Tecsun PL-600 Owner's Manual - User Manual

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TECSUN

PL-600

PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL BEFORE OPERATION

OWNER'S MANUAL

PLL SYNTHESIZED DUAL CONVERSION RECEIVER

FM STEREO/LW/MW/SW SSB

http:

//www.tecsun.com.cn email: tecsun@tecsun.com.cn

Tecsun General Electric Manufacturer Co., Ltd.

TEL: 86-769-2316 7118 FAX: 86-769-2316 0700

189 GuanChang Road, DongCheng District, DongGuan, GuangDong, P.R.China

TECSUN

MAJOR FEATURES OF THE PL-600

DIAGRAMS

GETTING STARTED

WHAT THE PL-600 INCLUDES

INSTALLING BATTERIES

PREVENTING BATTERY ACID LEAKAGE

USING THE INCLUDED AC ADAPTOR/CHARGER

CHARGING BATTERIES IN THE PL-600

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-600 CONTROLS

LISTENING TO SHORTWAVE STATIONS

TROUBLESHOOTING

TABLE OF CONTENTS

10 TROUBLESHOOTING

RESET PROCEDURE

OPERATES ERRATICALLY

The RESET button is on the bottom of the

Perform a RESET, as described in the

PL-600. When performing a reset, have

section titled RESET PROCEDURE.

good batteries in the radio or power it with

STATIONS ARE RECEIVED TOO WEAK

an AC adaptor and turn it off. Perform a

●

Assure that the ANTENNA GAIN switch

reset if the solutions outlined below don't

is set to the DX position.

resolve the issue. To perform a reset,

●

Assure that the telescopic antenna is

press the reset button with a paper clip or

pulled up all the way for FM and

similar object.

Shortwave reception.

●

When listening to AM stations, swivel

WILL NOT TURN ON

the radio. The AM internal ferrite bar
antenna is highly directional.

1. Assure that the LOCK feature is not
engaged.

THERE IS NO SOUND FROM THE

2. Assure that the radio has power

SPEAKER

(batteries installed or AC adaptor

Assure that earphones/headphones are

plugged in).

not plugged in and that the volume control

3. Assure that batteries are inserted with

is turned up.

correct polarity
4. Assure that the batteries are not

A STATION CAUSES SEVERE AUDIO

depleted

DISTORTION, BUT SEEMS TO BE

5. If using an AC adaptor, assure that it is

VERY STRONG IN SIGNAL STRENGTH

plugged into the household outlet

This is probably a strong, local station,

(mains socket) and into the radio's DC

very close to your location. Because of its

socket. Take care not to plug it into the
earphone socket. Also, assure that the

close proximity to you, its signal is too

AC adaptor is of the correct DC voltage

strong. To reduce signal strengths, place

output and polarity and that its plug-tip

the ANTENNA GAIN switch into the

is of the correct inner and outer

NORMAL or LOCAL position.

diameter.

SHUTS OFF ABRUPTLY WHILE

THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT HAS A

PLAYING DURING BATTERY USE

STICKY LIQUID OR DRIED WHITE

This is caused by depleted batteries.

POWDER IN IT

Replace them.

This is the result of battery acid leakage.
To avoid battery acid leakage, only use

SHUTS OFF ABRUPTLY WHILE BEING

high quality alkaline or rechargeable

MOVED DURING AC ADAPTOR USE

nickel-metal-hydride batteries. Never

This is usually caused by a broken wire or

intermix old with new, or different brands

loose connection in the AC adaptor's cord

or types of batteries. If the batteries leak,

or if the AC adaptor's plug-tip is of the

immediately contact the manufacturer of

wrong diameter.

the batteries and don't throw them away.
Damage caused by battery acid leakage
is not covered under warranty.

8
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PL-600

OWNER'S MANUAL

1 MAJOR FEATURES OF THE PL-600

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.

SSB (SINGLE SIDE BAND) signal reception

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

Built-in Ni-MH battery charger

System set codes

LISTENING TO SHORTWAVE STATIONS

continued

GENERAL SHORTWAVE 'RULES-OF-

clock reappears. If you don't wait, then
method 2 below will automatically be

THUMB'

used.

