Portable radio suggestions

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doug748

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I fancy a new radio for on board entertainment, shipping forecast, and radio alarm; with LW,SW,FM and MW. The Roberts R9969 seems to fit the bill (£99.95 from Force Four) has anyone any experience of these, or any other suggestions?
 
A problem with onboard radio that I've noticed is the signal strengths from the various transmitter stations variability. Mainly being on the west coast of scotland doesn't help, but FM is often useless forcing listening to AM.
Its usually the case that the telescopic steel antenna on the top of these radios is for FM (and SW if fitted) but not for AM or LW. For these bands a ferrite rod is inside the case, and this antenna type is quite directional. As the boat swings (anchor or mooring) the signal appears to fade in and out (actually its the antenna orientation) making it not so much entertainment as a trial.
During a rugby match of high interest recently, there was a continual need to re-orient the set to get a signal.
The model you mention at least has the possibility of SW radio, so you could listen to China Radio International or similar!
 
I have two Roberts. As 'ordinary' radios go, they are nice bits of kit but are available for somewhat less than the price asked by swindlries. Stick Roberts and model number into Google. Bought my last one by mailorder, free next-day delivery and £25 off.
 
Sangean ATS 909 or the next model up ATS 818ACS (with an integral cassette recorder). £149.95 for the former but on e-bay etc you should get one for about the same price as the Roberts.

Just a matter of personal choice really but I endorse the comments about constantly re-orienting for MW/LW signal- a real pain
 
Roberts are very good radios I also have one. If you clip a wire onto the rigging and connected it to the aerial socket on the radio this will help.
 
In the good old days Roberts used to design and make all their own products then they started having them made in the Far East (I have no probs with that) but today they buy existing products and badge them. Some Roberts radios are really tinny and tatty. The one you are referring to is very similar to one I gave my sister several years ago and the big drawback is that it isn't at all intuitive to operate.

I have some really nice mains Roberts radios for domestic use in storage - lovely tone - traditional look, excellent products. On board, I have a Roberts RC 9907 with cassette recorder which allows you to record the Shipping Forecast (which I never do these days) - it is really tatty to look at and listen to...but jolly handy when you want to record, which you lot in the UK probably still want to, from time to time?

With Roberts, try before you buy. Argos and similar outlets are good as you have a 15 day trial period, or buy mail order if you don't mind paying the return postage.
 
Good advice.

I bought a Roberts R 9921 about 3 years ago and wish I could have sent it back. Controls are counter intuitive - but that's nothing. The fact that 2 x AA batteries last less than a day is more to the point - and that it didn't come with an AC adaptor that Roberts wanted you to pay an additional 1/3 the price of the radio for. Now on a Maplins AC adaptor in the kitchen at home.

On the boat I've got an old Grundig the size of a dictionary that takes 4 x D cells that last about 2/3 years. Only problem is when some Charlie has got his radar going nearby - becomes too irritating to listen to.
 
For serious stuff I have a Sony with SSB .... and various bands ... small ... runs on mains adaptor or aa's ... sadly they stopped making them ...

For general entertainment on board - I have a car audio system - which will be changed soon for the later system with MP3 as well. But with Car stuff - many do not have the LW etc. anymore ...

Never really saw the point of a Roberts - considering the price ... I can connect a recorder - I have a mini dictation machine I used on ship with my Sony ... (ok the sony was over £100 even in those far off days ... but it has SSB etc.) - recorders can be connected to even cheapo radios ....
 
I would suggest that for remote area radio reception an old car radio is the best bet. They invariably have a sensitive receiver and a proper aerial connection for an outside wire. (get a manually tuned one to alleviate memory power requirements) Plus you can have any external speaker/s that suits you for good sound quality. You don't have to have 2 speakers if you don't want just connect the outputs together via a small resistor.

If you want Short wave then you probably want SSB reception which requires a communications receiver which is a different class. olewill
 
FWIW ..... My Sony is the ICF-7600D

A recognised rec'r for SSB and all bands ... excellent.

You can get a later version a lot cheaper than what I paid for mine ... Phillips / Sony ... and others do similar now.

That with a good car radio satisfies all I need.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Roberts are excellent radios.

[/ QUOTE ] They are indeed if you really want a roberts have a look at matsui . They make roberts radio's but with a matsui badge they are a lot cheaper .
 
a wee sony digital with alarm and sleep functions- excellent for the aft cabin, fed from the lighting circuit via a voltage regulator. No need for anything with a "nautical" badge...Car radio/CDplayer in the saloon, rear faders to the wheelhouse. The joint's rocking.
 
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