The Real Super Radio: The Hard-to-Find Panasonic RF-1180

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Hugo:

After extensive tests I've found out that the most sensitive radio on AM is the Panasonic RF-1180 and one step down are the Panasonic RF-2200 tied with CCradio and GE Superadios 1 or 2 and in third place CCRadio SW, with Panasonic RF-1180 radio I could hear KVNS on 1700 from McAllen Tx very clearly on midday here in Veracruz ( around 600 miles in straigh line) inside my bedroom which is on the second floor in a suburban area located 5 miles from downtown. The other radios could also receive the signal but with much more noise, barely understable and with the volume all the way up while with the Panasonic RF-1180 the volume was in 1/3 position and clearly audible.
This model is on auction in Ebay... item number 350400282335 but please don't say this until the auction is over.

One recently sold for under $150:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350400282335&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm570%26_nkw%3D350400282335%2B%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

Comments

[Mike DeMeo]

Yes indeed! I have the RF 1170 (it has Low-High-UHF PSB instead of SW. The am is outrageous! I can pick up S. America stations in NY. Beats the GE SR handsdown.
I wish I could find an 1180!

[oaty]

I have found a 1180 at the local goodwill here in Ontario Canada. Nice price of $10.. i would have bought a small transistor radio for that price ! LOL.. so been searching for shortwave radio for many years this is my first . The first thing I noticed and was confirmed here, was the AM has such strength and ability .. astonishing. have been struggling getting good AM for several years.. during the daytime with a console Marantz AM is just a distorted mess. A bonus with this radio, it was serviced in 2007..according to the big red sticker on the back. The pots are a bit scratchy .. so I'll do some de-oxiting this evening. The antenna is in perfect shape as well as the rotating antenna. The detachable handle appears to be missing. I can always count on vintage Panasonic / Technics. This thing is a star. Great article thanks for taking the time to share!

[Tom Taber]

Found one for $35 at an estate sale today. Didn't buy it until after doing a Google search. Seeing "most sensitive AM" had me out of my car and back in the sale! Needs a lot of TLC, but that's half the fun!