Re: [IRCA] PL300WT (also received today, from "anon-co", with manual)
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Re: [IRCA] PL300WT (also received today, from "anon-co", with manual)



I received my PL300WT today, from "anon-co". It came with an English "Operation Manual" consisting of 9 pages of 8 1/2 x 11 paper and is an obvious photocopy of a smaller version. I haven't had time yet to do more than put in batteries and tune around for a couple of minutes. I was pleased to be able to figure out how to switch to 10 kHz tuning without looking through the manual. No time for much more than that--too many things going on right now. A quick glance through the manual indicates it's a fairly good English rendition.
73,
Steve
NE Oregon


----- Original Message ----- From: <D1028Gary@xxxxxxx>
To: <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 4:46 PM
Subject: Re: [IRCA] PL300WT


Hi Pete,

Thank you for your comments. By coincidence, I also received another Tecsun
PL-300WT today, which was my second (both from "Liypn," and both with  no
manual of any type). I plan to run detailed tests on quality control, and
performance against other stock Ultralights to confirm that the sensitivity and selectivity are identical to the previous performance of the first model
(which  now has a 7.5" loopstick).

On both my units, you can switch between MW and LW simply by pushing the
LW/MW button when the unit is operating. The unit gives one beep for
switching  to LW, and two beeps for switching to MW.

The rapid tuning function is a normal digital feature of the radio, which
tunes at a faster rate when the user makes wide frequency sweeps. It then
returns to the 1 kHz or 10 kHz step mode (whichever is selected) when the
user's rapid tuning stops.

Since our locations are so close, I'll be checking the same fringe stations
that you listed (during your quick band sweep) on the new stock PL-300WT
here.  I'll be interested to see if Tecsun's factory assembly of the
loopstick is identical to the first model, which had the coil secured right up against the left mounting bracket. That "no alignment" position wasn't bad for AM sensitivity, but it turned out that it wasn't the exact optimum position.

73, Gary


In a message dated 6/8/2009 3:07:43 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
ptdx@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:

Mine  arrived today. Initial comments:
1. As others have noted, very good on  FM.
2. I cannot get it to go in to LW mode despite following the
instructions (turn off; depess MW/LW button until it says "LW YES").
Its default after that when I turn it on is the FM band; when I  press
MW/LW, the MW band always shows.
3. Sometimes while  scooting up the AM band, it will jump by the
hundreds rather than  the 10s (900-1000-1100 etc.)
4.  I just can't tell if what I'm getting  matches Gary's
observations. Comparisons (all on my desk inside the  house):

1650 - mix of Kent and Vashon Island TIS stations
Eton E100  - loudest but hindered by high frequency cutoff caused by
modification
DX398 - pretty good
PL300 - fair but no wiggle  room
SRF59 - barely there; very tough to tune
M37V - barely there;  vulnerable to KKMO overload

1130 - CKWX
Eton E100 - quite  good
DX398 - good
SRF59 - not the strongest but better frequency  response makes it more
readable
PL300 - barely readable at max  volume
M37V - useless due to KKOL overload

680-KBRD was good on all  of them; KOAC not readable on any of them.
They all pick up the  KKOL/KKMO mixtures on 1240 and 1420.

I look forward to playing with it  tonight. Off the top, though, it
looks to me like you can't boost  the audio up high enough to be able
to read weak signals. We'll  see.

Pete Taylor
Tacoma, WA
12225w 4719n
HQ180 + Kiwa air core  loop
ICF2010 + "     "    "       "
DX398; Palomar loop
SRF-59 & -M37V
Eton  E100


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