A nice Panasonic SW portable
 

All,

Just started playing around with a new eBay acquisition, a Panasonic
R317, 3-band, AM/SW1/SW2. Coverage on SW is from 3.2-22 MhZ, it has
11 transistors (heh heh heh), even has "super sensitive" embossed on
the leather carrying case. Telescoping antenna for SW (tip missing,
but that's OK), probably has a ferrite rod inside for AM, haven't
opened it up just yet. No external leads for a wire antenna, this is
strictly a protable, I guess. Has a little thumbwheel for "fine
tuning" that actually does work, such as it were. It has a battery/
power/signal meter, a pilot light over the slide-rule dial, no light
over the meter, but it may just be burnt out.
So it arrives DOA, I put batteries in it, (there's no direct AC jack)
and let it sit for a few days to get acclimated with its new home and
neighbors (an RF2200 and a GE Super Radio 1),
Tried it again last night and the on/off switch is "soft", It works,
Started to play with it and WOW!!!! This is really sensitive!!! AM
picks up very distant stations. The SW bands cook too!! If this thing
has a few more bells and whistles like better bandspread and RF gain
control, it would be strong competition for the RF2200, it is that
sensitive!
Has anyone on the group had any experience ith one of these?
rgds,
Mark S.