need a new radio!

summerspring

I hope this is the right board to ask this.
I've decided it's time to come into the 21st century and get myself a new radio. :beer: The one I'm using at the moment is an old Roberts radio cassette recorder. It's been brilliant, but I am finding now, that when I record radio programmes onto cassette the tape often stops or jams for no apparent reason.



So I'm now looking for a new radio with a means of recording programmes, and preferably with the ability to set it to record in advance, much like my old Roberts one did. Does such a thing exist? I guess I would be looking for a digital radio, as I'm not sure how much longer they're going to continue broadcasting on analogue.



I've been looking around at the new digital radios, but can't see any which have this function. I was thinking of one where I could put, say, a memory stick into the radio and record the programme. Can anyone point me in the right direction? It's been many years since I last bought anything like this, and things have changed quite a lot since then!

John_Gray

For only £350 (RRP!), here's a Roberts Stream 63i which seems to do what you want.

A considerably cheaper record-to-cassette FM radio is also available.

googler

Cassette mechs jam up if abused or left uncleared. When did you last clean the recorder? Are you reusing the same tape all the time, or do you rotate a stock of tapes?

If you're merely using the tapes to time shift programmes, look into using BBC iPlayer. All of the BBC output is listenable for seven days after broadcast.

Does it have to be a one-box unit? Does it have to be sited away from your PC?

Some more detail on your requirements might help.

MS1950

Is something like this any use to you?

"[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Roberts' RecordR Portable DAB Radio" - records to an SD card rather than USB

£99.99 in Currys:

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/audio/radios/radios/roberts-recordr-portable-dab-radio-white-13878560-pdt.html

But £49.99 new from this ebay seller (says they've sold 165 of them):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Roberts-RECORD-R-White-DAB-FM-Digital-Portable-Radio-with-Recording-/171229649902
[/FONT]

summerspring

MS1950 wrote: »

Is something like this any use to you?

"[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Roberts' RecordR Portable DAB Radio" - records to an SD card rather than USB

£99.99 in Currys:

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/audio/radios/radios/roberts-recordr-portable-dab-radio-white-13878560-pdt.html

But £49.99 new from this ebay seller (says they've sold 165 of them):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Roberts-RECORD-R-White-DAB-FM-Digital-Portable-Radio-with-Recording-/171229649902
[/FONT]

Bingo! Sounds just like what I'm looking for :T

I'll bookmark these links, thankyou.

summerspring

googler wrote: »

Cassette mechs jam up if abused or left uncleared. When did you last clean the recorder? Are you reusing the same tape all the time, or do you rotate a stock of tapes?

If you're merely using the tapes to time shift programmes, look into using BBC iPlayer. All of the BBC output is listenable for seven days after broadcast.

Does it have to be a one-box unit? Does it have to be sited away from your PC?

Some more detail on your requirements might help.

I wouldn't be surprised if it needs cleaning. I don't know if I even have a cassette head cleaner anymore I had one years ago. I do rotate a stock of tapes, but they're also getting a bit old and have been used a lot.

I don't mind the iPlayer, but would prefer a separate radio so I don't have to start up my (rather slow) computer whenever I want to listen to something. The speakers on the computer aren't that great, either.

In theory I can record radio programmes through the tv, too, but for some reason it's never worked when I've tried it.

summerspring

John_Gray wrote: »

For only £350 (RRP!), here's a Roberts Stream 63i which seems to do what you want.

If I ever have a spare £350 I will consider it, especially as it has a CD player and iPod dock, too. It looks like a really nice bit of equipment.

buglawton

I also like catch-up radio and would point out there's another 'even more modern' way: Have a smartphone (or cheap tablet like a Hudl) with BBC iPlayer on it. Have a DAB radio with Bluetooth, e.g. the £50 John Lewis one that gets good reviews.

The phone will wirelessly connect to the radio to play any catch up material from the BBC Radio iPlayer.

Having said that, the Roberts one mentioned above does look very fit for purpose if onboard recording is what you want.

cookie365

Most BBC national stations and quite a few others broadcast on Freeview.

I use my Humax Freeview PVR to 'series record' radio programmes.