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Tecsun PL-660 - User Manual

Tecsun PL-660
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www.tecsunradios.com.au
2010.10 VER.1
TECSUN
PL-660
TECSUN
kHz
Ni-MH
Battery
Shortwave BW
FAST
0 1 2 3 4 5
SYNC
USB
FM STEREO/LW/MW/ SW-SSB/AIR P LL SYNTHESIZED RECEIVER
AM SYNCHRONOUS DETECTOR
2000 MEMORY PRESETS
AIR BAND
SW/MW/LW DUAL CONVERSION
SW SSB DETECTOR
PL-660
TECSUN ELECTRONIC IND. LTD.
OPERATION MANUAL
PLL SYNTHESIZED RECEIVER
FM STEREO / MW / LW / SW-SSB / AIR BAND
TECSUN ELECTRONIC IND. LTD.
Address: Rm 11, 13/F, Block A, Hoi Luen Ind. Ctr.,
55 Hoi Yuen Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
E-mail: tecsun@on-nets.com
Website: www.tecsun.com.cn
TECSUN
RADIOS AUSTRALIA
TECSUN
24/9 Powells Road, Brookvale, NSW 2100 Australia
Ph: +61 2 9939 4377
Email: info@tecsunradios.com.au
www.tecsunradios.com.au
TECSUN RADIOS AUSTRALIA

Questions and Answers

Summary

OPERATION MANUAL

CONTROL LOCATIONS

LCD DISPLAY

HOW TO TURN ON;OFF THE RADIO

TUNE IN STATIONS

Manual Station Tuning

Steps to manually select radio frequencies using the tuning knob.

Auto Browse Station

Method to automatically scan and briefly listen to stations.

Direct Keypad Entry

Enter desired station frequencies directly using the keypad.

WORKING WITH STATION MEMORIES

Storing Station Manually

Guides on how to manually save favorite radio stations to memory.

Semi-Automatic Storing Station

Instructions for saving stations found during auto-scan modes.

ATS (Auto Tuning Storage)

Automatically scans and stores available stations within memory banks.

How to Select Different Memory Page

Method to navigate and select different memory pages for stored stations.

Delete Single Memory Manually

Procedure to remove a single stored station from memory.

Semi-Auto Delete Memory

Delete stations while auto-browsing through memory entries.

Delete ALL Memory within the Page

Procedure to erase all stored stations on a specific memory page.

LISTENING TO STORED STATIONS

Memory Tuning Manually

How to manually tune through saved stations in memory.

Auto Browse Memory

Automatically scan and play stored stations sequentially.

Direct Key in Memory Address

Access stored stations by directly entering their memory address.

SLEEP FUNCTION

CLOCK SETTING

ALARM SETTING (By Radio only)

SETTING THE ALARM STATION

How to choose a radio station to wake up to.

SETTING THE ALARM TIME

Procedure to set the alarm activation time and duration.

SNOOZE FUNCTION

INTELLIGENT LIGHT FUNCTION

SETTING TUNING STEP

FM ST. (FM STEREO)

AM BW (BANDWIDTH)

ANT. GAIN

TONE CONTROL

KEY-LOCK FUNCTION

INTELLIGENT CHARGING FUNCTION

SINGLE SIDE BAND (SSB)

SYNCHRONOUS DETECTOR

HOW TO IMPROVE FM; SW RECEPTION

SYSTEM SETTING (In Power Off Mode)

SETTING FM FREQUENCY RANGE

Configures the usable FM broadcast frequency range for local areas.

TURN ON;OFF THE LW

Enables or disables the Long Wave (LW) reception band.

SETTING MW (AM) TUNING STEP

Selects the tuning step increment for the Medium Wave (AM) band.

TURN ON;OFF THE INTELLIGENT AUTO LIGHTING

Controls whether the LCD backlight activates automatically.

TURN ON;OFF THE CHARGING FUNCTION

Manages the radio's ability to charge rechargeable batteries.

RESET PROCEDURE

IMPORTANT MATTERS FOR USING BATTERIES

TROUBLE SHOOTING

Cannot Turn On Radio

Solutions for when the radio fails to power on.

