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überarbeitet am 30.10.2010
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When Sony presented it's first portable shortwave receiver ICF-2001 with complete
microprocessor control and PLL frequency synthesis, it was a milestone in the
development of travel sortwave radios. This set offered not only a digital frequency
readout, but also direct frequenyc entry by means of a 0 - 9 keypad and six
memories! This receiver was not only portable in the sense of the word,
that it was equipped with two metal carrying handles and would "easily fit under
an airplane seat", but with it's size of a hardcover book, it could be carried
around in the handluggage. But reception quality did not reach the mark set
by desktop shortwave receivers.
This changed dramatically, when Sony presented the ICF-2001D (for digital), it's
called ICF-2010 outside Europe. This double conversion receiver with automated
ECSS - reception (single sideband reception of broadcast stations replacing the stations
carrier signal by an inetrnaly generated carrier to which the set is locked automatically)
was another milestone to enable single sideband reception of faint broadcast signals.
Personally, I still consider it (although it's size makes it a bit more heavy to carry) as the
best travel shortave receiver ever! It's successor ICF-SW77 was improved with
alphanumeric memories and complex world clock features, but in my eyes
didn't reach the same level, when there is the demand to pull as much audio as
possible out of a very poor signal.
When loking around for a really lightweight travel set, in the middle of the
eighties, there was virtually no way leading around Sony's ICF-7600D (in the
U.S. look for a ICF-2002). This was the first lightweight travel set to include
useable SSB capabilities to catch some ham traffic or CW signals. I liked to
use it as an alarm clock, but I always have been a bit short of station memory
channels.
One minor problem is to overview the range of models carrying the 7600 in their
designation - over the years there have been quite different sets with very
similar model numbers. And the D, A, W, G suffix will make out, what radio You get.
So make sure, when looking in eBay for a second hand 7600, that You go for the one
You intended to buy. That fast, that the European and international / U.S.
model designations vary, wouldn't help You much keeping an overview.
In the last few years, Sony developed even more miniaturised sets. The ICF-SW1000T
is not much bigger then the cassette hold in it's cassette player, and it incorporates
a complete double conversion shortwave receiver. I don't like it's very tiny
controls to fiddle around, that'a why I still prefer the 7600 models, but I have to admit,
I still use a really outdated cellular phone, too...
Nowadays, Sony seems to have stopped development of even more advanced
shortwave receivers, but the ICF-SW7600G(R) is still available. I regret,
that at the moment, shortwave reception has been made as easy as never before
(just type in the frequency and press ENTER button), the main international
broadcasters and External services have the tendency to leave the shortwave
bands. For listening Swiss Radio abroad, You have to go back to a satellite
dish, a mains operated receiver or to a Internet Café - the digital shortwave (DRM) reception,
the receivers are too bulky and use too much processor power to run without 230V mains
power supply, not suitable when we go camping.
Travel Radios
ICF-2001(1980):
double conversion; FM, AM 150 kHz- 30 MHz,
FM, AM, SSB(BFO),
digital frequency readout 1 kHz, 6 memories, direct keypad frequency entry |
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ICF-2001D / ICF-2010 (1985):
double conversion; AIR-Band, FM, AM 150 kHz - 29,999 MHz;
FM, AM, AM-Sync, SSB;
digital frequency readout 100 Hz, 32 memories, scanning functions, clock / timer
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ICR-4800 (1981):
single conversion, MW, 5 x SW (49-16m), analog bandspread dial |
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ICF-4900 / ICF-4910 (1985):
double conversion; FM, MW, 7 x SW (49 - 13m),
analog bandspread dial
ICF-4900 MARK II / ICF-4920 (1988) |
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ICF-5100 (1987):
double conversion, FM, MW, 7 x SW (49 - 13 m),
analog bandspread dial: ICF-4900with cosmetic changes |
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ICF-SW10 (1994):
single conversion, FM, MW, 9 x SW (60 - 13m),
analog bandspread dial |
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ICF-SW12 (1997):
double conversion, FM, MW, 9 x SW (60 - 13m),
analog bandspread dial, world time alarm clock |
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ICF-SW15 (1988):
single conversion, FM, LW, MW, SW - 26,1 / 30 MHz,
digital frequency readout 5 kHz |
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ICF-SW20 (1989):
double conversion; FM, MW, 7 x SW (49 - 13m),
analog bandspread dial |
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ICF-SW22 (1995):
double conversion, FM, MW, 7 x SW (49 - 13m),
analog bandspread dial |
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ICF-SW30 (1996):
double conversion, FM, MW, 10 x SW,
FM, AM; digital frequency readout 1 kHz, 15 memories |
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ICF-SW33 (1993):
double conversion; FM, MW, 11 x SW (75 - 11 mb, tuneable only within bands),
