Very Cool Tecsun 2P3 Retro Radio Kit Build DIY

[@lawnmowerrecycler]

Great instructional video Larry on a nice little kit. I was pleased to see that you did not trash the kit as you built it like so many so called transistor radio guys do. Good job!

[@davidcocklin2109]

At last someone explaned the ferrite rod and the A, B, C test and solder after. I would never have done without this info. Thank you.

[@dfawkes55]

Very good article. I remember building a radio kit like this from Radio Shack in 1972 in Chicago. I powered it up and it worked. I was blown away with the sound I got from WLS 890 (pop. music format) I wouldn't mind doing it again and teaching someone at the same time. Thanks again.

[@RadioHamGuy]

+Douglas Fawkes Thank you very much Douglas, that is very cool, yes, I remember all those AM stations in the midwest back then, WLS Chicago, WHB Kansas City, WDGY Minneapolis and KDWB both in hot competition, and KOMA of course and many others!! Those stations were great with the live DJ's and hot promos and contests.

[@livewireblanco]

I also assembled one of these kits this past summer. Excellent reception when you get it aligned just right. I highly recommend this to anyone who knows how to solder and read directions.

[@Steven-re7xt]

True true. I'm experienced with most. And working my way up. Actually had one "gasp" when I powered up. Most likely caps were filling up. Tks fer good show

[@zcdi350]

i just finished assembling and succeeded in one shot with help of your video, thanks a lot! i’m a Chinese btw

[@R8500Novice]

I just built the kit following your instructions and it worked first shot. Thank you very much for this very basic, yet spot on vidéo.

[@RadioHamGuy]

Glad to hear that, lot of fun!!

[@pikewhitepike]

As always another outstanding VID. Great job Larry. My first trans, radio was back in the early sixties. I too put it on my pillow at night and listened to most of those stations you mentioned.

[@PaulBarwick]

I just recently got into building kits. I had ordered this kit 3 days ago and it is due to get here today. I stumbled across your video pretty much completely by accident this morning, and I am glad that I did. You pointed out things that I might have missed or might have found confusing . Thanks for taking time to make and post this video.. I am subscribing!

[@RadioHamGuy]

Thanks Paul and glad it was of help. Some of these kits leave a lot to be desired as far as the instructions that come with them and can be a challenge. Many times it seems there are just a few simple things that are left out or hard to figure out so I know what you mean. Thanks for the sub also, sure appreciate it!

[@hadireg]

loved this kit!! great sound rendered well through the video! Thanks for sharing👍👍

[@1112223333111]

kids should have to build one of these before they graduate school.

[@RadioHamGuy]

+ᗒ╬ᗕ1112223333111ᗒ╬ᗕ What a great idea! Sounds good to me.

[@mohinderkaur6671]

todays kids hate their parents and like to tweet on their $1000 phones all day while ignoring their parents. Yes, they can destroy expensive $1000 laptops, phones in a blink of the eye but wont be building or fixing anything ... If you say something, you will be ratted out to thegestapo or Obama/Hillary/school Liberal police.

[@cat-lw6kq]

you forgot to include their $2000 desktop computers that they said they needed to do their school work. They conned their parents into buying these pc's so they can play video games.

[@rpbajb]

I just purchased this kit. Thanks for lots of time saving clues for the build. Good video.

[@Johnthetripper]

Was confused about the test points and needing to solder when done, your video saved my sanity, thank you :-)

[@brucekempf4648]

Hi Larry- So I watched your video and got the itch to build this kit. It's not my first kit. I have built Heathkit projects and a Ten-Tec 1254 Shortwave SSB receiver all with no problems and I am a Ham (KC3JS). But, after building the Tecsun radio and getting to the step of checking the three current test points, I quickly realized my $130 Fluke 115 Multimeter could only read down to 1mA. I thought since everything looked correct and test point C was reading 1mA, I would just join the solder bridges of the three test points and fire it up. Well, I can hear the audio amplifier kick on but no signals to be found. I double-checked every diode, capacitor direction as well as every resistor color code to verify that everything was in the correct place. I looked for any possible issue and my solder joints are good. No shorts. I am now ready to tear my heir out because it has all those extra resisters but with three possible resistors needing to be increased or decreased, I had no idea which one to mess with. I tried several clues or resistors playing with R1, R5 and R8. Just trying to hopefully hear some something from the speaker. I am at a total loss. I don't know if I should just give up and buy a new kit and try again or what. I am hoping you may have a suggestion for me. It seems that everyone else that built this kit had it work right off the bat. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.... Bruce