Night shortwave reception is usually
better than daytime shortwave. This can

2. Perform one quick, short press of the

change from time-to-time, so it's worth

button labeled SW METER BAND,

checking the bands during the day too.

immediately followed by quick, short

During daytime the most active

presses of either the UP or DOWN

shortwave bands are 13, 15, 16, 19, and

tuning buttons. The band number

22 meters, 16 and 19 usually being the

appears in the upper right corner of the

best. At night, the most active bands are

display. Once the band of choice is

25, 31, 41 and 49 meters, with 31 and 49

selected, start tuning after the clock

usually best.

reappears in the upper right corner.

Around sunset and sunrise, both the day

AUTO-SCAN TUNING WHILE IN

and night bands may be good, sometimes

SHORTWAVE

exceptionally good. Listening at these

In shortwave, auto-scan tuning scans in

times can often be quite rewarding.

the shortwave frequency ranges noted in

The construction materials of some

the Band Chart below. To tune shortwave

buildings severely block shortwave

frequencies that are in-between these

signals. To counteract this, hold the radio

ranges, or outside of these ranges, use

in your hands and get very close to a

one of the other tuning methods, e.g.

window.

Regular Tuning (manual tuning) or Direct

SELECTING A SHORTWAVE METER

Frequency Entry as discussed titled

BAND WITH THE PL-600

TUNING IN STATIONS.

All 14 of the international broadcast bands
can be accessed with the PL-600. The
bands are numbered 120, 90, 75, 60, 49,
31, 25, 22, 19, 16, 15, 13 and 11 meters
and are commonly called 'Meter Bands'.

The PL-600 offers two ways to access a
shortwave band. Each method places the
tuner at the beginning of the band's
frequency range.

1. Each successive quick, short press of
the button labeled SW METER BAND
(16) places the radio at the beginning of
a band. While pressing the button, the
band number shows in the upper right
corner of the display (50) and
disappears a few seconds after it is
released, causing the clock to reappear
in the corner. Start tuning only after the

BAND CHART OF SHORTWAVE AUTO-
SCANING RANGES

120

2250 - 2550

3150 - 3450

3850 - 4050

4700 - 5100

5800 6300

7100 7500

9400 10000

11500 12150

13500 13900

15000 15900

17450 - 18000

18850 - 19100

21450 - 21950

25600 - 26100

BAND (METERS)

FREQUENCY RANGE

PL-600

OWNER'S MANUAL

2 DIAGRAMS

kHz

Ni-MH
Battery

Shortwave

Bandwidth

FAST

TIMER

Power/ Sleep

Clock Button

Timer A Button

Timer B Button

FM/Shortwave

Telescopic Antenna

LCD Display

7.Light / Snooze Button

8.Tuning Fast/Slow / Lock Button

9.Up / Auto-Scan Button

10.Down / Auto-Scan Button

11.Frequency / Preset Button

12.Page Button

13.SSB Button

14.FM. ST & AM Bandwidth Button

15.FM / MW / LW Band &
FM / MW ATS Button

16.SW(SW Meter) Band Button

17.Numeric Keypad

20.Enter / Delete Button

19.Charge On / Off Button

18.Memory / Sys. Set Button

21.

Hand Carry Belt

22.

FM / SW ANT. Jack

23.

ANT. Gain

(DX / Normal / Local)

24.

Tone Control

25.

Earphone Socket

26.

DC 6V Jack

27.Vertical Stand

28.

Tuning Knob

29.

Stand

31.

Volume Knob

32.

Reset Button

30.

