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Re: 18650 battery test in Xhdata D-808 radio

radiojayallen
 

Mine is an XHDATA labelled cell rated at 2000 mAh.
Re: 18650 battery test in Xhdata D-808 radio

Rémy Friess
 

What sort of battery is it?

My D-808 came with a 2000 mAh type. A friend of mine got a set with a 1600 mAh type, another with a 1200 mAh, and it seems some come with 3600 mAh batteries.

It seems they include the type of battery they can lay their hand on when dispatching the stuff.

Rémy.

Le 02/08/2020 à 14:37, radiojayallen a écrit :

I've been interested in reading about people's varying experiences with battery life on this radio. Since I had never noticed a problem with battery life on my XHDATA D-808 with its original battery compared with other rechargeable radios (although it is one of many radios I regularly use in rotation so it's hard to judge), I am running an informal real-world test.

I charged the radio, then started using it for two hours a day on AM at medium volume with the light off. So far I have completed two weeks (14 days) which would amount to approximately 28 hours and although the battery meter initially drops rapidly it is still showing 2 bars. I will report total hours when it finally shuts off, but it seems clear that people are having vastly different results. Of course if I were playing it more loudly it would have certainly been depleted by now so there is a bit of subjectivity to this. But at least compared to other radios with internal rechargeable batteries the D-808 with it stock battery seems fine.

FWIW.

Jay

Re: 18650 battery test in Xhdata D-808 radio

radiojayallen
 

I've been interested in reading about people's varying experiences with battery life on this radio. Since I had never noticed a problem with battery life on my XHDATA D-808 with its original battery compared with other rechargeable radios (although it is one of many radios I regularly use in rotation so it's hard to judge), I am running an informal real-world test.

I charged the radio, then started using it for two hours a day on AM at medium volume with the light off. So far I have completed two weeks (14 days) which would amount to approximately 28 hours and although the battery meter initially drops rapidly it is still showing 2 bars. I will report total hours when it finally shuts off, but it seems clear that people are having vastly different results. Of course if I were playing it more loudly it would have certainly been depleted by now so there is a bit of subjectivity to this. But at least compared to other radios with internal rechargeable batteries the D-808 with it stock battery seems fine.

FWIW.

Jay
Re: 18650 battery test in Xhdata D-808 radio

Phil Pasteur
 

Thanks for doing the testing Steve. It confirms what I have  experienced  with some of the specific batteries that you tested. It also confirms what I have  read and would have expected about the super rated Chinese cells.
Re: 18650 battery test in Xhdata D-808 radio

Steve Ratzlaff
 

Reading my comments, it might seem that I put the on/off switch in parallel with the load resistors but that is not so--I put the switch in series with the load resistors (which were in parallel to give the 50 mA test current) so I could connect this setup to the battery and turn on the switch to start the load test, and turn off the switch to stop the load test once the batteries had dropped down to approximately 3.40 volts. I hope no one is still confused!

Steve

On 7/31/2020 6:45 PM, STEVE wrote:
I greatly enjoyed the previous comments about battery life in the Xhdata D-808 radio and how battery life varies so much and was motivated to run some tests of my own.

I ran some tests on my own various 18650 batteries. First I found the radio battery indicator would flash and the radio would not stay on at 3.403 volts, indicating I should test batteries with a load simulating the radio until they were discharged to about 3.40 volts. I found the radio tuned to a station, backlight off (the light greatly increases current draw), with low to medium volume drew about 50 mA and used that current for my test. I used two 150 ohm 1/4 watt resistors in parallel with an on/off switch to give such a load across the battery, tested outside of the radio of course. I bought four new Samsung "36G 10A 3600 mAh" batteries off eBay, charged them one time initially for the test. Those four batteries all lasted over 52 hours with the 50 mA load before dropping to 3.44 volts where I stopped the test for those batteries. The 2000 mAh battery that came with the radio, which I did not recharge after it had been charged maybe 6-8 months previously and taken out of the radio and let sit (its no-load voltage was 4.079V) lasted 28.5 hours. A Tecsun-branded 2000 mAh battery, also previously charged and let sit 6-8 months earlier, with no-load voltage 4.179V, lasted 31 hours and 15 minutes. Two old "GTF 9800 mAh" branded batteries that I'd used in flashlights were much poorer; both lasted only 11 hours.

The Samsung 3600 mAh batteries gave very long life but they are not inexpensive, almost $10 each with shipping and tax. Maybe other brands of 3600 mAh batteries would work similarly but I can't say.

73,

Steve
18650 battery test in Xhdata D-808 radio

Steve Ratzlaff
 

I greatly enjoyed the previous comments about battery life in the Xhdata D-808 radio and how battery life varies so much and was motivated to run some tests of my own.