[@kathysviolindiaryadultbegi3378]

Hi! Thank you for the video walk through. I am homeschooling my seventh grade son, we are starting this kit today. Fingers crossed! I had him do practice soldering and I got my ham radio ticket (general) just so I could spark some interest in my son for him to learn. KD2VKW

[@RadioHamGuy]

Hi Kathy. Glad you enjoyed the video. That is great you are homeschooling and what a great idea to use this kit. It is a great project and say hello to your son from me and tell him I know he will have fun with this when he builds it himself. I know the feeling. I got started in ham radio when I was 13 and built a lot of projects and kits over the years and it is always a great feeling to build something and have it work! Congrats on the ham ticket yourself, hope to work you on the air someday maybe! Keep me posted on the radio. Sometimes those instructions are not easy to follow. Not like the old Heathkit radios back in the day with great instructions step by step. I subbed to your channel also, I am into music, I play guitar!... 73, Larry wd0akx

[@ortizramon]

awesome radio kit larry sounds good and the station comes thru clear thanks for the video

[@RadioHamGuy]

+RAMON ORTIZ Thanks Ramon, it does have a very nice sound to it for the size, much better than my other little transistor radios.

[@skycarl]

Man Larry, how neat is that. A real fun kit. Great presentation on this. Thanks as always my friend........Carl

[@RadioHamGuy]

+skycarl Well thank you my friend, it was fun to do as you can probably tell...Larry

[@SWRadioConcepts]

Great video Larry I'd love to see more like this. It's always a pleasure to see a new upload from you. 73

[@nor4277]

I still want to do this radio someday ,because I like your video and the kit,but for now I several kits that I should do first.but your video will be helpful to anyone wanting to do this project .

[@captjon2261]

Thanks for the video. Liked the way you only highlighted the important steps and not every little detail like some.

[@johnwmacdonald994]

Nice kit! Giving me a bit of nostalgia. Thanks!

[@RadioHamGuy]

+John W MacDonald Thank you John, great to hear! Thanks for the comments.

[@danielrine3103]

Hi RadiohamGuy, First time viewer to your channel, very, very interesting video. Nice job you have done on this kit. The radio is very nice and sounds great... I will continue looking for more of your radio electronics videos, have a great day....

[@Richard_K1630]

Always a lot of fun to watch your uploads.

[@RadioHamGuy]

+Richard K Appreciate that Richard!

[@JeffNewton508]

Cool little kit there Larry!

[@RadioHamGuy]

+Jeff Newton Thanks Jeff!

[@JeffNewton508]

Welcome

[@raserapps8230]

I just saw this kit - a little more expensive than some of the cheapy radio kits - but I'm glad I saw your video because I can see now that you get you're moneys worth. There were 2 main contenders around the £20 price range this one and the elenco but I have to say I like the look of this kit. I am going to get it. CB and new Ham

[@RadioHamGuy]

I enjoyed building it and am still using it, works just fine for me!

[@wb0zur]

Way cool kit, may have to purchase one of these too!

[@RadioHamGuy]

+Denton Larson They are a fun kit for the price!

[@chetanpanchal5517]

Wonderful voice & presentation

[@TheRadiogeek]

Nice job on the tecsun kit. I'm glad you had fun building it. I like the blooper at the end. Take care.

[@RadioHamGuy]

+TheRadiogeek It sure was a lot of fun, thanks!

[@henkholdingastate]

What a nice radio

[@cesarortiz2143]

Cool beans sir!!!! Reminds me of electronics class in Jr., High. Now I just need to work on get' my ham license. 😁

[@RadioHamGuy]

+Cesar Ortiz Thanks Cesar, you will have fun with ham radio! 73

[@aarod3]

ahhh... no startover... Superlative Job, man! Liked, subcribed!

[@billbaxter2914]

As always love your videos and the bloopers. 73

[@RadioHamGuy]

+Bill Baxter Glad you enjoy the bloopers Bill. I have plenty to chose from always!

