Tecsun PL-600 question

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Baker845

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Would The Tecsun PL-600 be good radio for listening to Military HF Radio Communications bands?


thank you
 

cherubim

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Would The Tecsun PL-600 be good radio for listening to Military HF Radio Communications bands?


thank you

Yes, but it really depends on your location, time of day and how much patience one has.

The PL-600 itself is a very sensitive receiver on SSB when using the whip antenna although an external longwire antenna which is properly mounted will give better results. You may also have to fine tune the BFO a bit to resolve SSB clearly.
 

majoco

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There is an easy way to pre-tune the BFO for SSB. Fortunately Mil and Aero HF are all on whole-number frequencies such as 8.867000MHz not like hams that drift around. The BFO is there to replace the carrier, so you tune to an AM broadcast station (or WWV) then turn the BFO on and turn the control for 'zero beat' - that point where the tone gets lower and lower until it disappears and then starts rising again. Now put a dob of paint or nail polish on the centre of the knob or thumbwheel. Now when you tune to a station who is tuned to x.xxx000MHz then the BFO with the knob in the centre should be right on frequency!
 

SCPD

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Yes, but it really depends on your location, time of day and how much patience one has.

+1

If you really are stuck at that price point then you have limited options. I'd recommend saving up for (at least) the PL-880 as you won't have to fiddle with BFO. It's almost twice the cost but definitely worth the upgrade.

As some have noted recently (with the DoD cutbacks) US military transmissions on HF have been quite limited. If you take away the HF-GCS transmissions (which use higher power, multiple transmit sites) then it'll be tough to pick up any exercise communications on a portable.

It really comes down to your level of patience... oh and an external antenna is a must.
 
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