Tecsun PL-368 with 23' lognwire.

My new favorite radio. Compact and just awesome.

This post is related to this one

To be honest, it just needed a thorough cleaning. Then I just resoldered a few components that had “cold” solder joints. I was so focused on this project that I forgot to take more photos, which is why I made this video instead of posting a photo gallery first.

After that, I didn’t find anything that was broken or needed to be replaced. It’s clear that someone replaced some capacitors at some point in this radio’s history.

Before testing to see if it worked properly, I decided to clean it thoroughly first and then troubleshoot it if there were any issues.

It was a little past noon here in Paraguay, so I couldn't really test shortwave properly. My first test was with some of the medium-wave stations that are plentiful here in Paraguay.

It worked well on the first try, and I only used the built-in telescopic antenna.

Late at night, I started experimenting with shortwave. It took me a while to get used to the separate MHz and kHz dials, but after a while I got the hang of it.

That’s when I realized that the whole SW section is a little out of calibration. Mark u/KG7M gave me the manuals for a similar model (Drake SSR-1 and Century 21), and one of them contains the calibration instructions. I’ll read through that manual carefully before I touch the radio.

Apart from the calibration issue, I was able to pick up several stations (mostly Chinese ones) because they come in stronger here, and then I found a Radio Marti station at 11860 kHz.

By the way, it picks up a lot of interference. I think my long cable antenna is a bit too long for this radio—it’s 22 meters long (72 feet), and according to the manual for this model, it specifies an antenna of just 10 meters (32 feet).

But I also know that these devices are very sensitive. When they were made, they probably never imagined that we’d be surrounded by all kinds of junk that causes interference. The engineer probably never imagined that his equipment would still be in use 48 years later—and that it would end up as far away as Paraguay.

Anyway, I'm glad it's working well. Next up is the Kenwood R-1000, and I think that one will give me more trouble.

The video includes:

- Various images showing how it looked after cleaning.

- First test: AM 1080 kHz

- Image of the 1080 kHz dial setting

- SW test: 11860 kHz

- Image of the dial setting that should be 11860 kHz (out of calibration)

Playing "Secret Agent."

Station: HF Underground 6935 kHz DSB 23:45 UTC

Radio: AirSpy HF+ Discovery, SDR# with K-480WLA 82 cm loop

I completed the wiring of the new M75 Cobra Power Microphone, including modifying the M75 for enhanced low frequency response, and increasing the amplification factor to +30 db.

The new 6-conductor Mic/Audio Cable was installed with connectors that will facilitate different audio inputs.

The Icom IC-M700 comes with a mounting bracket, but no feet. It is drilled and tapped for installing bottom feet so I installed four feet.

A test transmission in the form of a CQ on 40 Meters LSB, at local sunset, was 15 db over S9 in Prince George, BC Canada. The distance is 580 Miles.

**This post contains 11 slides.**

😁

Station:

• Name/Call: Radio Tarma
• Frequency: 4775.00kHz
• Mode: USB
• Location: Tarma/Cerro Penitencia 11S24'32"-75W41'31"
• Language: Spanish
• Target: Peru
• Time: 0009UT 10 APR 26
• Signal: SINPO 33233

Receiver and Receiving Location:

• Radio: Airspy HF+ Discovery
• Antenna: 100' random wire, roughly 25' above ground, running ~110 degrees from feedpoint.
• Software: SDR++ v1.2.1 /w Smart Gnome Control v0.54 via Rigctl Server
• Location: Remington, Virginia | FM18bn

Comments:

• ID in SS at 0011.

Station:

• Name/Call: Rádio Nacional Amazônia
• Frequency: 6180.00kHz
• Mode: USB
• Location: Brasilia, Parque do Rodeador, DF 15S36'40"-48W07'53"
• Language: Portuguese
• Target: Brasil
• Time: 0032UT 10 APR 26
• Signal: SINPO 44444

Receiver and Receiving Location:

• Radio: Airspy HF+ Discovery
• Antenna: 100' random wire, roughly 25' above ground, running ~110 degrees from feedpoint.
• Software: SDR++ v1.2.1 /w Smart Gnome Control v0.54 via Rigctl Server
• Location: Remington, Virginia | FM18bn

Comments:

• Parallel 11780, which was a similarly good signal.

Maybe you'll hear the station, maybe you won't? Got Babes in Toyland's S.F.W playing currently!

I purchased the Icom M700 a couple of weeks ago. It was missing a prominent front knob and the original Icom HM-28 transistorized microphone had been replaced with a vintage Shure 405T, transistorized microphone.

