Re: [IRCA] Supercharging the ICF-2010 SSB Receiver

[Guy Atkins <dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Gary,

You give some very good cautions about purchasing these oldies but
goodies-- the Sony ICF-2010.

On the flip side though, sellers unfamiliar with the 2010s can also be the
source of great bargains on Ebay! Because they are unaware of proper
operation or common, easily fixed problems with the receiver, some of these
fine radios go for far less than their real value. At least three of the
2010s that I've owned were bought at a low price because the reseller
didn't know to install the memories backup batteries before powering on the
set, or they weren't aware of the simple-to-fix battery contact connection
issues. I was also given a fine condition 2010 that simply needed a
cleaning of the keypad's rubber membrane contact surfaces to become
operational again.

I bought my current 2010 for the princely "Buy It Now" sum of $9.00 and
free shipping ("Doesn't work... I want it outta here" said the Ebay
seller). In less than 15 minutes after arrival I had the battery contact
issue fixed and was listening to RNZI with the radio. This one is in
excellent physical condition, too. A few months later, the previous owner
unexpectedly sent me the original Sony AC adapter, the Sony carrying strap
for the 2010, and the Sony 2010 long wire antenna. He had located the items
at home and wanted to send them along. It was harder to convince him to
accept reimbursement for shipping costs of the accessories than it was to
fix the radio :^)

So, for the same reasons a claimed fully functioning ICF-2010 might not be
accurately represented, a broken or dead ICF-2010 might not be what it
seems, either.

73,

Guy Atkins
Puyallup, WA

PS-- I'm looking forward to your revised Supercharged 2010 article, Gary!



>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: d1028gary@xxxxxxx
> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, ultralightdx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Cc:
> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 03:12:43 -0400 (EDT)
> Subject: Supercharging the ICF-2010 SSB Receiver
>
> Hello All,
>
> For those who are interested, a major update of the May 2008 article
> (posted at
> http://www.mediafire.com/view/404c61oxxbd992n/SuperchargingtheICF2010LargeComplete.doc
> , to greatly increase the MW and LW band sensitivity of the classic Sony
> ICF-2010 SSB receiver) is in the works. The updated article should be
> completed during the Fall season, and will provide specific instructions
> for transplanting and securing a much more sensitive loopstick into the
> Sony portable's circuitry. The new loopstick will be based upon recent Litz
> wire improvements.
>
> The ICF-2010 SSB receiver is an ideal portable for tracking transoceanic
> DX station carriers during Ultralight radio ocean coast DXpeditions,
> although its relatively deaf stock loopstick has nowhere near the
> sensitivity of modern FSL antennas. Performing the loopstick transplant
> will correct this deficiency, and enable the ICF-2010 to accurately track
> weak SSB carriers that are easily within the reception capability of the
> new FSL's. After four major DXpeditions using a stock ICF-2010, I finally
> got tired of the stock model's failure to show even a weak carrier on DU
> stations that managed good audio with the new FSL's. Of course, even if an
> ICF-2010 owner has no interest in Ultralight radios or DXpeditions, the
> loopstick transplant will still boost the MW and LW sensitivity of the
> model, providing a great increase in DXing satisfaction.
>
> For those who are interested in purchasing an ICF-2010 for this purpose,
> care should be taken to obtain a fully functional model. None of these
> radios were manufactured recently, and many eBay sellers are not DXers or
> radio enthusiasts, but simply ordinary people trying to sell something that
> they accidentally came across. Carefully check the feedback of any eBay
> seller before purchasing, and make sure that they are knowledgeable about
> the ICF-2010 and its functions before trusting any claim of perfect
> performance.
>
> 73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
>
>
>
>
>
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