Roberts or Hacker up to 108MHz? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Derminator · 25th Feb 2009, 6:45 pm

My wife isn't impressed by my lovely Roberts R707 because she can't listen to Heart 106.2 on it. Incidentally, I picked it up in a junk shop for 30quid with new batteries. It's in very clean original condition except for an x shaped crack on the dial that I'm going to leave well alone. Is there an early Roberts or Hacker that goes further up the FM dial?

Cheers all.

Paul_RK · 25th Feb 2009, 7:13 pm

There won't be a Hacker, except for the RV14 Mayflower (1961 valve table model) - even the last portables reach only 104MHz or so - or a Roberts set aside from models considerably more recent than the R707. For a comparable set you could try to find a Dynatron Atlantis, big 1966 portable whose scale extends to 107MHz.

Regards,
Paul

Nickthedentist · 25th Feb 2009, 7:19 pm

...or you could use a tiny and cheap (£10ish) FM modulator like the "Linex" (available on eBay) to re-broadcast the signal from a small modern FM radio on a lower frequency (88Mhz end of the dial), to be picked up by the Roberts

Nick.

Derminator · 25th Feb 2009, 7:25 pm

Thanks chaps. The Linex seems like a useful stopgap while I hunt down the Dynatron.

mickjjo · 25th Feb 2009, 7:28 pm

Some useful information in this thread:-

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...hlight=108+mhz

The Roberts R25, R600 and R900, Grundig Yacht Boy and Tandberg TP41 are suitable candidates.

Regards, Mick.

paulsherwin · 25th Feb 2009, 7:29 pm

You can sometimes tweak the oscillator so that the radio tunes to a slightly higher frequency than that shown on the dial. You will lose the same coverage at the low frequency end but this may not be a problem if your local R2 signal is quite high up or you never listen to R2.

You should leave well alone if you're not sure what you're doing though, as you may mess up the FM alignment. Like Nick I have a Linex (in fact I have two) and can recommend it.

Paul

richrussell · 25th Feb 2009, 8:08 pm

I've got several handy frequency converters that'll run off 8V-18V dc. They came from Japanese import cars I've had, but have replaced the Japanese radio with a UK one, so no longer need the converter. Very cheap little units about 2cm x 2cm x 1cm in size so easily hidden under the chassis if needed in a radio.

Nickthedentist · 25th Feb 2009, 8:14 pm

Tell us more, Rich, please.

Nick.

richrussell · 26th Feb 2009, 4:01 pm

Japanese car radios have a narrower VHF FM broadcast range, 76-90MHz, so the original radio in your 400bhp Japanese supercar will only receive BBC Radio 2. So when they're imported, in addition to converting the speedo from kmph to mph, adding a rear foglight and so on to make it comply with UK laws, most places add a frequency expander to the radio. They just go in line between the aerial and the radio. Now you find all the stations above 90MHz appear at the bottom end of the dial. OK, so the frequency display is meaningless, but at least you can receive the programmes.

They're not expensive - usually under £5 on eBay. If you search for 'japanese import frequency expander' you should find some.

I'll have a look in the garage and see if I've got a spare one if anyone wants it.

Rich

Derminator · 9th Mar 2009, 6:26 pm

Thanks all. I picked up a Roberts R600 in the end. Needs a bit of work. It'll be my first attempt at a restoration. I'll keep you posted!

25th Feb 2009, 6:45 pm	#1
Derminator Pentode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Crystal Palace, London, UK. Posts: 118	Roberts or Hacker up to 108MHz? My wife isn't impressed by my lovely Roberts R707 because she can't listen to Heart 106.2 on it. Incidentally, I picked it up in a junk shop for 30quid with new batteries. It's in very clean original condition except for an x shaped crack on the dial that I'm going to leave well alone. Is there an early Roberts or Hacker that goes further up the FM dial? Cheers all.

25th Feb 2009, 7:13 pm	#2
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,259	Re: Roberts or Hacker up to 108MHz? There won't be a Hacker, except for the RV14 Mayflower (1961 valve table model) - even the last portables reach only 104MHz or so - or a Roberts set aside from models considerably more recent than the R707. For a comparable set you could try to find a Dynatron Atlantis, big 1966 portable whose scale extends to 107MHz. Regards, Paul

25th Feb 2009, 7:19 pm	#3
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,864	Re: Roberts or Hacker up to 108MHz? ...or you could use a tiny and cheap (£10ish) FM modulator like the "Linex" (available on eBay) to re-broadcast the signal from a small modern FM radio on a lower frequency (88Mhz end of the dial), to be picked up by the Roberts Nick.

25th Feb 2009, 7:25 pm	#4
Derminator Pentode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Crystal Palace, London, UK. Posts: 118	Re: Roberts or Hacker up to 108MHz? Thanks chaps. The Linex seems like a useful stopgap while I hunt down the Dynatron.

25th Feb 2009, 7:28 pm	#5
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: Roberts or Hacker up to 108MHz? Some useful information in this thread:- https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...hlight=108+mhz The Roberts R25, R600 and R900, Grundig Yacht Boy and Tandberg TP41 are suitable candidates. Regards, Mick.

25th Feb 2009, 7:29 pm	#6
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,970	Re: Roberts or Hacker up to 108MHz? You can sometimes tweak the oscillator so that the radio tunes to a slightly higher frequency than that shown on the dial. You will lose the same coverage at the low frequency end but this may not be a problem if your local R2 signal is quite high up or you never listen to R2. You should leave well alone if you're not sure what you're doing though, as you may mess up the FM alignment. Like Nick I have a Linex (in fact I have two) and can recommend it. Paul

25th Feb 2009, 8:08 pm	#7
richrussell Heptode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 979	Re: Roberts or Hacker up to 108MHz? I've got several handy frequency converters that'll run off 8V-18V dc. They came from Japanese import cars I've had, but have replaced the Japanese radio with a UK one, so no longer need the converter. Very cheap little units about 2cm x 2cm x 1cm in size so easily hidden under the chassis if needed in a radio.

25th Feb 2009, 8:14 pm	#8
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,864	Re: Roberts or Hacker up to 108MHz? Tell us more, Rich, please. Nick.

26th Feb 2009, 4:01 pm	#9
richrussell Heptode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 979	Re: Roberts or Hacker up to 108MHz? Japanese car radios have a narrower VHF FM broadcast range, 76-90MHz, so the original radio in your 400bhp Japanese supercar will only receive BBC Radio 2. So when they're imported, in addition to converting the speedo from kmph to mph, adding a rear foglight and so on to make it comply with UK laws, most places add a frequency expander to the radio. They just go in line between the aerial and the radio. Now you find all the stations above 90MHz appear at the bottom end of the dial. OK, so the frequency display is meaningless, but at least you can receive the programmes. They're not expensive - usually under £5 on eBay. If you search for 'japanese import frequency expander' you should find some. I'll have a look in the garage and see if I've got a spare one if anyone wants it. Rich

9th Mar 2009, 6:26 pm	#10
Derminator Pentode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Crystal Palace, London, UK. Posts: 118	Re: Roberts or Hacker up to 108MHz? Thanks all. I picked up a Roberts R600 in the end. Needs a bit of work. It'll be my first attempt at a restoration. I'll keep you posted!