Does the little D-808 perform? Almost unbelievable how well it works – my go to road trip radio “kit” has become simplicity itself – the radio and a Kaito reel up style antenna – and that’s it – I lucked up on a basically new old stock Grundig Yacht Boy 400PE – great performer – but – I really did not like using a highly collectable ( read valuable ) radio as a knock around piece – so I grabbed the XHDATA D-808 – throw a piece of bubble wrap around it and toss it in the bag – If it gets smushed? You are out about a $100 bucks, and it’s replaceable – pristine Yacht Boys are getting very hard to find!

And the little wire antenna ( about 20 feet ) is plenty of length – you really don’t need a long wire and when you start getting to 100 feet or so you start getting into issues such as the antenna becoming directional – but this is not a post about that – I am planning out a roughly 70 foot long wire and I will document that in a different post for you folks – but simply put – there is a LOT of stuff on short wave out there, you just have to look for it.

Another neat thing about the XHDATA D-808 is that it’s a good performer on AM broadcast band – as the sun sets the conditions improve and there are a bunch of stations to listen to – during the winter months I listen to the Grand Old Opry on WSM almost every Friday night – dependent on conditions . . .

And if you are listening to shortwave and are not sure who or what you are listening to? You can go here, here, or here and look up the frequency on the first – or enter the frequency on the last two.

Now is the time to practice and learn how to use your shortwave listening skill set – not tomorrow – not next week or next month – NOW! – when you are deep in the middle of shit ?? – It is TOO LATE!

Yes – I know – but one of my jobs is to be your ray of fucking sunshine – thank you very much . . .

Have Fun! – Run the Gun! – and remember – Fish Heads are Cheap!!