▶ The C.Crane CC Skywave SSB 2 at Amazon: amzn.to/42Z37xt (paid link) As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are no additional costs to you.
Hey todderbert, love the channel! Thought I'd provide an update on C. Crane Skywave SSB2 popping and hissing noises when changing channels or listening via ear buds. I purchased the SSB2 radio in April of this year and I was really satisfied, except for the two issues described above. After conducting a little research, I discovered that the firmware on my radio was version SSB6 and FW SSB7 was released after my purchase. I called the company to inquire about updating the radio and to my surprise, after a single button push on my phone, I was connected to an actual human being! The person who answered, advised that they were aware of the problem and, as I was still within the warranty period, offered to replace mine with a new radio. It arrived today, both problems have been resolved and the overall sound of both the speaker and headphones just sounds a bit better. C. Crane understands the principles of customer service and to me that's worth a few extra bucks for their products so buy once, cry once!
I love ccrane and just bought a skywave ssb2 from them Feb 29, a week ago, they still sent me an SSB 6 firmware radio with the hiss SMH. Very disappointed.
@@brendanb1541 I just received the ssb 7 version. When I turn volume all the way down there is still a quiet his when I put my ear to the speaker, is this the case with yours or is it completely silent?
Wow I love the ccrane radios. I know the price is kinda high but it justifies with the quality radio you get. This radio can do it all for bands and the external antenna adapter is a plus. Speaker is improved to original.
What is needed is an early morning shortwave bandscan to prove the Skywave SSB2's capability of pulling in weak signals (i e Asia, China, Japan, Korea etc), not just WRMI, gospel huxters etc. Using any reel antenna connected to the radio's jack would be helpful.
With an external antenna, it [ the original] does excellent. I can get pretty much all of them - in a quiet environment [ which I do have]. These will receive any/all stations that any other radio will in it’s category: Sangean ATS-909 Eton Elite Executive, XHDATA D-808, Tecsun Pl-808, Tecsun PL-680,[ and 660], Tecsun PL-330, 📻🙂
I received the SSB 2 direct from CCrane. I am enjoying all the features in a small package. Sadly, my SSB 2 has the noticeable hiss at 0 volume on both speaker and headphone as mentioned by Todderbert @ 14:20. Has anyone had this experience with CCrane SSB 2 - and would it be best for me to return this unit and wait for something better (or a later version of this model)?
I returned mine with a hiss, it had the ssb 6 firmware. I just received the SSB 7 firmware edition and there's still a hiss, the hiss is less, but it's still present. I dont think there's a skywave ssb 2 without this hiss at this point.
Nice radio but I think I'll wait for the improvements of the SSB2. That's a lot of money to spend on a first run edition that might develop more problems in the future. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for doing a side by side comparison. I found it to be very informative. For the time being, I will stick with the original. The "popping" while switching bands would not be something I would enjoy.
For an outside antenna, try a dark red magnetwire wrapped around your porch in the direction of least noise. SCIPLUS sells a #26 gauge, dark red, 100 feet.
I would love to see this compared to the new Retekess TR110, which seems to have a lot of bells and whistles. FM/MW/SW/LSB/USB/AIR/CB/VHF/UHF/SSB/WX, Antenna jack, headphone jack. If the quality is there, this should be a great item and at a decent price. Only downfall I have read is speaker quality isn't great
As of 10-30-23 this radio still has a pronounced "pop" heard through the supplied earbuds when changing bands or stations within a band using the arrow keys. Also, the hiss is still heard through the speaker with the sound turned all the way down. It's not worth the $200 asking price. I'll be sending mine back. Hopefully they'll get it sorted out on future versions.
someone just wrote, and said theirs was ok. Possible mixed batch? Call C.Crane and ask about it. They are 100% helpful, and last time I called I got a knowledgeable human on the other end.
@@todderbert Thank you for your advice. Customer service stated the one they sent me was firmware version SSB-6 and they would send me a version SSB-7. Fingers crossed.
@@todderbert Firmware version SSB7 doesn't have the pop. There is still a hiss from the speaker with the sound turned all the way down, but I think it's a bit less. Customer service was top notch.
Hej Todderbert thanks for the review and comparisons between the new C.Crane Skyway and the new C.Crane Skyway SSB 2 take care and have a nice evening.
Intriguing. I want to buy myself a CCrane radio with SSB to compliment the regular CCrane that I already have. I'm sticking around to see what the new radio has in store.
Excellent video. I love that C.Crane [ actually] made improvements. Others [ Sangean, Eton,….] can LEARN something. (( the one reason I avoid the Sangean is the def antenna problem. Should be a simple fix or upgrade, but my 1st Gen ATS-909 has the problem - same problem on the 909x and 909x2.😐)). 📻🙂
To be fair... the Sangean 909X2 did make some improvements, the aviation band, making the fm band toggable so you can actually use it on some international extended bands, better labeling options for memories, Autotune on Shortwave.... yeah they failed to fix the biggest issues with ssb and nevermind even considering sync detection til that is fixed, but they are going in the right direction, just slowly.
