Jyams
Excellent Radio!
I am a licensed amateur radio operator (General) and have numerous ham radios, gokits, handhelds, and SDRs. I also have numerous Tecsun radios for general listening, and a dozen outdoor antennas in various configurations for ham voice operations and general listening for SW/HF, VHF, UHF, Airband, etc. I love this hobby obviously. From time to time I purchase general coverage wideband receivers. I have been watching this radio since it was introduced earlier this year. Have tracked the various video and written reviews. This radio is available in at least 3 different brands, including ZHIWHIS. I chose the ZHIWHIS version primarily due to reviews stating the one real issue with this radio has been mostly solved with a firmware upgrade to version 1.710. That issue which is demonstrated in most videos has to do with muting when tuning in SSB, which is a known problem with this generation of receivers caused by a specific chip used. However, the problem can be improved with firmware which has been done with various iterations of Tecsuns, Sangean, and other models. This 919 came with firmware v1.698, which as far as I know is the original version on the first run of production. I immediately contacted the ZHIWHIS support department at the email address in the included manual requesting a firmware update file for the latest version. Within 2 days I received a wonderfully kind response AND and a firmware update file, plus the updated manual copies for the radio and the phone/ipad app for remotely controlling the 919. The firmware upgrade process is not without nailbiting, as the support department clearly states that this is done at your own risk and can brick your radio if not done exactly as specified. They will not replace a bricked radio. This happened to reviewer Dan Robinson at swling.com. However there is enough evidence on various online postings that a firmware upgrade can be done without problems if done as below. Also, the better known brand, R**dy, has officiall