I would highly recommend purchasing/using a pointer to depress some of the buttons on the Pl-330. Also, a key feature of the Pl-330 is to do a band scan for each hour of the day on shortwave.
I really like this feature, the ETM+ function. The same function on SW has a 6 hr. change on MW which is equally useful. I have found some very interesting things on the 330.
I find it odd that the extremely useful ETM and ETM+ feature is only available in the PL-3xx series and absent from the more upmarket Tecsun radios, including the flagship desktop S-2000. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that only the pure DSP based models like the PL-330, PL-380 and PL-310ET can have ETM. These radios are so small that a manual bandscan takes considerable effort since their tuning knobs and wheels are just too small to twist for several minutes. I wish Tecsun made ETM a standard feature across their entire line of radios with a digital frequency display, like their ATS memory system.
Tom, you know that bass and treble are forms of equalization, right? Yup, honest oversight. Thanks for the checklist breakdown, very useful information for anyone interested in future proofing their lives with a shortwave radio. Brilliant lad.
What are the I.F. bandwidths in the different modes. The wider the better on AM. One of the reasons the old tube radios always sounded so nice on AM. Some had up to 16KHz bandwidth. One feature I would like to have is the ability to upgrade or downgrade the firmware myself. This would allow for constant improvements. It would really pis# me off to buy a radio the find out a month later the latest version has improved firmware. Opensource firmware even better!
@@n1kkri I think Tecsun followed the industry standards with the bandwidth options for the PL-330. The international channel spacing for long wave and medium wave stations is 9 kHz, as for shortwave stations it's 5 kHz apart. I'm curious to know what happens if the SW bandwidth could be set as wide as 9 kHz - would we be hearing active adjacent SW stations too? 🤔
@@StratmanII Channel spacing is given. Most radios have either the 5Khz or 1 KHz for shortwave and 9/10KHz for the AM broadcast band or 1KHz. It's the I.F. bandwidth I am interested in knowing. I want both ends covered. Something narrow to reduce strong adjacent signals and something much wider to offer max fidelity (the FULL transmission bandwidth). Having a couple pieces of older tube equipment offering both narrow and wider bandwidth, one as wide as 16KHz you would be amazed how nice AM can sound. I am a Amateur Radio Operator and like to listen to 75m AM stations. Opening the I.F. bandwidth beyond 10KHz makes a huge difference. A benefit some of the SDR devices can do. Give you both very narrow and just about an unlimited width for the I.F. 9Khz should have been offered for the SW frequencies too. 5Khz is to narrow.
@@n1kkri Thanks for sharing your thoughts, learned something new today. I'm not a ham operator, but just a long time casual SW listener. Has Panasonic, Sony or Grundig ever made a receiver with an intermediate frequency bandwidth as wide as 10 kHz? If they hadn't, what would be the factors that prevented their design engineers from doing so... cost, design complexity, etc?
I've always thought the PL-990 is the largest portable receiver from Tecsun until I saw how much even bigger the the H-501x is! Does anyone know if the H-501x is larger and/or heavier than say, the old Sony ICF-SW2010?
@@hamrad88 Thanks Tom, I've never seen the H-501 in real life - only in images and videos. For instance, the ads for the PL-660 looked like it's as big and and heavy as my dad's old Sony ICF-SW2001 (the first version) but when I opened the box to my surprise the PL-660 is neither! 📻👍🏼
A sua comparação não tem nada a ver, cada rádio tem suas características, pois o tecsun 501 e muito superior ao tecsun pl330, cada qual com suas preferências, o 501 e um rádio completo com muito mais recurso que o pl330, a vantagem e que o pl330 e portátil e também um ótimo rádio escuta, FM am SSB etc...fazer essa comparação entre os dois, claro que o 501 e superior em tamanho, tecnologia, recursos e o preço muito maior ao pl330 que tbm e um ótimo receiver.
I would highly recommend purchasing/using a pointer to depress some of the buttons on the Pl-330. Also, a key feature of the Pl-330 is to do a band scan for each hour of the day on shortwave.
I really like this feature, the ETM+ function. The same function on SW has a 6 hr. change on MW which is equally useful. I have found some very interesting things on the 330.
I agree about the pointer. I am presently looking for one that will not do any damage to the surface.
