Hans Otten Personal Interests

Retro Radio Conrad

Often I get question about the availibility of Philips kits like the Philips Pionier. And I have to disappoint the asker, those kits are not for sale anymore.

Now I found a kit suitable for beginners, young and old, or those who want to relive again those days of outting together a working radio: The Conrad Retro Radio. I have reported before on that kit and now I have built one. It was fun to built, it plays quite acceptable for an AM radio.

Is this the new Pionier kit? No, it is not. It is more like the Amroh Step by step kit, since it requires soldering and therefore is less suited for younger persons. The Pionier can be built just using a small screwdriver, the Retro Radio requires a soldering iron, solder, a normal and a Phillips screw driver and some sticky tape or glue. The manual is fine (german version included, dutch added as seperate booklet), but vaque in showing the wiring instructions for the potmeter and the antenna coil. They could have learned from the excellent and error proof Pionier description.

I do recommend this kit. It is easy to build, and looks good inside and outside. And the price is very acceptable!

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