Important
notice:this includes a small part of radio features. I will soon retire
the PL380 so I urge you to advise me which other non published features
you want to add for comparison. Will expect two months
-------
|
It was a very strong wish for me to add a new pocket radio and smaller than the XHdata for mostly walking in a nearby place. Instead of using the typical anon co I preferred to use an ebay seller. After short discussion with him , we decided to select the 4PX logistics company as Speedpack does not accept exporting batteries. Included in the pack are battery and English guide as requested.
The parcel has been ‘landed’ in Thessaloniki in 25 days, rested in the speed delivery service facilities for 4 days and delivered 3 days after the help of my mom-in-law who sent from the post office . The person in charge, a longtime friend preferred not to re-parcel it and send to my new home. The total price after the customs and the local postal charges was 84 Eu that is 18.7+ above its net price. That happens due to new EEC rules returning customers by 30+ years back. Ebay pays for the VAT that’s included in the order while we pay for the postal handling. A Greek seller offers the same model for 95Eu only
|
--------------------------
Here I will add all my observations on using and comparing with PL380.
Local conditions:
Around 31 m cable 1.5mm2 with thick housing. 26m active ,tilted around 25 degrees, remain leads to reception window
Noise effects:
-90dbm covering 0-40MHz .
DSL router noise at 3.5-5.2 MHZ at -90 and 8.7-11.9 MHz at -80dbm
These are shown in the spectrum analysis below:
Appearance :
-PL330 as a mini copy of PL880 in appearance.
-Tuning and audio knobs are not so good as with PL880 as far as I remember
-LCD Time with seconds were enabled by the seller.
-Firmware version is 3306
Firmware features
This supports: version , SSB
calibration , change between antenna and ferrite , FM de-emphasis . earphone out
attenuation , display seconds, muting (no
effect) , memory sort,operations time and earphone auto volume
Full listing edited by me : https://app.box.com/s/ti830iudgfjc07n4c4r3k0k0tx1opumq
Audio Review using earphones:
-FM earphone audio quality vs 380: Higher audio by 1 step (abt 1.5db) in below step 7 and U shaped curve over the PL380. Sound I enough loud at step 4 in calm room.
In speaker mode, 4 is barely heard
-50/75 μs deemphasis very little effect in audio In PL880 it was more clear
-AM audio quality: 6 kHZ on 380 is same with the 5 kHZ of 330 (SW)
Filters
|
Model |
AM mode |
SSB |
Method |
|
380 |
6/ 4 /3/ 2/ 1 |
4/ 3/ 2 /1/ 0.5 |
AMBW button carousel |
|
330 |
5/ 4/ 2 in SW |
4/ 2 /1 /0.5 |
BW button plus vol control |
|
|
9/4/2 in MW |
|
|
-Audio knob: Steps are smoother than 380. Below 7 the sound is higher by 1 step to the PL380
-Funny power off : audio is fading in 1 second…
Listening review
Long waves
There are 12 stations in the band. Audible only nearby midnight
PL380 can receive only in midnight Same on PL330
On PL330 with antenna reception : spurs from unknown SW band above the 350+ kHz part
Medium waves
Antenna adds lots of signal . I have heard a station from Iran on 846 in the clear, nothing could be heard wit the ferrite. External antenna connection over the built-in only adds noise
Shortwaves
-Soft muting still exists as with PL380 esp for signal close to the noise floor.
-The radio overloads in long
antennas during the nights. Much better than PL380. This happened only once.
Other times there was not overload. Seen signal levels up to 85/xx
-External antenna effects from 20 cm far.
-Synchro is finally operating properly! It works only in side bands. Unlocks only on fast deep fading signals.
-SSB can be calibrated by resetting the button LSB (hidden feature)
-Signal indications between radios vary by the band.
In the table below the local noise floor is measured in both radios. Wire antenna is wounded over the radios antennas Numbers vary by +/-2db
|
QRG |
PL380 |
PL330 |
Remarks |
|
3000 |
39 |
35 |
|
|
4000 |
41 |
38 |
|
|
5000 |
41 |
39 |
|
|
6000 |
46 |
40 |
|
|
7000 |
49 |
41 |
|
|
8000 |
49 |
41 |
Router bands |
|
9000 |
60 |
58 |
|
|
10000 |
66 |
66 |
|
|
11000 |
57 |
54 |
|
|
12000 |
49 |
37 |
|
|
13000 |
47 |
30 |
|
|
14000 |
45 |
34 |
|
|
16000 |
43 |
38 |
|
|
18000 |
41 |
40 |
|
|
20000 |
29 |
34 |
|
|
21000 |
25 |
32 |
|
