Hello Russ, My new PL-300WT was very well aligned (on AM) right out of the box. I have ordered another unit to check quality control, and will report to the group about its initial performance when it arrives. The AM alignment procedure is identical to that of the E100, but if other PL-300WT unit(s) arrive well-aligned, users may not need to have AM alignments performed. It's probably not a good idea to expect very much from the LW circuitry, though, since multiband radios of this size typically do not make LW capability a high priority. I expected that the loopstick would be a broadbanded type like that in the ICF-2010 or ICF-SW7600GR, sharing both LW and MW duties. It was quite a surprise to find that the loopstick is of the E100 design, apparently used only for MW. If the LW antenna is the same whip used for FM and SW, the LW performance may be anemic indeed (it certainly doesn't appear to be anything worth shouting about, at first glance). 73, Gary In a message dated 5/30/2009 5:52:20 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, wb2...@yahoo.com writes:
Gary - you didn't mention if this unit was well-aligned when you received it - unlike many of the Sony models. My biggest problem with the SRF-59 and even more so the DT200vx is the marginal selectivity in areas with lots of signals. Overcoming that plus adding LW would really be a treat. Russ Edmunds Blue Bell, PA ( 360' ASL ) [15 mi NNW of Philadelphia] 40:08:45N; 75:16:04W, Grid FN20id <wb2...@yahoo.com> FM: Yamaha T-80 & Onkyo T-450RDS w/ APS9B @15' AM: Modified Sony ICF 2010 barefoot --- On Sat, 5/30/09, d1028g...@aol.com <d1028g...@aol.com> wrote: > From: d1028g...@aol.com <d1028g...@aol.com> > Subject: [NRC-AM] Tecsun PL-300WT DSP-enhanced Ultralight Radio-- Amazing Performance > To: ultraligh...@yahoogroups.com, irca@hard-core-dx.com, a...@nrcdxas.org, o...@yahoogroups.com > Date: Saturday, May 30, 2009, 8:26 PM > > > > > > > Hello All, > > Only rarely does a manufacturer bring out a new > portable model with > excellent AM sensitivity and selectivity in combination, > but the Chinese Tecsun > company has apparently managed this design breakthrough in > their brand-new > PL-300WT model. > > Designed for the Chinese domestic market and currently > only available > through the eBay sellers "lipyn" and > "anon-co," the PL-300WT is a > LW-AM-FM-SW model selling for around $50, plus shipping. It > includes 500 > memories, a signal-noise meter, an alarm, and even a > thermometer. But what > makes the model exceptional for MW DXers is its DSP > circuitry, providing a level > of selectivity unprecedented in Ultralight radios > until now. > > Despite assumptions that no manufacturer could offer > effective DSP > capability in a $50 receiver, Tecsun has indeed managed > this breakthrough. My > PL-300WT was directly compared in selectivity with an E100 > modified by a premium > Murata CFJ455K5 ceramic filter, and the stock > PL-300WT was not only > competitive, but actually outperformed the modified > E100 in limiting the > splatter from local pests. For inner-city urban DXers, > this capability > alone would be highly desirable-- but the new radio also > showed no trace of the > usual image from a local 1450 kHz pest on 540 kHz > (or on 550 > kHz). > > Great selectivity alone would be useful, but Tecsun > has also improved the > PL-300WT's RF front end circuitry on AM, providing a > significant boost in > low-band AM sensitivity in comparison to its E100 > (PL-200) predecessor. The > PL-300WT's AM sensitivity is generally competitive with > any other Ultralight > radio on both low and high band, being edged out only > slightly by the C.Crane > SWP model on the X-band frequencies. The new Tecsun's > unique combination of > stellar sensitivity and selectivity makes it very tough to > beat among stock > Ultralight radios, and its $50 price tag is certainly > highly > competitive. > > The great news for tinkerers is that the > PL-300WT's AM loopstick is of the > simplest possible two-lead design, making it a perfect > candidate for a 7.5" > Slider loopstick transplant. The combination of the > Tecsun's razor-sharp DSP > selectivity and a highly sensitive Slider loopstick is > almost too exciting to > contemplate (of course, I've already ordered another > PL-300WT to do exactly > that). > > The accolades don't stop there-- the PL-300WT has > FM sensitivity that is > unprecedented in any Ultralight radio tested so far. The > best FM pocket radios > can typically receive the two Victoria (BC) stations on > 98.5 and 100.3 Mhz from > here in Puyallup, but the PL-300WT makes those stations > sound like locals. It > can receive most of the Vancouver (BC) stations using > only the stock whip > antenna, something that has never been experienced here on > any portable, even > full-sized ones. > > The PL-300WT has many other features not mentioned, > and its many digital > capabilities will require some user effort to learn > and appreciate. Suffice > it to say that for an MW DXer, this model already > appears to be an > exceptional bargain, and an excellent example of how > technological innovation is > making Ultralight radio DXing one of the fastest growing > groups in the MW-DX > community. > > 73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA) > > > > > > A Good Credit Score is 700 or > Above. See > yours in just 2 easy steps! > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > The NRC AM mailing list > nrcdxas.org > Questions? ow...@nrcdxas.org > Now taking orders for the 29th AM Radio Log _______________________________________________ The NRC AM mailing list nrcdxas.org Questions? ow...@nrcdxas.org Now taking orders for the 29th AM Radio Log **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221322950x1201367186/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= MaystepsfooterNO62) _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
