside my home.   And I was certain this wouldn’t work either.

To my surprise I pulled in 6 short wave stations and one of them was from Romania. 

To be fair I grabbed some other radios I own and the Romania station was receivable on all of them.   But when you have a tiny radio, DX-ing is the last thing you think you are going to do with it.

Regarding Medium Wave reception, I have insomnia.  I frequently get up in the middle of the night and DX on AM radio.  I am pretty impressed with the XHDATA D-220 and I got most of the mid-west and east coast AM clear channels (50,000 watt) at around midnight.  It slowly started tapering off as the sun was coming up as is normal.  I did have to rotate the radio quite a bit dependent on where the station was located.  All normal.

I am not much of an FM DX-er, however, I find the D-220 pulls in all the FM stations in my region that I have any interest at all in listening to.

It is fair to say I’m impressed with this radio.  I wouldn’t compare it to any of my boat anchor radios but it is great for what it is.

Sound

It sounds like a transistor radio.  Sounds good to me on talk radio.  If you need it to sound better, plug in some headphones.

Any Issues?

Well.  I’m not sure.  The other day I was outside in some extreme heat sitting on the patio with the radio.  While tuned to a station, I would turn the radio off.  When I turned it back on I had to do a minor adjustment to the tuning dial.   I was able to repeat that a few times.

While I am writing this I am testing it on a variety of stations and I CANNOT recreate this.

Could have been heat, could have been antenna and radio positioning.  Could have been that I fumble fingered it. I am not sure.  What I am sure of is that it is no big deal.

UPDATE:  After researching the issue I believe that the DSP chip has some sort of Automatic Frequency Control (AFC).  If you haven’t properly tuned in your station and then turn the radio off, you can observe some drift on startup as I detailed above.   In other words, the drift was the fault of my tuning.  Not a deficiency of the radio.

Should You Buy One?

Well I would say yes to the following reasons.  Camping, hiking, emergency kit, etc.  If you are a radio wizard who needs single sideband and external antenna connections I would say no.

In the same regards, if you are a radio geek this is an awesome addition to your collection.

Again, I was surprised at the Short Wave performance but I’m aware that it is subjective to geographical location and environmental conditions.   But again, I didn’t think I could get ANY stations, and I got a few.  That’s a win!

Be sure to order on Amazon.

JOHN’S TECH BLOG HIGHLY RECOMMENDS THE XHDATA D-220