@@RJDA.Dakota I agree it is an interesting function but it does take a little time to get use to.
I find it odd that the extremely useful ETM and ETM+ feature is only available in the PL-3xx series and absent from the more upmarket Tecsun radios, including the flagship desktop S-2000.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that only the pure DSP based models like the PL-330, PL-380 and PL-310ET can have ETM. These radios are so small that a manual bandscan takes considerable effort since their tuning knobs and wheels are just too small to twist for several minutes.
I wish Tecsun made ETM a standard feature across their entire line of radios with a digital frequency display, like their ATS memory system.
Tom, you know that bass and treble are forms of equalization, right? Yup, honest oversight. Thanks for the checklist breakdown, very useful information for anyone interested in future proofing their lives with a shortwave radio. Brilliant lad.
Yes, I am aware of that but hadn't really thought of it that way. Thanks for sharing and have a great day.
@@hamrad88 Fair enough Lad. Still great content.
What are the I.F. bandwidths in the different modes. The wider the better on AM. One of the reasons the old tube radios always sounded so nice on AM. Some had up to 16KHz bandwidth. One feature I would like to have is the ability to upgrade or downgrade the firmware
myself. This would allow for constant improvements. It would really pis# me off to buy a radio the find out a month later the latest version has improved firmware. Opensource firmware even better!
AM bandwidth settings: LW/MW: 2.5, 3.5, and 9.0 kHz
SW: 2.5, 3.5, 5.0 kHz
SSB: 0.5, 1.2, 2.2, 3.0 and 4.0 kHz
@@hamrad88 9khz on shortwave would have been nice
@@n1kkri I think Tecsun followed the industry standards with the bandwidth options for the PL-330. The international channel spacing for long wave and medium wave stations is 9 kHz, as for shortwave stations it's 5 kHz apart. I'm curious to know what happens if the SW bandwidth could be set as wide as 9 kHz - would we be hearing active adjacent SW stations too? 🤔
@@StratmanII Channel spacing is given. Most radios have either the 5Khz or 1 KHz for shortwave and 9/10KHz for the AM broadcast band or 1KHz. It's the I.F. bandwidth I am interested in knowing.
I want both ends covered. Something narrow to reduce strong adjacent signals and something
much wider to offer max fidelity (the FULL transmission bandwidth). Having a couple pieces of older tube
equipment offering both narrow and wider bandwidth, one as wide as 16KHz you would be amazed
how nice AM can sound. I am a Amateur Radio Operator and like to listen to 75m AM stations.
Opening the I.F. bandwidth beyond 10KHz makes a huge difference. A benefit some of the SDR devices
can do. Give you both very narrow and just about an unlimited width for the I.F.
9Khz should have been offered for the SW frequencies too. 5Khz is to narrow.
@@n1kkri Thanks for sharing your thoughts, learned something new today. I'm not a ham operator, but just a long time casual SW listener. Has Panasonic, Sony or Grundig ever made a receiver with an intermediate frequency bandwidth as wide as 10 kHz?
If they hadn't, what would be the factors that prevented their design engineers from doing so... cost, design complexity, etc?
I've always thought the PL-990 is the largest portable receiver from Tecsun until I saw how much even bigger the the H-501x is! Does anyone know if the H-501x is larger and/or heavier than say, the old Sony ICF-SW2010?
Yes, it is larger and heavier.
@@hamrad88 Thanks Tom, I've never seen the H-501 in real life - only in images and videos. For instance, the ads for the PL-660 looked like it's as big and and heavy as my dad's old Sony ICF-SW2001 (the first version) but when I opened the box to my surprise the PL-660 is neither! 📻👍🏼
H-501 has DSP and but I didn't notice "muting" when scrolling through the freqs
You are correct. Have a great day.
Nice video
Thanks and have a great day.
A sua comparação não tem nada a ver, cada rádio tem suas características, pois o tecsun 501 e muito superior ao tecsun pl330, cada qual com suas preferências, o 501 e um rádio completo com muito mais recurso que o pl330, a vantagem e que o pl330 e portátil e também um ótimo rádio escuta, FM am SSB etc...fazer essa comparação entre os dois, claro que o 501 e superior em tamanho, tecnologia, recursos e o preço muito maior ao pl330 que tbm e um ótimo receiver.
📻🙂