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« on: February 16, 2012, 2349 UTC »
My first one was a Sony ICF-2010 back in 1988. Sits next to my bed today and listened to it this morning. Will listen to it tonight. Rarely is it off.
Before I got the ICF-2010, went to a local radio store and was looking at the different models. The first one I picked up was a Panasonic RFB-60. Turned it on & tuned around. We were in a store, so reception was mediocre. VOA boomed in on 15410 kHz, with George Collinet & The Sound of Soul. He was playing "Tomorrow People" by Ziggy Marley. Sales guy said the ICF-2010 was a better model and I should save up for that if that was an option. Did exactly that and here nearly 24 years later, still running well. Cost $335 back in 1988, which breaks down to $13.96 per year since then (the cost of 3 beer per year).
A few years later, picked up a National NC-173. First tube radio.
Around 2003, got an NC-183D off of eBay. They said it was NIB until 1998 and wanted around $300. I thought "sure" and got it anyway. It was shipped and upon opening it, the only imperfection on it is a very slight scratch on the side, but can't see it unless looking for it. Sounds fantastic with the dual 6V6's and a big National speaker. Thing still looks like it was made within the past year or two.
Have acquired a few others over the years, with the most recent acquisitions being a Sangean ATS-909X (which went on a nice vacation to the South Pacific for some DXing at the beach) and a Perseus SDR (and I can take a virtual vacation all over the world with the remote receivers). Have hooked the Perseus hooked up to a reel-to-reel deck for recording.
As I write this, listening to a Ray-Jefferson 640/DF. Audio quality is medicore (not designed for music), but sure is a good on sensitivity and the rotatable loop is very nice.
However, back in the 70's when I was but a yute, parents had a Panasonic R-1599 AM radio. Remember listening to that & tuning around. Unfortunately, don't remember if I was doing any MWDXing. That radio is long gone, but picked up one of the same model a bunch of years ago and still listen to it.
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