Pictures of Roberts MP40 DRM/DAB/AM/FM radio

[jbriggs]

Thanks to simone for hosting these photos of the Roberts MP40 radio. James

picture of radio on stand, with MF antenna in front

closer view of whole radio

close up of display receiving DW

close up of display receiving DW with text message

left side with connections

rear

front display with UBC Classic

[DRM-Fan]

Thanks for pics but what a shame no DRM module has been incorparated into the RD20 as I thought. This design to me is too geeky looking, the very nice looking RD20 would have been perfect for DRM and I would have brought one. I won't being buying this I'm afraid never mind the ott price of 299 euro

[richard]

Think this is quite a good design for a digital radio as has a large display, which is easy to read. Much better than the two line displays found on most DAB sets- These are supposed to be easier to use!

Cannot understand why they can't integrate a ferrite rod aerial into the set and use it for the whole DRM frequency range. Guess this is because the digital module has just one F type rf input for DRM, FM & DAB.

[jbriggs]

Having tested the radio on the BBC MW service to Western Europe 648 kHz AM, (Radio in AM reception mode, not DRM/FM/DAB mode), I am pleased to report that the radio does display "BBCWorld Service" after a minute or two. In addition the language and (incorrect) time are alternately displayed under the service label. Here are some links to information about the AMSS system.

BBC AMSS paper in EBU

forum discussion on AMSS

[jbriggs]

I tried mobile reception with the MP 40 today and made an (unscientific) comparison with Dream V1.6.1 and the BBC R&D receiver.
I was very pleased with the results.
The test was on the south west section of the M25 motorway, between junctions 11 and 8, receiving 25695 kHz the 20 kHz dual channel service from Crystal Palace.
The test run with Dream was not successful, as the PC kept locking up, Simone later told me that this build of Dream 1.6.1 is unstable and she recommends an earlier version 1.5.
The Roberts was simple to set up (no PC of course) and worked reliably on that section of motorway, probably losing about 6 seconds of audio total for the 25-minute journey. I think it is ideally suited to the passive whip antenna we have on the car, in contrast the BBC Rx does expect a 50 Ohm source impedance antenna (which is NOT the antenna fitted), and consequently the Roberts showed better performance than the BBC, I estimate the BBC lost about 30 seconds of audio on the same 25 minute journey.

Also the Roberts (& BBC) stayed locked firmly to the selected service (service 1). There is a problem with Dream at the moment because as soon as sync is lost, the software reverts to service 0 when sync is re-established, which is very annoying if you want to listen to service 1.

I shall be using the Roberts as my receiver of choice for mobile demonstrations, the only disadvantages compared to laptop decoders are that there is no output other than the audio (so it is no good for professional monitoring) and there is no display of the spectrum as in the DReaM and DRM softwares, which can be useful. But it is simple to set up and it works.

Oh and by the way this section of the motorway is mostly OUTSIDE the predicted service area so great performance from all the Rx .

[johnfig]

James:

Hello again from this side of the pond.

What are the chances that this model will be available in the US come August, which I understand from the US DRM meeting is the next production date for it? If not under the Roberts nameplate, under Sangean perhaps?

John Figliozzi

[iw0hk]

Hello,
i have received this email from Sangean about "real drm receiver" on the market, they say, as always, end of the year. Here is the email:

Dear Mr. Andrea,

We thank you very much for your interest in SANGEAN.
Unfortunately we cannot tell you when the DRM-receiver will be available.
Our headoffice in Taiwan is still busy with the production.
We hope to have them in stock end of this year.

Hope to have informed you accordingly.

With best regards,

Mrs. Hutjens

Sangean Europe bv
Ankerkade 20
5928 PL Venlo
The Netherlands

Tel +31-77-382 9344
Fax +31-77-387 5357

e-mail sales@sangean.nl
site www.sangean.nl

[johnfig]

Thanks very much for the info. Looks from this reply that the projected date announced at the USA DRM meeting of August 2006 is a little optimistic.... again, unfortunately.

[iw0hk]

here is an other good news from Sangean Taiwan :

Hello Andrea ,

Sangean DRM receiver ( model DRM40 ) will be available to the market in Oct. 2006 .

Thanks for asking .

Best Regards ,

Albert Chen/Sangean

[MikeB]

A Morphy Richards DRM radio was shown at the London Digital Radio Show last week. Email today from their Consumer Affairs Department says:

I have spoken to our Design Department and they have confirmed release date sometime in September, (unfortunately I could not pin him down to a specific date) and the UK recommended retail price will be £140.00.

[fibber]

For those lucky enough to have one of these radios, please tell us all the pros and cons at this time. I hope that they hit the US near the time they go retail in Europe!

What is the sensitivity like compared to all of the various "conversions" we use now. How does the MP3 and and flash memory system work. How much memory is onboard? How does the text display work out? Will it do Journaline and the like? Does it have a BNC for the antenna? What antennas have you tried? How well does it work on the whip?

I know, lots of questions, but I am so anxious and want to know what I'm gonna get for saving all my lunch money for one of these!

-Fibber

[dk8cb]

Originally Posted by fibber

Does it have a BNC for the antenna?

Just for clarification: Talk is now about two different radios

1. The Roberts MP40 (=Sangean DRM40)
2. The Morphy Richards receiver (no equivalent type known so far)

However, both use the Radioscape module, which has an F-connector (as known from satellite receivers) mounted directly onto and protruding from the module. This was also used on the MP40 as the receiver's antenna input when I last saw it at IFA.
On the MP40, there is now also a new separate, non-coaxial multi-pin input for the detachable ferrite antenna that comes with the set. This was not present on the prototype shown at IFA last year.

Roland

[N_Scheer]

Here is a link with information about Sangean DRM-40
http://www.thiecom.de/drm40.htm
available in october
and:

other available DRM-Receiver
http://www.thiecom.de/shop1/index.ht...aengerDRM.html

[N_Scheer]

And here it is: http://www.sangean.nl/English/?opt1=..._RADIO&opt5=70

hoping other announcements will follow soon


Nico

[johnfig]

Originally Posted by N_Scheer

And here it is: http://www.sangean.nl/English/?opt1=..._RADIO&opt5=70

hoping other announcements will follow soon


Nico

Thanks for this (and all for the other posts on this point). Looks like it might be shaping up to be a Merry Christmas for radio enthusiasts...