{"id":30422,"date":"2018-01-24T12:08:08","date_gmt":"2018-01-24T16:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=30422"},"modified":"2018-01-24T12:08:08","modified_gmt":"2018-01-24T16:08:08","slug":"doctor-vlado-repairs-the-panasonic-rf-2200-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/doctor-vlado-repairs-the-panasonic-rf-2200-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Vlado repairs the Panasonic RF-2200 (Part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Panasonic<\/a><\/p>\n

Last year, at Hamvention<\/a>, I picked up a Panasonic RF-2200<\/strong> for $70. It came with the original box, manual and was in superb cosmetic condition.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The seller told me that over the years he exclusively used the radio to listen to a local FM station.<\/p>\n

At that price, I didn’t hesitate to make the purchase even if this would have simply been a non-functioning parts radio for my other RF-2200<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

After I brought the radio home, I unpacked it and gave it a quick test.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

FM worked brilliantly. Mediumwave and shortwave, however, were essentially deaf. I made the assumption that the ‘2200’s switches and pots likely needed cleaning with DeoxIT. The next day, I was leaving for a two month trip to Canada though, so I packed the RF-2200 back into its box and set it to the side of my shack table.<\/p>\n

Fast-forward to yesterday…<\/p>\n

While digging around my shack, I re-discovered the boxed RF-2200. Since I was planning to visit my buddy Vlado (the best radio repair guy in the world<\/a><\/strong>) yesterday evening, I thought I’d take the RF-2200 and do a proper contact cleaning. Several of the RF-2200’s switches and pots cannot be easily cleaned without removing the chassis.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Click photos to enlarge.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Vlado is familiar with the RF-2200 and since it’s not the easiest radio to work on, I asked for his expert hands on the job. Within seconds of handing him the radio, he plugged it in, tested the switches and pots, then removed the back cover (disconnecting the battery compartment leads) and then the front cover (disconnecting the speaker leads).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>The magic behind the RF-2200’s classic analog dial:\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>
\n\"\"<\/a>Vlado offered a word of caution to anyone operating on their RF-2200: as you can see in the photo below, the dial string snakes around the front of the radio and is very close to some key components. You must exercise caution when having a soldering iron tip near the string, or using lubricants nearby.\"\"<\/a>I didn’t realize this, but by the time Vlado started taking apart the RF-2200, he had already determined that even though the contacts needed cleaning, this wasn’t the source of the audio problem for the MW and SW bands.\"\"<\/a>Vlado expertly pulled out the pot for the FM\/AM\/SW selection–not an easy task–began cleaning it, testing it and re-soldering contacts.\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Vlado determined the pot was actually in good shape, thus started testing the rest of the circuit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>After a few minutes of performing tests and getting intermittent performance, he determined that at least one, if not more, of the RF-2200’s caps need to be replaced. Of course, neither one of us was terribly surprised. At this point though, it was getting late and I had an early wake up time in the morning, so I left my RF-2200 with Vlado.<\/p>\n

Am I worried about this prognosis?\u00a0 No, not in the slightest…<\/p>\n

Doctor Vlado is on the job!<\/h2>\n

Vlado will have the RF-2200 back on the air in no time, working as well as it did when it was new. He’s actually performed a similar RF-2200 repair for an SWLing Post<\/em> reader and I’m willing to bet this repair job is relatively simple compared to most he encounters (including the Icom IC-7200 he recently repaired after it was hit by lightening!).<\/p>\n

I’ll try to post a “Part 2” update with photos of the RF-2200 repair.\u00a0 Follow the tag: Panasonic RF-2200 Repair<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last year, at Hamvention, I picked up a Panasonic RF-2200 for $70. It came with the original box, manual and was in superb cosmetic condition. The seller told me that over the years he exclusively used the radio to listen to a local FM station. At that price, I didn’t hesitate to make the purchase […]<\/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":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,627,3,139,26,43,4796],"tags":[4072,2642,2639,6783,6781,4547,6782,2643,681,4073],"class_list":["post-30422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-how-to","category-news","category-radio-modifications","category-radios","category-shortwave-radio","category-vintage-radio","tag-n3cz","tag-panasonic","tag-panasonic-rf-2200","tag-panasonic-rf-2200-internal-photos","tag-panasonic-rf-2200-repair","tag-radio-repair","tag-repair-photos","tag-rf-2200","tag-vintage-radio","tag-vlado"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-7UG","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":23937,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/video-juan-touts-panasonic-rf-2200-performance-filter-shapes\/","url_meta":{"origin":30422,"position":0},"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":35841,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/quality-morning-time-with-the-panasonic-rf-2200\/","url_meta":{"origin":30422,"position":1},"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":13481,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/06\/the-panasonic-rf-2200-an-early-birthday-gift\/","url_meta":{"origin":30422,"position":2},"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":24921,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/panasonic-rf-2200-on-shopgoodwill\/","url_meta":{"origin":30422,"position":3},"title":"Panasonic RF-2200 on ShopGoodwill","author":"Thomas","date":"March 30, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN) who shares a link to this National Panasonic RF-2200 on ShopGoodwill. The bid is currently $78 and ends this evening. You must be registered with ShopGoodwill and have a PayPal account to place a bid. Note that I've had some very\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Panasonic-RF200-Shop-Goodwill.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Panasonic-RF200-Shop-Goodwill.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Panasonic-RF200-Shop-Goodwill.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47142,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/mario-spots-a-national-panasonic-cougar-2200-rf-2200-on-ebay\/","url_meta":{"origin":30422,"position":4},"title":"Mario spots a National Panasonic Cougar 2200 (RF-2200) on eBay","author":"Thomas","date":"January 2, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi, who notes a National Panasonic Cougar RF-2200 that's currently available on eBay. The Cougar is an Asian version of the venerable Panasonic RF-2200. This model appears to have an original box in great shape. The price is steep, though at roughly US\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Cougar-RF-2200-e1609625211202.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Cougar-RF-2200-e1609625211202.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Cougar-RF-2200-e1609625211202.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Cougar-RF-2200-e1609625211202.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36370,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/guest-post-repairing-the-national-panasonic-dr22-the-panasonic-rf-2200s-euro-sibling\/","url_meta":{"origin":30422,"position":5},"title":"Guest Post: Repairing the National Panasonic DR22, the Panasonic RF-2200\u2019s Euro-Sibling","author":"Thomas","date":"March 6, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN), who shares the following guest post: National Panasonic DR22, the Panasonic RF-2200\u2019s Euro-Sibling By Mario Filippi, N2HUN (All photos courtesy of author) Thomas, your recent and thoroughly excellent post on the Panasonic RF-2200 was the inspiration for this short review of\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\/03\/National-Panasonic-DR-22-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/National-Panasonic-DR-22-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/National-Panasonic-DR-22-7.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/National-Panasonic-DR-22-7.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30422","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=30422"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30422\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}