TECSUN PL-398BT Operation Manual

Introduction

The TECSUN PL-398BT is a portable DSP radio utilizing si4734 Microchips from Silicon Labs (USA) for digitalizing AM/FM broadcasting signals. This technology enhances radio sensitivity, selectivity, S/N ratio, and anti-interference capabilities.

Functional Block Diagram Description: The radio's architecture includes an amplifier, controller, and interface, all managed by a DSP chip. It connects to FM/SW antennas, MW/LW antennas, and features digital audio output, control interfaces, and power management.

Key Specifications:

• Bluetooth Working Frequency: 2.4G
• Speaker: 2 speakers, 57mm, 250mW/8 Ohm
• Earphone Jack: 3.5mm, 8~32 Ohm, Stereo type
• Dimensions: Approx. 187(W) X 90(H) X 30(D) mm
• Weight: 365g (Batteries not included)

Note: The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by TECSUN is under license.

Control Locations

The radio features controls on the front, side, and back for various functions.

Front Panel Controls: Includes Power on/off button, Band Selector & ATS button, MIC, View memory (VM) & SCAN button, View frequency (VF) & SCAN button, Easy Tuning Mode (ETM) button, AM / BW button, FM Stereo button, Display mode / key lock button, Time Set button, Alarm Set button, Delete / Confirm button, Memory button, Light / Snooze button, and a Multifunctional Tuning Knob.

Side Panel Controls: Features FM & SW External Antenna Jack, Line in Jack, Earphone Jack, and USB 5V DC-Jack.

Back Panel Controls: Includes FM & SW Telescopic Antenna, Back Stand, Pause / Play button, Next button, Previous button, Bluetooth LED indicator, Bluetooth / Radio switch, and Battery Compartment.

LCD Display Indicators: The LCD shows battery status, sleep timer, alarm status, temperature, AM/PM, signal strength (dBu, dB), alarm time, SW meter band, ETM status, tuning speed, frequency units (kHz, MHz), digital numbers (time, frequency, memory address), preset memory address, key-lock indicator, FM stereo status, band indicator, Bluetooth indicator, and rechargeable batteries indicator.

Basic Operations

How to Turn ON/OFF the Radio

1. Open the battery compartment on the back and install 3 x AA alkaline batteries, observing polarity. Close the battery door.
2. Push the [Bluetooth ↔ Radio] switch to select either Bluetooth or radio mode.
3. Press the [POWER] button to turn the radio on or off.

Note: If the radio does not turn on, check battery installation, capacity, and ensure the key lock function is not active. Press and hold the [ ] button to unlock.

How to Use Wireless Bluetooth

1. Set the [Bluetooth ↔ Radio] switch to the "Bluetooth" position.
2. Press the [POWER] button. A beep sound will be heard, and " >> " will flash on the display. The blue LED on the back will also flash. After about 10 seconds, a second beep indicates Bluetooth mode is activated.
3. On your mobile phone or computer, search for "PL398BT" and synchronize. A beep sound and flashing blue LED indicate a successful connection.
4. Note: Some devices may require a password, typically "0000".
5. Play stored music or radio programs from your connected device using the [PAUSE / PLAY], [PREV / NEXT] buttons on the back.

Manual Bluetooth Connection

If multiple devices are available, the PL-398BT may connect to one automatically. To connect manually:

1. Press and hold the [PAUSE / PLAY] button for 3-5 seconds until a beep sounds and the Bluetooth indicator lights up.
2. Follow prompts on your mobile phone or device to select and connect with PL-398BT.
3. Connection may require deactivating Bluetooth on other devices.

Hands-free for Calls via Bluetooth

After pairing, the device can be used for hands-free calls.

• To answer a call, press the [ ] button. Press again to hang up.
• Incoming calls will pause music playback automatically and resume after the call ends.

Notes: Reconnecting a previously paired device is usually automatic. If not, follow manual connection prompts. Software compatibility may affect remote control functions (PAUSE/PLAY, PREV/NEXT). A USB Bluetooth adapter can be used if the computer lacks Bluetooth. Bluetooth range is up to 10 meters.

Using the Antenna

• Receiving FM/SW Broadcasting: Fully extend the telescopic antenna and adjust its length and direction for optimal reception.
• Receiving MW/LW Broadcasting: Use the internal magnetic antenna. Rotate the radio or change its location for best reception.

