TECSUN

PL-368
FM STEREO / LW / MW / SW-SSB RECEIVER

TECSUN ELECTRONIC IND. LTD.

 CONTENTS

GETTING STARTED
PL-368 at a glance ................................................................................ 1
Powering your device ............................................................................ 6
Charging the battery .............................................................................. 6
Setting the clock .................................................................................... 7
Setting the FM frequency range ............................................................ 7
Setting the MW (AM) frequency range and tuning step ........................ 7
Enabling/Disabling longwave (LW) ........................................................ 7

USING THE DEVICE

Turning the device on/off ....................................................................... 8
Volume control ...................................................................................... 8
VF (View Frequency) and VM (View Memory) ...................................... 8
Using the radio's antennas .................................................................... 8
Tuning into stations ............................................................................... 9
Manual tuning .................................................................................... 9
Auto scan .......................................................................................... 9
Direct keypad entry ........................................................................... 9
SW / SSB meter band selection ...................................................... 10
Working with station memories ............................................................ 10
Storing stations manually ................................................................ 10
Auto Tuning Storage (ATS) .............................................................. 11
Storing stations during auto scan .................................................... 12
Listening to stored stations .................................................................. 12
Recalling stored stations ................................................................. 12
Memory scan ................................................................................... 12
Deleting stored stations ........................................................................ 13
Deleting a single station .................................................................. 13
Deleting stations during memory scan ............................................ 13
Deleting all stored stations .............................................................. 14
Enhanced Tuning Mode (ETM+): An introduction ............................... 14
Using ETM+ to scan and store stations .............................................. 17
Listening to stations in the ETM+ memory .......................................... 17
Deleting a single ETM+ station ........................................................... 17

OTHER SETTINGS AND FEATURES

Auto sorting memory ........................................................................... 18
Single sideband (SSB) ........................................................................ 18
Synchronous detection (SYNC) .......................................................... 18
AM bandwidth selection ....................................................................... 19
FM stereo/mono selection ................................................................... 19
FM de-emphasis time constant ........................................................... 19
Display mode ....................................................................................... 20
Add seconds to the clock .................................................................... 20
Display backlight ................................................................................. 20
Setting the sleep timer ......................................................................... 20
Activating/Deactivating the alarm ........................................................ 20
Setting the alarm time ......................................................................... 21
Setting the alarm station ...................................................................... 21
Snooze function ................................................................................... 22
Keylock ................................................................................................ 22
Temperature unit display (Celsius or Fahrenheit) ................................ 22

MISCELLANEOUS
Synchronous detection: An introduction ............................................... 23
Troubleshooting .................................................................................... 26
Lithium battery safety instructions ........................................................ 27
Radio maintenance .............................................................................. 27
PL-368 specifications ........................................................................... 28
PL-368 at a Glance – Location of Controls

DISPLAY/ : Display mode / Keylock

TIME: Set / Display clock
ALARM: Alarm setting
POWER: Power switch / Sleep timer

[ 0 ] - [ 9 ]: Numeric keys
[ 1 ] / [ FM SET ]: FM range setting
[ 2 ] / [ LW SET ]: Enable/Disable LW
[ 3 ] / [ 9/10kHz ]: MW step setting
[ 4 ]: FM de-emphasis switch
[ 8 ]: Display seconds on clock
[0]/ : Organize memory
[ M ]: Store stations
[ / DEL. ]: Confirm/Delete

1
PL-368 at a Glance – Location of Controls
SSB sideband selection
LSB: Lower sideband
USB: Upper sideband
SYNC: Synchronous detection
SSB: Enable/Disable SSB mode
Band selection / ATS
[ MW/LW ]: MW/LW
[ FM/ST. ]: FM/Stereo switch
[ < ], [ > ]: SW meter band selection

[ STEP / ]: Tuning step selection / Display backlight

[ AM BW ]: AM bandwidth selection
[ VF/VM ]: View Frequency View Memory
ETM: Enhanced Tuning Mode

2
PL-368 at a Glance – Location of Controls
External MW/LW
ferrite bar antenna

: Stereo headphone jack

LW/MW ANTENNA:
Socket for external MW/LW
ferrite bar antenna
FM/SW telescopic whip antenna