I put off buying one to grab some antenna items. Anyone venture a guess on how long it will take the initial production run to get out of the system to make sure I can get one without the clicking bug?
Great review! Off topic, but the comparison about the radio case bottom (flat vs semi-curved) reminds me of the "canoe hull shape - initial/secondary stability" talking points. Canoe owners will know what I'm talking about. haha!
Talk to C.Crane and see what they can do for you. Usually you want to use a Double sided tape to reapply a lens. SuperGlues, as you found out will fog when they cure.
Happy Thanksgiving Todderbert. I think I would wait for the improvements to the SSB 2 to make a decision. For that price the popping would bother me. C Crane makes great radios, I’m sure they will get it right. I have purchased 2 recently, the CC Pocket and the Solar Observer. Both are great. I have really been enjoying the Observer. It has quickly become one of my favorites, it has incredible reception, the speaker sounds great, and the dial light is awesome. It’s just a cool old school looking radio. Thanks for the channel.
They really need to make this radio able to use external AM antennas like the Tecsun PL-330. The Tecsun makes it possible for me to listen to AM radio inside my camper that`s filled with very bad interference from the DC circuits, indoor gardens, and WIFI. Plus I use several noisy solar inverters. I ran a 100 ft long wire between the end of the camper away from the interference and over to a tree, then ran an unshielded jumper wire into the living area. To stop interference I "grounded" it to a 100 ft roll of wire and get a perfect signal and clear shortwave too.
@@SigSoftNC I think I may have bought the Solar Observer from you on eBay. If so thanks it’s in great shape and works fantastic. If you didn’t sell it to me sorry for the bother.
Have you heard of the Qodosen SR-286, if not, I'd look into it...What C.Crane is asking, price wise, for these little radios is insane... does SSB and air band really justify $80-100 more...hummmmm.
Skywave. I love the portability, AA operation, and I use mine with headphones. If you don't plan to use headphones much, and are not on the move as much with your radio, the Tecsun would be the better choice.
Actually I am using it right now and the sensibility is quite good. I played with SSB settings and they are very powerful an easy to use, after watching your videos. I am now convinced of C. Crane radios, quality of construction and support. I even register unit's warranty and open an account there yesterday. I am just looking forward for C. Crane products and discoveries.
Thanks Todderbert. I’ll wait until they fix the popping. Surprise d really, they’d let it go out the door with this flaw. However if they jack the price up to $200 I’m gonna pass. If anything it should be lower…
I just wonder why too. Micro USB is less sturdy and with use suffers bad connection and bending. All my equipment is current switching or adopting USB C, it is much better. It is a shame a radio as expensive as this, overlook this as Mini USB of the other one is robust and easer to connect that a Micro USB plug. Even some Chinese models comes with USB C connector.
Can you use like the regular external wire antennas that come with Tecsun radios on the SSB2 or do you have to use the adapter that came with the radio?
Hello, thanks for the review's and I'm currently considering a RF receiver purchase, the Skywave 2 and the ATS 120 or the ATS 25 X2 are my options. Have you reviewed the ATS offering, or do you have comments with regards to either unit, thanks again.
Old post reply, not sure what you got, but hopefully it is working out for you. The most fun could be the 25, while the most practical would be the Skywave.
C CRANE Has always seemed over-priced in their products - While they probably work O.K. For the most part, I bought a radio from them years ago, and had a lot of problems with it- However, I've had good luck with TecSun , and I have 5 Different models, 3 with SSB - they have pretty good sound, and so far, I've Had NO Problems with them -- Anyway, Great Vids !
Hi. Nice review as always. Small question. Are they both assembled in China? For SSB original I saw "Made in China" mark at Amazon photos, not sure about SSB2
I have a Tecsun pl-660 Sony 7600gr and Tecsun r9700dx eton s350dl and some other lesser radios. What would you recommend that has good am ssb and shortwave?
@@colescuckooclockshop754 I would get an Original Skywave SSB if you want ultra portability. If not the XHDATA D-808 is slightly larger and powered by an 18650.
@@colescuckooclockshop754 What you own is enough. The PL-660 is Great, and the Sony is Perfect. If you wanted more, check out the Tecsun PL-880, or the D-808 on eBay, or Amazon.
I see little reason to buy this over the almost identical XHDATA/SIHUADON D-808 which is half the price. The D-808 uses a Li-Ion battery which some people don't like. It also has a hiss at low volumes that no one could like, but other than that it has the C.Crane soundly beat. From a styling perspective, I really dislike the C.Crane speaker grill. It looks very cheap and is a constant reminder of how small and tinny the speaker is. And why add micro USB when USB C is quickly becoming the norm? Maybe this is for 3rd world?
@@tlebryk not stolen - there’s a lack of patent protection among Chine manufacturers. Redsun, who worked with C Crane to design their one of a kind Skywave and SSB models, has no control over other manufacturers who are seemingly free to copy parts of those designs, and to modify them any way they want to. Redsun actually agreed not to export the XHData D-808 to the US but I guess you’re right, enterprising thieves found a way to ship the radio to the US via Israel. I do prefer that Skywave though, and many other C Crane products.
