This review is 7 yeas old, but mostly still applicable. I have a Tecsun PL-680 that I use to travel with because my neighborhood is blanketed with omnipresent digital noise. If I remember right, Tecsun came out with a calibration procedure for frequency for the 680 if it has the newer firmware years ago. It was an easy fix & my 680 is very accurate, using WWV, I checked at 2.5, 5. & 10 MHz. The airband as far as sensitivity & selectivity is concerned is actually better than my Radtel 470x HT when used as a monitor. What is missing on airband with the 680 is a squelch. I also use the internal charger with Panasonic Eneloop NiMH batteries without issue for years. Nothing is worse than alkaline when it comes to leaks. I just got my ham license last week, so am groping around learning how to do things. Thank you for this review.
Another wonderful show, thanks. While Anon are a superb store, they did admit the 680 has an issue with the frequency offset. Sad to say, I sold my 680, because the problem affected the way the Sync feature operated and it just got way too frustrating to tune.
I know this video is 7 years old, but it’s still very relevant. just got a PL-660 and I like it. Now, the PL-680 is available again (Tecsun says they have stopped making the PL-660 but are making more PL-680’s). I want a PL-680, but it’s kind of irrational as they are almost identical radios. Other reviewers say there are some differences in performance, but it seems they’re small differences.
great review, Tom, by the way, my old Sangean ATS 803 did have that problem of being off tune, only, it tuned higher 1 kHz. A few years ago, it seemed to correct, so now it tunes right on freq..
One thing to watch out for is the tuning wheel. The grease on mine dried up and I couldn't move it. Apparently its a known problem, but a bit oil sewing machine oil works wonders.
Hi Tom, I’m new to SW radio and I am looking for a top quality portable and I think you have just sold this 680 to me. Thank you so much for the excellent review. It’s everything I needed to help me make my mind up. Greeting from across the pond here in Blighty (🇬🇧). Just for interest, my brother lives in Lake Mary, Fl.
That's a great radio, Tom. I have one after watching the review on the Official Shortwave Channel (Giles). It also works well on MW. I picked up a Sangean ATS-909X after you reviewed it last year and love it. Thanks for sharing.
Toms radio room show I learn lot from you about bying shortwave receivers and antenna for shortwave receivers and what to lisn to on shortwave and ssb and what time in utc at my location my friend
Yes, this radio was a long time coming. Thanks to my viewers I found a place that sells this radio and they were kind enough to send me one for review.
The Tecsun 680 is a amazing radio well worth the price. It has tons of features with decent ssb . I rate this as my top 3 radios and I give it the edge over the tecsun 880.
Erroneous frequency readout seems to be a recurring problem in many Chinese made SW radios...I have the problem with my Eton/Grundig E5/G5. When turned to the actual correct frequency is about 1 Khz high, so a station on 9.560 reads as 9.561 on the display. This is all a result of poor quality control because as we know not ALL units experience the exact same problem, of course there are many other faults in these Chinese radios as well. I still have my 2004 Sony ICF-SW7600GR and it works perfectly. I'm really disappointed that Sony didn't at least offer an updated version of this unit.
Does the 680 still have the offset frequency issue today, and if so did they add a hidden feature off an offset frequency calibration like they did on the pl-660?
Hey Tom, Since you mentioned the bands are continuous if I remember right does that mean when you use the ATS tuning if it exists does it find more stuff then your other radios as I know sometimes my ATS tuning seems to skip some bands when doing ATS and had to ask. Tom
This is typical of all shortwave radios when used inside a building. I have the same problem with my radios in the office. I have to use an external antenna or go outside away from my house.
Excellent idea. It is good to remove batteries when you are not going to use your radio for a while. I forgot once this year and sure enough the batteries leaked and damage the radio.
Hi Tom this is Mark Sweigert from Pennsylvania. I watch your shortwave videos on UA-cam and they are really good. I went and baught myself a tecsun pl-680 because of the good reviews. It is a nice radio. I got two questions. I baught the pl-680 from a very good ham radio dealer in England and the portable wall outlet plug is only good for wall outlets in England. Do they make a portable wall outlet plug that is American made that I can plug into my outlet here in the United States. Let me know if they do and let me know who makes it. The other question I have is what would be a really good portable external antenna for it. I baught a portable sony an- lp1 antenna for it. I also baught that because of the good reviews.
