Digital PL368 AM/FM/LW/SW Worldband Radio with Single Side Band Receiver (Black)

If you've owned any of the previous iterations of this slim little handheld receiver (Tecsun PL360/CountyComm GP-5 DSP, and Tecsun PL365/CountyComm GP-5 SSB) then you know what a joy it is to report that it finally has a direct entry frequency keypad to get where you need to go instantly! No more scrolling and scrolling and scrollllllling that danged thumbwheel! This feature alone is worth the purchase! This receiver line up has always been praised by users, not for being all that "great" or mind-blowing but simply for doing so much so well for something so small and simple. They are not going to outperform their larger siblings from Tecsun but these little guys have all been very good radios, especially for their size (and price point)! And now the PL368 is easily the greatest iteration of this line up, not just for the direct entry keypad (tuning around was a total pain in the thumbwheel until now!), but for other improvements over previous models, like selectable bandwidths for each mode (like 2.5, 3.5, 5 or 9kHz in AM, or 0.5, 1.2, 2.2, 3 or 4 kHz in SSB). There seems to have been some improvement in the audio chain as well. I don't know what they did (better stock speaker? better components?) but in side-by-side, direct comparisons with my PL360 and GP-5 SSB on the same signals and bandwidths the PL368 simply sounds clearer, cleaner, a bit warmer too (not as brittle or hissy). Tecsun has added synch detection but unfortunately they seem to keep missing the boat pretty badly in that department in all their models (the PL660 seems to be the lone relative success in Tecsun's synch implementation). This one's no exception -- it is overly filtered and needlessly harsh and irritating. It locks pretty well but is just kind of dirty sounding. I will not be bothering with it, and will instead use the ECSS method which I can already assure you is better than the synch by far, especially now that there are those bandwidth filter options for SSB. It offers an updated version of their popular ETM memory tuning feature, now called ETM+, which according to Tecsun "gives the possibility of setting up time-specific memories for longwave, medium wave (AM) and shortwave." I found the earlier ETM feature to be very helpful on the local MW and FM stations when traveling, but have yet to implement this ETM+ version so I can't add to that. FM is certainly on par for this receiver style, as good as the previous iterations, mono on board but stereo at the headphone out. Of course, in any mode or band, using good headphones will sound much fuller and richer than the little stock speaker. All previous versions utilized 3xAA batteries, but now it uses a thin BL-5C lithium rechargeable battery. It charges from a standard 5V/500mA USB charger. The charger is not included, by the way, but that's probably a good thing these days, as most of us have more than enough cube USB chargers laying about (generally unused most of the time) anyway. The USB to micro-USB charging cable IS included, however. How long does a charge get you in listening time? Well, I have not used the receiver enough to be very accurate on this point but I've had it powered up while learning its ins and outs as well as just listening for at least two to three hours each day the last three days, and the battery indicator on the display still reads full. I prefer replaceable rechargeable batteries but so far this little battery pack seems to be very efficient, and its use certainly makes the radio slimmer and lighter than ever. There are numerous hidden features (visit The SWLing Post and RadioJayAllen to research in detail); one of them is very handy for we who enjoy external antennas -- you can toggle between the whip antenna or the external antenna jack (used for the included little ferrite MW antenna that actually peaks and nulls as you turn it!). I almost always use that little antenna for MW listening but exploring this feature has shown me that in my area sometimes the telescopic whip antenna brings in a better signal on some MW stations at certain times than the little ferrite... so being able to switch to the whip is very helpful. I wouldn't want to plug a whole lot of antenna into this little, easily overloaded thing but being able to toggle that if I want to experiment is handy indeed. There is much more but I just want to make the point that if you already know and enjoy this style of receiver, you will definitely love this latest and greatest version (that keypad, what a gift!). If you have never tried this style receiver, well, now might be a really good time to finally take an $80 to $90 plunge and find out. At this price, in this slim little package, with all it does well (and not despite any limitations but by improved design), I think this will be a popular model when enough people discover it.

My first night using this radio I was able to pull in stations from Cuba, Argentina, Spain and Germany from Northeastern California. It helps to use an app or website to track the best times for listening and to learn about what antenna options will work best for your target stations. The radio is very sensitive. Get the most of the radio by programming your desired stations in. Form factor is odd but great alternative to traditional form factors. Being handheld has it's advantages and it's compact size means I can drop it into my EDC bag in the morning. Battery lasts a very long time and is of course rechargeable. Eventually when the battery does need replacement, rest assured in knowing the battery is easily replaceable with cheap, readily available replacements found everywhere online. This radio has very nice features that make it a solid pick for something to carry every day.