As usual your videos are very engrossing. Kudos to you. As pointed by you there are some problems with ssb 2 and it does not justify the price. I was interested in buying this . I had seen their website and came to know that it's price is less than that of the original ssb. I enquired from them ( c crane, usa) and came to know there is some bug ( some popping sound) into it and will take some time and newer lot will be out in June 2023, at 200$. I was interested in it but could not wait till that time. Kindly suggest a latest radio with ssb and having the same and / or better caliber/ features in terms of reception , features, sound and build quality. Thanks and regards.
The closest to this radio is the XHDATA D-808. Nothing matches it for size. The Skywave SSB also runs on AAs, which the only other I could recommend is the Eton Elite Executive, but it is a larger radio.
hi todderbert first time here your youtube i got new CCrrane Skywave SSB shortwave radio for christmas just trying to figer out thing worki used have a ssb short waves raio from radio about this same side like 2003 i think i kindy forgot it broke dont work now go to shortwave am to ssb i trying to figer go to cb radio ssb to listing to am king hard ty for video merry christmas to yall
I really enjoy your reviews and bought the Kaito KA600L after seeing your video. Small question. Should I leave the 18650 battery in the radio if I leave it plugged into 6VDC adapter. Thanks from Canada.
I enjoy your Videos, and pick up old especially Sony radios at the second hand stores, swap out the antenna elements between the good and the bad, spray the controls, and use "crud cutter" or Formula 409 with Q-tips (the ACTUAL brand ones, not the knock offs!) on the cases.. I especially like the combo mains/battery models with the tuning LED (it's pretty much the same schematic for all.ofntjose you know...) Sony was thoughtful to make a compartment that would fit the mains cord so you don't lose it or drag it around... I'm surprised that Crane didn't go to USB-C with this model, as it's more robust and you don't have the polarity annoyance... Need a better speaker. Though I have a non SSB skywave, I'm sticking with the PL-660 for now, though I'd pick up an "original" SSB for travel IF it went on sale, since you can't beat it for compactness... It's just out of my price range, times are a bit tough esp. at Christmas I wish Crane would stick a Bluetooth transmitter in a radio, so one could send to a Bluetooth speaker/earphones... Perhaps a little capacitor across the headphone jack would get rid of that click? 73 DE W8LV BILL (and W8LV/VE3 prepandemic) 🇺🇲🇨🇦
The SSB is more Compact, and runs for sixty plus hours on a pair of AAs. Seems many of my viewers are happy it takes standard batteries. I'm a fan of 18650s myself. I would love a beefed up Skywave version running an 18650, and have a speaker like in the Radiwow R-108.
Dreamsky made a cheap pocket radio I paid about 10 bucks for and the speaker sounds as good as a much larger radio with actual bass tones. Bass guitar and drums sound good. So if they can do so well I don`t understand why others can`t mimic it. The first one I bought was a very sensitive AM radio too but never came back after I loaned it out when a hurricane hit. The replacement is great but a bit less sensitive.
I have the original, great radio but I found the soft mute a little annoying. Pity the shipping for me in the UK almost half the cost of the radio😢 & no long wave
Todderbert is not bragging, He is just the Messenger.Don't shoot the Messenger.His videos are excellent... If you get mad at Todderbert... Then get Mad at michael jordan If he tells you , he's excellent at basketball
Hello.well thankyou for the info. I have the first one and as yes its a good radio it's just to small a speaker. They should of made a bigger radio period they would of sold many more. Once again thanks for the heads up. Ron z. WA3090SWL.
Pretty pricey, compared to xhdata d808 and the tecsun pl 330 which are also feature rich peers in my opinion. Even the tecsun pl660 or 680, while still cheaper may even be superior. I just can’t see how the C crane skywave ssb2 can justify the retail price of around $199 last I checked.
I have the first radio, I just wished they'd made a better battery door, it's a poorly thought-out design, nothing like the quality of Sony... Otherwise so far -so good.......
With the Qodosen SR-286 being out in the wild, C.Crane has to do something drastic, if they are planning to raise the price. I have the original Skywave SSB, and the Qodosen SR-286 is sooooo much better in every aspect. The sound of the Qodosen SR-286 is so much fuller, and richer. The SR-286 is also much more sensitive than either of the Skywave SSB's ((on all bands)). The SR-286 also has the ability to turn off the internal ferrite, so you can use external antennas. The SR-286 also has a much better display. The SR-286 uses the NXP TEF6686 DSP chip, which is superior over "any" of the Si labs chips, found in 99% of today's radios. The SSB/SSB2 have a few plus's the SR-286 does not. It obviously has SSB (single side band) It has Air band The dipole antenna is a bit longer 21" vs 19" on the SR-286 Todd, you have got to get your hands on a Qodosen SR-286, and review it. I love mine so much, I had to order another one. C. Crane needs to implement these TEF6686 DSP chips into some of there radios. Maybe Sangean, Tecsun, or Eton can make radios for C.Crane that have this outstanding DSP chip. Time is ticking away, and those that have heard of the Qodosen SR-286 are buying them up. If you are a DXer, this is the radio to own...
