I have all 3 of these radios, but I haven't used the Tecsun PL-330 much. It performs well, but I don't like the mute on tuning and the small buttons. However, the SSB and ETM+ on it are great.
I have the same gripes with the PL-330. This plus the too sensitive and imprecise tuning wheel. I miss a real BFO wheel too. But it's still a great radio, especially nice to carry around with its small size.
I just picked up the tecsun 330 and so far it's a decent radio The only thing I don't like about it is the buttons are very small and at my age it's very hard to see them but I still would highly recommend it
I saw you mention that in your video about the radio. Yes it is alright, I didn't need to have it but bought it anyway because I liked how small it is. Thanks for watching.
I have both the XHDATA D-808 and the TEF6686 which I bought lately as a TEF backup. XHDATA performs quite well on MW, the contrary on FM whilst the TEF6686 performs brilliant on FM, the contrary then to XHDATA D-808. I had high hopes for the Tecsun but despite its price tag, I did not consider it, alongside the Sangean ATS909X2. Cheers John 73!
Your findings are exactly the same as mine. The Tecsun PL-330 was more of an impulse buy rather than a necessity. I knew it would not perform as well as the XHDATA D-808 but I liked it for its smaller size. 73.
Great video, thanks. I have these three radios and I do like them. However with the Qodosen DX-286 price having dropped to about $80 now, I'd find it a better choice than the "silver sardine can" TEF6686 radio. For SSB, nothing beats the analogue Tecsun PL-6xx radios IMHO. Their prices have dropped too on Anon-Co, presumably because they're being discontinued. You can get them for ~$100 now.
You're welcome. The thing with the TEF 6686 is that it is easy to change the firmware which brings more features & improvements for the radio. With the Qodosen you are stuck with what the radio brings you. I also noticed some Tecsun radios have dropped in price. The Tecsun PL-330 is one & I can get it for £40 on Aliexpress which I think is a great price as it has SSB with decent performance.
Thank you for this video! My TEF6686 (looking like your but by another brand) has a quite strong noise from circuitry on all SW bands (also on external antenna). Holding the radio helps but not for 100%. So it requires a shielding of the chip and (or) other parts of ciruitry.
You're welcome. I don't have the issue of bad noise of MW & SW coming directly from the radio. There is noise & it is more noticeable on MW but I would not say it is bad. Try using a grounded antenna like the MLA-30 & see if it is still there. My guess is the noise you are getting is going straight to the antenna because of lack of internal noise filtering coming from the internal circuitry.
I did notice too that when used on its whip antenna, my silver TEF6686 radio is significantly noisier than my Qodosen SR-286 based on the same DSP chip. I use it at home on my MLA30+ most of the time and it solves the noise problem indeed. For outdoors, I would recommend connecting it to a long wire if possible. Works much better.
Depends. If you want the best FM portable with lots of RDS information, then the TEF 6686. If you want a MW & LW radio with an internal ferrite antenna, then the DX-286 though FM performance will be the same but with less RDS information.
I have all 3 of these radios, but I haven't used the Tecsun PL-330 much. It performs well, but I don't like the mute on tuning and the small buttons. However, the SSB and ETM+ on it are great.
I have the same gripes with the PL-330. This plus the too sensitive and imprecise tuning wheel.
I miss a real BFO wheel too.
But it's still a great radio, especially nice to carry around with its small size.
I just picked up the tecsun 330 and so far it's a decent radio The only thing I don't like about it is the buttons are very small and at my age it's very hard to see them but I still would highly recommend it
I saw you mention that in your video about the radio. Yes it is alright, I didn't need to have it but bought it anyway because I liked how small it is. Thanks for watching.
I have both the XHDATA D-808 and the TEF6686 which I bought lately as a TEF backup. XHDATA performs quite well on MW, the contrary on FM whilst the TEF6686 performs brilliant on FM, the contrary then to XHDATA D-808. I had high hopes for the Tecsun but despite its price tag, I did not consider it, alongside the Sangean ATS909X2. Cheers John 73!
Your findings are exactly the same as mine. The Tecsun PL-330 was more of an impulse buy rather than a necessity. I knew it would not perform as well as the XHDATA D-808 but I liked it for its smaller size. 73.
Great video, thanks. I have these three radios and I do like them. However with the Qodosen DX-286 price having dropped to about $80 now, I'd find it a better choice than the "silver sardine can" TEF6686 radio.
For SSB, nothing beats the analogue Tecsun PL-6xx radios IMHO. Their prices have dropped too on Anon-Co, presumably because they're being discontinued. You can get them for ~$100 now.
You're welcome. The thing with the TEF 6686 is that it is easy to change the firmware which brings more features & improvements for the radio. With the Qodosen you are stuck with what the radio brings you. I also noticed some Tecsun radios have dropped in price. The Tecsun PL-330 is one & I can get it for £40 on Aliexpress which I think is a great price as it has SSB with decent performance.
Thank you for this video! My TEF6686 (looking like your but by another brand) has a quite strong noise from circuitry on all SW bands (also on external antenna). Holding the radio helps but not for 100%. So it requires a shielding of the chip and (or) other parts of ciruitry.
You're welcome. I don't have the issue of bad noise of MW & SW coming directly from the radio. There is noise & it is more noticeable on MW but I would not say it is bad. Try using a grounded antenna like the MLA-30 & see if it is still there. My guess is the noise you are getting is going straight to the antenna because of lack of internal noise filtering coming from the internal circuitry.
@@mutezone Thanks for the reply.
I did notice too that when used on its whip antenna, my silver TEF6686 radio is significantly noisier than my Qodosen SR-286 based on the same DSP chip. I use it at home on my MLA30+ most of the time and it solves the noise problem indeed. For outdoors, I would recommend connecting it to a long wire if possible. Works much better.
Cool video, well explained,, and pointing out the purchase price , great job.
THank you very much, glad it helped.
Please TEF6686 vs Qodosen DX-286
Depends. If you want the best FM portable with lots of RDS information, then the TEF 6686. If you want a MW & LW radio with an internal ferrite antenna, then the DX-286 though FM performance will be the same but with less RDS information.
@@mutezone people say that tef6686 it's awful on MW and SW cause display generates QRM