I ran some tests on my own various 18650 batteries. First I found the radio battery indicator would flash and the radio would not stay on at 3.403 volts, indicating I should test batteries with a load simulating the radio until they were discharged to about 3.40 volts. I found the radio tuned to a station, backlight off (the light greatly increases current draw), with low to medium volume drew about 50 mA and used that current for my test. I used two 150 ohm 1/4 watt resistors in parallel with an on/off switch to give such a load across the battery, tested outside of the radio of course. I bought four new Samsung "36G 10A 3600 mAh" batteries off eBay, charged them one time initially for the test. Those four batteries all lasted over 52 hours with the 50 mA load before dropping to 3.44 volts where I stopped the test for those batteries. The 2000 mAh battery that came with the radio, which I did not recharge after it had been charged maybe 6-8 months previously and taken out of the radio and let sit (its no-load voltage was 4.079V) lasted 28.5 hours. A Tecsun-branded 2000 mAh battery, also previously charged and let sit 6-8 months earlier, with no-load voltage 4.179V, lasted 31 hours and 15 minutes. Two old "GTF 9800 mAh" branded batteries that I'd used in flashlights were much poorer; both lasted only 11 hours.

The Samsung 3600 mAh batteries gave very long life but they are not inexpensive, almost $10 each with shipping and tax. Maybe other brands of 3600 mAh batteries would work similarly but I can't say.

73,

Steve
Re: Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

Russ Edmunds
 

Remember that for MW, the smaller the ferrite antenna, the worse MW reception will be.

Russ Edmunds

WB2BJH

Blue Bell, PA

Grid FN20id

From: main@UltralightDX.groups.io <main@UltralightDX.groups.io> on behalf of Michael Schuster via groups.io <schuster.ma@...>
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2020 10:51 AM
To: main@UltralightDX.groups.io <main@UltralightDX.groups.io>
Subject: Re: [UltralightDX] Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini
 

[Edited Message Follows]

While the Eton Mini might not be great at MW, I wouldn't discount everything with the same form factor. I have the Sangean DT-180 and it is fairly sensitive. I believe the selectivity is better than my Grundig G4000A although I've never compared that side to side.
Actually most of the pocket-sized Sangean portables are at least adequate on MW, and some are very good to excellent. Even the worst of them pretty much outclasses the Eton Min IMHO

Re: Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

Michael Schuster
 
Edited

While the Eton Mini might not be great at MW, I wouldn't discount everything with the same form factor. I have the Sangean DT-180 and it is fairly sensitive. I believe the selectivity is better than my Grundig G4000A although I've never compared that side to side.
Actually most of the pocket-sized Sangean portables are at least adequate on MW, and some are very good to excellent. Even the worst of them pretty much outclasses the Eton Mini IMHO
Re: Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

Thomas Kane KC1MAT
 

While the Eton Mini might not be great at MW, I wouldn't discount everything with the same form factor. I have the Sangean DT-180 and it is fairly sensitive. I believe the selectivity is better than my Grundig G4000A although I've never compared that side to side.
Re: Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

Michael Schuster
 
Edited

The assessment of relative performance on MW vs FM is true. I bought the earlier packaging of the Eton Mini a couple of years ago during one of the periodic Amazon fire sales. It is adequate for local MW listening but far from DX material. MW performance is limited by tiny ferrite antenna and DSP-related audio artifacts. I had intended to take it on a trip but reconsidered at the last minute; it's sat in the box ever since.
Re: Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

radiojayallen
 

I personally find this group to be one of the most interesting and enjoyable of all the radio-related groups I belong to. Yes, it has morphed a bit from its inception as Gary explained, but I consider that the content posted here is usually worth reading, even though I was never a strict Ultralight user. I love portable radios of many stripes and tend to favor higher performing radios for listening around the house but the info provided here on antennas and general listening information adds a lot to my enjoyment. 

Jay
Re: Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

Paul S. in CT
 

Yes by size its OK. But I'll take exception to the following... its most likely a really good radio for FM, but the vertical layout of the radio with display near the top of the set means its probably not good for AM. You might be surprised that some $20 analog sets would out-perform it on AM. I would also be prepared to buy bulk quantity of those AAA batteries, (tub of 60 at Home Depot or Lowe's for example) as battery life won't be too long. But, its your coin to spend anyways you like to spend. I prefer to spend little.

Regards
Paul S. in CT FN31nl
Re: Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

Dave Hascall
 

Gary kind of summed it up, it has sort of trailed off to a niche of the main MW DX hobby and the group is more dedicated to technological advances, especially in antennas.

I did love the Contests and entered both of them.  My first (now late) wife, needed lots of care so they were a welcome break from the norm.  I kinda wish they would come back and I think the awards have trailed off as well.

But my few ULRs are my go to DX receivers right now until I get the garage cleaned up and my more serious portables unpacked.

73 and good DX.

Dave in Indy
Re: Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

Joseph Rotman
 

He does some great videos 

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On Wednesday, July 29, 2020, Larry Smith via groups.io <larfla2@...> wrote:

Just looked his "tube" channel up. it's "Todderbert", his formal channel name is "Radio Waves by Todderbert".