I enjoy dxing with my Sangean PR-D5 of late, and the Panasonic RF-2200. If it is as good as those, I would be impressed. I have heard about this new radio, and will pick one up when they come from a US supplier.
@@todderbert Todd, KG is right. You need to review the SR-286 radio. You will be doing your subscribers a huge service by grabbing one of these before they are gone (or modified to different DSP chip). You ask, is the SR-286 as good as the Sangean PR-D5 or RF-2200, and the clear answer is YES!! In fact, it might be in a league of it's own. I have the two radios you currently DX with in my stable, as well as the SR-286, and let me tell you, that little bugger is ultra-sensitive. It's about the same size as these Skywave radios, with the punch of a heavy weight boxer, triple its size. It hears radio stations it has no business picking out of the air. In my neck of the woods, I'm finding FM radio stations I never knew were there, over 120-140 miles away. This is a DXers dream in the palm of your hand! It's just as good on AM and shortwave. I've heard shortwave stations I never picked up on my other radios. Recap, if you are going to wait it out, for a US seller, you might be waiting a long time, which won't help your audience find out about this little gem until it's on the used market. If you love radios, and I know you do, take the leap of faith and go with it. I thought I was done buying radios, but after hearing about this radio, I said to myself, I have got to get me one of these. I'm glad I did, and so should you.
Sorry... I'll pass. Too "rich" for my taste for almost the same old. Glad they finally added an external antenna jack, but USB port should have been Type-C and the speaker is still teenzy. Tecsun 330 is less than half the price. Times have changed, take a look at ATS-120 and it's still less expensive than CCrane SSB or SSB2... Good luck with SSB 3.
Well, the market for radios like this has been turned on edge by the offerings that have been coming out in the past few years from Chinese upstarts like Radiowow/Sihuadon/XHData, Qodosen, and others. A Sihuadon R-108, said to be a direct competitor to the CCrane here, is about $50 on Amazon. People are correctly asking if the higher priced Skywave adds enough value to justify its price.
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▶ The C.Crane CC Skywave SSB 2 at Amazon: amzn.to/42Z37xt
(paid link) As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are no additional costs to you.
Hey todderbert, love the channel! Thought I'd provide an update on C. Crane Skywave SSB2 popping and hissing noises when changing channels or listening via ear buds.
I purchased the SSB2 radio in April of this year and I was really satisfied, except for the two issues described above. After conducting a little research, I discovered that the firmware on my radio was version SSB6 and FW SSB7 was released after my purchase. I called the company to inquire about updating the radio and to my surprise, after a single button push on my phone, I was connected to an actual human being! The person who answered, advised that they were aware of the problem and, as I was still within the warranty period, offered to replace mine with a new radio. It arrived today, both problems have been resolved and the overall sound of both the speaker and headphones just sounds a bit better. C. Crane understands the principles of customer service and to me that's worth a few extra bucks for their products so buy once, cry once!
I just (9/15/2023) called in and asked to buy one with the SSB7 firmware and that's what they sent me. I confirm the issues of hiss and pop are gone.
I love ccrane and just bought a skywave ssb2 from them Feb 29, a week ago, they still sent me an SSB 6 firmware radio with the hiss SMH. Very disappointed.
@@brendanb1541 I just received the ssb 7 version. When I turn volume all the way down there is still a quiet his when I put my ear to the speaker, is this the case with yours or is it completely silent?
@Kruz8er Yes I do hear a slight hiss when I hold it up to my ear
@@brendanb1541 thanks for letting me know
Just what I was looking for, todderbert. Like you, I'm staying with my original Skywave SSB. Here's a fiver for your efforts!
Thanks Mike! Appreciate the Support.
Wow I love the ccrane radios. I know the price is kinda high but it justifies with the quality radio you get. This radio can do it all for bands and the external antenna adapter is a plus. Speaker is improved to original.
What is needed is an early morning shortwave bandscan to prove the Skywave SSB2's capability of pulling in weak signals (i e Asia, China, Japan, Korea etc), not just WRMI, gospel huxters etc. Using any reel antenna connected to the radio's jack would be helpful.
With an external antenna, it [ the original] does excellent. I can get pretty much all of them - in a quiet environment [ which I do have]. These will receive any/all stations that any other radio will in it’s category:
Sangean ATS-909
Eton Elite Executive,
XHDATA D-808,
Tecsun Pl-808,
Tecsun PL-680,[ and 660],
Tecsun PL-330,
📻🙂
@@jeffking4176 Até o momento não vejo um rádio melhor do que o xhdata d808 !
I don't understand why they would ship the 1st batch with know problems instead of fixing it first. I do like the improvements.
I received the SSB 2 direct from CCrane. I am enjoying all the features in a small package. Sadly, my SSB 2 has the noticeable hiss at 0 volume on both speaker and headphone as mentioned by Todderbert @ 14:20.
Has anyone had this experience with CCrane SSB 2 - and would it be best for me to return this unit and wait for something better (or a later version of this model)?
