{"id":14220,"date":"2015-08-05T08:01:06","date_gmt":"2015-08-05T12:01:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=14220"},"modified":"2015-08-05T08:06:42","modified_gmt":"2015-08-05T12:06:42","slug":"tuning-in-to-am-broadcast-history-and-the-venerable-rf-2200","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/08\/tuning-in-to-am-broadcast-history-and-the-venerable-rf-2200\/","title":{"rendered":"Tuning in to AM broadcast history and the venerable RF-2200"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Panasonic-RF-2200-2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Eric (WD8RIF), for sharing a link to this excellent article in the Illinois Times by\u00a0James Krohe Jr.<\/a> Here’s an excerpt:<\/p>\n

Tuning in:\u00a0Making a small world bigger and the big one smaller<\/strong><\/p>\n

So much of happiness, I\u2019ve realized, depends on getting tuned in. When he was a young married, my father used to tune in the console radio in the living room of the Krohe family mansion on Manor Avenue to the live broadcasts of big-band music \u201cfrom the beautiful Blue Room in the Roosevelt Hotel\u201d in downtown New Orleans. He was able to be in two places at once thanks to WWL-AM, whose 50,000-watt clear channel signal was beamed north. For all I know, while he tapped his toe on the sofa in Springfield, Inuit couples were jitterbugging on the tundra.<\/p>\n

For Springfield teens in the 1950s and \u201960s, getting a chance to listen to what kids in bigger cities had already decided they liked was important. WCVS-AM was just crawling out of its cocoon, having crawled into it as a country station and emerging as a rock station \u2013 although in the late \u201950s there wasn\u2019t that much difference. \u201cRock \u2019n\u2019 roll\u201d was, in stations like WVCS that catered to mostly white markets, rockabilly and pop-ish country ballads. (Geezers will recall when Brenda Lee was, briefly and laughably, marketed as a rock artist.)<\/p>\n

For Top 40 music, as for so many other things, if you wanted to get the really good stuff you had to go to the big city. Around here that meant WLS-AM, WCFL-AM out of Chicago (whose Ron Britain made Soupy Sales look, or rather sound, like Noel Coward), and KXOK-AM out of St. Louis. George Lucas\u2019s American Graffiti brilliantly captured the ways that car radios, transistors, radio stations blaring over PAs in drive-ins, permeated the bubble in which teenagers then lived.<\/p>\n

Later I learned I could hear WBZ out of Boston if I acted as the antenna on my transistor. (\u201cTurn on, tune in, drop out\u201d to me meant losing the signal when I lighted a smoke.) WBZ was one of the first stations with the newest 45s from Britain, which allowed us yokels to hear The Yardbirds while the records were still on their way to Midwest stations by stagecoach from Boston harbor.<\/p>\n

Continue reading…<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Krohe<\/a>\u00a0also mentions the virtues of the Panasonic RF-2200 which is, in my opinion<\/a>, one of the best AM broadcast portable receivers ever.<\/p>\n

