Bought a Tecsun PL-880

[KB2GOM]

really enjoying it. Seems to be very sensitive with whip antenna; tunes butter smooth with no muting and easy fine-tuning on SSB with separate knob.

Further, with one button-push, you can use the tuning knob to change bandwidths, or, with another button-push, use the tuning knob to step through memory channels.

 

[LCRay]

Good choice.

 

[Direwolf131]

The one I have has proven an excellent communications receiver, it runs on a single 18650 cell for weeks at a time with regular use, and I use it every single night, it can also be zero-beat on the SSB's, and maintain that zero across all am bands, which makes it a nifty little ecss device, it has superb sound and selectivity, its just a damn fine radio....

 

[ka3jjz]

You might want to check out Jock's article on SWLing.com

Guest Post: Jock explores the Tecsun PL-880’s ATS system

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: Oh, no, it’s broken – NOT! And other observations on the PL-880 by Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Okay, okay,…

swling.com

And there's a PL880 reflector on groups.io. Kinda dead, now that the H501X is out, but the files area might have some things of interest, like undocumented features. Don't bother with the sync detector - on both radios, it reportedly sucks. Why they moved away from the 660's detector design is anyone's guess....

Tecsun-PL-880 groups.io Group

Tecsun PL-880 receiver discussion.

groups.io

Mike

 

[LCRay]

I originally bought the PL 880 when the model first came out. Maybe early 2014?, can't recall now.
I was very disappointed and returned it ( only radio I ever returned)

Fast forward to this year, 2021, and I purchased it again, hoping the issues I had with the initial offering were remediated.

It's my favorite portable SW radio now.

 

[majoco]

I was very disappointed and returned it ( only radio I ever returned)

The moral of the story is - wait for the Mark 2 before you jump in! Let someone else do the product testing.

 

[LCRay]

The moral of the story is - wait for the Mark 2 before you jump in! Let someone else do the product testing.

That's how I feel about Tecsun's latest offerings - 990 and 501.
Skipping the PL330, as I'm skeptical of quality audio from that little radio, but I may be wrong, just waiting for the hype to pass.

 

[Direwolf131]

That's how I feel about Tecsun's latest offerings - 990 and 501.
Skipping the PL330, as I'm skeptical of quality audio from that little radio, but I may be wrong, just waiting for the hype to pass.

I would definitely pass on the H501 at this stage, and perhaps entirely if they do not immediately remedy its consumption of 18650's, I just added a PL-990 yesterday after bailing totally on the H501 and to my dismay the PL-990 drained its 18650 down from 4.2V to 3.77V in three hours time just monitoring routine utility traffic.

Now that was with the Tecsun supplied 2600 mah 18650, so tonight I will stuff it with a 3500 mah Epoch 18650, if it doesn't substantially improve I'll be dumping that radio too.

The PL-880 runs on those same cheap Tecsun blue 2600 mah 18650's for weeks on end, just beautifully regulated, whereas the H501, and perhaps the PL-990 are much more akin to high drain LED torches. There is no good reasons for a radio to consume such fully charged battery's in new condition, on down in just a few hours time...

 

[KB2GOM]

I would definitely pass on the H501 at this stage, and perhaps entirely if they do not immediately remedy its consumption of 18650's, I just added a PL-990 yesterday after bailing totally on the H501 and to my dismay the PL-990 drained its 18650 down from 4.2V to 3.77V in three hours time just monitoring routine utility traffic.

Now that was with the Tecsun supplied 2600 mah 18650, so tonight I will stuff it with a 3500 mah Epoch 18650, if it doesn't substantially improve I'll be dumping that radio too.

The PL-880 runs on those same cheap Tecsun blue 2600 mah 18650's for weeks on end, just beautifully regulated, whereas the H501, and perhaps the PL-990 are much more akin to high drain LED torches. There is no good reasons for a radio to consume such fully charged battery's in new condition, on down in just a few hours time...

Direwolf, you might want to check out my review of the BHI In-line noise reduction module -- Jock reviews the BHI Compact In-Line Noise Eliminating Module -- I find that it works wonderfully well with the PL880 and is readily portable between radios. Yes, it is expensive (I paid for it with my own money), but it is effective.

BTW, is there a brand of 18650s and external charger that you would recommend? Like you, I find that my 880 just sips power, but I would like to have a battery or two in reserve, just in case . . .