Tecsun PL-450 User manual
TECSUN
PL-450
PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL BEFORE OPERATION
FM STEREO/LW/MW/SW
PLL SYNTHESIZED DUAL CONVERSION RECEIVER
OWNER'S MANUAL
MAJOR FEATURES OF THE PL-450
DIAGRAMS
GETTING STARTED
WHAT THE PL-450 INCLUDES
INSTALLING BATTERIES
PREVENTING BATTERY ACID LEAKAGE
USING THE INCLUDED AC ADAPTOR/CHARGER
CHARGING BATTERIES IN THE PL-450
BASIC RADIO OPERATION
CLOCK AND TIMER FEATURES
SETTING THE CLOCK
SETTING THE TIMERS
STORING A RADIO STATION INTO TIMER MEMORY
ACTIVATING/DEACTIVATING THE TIMER
USING THE SNOOZE FEATURE
WORKING WITH MEMORY
STORING STATIONS INTO MEMORY
SELECTING/CHANGING MEMORY PAGES
ACCESSING WHAT IS STORED INTO MEMORY
DIRECT MEMORY ACCESS
MANUAL MEMORY SEARCH
MEMORY AUTO-SCAN
DELETING A MEMORY'S CONTENTS
DELETING ALL MEMORY PAGE CONTENTS
MOVING A STORED FREQUENCY
CUSTOMIZING MEMORY PAGES
SYSTEM SET CODES
SYSTEM SET CODE TABLE
CHANGING SYSTEM SET CODES
DEFAULT FACTORY SYSTEM SET CODES
MONITORING THE CURRENT STATUS OF SET
CODES AND OTHER SETTINGS
ADDITIONAL PL-450 CONTROLS
LISTENING TO SHORTWAVE STATIONS
TROUBLESHOOTING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
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1 MAJOR FEATURES OF THE PL-450
FM Frequency Range: 87-108 MHz or 76-108 MHz (For Japan)
Shortwave Frequency Range: 1711- 29999 KHz
9/10KHz tuning step selector for Medium Wave (MW) reception
1 kHz tuning step for the display of Medium wave and Shortwave
AM (LW/MW/SW) dual conversion.
ATS (Auto tuning system) for the memory storage of FM/MW reception
Manual Tuning
Auto Scan Tuning
Direct Keypad Frequency Entry
Digital Tuning Knob
600 Programmable Memories
Memory Page Customization
Auto-Scan and manually scan stations stored into memory
Direct Memory Access
Fast/Slow tuning rate selection for manual tuning
Sleep Function
Two Turn-on Timers with station memory
Snooze Function: 10 minutes, repeated three times
FM Stereo/Mono selection
High/Low Tone Control
LCD Backlight
Key Lock
12/24 Hr Format selection
Built-in Ni-MH battery charger
System set codes
PL-450 OWNER'S MANUAL
2 DIAGRAMS
TECSUN
MHz
Fast
PAGE PRESET
0 1 2 3 4 5
Ni-MH
Battery
FM
4 5
1. Power/ Sleep
2. FM/Shortwave Telescopic Antenna
3. LCD Display
4. Light / Snooze Button
5. Tuning Fast/Slow / Lock Button
6. Up / Auto-Scan Button
7. Down / Auto-Scan Button
8. Frequency / Preset Button
9. Page Button
13. SW(SW Meter) Band Button
14. Numeric Keypad
10. Clock Button
11. Alarm Button
12. FM / MW / LW Band &
FM / MW ATS Button
17. Enter / Delete Button
16. Charge On / Off Button
15. Memory / Sys. Set Button
18. Hand Carry Belt
19. FM / SW ANT. Jack
20. ANT. Gain
(DX / Normal / Local)
22. Tone Control
21. Earphone Socket
23. DC 6V Jack
25. Tuning Knob
26. Stand
28. Volume Knob
30. Battery Compartment Cover
27. FM Fine Tuning Knob
24. Reset Button
29. FM Stereo / AM Bandwidth Button
Ni-MH
Battery
Timer
31. Battery Symbol
33. Alarm time Digits
32. Clock Digits
34. Alarm Activation Symbol
35. Ni-MH Battery Symbol
A
SL EEP
kHz
SLOW
Ni-MH
Battery
FM MW LW Shortwave Bandwidth N
0 1 2 3 4 5
31. Battery Symbol
36. Antenna Symbol
37. 1-5 Scale
Sleep
Timer
Symbol
38. Clock Digits
34.
