Inhaltsverzeichnis
Sony ICF-5800L "Captain 77"
Manufactured by Sony Corp.,Tokyo.
The Captain 77 or ICF-5800 was launched in the same time period as the somewhat more modest Captain 55; the „big brother“ ICF-5900W had a similar format, but as a double conversionset it had a completely different operating concept.
Technical data
- Frequency range: FM broadcast band, LW, MW, 2 x SW (1.6-4.5 and 4.5-12 MHz)
- Frequency display: Analogue dial
- Frequency memory: none
- Features: timer 60 min.
Power supply
Dimensions
- 216 x 205 x 78 mm, weight 2.0 kg
Accessories
Operation
With its somewhat military appearence, the Captain 77 / ICF-5800 matches the Captain 55 or ICF-5900 as typical travel sets of the 1970s.
With its 20.2 x 22 x 7.8 cm, the Captain 77 is a quite large travel set, but the receiver, which is powered by four UM-2 cells, compared favourably with other travel radios in the 1970s as its dimensions are concerned.
As with other early Sony sets, the arrangement of the controls is somewhat extraordinary. Above the large loudspeaker grill, the vertical film dial is located in the middle of the front panel. A mechanical indicator indicates the active waveband, the tuning speed of the main tuning knob can be mechanically changed.
On the left-hand side of the front panel are two toggle switches, the dial illumination and the main power switch, below the volume control and two smaller rotary controls for bass and treble. The S-meter and below it the toggle switches for the AFC, the LOCAL/DX switch acting as attenuator in the AM ranges and the band switch are located at the right side of the front panel.
The retractable telescopic antenna at the top of the set pops out at the push of a button, the rotary knob on the right face operates the mechanical sleep timer, the remaining time is displayed in a small window.
On the left face you find the connectors for 6 V DC coming from a mains adapter, the jacks for an MPX decoder, headphones and tape output; on the back of the unit are screw terminals to connect an external aerial and earth.
Like its siblings, the Captain 77 is not necessarily suitable for air travel, but as pleasantly sounding second radio to be used in the kitchen, the shack or around the house, it also performs quite well on shortwaves. But it is only suitable to receive the major international shortwave services, a BFO for CW reception is is missing and dial accuracy is poor.
Technical principle
Single conversion superhet.
Components
The set is equipped with semiconductors.
