{"id":47307,"date":"2021-01-15T14:39:23","date_gmt":"2021-01-15T18:39:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=47307"},"modified":"2021-01-15T18:25:48","modified_gmt":"2021-01-15T22:25:48","slug":"radio-life-after-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/radio-life-after-death\/","title":{"rendered":"Radio life after death"},"content":{"rendered":"

A guest post by Troy Riedel:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

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

This is a sad story.\u00a0 Well, it\u2019s sad for me.\u00a0 But hopefully my sad story will yield \u201cradio life\u201d for somebody else and that life will bring them joy.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been an SWL\u2019er since the early-90s<\/a>.\u00a0 Due to the decline of international broadcasters, \u201ccollecting\u201d has become just as \u2013 if not more \u2013 important to me than listening.\u00a0 I\u2019ve always been fond of the Sony ICF-SW100 pocket radio.\u00a0 I often read here on this blog about Thomas\u2019 affection for it.\u00a0 To make my dream a reality, on 19 November 2017 I found the perfect SW100 (with the leather case) and I purchased it.\u00a0 It did not disappoint!\u00a0 That radio has to be the most sensitive radio<\/em> for its size out there.\u00a0 No, correction – that little baby has held its own against any other portable shortwave radio (of any size<\/em>) that I own (I have 17 or 18, incl. this SW100).\u00a0 That\u2019s quite amazing for a true pocket radio.<\/p>\n

But please allow me go back to the beginning of my story.\u00a0 Once I acquired the ICF-SW100, I assembled a \u201ckit\u201d \u2026 piece-by-piece (remember, I\u2019m a collector).<\/p>\n

I surmised that the SW100 would fit into the Sony ICF-SW1 case \u2013 and I was correct (sans the SW100\u2019s leather case).\u00a0 The SW1 case was one of my first purchases for my SW100 as I wanted something rugged to protect it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Sony AN-1 antenna works great with the SW100, and that was part of my kit.\u00a0 Of course, I also wanted the OEM Sony Compact Reel Antenna.\u00a0 \u201cCheck\u201d – found one on eBay!\u00a0 The OEM AC adapter? Yes, \u201ccheck\u201d that one off the list.\u00a0 A photocopy of the OEM manual would not do \u2013 I found an original on eBay and \u201ccheck\u201d, that was added to the kit.<\/p>\n

I already owned a Sony AN-LP1 (active) antenna.\u00a0 That would not fit into the case, so I added a TG34 active antenna that I already owned (that\u2019s a Degen 31MS clone).\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 I gotta have a ready passive antenna in my kit.<\/p>\n

Wait, who wants a 30+ year old OEM set of earbuds?\u00a0 Exactly, neither do I.\u00a0 This is the only thing I did not want to be OEM!\u00a0 I bought a new pair of Sony earbuds (off Amazon) to throw into the kit.\u00a0 Other than the TG34, everything in the kit had to be Sony.\u00a0 In the end, this handy little case was my Eutopia \u2013 it had everything I needed in its own \u201cshortwave bugout kit\u201d.<\/p>\n

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

Of all of the radios in my shortwave arsenal, this was by far my favorite.\u00a0 Hobbies should bring us joy.\u00a0 So even if there weren\u2019t many broadcasters to listen to, this little pocket radio never failed to bring me joy.<\/p>\n

The last time I really used this radio was June-August 2020.\u00a0 My newborn grandson was in the NICU far from my son\u2019s home.\u00a0 I \u201cdeployed\u201d (with my SW100 bugout kit & 5th wheel camper) to my son\u2019s very rural & very remote farm (275-miles from my home).\u00a0 I was there to tend the farm, solo, for that period of time while my son and his family could be with my grandson at a specialty hospital some 350-miles away.\u00a0 During this stressful & physically demanding time \u2013 tending to more farm animals than I care to mention and rustling bulls that escaped from the pasture \u2013 my SW100 was the only friend that I had.\u00a0 It provided many, many hours of enjoyment.\u00a0 Literally, other than a neighbor about \u00be of a mile up the road my ICF-SW100 and I were alone (not including the 50+ animals I tended to) from June through August.<\/p>\n

Fast-forward to the present: last weekend I reached for my kit and I removed the my SW100.\u00a0 I turned it on and there was no power.\u00a0 Not surprising but actually very unusual as my NiMH Eneloop batteries typically last for a year or more inside my radios in \u201cstorage\u201d. \u00a0I reached for the battery compartment, I felt an anomaly on the backside of the case and imagine my horror seeing this as I turned it over!<\/p>\n

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

Surprisingly, there is zero damage to the Eneloop batteries (they did not leak).\u00a0 I can no longer power the radio via ANY batteries, but amazingly the radio seems to operate at full capacity via AC Adapter.\u00a0 Whatever happened inside the radio, it still seems to operate (though admittedly I haven’t taken it through all of its usual paces).<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, a pocket radio that only operates via AC power does not suit me.\u00a0 There is a better option: my loss may be someone else\u2019s gain?\u00a0 I am sending the radio and the necessary components to Thomas\u2019s friend Vlado for a full autopsy (Vlado emailed that he has worked on these radios for years and has \u201cnever\u201d seen this issue before).\u00a0 After the autopsy, my radio will become an organ donor.\u00a0 The remaining healthy components of this radio – and there are many – will be used for repairing other SW100s (singular or plural).<\/p>\n