Belt clip

TUNING: Multifunctional knob

VOLUME: Multifunctional knob

DC-IN 5V: DC input/charging

Battery compartment

3
PL-368 at a Glance – Display indication
dBμ: Signal strength unit
dB: Signal-to-noise ratio unit
S/N: Signal-to-noise ratio
AL: Alarm time
mb: SW/SSB meter band
PRESET: Memory location
Temp.: Temperature
Charge: Charging indicator

Display indication examples:

Signal strength/Signal to noise ratio:

SW/SSB meter band:
Memory storage location:
ETM time-specific memory: (LW/MW)
(SW)
Auto sorting memory:
Already passed charging time:
Clock time:
Alarm time:
Temperature: (Celsius)
(Fahrenheit)

4
PL-368 at a Glance – Display indication

: SW / MW / LW unit display
: Enhanced Tuning Mode
: Tuning step indicator
: FM unit display
: Keylock

Displays time/frequency
Frequency band, Sideband indicator
FM: FM LW: Longwave
MW: Medium Wave (AM) SW: Shortwave
LSB: Lower sideband USB: Upper sideband

When displayed: FM stereo

When not displayed: FM mono
: Synchronous detection enabled
Battery indicator:
: Full capacity
: Low battery
: Alarm activated
: : Sleep timer activated

5
Powering Your Device
This device is powered by a BL-5C 3.7V rechargeable lithium (Li-ion)
battery. Open the battery compartment and install the battery following the
correct polarity. The device can also be powered by connecting a
DC 5V/0.5A power adapter to the micro-USB type-B socket.

Note: Connecting an external power supply causes interference when

listening to radio frequencies. If experiencing reception difficulties,
disconnect the external power supply and use a battery instead.

Attention! If you use a power adapter, assure that is appropriately certified

and meets the standard requirements for an adapter in your region.

Charging the Battery

When the battery icon is displayed as “ ”, this indicates that battery
power is about to run out. Please charge it in time. To charge the BL-5C
rechargeable lithium (Li-ion) battery, connect a DC 5V/0.5A charger to the
USB socket on the right side of the radio using a micro-USB type-B
charging cable. When charging, the charging time is displayed at the top
right corner of the display while the “Charge” indicator flashes. When
charging is complete, the battery symbol is displayed as “ ” and the
charging indicator "Charge " stops flashing.

Notes:
Assure that the charger is appropriately certified and meets the standard
requirements in your region.
To avoid electrical noise interference, it is recommended not to charge
the battery and listen to radio broadcasts at the same time.
If the device is not used for a prolonged period of time, it is advisable to
charge the battery once every 3 months for about 4 hours. This may
extend battery life.

6
Setting the Clock (24-hour format)
1) Press and hold [ TIME ] until the clock time starts flashing.
2) Use the numeric keys to enter the current time (hours + minutes is four
digits), or rotate the [ TUNING ] and [ VOLUME ] knobs to adjust the
time, and then press [ TIME ] to confirm the setting.

Setting the FM Frequency Range

With the device off, set the frequency range to correspond with the
country in which you are using the radio. Press and hold [ 1 ]. The display
will show “ ”, “ ”, “ ” or “ ” to indicate the corresponding
range: 64 ~ 108MHz, 76 ~ 108MHz, 87 ~ 108MHz or 88 ~ 108MHz.
Quick press [ 1 ] repeatedly to select your preference.

Setting the MW (AM) Frequency Range and Tuning Step

With the device off, set the frequency range of MW (AM) to correspond
with the country in which you are using the radio. Press and hold [ 3 ].

Display indicates “ ”: MW frequency steps are set at 9 kHz, and the

frequency range is 522~1620 kHz (suitable for Asia, Europe, Africa,
Oceania).

Display indicates “ ”: MW frequency steps are set at 10kHz, and the

frequency range is 520~1710 kHz (suitable for North America and South
America).

Enabling/Disabling Longwave (LW)

With the device off, press and hold [ 2 ], the display shows “ ”
(enabled) or “ ” (disabled). To select the LW frequency band, power
on the device and then quick press the [ MW/LW ] button twice.

7
USING THE DEVICE
Turning the device on/off: Quick press the [ POWER ] button.

Volume control: Rotate the [ VOLUME ] knob upwards or downwards to

select your desired volume level.

VF (View Frequency) and VM (View Memory)

VF: VF mode is used when searching for new radio signals. Press the
[ VF/VM ] button. When the frequency indicator flashes twice, the VF
mode is activated.