Alarm
Activation
Symbol
39. Bandwidth40. Frequency Digits
41. FM,
MW, LW,
Shortwave
Indicators
PAGE PRESET
42. Delete Indicator 43. Memory Display
mb
44. Shortwave Meter Band Display
45
46
RADIO OFF DISPLAY RADIO ON DISPLAY
MEMORY DISPLAY
Refers only to the display's upper right corner.
SHORTWAVE METER BAND
DISPLAY
Refers only to the display's upper right corner.
SYSTEM SET CODE DISPLAY
Timer
DIAGRAMS continued
PL-450 OWNER'S MANUAL
3 GETTING STARTED
WHAT THE PL-450 INCLUDES away and immediately contact the
● Earbud style earphones manufacturer of the batteries to inquire
● External antenna about their battery leakage warranty
● Carrying pouch program.
● AC adaptor/charger
● 3 - 1000 mAh, Ni-MH rechargeable USING THE INCLUDED AC
batteries. DAPTOR/CHARGER
● Owner's manual To power the PL-450 with the included AC
Adaptor/Charger, plug it into a wall outlet
NOTE: In the instructions below, numbers first, and then into the socket on the left
in parenthesis ( ), refer to the diagrams. side of the PL-450, labeled DC 6 V.
Batteries can be in the radio while using
INSTALLING BATTERIES
the AC Adaptor/Charger.
The battery compartment is located on the
back of the PL-450. Its cover is on the CHARGING BATTERIES IN THE PL-450
lower right corner of the back. To remove The PL-450 will play using whatever type
the battery compartment cover, apply of AA batteries are in the battery
thumb pressure and slide it towards the compartment, but only nickel-metal-
bottom of the radio. Install 3 AA alkaline hydride batteries can be charged within it.
batteries into the battery compartment, If non-rechargeable batteries are installed,
observing the battery polarity diagram on the PL-450 as a built-in safeguard system
the back of the radio. that will prevent them from being charged.
This safeguard system works with the
NOTE: If you don't plan to use PL-450 set to either SYSTEM SET CODE
rechargeable batteries at all, then it's a 28 or 29, as described below, and only
good idea to set SYSTEM SET CODE 29. with he included AC Adaptor/Charger.
To do this, see the section titled SYSTEM
SET CODES. This assures that the WARNING: Use only the included AC
battery strength indicator will display Adaptor/Charger to recharge Ni-MH
correctly for your non-rechargeable batteries. Use of any other device may
batteries. This is not a mandatory cause the rechargeable batteries to
procedure and the PL-450 will function overheat, become damaged and possibly
if it is not done. damage the PL-450. The built-in
safeguard system, described above,
PREVENTING BATTERY ACID
works only with the included AC
LEAKAGE
Adaptor/Charger. Damage caused to the
To avoid battery acid leakage, only use
PL-450 resulting from failure to observe
high quality alkaline, lithium or
this warning is not covered by the
rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride
warranty and voids the warranty.
batteries. Never intermix old with new, or
different brands or types of batteries.
Damage caused by battery acid leakage
is not covered by this product's warranty.
