{"id":14449,"date":"2015-08-25T08:48:08","date_gmt":"2015-08-25T12:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=14449"},"modified":"2015-08-25T08:48:08","modified_gmt":"2015-08-25T12:48:08","slug":"tecsun-pl-880-evans-notes-signal-meter-and-other-discrepencies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/08\/tecsun-pl-880-evans-notes-signal-meter-and-other-discrepencies\/","title":{"rendered":"Tecsun PL-880: Evans notes signal meter and other discrepencies"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PL-880<\/a><\/p>\n

SWLing Post<\/em> reader, Evans (in Greece) writes:<\/p>\n

I would like your opinion regarding two strange points we noticed in two different Tecsun PL-880<\/a> models, which a friend and I\u00a0have recently purchased. In particular:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    The signal meter is supposed to measure up to 99dBu (my Tecsun PL-390 s-meter goes indeed up to 95-97dBu for very strong amateur signals in my area included mine in mw zone). The point is that for both devices (both of which have 8820 firmware<\/a>) the signal meter does not exceed 85 dBu and in particular my Tecsun PL-880 signal meter does not goes over 70dBu (ie. even lower measurement). Why this behaviour?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Another strange point is that my friend’s Tecsun receiver displays for a “quiet” frequency (mw) a noise level of about 10-12dBu, while my Tecsun device shows only 2-3dBu noise (same frequency in the same spot!). We both tried the threshold muting adjustment (key 9)<\/a> and this worked a bit but with minor results in sensitivity, especially for my Tecsun PL-880 receiver. Is it possible to adjust the noise level so that it can be 10-12dBu instead of being only 2-3dBu and hence better sensitivity? And is it possible to adjust the maximum signal level (99dBu instead of 85dBu or even worse 70dBu for my device)?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    I have noticed that the hidden feature regarding the external mw antenna<\/a> didn’t work in my case, even though I did resets an tried many times. I pressume, hence, that maybe Tecsun disabled this hidden feature. Is there any modification available to “add something” into the radio hardware in order to be able to listen mw\/lw frequences with external antenna and thus, increase sensitivity?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Many thanks for your questions, Evans. Since my PL-880 is a first production run unit, I’m hoping readers who’ve recently purchased the Tecsun PL-880 might comment.<\/p>\n

    I\u00a0suspect Tecsun engineers give little thought to calibrating the S meters. I’m very curious if there is a hidden feature to do this, but I’m guessing this is limited only to those who can program the DSP functionality of the chip inside.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    SWLing Post reader, Evans (in Greece) writes: I would like your opinion regarding two strange points we noticed in two different Tecsun PL-880 models, which a friend and I\u00a0have recently purchased. In particular: The signal meter is supposed to measure up to 99dBu (my Tecsun PL-390 s-meter goes indeed up to 95-97dBu for very strong […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[433,3,3196,26,43],"tags":[2065,479,2066,2380],"class_list":["post-14449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mediumwave","category-news","category-portable-radio","category-radios","category-shortwave-radio","tag-pl-880","tag-tecsun","tag-tecsun-pl-880","tag-tecsun-pl-880-hidden-features"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-3L3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":44547,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/converting-tecsun-signal-meter-numbers-into-five-strength-units\/","url_meta":{"origin":14449,"position":0},"title":"Converting Tecsun signal meter numbers into five strength units?","author":"Thomas","date":"July 30, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Chris Rolfe (M3OZP), who writes with the following inquiry: Don't know if anyone can help. I have a Tecsun PL-880, and it shows signal strength in db. How can I work out the signal strength as 1 to 5? All my other radio have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Tecsun-PL-880-Screen-e1596106017959.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Tecsun-PL-880-Screen-e1596106017959.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Tecsun-PL-880-Screen-e1596106017959.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Tecsun-PL-880-Screen-e1596106017959.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9443,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/hidden-feature-calibrating-the-tecsun-pl-880-for-zero-beat-operation\/","url_meta":{"origin":14449,"position":1},"title":"Hidden feature: Calibrating the Tecsun PL-880 for zero-beat operation","author":"Thomas","date":"April 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many 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\u00a0a little easier than a\u00a0previously posted procedure. Anna, with Anon-Co, translates this procedure given to her by Tecsun technicians: Place the Tecsun PL-880\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tecsun-SSB-QRG-1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Tecsun-SSB-QRG-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Tecsun-SSB-QRG-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Tecsun-SSB-QRG-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8105,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/12\/video-tecsun-pl-880-vs-pl-660-and-coping-with-interference\/","url_meta":{"origin":14449,"position":2},"title":"Video: Tecsun PL-880 vs. PL-660 and coping with interference","author":"Thomas","date":"December 3, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I normally like to do in-line recordings for audio comparisons of radios, but my digital recorder is non-functional at the moment. This fact--coupled with a bit of reader peer pressure--prompted me to take a short video with my iPhone of the PL880 and PL660 in action. While this will not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tecsun-PL880-SWLing-Post-0526","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Tecsun-PL880-SWLing-Post-0526-1024x682.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Tecsun-PL880-SWLing-Post-0526-1024x682.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Tecsun-PL880-SWLing-Post-0526-1024x682.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8291,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/12\/hidden-feature-calibrating-the-tecsun-pl-880-on-medium-wave\/","url_meta":{"origin":14449,"position":3},"title":"Hidden feature: Calibrating the Tecsun PL-880 on medium wave","author":"Thomas","date":"December 14, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"This hidden feature was described by Diemtar on the Tecsun PL-880 Yahoo Group: Tune to a strong medium wave (AM broadcast) station Turn on on SSB mode USB\/LSB Move the fine tuning control until you have a good\u00a0SSB signal (i.e. obtain a good zero-beat of the AM station) Press and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tecsun-SSB-QRG-1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Tecsun-SSB-QRG-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Tecsun-SSB-QRG-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Tecsun-SSB-QRG-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8103,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/12\/hidden-feature-adjusting-the-tecsun-pl-880-muting-threshold\/","url_meta":{"origin":14449,"position":4},"title":"Hidden feature: Adjusting the Tecsun PL-880 muting threshold","author":"Thomas","date":"December 3, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post reader Owl points out another hidden feature of the Tecsun PL-880: \"Press and hold 9 when you listen to AM or SSB, you may adjust the muting threshold using either tuning knob. Press 9 again after you are done, the new threshold will be saved.\" Many thanks, Owl,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tecsun-PL-800-Sync-SWLing-Post","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Tecsun-PL-800-Sync-SWLing-Post-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8110,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/12\/video-tecsun-pl-880-tuning-through-a-cw-pile-up\/","url_meta":{"origin":14449,"position":5},"title":"Video: Tecsun PL-880 tuning through a CW pileup","author":"Thomas","date":"December 3, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"While working outside today, I propped the PL-880 up on the tailgate of my truck and listened to some international broadcasters on shortwave. I then received a message from a reader asking if I would make a video of the PL-880 being tuned to CW (Morse Code). I switched the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"photo (5)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/photo-5.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/photo-5.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/photo-5.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14449"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14449\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}