I returned mine with a hiss, it had the ssb 6 firmware. I just received the SSB 7 firmware edition and there's still a hiss, the hiss is less, but it's still present. I dont think there's a skywave ssb 2 without this hiss at this point.
Nice radio but I think I'll wait for the improvements of the SSB2. That's a lot of money to spend on a first run edition that might develop more problems in the future. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for doing a side by side comparison. I found it to be very informative. For the time being, I will stick with the original. The "popping" while switching bands would not be something I would enjoy.
For an outside antenna, try a dark red magnetwire wrapped around your porch in the direction of least noise. SCIPLUS sells a #26 gauge, dark red, 100 feet.
I would love to see this compared to the new Retekess TR110, which seems to have a lot of bells and whistles. FM/MW/SW/LSB/USB/AIR/CB/VHF/UHF/SSB/WX, Antenna jack, headphone jack.
If the quality is there, this should be a great item and at a decent price. Only downfall I have read is speaker quality isn't great
As of 10-30-23 this radio still has a pronounced "pop" heard through the supplied earbuds when changing bands or stations within a band using the arrow keys. Also, the hiss is still heard through the speaker with the sound turned all the way down. It's not worth the $200 asking price. I'll be sending mine back. Hopefully they'll get it sorted out on future versions.
someone just wrote, and said theirs was ok. Possible mixed batch? Call C.Crane and ask about it. They are 100% helpful, and last time I called I got a knowledgeable human on the other end.
@@todderbert Thank you for your advice. Customer service stated the one they sent me was firmware version SSB-6 and they would send me a version SSB-7. Fingers crossed.
@@todderbert Firmware version SSB7 doesn't have the pop. There is still a hiss from the speaker with the sound turned all the way down, but I think it's a bit less. Customer service was top notch.
Happy Thanksgiving Todderbert. I got the original C.Crane CC Skywave SSB in June. I think I will wait for improvements to the SSB 2 before I buy one.
Hej Todderbert thanks for the review and comparisons between the new C.Crane Skyway and the new C.Crane Skyway SSB 2 take care and have a nice evening.
Intriguing. I want to buy myself a CCrane radio with SSB to compliment the regular CCrane that I already have. I'm sticking around to see what the new radio has in store.
Great review! Chatt Radio has these for 149
Excellent video.
I love that C.Crane [ actually] made improvements.
Others [ Sangean, Eton,….] can LEARN something.
(( the one reason I avoid the Sangean is the def antenna problem. Should be a simple fix or upgrade, but my 1st Gen ATS-909 has the problem - same problem on the 909x and 909x2.😐)).
📻🙂
To be fair... the Sangean 909X2 did make some improvements, the aviation band, making the fm band toggable so you can actually use it on some international extended bands, better labeling options for memories, Autotune on Shortwave.... yeah they failed to fix the biggest issues with ssb and nevermind even considering sync detection til that is fixed, but they are going in the right direction, just slowly.
It’s outta the box! 👍👍
I had the Eton Traveler, immediately sent it back. Nearly deafened me the first time it popped in my ear.
oh, that one is horrible on headphones. The Sihuadon R-108 USB-C model improved headphone use, and Skywaves have always sounded great on phones.
I put off buying one to grab some antenna items. Anyone venture a guess on how long it will take the initial production run to get out of the system to make sure I can get one without the clicking bug?
They didn't go to USB-C? What were they smoking?
Crazy price and still no RDS. A company who doesn’t seem to listen to its customers !
Great review! Off topic, but the comparison about the radio case bottom (flat vs semi-curved) reminds me of the "canoe hull shape - initial/secondary stability" talking points. Canoe owners will know what I'm talking about. haha!
Greatest review channel bar none for radios along with the sadly missed Two Hands and a Radio.
RUclips has ruined thousands of channels and countless lives with their constant threats and unfair psycho censorship.
I bought a Skywave SSB 1 st gen. The display lens popped out. I tried to glue it back on but it fogged. Major fail
Talk to C.Crane and see what they can do for you. Usually you want to use a Double sided tape to reapply a lens. SuperGlues, as you found out will fog when they cure.
I just bought the Skywave SSB last year. I doubt there is much difference, other than the charging jack and external antenna jack.
The speaker on the SSB 2 does not distort at higher volumes, but I tend not to turn my that far up.
Happy Thanksgiving Todderbert. I think I would wait for the improvements to the SSB 2 to make a decision. For that price the popping would bother me. C Crane makes great radios, I’m sure they will get it right. I have purchased 2 recently, the CC Pocket and the Solar Observer. Both are great. I have really been enjoying the Observer. It has quickly become one of my favorites, it has incredible reception, the speaker sounds great, and the dial light is awesome. It’s just a cool old school looking radio. Thanks for the channel.
The Solar Observer is a Hidden Gem. Excellent Reception, and Audio.
Agreed. If it were not for the popping, I’d have ‘popped’ for this version. Also, I have the solar observer and it is great and a solid performer.
