Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Tecsun PL-360 All-band Digital Demodulation Stereo Radio Receiver. This manual provides detailed instructions for the safe and efficient use of your new radio. Please read it thoroughly before operation and keep it for future reference.
Safety Information
- Do not expose the radio to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, or high humidity.
- Avoid strong impacts or dropping the device.
- Keep the radio away from water and other liquids.
- Do not attempt to disassemble or modify the radio; this will void the warranty and may cause damage.
- Use only the specified battery types and power adapters.
Package Contents
Please check the box for the following items:
- Tecsun PL-360 DSP Receiver
- High Sensitivity AM Antenna
- External Wire Antenna (for FM/SW)
- Stereo Earphones
- Protective Pouch
- Removable Belt Clip
- User Manual (this document)
Product Overview
Controls and Ports
- Smart Power Switch (POWER): On/Off control.
- Multifunctional Tuning Knob (TUNING): For frequency adjustment, time setting, etc.
- Band & ATS Button (FM/MW/SW): Selects frequency bands and initiates Auto Tuning Storage.
- Volume Knob (VOLUME): Adjusts audio output level.
- USB 5V DC-Jack (DC-IN 5V): For external power supply and charging.
- Battery Compartment: Holds 3 x AA batteries.
- VM & SCAN Button: For memory address status and auto-browsing stored stations.
- VF & SCAN Button: For frequency status and auto-browsing frequencies.
- ETM (Easy Tuning Mode) Button: Activates Easy Tuning Mode.
- Delete Button (DEL): Deletes stored stations.
- Memory Button (MEM): Stores stations.
- Display Button (DISPLAY): Switches display modes.
- FM ST. & Lock Button: Toggles FM stereo/mono and locks buttons.
- Alarm Set Button (ALARM): Sets alarm functions.
- Time Set Button (TIME): Sets current time.
- FM & SW Telescopic Antenna: Extendable antenna for FM and Shortwave reception.
- MW Antenna Jack (AM ANTENNA): Input for external AM antenna.
- Earphone Jack: For connecting stereo earphones.
- Removable Belt Clip: For portable carrying.
Display Symbols
The LCD screen displays various icons and information:
- Battery Level Indicator: Shows remaining battery power.
- Auto Power Off Indicator (SLEEP): Appears when auto power off is active.
- Auto Power On Function Indicator (ALARM): Appears when auto power on is active.
- Temperature Indicator (Temp.): Displays ambient temperature.
- Signal Indicator (dBμ/dB S/N): Shows signal strength (dBμ) and signal-to-noise ratio (dB S/N). Higher values indicate better reception.
- Auto Power On Time Indicator: Shows the set auto power on time.
- Shortwave Meter Band Indicator: Displays the current shortwave meter band.
- Memory Address Indicator (PRESET): Shows the memory location number.
- ETM Indicator: Appears when Easy Tuning Mode is active.
- Lock Indicator: Appears when buttons are locked.
- Frequency Units (MHz/kHz): Indicates the current frequency unit.
- Small Digital Display Area: Shows auto power on time, temperature, signal strength, memory address, meter band.
- Large Digital Display Area: Shows current time, system settings, or station frequency.
- FM Stereo Indicator: Appears when FM stereo reception is active.
- Band Indicator (FM/MW/SW): Shows the currently selected band.
- Rechargeable Battery Power Supply Indicator: Appears when using rechargeable batteries.
Setup
Battery Installation
- Open the battery compartment cover on the back of the radio.
- Insert 3 new R6 (AA size) batteries, ensuring correct polarity (+ and -).
- Close the battery compartment cover.
Powering On/Off
- To Power On: Briefly press the POWER button.
- To Power Off: Briefly press the POWER button again.
Antenna Setup
Proper antenna setup is crucial for optimal reception.
- FM & SW Reception: Extend the telescopic antenna fully. For improved reception, especially in weak signal areas, you can attach the supplied external wire antenna to the telescopic antenna and hang the other end near a window.
- AM (MW) Reception: The radio has a built-in ferrite antenna for AM. For significantly enhanced AM reception, connect the supplied High Sensitivity AM Antenna to the MW Antenna Jack on the top of the radio.