Radio Turns Off While Listening

Troubleshooting steps for unexpected radio shutdowns.

ATS Station Storage Issues

Resolving problems with storing stations during ATS.

Limited FM Station Reception

Solutions for receiving only a few FM stations.

Poor AM Reception in USA

Specific advice for improving AM reception in the USA.

Low SW SSB Broadcast Sound

Troubleshooting tips for weak audio on SW SSB bands.

Alarm Noise with Broadcast

Diagnosing and fixing noise issues when the alarm is active.

Reduced Charging Time

Addressing the problem of the charging time becoming shorter.

General Radio Malfunction

General solutions for radio operational issues and malfunctions.

SPECIFICATIONS

FEATURES

Overview

The Tecsun PL-660 is a PLL synthesized receiver designed for comprehensive radio reception across multiple bands, including FM Stereo, MW, LW, SW-SSB, and Air Band. This versatile device offers a range of features for both casual listening and serious shortwave enthusiasts, emphasizing sensitivity, selectivity, and user-friendly operation.

Function Description

The PL-660 serves as a portable world receiver, capable of tuning into a wide spectrum of radio frequencies. Its primary function is to receive broadcast signals from various bands, providing audio output through its built-in speaker or an earphone jack. The PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) synthesis ensures stable and accurate tuning, which is crucial for clear reception, especially on shortwave and SSB frequencies.

For FM reception, the radio supports FM Stereo, enhancing the listening experience when using earphones. The MW (Medium Wave) and LW (Long Wave) bands cater to regional and international broadcasts, while the SW (Shortwave) band is designed for long-distance reception, often used by hobbyists and for international news. A key feature for shortwave listeners is the Single Side Band (SSB) capability, which includes both Upper Side Band (USB) and Lower Side Band (LSB) detection. This allows for the reception of amateur radio, utility, and other specialized SSB transmissions. Additionally, the PL-660 includes an Air Band, enabling users to listen to aircraft communications.

The radio incorporates a synchronous detector, which is particularly useful for improving AM reception. This function helps to reduce interference from adjacent strong signals and mitigate fading, leading to a clearer and more stable audio output. The dual conversion technology applied to AM bands (SW/MW/LW) further enhances the receiver's performance in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and resistance to inter-modulation and channel interference.

Memory storage is a significant aspect of the PL-660, offering a total of 2000 memory presets. These are organized into a main Page 0 with 800 memories (100 each for FM/MW/LW/Air Band, and 200 each for SW/SSB) and 12 additional pages (P1-P12), each containing 100 memories, totaling 1200. This extensive memory capacity allows users to store a vast number of favorite stations for quick access.

The device also includes practical features like a sleep timer, which automatically turns off the radio after a user-defined period (1 to 120 minutes), and an alarm function with two independent timers (Timer A and Timer B). The alarm can be set to turn on the radio to a preset station and volume, providing a convenient wake-up or reminder function.

Usage Features

Operating the PL-660 is designed to be intuitive, with multiple tuning methods to suit different preferences.

  • Manual Station Tuning: Users can directly rotate the [TUNING] knob to scan through frequencies. The intelligent tuning step function, which can be set to fast or slow, adjusts the tuning speed based on how quickly the knob is rotated.
  • Auto Browse Station: This feature allows the radio to automatically scan through available stations, pausing on each for about 5 seconds. During auto-browsing, users can store a station into memory with a single button press.
  • Direct Keypad Entry: Frequencies can be entered directly using the numeric keypad, offering precise and rapid tuning to a known frequency.
  • Auto Tuning Storage (ATS): This function automatically scans and stores all available stations within a selected band into memory. For FM, MW, and LW, ATS replaces existing memories, while for SW (Mode B), it stores new stations into blank memory addresses without overwriting existing ones. This is particularly useful for quickly populating memory pages with local or strong signals.