Yes and I have added one to my Amazon store for you. Click on the link in the description of this show above. Your second questions about an antenna is more difficult to answer. You can improve reception greatly on shortwave by using a simple wire antenna. I have move one to the top of the list on my Amazon page. The key factor in using an external antenna for shortwave listening is that you need to keep it away from the RF noise in your house. Hope this helps. BTW your radio should have come with antenna like the one I mentioned.
Yes, the link is in the description below each video. My radio was sent to me by ANON-CO. They have the power adapter at: www.anon-co.com/product/tecsun-pl680-adapter
This review is 7 yeas old, but mostly still applicable. I have a Tecsun PL-680 that I use to travel with because my neighborhood is blanketed with omnipresent digital noise. If I remember right, Tecsun came out with a calibration procedure for frequency for the 680 if it has the newer firmware years ago. It was an easy fix & my 680 is very accurate, using WWV, I checked at 2.5, 5. & 10 MHz. The airband as far as sensitivity & selectivity is concerned is actually better than my Radtel 470x HT when used as a monitor. What is missing on airband with the 680 is a squelch. I also use the internal charger with Panasonic Eneloop NiMH batteries without issue for years. Nothing is worse than alkaline when it comes to leaks. I just got my ham license last week, so am groping around learning how to do things. Thank you for this review.
Thank you for your comments, and have a great day.
@@Tootsie-jl3er Mine does not.
Another wonderful show, thanks. While Anon are a superb store, they did admit the 680 has an issue with the frequency offset. Sad to say, I sold my 680, because the problem affected the way the Sync feature operated and it just got way too frustrating to tune.
Thanks for your input.
Do we know if the 660 is NOT affected by the same situation? Hopefully not.
I mean the general production runs.
My experience shows the 2015 models were slightly offset. Some, not all.
Vasily Strelnikov I have the 2015 version of the TECSUN PL-660 and mine is dead accurate it's not off at all. I'm glad I got one of the good ones.
Pretty good deal at anon-co if I do say so myself
Thanks for going over the radio Tom. I can hardly wait to receive mine now
You are welcome and they were very helpful.
Looking forward to the comparison 660 vs 680 on SSB!! Thanks Tom.
You are very welcome.
I know this video is 7 years old, but it’s still very relevant. just got a PL-660 and I like it. Now, the PL-680 is available again (Tecsun says they have stopped making the PL-660 but are making more PL-680’s). I want a PL-680, but it’s kind of irrational as they are almost identical radios. Other reviewers say there are some differences in performance, but it seems they’re small differences.
@ditto1958 I agree the 680 is a little better than 660 bit probably not enough justifying get it if you have the 660 and you are happy with it.
great review, Tom, by the way, my old Sangean ATS 803 did have that problem of being off tune, only, it tuned higher 1 kHz. A few years ago, it seemed to correct, so now it tunes right on freq..
Thanks for the report.
One thing to watch out for is the tuning wheel. The grease on mine dried up and I couldn't move it. Apparently its a known problem, but a bit oil sewing machine oil works wonders.
Thanks for the info. Plan on using mine a lot so hopefully that will kept it from sticking. :)
Hi Tom,
I’m new to SW radio and I am looking for a top quality portable and I think you have just sold this 680 to me. Thank you so much for the excellent review. It’s everything I needed to help me make my mind up. Greeting from across the pond here in Blighty (🇬🇧).
Just for interest, my brother lives in Lake Mary, Fl.
You are welcome and have a great day/
Tom's radio room show your UA-cam videos are awesome my friend ❤😅😅
That's a great radio, Tom. I have one after watching the review on the Official Shortwave Channel (Giles). It also works well on MW. I picked up a Sangean ATS-909X after you reviewed it last year and love it. Thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome.
Toms radio room show I learn lot from you about bying shortwave receivers and antenna for shortwave receivers and what to lisn to on shortwave and ssb and what time in utc at my location my friend
Toms radio room your utube videos are awesome
I am glad that you made it Tom :)
Yes, this radio was a long time coming. Thanks to my viewers I found a place that sells this radio and they were kind enough to send me one for review.
Tom's radio room show your Tecsun pl-680 AM lw fm air sw ssb 6bands portable receiver is awesome my friend
I just love my pl 880, and it works on SSB just fine, but for the price, I do think my 680 is the better radio.