Caution: Do not install outdoor antennas in areas prone to lightning.
Operating Instructions
Setting the Clock
- Long press the TIME button. The hour digits will flash. Rotate the TUNING knob to set the hour.
- Briefly press the TIME button again. The minute digits will flash. Rotate the TUNING knob to set the minutes.
- Briefly press the TIME button once more to confirm and exit.
Band Selection
After powering on, briefly press the FM, MW, or SW button to select the desired frequency band.
Tuning Methods
The PL-360 offers several ways to find stations:
- Manual Tuning:
- Briefly press the VF button to enter frequency display mode.
- Rotate the TUNING knob to manually scan frequencies. The tuning step varies by band (e.g., FM: 0.01/0.1 MHz, MW: 1/9/10 kHz, SW: 1/5 kHz).
- ETM (Easy Tuning Mode):
- Briefly press the ETM button to enter ETM mode.
- Long press the ETM button. The radio will scan and store receivable stations in a temporary ETM memory without overwriting regular memories.
- Once scanning stops, rotate the TUNING knob to browse the ETM-stored stations.
- To exit ETM mode, briefly press the VF or VM button.
- ATS (Auto Tuning Storage):
- Select the desired band (FM, MW, or SW).
- Long press the band button (FM, MW, or SW). The radio will automatically scan and store all strong stations into memory.
- For SW, there are two ATS modes: ATS-A (scans all meter bands) and ATS-B (scans current meter band).
- Auto Browse Tuning:
- Briefly press VF to enter frequency mode.
- Long press VF. The radio will scan frequencies and pause for 5 seconds on each found station.
- Briefly press VF again to stop auto browsing.
Storing and Recalling Stations
- Manual Storage:
- Tune to the desired station.
- Briefly press the MEM button. A memory address number will flash.
- Briefly press the MEM button again to confirm storage.
- Recalling Stored Stations:
- Briefly press the VM button to enter memory address mode.
- Rotate the TUNING knob to select the desired memory address.
- Auto Browse Stored Stations:
- Briefly press VM to enter memory mode.
- Long press VM. The radio will browse through stored stations, pausing for 5 seconds on each.
- Briefly press VM again to stop auto browsing.
Deleting Stored Stations
- Delete Single Station:
- Recall the station you wish to delete.
- Long press the DEL button. The memory address and 'DEL' will flash.
- Briefly press the DEL button again to confirm deletion.
- Delete All Stations in Current Band:
- Select the band from which you want to delete all stations.
- Long press the DEL button for more than 3 seconds. 'DEL' and 'ALL' will flash.
- Briefly press the DEL button again to confirm deletion of all stations in that band.
Auto Power Off (Sleep Timer)
- With the radio on, long press the POWER button. The display will show '0n' (continuous operation) or a number (e.g., '60' for 60 minutes).
- Immediately rotate the TUNING knob to set the desired auto power off time (1-120 minutes) or select '0n' for continuous operation.
Auto Power On (Alarm Clock)
- Set Alarm Time:
- Long press the ALARM button. The hour digits will flash. Rotate the TUNING knob to set the hour.
- Briefly press the ALARM button again. The minute digits will flash. Rotate the TUNING knob to set the minutes.
- Briefly press the ALARM button again. The auto power off time (1-90 minutes) after alarm activation will flash. Rotate the TUNING knob to set this duration.
- Briefly press the ALARM button once more to confirm.
- Activate Alarm:
- Ensure a station is stored at the memory location you want the alarm to tune to.
- Briefly press the ALARM button. The alarm clock symbol will appear on the display, indicating the alarm is active.
- At the set time, the radio will power on and tune to the last stored station.
FM Stereo/Mono Switching
- When listening to FM with earphones, briefly press the FM ST. button to toggle between stereo and mono. The stereo indicator will appear/disappear.
- For loudspeaker listening or weak FM signals, it is recommended to use mono for better sound quality.
Display Mode Switching
Briefly press the DISPLAY button to cycle through different information on the screen (e.g., time, temperature, signal strength, memory address).
