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