{"id":45895,"date":"2020-10-10T10:19:09","date_gmt":"2020-10-10T14:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=45895"},"modified":"2020-10-10T10:19:09","modified_gmt":"2020-10-10T14:19:09","slug":"tecsun-pl-990-hidden-feature-toggling-ferrite-bar-and-telescopic-whip-antenna-on-mw-lw-bands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/tecsun-pl-990-hidden-feature-toggling-ferrite-bar-and-telescopic-whip-antenna-on-mw-lw-bands\/","title":{"rendered":"Tecsun PL-990 Hidden Feature: Toggling ferrite bar and telescopic whip antenna on MW & LW bands"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many thanks to Anna at Anon-Co<\/a> who recently shared an interesting “hidden feature” of the Tecsun PL-990<\/strong> which allows the user to toggle between the internal ferrite antenna and telescoping whip antenna while on either the mediumwave or logwave bands.<\/p>\n

Procedure:<\/h1>\n

1)<\/strong> Turn on the radio and then select either the MW or LW frequency band.<\/p>\n

2)<\/strong> Press and hold the [ 3 ]<\/strong> key for about 2 seconds.<\/p>\n

When the display shows “CH-5” (actually an “S” which stands for shortwave telescopic antenna) the radio is now set to MW\/LW reception using the telescopic whip antenna.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The display will show MW (or LW) and<\/em> SW on the left side of the screen.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

3)<\/strong> Press and hold the [ 3 ]<\/strong> key for about 2 seconds.<\/p>\n

When the display shows “CH-A” (“A” stands for “AM”) the radio is now set to MW\/LW reception using the internal ferrite antenna once again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The display will also show only<\/em> MW (or LW) on the left side of the screen.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Pressing and holding the [ 3] key essentially toggles between these two antenna settings.<\/p>\n

I’ve actually found that, indoors, using the whip antenna on mediumwave has been more effective at mitigating RFI with strong local stations. The ferrite bar antenna has more gain, of course, but for locals it’s not necessarily needed.<\/p>\n

Many thanks, Anna, for sharing this tip!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to Anna at Anon-Co who recently shared an interesting “hidden feature” of the Tecsun PL-990 which allows the user to toggle between the internal ferrite antenna and telescoping whip antenna while on either the mediumwave or logwave bands. Procedure: 1) Turn on the radio and then select either the MW or LW frequency […]<\/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":[3607,627,2436,433,3,3196],"tags":[2749,7811,8756,479,7810,8879],"class_list":["post-45895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-antennas","category-how-to","category-longwave","category-mediumwave","category-news","category-portable-radio","tag-anon-co","tag-pl-990","tag-pl-990x","tag-tecsun","tag-tecsun-pl-990","tag-tecsun-pl-990-hidden-features"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-bWf","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":48281,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/tecsun-pl-330-tip-using-the-telescopic-antenna-for-the-lw-mw-bands\/","url_meta":{"origin":45895,"position":0},"title":"Tecsun PL-330 tip: Using the telescopic antenna for the LW & MW bands","author":"Thomas","date":"March 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mad Radio DXer, who writes: Hi, I want to let you & your readers know of a Tecsun PL-330 trick that I saw mentioned in the comments section of your blog some time ago which does not seem to have a lot of awareness.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Longwave"","block_context":{"text":"Longwave","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/longwave\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Tecsun-PL-330-11.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-330-11.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Tecsun-PL-330-11.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Tecsun-PL-330-11.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52810,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/05\/tecsun-pl-990-ferrite-rods\/","url_meta":{"origin":45895,"position":1},"title":"Tecsun PL-990 Ferrite Rods","author":"Thomas","date":"May 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gareth Buxton, who writes: Hi Thomas I see that Anon-co have the Tecsun PL-990 Ferrite rod aerial for sale. It even says in the product description \"You can use it for your DIY projects.\" I thought it might be of interest to your MW\/AM\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/pl990ferriteantenna11aco.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/pl990ferriteantenna11aco.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/pl990ferriteantenna11aco.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45023,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/tecsun-pl-990-initial-assessment\/","url_meta":{"origin":45895,"position":2},"title":"Tecsun PL-990x Initial Assessment","author":"Thomas","date":"August 27, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, and I have been evaluating a pre-production model of the Tecsun PL-990x portable shortwave radio--the same model which will be soon sold by Anon-Co. Dan has just completed his initial assessment and included a long-format video. Many thanks to Dan for sharing the following: Tecsun\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-990-7.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-990-7.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-7.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-7.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-7.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-7.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48145,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/michael-pairs-the-tecsun-pl-990-and-the-aor-la400\/","url_meta":{"origin":45895,"position":3},"title":"Michael pairs the Tecsun PL-990 and the AOR LA400","author":"Thomas","date":"March 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael Ye (BD4AAQ), for the following guest post: In the Loop:\u00a0PL-990 and LA400, a Perfect Match by Michael Ye (BD4AAQ) I have been a happy owner of Tecsun\u2019s PL-880 world band receivers for years. In fact I have two PL-880 radios, one sitting at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/PL-990-and-PL-880-scaled-e1615376264103.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/PL-990-and-PL-880-scaled-e1615376264103.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/PL-990-and-PL-880-scaled-e1615376264103.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/PL-990-and-PL-880-scaled-e1615376264103.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/PL-990-and-PL-880-scaled-e1615376264103.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":60265,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/07\/dan-robinson-reviews-the-new-tecsun-s-2200x-portable-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":45895,"position":4},"title":"Dan Robinson Reviews the New Tecsun S-2200X Portable Receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"July 27, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post contributor and supporter, Dan Robinson, who shares the following review: Tecsun Delivers The S-2200X \u2013 New Life For A 16-Year-Old Cabinet Design by Dan Robinson Note: Please see an addendum of updates at the end of this post. Some months ago, I learned from Anon-co that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Tecsun-S-2200X-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Tecsun-S-2200X-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Tecsun-S-2200X-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Tecsun-S-2200X-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Tecsun-S-2200X-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Tecsun-S-2200X-1.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8461,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/01\/forcing-the-tecsun-pl-880-to-use-an-external-antenna-on-mwlw\/","url_meta":{"origin":45895,"position":5},"title":"Forcing the Tecsun PL-880 to use an external antenna on MW\/LW","author":"Thomas","date":"January 3, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"For those of you who aren't satisfied with the PL-880's internal ferrite antenna for mediumwave and longwave reception, here is a video explaining a work-around that will force the PL-880 to use an external antenna on those bands: Many thanks to YouTube user\u00a0pesnyaozemle\u00a0for posting this video and to\u00a0SWLing Post reader\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45895","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=45895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45895\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}