SUL AM/FM Stereo Radio: Sony SRF-220 1.6oz/44g

[Dale Wambaugh]

I found this little jewel today. It is a Sony SRF-220 AM/FM Stereo radio weighing 1.6oz/44g with the battery and earbuds.

Features:

• It is the size of a credit card and 5mm thick.
• 1.6oz/44g with battery and earbuds
• Runs on  a single CR2032 coin cell battery: 20 hours on FM and 30 hours on AM.
• Comes with MDR-E808 earbuds (2.5mm plug) with foam covers
• Analog tuning
• On/off switch, AM/FM selector, tuning and volume dials

Basic impressions:

Reception is acceptable in town with some background hiss. I’m curious to see what the reception is like in remote areas. The tuning dial needs careful manipulation to get best reception. The battery tray has a clever push button release. Like many vintage Sony electronics they have become a collector’s item, so don’t expect to get one cheap online.  If you want light and compact, this is as good as I have seen.

The radio comes with several different graphics. This is the Sumo Wrestler version.

 

The tuning dial is tiny and good for very general reference only.

Left to right: tuning dial, AM/FM selector, volume dial

 

Right end: battery tray eject button,  power switch, earbud jack

Battery tray with CR2032 cell

The same outer perimeter as a common credit card and 5mm thick.

[Adam Kilpatrick]

That is cool!

When I was doing my Amateur radio training last year (I didn’t have the time to complete it), the instructor mentioned a guy he knew who was really into crystal radio sets. He said this guy liked to go to remote places and run out a bunch of lightweight aerial wire and listen into stuff from around the world. He remarked once that he went to this guys house and when he went inside he was listening to the radio. They thought it was a normal powered radio set, as it was so loud, but no, it was a crystal set.

I’d love to see more superlight low powered radios on AM/FM/SW for backpacking :-)

[Dale Wambaugh]

I had a crystal radio set when I was in Cub Scouts. I hada fat steel plumbing vent pipe in my attic bedroom. With the height and the good ground, I got great reception.

[Window walker]

Wow very cool Dale!

My cell phone has an fm tuner that uses the headphone wire as the antennae, but it does not work well. I discovered it by accident on top of a mountain looking through my phone. I was only able to pick up two stations.

Nice find!

Ben

[Jerry Adams]

cool radio Dale.  AM reception capability is good.

I’ve been using a 10 foot wire with clip.  #26.  0.3 ounces.  Clip it onto the earbud (antenea) wire.  Don’t worry that it doesn’t contact the metal directly – RF signals go through that thin insulation like it’s not there.  String the wire onto a tree or something.

There are places where this allows FM to work where it doesn’t otherwise.

(I believe Dale has suggested this in the past)

[Author]

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