{"id":42248,"date":"2020-03-11T12:52:50","date_gmt":"2020-03-11T16:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=42248"},"modified":"2020-03-11T12:55:26","modified_gmt":"2020-03-11T16:55:26","slug":"how-to-distinguish-pilot-run-and-final-export-versions-of-the-tecsun-pl-990","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/how-to-distinguish-pilot-run-and-final-export-versions-of-the-tecsun-pl-990\/","title":{"rendered":"Tecsun PL-990: How to distinguish pilot run and final export versions"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

The Tecsun PL-990<\/p><\/div>\n

As I suspected<\/a>, it appears the Tecsun PL-990 batch that showed up recently on AliExpress<\/a> for $399 each are the preliminary pilot run units that Tecsun offered in China last year. The final export version of the PL-990 is not ready for production yet and has been severely delayed by Covid-19 quarantines<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Anna at Anon-Co<\/a> reports that Tecsun factories have been closed since mid-January 2020 and have only recently recommenced production, “but at a very slow pace<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

Since there will eventually be two different versions of the Tecsun PL-990 in the wild–the pilot run for China, and the finalized export version–I thought I’d share a trick Anna has described to tell the difference between the two.<\/p>\n

Anna notes:<\/p>\n

One way to easily see this is from the labels for the buttons above the keypad, these should be<\/p>\n

[ TIME ]<\/strong>, [ TIMER A ]<\/strong>, and [ TIMER B ]<\/strong> (see picture below)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Tecsun PL-990 Final Export Version:<\/h2>\n
\"Tecsun<\/a>

Tecsun PL-990 Final Export Version<\/p><\/div>\n

Pilot Tecsun PL-990 (preliminary China domestic version):<\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>

Preliminary Pilot Tecsun PL-990 distributed in China — image from AliExpress.<\/p><\/div>\n

Anna adds:<\/p>\n

I highly recommend [no one] buy these pilot versions, because the software on those devices is also not developed.<\/p>\n

There still isn\u2019t a final version or any price indication available yet, but it will definitely not be US$399.99.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So in case it’s not clear: don’t purchase a PL-990 until you can confirm you’re receiving a final export version which has the TIME, TIMER A, and TIMER B labels.<\/p>\n

Again, at time of posting, the final PL-990 export version is not yet in production.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the final export PL-990 is available, I will announce it here on the SWLing Post<\/em> with links to authorized retailers like Anon-Co<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Patreon Code<\/p>\n

\n

Do you enjoy the SWLing Post?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

Please consider supporting us via\u00a0Patreon<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or our\u00a0Coffee<\/span>\u00a0Fund<\/span><\/a>! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your support makes articles like this one possible. Thank you!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As I suspected, it appears the Tecsun PL-990 batch that showed up recently on AliExpress for $399 each are the preliminary pilot run units that Tecsun offered in China last year. The final export version of the PL-990 is not ready for production yet and has been severely delayed by Covid-19 quarantines. Anna at Anon-Co […]<\/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":[627,836,3,43],"tags":[6689,2749,2635,7811,479,7810],"class_list":["post-42248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-how-to","category-new-products","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-aliexpress","tag-anon-co","tag-dan-robinson","tag-pl-990","tag-tecsun","tag-tecsun-pl-990"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-aZq","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":42219,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/tecsun-pl-990-now-on-aliexpress\/","url_meta":{"origin":42248,"position":0},"title":"Tecsun PL-990 (pilot run) now on AliExpress","author":"Thomas","date":"March 6, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who notes that the Tecsun PL-990 has now appeared on AliExpress.com. The price is a steep $399 US shipped via DHL with an estimated delivery of late March. They claim to have about 900 units available. You can check out the PL-990\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","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\/2020\/03\/Tecsun-PL-990-AliExpress.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Tecsun-PL-990-AliExpress.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Tecsun-PL-990-AliExpress.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Tecsun-PL-990-AliExpress.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44780,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/george-reviews-the-new-tecsun-pl-990\/","url_meta":{"origin":42248,"position":1},"title":"George reviews the new Tecsun PL-990","author":"Thomas","date":"August 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, George Joachim, who shares the following review of the Tecsun PL-990. AS George points out, the PL-990 in the following review is not the \"export\" model Anon-Co will eventually offer for sale later this year. It might be nearly identical in every respect, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","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\/08\/PL-990-left-side-227x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":44652,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/photos-of-the-tecsun-pl-990\/","url_meta":{"origin":42248,"position":2},"title":"Photos of the Tecsun PL-990","author":"Thomas","date":"August 6, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, George Joachim, who shares the following photo of his recently acquired Tecsun PL-990. George also shared the following comment: I have just received my PL 990 from Ali Express. Suitably impressed everything works as advertised and yes it is the newer (TIME TIMER A\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\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990-GeorgeJoachim-1-1-e1596712899547.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990-GeorgeJoachim-1-1-e1596712899547.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990-GeorgeJoachim-1-1-e1596712899547.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990-GeorgeJoachim-1-1-e1596712899547.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41635,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/tecsun-pl-990-and-h-501-what-we-know-so-far-about-the-upcoming-production-run\/","url_meta":{"origin":42248,"position":3},"title":"Tecsun PL-990 and H-501: What we know so far about the upcoming production run","author":"Thomas","date":"January 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many of you have been asking me about the pricing and availability of the Tecsun PL-990 and H-501 receivers. Both radios were released late last year (2019) in China, but the final export version--and first full production run--has not yet hit the market. I reached out to Anon-Co to see\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","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\/2020\/01\/Tecsun-PL-990-1-e1579091318988.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Tecsun-PL-990-1-e1579091318988.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Tecsun-PL-990-1-e1579091318988.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Tecsun-PL-990-1-e1579091318988.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46456,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/11\/tecsun-pl-990-in-stock-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":42248,"position":4},"title":"Tecsun PL-990 in stock again","author":"Thomas","date":"November 13, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jack Dully, who notes that the Tecsun PL-990X is back in stock at Anon-Co. Click here to check out their ordering page. In addition, Tecsun Radios Australia is offering free shipping today (Friday 13, 2020). If you've been considering purchasing the PL-990 or PL-990x,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","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\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-9.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-9.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-9.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-9.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-9.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-9.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46058,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/johns-pl-990-hidden-features-quick-reference-sheet\/","url_meta":{"origin":42248,"position":5},"title":"John’s Tecsun PL-990 Hidden Features Quick Reference Sheet","author":"Thomas","date":"October 21, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John Hoad, who shares the following: I took delivery of my Tecsun PL-990x yesterday from Anon. I thought this hidden features list might be of interest. Click here to download (PDF). Thank you for sharing this sheet, John! Well done!","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tecsun-PL-990-and-PL-990x-2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tecsun-PL-990-and-PL-990x-2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tecsun-PL-990-and-PL-990x-2.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tecsun-PL-990-and-PL-990x-2.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tecsun-PL-990-and-PL-990x-2.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42248","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=42248"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42248\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}