Slight Repair for SONY ICF-6500

Today I have got a used radio ICF-6500.

This radio was produced by SONY in early 1980s. It covers 530-1605kHz, 3.9-10MHz, 11.7-28MHz and 76-90MHz for Japan model.

The ICF-6500 has LCD Frequency counter, fine tuning mode only to pull the tuning knob, analog tuning meter, small bulb backlit, BFO, tone control and AM sensitivity selector.

It requires 6xC batteries or external 9V power via DC IN jack(center minus type). Why 9V? I assume that it is because the frequency counter is built in the radio. The Panasonic/National PROCEED RF-2800 is so too.



When I checked my ICF-6500, the FM receiver did not work properly. Only "10.7" was displayed on the frequency counter and no sound from the speaker. The 10.7MHz seems 1st FM IF frequency. Then, I opened my ICF-6500 and looked into the inside.

As a result, I found that a mechanical switch caused the problem.

The problem has been ceased soon by some scrap of adhesive tape as below.

The FM receiver function of my ICF-6500 has been resumed. This was just slight repair without soldering for me.



The ICF-6500 is still high sensitivity. When I compared to a current high sensitivity model, SONY ICF-EX5MK2, the ICF-6500 seems superior to ICF-EX5MK2 especially on FM, impressive.

Sound of my ICF-6500 is very mild, not Hi-Fi even if the TONE control is set up to max. That voice of the speaker reminds me of an attractive 1980s.

I have been aware of another effect. On FM band, the counter display is now 0.1MHz out of the actual frequency. I will look for how to adjust and will fix it someday.

SkySensor Appears on an Anime Program

A SkySensor produced by SONY appears on a new Japanese Animation that has started in October(2016). Here's the promotion video;

This round is obviously the shape of SW band spread dial that has SkySensor 5900 (ICF-5900) 2nd model that is used to take the world by storm.


Title of the animation is "Occultic;Nine".The main character "Yuta Gamon" pops up the antenna and powers up the ICF-5900 on the preview of "Occultic;Nine".

This will make many (ever) BCL or SWL enthusiasts smirk, won't be?


The author of "Occultic;Nine" is Chiyomaru Shikura born in 1970s that was in the middle of the BCL/SWL fad. He must have been absorbed in the BCL/SWL.

We'll enjoy how the ICF-5900 is linked with the story in the next episode. There're some scenes that operates amateur radios on Japanese drama "Amachan" or Japanese anime movies such as "Ponyo", "Kimi no na wa 2016" but no BCL/SWL radio on them I think.


I own the ICF-5900 but this is a 1st model that differs from the 2nd model.

As you know, though the ICF-5900 is discontinued and now expensive, available some antique radio shops, recycled-goods shops, garage sales and on ebay. You see, as the ICF-5900 is produced 40 years ago, it is possible we may get SkySensors that is lack of parts, junks or has stains and so on even if we find. But we should check the details of SkySensor 5900 not to draw an unlucky.

Unfortunately, no current models equipped with popped-up antenna, SW Band Spread Dial with Marker that attracts us around the world in 2016. SONY ICF-EX5MK2 seems a similar model because it has cool retro solid design, solid mechanical switches and MW linear scale tuning window.

SONY ICF-5900 5Bands radio

A new radio came to me.

SONY ICF-5900 is first named as "SKYSENSOR" series in Japan. It covers MW(530-1605kHz) / SW(3.9-10/11.7-28MHz) with BFO for SSB/CW and FM(76-90MHz). This looks a first version(seller explains latter version but...). It has been more than 40 years since ICF-5900 was released in 1970s. For me, this model must be one of the vintage radio.

The sensitivity is excellent. FM and MW is especially nice. There's no variable attenuator but it has a DX/Local selector. The band select switch is dull when operating but works. If contacts of the band selector are dull, there are some cases that the radio cannot be received properly on each band. It has backlight switch but no holding on function.

IC-5900 has an excellent appearance. This model is called as a formal final analogue tuning model produced by SONY. Some skill and technique are needed at the use of SPREAD DIAL. I will be familiar with the SPREAD DIAL soon.