Checking out two new Chinesium Transistor Radios

[@carlpistocco1926]

Miss your radio repair videos , I learned so much from you

[@acidfroggy1194]

Happy New Year Radiotvphononut! Thanks for all the videos you make. I enjoy them all. BTW, your camera is fine. Don't worry about it.

[@BradOlsonBemidji]

acidfroggy is right that your camera is just fine.

[@daniel_kale]

Nice, two radiotvphononut videos in 48 hours!

[@stevewalters6003]

There are good DSP pocket radios such as the Sangean SR-35 but they cost closer to $30. You can DX with it too. The secret is to tune slowly and allow the DSP chip to capture the signal. The highest quality radios I have found today come from Sangean and C. Crane.

[@jeffking4176]

Definitely agree with C.Crane and Sangean. Tecsun still has its R-218 and Kaito still has its KA-230 , Both pocket radios are very good, and non-DSP , old school ANALOG. The Tecsun has excellent reception, and Kaito is quite good as well. 📻🙂

[@markusallport1276]

I would like to extend a Happy new Year to you and your family RPN. I have enjoyed your videos over the years and I still enjoy any content you provide. Thank you for the years of fun banter and equal distaste for people who muck up the radios we love, but get to them first. Enjoy 2024 and lets not forget where we come from :)

[@KenKen-ui4ny]

I agree. Not always you going to find what i need shopping locally. So in cases like that, we turn to online shopping. In fact, that probably one of the reason why catalog existed back then as well.

[@hestheMaster]

The AM/FM radio model SC-1105 is based on a Sony model ICF-S10MK2. I have owned several of those Sony models while working throughout the years as a pocket radio and they just get worn out either the speaker goes or the ON/OFF switch fails. I remove the FM antenna on it as I only use it for AM but they last several years in my pocket and its a good signal puller for a cheap radio.

[@jp040759]

Harbor Freight has great batteries for the price. They sell 18 packs of AA or AAA for $7.49 regular price. The blue Thunderbolt Edge alkaline models. I watch for sales and they reduce them to $5.49 for the 18 pack. I just got some during Christmas sale for $5.49. I ran a capacity test with electronic loads on these and they are as good or better than Duracells capacity without the leakiness. Surprisingly they are made in china. It has been a couple years but I will retest the capacity some day soon.

[@jasejj]

I know what you mean about expensive batteries... I was looking for one about six months ago, the local supermarket was charging less for a smoke alarm with 9v battery included than their cheapest 9v battery. Crazy.

[@robinsattahip2376]

Those radios on a chip never work as well as the old ones with IF stages, cans, and a capacitor tuner. The only way to get one is to build one from a kit. Shango did a video in which he assembled several kit radios that work well. HAPPY NEW YEAR though I wish I could go back to the 60s. $4 for a battery is Bidenomics.

[@kevtris]

it is amazing how few parts they can cram an AM/FM radio into these days, where the entire thing's all in a single little SOIC chip now. apparently that chip is preprogrammed before assembly as to the bands it covers and steps for the FM tuning and all that. So if the dial is inaccurate it probably means it was programmed incorrectly. (I was reading up on the datasheet for one of them) In the early 2000's single chip FM only radios with the channel up/down buttons was really common. Those still had a tuned circuit, however and were similar to a traditional radio. These more modern ones are a new wrinkle with almost the entire processing inside the chip now without any tuned circuits external.

[@HDXFH]

I’m all for shopping locally unless they have a rediculous markup

[@stanleycade1673]

Your camera is working very well,,,,I like your videos and your accent,, ,,,,,South Georgia accent,🙂

[@rasoirwolf]

All the old radios, Walkmen, and Stereo Systems we had with an "88...108" dial in the 90s-00s always had MUCH better dial accuracy than anything made today, also they still work - something else these probably won't be able to do for nearly as long. It's as if they don't even care and just put the pointer in around 97-102 for "100" on the DSP and say "eh....looks good enough (but in Mandarin)"

[@lanini24]

Your camera is good enough for me, I’m hard headed also, I’m 59 and seem to get more hard headed as the years go by, anyway enjoy your channel.