SSB BFO Knob

ADDITIONAL PL-600 CONTROLS

continued

USING THE LOCK BUTTON

USING THE EXTERNAL ANTENNA
SOCKET

Pressing the LOCK button causes all
button-activated controls to be 'locked'

The external antenna socket is used to

and the lock symbol appears in the lower

improve shortwave or FM performance.

right corner of the display. A long press

There are many such antennas on the

engages the LOCK feature. Another long

market today. Typing in 'shortwave

press disengages it and the symbol

antennas' or 'FM antennas' on your

disappears.

favorite Internet search site will provide

This is an excellent feature to use when

further information if you with to purchase

traveling, as it keeps the radio from being

or make such an antenna.

accidentally turned on. Before placing the
radio into a suitcase, purse or briefcase,
turn it off and then lock it. This control
does not disengage timer functions.
While you are listening to a favorite radio
station and want not to be shut off
accidentally, you can also lock the radio.

9 LISTENING TO SHORTWAVE STATIONS

Are you new to shortwave listening? If so,

other world sources often exposes you to

you'll want to read this section.

different and unique perspectives on
national and world events.

WHAT ARE SHORTWAVE STATIONS?

Exposure to other languages and

These are radio broadcast stations

cultures, including their music and

around the world broadcasting on

perspectives. Hearing a country's native

frequencies that can be heard over vast

or 'folk' music can be very enjoyable, even

distances, often many thousands of miles.

if you don't understand the language.

In the United States, there are also about

Learning a language by hearing native

30 domestic shortwave broadcasters with

speakers.

religious, politically and ideologically

Keeping in touch with another part of the

oriented broadcasts.

world, perhaps your original homeland or
that of your family's heritage.

WHY LISTEN TO SHORTWAVE

Religious, politically and ideologically

STATIONS?

oriented broadcasts.

There are many reasons why you may
enjoy shortwave stations. Here are just
some, as reported to us by our customers.
Listening to news and information from

PL-600

OWNER'S MANUAL

Timer A

Ni-MH
Battery

Timer B

kHz

33. Battery Symbol

35. Timer Digits

34. Clock Digits

36. Timer

Activation Symbol

37.

Ni-MH Battery Symbol

SL EEP

kHz

Timer A

SLOW

Ni-MH
Battery

FM MW LW Shortwave SSB Bandwidth N

Timer B

33. Battery Symbol

38. Antenna Symbol

39. 1-5 Scale

Sleep Timer Symbol

40. Clock
Digits

36.
Timer

Activation
Symbol

41. Bandwidth

42. SSB

43. Frequency Digits

44. FM,
MW, LW,
Shortwave
Indicators

PAGE

PRESET

45. Delete Indicator

46. Memory Display

47. Shortwave Meter Band Display

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

DIAGRAMS

continued

SYSTEM SET CODES

continued

●

CHANGING SYSTEM SET CODES

Ten pages with 50 memories each.

Code 08.

To enter a system code of your choice,

●

9 KHz AM (MW) tuning rate. Code 09.

●

use the procedure below.

Rechargeable batteries to be used.

Code 28.

1. Turn off the radio.

●

87-108 MHz FM frequency coverage.

2. Press/release the SYSTEM SET button

Code 87.

(18). Note that '- - ' (48) appears in the

●

LW band Deactivate. Code 55.

upper right corner of the display and

the clock digits disappear.

MONITORING THE CURRENT STATUS

3. Within 5 seconds, enter the desired

OF SET CODES AND OTHER

numeric code with the numeric key pad,

SETTINGS

then immediately press/release the
button labeled SYSTEM SET. The code

Performing a three second press of the

ICON (49) will briefly appear in the

SYSTEM SET button, with the PL-600

lower right corner of the display.

turned off, allows monitoring of key set
codes and other settings. This information

DEFAULT FACTORY SYSTEM SET

quickly flashes in the display in the

CODES

following order.
1. 9 or 10 kilohertz setting

When shipped from the factory, the radio's

2. Rechargeable battery milliamp-hour

System Set Code Table is set up as

setting

follows. Changes can be made via the

3. FM tuning range setting

procedure shown in the section titled

4. Timer A's radio frequency

CHANGING SYSTEM SET CODES.