If the batteries leak, don't throw them
GETTING STARTED continued
The included AC Adaptor/Charger may be Once charging is finished, 'CHARGE' will
used to charge 3 Ni-MH rechargeable stop flashing and the charging indication
batteries (included) when installed onto bars in the upper left corner will stay full.
the PL-450's battery compartment. Before Charging time varies depending on the
charging, the PL-450 must be set up for milliamp-hour rating of the batteries. The
use with Ni-MH batteries and the correct charging circuit automatically senses the
charging rate must be selected for them milliamp-hour rating of the batteries and
to be charged. Ni-MH batteries are will charge them for the correct amount of
manufactured with specific capacities time. Charging time can take from 5.5
rated in milliamp-hours (mAh). These hours for 1000 mAh batteries to 13 hours
capacities vary from about 1000 mAh up for 2300 mAh batteries. The charging
to 2400 mAh at the time of this writing circuit will sense when the batteries are
(usually printed on the batteries). For fully charged and automatically go into
proper charging without damage to the trickle-charge mode, thus safeguarding
batteries, the correct charging rate must the batteries from being overcharged.
be set. To set the charging rate, plug in Disconnecting the adaptor/charger DC-06
the AC adaptor and turn the PL-450 off. from the PL-450 or pressing the
Then follow the instructions below. CHARGE ON/OFF button will also stop
1. Enter SYSTEM SET CODE 28. See charging.
instructions in the section titled
SYSTEM SET CODES.
2. While '1000' flashes in the display, use
the UP /DOWN buttons to select the
mAh rating of your Ni-MH batteries.
To charge Ni-MH batteries:
1. Install 3 Ni-MH AA batteries.
2. Connect the adaptor/charger to the AC
wall.
3. Press/release the CHARGE ON/OFF
button. 'CHARGE' will flash in the
display and the charge indication bars
will advance from bottom to top in the
upper left corner of the display. The
digits in the upper right corner of the
display will change to 00:00 and will
count up in minutes and hours until
charging is finished.
PL-450 OWNER'S MANUAL
TURNING THE PL-450 ON AND OFF VOLUME AND TONE CONTROLS
The volume control (28), labeled
The PL-450 can be turned on by the two VOLUME, is located on the right side of
methods shown below. To turn it off, press the radio. To change the volume, rotate
the POWER/SLEEP button (1). the volume control knob. The tone control
(22), on the left side of the radio is
1. BATTERY SAVER/TIMER METHOD: labeled TREBLE/BASS. Use the position
Perform a quick, short press of the producing the sound that you like best.
POWER/SLEEP button (1). This turns the
radio on with 30 in the display and causes USING EARPHONES
the radio to shut off automatically after 30 Earphones/headphones with a 1/8 inch
minutes. The sleep timer symbol stereo plug can be used. Plug them into
, , also appears in the display. To the earphone socket (21) on the left side
change the automatic shut off time from of the radio.
30 minutes to the number of minutes-to-
play of your preference, use the UP or SELECTING FM, MW, LW OR
DOWN buttons (6, 7) immediately after SHORTWAVE
When listening to FM or shortwave, fully
turning on the radio. This allows selection
extend the telescopic antenna (2). It need
of 1~120 minutes of playtime before
not be extended when listening to MW or
automatic shut-off occurs. The number of
LW stations. After turning on the PL-450,
minutes that you last set is also used the
perform quick, short presses of the
next time the radio is turned on.
'FM/MW -ATS' button (12) to select FM or
2. TIMER-DEFEAT METHOD: MW. To select SW press the 'SW METER
This method defeats the automatic BAND' button (13). Each sequential press
minute timer and causes the radio to stay of the SW METER BAND button or of the
on until deliberately turned off, until the UP or DOWN buttons places the radio at
batteries drain or indefinitely if used with the beginning of a specific shortwave
an AC adaptor. Hold down the POWER meter band. The frequency digits (40)
button for about 3 seconds, then release. appear toward the center portion of the
Note that 'On' appears in the display and display. The local stations of the area that
that the sleep timer symbol does not you are currently in will be heard on MW
appear when this method is used. and FM, while shortwave stations from
around the world can be heard on SW.