VM: VM mode is used for looking up stations that have been stored into
the memory. Press the [ VF/VM ] button. When the preset memory
location indicator on the display flashes three times, the VM mode is
activated.

Using the Radio's Antennas

FM / Shortwave (SW): When listening to FM or shortwave radio, extend
the antenna and adjust its length and direction in order to get the
optimum reception.

Medium Wave (MW) / Long Wave (LW):

This radio uses an internal ferrite bar antenna to receive medium wave
and long wave broadcasts, the quality of which can be enhanced by
changing the position and direction of the device. You may also choose
to connect the external MW/LW ferrite bar antenna to the
[ LW/MW ANTENNA ] socket (3.5mm). Once inserted, rotate the antenna
in order to get the optimum reception.

8
TUNING INTO STATIONS
Turn on the device, then quick press the [ FM/ST. ], [ MW/LW ], [ < ] or [ > ]
(for SW) button to select your desired frequency band. You can tune into
your favorite stations using any of the following tuning methods.

Manual Tuning
In VF mode, rotate the [ TUNING ] knob to search for your desired stations.
To change the tuning step, quick press [ STEP ], “ ” is displayed above
the frequency.

Tip: Review the “Specifications” section (page 28) for an overview of the
selectable tuning steps for each frequency band and mode (SSB/SYNC).

Auto Scan
In VF mode, press and hold the [ VF/VM ] button. The device will
automatically scan the entire frequency band for available stations. When
a station is found it will stay there for about 5 seconds before continuing
the search. To stop the auto scan feature, quick press any key.

Direct Keypad Entry

In VF mode, quick press the numeric keys [ 0 - 9 ] to directly enter a
frequency.

Tips:
For FM band, ignore the decimal point when inputting frequency
numbers. For example: enter 9, 7, 4 for FM 97.4 MHz.
If the entered frequency is not within the covering range, the error
“ ” symbol will be displayed.

9
SW / SSB Meter Band Selection
Quick press [ < ] or [ > ] to change SW or SSB meter bands:
SW meter bands: 120m / 90m / 75m / 60m / 49m / 41m / 31m / 25m /
22m / 19m / 16m / 15m / 13m / 11m
SSB meter bands: 160m / 80m / 60m / 40m / 30m / 24m / 20m / 17m /
15m / 12m / 10m

WORKING WITH STATION MEMORIES

This device can store 850 stations (presets) into memory: 100 each for
FM and LW, 150 for MW (AM), 300 for SW, and 100 each for SSB and
SYNC. You may choose any of the below methods to store stations.

Storing Stations Manually

1) In VF mode, press the [ FM/ST. ], [ MW/LW ], [ < ] or [ > ] button to
select the frequency band.
2) Tune into the new radio frequency to be stored.
3) Quick press the memory [ M ] button, “PRESET ” will flash in the top
right corner of the display to indicate the next available memory location.
If desired, select a different memory location by using the [ TUNING ]
knob or the numeric keys.
4) Quick press the [ M ] button again to confirm the location or wait for
about 2 seconds to automatically store the station into memory.

10
Auto Tuning Storage (ATS)
Automatically tune into and store FM, LW, MW and SW stations.

Operation for FM and MW/LW:

1) Quick press [ FM/ST. ] or [ MW/LW ] to select the frequency band.
2) Press and hold the [ FM/ST. ] or [ MW/LW ] button until “PRESET”
flashes and the frequency starts running.
3) When the frequency stops running, it means the ATS operation has
been completed. Rotate the [ TUNING ] knob to view all the stored
stations.

Operation for SW:

There are two ATS modes for SW:

Mode A: Press and hold the [ < ] button to initiate ATS within all meter
bands.

Mode B: Press and hold the [ > ] button to initiate ATS within the selected
meter band.

Tips:
ATS (except in SW mode B) replaces previously stored radio stations.
To prevent this from happening, please consider using ETM+ (see page
14).

ATS results for LW, MW and SW strongly depend on radio wave

propagation conditions, the receiving environment and other factors. If
the results are poor, try to initiate ATS at a different location and/or time,
or tune into stations manually and then store them.

For better ATS results in the LW, MW and SW bands, please also review
the tips for ETM+ on page 16.
11
Storing Stations During Auto Scan
To avoid any unwanted stations that might be stored during Auto Tuning
Storage (ATS), store stations manually during “Auto Scan” (see also page
9).