5. Timer B's radio frequency

8 ADDITIONAL PL-600 CONTROLS

USING THE LIGHT

USING THE ANTENNA GAIN SWITCH

A quick, short press/release of the

The Antenna Gain switch (23) has three

LIGHT/SNOOZE button (7), located on

positions, DX, NORMAL and LOCAL. This

the front of the radio's upper right corner,

switch should normally be in the DX

will turn on the display light, shining from

position, providing maximum receiving

the left side of the display, for about 5

performance. If the

seconds. A longer press/release of the

station that you are listening to is

button (about 3 seconds) will cause it to

overwhelmingly powerful and causes

stay on indefinitely (note that this will

distortion, try the NORMAL or LOCAL

decrease battery life). Turn off the light

position. This switch is not used for

with a quick short press of the button.

station.

FM or Shortwave

PL-600

OWNER'S MANUAL

PL-600

OWNER'S MANUAL

3 GETTING STARTED

WHAT THE PL-600 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

●

4 - 1000 mAh, Ni-MH rechargeable

USING THE INCLUDED AC

batteries.

DAPTOR/CHARGER

●

Owner's manual

To power the PL-600 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-600, 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-600. Its cover is on the

CHARGING BATTERIES IN THE PL-600

lower right corner of the back. To remove

The PL-600 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 4 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-600 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-600 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-600 will function

overheat, become damaged and possibly

if it is not done.

damage the PL-600. 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-600 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

7 SYSTEM SET CODES

System Set Codes allow the radio to be tailored to your needs by changing certain
programmable functions. These functions and their descriptions are noted in the table.

CODE NUMBER

00 (factory default setting)

55 (factory default setting)

09 (factory default setting)

FUNCTION

Divide the memories into 10 pages with
50 locations

Divide the memories into 20 pages with
25 locations

Divide the memories into 25 pages with
20 locations

Divide the memories into 50 pages with
10 locations

Activate LW band

Deactivate LW band

Set the tuning steps for MW to 9KHz

Set the tuning steps for MW to 10KHz

IN DISPLAY

10:50

20:25

25:20

50:10

OFF

9kHz

10kHz

87 (factory default setting)

Rechargeable battery to be used

Normal AA battery to be used

Set the FM frequency range to 76-108MHz
(for Japan)

Set the FM frequency range to 87-108MHz

Ni-MH

76 108

87 108

SYSTEM SET CODE TABLE

GETTING STARTED

continued

The included AC Adaptor/Charger may be

Once charging is finished, 'CHARGE' will

used to charge 4 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-600's battery compartment. Before

Charging time varies depending on the

charging, the PL-600 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-600 off.

from the PL-600 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 4 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.

MEMORY AUTO-SCAN

DELETING ALL MEMORY PAGE
CONTENTS

Memory Auto-scan enables scanning
through the memories within the selected

1. Press/release the FREQ/PRESET
button (11).

memory page. Each filled memory is

2. Press/hold the DELETE button (20) for

accessed for about 5 seconds, after

5 seconds and then release it. 'dEL'

which the scan moves on to the next

and PAGE (45, 46) appear flashing in

used memory automatically, staying on it

the display.

for about 5 seconds. This continues

3. Within 2 seconds, press/release the

indefinitely on the selected page until

DELETE button.

deliberately stopped. Unused memories
are not accessed.

1. Press/release FREQ/PRESET (11)
button.
2. Press/hold either the UP or DOWN
button for about a second. Then
release it. Note that PRESET flashes
under the memory number, indicating
that memory scanning is functioning
with each memory being scanned for
about 5 seconds. It then moves on to
the next memory for another 5
seconds. To stop memory preset auto-
scan, press/release either the UP or
DOWN button.

DELETING A MEMORY'S CONTENTS

1. Press/release the FREQ/PRESET
button (11).
2. Use the UP or DOWN button (5,6) to
select the memory preset location of
the frequency that you wish to delete.
Alternately, use the numeric keypad to
enter the memory number.
3. Press/hold the DELETE button (20) for
about 2 seconds and then release it.
'dEL' appears flashing in the display.
4. While 'dEL' is still flashing,
press/release the DELETE button.

