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Reviews For: Tecsun PL-368 multiband receiver

Category: Receivers: General Coverage

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Review Summary For : Tecsun PL-368 multiband receiver
Reviews: 3MSRP: average 85 USD
Description:
A slim, portable handheld PLL DSP receiver covering the LW/MW/SW and FM bands, with SSB and Synchronous Detection. Similar in form factor to the earlier Tecsun PL-365 (also sold as the CountyComm GP5/SSB), with the very welcome addition of a direct entry frequency keypad and selectable bandwidth filters, and numerous tuning and memory functions that can enhance the listening experience. Comes with the earlier models' unique little MW ferrite antenna the plugs atop to the receiver and can be turned to peak or null MW signals. FM is in stereo at headphone out. No longer runs on 3 AA batteries but a new BL-5C lithium battery pack, charged by a standard 5V USB charging device (not included, but the USB to mini-USB charging cable is included)
Product is in production
More Info: https://www.anon-co.com/product/tecsun-pl368-radio
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1434
K6BSR Rating: 2022-12-28
fun toy for budget minded Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
As Cycle 25 wakes up I wanted something that could tune
sideband in addition to AM, but adding rechargable battery AND full keypad really hooked me!
Yes the receiver is mediocre at best, but I DID say rechargable battery.I also got it shipped to my front door for 65 dollars American, so it was cheaper than Dinner at my local Steakhouse.
Mostly I've been listening to Coast to Coast AM on MW when everyone else is sleeping, but 10 meters has been pretty amazing almost daily since last Spring too.
Overall, it's a lightweight Swiss Army Knife type of toy I can take anywhere and even shipped with a handy pouch:)
DXACE1 Rating: 2021-10-07
Tecsun Finally Upgrades a Handy Receiver Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I would direct eHamNet readers to my review of the PL-368 on SWLing.com which can be seen at https://swling.com/blog/2021/06/dan-reviews-latest-firmware-version-of-the-tecsun-pl-368-and-shares-list-of-hidden-features/#comments

Tecsun has made what was a marginally handy portable much better by finally adding a keyboard and other features to the PL-368. As noted by other reviewers, the SYNC mode on Tecsun receivers is still not what it could be, but Tecsun has enabled multi-bandwidth option in multiple modes, including SSB, AM, and SW.

The latest headline is that Tecsun heard initial complaints that frequency re-calibration was not present in the PL-368 and all receivers now have this function. This really is great as it makes ECSS (SSB exact tuning) possible as an alternative to the still poor SYNC.

If Tecsun can maintain QC on the PL-368 this will be a very popular radio, and likely will appear under other branding from County Comm.

N0TLD Rating: 2021-08-28
Finally! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
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 damned 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 damned 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 sm 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 the ETM+ so I can't remark on it at the moment.

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.

By the way, this radio not only comes in the basic black colorway as seen above, but also comes in a rather vivid utility gear/schoolbus yellow-orange colorway that some may enjoy -- it's the same color as your typical road construction vehicle, or perhaps Ripley's powerloader in ALIENS. That last should have me liking it but I kinda find it pretty headachy. Whatever, that's just me, and who in hell am I? Who cares about my opinion on it? You go, Tecsun -- radios don't have to be basic black and grey all the time.

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.

I initially rated this as good+, but after more time with it and getting to utilize more features I have to say... at this price, in this slim little package, with all it does well (and not despite any limitations but by improved design), I'm calling it great. I think this will be a popular model when enough people discover it.