The greatest thing about the PL-330 for me is that I can operate this in the dark. The layout of the controls are so logical and so simple to memorize, the first day I was operating this in the dark just by feel with my fingers. Accessing all functions. Including all the memory bank functions. The separate memory locations are also incredible. This has features I wanted 25 years ago. Like being able to store upper, lower side band and SW frequencies on the same frequency. Then later deleting whichever one you do not want. Memory banks for each hour of sideband. Memory banks separate for each 6 hour block of medium wave. Another separate bank for FM. And a base memory. Sensitive, and great sounding speaker. Stereo FM earbuds. Long lasting battery life. I could go on but you get the idea. Still cannot believe the features of this radio at this price. Thanks for the video.
Got my 330 a couple weeks ago and have had some time using it. I have another reciever I've had for some time the eton elite 750. The 330 reciever as good as the bigger radio and sometimes even better. The ssb function is great with no bfo and the fine tunning is great when you have to use it. You can get a charger and two batteries for around $30. I find the battery life is acceptable. Of course it depends on usage. It is a very good travel radio and we'll worth the money. A better value for the money than the $400 elite 750. The telescopic antenna work well if you have no long wire antenna but the long wire is better. Mine is the 3306 model.
After watching one of your videos and some others, I picked up one of these and have been really happy with it. I can pull in really weak and distant signals with a random wire antenna I built for a previous radio. I bought it for SSB listening. My only gripe is that the volume and tuning knobs feel really cheap.
Gilles, you truly inspire my radio listening hobby. I own both the PL-330 and H-501x, and I must admit that I favor the 330 for its ETM+ scan feature. However, I find great pleasure in physically tuning around with the encoder on the 501x. I agree with your statement that the 330 is an excellent choice for beginners in the hobby. The value for money it offers is unmatched, although it is comparable to the XHDATA/Sihuadon D-808.
Thanks very much, my Watkins Johnson 8718A is qrt now. No spares available, but I have everything of that mammoth radio and more in this small wonderbox called PL330. Enjoying the RADIO a lot. 73
Very cool, this radio I never regretted buying it, and you can show the firmware used by the VF/VM button, you press and hold when the radio is off, will then appear in the upper right corner . My greetings
I have the 3305 version and I am very happy with it. I take it with me on my travels and it also serves as my "clock radio". The battery has a very good autonomy.
Hej Gill thanks for the video I really agree with you Tecsun PL-330 is a little guy with big brother features. Love mine and have to say was very surprised when I got mine how good sound it has and what it can handle. Absolutely with the Tecsun PL-330 you get a very nice radio for the money. I think it's good that you bring up and, remind people that there are some cheaper radio devices that are very good. Everyone should be able to enjoy a good radio that does not cost that much take care Gill.
Unfortunately my radio budget has maxed out otherwise..... Looks a lot like other Tecsun compact radios. Just more benefits. Like the dials on the side. Similar to the 880. Currently saving as we speak. Oh. Nice video too Gil. Thanks.
Agree about the PL-330. The only "new" radios I have are a couple SDRs and the PL-330. For the money it's hard to think of anything that beats the PL-330. I like the BL-5C battery. Did you ever do any videos about accessories like linear vs switched power adapters, ideas for passthroughs for antennas, ferrite loops for SW?
Very good. It looks like a miniature version of my Tecsun H-501, which I enjoy too. They probably incorporate some of the same features as in the bigger versions of Tesun receivers. 73 de W2CH, Ray NH.
Great little radio. I see a lot of gripes from people about going away from AA or AAA batteries and I understand that to a point. However, If USB charging isn't a part of your current emergency plan... I'd reconsider that. The BL5C and 18650 batteries used in current radios are pretty common, readily available, give decent life, and are cheap. They charge quickly off of my USB wall chargers, USB battery banks, and solar panel along with my cell phone. To me this is much easier than storing or, if in case of an emergency, finding AA or AAA's after a while. I understand you can get LioN batteries in the AA and AAA form factor too that also USB charge. I'm looking into those too for my Alkaline style battery needs.
Hi there love your videos does the tecsun external antenna socket work for fm mw and lw as I would like to use an external antenna for these bands with out clipping on to the telescopic thank you very much Joe
I refute your statements regarding SSB not requiring fine tuning. This may be so for commercial SSB broadcasts but is certainly not the case for amateur transmissions which are not at full kHz steps, some will still require fine tuning. Amateur transmissions make up the bulk of all SSB traffic. That aside it really is a great pocket radio.
You did not undertand what I was saying here. I talk of a radio that has a FINE TUNING button... rather than PRECISE tuning ... a very different thing.
The greatest thing about the PL-330 for me is that I can operate this in the dark. The layout of the controls are so logical and so simple to memorize, the first day I was operating this in the dark just by feel with my fingers. Accessing all functions. Including all the memory bank functions. The separate memory locations are also incredible. This has features I wanted 25 years ago. Like being able to store upper, lower side band and SW frequencies on the same frequency. Then later deleting whichever one you do not want. Memory banks for each hour of sideband. Memory banks separate for each 6 hour block of medium wave. Another separate bank for FM. And a base memory. Sensitive, and great sounding speaker. Stereo FM earbuds. Long lasting battery life. I could go on but you get the idea. Still cannot believe the features of this radio at this price. Thanks for the video.