MOVING A STORED FREQUENCY

A stored frequency can be moved to a
different memory or memory page.

1. Turn on the radio.
2. Press/release the PAGE button.
3. Within 3 seconds, use the UP or
DOWN button to select the required
memory page.
4. Press/release the MEMORY button
twice.
5. Within 5 seconds use the numeric
keypad to enter the memory number
that you wish to store the station
into.
6. Within 5 seconds press/release the
MEMORY button.

CUSTOMIZING MEMORY PAGES

The PL-600 is configured at the
factory with 10 memory pages (from
01~10), each page having 50
memories plus 100 memories in page
00, in total 600 memories. You can
change the set up of page 01~10 via
the SYSTEM SET CODES, shown
below.

WORKING WITH MEMORY

continued

PL-600

OWNER'S MANUAL

TURNING THE PL-600 ON AND OFF

VOLUME AND TONE CONTROLS

The volume control (31), labeled

The PL-600 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
(24), 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 (25) 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 (9, 10) immediately after

SHORTWAVE

When listening to FM or shortwave, fully

turning on the radio. This allows selection

extend the telescopic antenna (5). 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-600,

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 (15) to select FM or

2. TIMER-DEFEAT METHOD:

MW. To select SW press the 'SW METER

This method defeats the automatic

BAND' button (16). 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 (43)

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 (15). 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 (6) shows battery

SYSTEM SET CODE TABLE.

strength. When the radio is turned on, the
antenna symbol (38) 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

6 WORKING WITH MEMORY

At the factory, the PL-600 is set up with

numeric keypad to enter the page or
use the tuning knob to change the

10 pages of memory (from 01~10), each

page.

page holding 50 frequencies plus 100

3. Press/release the PAGE button to

frequency memory in P0. This enables

finalize the page change.

storing of 600 frequencies into memory.
Memory setting of 01~10 can be changed

ACCESSING WHAT IS STORED INTO

and tailored to your personal needs or

MEMORY

can be left as is. When first learning to

There are three ways to access what has

store stations into memory, we suggest

been stored into memory: Direct Memory

using the factory setting. To change the

Access, Manual Memory Search and

factory setting, see the section

Memory Auto-scan. These three methods

CUSTOMIZING MEMORY PAGES. When

are described below. When the memory

working with memory, the term PRESET

page and memory preset numbers

appears in the display under the memory

appear in the upper right corner of the

numbers.

display, as it will in the descriptions below,
the radio is in MEMORY ACCESS MODE.
This mode can be exited any time with a

STORING STATIONS INTO MEMORY

press/release of the FREQ/PRESET

1. Turn on the radio.

button (11).

2. Tune to the desired station.
3. Press/release the MEMORY button

If you first need to change memory

(18). Note that the memory number

pages, see the previous section,

digits, labeled PRESET (46) flash in
the upper right corner of the display.

SELECTING/CHANGING MEMORY

The memory page number, labeled

PAGES.

PAGE, also appears, but does not
flash.

DIRECT MEMORY ACCESS

4. Within 5 seconds use the numeric

Use the numeric keypad to key-in the

keypad to enter the memory number

memory number. For example, if the

that you wish to store the station into.

desired radio station is in memory

For memories 1-9, enter the numbers

number 01, just press '0', then '1', and it

as 01~09.

will go to memory 01.

5. Within 5 seconds press the MEMORY
button, or wait 5 seconds. This finalizes

MANUAL MEMORY SEARCH

storing into memory and after a few

Manual Memory Search enables manual

seconds, the upper right corner's

searching through the memories within a

display returns to show the clock.

memory page, as shown below:

SELECTING/CHANGING MEMORY

1. Press/release the FREQ/PRESET (11)

PAGES

button.

