Re: [IRCA] Tecsun PL-300WT-- A Sizzler on AM & FM, A Fizzler on LW and SW

[P A <texnote@xxxxxxxxx>]

Gary,

According to the ebay description of the Tecsun PL-300WT (by the seller "liypn"), this radio uses the Silicon Labs Si4737 DSP chip which can only demodulate MW, FM, and the Weather Band. See slide 12 of 
https://www.silabs.com/Marcom%20Documents/Resources/Si473x_Presentation.pdf
and
https://www.silabs.com/products/audiovideo/amfmreceivers/Pages/Si473637.aspx

If liypn's information is correct (verified by opening the radio up and locating the Silicon Labs chip), Tecsun must use this chip for MW/FM, and a separate non-DSP single or dual conversion demodulator/tuner with much poorer selectivity and sensitivity for shortwave.

For shortwave enthusiasts, it will be interesting to see which one of the forthcoming DSP radios from Tecsun use the Si4734 or Si4735 chips, which demodulate MW, FM, and SW.

In terms of price, the Si4737 chip starts at $3.06 in quantities of 10K; the Si4734/35 starts at $3.27 in quantities of 10K.

Paul

--- On Mon, 6/1/09, D1028Gary@xxxxxxx <D1028Gary@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: D1028Gary@xxxxxxx <D1028Gary@xxxxxxx>
> Subject: [IRCA] Tecsun PL-300WT-- A Sizzler on AM & FM, A Fizzler on LW and SW
> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, am@xxxxxxxxxxx, ultralightdx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, odxa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Monday, June 1, 2009, 9:45 PM
> Hello All,
>  
> Although evidence indicates that a huge ordering boom has
> started for the  
> DSP-enhanced Tecsun PL-300WT Ultralight radio, for those of
> you still on the 
>  fence about this innovative pocket radio, some further
> information may be 
> of  interest.
>  
> Tecsun's primary focus in developing this breakthrough
> model appears to  
> have been in transforming the AM and FM circuitry to set
> new standards of  
> weak-signal performance, and with superlative sensitivity
> and selectivity  in 
> both bands, they appear to have accomplished their purpose.
> However, the  
> model does have other bands included in the package, which
> frankly appear to  
> have been neglected, and border on the substandard.
>  
> The Longwave band (153-513 kHz) of the PL-300WT  was
> thoroughly searched 
> for any possible signals at local sunset, without  any
> results. This is not 
> unusual for small portables with LW capability, but
> in  most cases, one or two 
> of the strongest beacons will at least make an
> appearance  at sunset. 
>  
> The Shortwave bands of the PL-300WT are filled with local
> MW station spurs, 
>  and mixing products. The signal of local KSUH-1450 has a
> "coverage" of 
> about 6  Mhz on the Tecsun's shortwave bands, from 9.5
> Mhz to 15.5 Mhz. WWV on 
> 10 Mhz is  really just a mixing product with KSUH.
> Legitimate SW stations 
> have anemic  signal levels, to the point of being
> crowded out by the MW spurs. 
>  The Tropical Band is especially bad, with a sorry
> collection of MW  
> station spurs and mixing products overpowering any
> legitimate  stations.
>  
> Of course the argument could be made that for a $50
> receiver, Tecsun has  
> already provided an outstanding value with the superlative,
> DSP-enhanced  
> reception on the AM and FM bands. The puzzling aspect is
> why Tecsun would  
> include such dreadful LW and SW sections in a model which
> is otherwise so  
> superb. In summary, if LW or SW reception is your top
> priority in a  portable, my 
> strong recommendation would be to avoid the PL-300WT,
> despite its  
> breakthrough DSP capabilities.
>  
> 73, Gary DeBock
>  
>  
>      
> **************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours
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