Button Lock Function
To prevent accidental operation, long press the FM ST. & Lock button. The lock symbol will appear. To unlock, long press the button again.
Other Function Settings (in Power Off State)
- FM Frequency Range: Long press FM to cycle between 87-108 MHz, 76-108 MHz, or 87-108 MHz (with different regional settings).
- MW Tuning Step: Long press 9/10kHz button to switch between 9 kHz and 10 kHz steps. (Note: 10 kHz step displays temperature in Fahrenheit, 9 kHz step in Celsius).
- LW Band Extension: If MW step is 9 kHz, long press MW to extend the band to 150-1620 kHz (LW included). Long press again to revert to 522-1620 kHz.
- Charging Function On/Off: If using rechargeable batteries, long press the POWER button to display 'CHA On' (charging enabled) or 'CHA OFF' (charging disabled).
Maintenance
Battery Care and Charging
- Use 3 x AA size batteries. If using rechargeable Ni-MH batteries, ensure the charging function is enabled (see 'Other Function Settings').
- To charge, connect the radio to a USB 5V DC power source using the USB cable (not included) via the DC-IN 5V jack. The battery icon will animate during charging and stop when fully charged.
- Always use a set of three batteries of the same type and capacity. Do not mix old and new batteries or different types.
- Do not attempt to charge non-rechargeable (alkaline) batteries in the radio, as this can cause leakage and damage.
- If the radio will not be used for an extended period, remove the batteries to prevent leakage and corrosion.
Cleaning and Storage
- Clean the radio with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use abrasive cleaners, solvents, or strong chemicals.
- Store the radio in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, high temperatures, and humidity.
- Avoid placing heavy objects on top of the radio.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter problems with your PL-360, refer to the table below for common issues and solutions:
| Problem | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Radio does not turn on | Low battery, incorrect battery polarity, buttons locked | Replace batteries, check polarity, unlock buttons (long press Lock button) |
| Radio turns off automatically | Low battery, auto power off activated | Replace batteries, adjust auto power off time |
| Poor reception / Noise | Weak signal, interference, antenna not extended | Extend antenna, use external antenna, move away from interference sources, try different location |
| Cannot store stations | Memory full, incorrect procedure | Delete some stations, follow storage instructions carefully |
| Alarm does not work | Alarm not activated, incorrect time setting | Activate alarm, check alarm time and current time |
| Radio freezes / Unresponsive | System glitch | Remove batteries for a few minutes, then reinsert |
Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range FM | 87 - 108 MHz (Standard), 87.5 - 108 MHz (Europe/America), 76 - 108 MHz (Campus/Japan) |
| Frequency Range MW (AM) | 522 - 1620 kHz (Asia/Africa/Europe), 520 - 1710 kHz (USA/Canada) |
| Frequency Range SW | 2300 - 21950 kHz |
| Frequency Range LW | 150 - 1620 kHz (when extended) |
| Sensitivity FM (S/N=30dB) | Better than 3 μV |
| Sensitivity MW (S/N=26dB) | Better than 1 mV/m |
| Sensitivity SW (S/N=26dB) | Better than 30 μV |
| Sensitivity LW (S/N=26dB) | Better than 10 mV/m |
| FM Stereo Separation | Better than 25 dB |
| Station Memory | 450 (100 FM, 100 MW, 250 SW) |
| Output Power | 350 mW |
| Power Supply | 3 x R6 (AA size) batteries, USB DC 5V (≥250mA) |
| Built-in Speaker | Φ40mm, 16Ω, 500mW |
| Earphone Jack | Φ3.5mm, 32Ω, Stereo |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | Approx. 53 x 159 x 26 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 128g (without batteries) |
User Tips
- For best shortwave reception, try tuning at different times of the day, as propagation conditions change.
- When using the external AM antenna, experiment with its orientation to find the strongest signal.
- Keep the radio away from electronic devices like computers or fluorescent lights, which can cause interference.
Warranty and Support
For warranty information, technical support, or service inquiries, please contact your local Tecsun dealer or the manufacturer directly. Refer to the contact information provided on the last page of the original printed manual.
Dongguan Tecsun General Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.