1) In VF mode, press and hold the [ VF/VM ] button. The device will auto
scan the entire frequency band for available stations. When a station is
found it will stay there for about 5 seconds before continuing the search.
2) Quick press the memory [ M ] button to store a station, the radio will
keep on scanning for the next available station.
3) To stop the auto scan feature, quick press the [ VF/VM ] button.

LISTENING TO STORED STATIONS

Recalling Stored Stations
1) Select the frequency band or mode (SYNC/SSB) of the stored stations
that you wish to view.
2) Quick press the [ VF/VM ] button to enter the VM mode.
3) Rotate the [ TUNING ] knob to view the stored stations. Alternatively,
use the numeric keys to enter the memory location directly. If there is
no stored station at that location, the display shows " — — ".

Memory Scan
The device can auto scan all stored stations within a frequency band or
mode (SYNC/SSB), staying on each station for about 5 seconds before
continuing.
1) Select the frequency band or mode (SYNC/SSB) for which you wish to
view the stored stations.
2) Quick press the [ VF/VM ] button to enter the VM mode.
3) Press and hold the [ VF/VM ] button until “PRESET ” flashes in the
upper right corner of the display. The device starts to scan all stored
stations. Quick press any button (except [ ] (DEL.) to stop scanning.

12
DELETING STORED STATIONS
Deleting a Single Station
1) Enter the memory (VM) mode and select the station that you wish to
delete.
2) Press and hold the [ ] (DEL.) button until “ ” and “PRESET ”
flash on the display.
3) Quick press the [ ] button to confirm and delete the unwanted
station.

Note: If the [ ] button is not pressed for confirmation within 3 seconds,

the delete function is exited automatically.

Deleting Stations During Memory Scan

The device can auto scan all stored stations within a frequency band or
mode (SYNC/SSB), staying on each station for about 5 seconds, and
giving you the opportunity to delete any unwanted stored stations.

1) Select a frequency band or mode (SYNC/SSB).

2) Quick press [ VF/VM ] to enter the memory mode.
3) Press and hold the [ VF/VM ] button until “PRESET ” flashes in the
upper right corner of the display. The device starts to scan all stored
stations and stays on each station for about 5 seconds before
continuing.
4) Upon finding an unwanted station, press the [ ] (DEL.) button.
No confirmation is required and scanning continues immediately.
5) To stop the memory scan, quick press any button.

13
Deleting All Stored Stations
It is possible to delete all stations from the memory (including ETM)
simultaneously.

1) Turn the device off.

2) Press and hold the [ ] (DEL.) button untill “dEL” and “ALL” flash
on the display.
3) Quick press the [ POWER ] button to confirm and delete all stored
stations.
4) Once the display returns to showing the clock time all stored
frequencies have been deleted.

Note: If the [ POWER ] button is not pressed for confirmation within 3

seconds, the delete function is exited automatically.

ENHANCED TUNING MODE (ETM+): AN INTRODUCTION

ETM+ allows you to auto tune and store FM, LW, MW and SW stations
into the ETM memory. Unlike ATS (Auto Tuning Storage), scanned
stations will not be stored into the regular memory (VM). In this way, when
you are in a different city or country, you can use the ETM+ function to
auto search new stations without overwriting any previously stored
stations within the memory.

Unlike its predecessor ETM (Easy Tuning Mode), ETM+ can also be used
for listening to LW, MW and SW stations more conveniently. Because
signals in these frequency bands may only be available during a specific
time of day, you can use this feature to make time-specific ETM memories.

14
Example LW/MW
The ETM memory for LW/MW consists of 6 time-specific memories:

0609: 06:00 - 09:59

1013: 10:00 - 13:59
1417: 14:00 - 17:59
1821: 18:00 - 21:59
2201: 22:00 - 01:59
0205: 02:00 - 05:59

An ETM scan performed at 11:35 in the morning falls in the 10:00-13:59

hour time-range and any stations found are stored in ETM memory 1013.

Example SW
The ETM+ memory for SW consists of 24 time-specific memories.
Stations found in the 09:00-09:59 period are stored in E09, 10:00-10:59
are stored in E10, and so on. In this way, an individual ETM memory can
be made for each hour of the day.

When an ETM scan has already been made for a time period, the radio
will automatically offer the frequencies belonging to the time period at
which the ETM memory is entered.

For example, the picture on the right shows

the starting screen that is briefly displayed
when entering the LW/MW ETM memory. In this example, “1013” indicates
that the current listening time is between 10:00 and 13:59, whereas
“ ” indicates that the last time an ETM+ scan was done during this
time-range the device found 15 broadcasting frequencies.

