I've got that C Crane . Love it . The earphones , weather functions, and cool compact design , as well as SSB performance give it a big advantage imo. Thanks.
I just ran down to C Crane and bought my second skywave SSB. I left the other outside too much, camping, rained on a few times. I really abused it a lot! With that said, it lasted a few years longer than it should have😃😃I'm sold on this radio. I don't use it for classical music so the speaker is fine. With the earbuds it's as good as any high quality stereo, bass and all. And the batteries last forever! C Crane is about 5 minutes from my house in Fortuna. So I can go play with the radios they have on display. The first I bought there was the Sangean ATS-919 without the cassette. Still have it. The folks at CCrane are awesome! They won't sell a radio they wouldn't buy their selves. Edit: ATS-818 w/o cassette not 919
I think you forgot to mention that the XHDATA shows RDS information on the FM. Almost all modern radios sold in Europe have RDS reception, but only a few do in the USA. It is really very useful and sets your clock automatically.
Thank you for these reviews. It helped me to chose and purchase the CCrane Skywave SSB. I’ve been binge watching your videos trying to learn as much as I can. I’m new at Short Wave radio and find it all Very fascinating. I wanted to thank MMK2 last night I was on your livestream and had a few questions and they were very helpful. Some of your other viewers weren’t so happy about my questions so I wanted to thank you and MMK2 for your help as I navigate and learn all about this wonderful hobby. God Bless!
I like C. Crane business model better. I take your word on these radios both being very good. Being a radio person all 75 years of my life I have formed preferences. Sony, Sangean, and C. Crane are my preference. For better sound I use head phones. My best radio is my Apple I Phone and tablets. I can stream anything. It is just fun doing it the dinosaur way. Bon Sioux, Arnold Gibbs
Another chooser: you can't get the XHData in the US! They block shipping of it, or any of the Chinese clones, to the US, due to some kind of competition agreement with companies such as TecSun.
I got my XHData for about 80.00 US dollars. I bought this set about 7 months ago and am still amazed by this set especially on MW. I don’t live too awful close to an airport but I still get a good assortment of stations active across the air band. My headphone experience is great with the JBL phones. Nice receiver.
As you hear with good headphones I want to ask you a question:When I switch on my D-808 with volume wheel at minimum I can hear a clearly white noise on all bands the same. It´s like a background noise of the electronics. When I increase the volume for example in FM steroe with a strong station the noise seems to vanisch but I think it is due to the louder musik. Do you also notice this noise and do you think it is normal? The radio app in my 5 year old smartphone doesn´t make any noise like this.
@@mariodrechsler2618 I really don’t understand why this is happening. My D 808 has no hiss or noise on any band. My headphones experience on my D 808 is wonderful. When I play music on my home stereo I have a small transmitter that I use to send the music throughout the house. When I use the D 808 to listen to the end result it’s always perfect. It’s very sad that your receiver has this static or distortion. I’ve not had any problems at all.
I own the CC Skywave SSB and just ordered the D-808. The CC Skywave SSB is very portable and I like to use that when I take trips farther away from home, and the AA battery options are more flexible. I see the D-808 being used for when I am home (and not using my Grundig Satellit 400 tabletop setup) but still want portability, or when I am out doing things like day trips. The 18650 battery limitation with the D-808 is more tolerable as I am close to home and will be topping the battery off fairly often. The CC radio is there for emergencies too. By the way, C.Crane just came out with a CC Skywave SSB 2 (preorder) that has some changes to it (USB micro instead of mini (no USB-C?), tweaks to audio output, longer feet, and an external antenna jack), which are good but not making me want to spend money to upgrade...spent on adding the D-808 instead.
The Radiwow 108 is even cheaper which is a clone of the older Sky Wave CC. It's a shame that RedSun basically knocked off the C-Crane product line. RedSun makes the XHdata and the Radiwow. Oh, and fun fact RedSun is the manufacturer of the C-Crane radio line!! Yes, RedSun not only makes the C-Crane radios they also make the knock offs.
