SOME NOTES on the Kchibo D96L portable DSP radio
DESCRIPTION
The Kchibo D96L is a small radio using digital signal processing in the IF section for bandpass filtering and demodulation. It is ideal for travelling
It uses LiOn batts which gives about 5hrs of use but you need to carry a spare battery (supplied) or charger when travelling
A direct entry button allows keyboard entry within the selected frequency range, the steps are coarse with the buttons, coarse or fine with jog dial, and the jog dial changes to volume after use of the volume buttons. All selectable functions revert after about 2 sec of inaction. The jog dial can be locked by a short press on the 'lock' button, and all functions are locked by a long press
A direct entry button allows keyboard entry within the selected frequency range
FM performance is superb, with good sensitivity, excellent selectivity, good clean stereo, a big clear freq display and direct frequency entry. Signal level is shown for about 2 sec after tuning or with the signal level button. There is no ext ae input available on FM
Coverage extends from 64 to 108MHz in 50 or 100kHz steps, but normal operation is in the range 87 to 108MHz. Frequencies below 87MHz can be entered if you use direct entry ('lambda' button) starting with zero, eg 0640, but note there is no freq change if freq's below 64.0MHz are entered. This is one of several bugs with the OIRT tuning - it will tune upwards but not down, and frequencies cannot be stored. With 50kHz tuning steps the bandwidth will allow reception of frequencies within about ±25kHz of the steps
On FM it is possible to select between 75/50µs de-emphasis for compatibility with the American (75µs) or 'rest of world' (50µs) systems. On AM you can select 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6kHz bandwidth
MW performance is quite good but a bit noisy. There is considerable qrn from the display for about 4 sec after any change in operation. Coverage is 522 - 1710 × 1kHz. There is no LW
SW operation is almost unusable, hopeless on the whip antenna, yet totally overloaded with an external one. Pity, since the coverage is good, 2.30 - 21.85MHz in 1kHz steps, AM only
Memory operation is simple, with a button for memory >9 entry and memory vs frequency tuning
The display includes a clock and alarm, and shows the battery condition. I haven't found how to set the alarm time! Accessories include stereo earphones, wire throw-out antenna, battery charger and spare battery, The tune buttons also provide a 'scan' and a separate button gives an auto scan + store function
The D96L is no longer available, and the Kchibo website seems to be closed
J.Hardstone Oct.2010
