Two years ago, I purchased a Tecsun 360, which I connected to our ancient rooftop TV antenna with a 3.5 adapter to see what I could hear. Of course, FM came in better, but I think many bands improved simply because it was a big chunk of metal high in the air. I have bought connectors and set up a ground level coax connector to which I can attach experimental antennas outside. Listen only antennas, not yet a Ham, but it is one reason I subscribed because your experiments are always creative.
Thank you for the review. I bought this little radio just over 18 months ago to take away on visits and on holidays abroad (vacation). It goes in my hand luggage, and I can't recommend highly enough. I was a great companion during a 12 hour flight delay listening to news and general local FM and national stations, a bit of SSB and of course CW practice. I have a portable wind-up cassette long wire antenna for it but I have only ever used the telescopic antenna on the radio. The rechargeable battery life is good to, plus the battery is a Nokia mobile phone battery widely available on Amazon or EBay for a few pounds/dollars so for flying I carry a charged spare. It is a great little radio.
Great to see you again...as the guy that got me fired up about "ham" with your basement projects about 2017 and caused me to pass my UK M6 exam in 2018!! Keep on keeping on........cheers.
I also have the PL330 with the latest software upgrade. I use it to monitor the HFGlobal Communications Network when I am on the road, 8.992Mhz and 11.175 Mhz USB. I am partially deaf and have difficult time hearing CW. Took the 13wpm cw test 4 times before I got it and received my General license. Thanks for sharing this useable tidbit of info. 73 OM de November 8 Whiskey Juliet Quebec.
The PL-330 is an operator's radio. And the idea to use it as the receiver in a very portable setup is a great one. There are a few Chinese manufacturers of radio hardware that listen and respond to their customer base. If Tecsun is one of those, they might just add manual gain control to their next firmware update (if such a thing is possible with the PL-330).
yes these are good handy radios. lots of features. i have a couple different models and use one of those small LC loop things they also sell works really well.
Cool, AND you sound like you're getting better by your energy level. Cool little rig. I personally would have to find a way to mod that ALC though. LOL Stay warm and safe. 73 de KA9TII
It always impresses me CW contacts on BA power.. ( 😆 ) 300mw , in contrast to when I hear SSB stations using FU power ( 🤣 ) You are looking ok / well at your wintering QTH Kev and it’s always a pleasure to see you. ✅ mind how you go.73. 💙 G0UvL
Just about any good shortwave receiver with a BFO can be used to make CW contacts. I have used my Sangean ATS-818, along a homebrew CW transmitter that make contacts. Some receivers are just better than others, obviously.
Have a PL-330. They are DSP chip receivers that “chuff” when tuned. An external antenna is needed. Trying to tune a CW signal isn’t too bad, but tuning SSB is absolutely horrible. I wish I hadn’t bought it, even considering the price.
The flea should work with any receiver. It just passes the antenna connection through to the receiver output. And when you're in transmit mode it grounds the receiver output to protect the receiver.
I thought I mentioned that in the video. That's exactly what the flea does. There is a relay right next to that receiver output jack that shorts the receiver antenna output to ground when transmission starts.
No. It's well below any level that would damage it. The coax is shorted by the relay when you're in transmit mode. It's only picking up RF that leaks through the case and coax.
@@loughkb Yeah, was thinking what you said when I saw the comment, CW work is pretty low power - however, it is something to consider for storms (depending of course).
Two years ago, I purchased a Tecsun 360, which I connected to our ancient rooftop TV antenna with a 3.5 adapter to see what I could hear. Of course, FM came in better, but I think many bands improved simply because it was a big chunk of metal high in the air. I have bought connectors and set up a ground level coax connector to which I can attach experimental antennas outside. Listen only antennas, not yet a Ham, but it is one reason I subscribed because your experiments are always creative.
from 80-30 youll do better with a trip wire than a clothsline sometimes , crazy how that works close to the ground less RFI?