They really need to make this radio able to use external AM antennas like the Tecsun PL-330. The Tecsun makes it possible for me to listen to AM radio inside my camper that`s filled with very bad interference from the DC circuits, indoor gardens, and WIFI. Plus I use several noisy solar inverters. I ran a 100 ft long wire between the end of the camper away from the interference and over to a tree, then ran an unshielded jumper wire into the living area. To stop interference I "grounded" it to a 100 ft roll of wire and get a perfect signal and clear shortwave too.
@@SigSoftNC I think I may have bought the Solar Observer from you on eBay. If so thanks it’s in great shape and works fantastic. If you didn’t sell it to me sorry for the bother.
No HD FM, No RDS, No DRM. I will wait for the Next update. Maybe I will get My Dream Radio.
What is the dream radio?
Have you heard of the Qodosen SR-286, if not, I'd look into it...What C.Crane is asking, price wise, for these little radios is insane... does SSB and air band really justify $80-100 more...hummmmm.
Excellent vid, but did I miss the SSB reception demo part of this video?
Todder if you had to choose one (I am treating myself) Skywave SSB2 or Tecsun PL 808 which one would you buy?
Skywave. I love the portability, AA operation, and I use mine with headphones. If you don't plan to use headphones much, and are not on the move as much with your radio, the Tecsun would be the better choice.
I just received my new C Crane Skywave SSB and I am very happy with it. Thanks Todderbert for your info. Happy holidays!
Actually I am using it right now and the sensibility is quite good. I played with SSB settings and they are very powerful an easy to use, after watching your videos. I am now convinced of C. Crane radios, quality of construction and support. I even register unit's warranty and open an account there yesterday. I am just looking forward for C. Crane products and discoveries.
Thanks Todderbert. I’ll wait until they fix the popping. Surprise d really, they’d let it go out the door with this flaw. However if they jack the price up to $200 I’m gonna pass. If anything it should be lower…
Great review, interesting radio. I wonder why they didn't go to USB C rather than micro USB for the charging port?
I just wonder why too. Micro USB is less sturdy and with use suffers bad connection and bending. All my equipment is current switching or adopting USB C, it is much better. It is a shame a radio as expensive as this, overlook this as Mini USB of the other one is robust and easer to connect that a Micro USB plug. Even some Chinese models comes with USB C connector.
76.0 - 108.0 MHz on FM if AM tuning step set to 9 kHz: 522 - 1620 kHz ?
Consegue saber se já houve as correções ?
Thank you for this comparison ☺️
Hi Toddy 👋 which has better SSB ? TEcsuns , XHDATA or CC ?
Tecsuns, no mute on tuning with their more expensive options.
Can you use like the regular external wire antennas that come with Tecsun radios on the SSB2 or do you have to use the adapter that came with the radio?
You can still snap a wire onto the whip antenna directly. I have noticed a bit of an improvement when using the jack though.
I have cupple wire antennas that came with Tecsun radios I got. Can I use them wires on the CCrane SSB 2 in the external antenna jack?
@Todderbert
If you don't mind me asking the original C crane CC skywave SSB-1 and the SSB-2 has the same firmware version?
I have the original C Crane CC Skywave SSB-1 with firmware CSF-4.
Man I should have waited on your review. I hope mine has better audio quality 😞
My CCrane only turns on when plugged in and is outside of warranty, any advice?
could be a loose wire inside. an easy fix if you can solder. if not, then contact C.Crane and ask how much to fix. They are decent to work with.
Can the antenna jack be used to improve FM reception?
Yes, and AIR. It disengages the whip antenna, and uses the wire instead.
@@todderbert Thanks! I will upgrade from the Skywave SSB then.
just checked my ccrane solar digital....it has the hiss as well.
Hello, thanks for the review's and I'm currently considering a RF receiver purchase, the Skywave 2 and the ATS 120 or the ATS 25 X2 are my options. Have you reviewed the ATS offering, or do you have comments with regards to either unit, thanks again.
Old post reply, not sure what you got, but hopefully it is working out for you. The most fun could be the 25, while the most practical would be the Skywave.
C CRANE Has always seemed over-priced in their products - While they probably work O.K. For the most part, I bought a radio from them years ago, and had a lot of problems with it- However, I've had good luck with TecSun , and I have 5 Different models, 3 with SSB - they have pretty good sound, and so far, I've Had NO Problems with them -- Anyway, Great Vids !
Great in depth review.
But I’ll wait for a Bluetooth one.
Might be a long wait for that one.
Hi. Nice review as always. Small question. Are they both assembled in China? For SSB original I saw "Made in China" mark at Amazon photos, not sure about SSB2
Same, Chinese make.
I have a Tecsun pl-660 Sony 7600gr and Tecsun r9700dx eton s350dl and some other lesser radios. What would you recommend that has good am ssb and shortwave?
Out of the radios you own, I would take the 7600GR all day long. That AM Sync is amazing.
@@todderbert what would you add to this if anything? Or should I just be satisfied?
@@colescuckooclockshop754 I would get an Original Skywave SSB if you want ultra portability. If not the XHDATA D-808 is slightly larger and powered by an 18650.
@@todderbert size doesn't matter. Which is better on am and ssb shortwave. Best place to buy?