[@XQ2CGSergio]

Nice!!! Thank you. Greetings from Chile.

[@RadioHamGuy]

+XQ2CG Sergio and greetings from Minnesota here, thanks Sergio!

[@medhawk4885]

Nice kit and I enjoyed watching. 73's~N4TYX~

[@RadioHamGuy]

+MedHawk Thanks MedHawk, glad you enjoyed that, 73!

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Oh good to know it's a sensitive responder on AM. Was hoping it would be. Might consider getting such a kit. The pricing in euros is pretty much the same.

[@saturn5tony]

thank you so much, that really does look like an awesome kit, I really think they should have designed that as an 8 transistor radio and skipped the IC, it would have felt more like the sixty's if they did that, although that amplifier IC is really nice in the low end.

[@RadioHamGuy]

+saturn5tony I think it would have been neat to have it all transistor also like you say, but yes, the radio really does have great sound for the size!

[@jamesho703]

@@RadioHamGuy If the transistors are germanium, which can provide more good special soft sound for AM broadcast that silicone transistors cannot provide.

[@northdakotaham1752]

Hey Larry! Am surprised at the audio level from that inexpensive radio. Looked like you had some fun building it! I like kits like that too. Reminds me of the days when I looked forward to the arrival of the new Heathkit catalog....almost like waiting for Christmas! I like the retro look! What? No Bluetooth?

[@RadioHamGuy]

+North Dakota Ham (KB0BRY) Hi Kevin, thanks, yes I sure miss those heathkit catalogs too...they are starting to make a small comeback, do a search for their homepage and you will see what I mean! 73 for now!

[@nor4277]

Model glue,on the front face would melt it together,than white glue,I loved your video,I saw that kit amazon for about 25.00,I don't no where you got yours,but the instruction ,is a lot better than you get on Asian kits.but the Asian kits are very inexpensive..but I think I might try the one you built.also.

[@phs125]

This video would've been so helpful few years ago when I built my diy radio. Instructions were in Chinese, so I didn't know I was supposed to solder the test points. I spent about a month trying different things, then I with great difficulty, put the Chinese letters into Google translate, to get what I had to do... I ended up getting only a couple of stations after all that...

[@Foreignxoncept]

Fantastic video, thank you!

[@mohammadjml5721]

good job ,how can get one as it but FM.

[@dwaynewladyka577]

This is pretty cool!

[@RadioHamGuy]

+Dwayne Wladyka It is a lot of fun!

[@dwaynewladyka577]

+RadioHamGuy It needs a carrying strap. I like electronics and that looks like it was a fun project.

[@SilverMoonJoe]

I enjoyed the video, and the background repeater ID... 73, Joe-k4jga

[@migalito1955]

Neat kit....

[@diyshow888]

The logo says "东方红 The East Is Red" ,it's the token of Mao zhedong 😈 , the kit was made by tecsun (the NO.1 radio receiver company in China) , nice work RadioHamGuy !

[@RadioHamGuy]

Thanks for that information!

[@stephenwilliams5201]

Build radio kit from China comes in a bag. Lot of fun. Building sense Heath kit thrugh Tentec. And beyond. Just finished a DSO5-11 (FM/ AM RADIO) it's core component is a cxa1191m am fm radio. Chip. Verry picky found some shim stock and tac one leg on each side. And stage my work. as at 70 years old. It hurts but it's worth it to hear it to hear them fire up. Hi hi De kv4li 73 om. Ps best 5 to eight dollar to spend time with. An bragging rights and long-range Dx

[@miartrusi]

Buenos días. Que componente debería cambiar si le pongo una bocina más grande?

[@jimkodysz5404]

Hi Larry,Great video! I've been looking at that kit for a while now, but I haven't decided if it was a good deal. I think you've convinced me to get it! Thanks buddy😏Jim,K8NBZ

[@RadioHamGuy]

+Jim Kodysz Thanks Jim, it was a fun 25 bucks spent for me and now I will have something to show for it for a long time, unlike a pizza I guess, ha.

