Panasonic Radar Matic Receiver Teardown With Circuit Description, Troubleshooing, And Resurrection! 

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This needs a part 2 where you show us how you repair the battery holder, on/off switch, and ferrite antenna.

"Hey look, we've got some rules! [...] 'Be careful not to damage or remove the plastic cover' [...] That sounds like an invitation to remove this plastic cover!... okay [...] we'll do that, because that's just in the rules." 😆

This is one of the coolest mechanisms I've ever seen. Just the idea to come up with it and then to get the green light to go ahead and build it and then another green light to go ahead and sell it would never happen today. Thank you Paul

To judge by the last couple episodes, Mr. Carlson really seems to be getting into these new-fangled transfer-resistor things!

Paul has blessed us with these videos lately!

Never seen that clockwork auto tune system before, very neat idea

Electronics is my first love. I used to do a lot of board level repair on all types of printers, computers, monitors, power supplies, even hard drives. The thrill of chasing the problem. It's really very rewarding when you find and fix problems that few can and you sir, are a master at it. Thanks for sharing!

very cool indeed. Looks like a great candidate for a restore/fix up (switch/ferrite rod/case dent/battery holder/clean). Great to see the alignment process as well. Cheers.

Now that is a neat auto-tune mechanism, very unusual design and totally unexpected. I think it's worth a restore on that merit alone. 👍

Even after all the work you put into the lab, it's plain to see you love what you do and this in turn makes it a joy to watch, listen and learn from you....Thanks!

Awesome Mr C., it's a true pleasure watching you work a schematic, a true art in and of itself. This was a very unique radio, never seen one before. I suppose this jewel will adorn the museum shelf after a few minor fixes, a rare find I'm guessing. Great video as always, as usual I learn from every episode. Thanks and 73.

Please keep making these transistor radio restoration videos . So cool !

I have been a long time watcher and wanted to share some exciting news! I have found my first radio for restoration, it is a Northern Electric Model 5000. Was picked up at my local electronics recycling center for the low low price of free! Super excited to follow along with some of your videos and dig in!

@ 4:15 -- The viewer at this point scratches his head and wonders why Mr. Carlson doesn't break out his ultra flexible, 3-D rendering boroscope invention that enables Mr. C. to walk through the innards of the radio with VR goggles...

I have to agree with you regarding the old Tek 'scopes , Paul. I was introduced to them in 1970 at my first duty station, Naval Security Group Activity, Kamiseya, Japan. I Immediately fell in love with those 'scopes.

That's a cool mix of clockwork and radio. A very interesting find.

When you said the radio had a hand crank, I was thinking of a radio that was being given to Missionaries in South America. This so anyone in the jungle if no power could listen to HCJB and TWR, Trans World Radio on the island of Bonaire,( I was an TX operator). The radios were powered by a hand cranked mechanism. The radio you’ve got is a really cool radio! I’ve never seen one of those. Ron

Thanks for teaching us poor folk something useful, I really appreciate the time and effort you put into sharing your knowledge. You're like the uncle I never had.

Unique example of an evolutionary branch of portable electronic entertainment. Electromechanical solutions that work, but the "DNA" has evolved to modern life. I remember the solid chunk as the TV was adjusted by the clicker. Nice saga as always.

Enjoyed this video - learn something each time I watch one of your teardown . Thanks

Wow some clever stuff It was good to see the mechanism. Thkyou for putting it out and your explanation brilliant. God bless

Simply amazing how any one can hold batteries in place, jumper a defective power switch then trouble shoot and align the IF circuits. AND make video of it!!!!!!

That was an hour so well spent thanks Paul

Perfect Sunday night viewing. Thanks from the UK 👍

Yes, nice demonstration of auto tuning. Automatic tuning and station presets have always been a feature of "better" radios since the late twenties. This is about the 1960s and a beautifully simple drive. Thanks!

That radio is really cool. Very interesting to see how the circuit works. It reminds me of the 1950s "Wonder Bar" radio I had in one my first cars which, when you pushed the button, would seek stations and stop on them just like this radio... (though you didn't have to wind it up). It also had a foot switch on the floor board so you could amaze and baffle your friends by changing the radio station using 'magic'. I always wondered how the wonder bar worked... and now I know. I also like the way the tuning condenser just rotates endlessly, up the dial, down the dial and up the dial again forever.... very cool.

