www.devilfinder.com History of Watkins Johnson Radios

I don't see how any Radios can be better than Watkins Johnson
Radios,regardless of price.
cuhulin

In article ,
wrote:
I guess Sony could start reproducing the Sony 2010's again if they
wanted to,,,, assuming parts are still available,and I believe they
are.Sony could dress them up in a new plastic dress though and perhaps
add one or two other features.The Sony 2020's perhaps?

Not likely. The 2010 was an odd design. Sony had dropped the ICF-2001
design in favor of the smaller ICF-2002. When they finaly realized that
the 100's of AM-Stereo receivers they were selling a year would never
use up their supply of decoder chips, they looked for an alternate
solution.

What they came up with was the ICF-2010. It was a much improved ICF-2001,
with the AM stereo decoder chip used as a sync detector. A brilliant idea,
they ICF-2010 sold like hot cakes when it first came out (around 1986-87)
and was still sold well into this decade.

However they eventualy ran out of chips. To make a replacement would require
the development of a new sync detector chip. This would push the price of
a 2020 as you called it well over $500 a unit.

Actualy at that price it would be a bargain, I paid close to $400 for a
2010, air freighted from Japan before they were available in the U.S. Of
that over $350 was for the receiver in 1987 dollars. In 2005 dollars, it
would be a lot more.

How many people would buy a radio at that price? Certainly enough to
make it the talk of this newsgroup. But would it be enough to pay
of the development costs?

Geoff.


--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (077)-424-1667 IL Fax: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838
You should have boycotted Google while you could, now Google supported
BPL is in action. Time is running out on worldwide radio communication.

Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:

However they eventualy ran out of chips. To make a replacement would require
the development of a new sync detector chip. This would push the price of
a 2020 as you called it well over $500 a unit.



I don't buy that story. They could run another lot of the chips if the
process was still available, or use a newer chip like the one in the 7600GR.

There are other components that may not have been available. But Sony
has a suitable sync detector chip still in production.

craigm

CLU,

If you are interested in a 'replacement' for the Sony ICF-2010
and Sony ICF-SW77 Radios :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ETON-E...o/message/1531
THINK {Consider} the new Etón E1 AM/FM Shortwave Receiver
with XM Satellite Radio.

You should "Read" the Review of the Etón E1 AM/FM Shortwave Radio
- by Jay Allen on Radio Intel .Com
http://www.radiointel.com/review-etone1.htm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ETON-E...o/message/1528
He compares the Etón E1 Radio to :
* Sony ICF-SW77 { Discontinued }
* Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium { Still Being Made }
* Sony ICF-2010 { The Legend - But No Longer Being Made }

Also - Another Must Read Is -Dr. Phils Side-by-Side Comparison of the
Etón E1 AM/FM Shortwave Radio with the Grundig Satellit 800 Radio.
http://www.radiointel.com/phil/e1xmvssat800.pdf
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ETON-E...o/message/1530
- - - Hosted by Radio Intel .Com
.
All are WELCOME and "Invited to Join" the
ETON 'Elite' E1 XM Radio eGroup on YAHOO !
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ETON-E1-XM-Radio/
Where the Topic is the Eton 'Elite' E1 Receiver
with XM Satellite Radio. = http://tinyurl.com/9lfd7
.
.
what more can i say - e1'ing you all ~ RHF
ETON E1 = http://tinyurl.com/9lfd7
.. . .
..
. .
..
.. . . Out !

I will wait untill I can buy one for two dollars at the Goodwill thrift
store,six tenths of a mile South of my Blueberry doggys couch.
cuhulin

On 19 Oct 2005 11:54:51 -0700, "clu" wrote:

I am new to this and have been looking at a lot of reviews. It appears,
for my needs, the Sony 2010 is a real winner. But it is no longer
available for purchase.

Has there been a Sony model to replace it? The only model I can find is
the ICF-SW7600GR. Is this intended to be the replacement? I read
reviews on it and read that it is not quite as good as the Sony 2010.

If I wanted the Sony 2010, what product should I get that comes closest
to quality/value as the Sony 2010?

The 2010 was developed and refined in the 1970s, and there is probably
no "modern" Sony of comparable design. If you like the 2010, your best
bet is to look on eBay.

Try
http://electronics.listings.ebay.com...istingItemList
and do a search.

(By the way, the Japan Radio Company NRD-525 is as good or better than
the Sony, but will most likely be on eBay cheaper. Had one since 1988,
and not a single burp.)

bob
k5qwg

clu wrote:
I am new to this and have been looking at a lot of reviews. It appears,
for my needs, the Sony 2010 is a real winner. But it is no longer
available for purchase.

Has there been a Sony model to replace it? The only model I can find is
the ICF-SW7600GR. Is this intended to be the replacement? I read
reviews on it and read that it is not quite as good as the Sony 2010.

If I wanted the Sony 2010, what product should I get that comes closest
to quality/value as the Sony 2010?

--
clu

Nothing comnparable replaced it imho. If you are looking for a 2010
then look for a good used one. It is a very nice radio, and nothing
comes close to it's size, good design, performance and ease of use.

That said you will get good performance from a Sony 7600 current model
at $130.00 or almost as good performance from a little chinese Degen
DE1103 for about $50.00