The SONY WATCHMAN - Every 80s Kid's Dream!

[@chrisbullard5901]

My dad bought the FD-500 a year after the ‘89 Loma Prieta Earthquake (we lived through it, and the local news talked a lot about the tailgaters at Candlestick Park who became very popular with police and news reporters when they could watch the live helicopter coverage across town while the communication systems went down). Our big thing was taking it to SCA medieval campouts and watching Star Trek TNG around the campfire. I just bought the same model off eBay a few months ago, and found a small digital converter and USB stick adaptable multimedia player that runs on 12VDC. After a little soldering, I now have a power adapter rig to run digital signals or watch movies on USB with it. Naturally, I’m splicing in old 90s retro commercials from KZbin into Star Trek episodes via video editing software.

[@The_Conspiracy_Analyst]

Whenever I see one of these I immediately think of the head-up display in the AH-64 Apache. I worked at a place called Lexel Imaging which was the remnant of Hughes Electronics. They made the aforementioned HUD. It was a tiny CRT, and flipped the image 90 deg with a piece of glass which was the view piece. Very similar to the viewfinders in camcorders, which were also CRTS. I think I still have one of those around here someplace.

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

It's funny how random things like this can spark memories for people. Tiny CRT monitors used to be everywhere, and I'd bet few of us thought of the AH-64. Thanks for sharing, that's a neat connection.

[@mark-1901]

I still have mine...wish I could watch it now in 2022 just for fun.

[@idkrossplay]

You can, there's schematics so you can connect composite input to it

[@idkrossplay]

Or you can just to av to RF and it will work too

[@mark-1901]

@@idkrossplay thanks. I can build a million dollar house for someone by my self. But I have trouble charging a cell phone. Just not tech savvy.

[@oussamagharbi5419]

@@mark-1901 build me one bro

[@chros23]

I was an 80's kid and it was indeed my biggest dream back then. Todays phones and Ipads make this all possible in a much better quality but it's not half the fun I would have had with a watchman in the 80's!!

[@re8et355]

The Gamegear tv was also a pretty awesome tv set to have, but in EU there was a major shortage of those, and we could not use NTSC imports...

[@willowstream]

I still have mine. I was a minimalist before it was popular and this Sony was my entertainment center. I wish it still received a television signal, but that's long gone. The radio is pretty good, but there aren't any stations I like anymore. I can't seem to let it go though. It's emblematic of a period in my life that I really enjoyed.

[@akira808state4]

So cool. Sony used to make quality electronics back then. I never had a Watchman, but it’s cool to see those here.

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Something I always wanted and it took me 30 years to end up with one.

[@re8et355]

I had the WD40. I used to watch tv on long boat trips in the Mediterranean sea back in the 80s and 90s. Analog UHF signal did travel all over from Italy and France to Africa. All small islands were covered this way. Just recently (2022 spring) RAI national Italian TV band radio broadcast, shut down the last surviving Leviathan antenna transceiver near Rome. That antenna alone would cover half of the Mediterranean sea. On the Islands at the time there was no AC. So a battery TV like the watchman serie it was not just a kiddo dream... there were dinner parties all nights when the Mexican and Italia 90 world cup were played, 10 to 40 people sit around my WD40 every night. In the 90s my parents bought the color watchman. Today digital signal do not reach the islands, so people must use Internet. Very shortsighted. Even today many small Eolie archipelago islands still do not have AC.... nevermind digital TV repeater or cellphones...

[@IamTHEONLYgus532]

I had one in my room when I was in junior high school, which was probably not the best idea because I was supposed to be doing homework. However, it was pretty cool being able watch Monday Night Football and maybe have something to talk about at school the next day.

[@fun-Darius]

I was born in 1987. Not even known about those. But in our country there was portable tv called "silelis". My dream was to have tv in my bedroom. And when I was teenager I boutgth used tv with screen size like 15 - 17 inch which I used mostly for playing with SEGA (this was outdated console at a time but playstation sounded too expensive still and I had lot of fun time with sega )

[@scooterboi8761]

I had the first model you showed, but I was 35 when I bought it. It ate batteries! Kind of miss it.

[@geomathmech]

Started looking for one recently, bit of a hard thing to track down for a reasonable price. Shooting for an fdl-330s or even a 310 so I can hook up some older game consoles to it.

[@Landrew0]

I was in the "wanted one" category because my parents couldn't dream of spending good money on one.

[@briantaylor9285]

People forgot how insanely innovative and ahead of its time this was.

[@michaelhuynh9545]

Me and my friend went to philphines recently we pick up analog still

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Didn't know analog was still broadcast there. That's awesome!