I get the vibe that we don’t even completely know just how amazing you very much are. Just my intuition, let’s call it. Thanks for all the fun videos to watch, or even just listen to. Great stuff!

Thanks Paul, one of your best videos, full of interesting observations and useful information on this clever radio.

Thanks for the great video. What a neat little radio! I've never seen one auto tune like that.

Always fun watching you troubleshoot unusual vintage electronics Paul.

looks like bots in comments! love your content mr carlson, always learning something new

I didn’t know that Panasonic made an auto tune portable radio! Very cool!

People The Reason why we use Analog scopes even today is because A DMM Or a Digi Scope can lead you up the garden path when you want to go down it... Even today 2024 When I Test Longitudinals copper we Use analog Low Ohm ... You can end up in a world of Hurt if you are Not Careful. Spot On Mr C as Always ..... Legend Ham Operator ..

Spring powered Auto-Tuning. How cool is that...

I couldn't have resisted taking care of that battery box and switch first. But The Master has no worry for those trivialities.

Excellent demonstration and that radio is just amazing! Hello from Ontario Canada.

I built my first transistor superhet radio when I was about 16 years old and not from a kit. I had to etch the PCB. This auto-tuning radio is fascinating. Thanks for showing us what it can do!

Thanks Paul for your great videos. Nice to see transistors for a change. Maybe in a few years you’ll move on to IC’s 😀.

Excellent. I do R/C stuff and was pondering the escapement servo and reed receivers just today, but I'm anything radio related and to see this Radar Matic video as well, kinda got me thinking I need more gears in my life.

Great video in somewhat new "rough" style, im here for any MCL videos but this was just +++. Now im hoping to find this type of radio with FM... Thanks for a perfect schematics walk through, im still amazed how much stuff you know. Thanks from a Swedish Patreon.

Paul, I just love it when you find these rarely seen radios and fix them. Just for fun I did a search for one a few minutes ago and discovered an Ebay listing that had sold 6 hours before. Thank you for providing wonderful content and education!

Clever arrangement with a continuous tuning cap which scans up and then down the frequencies whilst always rotating the same direction.

Great tear down and circuit explanation. Thanks !

I found over the yrs butter knives are great for getting apart things with claws, tabs etc. LFOD !

I also find the high frequency analog scopes useful to find clipping when voice is in place on RF transmission. Not for the spurious RF per say... But for if there is any thing up from the audio chain that can lead to spurious radiation. And they are defiantly quiet!

Great view of innovation and troubeshooting, thanks

This little radio is so interesting. I love the auto tuning mechanism!

Hi I was in the electronic service industry sine 1998 until 2003 when I retired it’s great to see differnt items from other countries I still repair electronic equipment I use to train apprenticeships for young lads but they were not very interested and would leave after several months when computers came out I repaired them as well the young people whanted to play games on computer and not learn how to repair them they told me we will bin it when it goes wrong. That’s what people do these case I repair all y old tv,radio, cd players etc they do not want to pay for the repair. Steve b great videos.

I have the AM/FM version of this set. Works very well.

Thanks for the O-scope work, it's always my favorite.

Cool radio. An absolute pain though if you're listening to it with an earpeice and you have the radio in your pocket. That button would get pressed a lot. LOL

It would be interesting to see the operation of this receiver in the open air, away from industrial noise and city interference. A very interesting radio product)).

It's been a very pleasant trend for you to work on smaller, affordable transistor radios. I always felt a bit diminished when you repaired those wonderful, museum condition tube console radios. I can relate to transistor radios as they are affordable to me. I actually had one of these for several years, and it worked quite well. I sold it about a year ago. I was constantly freaked out by the manual tuning. I always held my breath when pushing in and tuning that wheel...kept waiting for it to break.(I have anxieties, haha). You are a real gift in your calm demeanor and incredible knowledge. Appreciate it....

You should definitelly dump those leak-a-cell Duracells....

Very cool. Thanks, Paul!