[@robertgaines-tulsa]

I have no idea who in the FCC thought that switch mode power supplies were fine. I figure there was some money passed under the table. I imagine they could give switch mode power supplies shielding and filtering to make it play nice with AM and SW radios, but I guess the FCC just decided we could throw away those bands. I bought a Chinesium, rechargeable emergency radio online. It gets the job done for what I need it for. Just something for tornadoes, ice storms, and maybe a nuclear holocaust if I'm not immediately blasted into oblivion. I've got a bad feeling I'm going to see WW3 and nuclear weapons used in anger within my lifetime. Some years back, I bought a new, old stock, and still in its original packaging GPX battery radio from the 80s like my father had. I was thinking it was probably going to be DOA with bad caps or something, but it works fine. This is an old TV sound radio which no one wants. I mean, who would want a radio with a dead band? Uh, yeah, me! The AM and FM still work on it, so what's the problem? So, they're cheap because no one wants one if you want one. They still make radios with shortwave on them which I would call dead. Shortwave is like having one foot in the grave with the other on a banana peel, except it's already slipped and falling into the grave. AM is like the same, but it's in the process of slipping. The FCC is considering getting rid of AM. The problem is that AM would be the only source of information for rural areas in a national emergency.

[@andygozzo72]

yep, those 9v transistor radio type batteries, even the small PP3 size ones, are getting ridiculous prices here in the UK , the larger ones dont seem to be made any more, except maybe PP9 and theyre very hard to find in shops and ones you do find likely well past the 'install by' date

[@klafong1]

These DSP radios are definitely about maximizing manufacturability, as the lack of alignments allows for relatively unskilled workers to quickly assemble them. I have been wondering whether the dial miscalibration is due to incorrect meshing of the teeth in the gear assembly. What is ingenious about the DSP chips (at least some of the early ones that Silicon Labs and others manufactured) is the way that they handled the AM loop antenna. The receiver IC was designed to work with loop antennas with a wide range of inductances. The AM input had a bank of switchable capacitors, and the IC would resonate the antenna on-the-fly each time that a different station was tuned. Unfortunately, the FM input is broadband, so that potentially means overload problems and sub-optimal impedance matching. These chips are made to allow non-RF engineers (possibly even just circuit board CAD technicians) to build radios.

[@roberthansen2008]

I bought the QFX boombox and it has all that stuff on it. It's got AM/FM those shortwave bands it has the Bluetooth and it has a cassette recorder that actually records fairly decent. It has a thing where you can plug a SD card in it or a flash drive. But it's in mono not stereo but you know what for $45 you can't go wrong with it. It takes four d size batteries.

[@u.p.tinkering]

I been buying the cheap batteries at Harbor freight. You get a nice large pack for cheap, even 9 volts. They are fine for anything that does not have an electric motor in it. Perfect for battery powered radios,remotes, etc.

[@robinsattahip2376]

The cheap batteries don't immediately leak as badly as Duraleaks. Walmart has some decent off-brand batteries in bundles.

[@tonymanzo3766]

@@robinsattahip2376if you’ve been buying the Duracell batteries from Costco, I’ve noticed they aren’t lasting as long, I have a couple of battery operated clocks that needed replacement after 2+ years of continuous use, I find if I get 6 months from these crappy batteries I’m lucky, I can go through a 40 pack in no time. Plus I’ve had to throw out a couple of tv remotes because these batteries puked all over the circuit board of the remote making it no longer useable.

[@Madness832]

The QFX radio looks almost exactly like the Sony ICF-36 (WX/TV/FM/AM).

[@willieyarger5327]

I have two of the QFX R-3 . Mfd June 2015 on my radios !! They have the regular tuners in them. Performance not too shabby !!! Dial scale indicators are off and selectivity about the same as yours !! Pretty good Dxer however !! Enjoy your Videos and keep on using that camera my friend !!!

[@JohnSurf5]

This is very interesting. I have almost that exact radio that I bought several years back as an emergency radio and the square on the top of your radio that looks like a blank panel in the top. Mine has a solar panel in that area and it had a rechargeable battery built into it, I was never able to get it to recharge the battery using the solar panel.

[@keenkutter2]

My dad always said: “Donations are accepted and appreciated!” Whenever someone suggests something new and expensive over something he likes to use.

[@arthureverett8220]

Bring back the repairable radios !!!!

