Panasonic RF-2200 Classic Shortwave Radio Evening AM Chicago Area

[@todderbert]

(paid link below) As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase. There are no additional costs to you. ▶ The Panasonic RF-2200 at eBay: bit.ly/PanasonicRF2200

[@DriveInFreak]

The RF-2200 is one of the only radios (the others being the GE Superaradios, only with slightly more noise) that can pull in 870 WWL, New Orleans in central Florida (30+ miles from the coast) in the daytime. 50KW, or not; that is truly amazing. I have had far too many radios over the years to count, and have found that *nothing* outperforms that Panasonic. The really funny thing? I've never bothered with "tuning it up". The I.F. cans, coil, and antenna trim cap have never been touched. There is a chance that it has drifted as it's decades old, but it works so well that I dare not mess with anything despite the fact that I have the gear, know how to do so, and have done it countless times before. I got lucky enough that she will tune up to 1700, so no loss there. Keep up the good work.

[@ominkan3129]

I like how you make sure your radio is perfectly aligned in the camera frame. Precision.

[@todderbert]

Until I start turning it :)

[@ominkan3129]

@@todderbert Hahaha, correct, but you bring it right into alignment again. Have you seen the (Geeknest V5A), Airband, AM, FM SW, SSB radio kit. No soldering, just assembly. It is good quality and a lot of fun to build (45 minutes) and DX with. Take care and always wish you good reception.

[@NTPTM]

Hej Todderbert, thanks for the AM bandscan and the Panasonic RF-2220 you have is a very cool radio take care Todderbert.

[@ronaldzuccala-pv8tu]

Hello mr. T. I got mine brand new in a box the very best on mw. No doubt about it. Thanks RON Z. WA3090SWL.

[@steveweinberg462]

Although quite different, this makes me nostalgic for the Panasonic RF-1700 my dad had for decades. Alas, he tossed it when the dial string broke.

[@todderbert]

The prices are fair atm. Not bloated like everything else we need to buy.

[@stevenmoyers3586]

thank you

[@davec5511]

just bought the prunus 405 i have the prunus 400 like it a lot so i got the 405 on sale for $12 a price i could not refuse lol

[@terrybeavan4264]

Neat to hear the call letters for WHAS-840 as well as WLW Cincinatti and a few others I'd heard back when I was a kid living in Louisville, KY! Dad was always listening to WHAS whenever driving in the car and at night when following the basketball games. Sounding better than I can get it down here in Jacksonville, FL for sure--and if I'm lucky I can get WLW Cincinnati, used to be impossible to hear it down here because another station to the south was on the same frequency but now that one's gone.

[@DriveInFreak]

Speaking of WHAS: I still miss Joe Donovan.

[@RS-jr7jd]

Unfortunate you couldn’t find a way to use that wonderful rotating bcb antenna on top of this fantastic radio.

[@todderbert]

Yes, My filming setup is not ideal for it, but eventually I will film in a Vertical format just for that occasion.

[@KwameAnnan-ql3rr]

I like to buy this radio

[@livewireblanco]

I need to work on mine. It crackles badly on all bands and even when I'm not touching anything. I've cleaned the switches but I'm going to try the pots next. 🤞🏽

[@todderbert]

Use the DeOxit Fader formula on the pots, works miracles.

[@stevenolson1161]

Hi, I was motivated by your radio reviews, purchasing Panasonic RF-2200 and RF-2900, as well as a Sanyo RP-8880. Was impressed that you picked up Cuba in your Chicago basement. I am in Glenview, Il. and now looking for a tech to service my 3 transistors. Can you recommend a reliable, local tech? thanks!

[@todderbert]

I don't know of any, but a local HAM club may be able to help you. Since many HAMs are repair wizards :)

[@stevenolson1161]

@@todderbert thanks!

[@terrybeavan4264]

Great radio in its own time and still great now, and on the SW bands when calibrated correctly with the crystal signal markers the band spread dial is very accurate. I own two of these, one in mint condition and another that's fairly beat up and now only works on FM--would like to find someone that could bring it back to life. One thing I think should be pointed out, be very careful with the AM loop antenna especially when pulling it up and folding it down and above all, absolutely do NOT use the AM loop antenna as a handle as it wasn't built to be used as one and it will break! Fortunately I'm speaking from other people's experience not my own, both of mine are OK!

[@todderbert]

That notorious band select switch usually brings back SW/MW when cleaned. I had a new old stock in box that I regret returning now that I know it only needed a switch cleaning...ugh.

[@terrybeavan4264]

@@todderbert Thanks I'll try that with some deoxit! The older one had been beat up a bit when I bought it from a friend, and I remember even then it was acting oddly, the two uppermost SW bands were tuning roughly the same range, and when I tried listening to it some years later all that worked was FM. Looking forward to seeing what you can get on FM too, just remember to turn off the AFC with that off they have great selectivity! From down here in FL where the terrain is pretty flat I can pull in stations from surprisingly far away at the right time of day, usually morning, I've listened to stations far away as the gulf coast, GA of course and even South Carolina!

[@todderbert]

@@terrybeavan4264 FM is a treat with this radio. I use the L setting on my DeOxit Can, and use the nozzle, and try to find an opening to the switch case to apply it. I think your radio will wake right up. I'm running on original caps, which is something to say. I have a kit to rebuild it, so one day...

[@ominkan3129]

I find it interesting, there's a Chinese brand radio named Pensonic. 😅 Nothing like playing off the Panasonic name.

[@todderbert]

There have been many ripoffs of the Panasonic name over the years.