Thank you so much for this video. I really enjoyed watching!

Actually have one of these radios tucked away that belonged to my Mother-in-Law. Inspired me to dig it out and see if it still works!

Very well aligned and logically presented explanation. Thank you!

It has not yet stopped to surprise me how you get anything that lands on your bench to work at its peak performance every time. I've joined the Patreon years ago and looking forward to every video here and there. Now still on the way to figure out where would be the closest ham radio swap-meet to get to meet like minded people here in Ireland, and to get my hands on a few "holy grails" of test equipment.

That orange strip should be on the inside of the batteries. You pull on it to get the batteries out.

Very Fun video on a Panasonic Radio. Panasonic made some cool stuff of the early 70s. Never knew this radio existed. Thanks Mr. Carlson.

Superb video! More thanks from the UK!

Never saw a radio like this before. So glad you took the time to work on it for us viewers. Interesting!

New content, my day just got better, thanks Mr. Carlson. Long day teaching young lad.

You are an amazing man, nicely done sir!

I enjoy these wonderful radio repairs. Also, the Gilligan's Island Style Radio Packard Bell AR-851 is an interesting radio. 🤔 Thanks for the great troubleshooting video.

Mr Carlsons lab you are good at restoring antique radios and alignment of antique radios my friend

Your videos are always great. This was a very fascinating radio and loved the way you troubleshoot the problem and tuned it! Thank you.🙂

Thanks Paul, big thumbs up!

The best small portable transistor radio ive ever owned was a Panasonic that i bought at the px in Germany back in 1982, am/fm/sw. It was lost in transportation when i came back to the states, nowadays the only comparable radio ive found is a portable grundig but its alot bigger.

Increíble aparato, y mas el maestro que lo pone a funcionar, nuevamente mis respetos al experto. Gracias por compartir. Saludos desde México.

A motor and a latching relay, ....what a concept for "auto stop" tuning/finding ....I am IMPRESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun video Paul. Interesting to see the mechanical and electronic design that went into the radio. Pretty amazing to see the sensitivity of the radio and your troubleshooting and alignment procedures.

Sweet a new long video! I really enjoy the long videos.

@ 9:50 - Those darned Panasonic engineers back in the day thought of everything with that schematic. They even predicted and diagrammed the broken ferrite! ;-)

I like all your videos and I always wait for you to bring a new one. Thanks Paul.

Yes, please do more Solid-state repairs

This was a great episode, I enjoyed watching it. See you next time. 73 pe1krx.

Very pleasent to watch and educate slef. I didn't realised that some one can use spring mechanism as autotuner... In my country constructions small ferrites were screwed with small ruber string, wich stablized core in somewhat loose screw, maybe here was similary and rubber degraded making it touchy.

Haven't seen one of these before Paul, great video - Thank You !

Another great video lesson. I do appreciate the radio repair videos

That is so neat. Modern stuff just doesn't have the pizzazz something like this does. Appreciate you taking time to go through the schematic in detail, learned a few things.

Awesome ! never seen a mechanical scan like this....cheers.

super well done🎉

@MrCarlsonsLab thanks for the great work you do, and the way you explain things

Thank you Mr. Carlson! 🔈🔉🔊

First Panasonic I ever saw with a wind up mech....cool!

Great work Mr Carlson nice information 👍 ❤❤thanks for the sharing this video sir 😊😊

Paul one of the best videos you have made very informative on alignments really got something out of this. Thanks Mike

Great back to basics video Paul!

You deserve many more subscribers, thank you!

Great explanation on the tear down 👍….So clever how they get around the auto tuning using what was available at the time.

Hi. Very nice receiver ! And you're the best !

Reminds me of my 1938 RCA console that has presets. It of course has an electric motor that tracks back and forth the dial, but it mutes the audio until those preset stations are located. Great video sir. Enjoyed it very much.😊

That was a really interesting one Paul. Very well explained. Thank you

That was fun. I like these alignment videos.

I love this little radio! I hope you continue fixing it up. ^_^

Thanks for the knowledge

Mr Carlsons lab your antique panasonic radar matic Am transistor radio is awesome my friend