FM, AM; digital frequency readout 1 kHz, 18 memories, world time clock |
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ICF-SW40 (1997):
double conversion; FM, LW, MW, SW 3,85 - 26,1 MHz,
FM, AM;
digital frequency readout 1 kHz and pseudo - analog LCD dial, 15 memories
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ICF-SW55 (1992):
double conversion; FM, AM 150 kHz - 29,999 MHz;
FM, AM, SSB,
digital frequency readout 1 kHz, 125 memories (alphanumeric), scanning functions, clock / timer |
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ICF-SW77 (1992):
double conversion; FM, AM 150 kHz - 29,999 MHz;
FM, AM, AM-Sync, SSB,
digital frequency readout 100 Hz, 162 memories (alphanumeric), scanning functions, clock / timer |
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ICF-7600 (W) (1978):
single conversion; FM, MW, 5 x SW (75 - 19m),
analog bandspread dial |
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ICF-7600A (W) (1983):
double conversion; FM, MW, 7 x SW (49 - 13m),
analog bandspread dial |
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ICF-7600 D / ICF-2002 (1983):
double conversion; FM, AM 153 kHz - 29,995 MHz,
FM, AM, SSB (BFO),
digital frequency readout 5kHz, 10 memories, Fine tuning, alarm clock with timer
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ICF-7600 DS / ICF-2003 (1987):
double conversion; FM, AM 153 kHz - 29,995 MHz,
FM, AM, SSB (BFO),
digital frequency readout 5 kHz, fine tuning, 10 memories, clock, cosmetic changes and technical improvements
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ICF-7600 DA / ICF-7700 (1987):
double conversion, FM, LW, MW, 12 x KW (90 - 11 mb),
FM, AM,
digital frequency readout 5kHz & pseudo - analog LDC dial, 15 memories
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ICF-7601 L (1988):
double conversion; FM, LW, MW, 9 x SW (60 - 13 mb),
analog bandspread dial |
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ICF-7601 (1988):
double conversion; FM, MW, 10 x SW (120 - 13 mb),
analog bandspread dial, international version with tropical bands coverage 120 - 75 m |
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ICF-SW7600 (1990):
double conversion; FM, AM 153 kHz - 29,995 MHz,
FM, AM, SSB (BFO),
digital frequency readout 5 kHz, fine tuning, 10 memories, clock |
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ICF-SW7600G (1994):
double conversion; FM, AM 153 kHz - 29,995 MHz,
FM, AM, AM-Sync, SSB(BFO),
digital frequency readout 1 kHz, Fine tuning, 10 memories, clock |
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AIR-7 (1985):
double conversion; FM, AIR, VHF 144 - 174 MHz, LW, MW, SW - 2194 kHz,
40 memories, Squelch |
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ICF-PRO70 (1990):
double conversion; FM, AM 150 kHz - 108 MHz (PRO-70/2 150 kHz - 30 MHz 87,6 - 108 MHz),
FM, AM, SSB,
digital frequency readout 5 kHz, 40 memories, scanning functions |
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ICF-PRO80 (1990):
double conversion; FM, AM 150 kHz - 108 MHz (115 - 223 MHz with converter),
FM, AM, SSB,
digital frequency readout 5 kHz, 40 memories, scanning functions
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ICF-7800 (1978):
fold-up travel radio, single conversion, FM, MW, SW 3,9 - 12 MHz |
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ICF-SW800 (1989):
double conversion; FM, SW 3,7 - 17,9 MHz,
digital frequency readout 5 kHz, "check cards" with station memories |
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ICF-SW600 (1996):
"kitchen radio", single conversion; FM, MW, 9 x SW (49 - 13 mb),
analog bandspread dial |
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Miniature travel portables
ICF-SW1 (1988):
double conversion; FM, AM 150 kHz - 30 MHz,
digital frequency readout 5 kHz, 10 memories, clock / timer |
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ICF-SW100 (1994):
"Laptop"-Design, double conversion; FM, AM 150 kHz - 30 MHz,
FM, AM, AM-Sync, SSB,
digital frequency readout 1 kHz, 50 memories alphanumeric, clock / Timer |
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World Band Radios with Cassette Recorder
CF-950S (1976):
receiver technically derived from the ICF-5900 with
mono cassette recorder |
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CRF-330K (1978):
reveiver derived from the CRF-320 with
mono cassette recorder |
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WA-5000 (1984):
single conversion, FM, MW, 5xSW(49-16m),
mono cassette recorder |
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WA-8000 (1986):
double conversion, FM, MW, 7 x SW (49 - 13 mb),
stereo cassette recorder |
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WA-6000 (1987):
single conversion, FM, MW, 5xSW(49-16m),
mono cassette recorder |
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WA-8800 (1987):
double conversion; FM, MW, 8 x SW (49 - 13 mb),
stereo cassette recorder |
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ICF-SW1000T (1995):
double conversion; FM, AM 150 kHz - 30 MHz,
FM, AM, AM-Sync, SSB,
30 memories, stereo cassette recorder (c.f. ICF-SW7600G) |
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CFS-50IL (1988):
single conversion & stereo double cassette recorder
in "Ghetto-Blaster" - format,
FM, LW, MW, SW 5,9-17,8 MHz, digital frequency readout 5 kHz, 20 memories |
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