[@michaelhuynh9545]

Yes till 2023

[@thecolorenhancmentchannel432]

Would you be able to take this on an airplane back in the day? I remember always having to leave my watchman at home because my parents didn’t want me to lose it. Lol.

[@jestertech3790]

I've always thought about using one of these as a backup monitor for a classic car.

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

I think that's a great idea!

[@3amapplecam]

Super informative video! Awesome to see

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Glad you liked it!

[@Jennieoffical]

great footage and beautiful morning

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Many thanks!

[@pauljames5914]

Just got a 5 inch sony portable with the screen you can rotate 90 degrees so the tv can stand upright or sit on its side. I also have a 2" color watchman with radio.

[@user-zx8de8op9l]

I had a 13" color tv in the 80's in my room, we had 5 tv's total. 3 were black and white. I had a 5" portable tv I got of. a friend.

[@Ali444.96]

Absolutely stunning!

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Thank you so much!

[@stacyswanson4626]

In 1981 i watched Princesses Diana Princesses Charles wedding on some sort of a TV in a campground in Canada. For some reason I thought it was a watchmsn.. maybe it just one of the small kitchen b&w tv. But I did have a bigger screen watchman with radio on it too. Had a long ass antenna on itt.

[@philiprgarrett]

Hi there. This is a great video. Thanks for posting it. I have a Sony Mega Watchman from 1993, the model FD-525. I’d like to be able to connect it to external analog, standard definition sources. I see in the manual that there is the external antenna you pointed out in your video. The manual indicates that it requires an.EAC-50 to F connector/coaxial cable. I’m having trouble finding that cable online. Do you have any suggestions for locating one? Some sources seem to be out of stock. Obviously because it’s old technology. Thanks for any help!

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

I used my Mega Watchman in this video about connecting external sources: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmPaZIyJab6FjNE and used this adapter: 3.5mm to F Type Female, 1/8-inch TS Male to F-pin Female Adapter Coaxial Converter Nickel-Pated Bidirection Connector a.co/d/7dFGEYL Should be the same on yours.

[@satriowirang3284]

My mega watchman can not have signal sir.. how to repair it

[@Canby_Blyat]

Hi, thanks for the video. I'm trying to find the latest Sony Watchman that ever released. Couldn't find much info on it. Do you know which one was it? And also which ones are your favorite?

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

I believe the last one was probably the FDL-22. It was introduced in the late 1990s. My favorite ones are any of the early ones which used the tiny CRT fired into a mirror. I just find those fascinating.

[@richardbrobeck2384]

I have 3 of these in my collection two 2inch sets and one 4inch set !

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Awesome!

[@civcivman31]

waiting on next one📍

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Thank you!

[@fatkorn]

Jus bought one from goodwill $5, gonna use it to make a time machine or mount it on a roomba or sumtin

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Sweet!

[@Skylar_sky]

What happiness❤ can bring you the old gadgets, its no compare even modern technology better quality.

[@chriswideman4284]

A friend of mine got me the mega walkman on his trip to Florida. I told him "Thank you but the TV no longer works because of the digital signal. Analog don't exist anymore," I never owned a portable tv until the year I graduated high school in 2004. I had a Casio LCD color television EV 570 until analog went out then I had to get a a Digital prism portable tv when the signal went digital. You can take this gadget anywhere you go. I wish I had a handheld portable tv back when I was going to the after school daycare. I would probably be watching Oprah or talk shows back then.

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

You'd have been the coolest kid at the after school program!

[@chriswideman1218]

@@VintageElectronicsChannel yep I would be a special kid with a TV. Imagine if I had a portable tv I took to school (shh don't tell anyone) and when I finished with my work and there's nothing to do, I would pull out my TV but keep it in my bag, put a set of earbuds on and maybe watch some Price is Right or Days Of Our Lives AT SCHOOL! And if severe weather arises I'll be the first one in class to know about the weather conditions. But now, digital is such crappy and choppy unlike analog was still watchable and snowy.

[@JensSchraeder]

I remember Casio might have made a portable tv like that. Not sure. But its cool that im watching videos on my smartphone in 1080p now.

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

I think you're right. I seem to remember some Casio models.

[@abdullakc]

Its coool for back in the days before smart phones

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Totally agree! If you were a kid with a Watchman, you were something!

[@DefinedCmajor]

Thats just so intesting. A phone-like gadget that is like a mobilr TV, is mind-blowing

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Imagine that! We've come full circle.

[@DefinedCmajor]

​@@VintageElectronicsChannel where did you buy the mega watchman

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

I purchased it on eBay a few years ago.