Thanks for the reviews i have had several portables in the past my wee Roberts r831 died last month, i havd a Sony 7600 somewhere L😜L *somewhere being the operative word there ha, so im opting for a wee cheap sw receiver w/ssb Respect & Blessings 73
Two points you overlooked: Warranty and Long term reliability. C.Crane has a proven reliability record- long term. XHData, while the radio has been around a little while and the company really seems to have done a fantastic job, and I’ve heard no complaints, the company is still fairly new, so long term (years) reliability is not proven. C.Crane is really great to work with, and really do honor their warranty. XHData is on Facebook, and did respond quickly when I asked how I can get another copy of the instructions.( They asked me a couple questions, then sent me a copy to my phone) but as to warranty, I don’t know. 📻🙂
Warranty is the same on XHDATA 1 year and it's as complicated to deal with whoever sold you the C Crane than the XHdata as it's over the net There is absolutely no indication of the C Crane being better quality than the XHDATA ... remember it's also made in China be the Redsun company. This is purely a what do you want to buy ... nothing else makes it better in terms of quality standard or warranty
I agree, C. Crane more than honors their warranty from my one and only experience with a warranty issue (actually an out of warranty issue). They sent me a brand new radio when I had an issue with a Solar Observer and it was 2-3 months past warranty. They have actual customer service people that pick up the phone out in California and made the process super easy. They even looked for my order through Amazon as I couldn't remember when I had purchased it. They would have been within their right to tell me to pound sand but chose to send me a new radio. Not saying XHDATA won't do the same but I'm not sure it's as easy of a process.
@@CWB-RF Whenever I buy a C.Crane, I always buy direct from them. The only exception: My CCPocket. They were out of stock, but suggested a local store that sold their radios, so I went to the store and got one off the rack. They’ve always been very helpful to me. ((I also buy my Tecsun and Kaito radios direct from www.Kaito.US if at all possible. [ I’m assured of getting the latest version, and less of a risk, and hassle])). Is there an official importer/ warranty center in the US for the XHData ❓ I’m not knocking the XHdata. I’ve only heard of a few complaints, and considering how many they kick out of the factory, it has an excellent track record for quality. 📻🙂
Paul, you didn't mention the batteries that these 2 radios use? I now see that the CCrane uses 2 AA batteries which out in the field especially when camping/hiking AAs are much more practical where there aren't charging applications available!
I'm satisfied with the performance of the XHDATA. I prefer listen to our nearest airport traffic controllers instead of the weather channel. I'm not sure if this feature works in Germany or other european countries.
I've heard of CCrane since the 90s on Art Bell.They claim to make the most sensitive and powerful AM radios,but alot of radios beat them.Even ones alot cheaper.There have been quite a few complaints how their radios just stopped after a few months and can't trade it in for another one or get your money back.This one guy's did that and CCrane said they really can't do anything but give him a 20.00 discount if he buys another one.Also the repairs to any of them cost just as much as a new one.
I'm looking for a decent FM portable radio but all the reviews on RU-vid just seem to concentrate only on the AM bands. I am currently using Tecsun PL-310ET and Tecsun PL-606 but I find these radios have very poor selectivity next to strong stations unlike most Car Radios which have much more narrow reception just like the Sony XDR-F1HD. I am looking to replace my Tecsun with a portable radio with selectivity as narrow as a car radio/Sony XDR. Does anyone have any recommendations please?
@@OfficialSWLchannel Sorry ,excuse me , maybe I am using the wrong words cause I am german, but listen to Tecsun PL880 and you will hear the difference. I dont wanna say anything bad about XHDATA its good for its price, but i liked to spend a bit more money :-)
@@DXLUPO no offense... I totally understand that the PL-880 might have better sound, the speaker is bigger so it would be logical... no problem my friend !
I am with you on this. DXing for just readability - I understand but now I want to get listenable low hiss AM and FM and a nice sound . The 880 with the ability to get a little more highs AND lower noise floor for about $250 to $260 with great SYNC. That sounds good ...I HOPE the Tecsun PL 990 might do that....or the new Satellit 900 Eton ( more $probably )
XHDATA does have the warranty coverage but you need to pay shipping send the radio back, same with C Crane, that is why if you can get it on Amazon or a local outlet they deal with the warranty and it makes it easier
With 10 KHz steps, frequency coverage 522~1620 KHz for 9 KHz steps. Can be expanded to cover 76~108 MHz. 7 standard channels for the USA weather band. On MW band.
Well, they are designed for different markets. Here in Europe the us weather band isn’t used at all, meanwhile there are still some stations on long wave. But the D808 is terrible on long wave. I live in northeastern Hungary, and I cannot receive the Polish radio on 225 kHz with the D808, meanwhile even the cheapest radios with terrible sensitivity and selectivity can receive it. But the other features of the radio are amazing.
