Tag Archives: Dan Robinson

Purchase an original Sony ICF-SW7600 that traveled with a VOA correspondent in the 1990s

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who notes that one of his friends is selling a radio with a little history:

[For] anyone interested in an older SONY portable with a bit of history attached (he was VOA East Europe and Jerusalem correspondent).

Thanks for the tip Dan.  Now, please, someone purchase this before I do! The BuyItNow price is $59.95 plus a few dollars for shipping. [Either it’s a glitch on eBay or the BuyItNow price might have been removed as I published this–sorry.] I’ve never owned the original SW7600 (though I have a couple SW7600GRs).

Click here to view on eBay.

eBay Find: Cubic Defense Applications Model 4400DF

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares a link to this Cubic Defense Applications Model 4400DF communications receiver on eBay.

I’ve been following this listing the past few days–the seller actually launched the item with a very low starting bid.

eBay unearths so many products that I would have never known existed. This military receiver is certainly a case in point.

As the seller states, I imagine the original price tag for this receiver was hefty–likely thousands of dollars. The front panel lacks many of the controls we’d like to see on an HF radio (bandwidth, RF gain, notch, etc.), however, I imagine there are a number of functions on the backlit screen and possibly accessible via an external monitor and/or keyboard.

I’m curious: are there any SWLing Post readers out there who can comment about the performance of this receiver? Have you ever put one on the air? Please comment!

Click here to view the Cubic Defense Applications model 4400DF on eBay.

Dan spots an Icom IC-R71A in Narcos

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who writes:

I like to note appearances by shortwave receivers in TV programs…here’s the latest…at the 14 minute mark of the new season of NARCOS (one of the best TV series there is by the way) a ICOM IC-R71A makes an appearance. At the point in the show, a key character is listening to reel-to-reel tapes, so it’s not quite clear why they stuck in a 71A tuning to a shortwave frequency….ah, the drama! Another show, The Americans, features numerous shots of various receivers, including Zenith Transoceanics and Hallicrafters…

Great catch, Dan–thank you for sharing! I’ll add this find to our growing archive of radios in film.

Dan’s QSL signed by Miki Gurdus

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Regarding our recent post about Miki Gurdus, SWLing Post contributor Dan Robinson, writes:

Went through my books and found it, the Gurdus handwritten note to me. It appears to have been during a visit he made to Washington, likely in the period I was in college 1975-1979 but could have been later during the 80’s or 90’s.

It reads: “To Dan — In Memory of a joyful day in Washington. Michael Gurdus.”

Amazing! Thank you for sharing your memories, Dan.

Sony ICF-6800W: Dan notes a possible record sales price on eBay

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 Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who writes:

A couple of years ago I did a talk a the annual SWL Fest on the best radios of all time (in my opinion anyway). The SONY ICF-6800W was among them, for reasons I think are valid — high sensitivity and beautiful audio, the major ones. Now, one has sold for what could be a record price on eBay — more than $1300. This shows how much folks are willing to pay for 6800Ws that still have the original box….

Wow–to many the ICF-6800W is a “Holy Grail” receiver. Amazing that it has held its value so well. If memory serves, it’s not the easiest radio to work on, but is certainly serviceable.

Thanks for the info, Dan!

Dan spots a mint Panasonic RF-B65 on eBay

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares the following:

This does not appear to have the AC adaptor — not all kits included that, but they are findable on Ebay] OK, folks here’s your chance — a Panasonic RF-B65, one of the best portables of all time in terms of overall sensitivity and audio (in this size category) in what appears to be Like New condition. Price is about right for one of these complete with box, manuals, etc I usually jump on these but I already have two in this condition….

Click here to view on eBay.

The RF-B65 is certainly a highly regarded portable and Dan knows I’m on the hunt for one. Frankly, I’ll probably wait until next year to search for a deal. This model is not the cheapest, but looks incredibly clean and is being sold by a seasoned seller with 100% positive feedback. If you’ve been considering an RF-65B, this is a good one.  Thanks for the tip, Dan!

U Twente antenna damaged

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares the following item from BCL News and Richard Langley:

Antenna of Twente SDR receiver damaged // Bclnews
http://www.bclnews.it/2017/10/06/antenna-of-twente-sdr-receiver-damaged/

The antenna was damaged yesterday during a storm. As posted on the WebSDR website:

“The antenna currently is not working properly. After a preliminary repair of rain/storm damage on October 5, it seems reception has faded away again during the night. We’ll try to fix this soon, weather and spare-time manpower permitting.”

(Richard Langley via dxld yg)