15
The picture on the right shows the starting
screen that is briefly displayed when
entering the ETM memory for SW. In this
example, “E20” indicates that the current
listening time is between 20:00 and 20:59,
whereas “ ” indicates that the last time an ETM scan was done
during this time-range the device found 136 broadcasting frequencies.

Tips:
Time-specific ETM memories are based on the clock time of the radio.
Before initiating an ETM scan, make sure to set the time accurately.
If no previous ETM scan has been done for a specific time-range, the
ETM memory will not show any stations.
For example, the figure on the right
indicates that no ETM scan has been
performed during the 9:00-9:59 hour
time-range.
For LW/MW: The internal ferrite antenna is directional, you may need to
adjust the position of the device or use the external ferrite bar antenna
to improve ETM results. Due to the nature of radio wave propagation,
longwave and medium wave reception is generally better at night than
during the day.
For SW: Radio signal propagation depends on the condition of the
ionosphere, which itself is affected by a variety of factors (time of day,
season of the year, sunspot cycles, etc.).
For better ETM results, try to adjust the length of the whip antenna for
FM and SW reception, or rotate the radio or the external ferrite bar
antenna for better reception of MW and LW. Alternatively, try to find a
different location within the building and preferably near a window.
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) from household appliances, as well
as the location within a building, affects ETM results.

16
Using ETM+ to Scan and Store Stations
1) Quick press the [ ETM ] button, the display indicates “ETM”.
2) Select the frequency band.
3) Press and hold the [ ETM ] button to start scanning for stations.
4) When scanning is complete, the display shows the number of
broadcast frequencies found (e.g. ).

If the ETM scan missed certain stations (e.g. due to interference), then it
is possible to add these to the ETM memory manually:
1) Quick press the [ ETM ] button, the display indicates “ETM” .
2) Select the frequency band.
3) Key in the frequency of the missing station using the numeric keypad.
4) Quick press the [ M ] button twice.

Note: For SW, ETM only scans/stores frequencies within the meter bands.

Listening to Stations in the ETM+ Memory

1) Quick press the [ ETM ] button, the display indicates “ETM”.
2) Select the frequency band.
3) Rotate the [ TUNING ] knob to select a stored frequency.
Tip: To exit ETM mode, quick press the [ ETM ] or [ VF/VM ] button.

Deleting a Single ETM+ Station

1) Quick press the [ ETM ] button, the display indicates “ETM”.
2) Select the frequency band.
3) Rotate the [ TUNING ] knob to select the frequency to be deleted.
4) Press and hold the [ ] (DEL.) button until the display shows
“dEL”.
5) Quick press the [ ] button to confirm and delete the selected
frequency.
Tip: To delete all ETM stations: review “Deleting All Stored Stations”
(page 14).

17
Other Settings and Features
Auto Sorting Memory
This device can automatically organize all stored stations. In power off
mode, press and hold the [ ] (0) button until the station memory preset
indicator on the display starts running. This feature deletes duplicate
stations and sorts the sequence of stored stations from low to high
frequency.

Single Sideband (SSB)

When receiving longwave, medium wave (AM) and shortwave signals, you
can activate the SSB mode to receive particular signals like for example
amateur radio communication and Morse Code, but it can also help to
mitigate interference.

Enable/Disable SSB mode: Quick press [ LSB ] (lower sideband) or

[ USB ] (upper sideband) to enable the sideband. Quick press [ SSB ] to
disable SSB.

Synchronous Detection (SYNC)

When listening to longwave, medium wave (AM) and shortwave
broadcasts, turning on synchronous detection may reduce noise
interference, eliminate distortion caused by local fading during signal
transmission, and suppress interference caused by adjacent stations
(see page 23 for more information).

Enable/Disable SYNC detection:

1) Press and hold [ SYNC ], the display shows “ ” and the
radio enters the synchronous detection mode.
2) Quick press [ LSB ] or [ USB ] to select Lower Sideband or Upper
Sideband SYNC detection.
3) To disable, quick press [ SYNC ] and “ ” disappears.

Note: Enabling the SYNC detector does not always reduce interference.