Nice little radio to play around with. Reception on FM is good, the included Directional Antenna, makes AM reception better. I really haven't put it through it paces yet. Shortwave is about what you would expect from a radio this size. A random wire clipped to the built-in telescoping antenna can bring in more signals, but also bring in more noise (QRN). Listening to sideband signals can be a challenge, but the radio holds its own. I also like the fact that it charges through the USB Micro B connection. A charge lasts quite a long time in this thing. Overall, its nice little radio to have and offers good value for the price.

the best radio i've ever purchased i always take it with me when i travel and ive been using it for almost two years with no issues, just fantastic performance

The Tecsun Digital PL368 has the same specifications as the PL330 which I also own but in a different, more portable shape. All buttons and functions are essentially the same as the PL330 and sensitivity and selectively are also the same. Sensitivity and selectively are very good on this radio. The PL368 has a belt clip and a carrying pouch with a belt loop to carry it anywhere you go. It also has a highly sensitive AM/LW antenna to plug in the top to increase signal strength and it works great but the radio itself does have a built in antenna. I like that I can just rotate the antenna instead of the radio so the speaker can face me. The FM antenna is impressively long and brings in many stations solidly. I haven't tried it yet on SW but I'm sure it's adequate, especially with a SW antenna reel that can be connected to it. Sound is ok. Better for talk then for music. It does come with stereo ear phones and the radio is stereo capable but I haven't tried them yet. I think that for what it is, it is a good take anywhere radio. I would get it again if I had to.

If you need a cheap SW and HF ham band receiver (USB and LSB), this is the unit. The rechargeable battery last no less that 8 hours as well. It has auto search as well. Worth every dime. And for you CB guys, yes, this is a great 11m receiver as well, even with the stock antenna, you will hear skip from many states away. I took it apart to see what IC chip it has but the board is shielded with a metal plate, and it is soldered down so I could not see the mail chip, but it works great.

Did not meet your marketing gaff. Very disappointed.

The unit I received is compromised: the soft muting circuit doesn't work and the manual tuning is a nightmare, for this radio. I asked for a return and the dealer doesn't accept it. Complications now... Bad business... Stay away.

Excelente radio solo me hubiese gustado un poco mas grande pero va bien ....muy bien

この製品は、見かけとは異なり意外に優れた本格的な「7MHz帯SSBのハンディー型アマチュア無線受信機」の一面を持っています。小型軽量安価で、テンキー入力も可能。LSBで1kHz/10Hzステップ設定が可能。受信感度も良く、選択度も良好、LSB復調音声も自然な音声で、LSBのバンド帯域も0.5/1.2/2.2/3.0/4.0kHzと選択可能でノイズから音声を上手に浮かび上がらせます。下手なアマチュア無線機よりも快適にSSB受信を楽しんでいます。いつでもどこでも超軽量コンパクトで、気軽に持ち運べる受信機として気に入ってます。短波放送、AM・FMラジオとしても、快適に受信可能です。このラジオ、コンパクトな中に隠れたポテンシャルが凄いです。

Il pacco è arrivato puntuale il giorno dopo l'ordine. Possiedo anche altre radio del genere ma più grandi, di marche diverse, che per il trasporto però richiedono un borsello. La Tecsun PL 368 l'ho acquistata perché può stare comodamente in tasca, ed è anche leggerissima, più leggera di un cellulare. Devo dire innanzitutto che per essere così piccola fa miracoli. Chi acquista questa radio è senz'altro interessato come me all'ascolto delle onde corte, soprattutto in SSB. Anche la RAI e le radio private si ascoltano benissimo, anche in stereo in cuffia, ma per questo basterebbe una radiolina da 20 euro, e quindi sarebbe sprecata usarla solo per questo. A favore di questa radio rispetto ad altre c'è: La possibilità di immettere la frequenza direttamente da tastiera Una batteria Li-Ion incorporata, che dura diverse ore La possibilità di impostare la larghezza di banda in SSB Piccole dimensioni e leggerezza Un sistema di memorizzazione delle stazioni molto sviluppato, che però personalmente non uso Costo contenuto Ma veniamo all'uso pratico in SW - SSB, gamma radioamatori 7 Mhz Ho messo a confronto la PL 368 con la PL 660, ambedue usando l'antenna a stilo incorporata e tenuta fuori dalla finestra, e ho notato quanto segue: Vince sicuramente la PL 660 per pulizia del segnale. Altre radio della concorrenza che possiedo non riescono ad eguagliare la PL 660, che usando l'antenna incorporata sembra imbattibile, quasi come una SDR. La PL 368 cerca di tenerle il passo ma arranca, in quanto l'emissione è accompagnata da un fruscio più forte rispetto alla sorella maggiore, soprattutto sui segnali medio-bassi. Ad esempio, segnali molto bassi si sentono su entrambe le radio, ma mentre nella PL 660 sono ancora intelligibili, nella PL 368 sono sovrastati dal rumore e diventano incomprensibili. Altro punto a favore della PL 660 è la sintonia: girando velocemente la manopola di sintonia della PL 660 le stazioni presenti vengono rilevate al volo. La PL 368 invece ha una manopola di sintonia a scatti, e bisogna soffermarsi chilociclo dopo chilociclo, scatto dopo scatto per un istante, per sentire se c'è attività in SSB, quindi l'esplorazione diventa molto più lenta rispetto a quella di sua sorella maggiore. La PL 368 però ha il vantaggio di stare in una tasca, di poter scegliere la larghezza di banda, e di costare molto meno. Ho provato anche a collegare un'antenna esterna e i segnali migliorano, ma il rapporto segnale/rumore rimane sempre a vantaggio della Tecsun PL 660. In conclusione non posso comunque che elogiare anche la PL 368, che per le sue piccole dimensioni, costo e peso contenuto fa senz'altro miracoli. Un mio consiglio è di acquistarle tutte e due, perché meritano. NB.: la PL 660 ora è sostituita dalla PL 680, che sembra identica alla PL 660.