Sony ICF-5500W Bandswitch Repair
Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2026 7:16 pm
OK, It's not TE but it's my "go to" radio in the lab and a rainy day project.
It's hard to believe that it's 51 years old. Purchased in 1975 from a now defunct Lafayette Radio for the princely sum of $110 USD. I bought it on a time payment plan to establish some credit. It's design reflects the "military style" that was common back then. The radio has 3 bands. AM - FM - VHF. The problem is that the bandswitch is very intermittent on FM and VHF. AM is fine. So rip it apart on find out what's going on.
Removing the back reveals solder side of the circuit board. You really have to jockey things to get it out of the front panel.
The bandswitch assembly is very complex. Just below the meter is a geared assembly with a switch under it to engage FM. VHF is engaged by the lever going up to the left of the meter and engaging to a switch under the meter.
I don't relish trying to take that assembly apart. So let's try some deoxit first. Success on the FM band. VHF is better but still somewhat intermittent. In looking over the lever assembly there was a screw (hidden under some wires) which appeared to give some minor adjustment. Again success. If only all projects were this easy. But getting this radio re-assembled was a royal pain in the arse.
And here it is. Listening to the National Weather Service on 162.55 MHz.
It's hard to believe that it's 51 years old. Purchased in 1975 from a now defunct Lafayette Radio for the princely sum of $110 USD. I bought it on a time payment plan to establish some credit. It's design reflects the "military style" that was common back then. The radio has 3 bands. AM - FM - VHF. The problem is that the bandswitch is very intermittent on FM and VHF. AM is fine. So rip it apart on find out what's going on.
Removing the back reveals solder side of the circuit board. You really have to jockey things to get it out of the front panel.
The bandswitch assembly is very complex. Just below the meter is a geared assembly with a switch under it to engage FM. VHF is engaged by the lever going up to the left of the meter and engaging to a switch under the meter.
I don't relish trying to take that assembly apart. So let's try some deoxit first. Success on the FM band. VHF is better but still somewhat intermittent. In looking over the lever assembly there was a screw (hidden under some wires) which appeared to give some minor adjustment. Again success. If only all projects were this easy. But getting this radio re-assembled was a royal pain in the arse.
And here it is. Listening to the National Weather Service on 162.55 MHz.