[@DefinedCmajor]

@@VintageElectronicsChannel awsome thanks for the info 🎩🎩🎩🎩🔥🔥🔥🔥🎺🎺🎺🎺

[@illkid86]

I bought a pocketvision Portable analog tv I had this same TV back in the 90s but it don't work anymore but I have it anyway because of memories

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Keep it and treasure the memories. They're a part of history.

[@Sammydx1]

Early 90s. My Grandfather bought me a Sony mega watchman. I would watch Hunter and Night Court, Barney Miller. Great memories of a simpler time in my life. I was born in 1980 so I want to say this was 90 or 91

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Memories!

[@johnoofsatchurch]

My watchman (i think it’s original model? Says manufactured 1983) has a little port on it saying video in. What can I do with that port?

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

It's likely an RF input (antenna). You can hook an RF modulator to it and watch whatever you'd like on it.

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Here's a video I did on the subject: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmPaZIyJab6FjNE

[@pharaohosam]

I dreamed of having one of these as a kid, when I couldn't be home to watch Redskins games. RIP to the Watchman and RIP to the Redskins.

[@bghoody5665]

Just be sure to turn it off when you're not watching it or you'll run down the batteries, then where are you gonna be at 3 o'clock when Wopner's on?

[@lockemoff-road]

I just purchased one. How can we convert the signal to use it again?

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

If your Watchman has an external antenna input, you can use an RF converter to feed it a composite video source.

[@ryacus]

​@@VintageElectronicsChannel Then you use that to hook up a DTA to watch antenna signals again?

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Yes, you can use a digital tuner box to receive off-air signals.

[@illkid86]

I bought 2 portable digital tvs and I have a boombox that has a 7 inch tv built inside it

[@jichusanti2411]

Dream your dream !!

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

For sure

[@Nintendorocks0508]

Just ordered one off of eBay. My father had one and gave it to me as a little kid. My mother accidentally threw it away.

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Awesome! Glad you found one. I'm sure it'll bring back some great memories.

[@RickyIcecubes]

My grandpa was a long haul trucker and he thought his Watchman was the greatest thing on earth

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

I bet he did. Probably made overnight stops a lot more bearable!

[@RickyIcecubes]

@@VintageElectronicsChannel Yeah, it sure did. Truckers these days have big flat screen TVs, video game consoles, laptops, mobile wifi routers etc; pretty much every entertainment option that you have at home you can squeeze into a semi truck. But for the majority of his career it was just books and the radio. The Watchman finally gave him TV.

[@BenStarner]

I’ve never heard of these until today and I grew up in the 80’s….what in the actual hell? Mandela?

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

I knew they existed in the 80s, but only saw them in the stores and in ads. I really wanted one. My parents, bless them, got me a cheap knockoff one. I still loved it even though it hardly ever picked up anything.

[@VietboyGamerUSA]

Sony is ahead of it time.

[@ademargartner7196]

Era meu sonho de consumo.ficou no sonho.era muito caro.

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Yes, they were very expensive. Thats why I never had one when I was younger.

[@esvetdemir]

Qué hermosa😍👌

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Thank you!

[@Vesteltvtutam]

Video💙Wow ❤️

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Thanks

[@nrmruq]

️love ❤️

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Thanks!

[@southlandacademy]

So your saying I cannot make it work today if wanted to ?? The sony watchman ?? I 😥😥😥😥😥😥😥 cause I just got 1 and it works it's in nice condition but I don't know how to make it work

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

You can absolutely make them work if you can provide an analog signal to them. Since OTA television has transitioned to digital, there aren't any compatible signals off-the-air, so you have to create your own.

[@southlandacademy]

@@VintageElectronicsChannel I don't know how to do any of that stuff. I got it cause it look so cool and antique. Not that I'm trying to make money or anything I'm not even a collector I just thought wow that look soo cool and old school

[@kevmichael2064]

I had one...in 1980s ... now it will not work... today...we have phones that U can watch everything and everywhere in the world 🌎 as well as Space ...by 2030...we will be watching Mars!!!

[@casselholt3054]

It still a rool

[@gtkuserver869]

♥️love ur

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Thanks!

[@grayhudsonn]

sony dumb af for not having AV in on the mega WM

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

If you think back to the time, not very many TVs had A/V inputs. Probably just a product of its time.

[@debojitdhar502]

Sony doesn't like Girl 😂😂

[@jtturner3367]

Most boring content creator.

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Aww thanks. It's great that kind folks like you are always around to encourage people who are doing their best to create content on their own dime and their own time. It's truly because of people like you that i continue.

[@Anonim_football]

great footage and beautiful morning

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Many thanks!

[@fikrettup3796]

waiting on next one📍

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Awesome!

[@Reşit123]

Qué hermosa😍👌

[@VintageElectronicsChannel]

Thank you