Was wondering which to get - I'm now sold on the PL-330 - THANK YOU for this informative video!! 🙂
Got my 330 a couple weeks ago and have had some time using it. I have another reciever I've had for some time the eton elite 750. The 330 reciever as good as the bigger radio and sometimes even better. The ssb function is great with no bfo and the fine tunning is great when you have to use it. You can get a charger and two batteries for around $30. I find the battery life is acceptable. Of course it depends on usage. It is a very good travel radio and we'll worth the money. A better value for the money than the $400 elite 750. The telescopic antenna work well if you have no long wire antenna but the long wire is better. Mine is the 3306 model.
In the '70s I might have given my right arm for a radio with all those features.
... and you still would have been a leg short of the going price.
After watching one of your videos and some others, I picked up one of these and have been really happy with it. I can pull in really weak and distant signals with a random wire antenna I built for a previous radio. I bought it for SSB listening. My only gripe is that the volume and tuning knobs feel really cheap.
Gilles, you truly inspire my radio listening hobby. I own both the PL-330 and H-501x, and I must admit that I favor the 330 for its ETM+ scan feature. However, I find great pleasure in physically tuning around with the encoder on the 501x. I agree with your statement that the 330 is an excellent choice for beginners in the hobby. The value for money it offers is unmatched, although it is comparable to the XHDATA/Sihuadon D-808.
Very excited! I ordered a PL-330 yesterday, and asked what firmware before purchasing. Thankfully it has 3306.
Does your pl330 have a USB C?
Which vendor, or where did you purchase the unit?
Thanks very much, my Watkins Johnson 8718A is qrt now. No spares available, but I have everything of that mammoth radio and more in this small wonderbox called PL330. Enjoying the RADIO a lot. 73
Very cool, this radio I never regretted buying it, and you can show the firmware used by the VF/VM button, you press and hold when the radio is off, will then appear in the upper right corner .
My greetings
I have the 3305 version and I am very happy with it. I take it with me on my travels and it also serves as my "clock radio". The battery has a very good autonomy.
Love this little radio, one of Tecsun's best and it punch's way above it's price tag.
Hej Gill thanks for the video I really agree with you Tecsun PL-330 is a little guy with big brother features. Love mine and have to say was very surprised when I got mine how good sound it has and what it can handle. Absolutely with the Tecsun PL-330 you get a very nice radio for the money. I think it's good that you bring up and, remind people that there are some cheaper radio devices that are very good. Everyone should be able to enjoy a good radio that does not cost that much take care Gill.
Unfortunately my radio budget has maxed out otherwise..... Looks a lot like other Tecsun compact radios. Just more benefits. Like the dials on the side. Similar to the 880. Currently saving as we speak. Oh. Nice video too Gil. Thanks.
The SIHUADON version of the XHDATA has a black case.
Agree about the PL-330. The only "new" radios I have are a couple SDRs and the PL-330. For the money it's hard to think of anything that beats the PL-330. I like the BL-5C battery.
Did you ever do any videos about accessories like linear vs switched power adapters, ideas for passthroughs for antennas, ferrite loops for SW?
Very good. It looks like a miniature version
of my Tecsun H-501, which I enjoy too.
They probably incorporate some of the
same features as in the bigger versions
of Tesun receivers. 73 de W2CH, Ray NH.
Only two minor flaws keep it from being perfect: the battery life and the tiny step and etm buttons. But I'm still very happy with it!
I've not had a battery issue. What kind of battery life are you getting? Yes the step and ETM buttons are definitely lacking.
Great little radio. I see a lot of gripes from people about going away from AA or AAA batteries and I understand that to a point. However, If USB charging isn't a part of your current emergency plan... I'd reconsider that. The BL5C and 18650 batteries used in current radios are pretty common, readily available, give decent life, and are cheap. They charge quickly off of my USB wall chargers, USB battery banks, and solar panel along with my cell phone. To me this is much easier than storing or, if in case of an emergency, finding AA or AAA's after a while. I understand you can get LioN batteries in the AA and AAA form factor too that also USB charge. I'm looking into those too for my Alkaline style battery needs.
Yep that one and the XHDATA D808 which dropped in price!!! -- and has Airband / RDS missing in Tecsun PL330. Best radio deals ever.
When choosing between the 330 and the 808 can I suggest reading the 2021 Ultralight Shootout. It all depends what's important to you.
How do you check the firmware on the radio?
With the radio off press and hold the VM/VF button. The firmware version appears on the top right of the display.
I Agree It’s A Very Nice Radio
Hi
there love your videos does the tecsun external antenna socket work for fm mw and lw as I would like to use an external antenna for these bands with out clipping on to the telescopic thank you very much Joe
I refute your statements regarding SSB not requiring fine tuning. This may be so for commercial SSB broadcasts but is certainly not the case for amateur transmissions which are not at full kHz steps, some will still require fine tuning. Amateur transmissions make up the bulk of all SSB traffic.
That aside it really is a great pocket radio.
You did not undertand what I was saying here. I talk of a radio that has a FINE TUNING button... rather than PRECISE tuning ... a very different thing.
The PL-330 is a great radio at a price, but personally, I like my Tescun PL-880 for a few more beans.
How does this compare to the PL-310?
This is a major upgrade to the 310, more sensitive, SSB and precise tuning
@@OfficialSWLchannel Thank you! Was trying to decide between the two so that really helps.