18
AM Bandwidth Selection
Quick press [ AM BW ] repeatedly, or quick press and then rotate the
[ VOLUME ] knob, to select a bandwidth to enhance the intelligibility of
longwave, medium wave (AM) and shortwave signals. Selectable
bandwidths are:
LW/MW: 2.5, 3.5, and 9.0kHz.
SW: 2.5, 3.5, and 5.0kHz.
SSB: 0.5, 1.2, 2.2, 3.0 and 4.0kHz.
Wider bandwidth: Has better audio fidelity when receiving strong signals
or local stations.
Narrower bandwidth: Limits interference from adjacent strong signals
and background noise, thereby especially suitable for receiving weak
and distant stations.

FM Stereo/Mono Selection
When listening to FM through headphones, quick press [ FM/ST. ]. If the
device detects that the FM signal is in stereo the display shows the stereo
“ ” icon. Quick press [ FM/ST. ] again to return to mono listening.

Note: When the FM signal is broadcasted in mono, or broadcasted in

stereo but the signal received is weak, the audio output is in mono and
“ “ is not displayed.

FM De-emphasis Time Constant

While receiving FM broadcasts, long press [ 4 ] to adjust the de-emphasis
setting to 50μs or 75μs.
“ ”: For Europe, Australia, Japan (and most other locations).
“ ”: For the Americas and South Korea.

19
Display Mode
When listening to the radio, quick press [ DISPLAY ] repeatedly to select
your preferred display mode. The top right corner of the display can show
signal strength/signal-to-noise ratio, clock time, alarm time, temperature,
or the memory location of the frequency (in VM mode only).

Add Seconds to the Clock

With the device turned off, press and hold [ 8 ] to add seconds to the clock.
Press and hold [ 8 ] again to hide the seconds from the clock.

Display Backlight
With the device turned on, press and hold [ ] (STEP) to select your
preferred backlight setting.
“ ”: Backlight turns on when a button or knob is used and turns off
after 5 seconds.
“ ”: Backlight is set to always-off.

Note: After turning off the device, the backlight setting defaults to “ “.

Setting the Sleep Timer

1) Turn the device off.
2) Press and hold the [ POWER ] button to enter the sleep timer setting.
3) Rotate the [ TUNING ] knob to select a power-off timer of 1-120
minutes, or select “ON” to deactivate the sleep timer.
4) Quick press [ ] to confirm. The sleep timer “ ” icon is shown
on the display.

Activating/Deactivating the Alarm

Quick press [ ALARM ] to activate the alarm. The alarm “ ” icon is
shown on the display to indicate that the device will turn on at the preset
time. Quick press again to deactivate the alarm.

20
Setting the Alarm Time
1) Press and hold [ ALARM ] until the alarm time in the upper right corner
of the display starts flashing.
2) While still flashing, use the numeric keys to enter the time (4 digits in
total), or rotate the [ TUNING ] knob to adjust the hour and the
[ VOLUME ] knob to adjust the minutes, and then press [ ALARM ] to
confirm. The display then automatically shows the duration of the alarm
while “ ” and “ ” flash on the display.
3) Turn the [ TUNING ] knob to set the duration of the alarm (01 - 60
minutes).
4) Quick press [ ALARM ] to confirm the setting. The alarm “ ” icon is
shown on the display.

Setting the Alarm Station

1) Select the station frequency you want to use as the alarm.
2) Quick press [ M ], the preset memory location will flash.
3) While still flashing, quick press [ ALARM ], the alarm “ ” icon will
flash.
4) While still flashing, quick press [ ] to confirm, “ ” stops flashing
and the setting is complete.

Tips:
If the device is turned off with a volume level below 10, then upon
reaching the alarm time, the device turns on at the default volume level
of 10.
Once the preset alarm time is reached, the radio turns on and stays on
for as long as the alarm duration (01 – 60 minutes) was set. To turn off
the device during the alarm playtime, quick press the [ POWER ] button
twice.
During the alarm playtime, quick press [ POWER ]. This will deactivate
the alarm, after which you can change to a different frequency.
If the device is not used for 3 days, the alarm deactivates automatically.

21
Snooze Function
When the alarm goes off, press [ DISPLAY ] to temporarily turn off the
alarm. The alarm icon “ ” flashes on the display and the alarm will go
off again after 5 minutes. To turn off the snooze function, quick press the
[ POWER ] button.

Keylock
To activate the keylock, press and hold [ ]. The lock “ ” icon is
displayed and the buttons and knobs are disabled. Press and hold
[ ] again to unlock.