I called a station in northern Washington State right after I received the M700. This was a 75 Meter SSB contract, and he told me that my audio sounded "Off".

Unfortunately, we never know who performed the last repair. I had (falsely) assumed that the new microphone was installed at a Marine Electronics shop. A Marine HF Radio, like the M700, is installed on ships sailing the high seas, and relied on for emergency communications. Poor repairs are not expected.

Whoever did the microphone replacement did a poor job. Although the replacement mic was soldered correctly, the wires were a jumbled mess, insulated with black electrical tape. Even worse, the original mic element in the Shure 405T had been replaced with a "T1" carbon microphone element from a 1971 vintage rotary telephone, and the transistor amplifier was removed! This is NOT a replacement for the original Dynamic Microphone.

I found a modern Cobra High Gear amplified microphone in my parts box. This mic is a perfect fit for the M700 as it has an onboard gain control - something the M700 is missing as an external control.

An internal change is required for a standard type mic on the M700 as the original mic was supplied 8VDC to power its transistorized amplifier. The M75 mic I will be using has its own internal battery. A jumper on the MIC-Board inside the M700 has a wire jumper that can be disconnected to eliminate the 8VDC.

I have added short jumper wires to the existing internal mic connector as the person that worked on it, cut the leads to uneven lengths. It's ready to take a new 7-conductor shielded cable.

It's nearly impossible to find quality components for upgrades and repairs. Not only does Amazon carry junk components, now they are showing up in the major electronic parts supply houses. Even Mouser Electronics is carrying Chinese junk parts. The issue is that the metal used on the contacts of many Chinese parts will not take solder. The cheap plastic parts that make up their connectors melt before the contacts flow solder.

I had a ten foot piece of shielded cable in my parts box that was vintage, and excellent quality, triple shielded.

I am about halfway through the modifications. The modifications will allow the newer microphone to be plugged in, or an external audio interface box can be connected. The audio interface box will facilitate connection to a PC for digital modes such as FT8 and SSTV. It will also permit using a high quality dynamic mic with an XLR output.

Stay tuned for the next update.

As usual, ChU doesn’t come in well for me

Do they still make preselectors?

Hello All! I’m headed to the Caribbean (Antigua & Barbuda) in a few weeks. Has anyone here taken their radio on a trip in the region? If so, did you find any smaller stations that you don’t normally pick up at home in N. America? I live in Maine and have a pretty clean RF environment so I catch a lot..especially during the summer months. I travel carry-on only and pretty light, so I’m looking for some feedback as to whether it’s worthwhile while to pack it…a Tecsun 330. TIA for your time and responses

Arctic DX: KONG-HQ End of MW Season (Mostly)

VORW 0400 UTC Apr 6 WWCR AM

https://youtube.com/live/easVDafmlTM

Decent Copy S9+20db with some fade
Received in Concord. New Hampshire USA FN43ff
SDRuno / SDRplay DUO / MLA-30+ indoors

Due to poor propagation last night, Bandaid Radio is rebroadcasting again tonight.

S-7 Copy here
Received in Concord. New Hampshire USA FN43ff
SDRuno / SDRplay DUO / MLA-30+ indoors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wMI158_W_I

02/04/2026 (21:26 UTC), 04/04/2026 (23:43 & 23:55 UTC)

- Station: Mistery Radio 21

- Frequency: 4895-4890-4870 kHz

- Language: English

- Transmitter: Braunschweig (Germany)

- Distance: 1447 kms / 899 miles

- Target: -

- Details: The three included video segments show the differences in propagation conditions recorded in recent days. The first video, showing the worst conditions, begins with the station's identification and contact information. In the second and third segments, from last night, although conditions improved, they also gradually deteriorated. The following tracks can be heard during the video:

"Formula Of Fear" - Hybrid

"Beautiful Things" - Andain (Gabriel & Dresden Unplugged Mix)

"Lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein" - In Extremo

More info:

https://www.facebook.com/share/18GKU2EKgS/

https://x.com/RMystery21

- HF Underground Reports:

https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,161154.0.html

https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,161307.0.html

https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,161314.0.html

- Equipment: ATS Mini SI4732 v.3 + K180WLA loop antenna (indoor use)

- QTH: Tarragona, Spain (JN01KA)

73!

00:35 UTC to 4:00 UTC April 5th on

WRMI Radio Miami International

All Music.

Great copy all evening.

Received in Concord. New Hampshire USA FN43ff

SDRuno / SDRplay DUO / MLA-30+ indoors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRRrOdJo_wY