Tecsun PL880 Quick Start Manual

GOALS/OBJECTIVES
1. Present information on the value of communication.
2. Present information on radio waves to understand the abilities and limitations of the radio.
3. Present information important to improving reception of radio signals.
4. Recommendation for another antenna along with additional items required to improve reception.
5. Learn to set the functions/features of the Tecsun PL880.
6. Clarify instructions and correct some errors in the supplied Operations Manual.
7. Present some hidden features of the radio.
VALUE OF COMMUNICATION
During a time of natural, man-made, or even supernatural adversity, men and women are concerned about family,
friends, and others. It is only human to desire to know about another's well-being. In today's world, many of those we
are concerned about are spread out across the nation, if not the world. Assistance always begins with total and
complete acknowledgement and trust in God. Always. We need to trust that everyone we are concerned about, God is
concerned about even more. As God aided the Israelites of old, He can and will aid us now. The aid needed will involve
the gift of you. You may be helping someone's loved one, across the country, that they are concerned about. Help
comes in many ways, but it is never selfish on our part if it is rooted in God.
To assist you in learning of others well-being, if usual means of communication breakdown, CORAC will be
communicating information over shortwave amateur radio frequencies. None of us fully knows what that may look like.
Yet, CORAC is prudently preparing to help. We strive to "be a sign of hope for others". If you are like many, you have
never or rarely used a shortwave radio receiver in the past. This document hopes to educate you on operating the
Tecsun PL880 shortwave radio receiver. Although God created radio waves and we make use of them, he communicated
directly with mankind in the Old and New Testaments. Let us not forget.
ABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE RADIO
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During the late 19 and early 20
spectrum was divided up by their discovered wavelengths: Long Wave (LW), Medium Wave (MW) and Shortwave (SW).
As time progressed other radio waves were discovered, yet they kept the historical terms and jointly added additional
terms to better classify the waves by frequency.
Why is this important? AM radio waves (think of your car's radio) travel on LW in Europe, Asia, and Africa and on MW in
North America, for the most part. So, what travels on SW? Amateur radio waves known as High Frequency (HF) waves.
The Tecsun PL880 has the capability to pick up SW radio signals, along with AM and FM signals. THIS INFO HELPS TO
UNDERSTAND PROGRAMMING THE RADIO. Of course, this has probably oversimplified radio waves, but it can shorten
your learning curve with a basic understanding.
Various natural events and man-made items can interfere with radio wave reception including SW. Natural events
include: the sun (sunspots and/or coronal mass ejections), atmosphere, and weather to name a few. Man-made items
include powerlines, EMPs, consumer electronics, and buildings to name many.
TECSUN PL880
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centuries, radio waves were discovered. The radio spectrum of the electromagnetic
LW MW SW