How Oxford Shortwave Log started and going full-circle from the Tecsun PL-360 to the PL-368
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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
- Hi there, this all started in the summer of 2015 with the brilliant Tecsun PL-360. Nearly 8 years later, I'm unboxing the PL-368.
Hope you enjoy the video.
Thanks for watching, keep safe, 73.
Just a great and true history. Nothing beats your adventure(s) with SWL !!!
Thank you Sir!
I bought the PL-368 in Orange from Ali Express this time last year. A great radio. Quite sensitive and my favourite portable. It is walkie talkie style!!
Totally agree.
Cheers
I also bought one it is a nice small radio for a little price and if you put a small longwire around the existing antenna with e.g a crocodile mouth connector it receives a lot better.
I tried that too Alain - definite improvement in sensitivity.
I agree young lad, the PL-368 is a bloody brilliant little handheld receiver that is my go-to for out and about. I ordered the antenna upgrade and milled aluminum case from CountyComm which really nicely accent this outstanding little unit. Enjoy lad. 73
Thank you Sir! 73
Really like the form factor on this small receiver. Great for just taking out on a walk. I have noticed that all of these small portables are moving away from the normal alkaline batteries that we used to put in them. Almost every single one has to be recharged. I suppose it does save some money but you do need to have more than one of those batteries. Otherwise it seems like a really nice radio.
Me too. I like the walkie talkie form factor. I prefer AAs...
Hi Clint, thanks for posting. I have a 365 that I took with me a few weeks ago to VK7 on a 4 day bush walk mainly for safety to listen to local broadcast and marine stations for weather and also general SWL at night in camp. Pre-programmed all the freqs that I needed incl Radio New Zealand. Performance was excellent and great weight and size to fit in the pack. Fully numeric keyboard of the 368 would be very handy.
Thanks Darrin, great narrative on the 368! I'll be taking mine with me when I travel next. 73!
Well keep another full circle going.your doing a good job
I will try Sir! Thanks and 73!
It looks like a really nice radio. I like the form factor, as you do. Thee are two negatives for me. First, there is no way to move the antenna without moving the radio. On most portables, the antenna cam be rotated for the best signal, especially on FM. The second negative for me is that the carrying case has no room for the accessories. This is true for most portables that have a case for the radio. I wind up having to purchase a case to hold the radio and its accessories. Other than that, it looks good. I am hoping for a review from you later. 73
Countycomm has great cases for the pl-368. Yes, it's an additional expense but well worth it.
Thanks David, yes I'll copy a few stations and do a review at some point. 73
Good upgrade I like mine. Glad you got one, hope you post some videos of catches with it. Thanks.
I will try to post some videos soon. 73!
Funny enough was very close to buying this radio today. My X-Data 808 fell apart last year on it's first cycling camping trip. I choose the TECSUN PL-380 instead.
Hi Marc, the PL-380 is a decent radio so you should be happy with it. 73
That's a very nice intro Clint , thanks. I liked the way you tied the two radios together to show improvements or not! (Battery). When not in the shack could be a nice addition to play. with. 73 G
G7OGX
Glad you liked it Chris! Thanks and 73
great comparison. I have the Tecsun PL680 which I love for the bedside and then got the PL660 which is great also but I think I may get rid of the 660 and get a 368 as its better for carrying and I love the design.
Cheers James - agree with you. 73
Great stuff, I’m sure you’ve forgotten more than most know about short wave. Would love to see a shack tour :)
Lol thanks my friend. I'll do a tour at some point. 73
Just a heads up, there’s a new Tecsun PL-320 (same as 330 but no SSB) and a XHData D109 (no RDS on FM, no SSB, but has Bluetooth and a memory card reader)
Cool, thanks.
2015? I am sure it was yesterday you started this channel if you know what I mean. Nice demonstration of those Tecsuns. 73s.
Lol I know exactly what you mean! Thanks and 73!
I have the equivalent of the Tecsun 360 which also includes SSB but no direct tuning. Which is the Comm radio GP5. Might get the Comm Radio GP7 soon, definitely same tuning experience, except for direct input. I prefer the Bella for rapid turnaround of band. Either way both good radios.
Congratulations, on your full circle….🎉… 😂.
Thank you Sir! 73
I would definitely be willing to pay for a desktop communications receiver version of that radio. I cannot imagine that I'm alone.
Tecsun Pl-330 table top but still portable. That might work for you or the Tecsun H501 is a larger footprint.
They have one that's called the h501x. 73
Yes, it's the H501x. I have one and it's great - although SSB audio isn't always the best and I'm not sure about MW sensitivity. More testing to do. 73
Good shout, Sir. 73
I have a 360 and it’s a superb little radio. I would rather have a 368 for the SSB.
100%! But the 360 is still great.
thx for the video! does the included external ferrite antenna help reception or is it the same without it?
Yes it does on MW. 73
Lovely radio, have one a while, I too upgraded but from the PL-365. Direct tuning pad was badly needed.
Another good thing is you can plug your Wellbrook directly into the antenna 3.5mm socket at the top and hey presto you have a great MW/LW/SW dx machine without having to longpress 3 (hidden feature) to switch to external, and it doesn't seem to suffer from overloading from what I can tell. MW/LW is printed and top but that socket is also for SW...it even seems to work for FM too!
A problem that this radio does not suffer from is the "warble" on the top USB bands eg up around 12m, my more expensive Tecsun PL-990x suffers from the warbling and as you say so does the H-501x which simply isn't good enough for such pricey radios.
The good news is that Tecsun are currently working on producing another new high-end model which we wont see this year but maybe some time in 2024, hopefully it'll be a big improvement on the 990x and the H-501x and maybe they'll finally bring RDS onto their radios.
About the battery, one positive thing I've noticed is that the battery seems to run for a long long time in between charges and holds its charge very well when the radio is not in use.
One piece of kit Tecsun left out in the pack was a long wire for SW, otherwise a great little radio for the price. You'll have a lot of fun with this one, Clint, so enjoy and well wear! 73s
Thanks for your reply and the information. So can you definitely confirm that the MW external antenna socket also works for shortwave? 73!
I meant to also say Tony, I'm very much looking forward to their next high-end radio. The H501X is ok, well it's good, but it's not fantastic on SSB or MW. 73!
@@OxfordShortwaveLog Sure does Clint, in fact I just did a quick ETM scan on it and caught 172 signals at 1740 UTC today. Give it a go, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Cheers Tony, will do! Have a great weekend. 73
Can you pick up aircraft on this like a scanner?
Hi no not on this radio.
Thanks@@OxfordShortwaveLog