[@darrelfrank8252]

Good to see you back up and running I have learned a lot from your videos thank you . by the way You are correct about the Sony it has AM FM TV One TV 2 end a weather frequency

[@3Cr15w311]

At the end before you explained about the camera - I've watched you for years on the old camera and my first thought was when people say you could easily get a "better" camera, people have to figure that the camera is only one part of the equation for you. If a newer better camera produces files that are a lot larger or a format that is harder to work with on your computer, it takes more work and longer for you to process and upload videos, so it can be a trade-off that might not be worth it. I consider the camera part of the charm of your channel and your older videos from years ago would have been the same with an HD camera.

[@gretalaube91]

I have found the DSP radios generally suffer from aliases, images, and lack of dynamic range. Take an SDR dongle and you will see the same. LC tuned tanks are needed in the front end! Hiss: quantizing noise. I have a couple of these radios. They work ok, if you expect the birdies and other warts.

[@dogcowrph]

Where’s Radio Shack when you need them? Walmart seemingly has everything for generally fair prices.

[@comput3rman77]

You could also state "if you don't like the camera, then you could go buy a new one and send it in" 😉 I also do have one of those new Sony pocket radios (the black model). It only runs on 2 AA batteries, so I suspect a lot of modern chips in it.

[@Nuddles10]

Hello, I stumbled upon your channel trying to see if there were any channels that can show to how to fix or at least replace a cartridge for a audiotronic 312T. I’m new to all of this and wanted to fix it up for my dad (he had one for class as a kid). I was hoping if you have any tips or tutorials on how to replace it with a newer cartridge or where I could get a replacement cartridge for it.

[@KameraShy]

Stubborn? We Norwegians, sons and daughters of Norway in the USA, set the bar for stubborn and pig-headed. And are proud of it.

[@billmyke746]

I hope the current camera, 'the old camera' , lasts for a long time. The cam is just fine.

[@roberthansen2008]

And it even has the microphone on it so you can record yourself on the cassettes or the flash drive or the SD card.

[@jeffking4176]

A couple years ago I made an investment in rechargeable batteries - all sizes. Expensive, but worth it. As for the Sony, that one was discontinued many years ago. Walmart also sells a nifty cheap little EMERSON pocket radio. I have that pocket SuperSonic. I do believe they are still being made, as there are several different brand names, and even a version with Weather Band. It’s actually not too bad on reception. Dial accuracy is not always the greatest, 🤣, but they do get the stations. [* some have more accurately lined dials than others.]. For emergencies, or just a cheap grab-and-go radio, it’s not too bad. I believe almost every radio [ except a couple of Tecsun radios, and a Kaito pocket radio], are all DSP-based now. Most DSP radios do pretty good on FM, but pretty bad on AM [ MW] and SW. Interesting video. 📻🙂

[@darrelfrank8252]

You are correct about the Sony it does have AM FM and it does have TV low and TV High Andy weather frequency frequency

[@Boozion]

I got one of those cheap SuperSonic dsp radios. It works ok. I also have the Sony ICF-S10MK2. Also a Sony ICF-38 am fm radio. The Sony's kick butt for dx'ing. Hopefully you will find the Sony one at a decent price for sure. Thanks for sharing. Always loved watching your dx'ing videos on vintage radios. As always take care. 😊

[@R.KennethRoot]

Harbor Freight has good battery proces and they are great quality.

[@KameraShy]

I have had good luck so far with the Amazon Basics and Horrible Fright Tools Thunderbolt batteries. Best prices, good life. Walgreens got way expensive and leak like Duracell.

[@alexkanavos6470]

Since they are DSP radios, would it make a difference in performance if they had digital displays? What do you think?

[@RetrofIex]

Were you ever impressed with Mitsubishi CRTs in terms of quality and reliability?

[@andrewagner2035]

Greetings from Cape Town. These modern DSP radios really suck. Nothing beats the old capacitor tuned , with the 10.7 Mhz or 455 Khz IF analogue.

[@kennynvake4hve584]

Two 9 volt lithium batteries at home depot is $34.00 now....17$ EACH.... I cant believe it....

[@BricksVids]

If you want to keep the old camera and wait to get a new one that's fine it's your choice, it's not me or anyone else's business to tell you what camera to use so I won't say anything and I'll shut up about it, I'll still watch your videos regardless as bad quality is okay. Great video and overview of the radios though.

