Roberts RP26-B preset radio - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

SteveCG · 24th May 2019, 3:40 pm

This LW/MW/VHF transistor radio from the late 80s has the wooden-ends styling we associate with earlier 60s/70s Roberts products. Yet the controls look to be identical to those of the very differently styled RP20 model. I wonder if any Roberts aficionado can tell me whether the electronics is the same? And for that matter, how well did the radios perform?

crackle · 24th May 2019, 5:21 pm

I find it it is always a good idea to add links or photos if possible to clarify your post, and it helps people answer your question. It can save everyone having to look and search for them themselves.
I have not been able to find a Roberts RP20 what is it.
This is the RP26-B https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/roberts_rp26_brp_26.html

Mike

Andrewausfa · 24th May 2019, 6:02 pm

The RP-20 looks unlike the more traditional Roberts sets, late 80's dark grey or silver grey plastic thing.

Andrew

Heatercathodeshort · 24th May 2019, 7:32 pm

Truly horrible! I sold a number of these...unfortunately. Presets were so sensitive to adjust that most guys could not do it easily and as most customers were elderly I had a constant stream of moans.. A tiny turn and the station was lost. To add insult to injury the AFC was nasty. Terrible model. I will say no more! Come back Fidelity, all is forgiven. John.

efchase · 11th Jun 2019, 11:10 am

I agree it is sensitive.

I was just asked to mend one where the tuning was completely off, with half the FM stations “off the dial”. The 3 FM pots are fed from a 5k preset. No matter where I turned the preset I could not get all the stations within the range of the pots. So the preset was more than just dirty; it must have a crack in the track or similar. Replaced with a 10k as an 8k setting was only way to get all the stations within the range.

Noticed that a large coil at bottom left of RF PCB (looking from back) had its wax coating broken and had been bent to make the coils much further apart. Any idea why this was? I put it back to what seemed like its as manufactured state and it seemed to work OK.

Tuning is stable, unlike another post here saying it drifted with time. I am sure realignment would improve it but I don’t have the manual for this.

Nothing received on MW but that might be just a lack of MW stations here. LW works.

24th May 2019, 3:40 pm	#1
SteveCG Nonode Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 2,495	Roberts RP26-B preset radio This LW/MW/VHF transistor radio from the late 80s has the wooden-ends styling we associate with earlier 60s/70s Roberts products. Yet the controls look to be identical to those of the very differently styled RP20 model. I wonder if any Roberts aficionado can tell me whether the electronics is the same? And for that matter, how well did the radios perform?

24th May 2019, 5:21 pm	#2
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: Roberts RP26-B preset radio I find it it is always a good idea to add links or photos if possible to clarify your post, and it helps people answer your question. It can save everyone having to look and search for them themselves. I have not been able to find a Roberts RP20 what is it. This is the RP26-B https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/roberts_rp26_brp_26.html Mike

24th May 2019, 6:02 pm	#3
Andrewausfa Octode Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: St Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 1,180	Re: Roberts RP26-B preset radio The RP-20 looks unlike the more traditional Roberts sets, late 80's dark grey or silver grey plastic thing. Andrew Attached Thumbnails __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life. Or they should do. BVWS Member

24th May 2019, 7:32 pm	#4
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Roberts RP26-B preset radio Truly horrible! I sold a number of these...unfortunately. Presets were so sensitive to adjust that most guys could not do it easily and as most customers were elderly I had a constant stream of moans.. A tiny turn and the station was lost. To add insult to injury the AFC was nasty. Terrible model. I will say no more! Come back Fidelity, all is forgiven. John.

11th Jun 2019, 11:10 am	#5
efchase Diode Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Winchester, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 8	Re: Roberts RP26-B preset radio I agree it is sensitive. I was just asked to mend one where the tuning was completely off, with half the FM stations “off the dial”. The 3 FM pots are fed from a 5k preset. No matter where I turned the preset I could not get all the stations within the range of the pots. So the preset was more than just dirty; it must have a crack in the track or similar. Replaced with a 10k as an 8k setting was only way to get all the stations within the range. Noticed that a large coil at bottom left of RF PCB (looking from back) had its wax coating broken and had been bent to make the coils much further apart. Any idea why this was? I put it back to what seemed like its as manufactured state and it seemed to work OK. Tuning is stable, unlike another post here saying it drifted with time. I am sure realignment would improve it but I don’t have the manual for this. Nothing received on MW but that might be just a lack of MW stations here. LW works.