B&O Beolit 609 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Millay_2010 · 26th Feb 2016, 1:17 pm

hi All I have one of these classic transistor radios, it was suffering some loose connections, that is all sorted now, but too slight issues persist.

A litttle drift on the tuning, nothing major but it does drift over a few hours.

Also there is a lot of hiss on the pronunciation of S etc when the DJ is talking.

What should I be looking for? Or is this as good as i can expect from an early transistor set.

Many thanks
Andrew

Paul_RK · 26th Feb 2016, 1:49 pm

Hello Andrew,

Are you sure that's the name of the model? I'm drawing a blank on 'Belolit', Beolit has been the usual B&O designation for portable models for upwards of 50 years: and the only Beolit 15 I'm aware of is a Bluietooth-enabled something-or-other only released a year or so ago, so I'm well puzzled!

Paul

Millay_2010 · 26th Feb 2016, 2:11 pm

Damn, I would like to blame age, but I'm only 37

Its a Beolit 609, If a passing mod could update the title that would be grand.

Nuvistor · 26th Feb 2016, 4:15 pm

Presume the sibilence is on FM, check the discriminator components and setup, AM suppression capacitor and the de-emphasis components.
Drift FM again? The VHF mixer/osc is an AF115, could be tin whiskers. There is no AFC on the set so it could be normal.

Frank

camallison · 26th Feb 2016, 5:42 pm

The 609 was only produced for one year, so yours has very few siblings I would say.

Colin

Millay_2010 · 28th Feb 2016, 12:59 pm

Thanks for the input and help!

orbanp1 · 28th Feb 2016, 2:18 pm

Hi Andrew,

Nice radio!

Here is some good info on the radio:
http://radio.gort.dk/page085.htm

I think some drift can be expected on that radio, it does not have an AFC circuit on FM.
If the drift is too annoying, and you do not mind modifying a bit the radio, an AFC circuit can be retrofitted easily. Just look at the circuit diagram of similar age transistor radios, it is only a couple of components.

You could also change the electrolytic capacitors, but that is not the source of the drift.

Regards, Peter

tri-comp · 28th Feb 2016, 3:46 pm

A Beolit 609 DOES NOT drift on FM when it's in perfect shape.
It doesn't have AFC and it wasn't necessary.
It performed rock solid on the station even with worn out batteries.
The LF-output went before the FM-tuner started drifting.

How do I know ?
This was my very first transistor radio in the early 60'ies.
You can't begin to imagine how many hours it was tuned in on Radio Luxembourg / 208 Meters.

In my experience the IF AF116-transistors may fail.
A good indication is too low emitter-voltages.
Low voltage iaw. schematics = weak transistor.

Hissing on 'S'-sounds may be caused by a misaligned FM Detector (971H135)
Beware, the cores crack easily !
Actually the core doesn't get misaligned by itself.
The real reason for needing realignment could be defective capacitors inside 971H135. (33pF & 22pF)
Of course it's easier to realign than to replace the cap's ..in which case a realign would also be necessary.
The 6,4uF/6V electrolytic cap, pos.33 should also be replaced. A 6,8uF standard-value cap. is fine.

26th Feb 2016, 1:17 pm	#1
Millay_2010 Hexode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 315	B&O Beolit 609 hi All I have one of these classic transistor radios, it was suffering some loose connections, that is all sorted now, but too slight issues persist. A litttle drift on the tuning, nothing major but it does drift over a few hours. Also there is a lot of hiss on the pronunciation of S etc when the DJ is talking. What should I be looking for? Or is this as good as i can expect from an early transistor set. Many thanks Andrew

26th Feb 2016, 1:49 pm	#2
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,259	Re: B&O Belolit 15 Hello Andrew, Are you sure that's the name of the model? I'm drawing a blank on 'Belolit', Beolit has been the usual B&O designation for portable models for upwards of 50 years: and the only Beolit 15 I'm aware of is a Bluietooth-enabled something-or-other only released a year or so ago, so I'm well puzzled! Paul

26th Feb 2016, 2:11 pm	#3
Millay_2010 Hexode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 315	Re: B&O Belolit 15 Damn, I would like to blame age, but I'm only 37 Its a Beolit 609, If a passing mod could update the title that would be grand.

26th Feb 2016, 4:15 pm	#4
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: B&O Beolit 609 Presume the sibilence is on FM, check the discriminator components and setup, AM suppression capacitor and the de-emphasis components. Drift FM again? The VHF mixer/osc is an AF115, could be tin whiskers. There is no AFC on the set so it could be normal. Frank

26th Feb 2016, 5:42 pm	#5
camallison Heptode Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Yarm, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 535	Re: B&O Beolit 609 The 609 was only produced for one year, so yours has very few siblings I would say. Colin

28th Feb 2016, 12:59 pm	#6
Millay_2010 Hexode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 315	Re: B&O Beolit 609 Thanks for the input and help!

28th Feb 2016, 2:18 pm	#7
orbanp1 Heptode Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 675	Re: B&O Beolit 609 Hi Andrew, Nice radio! Here is some good info on the radio: http://radio.gort.dk/page085.htm I think some drift can be expected on that radio, it does not have an AFC circuit on FM. If the drift is too annoying, and you do not mind modifying a bit the radio, an AFC circuit can be retrofitted easily. Just look at the circuit diagram of similar age transistor radios, it is only a couple of components. You could also change the electrolytic capacitors, but that is not the source of the drift. Regards, Peter