SIGNAL STRENGTH AND BATTERY You can also select LW by press the
STRENGTH INDICATOR 'FM/MW/LW' button (12). Before using
LW, you should activate the LW function
When the radio is turned off, the upper via the SYSTEM SET CODE, see the
left corner of the display (3) shows battery SYSTEM SET CODE TABLE.
strength. When the radio is turned on, the
antenna symbol (37) and the 1-5 scale NOTE: If you are new to shortwave, see
shows relative signal strength. the special shortwave sections later in
this manual.
4 BASIC RADIO OPERATION
SL EEP
BASIC RADIO OPERATION continued
LISTENING IN FM STEREO DOWN button to auto-scan downward in
FM stereo can be heard when using frequency.
earphones/headphones. To hear FM in
DIRECT FREQUENCY ENTRY
stereo, press the FM STEREO button When the desired frequency is known, it
(29). ' ' will appear in the display. can be entered via the numeric keypad
SETTING UP MW AND FM INSIDE OF (14). First, make sure that the correct
NORTH AMERICA OR JAPAN band is selected - FM, WM, LW or SW.
You can skip this section if you are
Most WM, LW and Shortwave frequencies
neither in North America nor in Japan and
are designated in kilohertz (KHz), e.g.
just purchased the PL-450. It is already
810 KHz or 9475 KHz. All FM frequencies
set-up in the factory for use.
are designated in megahertz (MHz), e.g.
Inside of North America, AM stations (MW
102.9 MHz. To enter such frequencies,
in the PL-450's display) are spaced in 10
just enter the frequency using the
kHz tuning steps, you should change it
numeric keypad (14).
refer to the instructions CHANGING
SYSTEM SET CODES. Sometimes Shortwave frequencies are
The FM frequency range may be different designated in megahertz (MHz). If you
from that used in North America, e.g. like encounter such a shortwave frequency
that used in Japan, 76-108MHz. To make and it has less than three digits after the
these changes, see the SYSTEM SET decimal point (e.g. 15.10 MHz or 6.92
CODE TABLE and the instructions MHz), then use the following method to
CHANGING SYSTEM SET CODES. enter it.
However, if there are three digits after the
TUNING IN STATIONS
There are four ways to tune-in stations, decimal point (e.g. 15.110 MHz or 5.975
described below. They are Manual MHz), use the method described
Tuning, Auto-scan Tuning, Direct previously.
Frequency Entry and Fine Tuning. 1. Enter the frequency using the numeric
keypad (14).
MANUAL TUNING
2. Press/release the 'Enter' (17) button.
Quick, short presses of the UP/DOWN
buttons (6, 7) enables tuning up or down TUNING KNOB
frequency. The TUNING knob control (25) is located
on the right side of the radio. Use it to
AUTO-SCAN TUNING
'fine-tune' stations or as you would a
Pressing the UP or DOWN buttons (6, 7)
tuning knob.
for just over 1 second enables automatic
scan-tuning. The radio will then
automatically stop on the next station
encountered and stay for about 5
seconds for your monitoring. Press the
UP/DOWN buttons again to keep
listening in the station. Use the UP button
to auto-scan upward in frequency and the
FM
PL-450 OWNER'S MANUAL
TUNING MODE FAST TUNING SLOW USING THE BANDWIDTH BUTTON
The BANDWIDTH button (29) is used
TUNING
The TUNING-FAST/SLOW button (5) when listening to WM and SW stations.
allows selection of fast or slow tuning Its purpose is to help minimize
when using the tuning knob or the UP interference. The preferred setting is
and DOWN controls. FAST or SLOW WIDE, which provides best audio fidelity.
appear in the display. When tuning with Use NARROW when there is
the tuning knob (25), fast tuning is usually interference. W or N will appear in the
appropriate. When tuning with the UP and display.
DOWN buttons, use slow tuning to tune in
stations and fast tuning to move up or
down frequency at a rapid rate. Then use
slow to actually tune in stations.
Experiment with this control to see which
tuning mode that you prefer.
BASIC RADIO OPERATION continued
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