It’s interesting, Tecsun puts out so many radios, their main competition is , well, Tecsun.
Toms radio room your Tecsun Pl 880 shortwave receiver is cool
The Tecsun 680 is a amazing radio well worth the price. It has tons of features with decent ssb . I rate this as my top 3 radios and I give it the edge over the tecsun 880.
Thanks for your comments and have a great day.
Erroneous frequency readout seems to be a recurring problem in many Chinese made SW radios...I have the problem with my Eton/Grundig E5/G5. When turned to the actual
correct frequency is about 1 Khz high, so a station on 9.560 reads as 9.561 on the display. This is all a result of poor quality control because as we know not ALL units experience the exact same problem, of course there are many other faults in these Chinese radios as well. I still have my 2004 Sony ICF-SW7600GR and it works perfectly. I'm really disappointed that Sony didn't at least offer an updated version of this unit.
Thanks for the information. I try to always buy Chinese radios from a place that I can easily return them for that reason.
Have read other reviews that have said that they had the same thing with the off tuners
I guess it is a design defect.
Try changing the bandwidth when on shortwave broadcast stations. It seems to be an issue with the default wide filter that's causing the freq offset.
Change to Narrow might help get bang on frequency. Still it's a mark down for inconvenience
Thanks, I will give that a try.
Nice one pops gonna buy a 680 thanks Shane uk 👍
You are welcome. Do your research. Remember I am no expert.
Does the 680 still have the offset frequency issue today, and if so did they add a hidden feature off an offset frequency calibration like they did on the pl-660?
Sorry I am not aware.
Toms radio room your Tecsun Pl 680 mw lw fm air SW ssb 6 bands receiver is cool
Hey Tom,
Since you mentioned the bands are continuous if I remember right does that mean when you use the ATS tuning if it exists does it find more stuff then your other radios as I know sometimes my ATS tuning seems to skip some bands when doing ATS and had to ask.
Tom
Never mind as I just saw it had that feature and you answered it :D Just got to that part :)
In ATS mode it only scans the international broadcast bands and not the entire shortwave band.
I have the pl-600 and everytime i turn it to the sw band all i get is buzzing sound and can't pick up anything on shortwave with the whip attenna
This is typical of all shortwave radios when used inside a building. I have the same problem with my radios in the office. I have to use an external antenna or go outside away from my house.
I use Panasonic Eneloop rechargeable batteries in mine and remove them when the radio is not in active use.
Excellent idea. It is good to remove batteries when you are not going to use your radio for a while. I forgot once this year and sure enough the batteries leaked and damage the radio.
Tom's radio room show I don't mind that you UA-cam videos are long my friend ❤❤😊😊
Pl-680 is a great radio. I own one too.
Super
Hi Tom this is Mark Sweigert from Pennsylvania. I watch your shortwave videos on UA-cam and they are really good. I went and baught myself a tecsun pl-680 because of the good reviews. It is a nice radio. I got two questions. I baught the pl-680 from a very good ham radio dealer in England and the portable wall outlet plug is only good for wall outlets in England. Do they make a portable wall outlet plug that is American made that I can plug into my outlet here in the United States. Let me know if they do and let me know who makes it. The other question I have is what would be a really good portable external antenna for it. I baught a portable sony an- lp1 antenna for it. I also baught that because of the good reviews.
Yes and I have added one to my Amazon store for you. Click on the link in the description of this show above. Your second questions about an antenna is more difficult to answer. You can improve reception greatly on shortwave by using a simple wire antenna. I have move one to the top of the list on my Amazon page. The key factor in using an external antenna for shortwave listening is that you need to keep it away from the RF noise in your house. Hope this helps. BTW your radio should have come with antenna like the one I mentioned.
Is your Amazon store titled hamrad88. Just so I know if I look it up. Who makes the power power cord so I can look that up too on your page?
Yes, the link is in the description below each video. My radio was sent to me by ANON-CO. They have the power adapter at:
www.anon-co.com/product/tecsun-pl680-adapter
Just wanted to check if I got the right one. I got the pl-680 AC/DC adapter 120volt USA standard/A-size plug.
Tom's radio room show 73s to your wife and kids and grandchildren my friend ❤😊😊😊
I just got this nice radio I couldn’t pass it up on amazon for $149.99
Super. Let us know how you like it.
I sold my Tecsun PL-680.
i have that radio n a pl365
Kool