Managing stored stations is also flexible:

  • Storing Stations: Stations can be stored manually by tuning to a frequency and then selecting a memory address. During auto-browsing, stations can be semi-automatically stored.
  • Selecting Memory Pages: The radio allows users to navigate through different memory pages to organize and access their stored stations efficiently.
  • Memory Tuning: Stored stations can be accessed manually by rotating the [TUNING] knob, through auto-browse memory, or by directly entering the memory address using the keypad.
  • Deleting Memories: Individual stored stations can be deleted manually, or a semi-auto delete function allows for quick removal of unwanted stations during auto-browsing. There's also an option to delete all memories within a selected page.

The PL-660 offers several controls to optimize reception and audio quality:

  • Antenna Gain Switch (DX/Normal/Local): This switch allows users to adjust the antenna sensitivity to match signal strength, reducing background noise and interference, especially in areas with strong signals or electrical noise.
  • AM BW (Bandwidth) Selection: Users can choose between Wide Band (for better audio fidelity with strong signals) and Narrow Band (for receiving weak or distant stations by limiting interference from adjacent signals).
  • Tone Control (Treble/Bass): A dedicated switch allows users to adjust the audio output to either a treble- or bass-enhanced sound, catering to personal listening preferences.
  • Key-Lock Function: This feature prevents accidental button presses, which is useful when carrying the radio or to avoid unintended changes to settings.

For improving FM and SW reception, an external wire antenna can be connected to the dedicated jack, allowing for better signal capture, especially when hung outside a window.

Maintenance Features

The PL-660 is designed with battery management and system stability in mind.

  • Intelligent Charging Function: When powered off, the radio can charge Ni-MH rechargeable AA batteries installed in its compartment, provided an external adaptor is connected. A charging indicator on the LCD shows the progress. It's important to use only rechargeable batteries for this function and to ensure they are fully discharged before recharging to prolong battery life.
  • Battery Type Selection: The radio can be configured for either rechargeable Ni-MH batteries or regular alkaline batteries. This setting ensures the correct power capacity display and activates/deactivates the built-in charging system accordingly.
  • Battery Consumption Display: The LCD shows a battery consumption indicator, alerting users to the battery level. A flashing low battery symbol indicates that new batteries are needed, and the radio will automatically turn off when power is depleted.
  • Intelligent Light Function: The backlight illuminates for 3 seconds when any key or knob is operated. It can also be set for permanent illumination, though this is discouraged when running on battery power to conserve energy. The permanent illumination automatically turns off when the radio is powered off.
  • Reset Procedure: In case of malfunction or improper operation, the radio can be reset using a pointed object inserted into a dedicated [RESET] hole. This procedure helps restore the device to a stable state without erasing stored station memories.
  • Troubleshooting Guide: The manual includes a comprehensive troubleshooting section to help users diagnose and resolve common issues, such as the radio not turning on, poor reception, or charging problems, offering practical solutions like replacing batteries, adjusting antenna gain, or performing a reset.

Overall, the Tecsun PL-660 is a robust and feature-rich portable radio, offering extensive band coverage, advanced reception technologies, and user-friendly controls, making it suitable for a wide range of radio listening activities.

Tecsun PL-660 Specifications

Frequency Range IconFrequency Range
FM frequency range76~108 / 87~108 MHz
MW frequency range522~1620 / 520~1710 kHz
LW frequency range100~519 kHz
SW frequency range1711~29999 kHz
AIR frequency range118~137 MHz
Sensitivity IconSensitivity
FM sensitivityLess than 3 uV
MW sensitivityLess than 1 mV/m
LW sensitivityLess than 5 mV/m
SW sensitivityLess than 20 uV
SSB sensitivityLess than 1 uV
AIR sensitivityLess than 5 uV
Selectivity and S/N Ratio IconSelectivity and S/N Ratio
FM selectivity> 30 dB (±200 kHz)
MW/LW selectivity> 40 dB (±9 kHz)
SW selectivity> 40 dB (±5 kHz)
FM S/N ratioLess than 60 dB
MW/LW S/N ratioLess than 45 dB
SW S/N ratioLess than 50 dB
AM Frequency IconAM Frequency
SSB, AM 1st IF55.845 MHz
AM 2nd IF455 kHz
FM IF10.7 MHz
Output Power IconOutput Power
Speaker output power≥ 450 mW
Earphone output power≥ 10 mW
FM Stereo crosstalkLess than 20 dB

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