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Re: [IRCA] Tecsun PL-600 LW-MW-SW Portable
Hi Kevin,
In answer to your questions, the SSB capability of the new Tecsun PL-600 is
basically similar to that of the ICF-SW7600GR, with neither radio having any
significant edge in BFO stability. Both of them require a short warm-up to be
completely stable, and the ECSS reception potential of the PL-600 is similar
to that of the Sony model.
The major difference is ergonomic, with the PL-600 having a dedicated round
knob for the SSB fine tuning, compared to the ICF-SW7600GR's rather cumbersome
tuning thumbwheel. As mentioned previously, the PL-600 also has a wider
tuning range in the SSB control, and need not be switched between LSB and USB,
as in the Sony model. The Tecsun's SSB capability can be used with either the
wide or narrow IF filter, although for serious AM DXing the wide filter is
essentially useless, allowing far too much slop from local stations. As a
result, any flutter issue is pretty much a moot point. Since the SSB fine tuning
control on the PL-600 covers a wider range, it is also slightly more difficult
to zero in on the desired DX station than on the Sony model. Using the
narrow filter in the SSB mode can allow the PL-600 user to make some excellent DX
catches adjacent to strong locals, however, when the SSB fine tuning control
is optimized on the weak DX station's frequency.
As mentioned previously, the PL-600 lacks the ICF-SW7600GR's effective synch
detector, and in general does not have the highly attractive fit and finish
of the Sony model. But at roughly half the cost of the ICF-SW7600GR, it does
provide outstanding DX performance for the money, and ergonomically superior
SSB tuning capability as an Ultralight radio spotting receiver. For DXers
with stock Ultralights like the E100, DT-400W, C.Crane SWP and other sensitive
models, the Tecsun PL-600 would be an excellent, economic choice to organize a
search for transoceanic DX.
73, Gary
In a message dated 3/11/2009 8:38:09 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
satya@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
Hi Gary:
Thanks for the review! You're willingness to get and try out new
receivers is a great benefit to us all. I have three hopefully easy
questions.
1. A question on the SSB: how stable is the BFO after warmup? In other
words, would using this in ECSS be an annoying warble-fest as the
zero-beat is slowly lost, or does it settle down to allow good ECSS
listening? The Sony 7600GR (mine, anyway) stabilizes after about 15
minutes, allowing the selection of either sideband, a great DX asset, but
I have heard from several others whose 7600GR simply won't stabilize.
You're right about the limited BFO range of the 7600GR - mine has a range
of +2.2 khz and -1.8 khz, meaning that you can go either 2 khz down or 1
khz up and still get a zero beat, a sort of "poor man's passband tuning".
If the PL-600 is plus/minus 2.5 khz, you could detune 2 khz in either
direction.
2. Does the SSB allow the use of the Wide bandwidth? On the Sony 7600GR,
shifting to SSB restricts you to only the narrow bandwidth.
3. If the answer to #2 was yes, does the Wide bandwidth cause
"fluttering" in ECSS on AM signals? On many sets, if the filter bandwidth
is too wide, the opposite sideband starts to leak through, and the ECSS
signal starts to flutter. It would be nice to have a set that allows
higher-fidelity single-sideband reception, sort of a poor-man's emulation
of the Drake R-8B's Selectable Synch mode with its 6 khz filter. If the
PL-600 does flutter in Wide bandwidth, can you detune a couple khz,
re-zero beat it, and get rid of the flutter, since you are 2 khz further
away from the offending sideband?
Thanks for any info!
Kevin S
Bainbridge Island, WA
> Hello All,
>
> One of the newest SSB models from China, the Tecsun PL-600 is obviously
> designed to compete with the Sony ICF-SW7600GR, with very similar size,
> shape and features.?As a much newer model, however, it has superior
> digital features and a much lower price-- $65.95 plus $24 shipping, from
> the eBay seller "tquchina."
>
> Although this model is seriously oversized for Ultralight radio
> qualification, it does have one stellar quality that would thrill
> any?pocket radio transoceanic DXer-- the ability to act as a compact SSB
> spotting receiver, with a sensitive and selective AM section. Its 4" x .4"
> loopstick is identical to that of the new PL-450, and provides highly
> directional nulling capability to identify?transoceanic SSB carriers.?In
> addition, its SSB?fine tuning range covers about?5 kHz?of total spectrum,
> giving it greater flexibility than the?more narrow SSB tuning range of the
> ICF-SW7600GR (which is switched between LSB and USB).?The?BFO circuitry?is
> also stable enough for routine copy of amateur radio?SSB and CW signals.
>
> As in the ICF-SW7600GR and ICF-2010 models, the PL-600 has a broadbanded,
> fixed loopstick which doubles as the LW antenna. These loopsticks have two
> fixed coils with no alignment system, making them?a completely different
> type of antenna than the single-coil E100 and C.Crane SWP loopsticks, both
> of which can be replaced by a sliding-coil transplant providing greatly
> increased sensitivity.?In the case of the PL-600 (and also the
> ICF-SW7600GR and ICF-2010), greatly increased sensitivity can be obtained
> by matching the stock coil inductances in a longer composite ferrite bar
> loopstick transplant, however.
>
> As a stock model, the SSB-equipped PL-600 should be a great choice for
> Ultralight radio DXers?needing a "spotting receiver" for transoceanic DX
> possibilities.?Strong?TA or TP carriers on a PL-600 should indicate a
> great chance for stock Ultralights like the E100, C.Crane SWP or DT-400W
> to receive their first transoceanic DX signals.?As one of the lowest
> priced, relatively?competent SSB portables on the market currently, the
> new Tecsun PL-600 can really help the beginning TA or TP DXer discover the
> thrills of transoceanic DX?at a very reasonable?cost.
>
> 73, Gary DeBock????
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