Click here to read the full article at the Illinois Times website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Side note:<\/strong> The Panasonic RF-2200 still has a loyal following among mediumwave DXers of the world. The RF-2200 can be found on sites like eBay (click here to search),<\/a> but make sure you’re purchasing from a reputable seller and not over-paying<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Eric (WD8RIF), for sharing a link to this excellent article in the Illinois Times by\u00a0James Krohe Jr. Here’s an excerpt: Tuning in:\u00a0Making a small world bigger and the big one smaller So much of happiness, I\u2019ve realized, depends on getting tuned in. When he was a young married, my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,56,433,3,288],"tags":[4097,4047,4099,2642,2639,2643],"class_list":["post-14220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-broadcasters","category-mediumwave","category-news","category-radio-history","tag-am","tag-james-krohe-jr","tag-mediumwave","tag-panasonic","tag-panasonic-rf-2200","tag-rf-2200"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-3Hm","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":35841,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/quality-morning-time-with-the-panasonic-rf-2200\/","url_meta":{"origin":14220,"position":0},"title":"Mornings with the Panasonic RF-2200","author":"Thomas Witherspoon","date":"March 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"It's been a busy winter season here at SWLing Post HQ. Many of you might have noticed a slow response time if you've tried to contact me. I'm in the midst of a rather involved investment property renovation that's consumed nearly all of my spare time. Still, I'm keeping up\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Panasonic-RF-2200-Dial.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Panasonic-RF-2200-Dial.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Panasonic-RF-2200-Dial.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20904,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/ebay-find-mint-panasonic-rf-2200\/","url_meta":{"origin":14220,"position":1},"title":"eBay find: Mint Panasonic RF-2200","author":"Thomas","date":"August 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, \u00a0Jeff McMahon, who writes: There might be a bidding war on this \u201cpossibly never used\u201d with box Panasonic RF-2200. Click here to view on eBay. Last night, when Jeff sent this link, the price was still under $300--it's now over $400. \u00a0I suspect this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Mediumwave"","block_context":{"text":"Mediumwave","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/mediumwave\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"RF-2200-eBay","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/RF-2200-eBay-e1472436704734.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/RF-2200-eBay-e1472436704734.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/RF-2200-eBay-e1472436704734.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/RF-2200-eBay-e1472436704734.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23937,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/video-juan-touts-panasonic-rf-2200-performance-filter-shapes\/","url_meta":{"origin":14220,"position":2},"title":"Video: Juan touts Panasonic RF-2200 performance & filter shapes","author":"Thomas","date":"February 4, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Juan Pablo Carlino, who writes: Hi. I own one RF-2200 after buying it in eBay in March 2008. Since then it became my favourite portable radio and as everybody [has commented], its a pleasure to hear MW with it. I explain this due to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/RF-2200-Tuning.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/RF-2200-Tuning.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/RF-2200-Tuning.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13481,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/06\/the-panasonic-rf-2200-an-early-birthday-gift\/","url_meta":{"origin":14220,"position":3},"title":"The Panasonic RF-2200: an early birthday gift","author":"Thomas","date":"June 6, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"This week, I purchased a radio that I have lusted after for years: the Panasonic RF-2200. I justified this eBay purchase because June is my birthday month and...well...do I need anymore justification!?! \u00a0Just look at this beautiful analog dial: In truth, I've been wanting a benchmark portable medium wave receiver\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Mediumwave"","block_context":{"text":"Mediumwave","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/mediumwave\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Panasonic-RF-2200-1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Panasonic-RF-2200-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Panasonic-RF-2200-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Panasonic-RF-2200-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Panasonic-RF-2200-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41892,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/a-look-back-memories-of-the-panasonic-rf-2200-and-its-sibling-the-national-panasonic-dr22\/","url_meta":{"origin":14220,"position":4},"title":"A Look Back: Memories of the Panasonic RF-2200 and its sibling, the National Panasonic DR22","author":"Thomas","date":"February 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN), for the following guest post: A Look Back: Memories of the Panasonic RF-2200 and its Sibling, the National Panasonic DR22 by Mario Filippi, N2HUN All photos by author unless otherwise noted One of the preeminent AM\/FM\/SW portables of all time is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Mario-RF-2200.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Mario-RF-2200.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Mario-RF-2200.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Mario-RF-2200.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":60510,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/09\/1976-japanese-tv-commercial-for-the-national-cougar-2200\/","url_meta":{"origin":14220,"position":5},"title":"1976 Japanese TV commercial for the National Cougar 2200","author":"13dka","date":"September 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"1976 Japanese TV commercial for the National Cougar 2200 (aka Panasonic RF-2200 aka National Panasonic DR-22) by 13dka https:\/\/youtu.be\/FvqQ-FXbPbM?t=60 (The commercial starts at the 1:00 mark. It's part of longer video with Japanese commercials from that year, there is a whole collection on YouTube if you like those!) Doing some\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Mediumwave"","block_context":{"text":"Mediumwave","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/mediumwave\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/FvqQ-FXbPbM\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14220\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}