Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Gary (WN9U) who writes:
Just an FYI comment about the narrow filters NOT staying on while tuning. I read about the similar problem that you encountered during the initial testing of the PL-880.
While tuning CW stations with the 500 Hz filter turned on (fast or fine tuning), the filter would always revert back to the 3.0 wider setting. It had never done this before. I tried several resets with no cure.
After further testing I found the fix: I had turned on the Hidden Menu Noise Reduction (switch 6) and did not realize it was on.
After turning off the Noise Reduction, I was able to tune with the narrow filters set at any band width. Evidently, the filter opens up to 3.0 when tuning with the Noise Reduction turned on & reset does not turn off this function.
Thanks so much for the tip, Gary! I’ll add this to our (still) growing list of PL-880 hidden features and tips. Seems there’s always something to discover on the Tecsun PL-880.
My Tecsun PL880 Fine Tuning knob, the middle knob, is disabled. Please help me fix this issue. I have tried 4-6 while the radio is ON. I have turnned this off. I have tried resetting. I am puzzled as to what to do. Plus the bandwidth is also going back and forth from narrow to wide to narrow again. I am visually impaired and am trying to do this with my CCTV, which makes it easier to see the radio so I can put it in a display (black background display/ white letters) to make it easier. This is a very good radio if I can get the SSB fine tuning knob working once again.
NOTE: The SSB is zeroed out and will not move. It goes by 1Khz steps in SSB mode and 5KHz steps in normal mode. How do I get the BFO / fine tuning switch to work better?
NOTE2: Tried to use the XHDATAD808… absolutely terrible when trying to tune as this has this weird way of tuning things. The WB109 works much like the PL880 with direct frequency tuning. If the other radio worked this way, it would be better
Paul R
East Rochester NY
Shortwave listener since 1984
I too was having this issue with my radio and now it’s solved.
Thanks
Satyan vu3mes
Thank you for this most valuable information, appreciated.