To select/change memory pages:

2. Use quick, short presses on the UP or

1. Press/release the PAGE button (12).

DOWN buttons or use the tuning knob

The page number flashes in the

to search through the memories.

display.
2. Within 3 seconds, use either the UP or

3. Press the FREQ/PRESET button when

DOWN button to change to the page of

finished.

your choice. Alternately, use the

PL-600

OWNER'S MANUAL

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

(14). ' ' will appear in the display.

can be entered via the numeric keypad

SETTING UP MW AND FM INSIDE OF

(17). 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-600. 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-600's display) are spaced in 10

just enter the frequency using the

kHz tuning steps, you should change it

numeric keypad (17).

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 (17).

MANUAL TUNING

2. Press/release the 'Enter' (20) button.

Quick, short presses of the UP/DOWN
buttons (9,10) enables tuning up or down

TUNING KNOB

frequency.

The TUNING knob control (28) 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 (9, 10)

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

CLOCK AND TIMER FEATURES

continued

When the timer activates, it turns on the

ACTIVATING/DEACTIVATING THE

radio, with the timer activation symbol

TIMER

and the playtime appear flashing in the

For a timer to turn on the radio, it must be

display. The radio will play the station

activated. A timer can be

stored into timer memory and shut off

activated/deactivated with the radio on or

automatically when the playtime counts

off. To activate the timer, press/release

down to 00 or until you turn the radio off

the TIMER A or TIMER B button. The

with the POWER/SLEEP button. The

timer symbol will appear in the display. To

'snooze' feature can also be used (see

deactivate a timer, press/release the

section titled USING THE SNOOZE

TIMER A or TIMER B button. The timer

FEATURE).

symbol will disappear from the display.

There are three methods to set the timer.
They are almost same as the clock set.

USING THE SNOOZE FEATURE

You can set Timer A or B separately.

When the timer activates and turns the
radio on, the timer activation symbol (36)

STORING A RADIO STATION INTO

appears flashing in the display. While it is

TIMER MEMORY

flashing, press/release the

To hear a radio station when the timer

SNOOZE/LIGHT button (7). The radio will

activates, the station must be stored into

turn off and then turn on again in 10

timer memory. Here's the 2 step

minutes. This process can be repeated 3

procedure:

times.

1. Turn on the PL-600 and tune to the
desired station.
2. Press the TIMER A or TIMER B button
for more than 1 second, then release.
The timer symbol flashes in the display
twice.

NOTE:

To monitor the frequencies stored

into timer memory A and B, perform a
three second press of the SYSTEM SET
button while the radio is turned off. The
set code information and the frequencies
stored into timer memory flash in the
display.

PL-600

OWNER'S MANUAL

5 CLOCK AND TIMER FEATURES

SETTING THE CLOCK

3. Within 5 seconds, use the tuning knob

The factory has set the clock to function

to set the hour.
4. Within 5 seconds, press/release the

as a 24-hour format clock.

'Time' (2) button, then use the tuning

There are three methods for setting the

knob to set the minute.
5. Within 5 seconds of finishing,

clock.

press/release the 'Time' (2) button or

CLOCK SET METHOD 1 UP AND

wait until the clock digits stop flashing.

DOWN BUTTONS:

You can also set the clock when you turn
on the radio. When the radio is on, the

1. Turn the radio off. The clock digits
appear in the center of the display (34).

clock digits appear in the upper right

2. Press/release the button labeled 'Time'

corner of the display. Set the clock

(2). The clock's HOUR digits flash in

referring to the 3 methods above.

the display, within 5 seconds, set the
hour using the UP/DOWN buttons

SETTING THE TIMERS (USE AS

(9, 10).

WAKE-UP ALARM)

3. Press/release the 'Time' (2) button
again, the MINUTE digits flash in the

The PL-600 has two, independently

display, within 5 seconds, set the

programmable timers, timer A and B,

minute using the UP/DOWN buttons

enabling the PL-600 to turn on and play

(9, 10).

the radio for an alterable period of time

4. Within 5 seconds of finishing,

and then turn off. The playtime can be

press/release the 'Time' (2) button or

selected from 1~90 minutes. The timers

wait until the clock digits stop flashing.

can be used as wake-up alarms. After
setting a timer and a playtime, store a

CLOCK SET METHOD 2 –

radio station into timer memory and

NUMERIC KEYPAD:

activate the timer. See the next sections
titled STORING A RADIO STATION INTO

1. Turn the radio off. The clock digits

TIMER MEMORY and ACTIVATING /

appear in the center of the display (34).

