{"id":24430,"date":"2017-02-27T07:00:32","date_gmt":"2017-02-27T11:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=24430"},"modified":"2017-02-26T08:02:38","modified_gmt":"2017-02-26T12:02:38","slug":"charlie-reviews-the-tecsun-pl-365","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/charlie-reviews-the-tecsun-pl-365\/","title":{"rendered":"Charlie reviews the Tecsun PL-365"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Tecsun-PL-365.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16618\" src=\"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Tecsun-PL-365.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"459\" height=\"416\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Tecsun-PL-365.jpg 459w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Tecsun-PL-365-300x272.jpg 300w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Tecsun-PL-365-331x300.jpg 331w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px\" \/><\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/tag\/charlie-wardale\">Charlie Wardale<\/a>, who shares the following guest post:<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Tecsun PL-365 Review<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>by\u00a0Charlie Wardale<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I have had this receiver for over 6 months now, and whilst not using it every day, I have used it enough to have an informed opinion of it&#8217;s pro&#8217;s and con&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<h3>Overview<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Tecsun-PL-365.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-24431\" src=\"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Tecsun-PL-365.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"287\" height=\"694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Tecsun-PL-365.jpeg 287w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Tecsun-PL-365-124x300.jpeg 124w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 287px) 100vw, 287px\" \/><\/a>A quick description of the receiver for those who have not heard of it.<\/p>\n<p>The receiver is of an unusual design, more like a hand-held transceiver, measuring 53(W) X 159(H) X 26(D) mm. It naturally fits in the hand, with the thumb resting easily on the thumb-wheel tuning. The buttons on the front are for a number of alarm and display functions, SSB selection, and ETM, along with band selection and up\/down keys. The inclusion of SSB makes this quite a unique radio, and certainly interesting to use when out and about.<\/p>\n<p>It is supplied with ear buds, faux leather carrying case, the plug-in MW bar, and instruction booklet. A manual is also available to download.<\/p>\n<p>As can be seen from the picture, the receiver sports a telescopic antenna for FM\/SW, and a unique plug-in MW ferrite rod antenna, which is rotatable in its socket.<\/p>\n<p>Band coverage is as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>FM 87~108 MHz<\/li>\n<li>MW 522~1620<\/li>\n<li>SW 1711~29999 kHz<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Long Wave is also available and on mine was factory set to be included, but if not, it can be made available by the menu options.<\/p>\n<p>Like many of Tecsun&#8217;s latest receivers, the PL-365 includes the ETM function, which stands for Easy Tuning Mode. With this, you select the band (MW,FM,SW), press ETM, and it loads into a local memory, all the stations that it detects. These do not over-ride any of the main memory that may have been already used to store stations. It is specific &#8216;ETM&#8217; memory. Once the detection process is completed, the tuning wheel is then used to select each of the stations detected. This is an extremely useful feature on this receiver, as it doesn&#8217;t have keypad entry for frequencies. And band scanning using the thumb wheel in 5 Khz steps can get tedious! Of course, ETM will have to be repeated a number of times during an extended listening period as stations come and go.<\/p>\n<h3>Initial Listening Tests<\/h3>\n<p>My first port of call on starting the listening tests was FM, to judge how it received the local and national broadcasters, and to see how stereo broadcasts are received. Incidentally, I changed the supplied ear buds for some in-ear types which I find stay in place better. All national broadcasters (BBC) and local radio stations (BBC and independent) were detected well. Received audio on the built in speaker is pleasant, but as can imagined from such a small speaker, not of great range. However, stereo broadcasts from BBC Radio 3 (classical music) and Classic FM, sounded excellent using the ear buds. At night time, some further afield stations are detected, so the FM sensitivity is good.<\/p>\n<p>When I conducted these initial tests, it was evening so I decided to give the MW band a whirl as well. I fitted the MW bar antenna into it&#8217;s socket atop the receiver, selected MW and hit the ETM button. After a couple of minutes, the detection process stopped and a great number of stations had been detected. Going through them, not only were there the local (and not so local) UK MW stations, but some from much further afield such as Bretagne 5, SBC in Riyadh, and RNE Radio 5 in Madrid. By turning the ferrite antenna, it was possible to peak these stations nicely.