Thank you for the review. I bought this little radio just over 18 months ago to take away on visits and on holidays abroad (vacation). It goes in my hand luggage, and I can't recommend highly enough. I was a great companion during a 12 hour flight delay listening to news and general local FM and national stations, a bit of SSB and of course CW practice. I have a portable wind-up cassette long wire antenna for it but I have only ever used the telescopic antenna on the radio. The rechargeable battery life is good to, plus the battery is a Nokia mobile phone battery widely available on Amazon or EBay for a few pounds/dollars so for flying I carry a charged spare. It is a great little radio.
Great to see you again...as the guy that got me fired up about "ham" with your basement projects about 2017 and caused me to pass my UK M6 exam in 2018!!
Keep on keeping on........cheers.
I also have the PL330 with the latest software upgrade. I use it to monitor the HFGlobal Communications Network when I am on the road, 8.992Mhz and 11.175 Mhz USB. I am partially deaf and have difficult time hearing CW. Took the 13wpm cw test 4 times before I got it and received my General license. Thanks for sharing this useable tidbit of info. 73 OM de November 8 Whiskey Juliet Quebec.
Great tutorial on Tecsun PL-330
It’s always fun to make contacts with minimum gear. I have the same radio and think it’s really a bargain for what it does. Thanks for the video.
The PL-330 is an operator's radio. And the idea to use it as the receiver in a very portable setup is a great one.
There are a few Chinese manufacturers of radio hardware that listen and respond to their customer base. If Tecsun is one of those, they might just add manual gain control to their next firmware update (if such a thing is possible with the PL-330).
yes these are good handy radios. lots of features. i have a couple different models and use one of those small LC loop things they also sell works really well.
Cool, AND you sound like you're getting better by your energy level. Cool little rig. I personally would have to find a way to mod that ALC though. LOL Stay warm and safe. 73 de KA9TII
Manual gain control would be fantastic on this radio, but it's all done in a chip so would probably need custom firmware. 😔
It always impresses me CW contacts on BA power.. ( 😆 ) 300mw , in contrast to when I hear SSB stations using FU power ( 🤣 ) You are looking ok / well at your wintering QTH Kev and it’s always a pleasure to see you. ✅ mind how you go.73. 💙
G0UvL
Fantastic! I love this kind of creative thinking and experimentation. 👍
Fantastic! Thank you, Kevin...🇺🇸 👍☕
I have a pl-368 way smaller love it ..i almost got the 360 but waited 368 is upper and lower ssb
Nice !
I might have to pick another one of those Tecsuns up. The one I have doesn't do SSB.
Just about any good shortwave receiver with a BFO can be used to make CW contacts. I have used my Sangean ATS-818, along a homebrew CW transmitter that make contacts. Some receivers are just better than others, obviously.
Have a PL-330. They are DSP chip receivers that “chuff” when tuned.
An external antenna is needed.
Trying to tune a CW signal isn’t too bad, but tuning SSB is absolutely horrible.
I wish I hadn’t bought it, even considering the price.
4:12 I bought mine recently and mine have USB C
Do you know if the flea will work with the county comm GP series SW radios?
The flea should work with any receiver. It just passes the antenna connection through to the receiver output. And when you're in transmit mode it grounds the receiver output to protect the receiver.
@@loughkbThanks I just ordered one so looking forward to trying it out
ב''ה, may be a software button press trick for the AGC.
Nope, I've been through them all.
It looks just like the CCCrane
what about muting the ant input through a relais when transmission starts ? - vy 73, Heinz DL3RAD/DE0RST
I thought I mentioned that in the video. That's exactly what the flea does. There is a relay right next to that receiver output jack that shorts the receiver antenna output to ground when transmission starts.
Just orded this radio off aliexpress 65 $ less then a 66er
Are you referring to Clegg 66er? I believe that was a transceiver, not just a receiver.
Do you have a video comparing your top five of these types of radios?
Nope. I only have two of these type of radios at the moment and the other one, an ATS-20+, needs work.
@@loughkb Ok Thank you.
It might eventually overload the rx front end and damage it.
No. It's well below any level that would damage it. The coax is shorted by the relay when you're in transmit mode. It's only picking up RF that leaks through the case and coax.
@@loughkb Yeah, was thinking what you said when I saw the comment, CW work is pretty low power - however, it is something to consider for storms (depending of course).
Good morning K.L. 👋🏻