Strangely, I cannot detect any other \u201ctrauma\u201d to the radio other than that one melted corner.\u00a0 The battery compartment *seems* undamaged though I refuse to open the case as I do not want to accidentally damage the radio\u2019s healthy components (I\u2019ll let the professional \u201ccoroner\u201d do that).\u00a0 I am looking forward to the coroner\u2019s report because I need to know what the heck happened to my baby?!<\/p>\n

In closing, though we\u2019ve only had a 3-year plus relationship I can honestly say this amazing little pocket radio had become a great friend.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure it\u2019s grief, but I am considering liquidating the remainder of my radio & antenna collection – my heart just isn’t “in” to SWL at the moment.\u00a0 And the timing of this is just awful for me: I\u2019m having surgery Tuesday for an injury I incurred eight months ago while tending my son\u2019s farm.\u00a0 I had big plans that my SW100 and I would pass the time while I convalesce.\u00a0 But alas, my buddy will be headed to radio heaven as an organ donor.\u00a0 May others benefit from my loss.<\/p>\n

Guest Post by Troy Riedel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A guest post by Troy Riedel: This is a sad story.\u00a0 Well, it\u2019s sad for me.\u00a0 But hopefully my sad story will yield \u201cradio life\u201d for somebody else and that life will bring them joy. I\u2019ve been an SWL\u2019er since the early-90s.\u00a0 Due to the decline of international broadcasters, \u201ccollecting\u201d has become just as \u2013 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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":[3194,344,3196,26,43,5,4796],"tags":[4581],"class_list":["post-47307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guest-posts","category-kits","category-portable-radio","category-radios","category-shortwave-radio","category-swlers","category-vintage-radio","tag-troy-riedel"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-cj1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":35799,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/sony-icf-sw100-whip-vs-de31ms-active-vs-sony-an-lp1\/","url_meta":{"origin":47307,"position":0},"title":"Sony ICF-SW100: Whip vs. DE31MS active vs. Sony AN-LP1","author":"Troy Riedel","date":"January 30, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/y3TnREIC1NY Click here to view on YouTube. Guest Post by: Troy Riedel It's been a while since I posted a video on my YouTube Channel (but I've gotten the urge to make several more videos as I've been recently comparing my equipment - 16 portable receivers & many antennas). I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/y3TnREIC1NY\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":29225,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/troy-spots-a-rare-philips-ae3905-on-ebay\/","url_meta":{"origin":47307,"position":1},"title":"Troy spots a rare Philips AE3905 on eBay","author":"Thomas","date":"November 19, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who writes: The radio is the PHILIPS AE3905 - and made in ... wait ... Austria! There is one on eBay right now. The first listing started at $275 - there were no takers - so now the second listing is set\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\/11\/Philips-AE3905-Package.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Philips-AE3905-Package.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Philips-AE3905-Package.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Philips-AE3905-Package.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47714,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/02\/autopsy-report-sony-icf-sw100s\/","url_meta":{"origin":47307,"position":2},"title":"Autopsy Report: Sony ICF-SW100s","author":"Troy Riedel","date":"February 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"WARNING: due to the graphic nature of these photos, those radio enthusiasts who love the Sony ICF-SW100 may want to look away. Parental Discretion is advised. Guest Post by Troy Riedel Some of you may remember my recent lamenting regarding the unexpected loss of my beloved Sony ICF-SW100 posted on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/SonyICFSW100c-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":29615,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/c-cranes-latest-deal-free-shipping-on-the-cc-pocket-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":47307,"position":3},"title":"C. Crane’s latest deal: Free Shipping on the CC Pocket Radio","author":"Troy Riedel","date":"December 12, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Though not a shortwave radio (the SWLing Post loves ALL radios!), C. Crane's latest special involves free Priority Mail shipping to U.S. customers for their CC Pocket Radio.\u00a0 Just use the Promo Code: CCPKTSHIP.\u00a0 This special ends at midnight PST on 17 December.\u00a0 The CC Pocket Radio comes standard with\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\/12\/CCPocket-300x273.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":37397,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/05\/people-are-no-longer-dependent-on-radio-really\/","url_meta":{"origin":47307,"position":4},"title":"People Are No Longer Dependent On Radio (really?!)","author":"Troy Riedel","date":"May 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Credit: St. Louis Public Radio via RadioINK.com As the regular readers know, this site is not purely and entirely shortwave radio-centric \u2026 we enjoy all radio. I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve mentioned this web site before, but I recently ran across this article on RadioINK: People are no longer dependent on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/The-Gateway.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":36928,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/big-sunspost-produces-ocean-surf-sounds-on-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":47307,"position":5},"title":"Big Sunspot Produces \u201cOcean Surf\u201d Sounds on Shortwave","author":"Troy Riedel","date":"April 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Though sunspots have been rare this year, Sunspot AR2738 has been producing bursts which have been heard as radio static \u2013 that sounds like \u201cocean surf\u201d \u2013 on shortwave. This was posted early this morning at spaceweather.com \u2013 along with a recording: If you have a shortwave radio, you might\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47307","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\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47307"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47307\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}