Caution: Do not install any external antenna during thunderstorms.

Tuning into Stations

After powering on and selecting a band ([FM], [AM], [SW]), use the following tuning methods:

Method 1: ETM (Easy Tuning Mode)

ETM is a Tecsun-designed method that pre-selects and temporarily auto-stores stations into ETM memory, improving tuning efficiency.

1. Press the [ETM] button; "ETM" will appear on the screen.
2. Press and hold the [ETM] button to initiate auto scan and store stations within the current band.
3. Rotate the [TUNING] knob to select stored stations once scanning stops.

Tips: For FM, re-perform ETM in new locations instead of using ATS to preserve existing memory. For MW, ETM is recommended at night. For SW, ETM is best in the morning, afternoon, or night due to signal instability.

Note: Interference may cause missed stations during ETM. Key-in frequency and press [ETM] to store manually if needed.

Method 2: Manual Tuning

Frequency Searching: Press the [VF] button to enter frequency mode, then rotate the [TUNING] knob to select a station.

Tuning Steps:

Memory Searching: Press the [VM] button to enter memory mode, then rotate the [TUNING] knob to select stored stations.

Method 3: Auto Browse Stations

1. Turn on the radio and press the [VF] button for frequency mode.
2. Press and hold the [VF] button to scan stations, pausing on each for about 5 seconds.
3. Press the [VF] button again to stop auto browsing.

Note: During auto browse, press the [M] button to store a station into memory without interrupting the scan.

Method 4: Direct Keypad Entry

Frequency Search: In frequency mode, use the numeric keys [0]-[9] to enter the desired frequency directly.

Memory Search: In memory mode, use numeric keys [0]-[9] to enter the preset memory number directly.

Notes: Ignore decimal points for FM frequencies (e.g., 89.3 MHz is entered as 893). An "Err" symbol indicates an invalid frequency.

Working with Station Memories

The unit has 550 preset memories: 100 for FM, MW, LW each, and 250 for SW.

Method 1: ATS (Auto Tuning Storage)

FM ATS:

1. Extend the telescopic antenna and press the [FM] button.
2. Press and hold the [FM] button until "PRESET" flashes. The unit will scan and store available stations.

When scanning completes, use the [TUNING] knob to access stored stations.

MW/LW ATS: Press the [MW/LW] button, then follow step 2 of FM ATS.

SW ATS: Extend the telescopic antenna and press the SW [ ] or [ ] button. Two modes are available:

• Mode A: Press and hold [ ] to ATS stations across all meter bands.
• Mode B: Press and hold [ ] to ATS stations within the present meter band.

Notes: During ATS, pre-stored stations may be replaced. In SW Mode B, new stations are stored in blank addresses without overwriting existing ones. Reduce antenna length or rotate the radio if interference is high.

Method 2: Storing Station Manually

1. Select band and tune to the desired station.
2. Press the [M] button; "PRESET" will flash.
3. Press the [M] button again to store the station. Auto-store occurs after 3 seconds.

Method 3: Semi-Auto Storing Stations

While using "Auto Browse Station", press the [M] button to store the current station, avoiding unwanted ones.

1. Press [VF] for frequency mode.
2. Press and hold [VF] to auto browse stations.
3. When a desired station is found, press [M] to store it into the next available memory. The unit continues browsing until [VF] is pressed again.

Listening to Stored Stations

Method 1: Manual Memory Tuning

Press the [VM] button to enter memory mode, then rotate the [TUNING] knob to cycle through stored stations.

Method 2: Auto Browse Memory

1. Press [VM] until "memory page" appears to enter memory mode.
2. Press and hold [VM] until "PRESET" flashes to auto scan through memories, pausing on each for 5 seconds.

Press the [VM] button again to stop auto search.

Method 3: Direct Key in Memory Address

1. Press the [VM] button to enter memory mode.
2. Enter the memory address using numeric keys [0]-[9], then press the [ ] button to confirm.

Note: A "- - - -" symbol on display means the entered memory address does not exist.

Delete Memory

Press the [VM] button to enter memory mode. Use the following methods to delete stations:

Method 1: Deleting a Single Memory Manually

Rotate the [TUNING] knob to select the memory to delete. Press and hold [DELETE] until "DEL" and the memory address flash, then press [DELETE] again to remove it.