<\/p>\n<p>So now to SW. As can be seen, SW coverage is full range from 1711 \u2013 29999, excellent for a receiver of this price range. For this initial test, listening was carried out in the early evening, in the garden, during the summer, so the higher bands were where most of the action was. Following a similar pattern to the FM and MW test, the telescopic whip was extended and the ETM button pressed. On stopping detection, a total of 65 stations were noted. One or two of these, it later proved, were images, but for the most part they were all receivable signals. The treshold for detection is quite low, so some stations are barely audible under the noise, a testament to the sensitivity of the 365. All the major stations were received well, such as VOA on 15580, Saudia Arabia on a number of frequencies, CRI of course, over numerous frequencies. And in between, stations such as CNR1 (China National Radio), the regional Chinese service, and R Australia on 12065, BBC from Singapore.<\/p>\n<p>After this, I did some listening on the 20 and 40m ham bands. To do this is slightly tricky, as it entails coming out of ETM mode by pressing the VF\/VM button. This puts the radio into frequency mode and the thumb wheel is then used to get to the correct frequency. The USB\/LSB button is then pressed and once a station is found, press the BFO button. The tuning thumb then becomes a BFO fine tune, and the amateur radio station can be tuned in accurately. It is tricky to start with but you do get used to it and amateur stations can be tuned in well. I received a number of European stations on 40m and European\/Asian ones on 20m. So again, sensitivity is good, even though this is just using the whip antenna.<\/p>\n<h3>Long Term Listening Impressions<\/h3>\n<p>Over the months between those initial tests and now, I have done a number of hours listening using this radio, on both the MW and SW bands. I especially like it if I am out for a walk in the country near us as its handy to carry in the pocket. One Sunday I listened to the whole hour of a VOA broadcast on 15580, whilst wandering along the Lincolnshire foot paths. And it is also a nice radio to do a bit of casual listening from the armchair of an evening, when the TV is on but of no interest. This way I have enjoyed many a broadcast from VOA, RRI and the BBC using the ear buds. It&#8217;s also nice to tune into the Celtic music of Bretagne 5 during the evening on MW as a change from the fair on BBC Radio 2 or 3.<\/p>\n<h3>Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p>Would I recommend this radio? Yes I would, whole heartedly. For what it is designed to do, it does very well. Could it be better? Of course. A keypad would be nice, an external antenna port would be great and so on. But it was designed to be a general coverage receiver, in a small, hand-held package, and for that it receives top marks.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>Many thanks for your review, Charlie! I agree with you that the PL-365 is\u00a0ideal, in terms of form factor, for radio listening while on long walks and hikes! It is certainly an excellent portable.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The Tecsun PL-365 can be purchased from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tecsunradios.com.au\/store\/product\/tecsun-pl365-radio\/\" target=\"_blank\">Tecsun Radios Australia<\/a> and occasionally on eBay (<a href=\"http:\/\/rover.ebay.com\/rover\/1\/711-53200-19255-0\/1?icep_ff3=9&amp;pub=5574879351&amp;toolid=10001&amp;campid=5337647673&amp;customid=&amp;icep_uq=Tecsun+PL-365&amp;icep_sellerId=&amp;icep_ex_kw=&amp;icep_sortBy=12&amp;icep_catId=&amp;icep_minPrice=&amp;icep_maxPrice=&amp;ipn=psmain&amp;icep_vectorid=229466&amp;kwid=902099&amp;mtid=824&amp;kw=lg\" target=\"_blank\">click here to search<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Charlie Wardale, who shares the following guest post: Tecsun PL-365 Review by\u00a0Charlie Wardale I have had this receiver for over 6 months now, and whilst not using it every day, I have used it enough to have an informed opinion of it&#8217;s pro&#8217;s and con&#8217;s. Overview A quick description of [&hellip;]<\/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":[3194,3,3196,26,129,43],"tags":[6009,4617,4085,4086,479,3474],"class_list":["post-24430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guest-posts","category-news","category-portable-radio","category-radios","category-reviews","category-shortwave-radio","tag-charlie-wardale","tag-pl-365","tag-reviews","tag-shortwave-radio-reviews","tag-tecsun","tag-tecsun-pl-365"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-6m2","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":48566,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/04\/dan-reviews-the-tecsun-pl-368-large-receiver-features-in-smaller-vertical-handheld\/","url_meta":{"origin":24430,"position":0},"title":"Dan reviews the Tecsun PL-368:\u00a0&#8220;Large Receiver Features In Smaller Vertical Handheld&#8221;","author":"Thomas","date":"April 18, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Dan Robinson, for the following guest post and review: Tecsun PL-368:\u00a0 Large Receiver Features In Smaller Vertical Handheld by Dan Robinson It was back in 2020 that the first photos surfaced online of the PL-368 \u2013\u00a0posted on Facebook by someone attending the electronics fair in\u00a0Shanghai, China. Photos\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AM&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tecsun PL-368","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/P1090440.