{"id":49039,"date":"2021-05-26T07:57:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T11:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=49039"},"modified":"2021-05-26T07:57:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T11:57:00","slug":"caveat-emptor-a-quick-note-about-buying-vintage-solid-state-radios","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/05\/caveat-emptor-a-quick-note-about-buying-vintage-solid-state-radios\/","title":{"rendered":"Caveat Emptor: A quick note about buying vintage solid state radios"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Even rare NIB (New In Box) finds can have age issues internally<\/p><\/div>\n

After posting links to a few used radios<\/a> online yesterday, SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Jim Teddford, commented:<\/p>\n

The thing to remember when buying solid state mulitiband radios online is that you\u2019re buying \u201ca pig in a poke.\u201d Meaning you are buying a radio at your own risk. Radios from the 70s\/80s\/90s-(Panasonic Command Series and the Sony classics: ICF-6800, ICF-2021, etc.) are now to the point where components like capacitors, displays, knob\/switches etc.are failing due to age. Unless you can repair or restore the radio, don\u2019t buy it. Just admire the photo online.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jim has a valid point here and it’s one I echo a lot when readers contact me asking if they should, for example, be looking for a used Sony ICF-2010 instead of a new radio like the Tecsun H-501x.<\/p>\n

Although I bet 1970s-1990s era solid-state radios have much better longevity than our newer DSP receivers, at this point you must assume components will need to be replaced.<\/p>\n

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

I’ve purchased two Panasonic RF-2200s in the past decade and both needed to have capacitors replaced, an internal cleaning, and DeOxit applied to the switches and pots. I assumed this much when I made the purchases. Mechanically, the radio worked well, but…what…four decades(!?!) of age will take a toll on the internals.<\/p>\n

I’m not an expert on re-capping and restoring vintage radios, for that I rely on folks like Vlado<\/a> and Chuck<\/a>. Mentally, I set aside a budget to have work done on the radio and I add that to the purchase price.<\/p>\n

Most of the time, components like capacitors, resistors, inductors, etc. can be replaced with no issues.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind, though, that some items particular to any one model–like digital displays and integrated circuits–may already be obsolete. I’ll be the first to admit that if a digital display doesn’t work on a used solid state radio, I skip it for this very reason.<\/p>\n

So when a newcomer to the radio world asks me they should purchase a used Sony ICF-2010 or a modern portable that’s still in production, my tendency is to dissuade them from the vintage set unless<\/em> they have the skill or funds to give it a little TLC if needed.<\/p>\n

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

With those disclaimers out of the way, I must say that I’ve yet to meet a modern DSP radio that has the audio fidelity of a 1970\/80s era solid state radio like the GE Superadio or Panasonic RF-2200. And the Sony ICF-2010 or the Panasonic RF-B65? Both are still benchmark receivers and can wipe the floor with many of our late model radios.<\/p>\n

In a nutshell: if you’re willing to put a little time and money into re-capping, repairing and restoring a reputable solid state radio, go for it! Otherwise, stick with a late model receiver that may even be backed by a manufacturer’s warranty.<\/p>\n

Me? I’m willing to take the risk and invest to give these vintage portables a new lease on life!<\/p>\n

SWLing Post<\/em> readers:<\/strong> What do you think? Have you ever purchased a solid state radio that failed shortly after purchase? Have you ever restored a solid state radio? Did I miss any important points? Please comment!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After posting links to a few used radios online yesterday, SWLing Post contributor, Jim Teddford, commented: The thing to remember when buying solid state mulitiband radios online is that you\u2019re buying \u201ca pig in a poke.\u201d Meaning you are buying a radio at your own risk. Radios from the 70s\/80s\/90s-(Panasonic Command Series and the Sony […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"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":[3,3196,43,4796],"tags":[8766,4547,681,7523],"class_list":["post-49039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-portable-radio","category-shortwave-radio","category-vintage-radio","tag-ham-radio-repair","tag-radio-repair","tag-vintage-radio","tag-vintage-radio-repair"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-cKX","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":55601,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/wlodek-repairs-a-near-mint-sony-icf-sw7600\/","url_meta":{"origin":49039,"position":0},"title":"Wlodek repairs a near mint Sony ICF-SW7600","author":"Thomas","date":"February 6, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Wlodek, who has been quite busy repairing vintage receivers and ham radio gear during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 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Wlod just shared the\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\/2023\/02\/icfsw7600cs.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/icfsw7600cs.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/icfsw7600cs.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52340,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/mark-seeks-a-vintage-radio-repair-technician-in-the-dc-metro-area\/","url_meta":{"origin":49039,"position":1},"title":"Mark seeks a vintage radio repair technician in the DC metro area","author":"Thomas","date":"April 2, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Irish, who writes: Good afternoon Mr. Witherspoon, Just wanted to follow up on a contact for fixing several shortwave radios from the primarily the 70s and 80s, preferably someone located in the DC Metropolitan area, Virginia or North Carolina. 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