XHDATA D-608WB review: Compact emergency radio with impressive reception on all bands

The XHDATA D-608WB is an emergency radio with full shortwave coverage that was released in January of 2024. XHDATA sent me an evaluation copy. This is my full review of this radio. It is a long review, but you can jump to the chapters that interest you.

I have been doing some extensive testing over the past three weeks and I think this radio offers incredible value in an emergency package that actually provides really sensitive SW and MW coverage - two bands that many people who use emergency radios would need. It does not have SSB though. But in a real emergency you will be able to pick up distant SW and MW signals easily with this radio.

It also has various emergency functions such as two light sources, a mobile phone charging outlet, an SOS button and the NOAA weather bands for people who live in the United States. It has a powerful 3000 mAh battery that lasts very long. In all respects this radio just does what it says on the box, and it does everything very well. It seems to be quite similar to the XHDATA D-109, but even better.

It is available on the XHDATA website at a price of $41.50, but you need to add shipping, if ordered directly from China, here: https://xhdata.com.cn/products/xhdata...

I have done many different tests and comparisons over the past weeks, all at my regular location in Johannesburg, South Africa. You can see some of the videos here:

Unboxing:    • The first unboxing and quick review o...  
XHDATA D-608WB compared to D-109:    • XHDATA D-608WB vs XHDATA D-109 on ver...  
Shortwave band scan with distant catches:    • Band scan: New XHDATA D-608WB emergen...  
Distant and local MW catches:    • Distant and local MW performance on n...  
More MW catches:    • XHDATA D-808 vs D-608WB on distant me...  
XHDATA D-608WB with long wire:    • How does the XHDATA D-608WB emergency...  

00:00 Initial thoughts on the D-608WB
01:09 Timeline of XHDATA radios
03:45 An emergency radio with wide coverage
05:45 Two emergency lights
06:59 Strong battery and charging options
08:02 Protected input ports and a small flaw
09:22 Basic functions and band settings
11:27 MP3 player via mini-SD card
12:56 FM demonstration
14:10 Local FM
14:42 Four distant FM stations
17:00 MW demonstration
19:19 ATS scan on SW
20:19 SW from all over
29:36 WRN Vserminaya Radioset in Russian
29:56 WRN Vserminaya Radioset clear ID, with wire
30:19 Voice of Iran, without and with wire
31:04 My verdict - the good and bad