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/P1090440.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/P1090440.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/P1090440.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44069,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/tecsun-pl-365-now-in-stock-at-anon-co\/","url_meta":{"origin":24430,"position":1},"title":"Tecsun PL-365 now in stock at Anon-Co","author":"Thomas","date":"June 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gareth Buxton, who writes: I \"watch\" the Anon-Co new additions page for changes and this morning I received an update that the PL-365 has been added. I think they only used to stock the non-usb Pl-360 version. Click here to view the PL-365 page\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","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\/06\/tecsun-pl-365.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/tecsun-pl-365.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/tecsun-pl-365.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/tecsun-pl-365.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24002,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/dan-compares-the-tecsun-pl-365-and-countycomm-gp5-ssb\/","url_meta":{"origin":24430,"position":2},"title":"Dan compares the Tecsun PL-365 and CountyComm GP5-SSB","author":"Thomas","date":"February 5, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares the following review: Comparing the CountyComm GP5-SSB and Tecsun PL-365 County Comm GP-5\/SSB and Tecsun PL-365: a couple of years ago, I obtained a GP-5\/SSB from Universal and have enjoyed using the radio. It's extremely sensitive, often bringing in signals\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Guest Posts&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/pl-365-v-gp5-ssb.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/pl-365-v-gp5-ssb.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/pl-365-v-gp5-ssb.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/pl-365-v-gp5-ssb.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47692,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/02\/video-nick-compares-the-new-tecsun-pl-368-with-other-portables\/","url_meta":{"origin":24430,"position":3},"title":"Video: Nick compares the new Tecsun PL-368 with other portables","author":"Thomas","date":"February 9, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Nick Booras, who writes: Hi Thomas I posted a video of this radio compared to a couple other popular radios. Thought your viewers might be interested. This 368 is a significant improvement over the 360 and 365. https:\/\/youtu.be\/2Mn1sTuWhaQ Thank you so much for sharing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;New Products&quot;","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Tecsun-PL-368-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Tecsun-PL-368-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Tecsun-PL-368-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Tecsun-PL-368-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49237,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/dan-reviews-latest-firmware-version-of-the-tecsun-pl-368-and-shares-list-of-hidden-features\/","url_meta":{"origin":24430,"position":4},"title":"Dan reviews latest firmware version of the Tecsun PL-368 and shares list of hidden features","author":"Thomas","date":"June 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Dan Robinson, who shares the following guest post: Revisiting the Tecsun PL-368:\u00a0 Assessing a Later Firmware Unit by Dan Robinson This past April, I reviewed Tecsun's PL-368, the update of the PL-365 (also sold by CountyComm as the GP5).\u00a0 There were some major changes:\u00a0 Tecsun shifted from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;New Products&quot;","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Tecsun-PL-368.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Tecsun-PL-368.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Tecsun-PL-368.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45974,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/matt-compares-the-tecsun-pl-990-to-the-icom-ic-r9500-on-an-external-antenna-and-the-results-are-surprising\/","url_meta":{"origin":24430,"position":5},"title":"Matt compares the Tecsun PL-990 to the Icom IC-R9500 on an external antenna and the results are surprising","author":"Thomas","date":"October 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Matt Blaze, who shares the following comparison of the new Tecsun PL-990x and the benchmark Icom IC-R9500 communications receiver. Matt's excellent comparison\u00a0 is in audio form. I highly recommend listening with headphones or, at least, an audio device with separate left\/right channels as his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Guest Posts&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24430","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=24430"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24430\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24430"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}