Tag Archives: Tecsun PL-880 SSB QRG

Hidden feature: Calibrating the Tecsun PL-880 for zero-beat operation

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Tecsun-SSB-QRG-1Many thanks to Dan who learned, via the Tecsun PL-880 group, of another way to calibrate the PL-880 in upper and lower sideband. This method seems to be a little easier than a previously posted procedure.

Anna, with Anon-Co, translates this procedure given to her by Tecsun technicians:

  1. Place the Tecsun PL-880 in LSB or USB mode
  2. Tune to an AM broadcast station and zero-beat the signal (fine tune it until the signal has no SSB distortion and voices/music sound natural)
  3. If the last two digits of the frequency are not “00”, this means there is some display deviation
  4. Simply press and hold the [SNOOZE] button for about one second or so to calibrate the last two frequency digits, which will show “00” when successful.

I will try this procedure later today by re-calibrating my PL-880.

Dan has also noted what many others have–that the PL-880 “is sensitive to both power levels, and time in the powered on state, and will vary by some hz up and down the bands
no matter what one does to zero at any particular point.”

Has anyone else experienced this?

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Video: Calibrating the Tecsun PL-880 for zero-beat operation

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Tecsun PL-880 owner, Patrick, has made a video showing how to calibrate SSB on the PL-880. In the video, you can hear what it sounds like to zero-beat an AM carrier. Patrick writes:

Some people reported their PL-880 wasn’t properly calibrated in SSB (off-frequency).

Here is a simple tip to calibrate your TECSUN PL-880 for zero-beat operation (SSB mode) : either tune to USB or LSB, say 500 Hz off-frequency (603.05 USB for example, if you wish to calibrate your radio on 603.00, or 602.95 LSB).

PRESS and HOLD the 0 button of the keypad.

Look at the UPPER RIGHT corner of the display, where stands the clock and S/N ratio. A 2-digits number is BLINKING as well as the Hz digits of the tuned frequency.

RELEASE the 0 button, and properly adjust the FINE TUNING. You will probably have to slightly tune, de-tune and re-tune before calibration is perfect. Play a bit with it to understand how it works … (the change is effective AFTER you press again the 0 number to validate the value).

Do the same for both USB and LSB modes.

Check the tone when tuned to xxx.95 USB and xxx.05 LSB. They should sound exactly the same.

Et voilà !

Merci, Patrick!

You can follow all Tecsun PL-880 updates by bookmarking/checking this link.

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Hidden feature: Calibrating the Tecsun PL-880 on medium wave

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Tecsun-SSB-QRG-1This hidden feature was described by Diemtar on the Tecsun PL-880 Yahoo Group:

  1. Tune to a strong medium wave (AM broadcast) station
  2. Turn on on SSB mode USB/LSB
  3. Move the fine tuning control until you have a good SSB signal (i.e. obtain a good zero-beat of the AM station)
  4. Press and hold the Snooze Button, now you see a correction value in the display
  5. Press the Snooze Button again.

I just tried this on my PL-880 (firmware version 8820) and it worked well.

Many thanks, Dietmar!

You can follow all Tecsun PL-880 updates by bookmarking/checking this link.

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