Looking for an affordable plug & play solution for a WebSDR, I Found the WEB-888. The WEB-888 is a WebSDR based on the RX-888 Mk.II receiver and a mini-computer acting as a server. It is housed in a metal casing, with its electronics cooled by a small 40mm cooling fan. However, the original fan produces quite some noise, so I decided to replace it with a quieter version straight away.
Quite a Bit of Noise
The WEB-888 comes from the factory with a fan from the brand CAIZHU. Not all sources mention that it is quite noisy, but the issue is described on the RX-888 website. The original fan runs at 4000 RPM and consumes 0.25 watts.
Very Quiet Fan
After some research online, I found a fan of the same size (40x40x10mm) from SUNON, featuring “Maglev technology”. This is a very quiet fan available in both 5V and 12V versions, with different RPM options. The model that at least meets the same specifications is the MF40100V21000UA99, and runs at 5800 RPM, consumes 0.47 watts, and produces just 21 dB(A) of noise—very quiet indeed.
Ordered the Wrong One…
I thought I had ordered the 5V version, but after purchasing from Amazon, I realized I had actually bought a 12V version with a power consumption of 0.43 watts. This fan runs at 5000 RPM on 12V but only reaches around 2100 RPM when powered by 5V—just half the speed of the original CAIZHU fan.
Nonetheless, I decided to test and compare it. The difference in airflow turned out to be not noticeable, so in the end, I kept the 12V version.
The Fan Is Easy to Replace
Opening the WEB-888 is simple—just loosen the screws with a hex key. Once the cover is removed, you can disconnect the fan’s connector. The original fan is glued to the cover but can be detached easily. Just pull it of…
The 5V SUNON fan comes with a similar 2-pin connector as the CAIZHU, but the 12V SUNON version did not. To resolve this, I cut the connector from the original fan and soldered it to the new one. I then glued the new fan to the cover using a few drops of PVC glue and reassembled the device.
A piece of aluminium tape keeps the wires in place.
Slight Increase in Temperature
In the WEB-888 admin console, I noticed that the temperature had increased by only 6°C, reaching 43°C at max with the new fan. The room temperature where the WEB-888 is mounted, is about 18°C. Well… this new fan produces no noticeable noise—making the modification a definite success.
A Tip
If you decide to replace the fan, opt for the 5V version. It offers better airflow and is much easier to install featuring the same 2-pin connector… no soldering required.