Method 2: Semi-Auto Delete Memory

Press and hold [VM] until "PRESET" flashes to auto browse stations. Press [DELETE] at any time to delete the current station. The unit continues browsing until another button is pressed.

Method 3: Manual Delete All Memory Within the Band

Press and hold the [DELETE] button for 3 seconds until "ALL" appears. Press [DELETE] again to delete all memory within the selected band.

Sleep Function

1. Press and hold the [POWER] button until "SLEEP" and "On" or "1~120" appear on the display.
2. Rotate the [TUNING] knob to select a sleep timer from 1 to 120 minutes or "permanent". The radio will confirm the setting automatically.

Sleep time range indicators are shown on the display.

Clock Setting

1. Press and hold the [TIME] button until hours flash, then rotate the [TUNING] knob to set the hour.
2. Press the [TIME] button again, then rotate the [TUNING] knob to set the minutes.
3. Press the [TIME] button to confirm.

Note: If the [TIME] button is not pressed within 3 seconds, the setting confirms automatically. Direct key-in is also possible (e.g., 0635 for 6:35).

Working with Alarm

It is recommended to use the buzzer alarm if unfamiliar with local radio frequencies.

Setting the Alarm (By Buzzer)

1. Press and hold the [ ] button until hours flash, then rotate the [TUNING] knob to adjust the hour.
2. Press the [ ] button, then rotate the [TUNING] knob to adjust the minutes.
3. Press the [ ] button again to confirm.

Note: If the [ ] button is not pressed within 3 seconds, the alarm setting confirms automatically.

How to Set the Alarm by Radio

First, preset the alarm station:

1. Turn on the radio, tune to a desired station, and set the alarm volume.
2. Press the [ M ] button; "PRESET" will flash.
3. Press the [ ] button; " ) " will show on the display to confirm the preset station.

Then, set the alarm time:

1. Press and hold the [ ] button until hours flash, then rotate the [TUNING] knob to adjust the hour.
2. Press the [ ] button, then rotate the [TUNING] knob to adjust the minutes.
3. Press the [ ] button again; "30" will appear, allowing you to set the auto alarm off timer (1-90 minutes) by rotating the [TUNING] knob. Press [ ] to confirm.

The radio will turn on to the preset station at the alarm time and turn off automatically after the set off timer.

How to Activate / Deactivate the Alarm

Press the [ ] or [ ] button repeatedly:

• " " on display: Alarm by buzzer is ON.
• " ) " on display: Alarm by radio is ON.
• No symbol: Alarm by buzzer/radio is OFF.

How to Turn Off When Alarming

• Buzzer alarm: Press the [POWER] button.
• Radio alarm: Press [POWER] to continue listening, or press twice to turn off the station alarm.

Note: If the preset alarm is active while listening to the radio, it will switch to the preset radio station.

Snooze Function

When the alarm is active, press the [LIGHT / SNOOZE] button to temporarily silence it. The alarm will resume in 5 minutes.

How to Change the Display Mode

• With radio OFF: Repeatedly press the [DISPLAY] button to cycle through temperature or alarm time display.
• With radio ON: Press the [DISPLAY] button to view local time, alarm time, temperature, or signal strength.

Key-Lock Function

Press and hold the [ ] button; a " " symbol appears to activate key lock. Press and hold again to remove the " " symbol and deactivate the lock.

Working with Intelligent Light

The backlight illuminates for 3 seconds when keys or knobs are operated.

• Temporary Illumination: Press [LIGHT/SNOOZE] for a "B" sound and 3 seconds of backlight.
• Permanent Illumination: Press and hold [LIGHT/SNOOZE] for a double beep (BB) sound. Press again for a double beep (BB) to turn off.

Notes: Avoid permanent illumination when using batteries to conserve power. Permanent illumination turns off automatically when the unit is powered off.

How to Turn ON/OFF the Intelligent Lighting

Press and hold the [ ] key until "OFF" appears to deactivate; press and hold again until "ON" appears to activate.

Note: The [LIGHT/SNOOZE] key remains functional for backlight control even after disabling intelligent lighting.

FM ST. (FM Stereo)

While listening to FM stereo, press the [FM ST.] button; " " will appear to activate stereo listening. If the signal is weak, press [FM ST.] again to turn off stereo mode (the " " symbol will disappear).