DEACTIVATING THE TIMER.

2. Press/release the button labeled 'Time'
(2). The clock's digits flash in the

NOTE:

A radio station must be stored into

display.

timer memory. If this is not done, there

3. Use the numeric keypad to key-in the

will only be static once the timer is

time in 24 hour format. Within 5
seconds of finishing, press/release the

activated.

'TIME' (2) button or wait until the clock
digits stop flashing.

CLOCK SET METHOD 3 TUNING
KNOB

1. Turn the radio off. The clock digits
appear in the center of the display (34).
2. Press/release the button labeled 'Time'
(2). The clock HOUR digits flash in the
display.

TUNING MODE FAST TUNING SLOW

INTRODUCTION TO SINGLE SIDE

TUNING

BAND (SSB)

The TUNING-FAST/SLOW button (8)

Many higher-end shortwave radios have

allows selection of fast or slow tuning

special circuitry enabling SSB, a highly

when using the tuning knob or the UP

efficient way of electronically processing

and DOWN controls. FAST or SLOW

transmitted and received signals for two-

appear in the display. When tuning with

way communication. Examples of this are

the tuning knob (28), fast tuning is usually

amateur radio (hams), maritime and

appropriate. When tuning with the UP and

aeronautical communication. Either upper

DOWN buttons, use slow tuning to tune in

side band (USB) or lower side band

stations and fast tuning to move up or

(LSB) can be used. Non-voice methods of

down frequency at a rapid rate. Then use

communication can also be heard,

slow to actually tune in stations.

including CW (Morse code) and RTTY

Experiment with this control to see which

(radio teletype). Receiving SSB signals is

tuning mode that you prefer.

not always easy. Since this is two-way
communications, transmissions are often

USING THE BANDWIDTH BUTTON

very short and sporadic. Also, most two-

The BANDWIDTH button (14) is used

way communication uses relatively low

when listening to WM and SW stations.

power, 50 to 1000 watts. The amateur

Its purpose is to help minimize

radio operators are easiest to find, best

interference. The preferred setting is

results are experienced when using an

WIDE, which provides best audio fidelity.

outdoor shortwave antenna such as a

Use NARROW when there is

dipole.

interference. W or N will appear in the
display.

Follow your radio's instructions on how to
engage its SSB feature. Shown next are

USING THE PL600'S SSB (SINGLE

some selected frequency ranges on

SIDE BAND) FEATURE

which SSB communications can be

SSB enables listening to shortwave

found. All frequencies are shown in

signals using the single-sideband mode.

kilohertz.

This mode is used for a variety of signals
including amateur radio and other two-

AERONAUTICAL SW FREQUENCY

way communications, Morse code,

RANGES (USUALLY USB)

weather-fax transmissions and other
encoded signals often referred to as
'utility' signals. To use SSB, turn on the
SSB circuit by pressing the SSB button
(13 ) . Note that SSB appears in the
display (42). Tune to the shortwave
frequency of your choice. Use the tuning
knob to coarse-tune the SSB signal, then
fine-tune with the SSB BFO+ knob (30).
This SSB circuit allows tuning of both
upper and lower sideband signals. For
best SSB signal clarity, placing the
DX/LOCAL switch in the LOCAL position
may be desirable.

MARITIME SW FREQUENCY RANGES
(USUALLY USB)

BASIC RADIO OPERATION

continued

2850-3155
3400-3500
4650-4750
5480-5730
6525-6765
8815-9040
10005-10100

11175-11400
13200-13360
15010-15100
17900-18030
21870-22000
23200-23350

4063-4438
6200-6525
8195-8815
12230-13200
16360-17410

18780-18900
19680-19800
22000-22720
25070-25110

PL-600

OWNER'S MANUAL

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