[@VectraQS]

That QFX is a blatant clone of the Sony ICF-36.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

I am just starting to watch this. New radios don't use variable capacitors for tuning anymore, right? How do the new ones work? I have a new portable, and I'm sure it doesn't have the variable capacitor. I tried taking it apart, but it wouldn't come apart. And I didn't want to force it and break it. Taking the screws out does nothing, except make the antenna come out. Powerbear radio.

[@BakedRBeans]

I bought a 9V battery for $1.25 at Dollar Tree. Seems to be ok.

[@joshhoman]

Four or five dollars for a 9-volt battery is highway robbery. Even if they were still USA made, which they aren't, that would still be a bit high.

[@johnnytacokleinschmidt515]

3:26 it was a squirrel

[@wfukfm]

WWV is 5,10,15 at 10 KW and 2.5 and 20 at 2500W - im surprised you got the 20 MC one on that radio . Most junkers can pick up the higher power time on 5 MC

[@Calcraft11]

these people complaining about your camera why don't they donate you a camera. For all the videos you have done for all the years I'm sure someone should donate a camera to you for FREE

[@tech45]

You go radiotvphononut:)

[@arthureverett8220]

There are no IF transformers in these new radios only surface mount ICs

[@bigalsmallengines]

CHEERS!!! 🍻 -Al

[@jcurnutte2007]

I have the Sony in the black case

[@randyab9go188]

I got a freebie AM FM emergency radio as a freebie from Radioddity. The generator in a light part works okay but the radio isn't worth picking up off the side of the road. FM barely works and AM doesnt work at all. It's one of those everything on a single chip radios with a DSP. Don't like where we're going. The new pocket radios coming out are junk. Unless you're in a car many people do not listen to terrestrial radio anymore. The youngsters stream everything. I catch myself streaming more than listening to the radio myself too. If there's not a lot of people listening, chip maker is going to put engineering dollars into making a decent set. Notice I didn't say manufacturer is there all buying off the shelf solutions.

[@KenKen-ui4ny]

I use streaming for listening to FM stations that are too far away in range to pick up. Or for AM stations that are hard to tune in during the day time hours on most radios. I am usually able to tune in more AM stations, on cold winter nights, with a normal radio.

[@tntreviews3602]

the dolar tree has them for 1.25

[@donbest5024]

I just did a video a day or so ago on that crap super sonic radio,turner dial is a plastic red strip wrapped around turner knob and antenna nut broke off just after using a few times.

[@jeffreyhickman3871]

Those are my most favorite kind of radios 📻, even with them being among the Chinesium brand. Sony is still a decent performer, even though some of their products have taken on more of a flush down the toilet 🚽. I’ve got one ☝️ of those Sony table radios 📻. It’s good 😊 enough for me. Have a very Happy 😊 and safe New Year!! Your friend, Jeff!!

[@ku4uv]

Get rechargeable batteries if you're that cheap.

[@tech45]

Sounds like pixelated audio:(

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

Fucking... Dry erase markers being $5 for a 4 pack...

[@steveedwards4868]

someone who watches my vids on my ch. told me that i have to learn how to do vidios i know how lol

[@MrBillmcminn]

That camera your shooting your videos with is probably 10 to 15 years old, whereas will one of those Chineseum cameras you can get for next to nothing that yes will give you better video and sound today last 10 to 15 years? Doubt it!

[@rogertyler3237]

I Don't Think Theres A Thing Wrong With The Camera You'r Using. Some People Think They Have All The Answers To Everything. I've Bumped Into People Like That & I Just Ignore Them & Go With What I'm Talking About. If They Don't Like It Too Bad. I'm Talking About &

[@REXXSEVEN]

Type Like You Got Some Damn Sense.

[@2buelar]

As per your comments about you being bullheaded about your camera, it sounds like to make your case stronger, you are willing to make your entire channel and subscribers suffer. I don’t have a problem with the equipment you use, but you might want to check your attitude.

[@HDXFH]

Off brand batteries love to leak

[@mjtgangellove5441]

Brian Bidenomics Bidenomics brother

[@andrewprettyquick2070]

imagine inexpensive devices when there are many diversity hires.

[@arthureverett8220]

Those Chinese radios are not worth diddly squat They dont have tuning capacitors only digital tuning They are horirible DXers and unrepairabke due to miniture surface mount components They are throw aways once they break down The dial is also mismatched

[@jjlmnop5226]

unsubbing if you change camera. j/k but i do like

[@BradOlsonBemidji]

These 2 radios definitely stink.