Temperature Unit Display (Celsius or Fahrenheit)

When the MW (AM) tuning step is set to 9 kHz, the temperature unit
display defaults to Celsius. When set to 10 kHz the temperature is
displayed in Fahrenheit. See page 7 for information about changing the
MW (AM) tuning steps.

22
Synchronous Detection: An introduction
For demodulating AM signals, most radios use diode envelope detectors.
When the amplitude modulated signal passes through the inductor-
capacitor loop, it will produce distortion, and the envelope detector will
also produce distortion. Therefore, one of the best ways to demodulate
the AM signal is to use a synchronous detector.

The synchronous detector reconstructs the unmodulated carrier frequency

based on the input signal, and uses this as a reference to identify noise
and distortion. Synchronous detection technology is often used in FM
stereo left and right channel signal demodulation and color TV
chrominance signal demodulation.

Synchronous detection has a high detection efficiency and can realize

small signal detection. It can eliminate the distortion (transient
intermodulation distortion) generated in the IF filter due to local fading,
slight offset, modulation overshoot, as well as inter-channel interference
and cross-talk modulation, and can also reduce noise interference.

The chart (on the next page) shows some common amplitude modulation
phenomena:

Example 1: It is an undisturbed conventional amplitude modulation signal,

both detectors give distortion-free output.

Example 2: The carrier is reduced because of local fading or the directivity

of the transmitting antenna.

Example 3: Sideband asymmetry is caused by local fading or reception

detuning.

23
Example 4: The carrier phase shift is caused by the asymmetry of the
skywave transmission or radio intermediate frequency phase.

Envelope Synchronous
Spectrum Phasor Diagram Signal
Detector Output Detector Output
Carrier
Carrier USB
LSB USB

LSB

USB
LSB USB
Carrier
Carrier

LSB
Carrier
USB
USB
Carrier
LSB
LSB

Carrier
USB
LSB USB
Carrier

LSB

The chart shows the demodulation output waveforms of the envelope

detector and synchronous detector. In each situation, the synchronous
detector gives an undistorted output (the frequency response may be
uneven, but there is no distortion). This is not the case with the envelope
detector. The envelope detector can only work correctly when the carrier
is large enough and the upper and lower sidebands are complete mirror
images of each other in amplitude and phase.

Synchronous detectors do not have the limitations of envelope detectors

and can demodulate a wide range of AM signals, for example
double-sideband, double-sideband with a suppressed carrier (DSB-SC),
single sideband without a carrier or with a suppressed carrier, vestigial
sideband (VSB), quadrature AM (QAM) and other signals.

24
These forms of amplitude modulation, which cannot be demodulated by
the envelope detector, arise from fairly common situations. Although the
broadcast signal is transmitted as a conventional double-sideband AM
wave, the detuning and skywave reflection of the radio will change this
AM signal into one or a combination of the forms shown in the chart.

When there is adjacent channel interference, TV horizontal scanning

harmonics, interference of the carrier frequency and the like, then using
the upper sideband or lower sideband to receive the unaffected sideband
can significantly reduce the interference. This is because these types of
interference usually only affect one sideband of the AM signal, and the
content of AM radio broadcasts exists in two sidebands, in which each
sideband contains the same content.

25
Troubleshooting

ISSUE POSSIBLE CAUSE / SOLUTION

Unable to power Battery has no power or is installed incorrectly.

on the device. ● Replace or charge the battery.
● Reinstall the battery.

Radio auto turns off Battery has no power or the sleep timer is activated.
while listening. ● Replace or charge the battery.
● Deactivate the sleep timer and turn the radio back on.

ATS and ETM skip The radio signal is too weak, there is strong interference,
stations, or some or MW (AM) tuning steps are not set accurately.
stored stations have ● Search and store stations manually.
only noise. ● Adjust the length and direction of the antenna or
change to a different location and try again.
● The MW tuning steps may have been set incorrectly.
Please review page 7 and then try again.

Poor MW reception MW (AM) stations are spaced at 10 kHz in the Americas,

while using in North the device may be set to 9 kHz tuning steps.
or South America. ● Turn off the device, then press and hold the [ 3 ]
button to change the MW tuning step to 10 kHz.

Unable to enter the The radio is in SSB or SYNC mode.

ETM memory. ● First exit the mode by pressing the [ SSB ] or [ SYNC ]
button, and then enter the ETM memory.

