Oh my, don't the memories come flooding back!
While modelled on the old "trannies" (It's a "trannie" baby! - nothing to do with sexuality though!) this is a modern updated version of those portable transistor radios that EVERYONE carried around with them, and some still do!
This is NOT the later DSP based versions or DAB capable, just plain old analog radio as it used to be ...
Great for situations where easy access to standard radio broadcasts is needed on the AM or FM bands ... in a foreign country or the outback where there is no access to mobile data systems, making the use of a smartphone to receive broadcasts pretty useless.
Another use is at live events, I have a friend who always takes his trannie to the footee ... so he can listen to the live commentary without any introduced delays (many digital broadcasts, especially DAB systems, lag behind real time so what you see on the field is not reflected on the digital broadcast but an analog radio such as this one does not have this introduced delay)
This is probably one of the last portable analog radio releases from SONY, then they moved to DSP processing and of course DAB system receivers. For those who like to know ... instead of being based on the original discrete transistor designs of yesteryear, central to this portable is the Sony CXA1019S AM/FM radio in a single monolithic IC.
SONY CORPORATION - Pocket Transistor Radio
Designed In Japan but manufactured in China
Model ICF-P26
AM & FM reception only
Manual sliding pointer station indicator
Rotary volume control
AM-FM-OFF slide control
Incorporates a telescopic antenna which extends out to 43cm maximum length
3.5mm headphone socket for "private listening"
All plastic casing
The original carry strap is fitted
Uses 2x AA batteries (Alkaline type is best)
NOTE: I will NOT supply these two batteries as it is likely this portable radio will be shipped and Australia Post are VERY adverse to shipping any items with batteries in the packaging.
DIMENSIONS:
117mm x 66mm x 28mm
WEIGHT: 190g (without batteries fitted)
That means it fits very comfortably within my palm!
TESTING:
Does it work?
Put in a couple of "not quite new but working" AA batteries and, with bated breath, moved the side slide switch to AM (it has been a while since I had turned this on and quite frankly, if I needed a portable radio it tended to be one of the larger units that I had)
Yep! She springs to life with lots of that good old "static noise" and I then tuned in a station ... no problems at all and the volume is of a good level when at maximum. No funny scratching noises while changing the volume and the tuning was smooth with plenty of stations to be heard on AM.
Next I switched it to FM and again I had no issues tuning in stations and listening to (primarily) the music programs.
When the radio is on, a Green LED lights up and when a station is "tuned in" a Red LED lights up.
Telescopic antenna works as it should and with no bends at all.
COSMETIC CONDITION:
While USED, it hasn't been used very much
NO significant scratch marks to any part of the casing
NO damage to the plastic
NO damage to the front printed "station tuning" window or sliding pointer
Battery compartment is clean and the contacts are shiny, not corroded!
This trusty little SONY trannie is now all nicely packed up in tough clear plastic ready for use by someone else once again ...