@@colescuckooclockshop754 What you own is enough. The PL-660 is Great, and the Sony is Perfect. If you wanted more, check out the Tecsun PL-880, or the D-808 on eBay, or Amazon.
I see little reason to buy this over the almost identical XHDATA/SIHUADON D-808 which is half the price. The D-808 uses a Li-Ion battery which some people don't like. It also has a hiss at low volumes that no one could like, but other than that it has the C.Crane soundly beat.
From a styling perspective, I really dislike the C.Crane speaker grill. It looks very cheap and is a constant reminder of how small and tinny the speaker is. And why add micro USB when USB C is quickly becoming the norm? Maybe this is for 3rd world?
The D808 pops though and that’s a huge downer for me. Otherwise I’d sell my Skywave SSB and get it.
I heard that D808 is stolen tech from CCrane. You want to support thieves???
@@tlebryk not stolen - there’s a lack of patent protection among Chine manufacturers. Redsun, who worked with C Crane to design their one of a kind Skywave and SSB models, has no control over other manufacturers who are seemingly free to copy parts of those designs, and to modify them any way they want to. Redsun actually agreed not to export the XHData D-808 to the US but I guess you’re right, enterprising thieves found a way to ship the radio to the US via Israel. I do prefer that Skywave though, and many other C Crane products.
@@SigSoftNC Thanks for your perspective. Too bad CCrane could not mfg it without chinese mfg's. We need to make things here again.
Nice review. I wish it had a tone knob.
You do get the voice/music mode which is better than most out there.
Hey Todd, have you given the ATS (I call them sandwich) radios a Tube review?
Finally released one tonight on the ATS-20+, a little late to the party, but I made it :) I also featured the ATS-200 a bit ago.
SSB or SSB2? I’m wanting one but don’t see the SSB2?
The Original SSB is Solid. The SSB2 has some audio hiss that they are working on. Expect the price to go up once they release a second revision.
@@todderbert thanks as always! 🙏🙏💯💯
As usual your videos are very engrossing. Kudos to you.
As pointed by you there are some problems with ssb 2 and it does not justify the price. I was interested in buying this . I had seen their website and came to know that it's price is less than that of the original ssb.
I enquired from them ( c crane, usa) and came to know there is some bug ( some popping sound) into it and will take some time and newer lot will be out in June 2023, at 200$.
I was interested in it but could not wait till that time.
Kindly suggest a latest radio with ssb and having the same and / or better caliber/ features in terms of reception , features, sound and build quality.
Thanks and regards.
The closest to this radio is the XHDATA D-808. Nothing matches it for size. The Skywave SSB also runs on AAs, which the only other I could recommend is the Eton Elite Executive, but it is a larger radio.
The two radios I mentioned do not have the Weather Band.
kinda wished if they were changing the charging port they would do USB-C
Me as well.
hi todderbert first time here your youtube i got new CCrrane Skywave SSB shortwave radio for christmas just trying to figer out thing worki used have a ssb short waves raio from radio about this same side like 2003 i think i kindy forgot it broke dont work now go to shortwave am to ssb i trying to figer go to cb radio ssb to listing to am king hard ty for video merry christmas to yall
I really enjoy your reviews and bought the Kaito KA600L after seeing your video. Small question. Should I leave the 18650 battery in the radio if I leave it plugged into 6VDC adapter. Thanks from Canada.
I would. Just in case.
I enjoy your Videos, and pick up old especially Sony radios at the second hand stores, swap out the antenna elements between the good and the bad, spray the controls, and use "crud cutter" or Formula 409 with Q-tips (the ACTUAL brand ones, not the knock offs!) on the cases.. I especially like the combo mains/battery models with the tuning LED (it's pretty much the same schematic for all.ofntjose you know...) Sony was thoughtful to make a compartment that would fit the mains cord so you don't lose it or drag it around... I'm surprised that Crane didn't go to USB-C with this model, as it's more robust and you don't have the polarity annoyance... Need a better speaker. Though I have a non SSB skywave, I'm sticking with the PL-660 for now, though I'd pick up an "original" SSB for travel IF it went on sale, since you can't beat it for compactness... It's just out of my price range, times are a bit tough esp. at Christmas I wish Crane would stick a Bluetooth transmitter in a radio, so one could send to a Bluetooth speaker/earphones... Perhaps a little capacitor across the headphone jack would get rid of that click? 73 DE W8LV BILL (and W8LV/VE3 prepandemic) 🇺🇲🇨🇦
For the price Idk I can get a pl880 for that price with a better sounding speaker. I wish this was cheaper because it's a cool little radio.
The SSB is more Compact, and runs for sixty plus hours on a pair of AAs. Seems many of my viewers are happy it takes standard batteries. I'm a fan of 18650s myself. I would love a beefed up Skywave version running an 18650, and have a speaker like in the Radiwow R-108.
Dreamsky made a cheap pocket radio I paid about 10 bucks for and the speaker sounds as good as a much larger radio with actual bass tones. Bass guitar and drums sound good. So if they can do so well I don`t understand why others can`t mimic it. The first one I bought was a very sensitive AM radio too but never came back after I loaned it out when a hurricane hit. The replacement is great but a bit less sensitive.