When the alarm goes Alarm preset radio frequency was not properly set,
off the radio broadcast or there are no broadcasts at that time.
is only noise. ● Assure that receiving a broadcast is possible at the
alarm time and the location where the device is
placed.

26
Lithium Battery Safety Instructions
Improper replacement of the lithium battery may result in an explosion.
Replace only with a lithium battery of the same type or equivalent (the
lithium battery used in this device is a BL-5C rechargeable lithium
battery).
Do not expose the battery to heat sources (e.g. sunlight, fire), low
temperatures, humidity, or high pressure.
Do not short-circuit or disassemble the battery. If the battery is seriously
inflated, please do not continue to use it. Dispose of the battery properly
and prevent children from playing with electric currents.
If not using for an extended period of time, remove the battery and store
it in a safe manner. Please use non-conductive material to wrap the
battery in order to avoid direct contact with metal. You can avoid
performance loss by keeping the battery in a cool dry place.
Please consciously abide by aviation regulations; lithium batteries are
strictly prohibited from placing into checked luggage.

Radio Maintenance
Keep it dry. Rain, humidity and other types of liquids or moisture can
contain minerals that may cause corrosion to components. If the device
does accidentally get wet, remove the battery and wait for the radio to
dry completely before placing it back.
Do not place or store the device in environments above +45°C. High
temperatures can shorten the life span of certain components.
Do not place or store the device in cold environments below -5°C .
Otherwise, once the surrounding temperature rises, internal
condensation may develop and damage the circuit board and LCD
display.
Do not drop, hit, or smash the device.
Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong detergents to
clean the device. Use a clean, soft, dry cloth to clean the screen.
Do not attempt to disassemble the device to adjust internal parameters.

27
PL-368 Specifications
Frequency range
Longwave (LW): 153-513 kHz
Medium wave (MW): 520-1710 kHz / 522-1620 kHz
Shortwave (SW): 1711-29999 kHz
FM: 64-108 / 76-108 / 87-108 / 88-108 MHz

Frequency tuning steps

Longwave (LW)
AM broadcast: 9 kHz / 1 kHz
Single sideband: 9 kHz / 1 kHz / 10 Hz
Synchronous detection: 9 kHz / 1 kHz / 100 Hz

Medium wave (MW):

520-1710 kHz
AM broadcast: 10 kHz / 1 kHz
Single sideband: 10 kHz / 1 kHz / 10 Hz
Synchronous detection: 10 kHz / 1 kHz / 100 Hz

522-1620kHz
AM broadcast: 9 kHz / 1 kHz
Single sideband: 9 kHz / 1 kHz / 10 Hz
Synchronous detection: 9 kHz / 1 kHz / 100 Hz

Shortwave (SW):
AM broadcast: 5 kHz / 1 kHz
Single sideband: 5 kHz / 1 kHz / 10 Hz
Synchronous detection: 5 kHz / 1 kHz / 100 Hz

FM: 100kHz / 10kHz

Station memories (excl. ETM):

Longwave: 100
Medium Wave (AM): 150
Shortwave: 300
FM: 100
SSB: 100
SYNC: 100
28
Noise limit sensitivity
Longwave (S / N = 26dB): < 10mV / m
Medium wave (S / N = 26dB): < 1mV / m
Shortwave (S / N = 26dB): < 20μV
FM (S / N = 30dB): < 3μV

Selectivity
Longwave: > 60dB
Medium wave: > 60dB
Shortwave: > 60dB
FM: > 60dB

Sync Detection Lock Range: ± 1kHz

IF Frequency (DSP): AM 45 kHz; FM 128 kHz

FM Stereo crosstalk (headphone output): 35dB
Speaker: 16Ω, 0.5W
Stereo headphone impedance: 32Ω
Maximum output power: Approx. 350mW
Quiescent Current: < 25mA (FM/MW/LW)
< 45mA (SW)

Stand-by current: < 90μΑ

Power supply: 3.7V BL-5C Li-ion battery
or external DC 5V
Charging / external power: DC 5V 500mA

Unit size (with antenna contracted): 162 x 53 x 26 mm

Weight (excluding battery): 130g

29
 TECSUN
RADIOS AUSTRALIA

TECSUN RADIOS AUSTRALIA

24/9 Powells Road, Brookvale, NSW 2100 Australia Ph: +61 2 9939 4377
Email: info@tecsunradios.com.au www.tecsunradios.com.au