[@pauldawson471]

Jim Koscontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/fr/cp0/e15/q65/1490660_1657693194494532_4829184174414079406_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoibyJ9&_nc_ad=z-m&_nc_cid=0&oh=05f74fa8abc064de31b54d737cefaffd&oe=5B48D0ABdysz

[@1940123]

you made that look pretty simple, with a bit of humor 73's

[@RadioHamGuy]

+1940123 Thanks Ruth, have to keep it fun you know! 73

[@hemantparakh8995]

Kindly suggest how to assemble Radio sets capable of accessing foreign frequency

[@jerrypopiel4219]

Excellent helpful video. Is resistor R11 - 1.5K Ohms not necessary? I noticed it looks like it's not installed right beside the VR switch. Also they talk about a "Shield cover" value 10 X10 in the Parts List?? What is that product?? Your comments would be very much appreciated.

[@stanburdick9708]

great info video and has inspired me to get the TECSUN 2P3 kit, just built a AM crystal radio that worked so am stoked to get more involved>>>>>>>>>>a word of caution PLEZ STAY AWAY FROM SCAMAZON thier nothing but trouble

[@blueee100]

What is the highest frequency it tops out at? Spec says 1630 but with oscillator adjustment should get a little more?

[@RadioHamGuy]

Yes with a little adjustment it will do more, I have not tested it but there is room for adjustment that I think will go a ways more up the band.

[@DIlic-iz9tx]

_Bravo._

[@paulgrodkowski3412]

Hi Larry ! Any thoughts or advice about shortwave band radio kits ? Warm regards.

[@erin19030]

Love the early germanium radios, but now my eyes are not good enough to work on them.

[@DIlic-iz9tx]

*_BRAVO_*

[@Alex-nv7cf]

There is two coils on the ferrite rod . does it have a both ranges- MW and LW?

[@RadioHamGuy]

No it only has the AM band set up in this radio.

[@dedey_15]

Not use antenna ?

[@jamesw6529]

I'm curious to know where you bought your kit?

[@dedey_15]

I need this radio 😢

[@renekenshin6573]

Build one from scrap made from salvaged parts, it's more fun :D

[@obeyxana34]

+RadioHamGuy do you freak out when a test of the emergency alert system goes off on most of your radios?

[@RadioHamGuy]

+code lyoko 34 Sometimes I do!

[@1fanger]

cool, thanks

[@RadioHamGuy]

+1fanger Thanks 1fanger!

[@ahmedsalim4294]

Thankyou

[@Lechoslowianin]

Cool

[@kamalkouerd5040]

How to protect a radio from outside noise

[@niteshmishra8147]

Hello sir what is price in indian rupees

[@rodolfogomez382]

can you tell me how much time spend you to build the radio?

[@RadioHamGuy]

Been a while since I did it now but I think I probably had around 3 hours time into it or so.

[@Lechoslowianin]

Is this a superheterodyne?

[@RadioHamGuy]

+Lechoslowianin Yes it is. Very sensitive and selective for a small radio like this.

[@StreuB1]

Great video Larry and a nice kit indeed!! Do you have a Tecsun PL series radio as well by chance? I've been looking at them for a year or so and can't seem to pick.

[@RadioHamGuy]

+Brian Streufert I don't have one of those but I do have a Tecsun loop antenna I might try to use for a video with this little radio.

[@sweetgyy]

13:30 George Noory :)

[@nr3rful]

a speaker has polarity? That's a new one.

[@cliffordnicholls4067]

It does not matter which way round you wire up a mono speaker, but it does matter if you are wiring up speakers in stereo. Wire the speakers wrongly, they will be out of phase, and sound bad.

[@pp5cw]

gone a get me one

[@bradleyhatchen]

That radio was due bad parts doesn't work I had to scrap it pretty bad part were bad after testing

[@stefanoguitarplayer]

Hai saldato tutti i condensatori elettrolitici al contrario

[@stighenningjohansen]

Hard to understand how Tecsun thinks. Anyone in their right mind would design a kit that works straight out of the box without having to measure currents this way..

[@adventureguy4119]

Price is a bit much

[@tonywright8294]

Soldering not sodering

[@yasarozkan9817]

O devreden banada gönder

[@nr3rful]

a speaker has polarity? That's a new one.

[@RadioHamGuy]

+nr3rful well not that it will matter in this radio, but that is how they show it in the kit instructions.