Sony ICF-2010 User Manual
Sony
be careful
Page
1
of 5Radio Netherlands Receiver Shopping List: Sony ICF
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2001D / ICF
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2010
2003
-01-27http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/icf2001d.html
English
Year Introduced/discontinued: 1985/2003
Power: 4.5 Volts DC for the radio (D size, plus 3 penlights to back-up
computer and clock). AC Mains adaptor often included in the price
Size: 290 x 160 x 50 mm
Weight: 1800 g
Price: US$350, CAN$500
Coverage: FM, LW, MW, SW (150 - 29999 kHz) & 116-136 MHz
Value Rating
SSB. PLL dual conversion. Excellent follow up to the older ICF2001
released in 1980 (i.e. without the letter "D" at the end of the type
number), but completely different. Economical battery consumption.
Front end circuitry prone to damage by static on the antenna (e.g. from
nearby lightening strikes) causing dramatic loss in sensitivity if using an outdoor antenna. Two bandwidths with fair/good selectivity
and sensitivity. WIDE bandwidth filter perhaps too wide. Unique
automatic ECSS "sync" tuning system is very effective. Clock/ Timer.
Carefully matched 120 cm telescopic antenna. LED tuning meter. Dial
light. Very versatile 32 channel memory and SCAN functions. Keyboard
entry or manual tuning knob. Models with a serial number higher than
45000 have a redesigned battery holder to prevent memory batteries
working loose, leading to loss of stored frequencies. In the market for
longer than most models, the heir apparent is ICF-SW-77.
This review was compiled independently. Radio Netherlands has no
financial connection with Sony, the manufacturer of this receiver.
Full Review
The following is a text version of an on air review broadcast by Radio
a signal is picked up, or start looking through the 32 channel memory. In
Page
2
of 5Radio Netherlands Receiver Shopping List: Sony ICF
-
2001D / ICF
-
2010
2003
-01-27http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/icf2001d.html
Nederland Wereldomroep originally broadcast on January 17th 1985!
Yes, that date is correct. This radio is more than 12 years old but is still
sold in some shops in the USA. It has disappeared in other markets, but
it still offers good value. The radio has been replaced by the Sony ICFSW-77, although there is no air-band coverage on the SW-77. The set
was tested in our own laboratories.
Vital Statistics
The set bears two type numbers. In North America it is known as the
ICF2010, in Japan and elsewhere it's called the ICF2001D. That last
type-number is confusing, because this new Sony receiver has little
resemblance to the ICF2001, i.e. without the letter D after it, introduced
in August 1980. The model we tested was marked as the ICF2001D. Put
next to the old ICF2001 it's very slightly smaller, measuring 29 by 16 by
5 centimetres, and weighing the same 1.8 kilos including the batteries.
That's where the similarity ends, for the new set certainly has a much
larger array of push-buttons, 68 in all. At first sight, they might put off
someone who's not all that technical at first. There are some familiar
points, like a white calculator-style keypad, for directly keying in the
frequency. If you wanted to listen to 11730 kHz, you simply punch in 11-7-3-0 and then push the "EXECUTE" button. If you can use a
calculator, then this set is no problem!
Next to the familiar 11 keys though, are four rows, each of 8 buttons,
representing the 32 channels you can store in the memory. These aren't
marked 1, 2, 3... 31, 32 as you might expect. It's more like reading a
map, for the rows are marked A to D, the columns 1-8. A simple two
finger operation stores any chosen frequency in the memory, which
you're told in memory b8, or c5, depending on what you've selected.
Good coverage
The ICF2001D has wide coverage. It can be operated continuously
between 150 kHz, right up to 29,999 kHz, that includes long wave,
medium wave, and shortwave. Plus there is the VHF FM band between
76 and 108 MHz, and, a new trend for its day, the aeronautical band
between 116 and 136 MHz. This still makes the radio forbidden fruit in
many countries in Asia, where listening to the airband is considered an
offence. But all that coverage, in a relatively small box, is impressive.
At this point, let's re-examine those 32 keys for the memories, in the
four rows. Under most of the keys, is blue coloured lettering, because
like some computer and typewriter keyboards, each key has a double
function. If you press and hold a key marked SHIFT, the blue coloured
functions become active, and for the most part it means you can get the
set to jump immediately to the bottom of the longwave, medium wave,
the 120, 90, 75, 60, 49, 41, 31, 25, the 22, 19, 16, 13, 11 metre
shortwave bands, plus the FM and airband.
Scanning Functions
You can decide to scan between two chosen frequencies, stopping when
that case, the 2001D selects each memory with anything stored in it for
5 seconds, lets you hear it, and then moves to the next. If you like
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