Tecsun Tecsun PL-990 availability

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ka3jjz

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I just got an email from Universal Radio that this radio may be available late next month. The Al-Anon site is saying November 12.

Stay tuned....Mike
 

ka3jjz

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May be the 990 and not the 990X which is the one slated for export. From the reviews, it's a terrific radio. Amazon's price is about USD30 higher than the Anon website, and the Amazon sale doesn't include a 2nd battery, which the Anon sale does.

I wish I wasn't unemployed right now....Mike
 

MDScanFan

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Reconrider

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$270! Man, there is no way I would pay that much when there are other decent portables for about half as much.

I appreciate that Tecsun is still producing portables. I own the 880 and 600. SSB leaves a lot to be desired but their AM (BCB and SW) and FM reception is great.
No kidding. I would rather spend half and get the 880. My buddy has the 880 and loves it. Would you say the 880 is worth picking up if I wanted to listen to shortwave?
 

MDScanFan

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For a portable I have been very pleased with the 880 and think you can’t go wrong with it unless HF SSB is very important to you. It is a very good value - I bought one used for around $100. If you do a search on RR or SWLing.com you will find some good reviews. Pros: build quality, ergonomics, speaker, AM and FM mode reception, compact size, excellent battery life. Cons: SSB AGC distortion. I will be curious to see how the 990 compares after some more reviews come in.

No kidding. I would rather spend half and get the 880. My buddy has the 880 and loves it. Would you say the 880 is worth picking up if I wanted to listen to shortwave?
 

Engine104

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I agree, I have a 660 and I agree about the poor SSB reception, even when I use the longwire antenna or connect it to my ham dipole. The AM shortwave and MW is amazing, though
 

ka3jjz

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Funny how many reviews have praised the 660's SSB reception. You sure you're not overdriving it - connecting it to a ham dipole almost certainly will. Portables simply can't handle that much RF without causing issues. I really don't understand why people keep doing this....

It should work OK with the supplied wire antenna, but anything more....questionable

Very odd, for sure....Mike
 

Engine104

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Hi Mike,

It works ok with the wire antenna and, yes, the G5RV is too much antenna (I tried it once, just to see), but I was expecting better SSB performance. Maybe the problem is that I am comparing it to my ham rig.
 

Engine104

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Engine104, adjust the gain switch from DX to normal and see if that makes a difference.
Hi N9JCQ,

That doesn't help much with SSB, but it does with MW and the more powerful SW stations. Like anything else, it depends on band conditions. Last night, I was able to copy QSOs on 80m and 40m without much of a problem. I really like the radio. I just need to stop ccomparing it to my ham rig.

BTW: My son moved to your area several years ago to teach. We've been to the Lou Malnati's in Buffalo Grove many times :)

73,

-Larry (KG6EJT)
 

N9JCQ

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Hi N9JCQ,

That doesn't help much with SSB, but it does with MW and the more powerful SW stations. Like anything else, it depends on band conditions. Last night, I was able to copy QSOs on 80m and 40m without much of a problem. I really like the radio. I just need to stop ccomparing it to my ham rig.

BTW: My son moved to your area several years ago to teach. We've been to the Lou Malnati's in Buffalo Grove many times :)

73,

-Larry (KG6EJT)
Well how cool is that?? Yeah my PL-660 is not as good as my Drake TR7. Still I like it to listen to QSOs like youi do.
 
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