I have the original, great radio but I found the soft mute a little annoying. Pity the shipping for me in the UK almost half the cost of the radio😢 & no long wave
Part I don’t like is being able to “scroll” thru all the memory channels (IIRC).
This is excellent 👌
I prefer the original, also i miss the Ironman song hahaha!! Gretings from Quilpue, Chile .
Todderbert is not bragging, He is just the Messenger.Don't shoot the Messenger.His videos are excellent... If you get mad at Todderbert... Then get Mad at michael jordan If he tells you , he's excellent at basketball
Great informative video
Very good video
great review
shame about the sound quality
one of the most important facets of an audio device .......
Hello.well thankyou for the info. I have the first one and as yes its a good radio it's just to small a speaker. They should of made a bigger radio period they would of sold many more. Once again thanks for the heads up. Ron z. WA3090SWL.
Pretty pricey, compared to xhdata d808 and the tecsun pl 330 which are also feature rich peers in my opinion. Even the tecsun pl660 or 680, while still cheaper may even be superior. I just can’t see how the C crane skywave ssb2 can justify the retail price of around $199 last I checked.
Size, Seventy Hour Operation on 2AAs. Premium, and you are supporting a US based company.
The SSB 22.5 is due out when?
The Skywave SSB 2 will be released on December 9.
I have the first radio, I just wished they'd made a better battery door, it's a poorly thought-out design, nothing like the quality of Sony... Otherwise so far -so good.......
Nice but pricey
They think they are Apple.
With the Qodosen SR-286 being out in the wild, C.Crane has to do something drastic, if they are planning to raise the price.
I have the original Skywave SSB, and the Qodosen SR-286 is sooooo much better in every aspect.
The sound of the Qodosen SR-286 is so much fuller, and richer.
The SR-286 is also much more sensitive than either of the Skywave SSB's ((on all bands)).
The SR-286 also has the ability to turn off the internal ferrite, so you can use external antennas.
The SR-286 also has a much better display.
The SR-286 uses the NXP TEF6686 DSP chip, which is superior over "any" of the Si labs chips, found in 99% of today's radios.
The SSB/SSB2 have a few plus's the SR-286 does not.
It obviously has SSB (single side band)
It has Air band
The dipole antenna is a bit longer 21" vs 19" on the SR-286
Todd, you have got to get your hands on a Qodosen SR-286, and review it. I love mine so much, I had to order another one. C. Crane needs to implement these TEF6686 DSP chips into some of there radios. Maybe Sangean, Tecsun, or Eton can make radios for C.Crane that have this outstanding DSP chip. Time is ticking away, and those that have heard of the Qodosen SR-286 are buying them up. If you are a DXer, this is the radio to own...
I enjoy dxing with my Sangean PR-D5 of late, and the Panasonic RF-2200. If it is as good as those, I would be impressed. I have heard about this new radio, and will pick one up when they come from a US supplier.
@@todderbert Todd, KG is right. You need to review the SR-286 radio. You will be doing your subscribers a huge service by grabbing one of these before they are gone (or modified to different DSP chip).
You ask, is the SR-286 as good as the Sangean PR-D5 or RF-2200, and the clear answer is YES!! In fact, it might be in a league of it's own.
I have the two radios you currently DX with in my stable, as well as the SR-286, and let me tell you, that little bugger is ultra-sensitive. It's about the same size as these Skywave radios, with the punch of a heavy weight boxer, triple its size. It hears radio stations it has no business picking out of the air. In my neck of the woods, I'm finding FM radio stations I never knew were there, over 120-140 miles away. This is a DXers dream in the palm of your hand!
It's just as good on AM and shortwave. I've heard shortwave stations I never picked up on my other radios.
Recap, if you are going to wait it out, for a US seller, you might be waiting a long time, which won't help your audience find out about this little gem until it's on the used market. If you love radios, and I know you do, take the leap of faith and go with it. I thought I was done buying radios, but after hearing about this radio, I said to myself, I have got to get me one of these. I'm glad I did, and so should you.
As of Sept 23, it's 199
Sorry... I'll pass. Too "rich" for my taste for almost the same old. Glad they finally added an external antenna jack, but USB port should have been Type-C and the speaker is still teenzy. Tecsun 330 is less than half the price. Times have changed, take a look at ATS-120 and it's still less expensive than CCrane SSB or SSB2... Good luck with SSB 3.
got the ATS-200, it is cool, but still find myself picking up my Skywave when I go out.
Still does not justify the price..
My gripe on CCrane radios is that they charge extra for an AC adapter. And (to me anyway) I consider their products to be pricey
Find a similar product for less
Well, the market for radios like this has been turned on edge by the offerings that have been coming out in the past few years from Chinese upstarts like Radiowow/Sihuadon/XHData, Qodosen, and others. A Sihuadon R-108, said to be a direct competitor to the CCrane here, is about $50 on Amazon. People are correctly asking if the higher priced Skywave adds enough value to justify its price.