Re: Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

Gary DeBock
 

Hi J.P. (and Max),

During the worldwide Ultralight Radio Boom in early 2008 we had a very dedicated group of volunteers to handle administration, a classification and awards program, numerous Ultralight technical modifications (loopstick transplants and upgrade IF filters) and breakthrough Ultralight-related DXing antenna experimentation.

Unfortunately we have lost a lot of our volunteers since then. John Bryan provided most of our administration, but he was lost in a tragic accident in February of 2010. Kevin Schanilec also assisted in the early Ultralight Group administration, but he has been inactive in the hobby since 2015. Most of the original "super DXers" who contributed to the Ultralight Radio Boom (Rob Ross, Allen Willie and Richard Allen) are still with us, although they may currently enjoy DXing outside the Ultralight Radio niche group (which is fine with me, of course). We will always hold their accomplishments in the highest honour, regardless of how they are currently enjoying the hobby.

So, to summarize, even though the Ultralight Radio attraction is still booming throughout the world after twelve years, we suffer from the same limitation that almost every radio hobby group struggles with-- a severe shortage of volunteers. I am the only original survivor of the Ultralight Radio administrative group in early 2008, but my personal focus has always been on transoceanic DXing and antenna experimentation, not on administration. The fascinating new challenges of ocean cliff transoceanic propagation, FSL antenna development and "Frequent Flyer" Ultralight Radio DXpeditions are thrilling to the extreme-- and more than enough to keep this fanatic fully occupied.

Concerning the original Ultralight Radio Classification rules posted by J.P., they are still currently valid, although multiple DSP filters and SSB capability are now acceptable (primarily due to a decision concerning the new C.Crane Skywave model). The 20 cubic inch size limit is a guideline which is unlikely to be ever changed, however. In the absence of any currently functional Ultralight Awards program this limitation may seem irrelevant, but there have already been many top-performing Ultralight Radio models fully approved in years past, several of which have been used to receive over 1,000 stations in stock form. My strong advice to anyone who really wishes to experience a new thrill in the hobby is to focus on the challenge of receiving rare DX with minimal equipment, rather than on attempting to change the equipment to make the challenge easier.

73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
Ultralight Radio Group Co-Founder

       
Re: Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

Larry Smith <larfla2@...>
 

Just looked his "tube" channel up. it's "Todderbert", his formal channel name is "Radio Waves by Todderbert".
Re: Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

Larry Smith <larfla2@...>
 

 No. The "Awards Program" and "Challenges" died because the guys running it moved on to other interests and I seem to recall one of the founding members fell off a ladder while rigging a antenna  or something like that and died. This "Ultralight", "all the rave" stuff has fallen off during the past few years, that's why the lists haven't been updated and such. I think most of the original members went to software defined computer geek stuff and never looked back. KInda the same story with the NRC and IRCA. I just do my MW DXing in solitude now. A guy named "Toddebert" or something like that has a interesting Youtube channel where he reviews and operates a ton of these new, and older, radios.
Re: Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

J.P. Tuttle
 

I was just curious -- the definition document mentions radios needing to be approved for contests, awards, and records.  Are those things not as common as they were in the past?
 
Thanks,
 
-- J.P.
Re: Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

Max Italy
 

Why would you need approval for each individual model if it is not even closed to any of the limits?
Recent approved ultralight DX radio list; proposing Eton Elite Mini

J.P. Tuttle
 

Is there a recent list of approved ultralight DX radios available?  I couldn't find one in the Files section, but I might have missed it.
 
Also, if it isn't approved already, may I propose the Eton Elite Mini?  I've listed the criteria and specs for it below.  The spec sheet from Eton, with a photo and specifications, is available here:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2407/2229/files/SpecSheet_Elite_Mini.pdf
 
1. It is a simple shirt pocket-sized radio of not more than approximately 20 cubic inches.
According to the dimensions on the spec sheet, the volume is 5.4567 cubic inches (4.3 * 2.7 * 0.47).
 
2. It is an entertainment-grade radio, as opposed to enthusiast's radio. As such, it will usually not have AM synchronous detection, SSB clarification or other specialized features.
It doesn't have either of those features, and the marketing copy on https://etoncorp.com/products/elitemini seems to imply that it's entertainment-grade:
 
"The compact Etón Mini radio lets you tune in to your favorite local stations or listen to news and music from across the globe with an internal AM antenna and a telescoping FM/SW antenna."
 
3. It is readily available to the hobby in new or used markets at the time of its approval.
The Eton Elite Mini is available new at Eton's website, Universal Radio, Amazon, etc.
 
4. It costs no more than $100 retail at the time of approval.
The Eton Elite Mini costs $30.
 
5. It is primarily a radio. While it may have other features as well (MP3 recorder, etc.), the design and function should have radio reception as its focus.
The only extra feature is the alarm.
 
6. It is not a "novelty radio" such as Coca Cola Can radio, Mr. Potato Head, etc.
The Eton Elite Mini is not a novelty radio.
 
Thank you,
 
-- J.P., KB1TIC
 
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