On Jun 24, 5:58*am, wrote:
On Thursday, June 21, 2012 8:37:19 PM UTC, Mike wrote:
Just opened the package I got in the mail today containing my new Tecsun PL660.

Initial Impressions:

1. Same case as the Eton E10, with different function buttons. No sticky surface.
2. Very intuitive and easy to operate.
3. Shortwave and FM sensitivity appear superb for a compact portable.
4. Very stiff antenna. Unlikely to come loose soon.
5. Great-sounding audio.
6. Excellent sync detector, with one flaw listed below.
7. Cheap! Mine only cost $65 from Amazon after the $50 rebate for applying for an Amazon visa card.

Drawbacks:

1. Probably not best for MW DX. Not as sensitive as many other portables on MW.
2. My only problem with the sync detector is that it stays in wide bandwidth in lower sync. Even when the radio says it's in narrow BW! This is probably a defect, but I'll have to decide whether it's a big enough of a problem to warrant a return.

Overall, I continue to be impressed by the design collaboration between Chinese radio manufacturers. Waiting for nightfall...

Mike
Louisville, KY

I bought the Tecsun PL660 in April 2012 from Amazon at a price of $120.

The airband on the 660 is okay, picks up the a/c over Sutherland 160 km/100 miles away loud and clear.
*But it has no scanning function and no squelch. It tunes in
1 kHz until you turn the tuning knob faster, then it skips along at 400 or so
KHz and its therefore very difficult for finding stations unless you know the
frequency and can key it in.

The PL660 is better on HF SW than my Redsun 2100 and is quite good.

Sync function works well on upper or lower side band. The filter can be set in narrow filter mode for crowded bands.

On MW it's not so strong, but better than my Eton 100 and Grundig G8.

VHF/FM is excellent, very sensitive and as good as my fantastic little G8 on FM. I’m able to pick up far off FM stations 80km/50miles away over the mountains.

SSB is also very good for Hams and a/c operating in HF.

The narrow and wide filters are better than most cheap portables.
1000 memories divided into ten pages. that is linked to a scanning function that puts the more powerful signals into a page = nice feature.

Comes with rechargeable Ni-Cad batteries with internal charger – unfortunately the outboard power supply is only 240v AC.
Chews batteries if you use alkalines

Altogether it is a nice little radio, but the Sony 2010 is still in a class of its own.

John Plimmer, Montagu, Cape Province, South Africa
South 33 d 47 m 32 s, East 20 d 07 m 32 s
Icom IC-7600, Perseus SDR
Drake SW8. Sangean 803A, Redsun RP2100
Sony 7600D, GE SRIII, Grundig G8, Eton E100
Antenna's RF Systems DX 1 Pro Mk II,
Kiwa MW Loop.http://www.dxing.info/about/dxers/plimmer.dx


Craig's Review of the Tecsun PL-660
http://herculodge.typepad.com/hercul...un-pl-660.html

~ RHF

On Jul 5, 11:54*am, RHF wrote:
On Jun 24, 5:58*am, wrote:









On Thursday, June 21, 2012 8:37:19 PM UTC, Mike wrote:
Just opened the package I got in the mail today containing my new Tecsun PL660.

Initial Impressions:

1. Same case as the Eton E10, with different function buttons. No sticky surface.
2. Very intuitive and easy to operate.
3. Shortwave and FM sensitivity appear superb for a compact portable.
4. Very stiff antenna. Unlikely to come loose soon.
5. Great-sounding audio.
6. Excellent sync detector, with one flaw listed below.
7. Cheap! Mine only cost $65 from Amazon after the $50 rebate for applying for an Amazon visa card.

Drawbacks:

1. Probably not best for MW DX. Not as sensitive as many other portables on MW.
2. My only problem with the sync detector is that it stays in wide bandwidth in lower sync. Even when the radio says it's in narrow BW! This is probably a defect, but I'll have to decide whether it's a big enough of a problem to warrant a return.

Overall, I continue to be impressed by the design collaboration between Chinese radio manufacturers. Waiting for nightfall...

Mike
Louisville, KY

I bought the Tecsun PL660 in April 2012 from Amazon at a price of $120.

The airband on the 660 is okay, picks up the a/c over Sutherland 160 km/100 miles away loud and clear.
*But it has no scanning function and no squelch. It tunes in
1 kHz until you turn the tuning knob faster, then it skips along at 400 or so
KHz and its therefore very difficult for finding stations unless you know the
frequency and can key it in.

The PL660 is better on HF SW than my Redsun 2100 and is quite good.

Sync function works well on upper or lower side band. The filter can be set in narrow filter mode for crowded bands.

On MW it's not so strong, but better than my Eton 100 and Grundig G8.

VHF/FM is excellent, very sensitive and as good as my fantastic little G8 on FM. I’m able to pick up far off FM stations 80km/50miles away over the mountains.

SSB is also very good for Hams and a/c operating in HF.

The narrow and wide filters are better than most cheap portables.
1000 memories divided into ten pages. that is linked to a scanning function that puts the more powerful signals into a page = nice feature.

Comes with rechargeable Ni-Cad batteries with internal charger – unfortunately the outboard power supply is only 240v AC.
Chews batteries if you use alkalines

Altogether it is a nice little radio, but the Sony 2010 is still in a class of its own.

John Plimmer, Montagu, Cape Province, South Africa
South 33 d 47 m 32 s, East 20 d 07 m 32 s
Icom IC-7600, Perseus SDR
Drake SW8. Sangean 803A, Redsun RP2100
Sony 7600D, GE SRIII, Grundig G8, Eton E100
Antenna's RF Systems DX 1 Pro Mk II,
Kiwa MW Loop.http://www.dxing.info/about/dxers/plimmer.dx

Craig's Review of the Tecsun PL-660http://herculodge.typepad.com/herculodge/2011/01/craigs-review-of-the...

~ RHF
*.


-eHam- Reviews Summary for Tecsun PL-660
PLL World Band Receiver
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/9935

~ RHF

On Jul 5, 11:57*am, RHF wrote:
On Jul 5, 11:54*am, RHF wrote:









On Jun 24, 5:58*am, wrote:

On Thursday, June 21, 2012 8:37:19 PM UTC, Mike wrote:
Just opened the package I got in the mail today containing my new Tecsun PL660.

Initial Impressions:

1. Same case as the Eton E10, with different function buttons. No sticky surface.
2. Very intuitive and easy to operate.
3. Shortwave and FM sensitivity appear superb for a compact portable.
4. Very stiff antenna. Unlikely to come loose soon.
5. Great-sounding audio.
6. Excellent sync detector, with one flaw listed below.
7. Cheap! Mine only cost $65 from Amazon after the $50 rebate for applying for an Amazon visa card.

Drawbacks:

1. Probably not best for MW DX. Not as sensitive as many other portables on MW.
2. My only problem with the sync detector is that it stays in wide bandwidth in lower sync. Even when the radio says it's in narrow BW! This is probably a defect, but I'll have to decide whether it's a big enough of a problem to warrant a return.

Overall, I continue to be impressed by the design collaboration between Chinese radio manufacturers. Waiting for nightfall...

Mike
Louisville, KY

I bought the Tecsun PL660 in April 2012 from Amazon at a price of $120.