Note: Stereo function only works for stereo broadcasts.

AM BW (Bandwidth)

Press the [AM BW] button to select bandwidth (6, 4, 3, 2, 1 kHz).

• Wide band: Better audio fidelity for strong signals.
• Narrow band: Reduces interference and background noise for weak signals.

System Setting

• Setting FM Frequency Range: With the radio off, press and hold [FM SET] to cycle through ranges (87.5-108MHz, 64-108MHz, 76-108MHz, 87-108MHz) and select the appropriate one for your region.
• Setting MW(AM) Tuning Step: With the radio off, press and hold [9/10kHz] to select "9kHz" or "10kHz".

Temperature

The temperature display switches automatically between Fahrenheit (°F) when AM tuning step is 10 kHz, and Centigrade (°C) when it is 9 kHz.

Turn ON/OFF the LW

With the radio off, press and hold the [MW/LW] button to toggle LW reception ON or OFF.

Turn ON/OFF the Charging Function & Exchange the Battery Consumption Display

With the radio off, press and hold the [ ] key until " CHA On " and " Ni-MH Battery " display to activate rechargeable battery charging. Press and hold the [ ] key until " CHA OFF " and " Ni-MH Battery " disappear to use regular batteries and disable charging.

Note: The default is regular batteries. Switch to rechargeable mode for accurate power display.

Turn ON/OFF the "Beep (B)" Sound

With the radio off, press and hold the [BEEP ON/OFF] button to toggle the "Beep (B)" sound ON or OFF.

Intelligent Charging Function

Install 3 x UM3 (AA) rechargeable batteries. With the radio off, press and hold the [ ] key until " CHA On " and " Ni-MH Battery " display to activate charging. Connect a 5V external adapter via USB. A progress symbol " " moves up the display during charging and stops when complete.

Connection: Connect the 5V external adapter with USB plug to the DC-IN 5V jack.

Notes: Use up all rechargeable battery power before charging. Use batteries in groups and do not mix capacities. Do not charge non-rechargeable batteries.

How to Improve FM / SW Reception

Plug an external wire antenna into the [FM & SW] antenna jack and hang its end outside a window for better reception.

Antenna Setup: A wire antenna is shown connected to the radio and extending out a window, with an external wall in view. A caution symbol "!" indicates not to install antennas during thunderstorms.

Line-in Function

The unit can serve as a speaker for laptops, MP3 players, etc.

1. Connect an audio cable to the [LINE IN] jack. A " " symbol confirms the connection.
2. Press the [POWER] button; " >> " will flash. Rotate the [VOLUME] knob to adjust volume.
3. Press the [POWER] button again to turn off the speaker function.

Connection: An MP3 player with an earphone jack is shown connected via an audio cable to the radio's Line in jack.

Important Matters for Using Batteries

• If no batteries are installed for a long time, the clock stops but stored frequencies remain. The clock resumes after new batteries are installed.
• A low battery symbol " " flashing indicates the need for new batteries. The unit turns off automatically when power is depleted.
• Mixing used and new batteries can damage the radio and cause incorrect power display.
• If the radio will not be used for an extended period, remove the batteries to prevent leakage damage.

Troubleshooting

"Beeping (B)" Sound via Functions

This table details the sounds and display indicators for various functions:

Function Details

Specifications

1. Frequency range

• FM: 87~108 MHz (Russia: 64~108MHz, Japan: 76~108 MHz, EU, USA: 87.5~108 MHz)
• MW: 522~1620 kHz (USA: 520~1710 kHz)
• LW: 153~513 kHz
• SW: 2300~21950 kHz

2. Sensitivity

• FM (S/N=30dB): Less than 3μ V
• MW (S/N=26dB): Less than 1mV/m
• LW (S/N=26dB): Less than 10mV/m
• SW (S/N=26dB): Less than 20 μ V

3. Selectivity

• FM: >60 dB (±150kHz)
• MW: >60 dB (BW=3kHz, ±9kHz)
• LW: >60 dB (BW=3kHz, ±9kHz)
• SW: >60 dB (BW=3kHz, ±5kHz)

4. FM Stereo crosstalk:

5. Memory:

6. Output (Distortion 10%):

7. Power: