Roberts R9962 12 Band World Radio vs £8 Tesco world radio

Hi there, this is my Roberts World Radio....stuck in a cupboard for a few years, but still for sale - in Argos for example at £34.99. This makes it more than four times as expensive as the £8 world radio I picked up in Tescos a month ago. In this video there is a quick comparison in reception of Voice of Turkey - a very easy signal here in the UK. Over the next few days I will run some more tests to hopefully ascertain whether the extra £23 is money well spent on performance, or just the Roberts brand. Thanks for watching! Best....

[@deandenton9295]

Awesome! Sounds better on Roberts but the Tesco-branded is cheaper.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

+Dean Denton The Roberts does sound better but it's four times as expensive! 73s! Clint

[@neilcampbell4833]

There's not much on SW anymore. I've tried the web SDR and didn't get much. I've just bought a radiwow and I wish I went with an SSB option instead as there's loads to listen to on the 44-46 khrtz frequently.

[@jpwphotographicstudio3891]

I find the Tesco 108 drifts a fair amount, this is very annoying. The Roberts is far superior and worth spending the extra money in my opinion - no drifting whatsoever. The build quality though of the Tesco 108 for the price is very good, I like the stand on the back.The Roberts is the one to go for folks.... More expensive, but worth it in the long run.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Hi there, I agree with you entirely, but for £8, we can't really complain about the Tesco receiver. Thanks for your comments and 73! Clint

[@user-vb5fs1sf2y]

The tesco one appears to be the same or exact copy of a Grundig one from mid 1990s which was very good and lasted me ovef 20 years. I bought this Tesco one as a replacement for £7 a few years ago but mine was terrible - mainly the sound quality very tinny aftef the Grundig.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Hi Tony, thanks for taking the time to comment. I agree the audio quality is not the greatest on the Tesco world band radio, but what can you expect for £8 I suppose. It is quite sensitive however, I picked up North Korea with it, with a decent signal, with very little trouble. 73! Clint

[@mustafa9100]

Hi Clint, how are you?! I like these little analogue receivers very much! I think the Roberts is basically one Sangean model probably the 721 or something?! I am going to buy that one! I love to tune into some easy signals by such cheap radios, specifically when you think of their rather low consumption of energy! Thanks and 73!

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Hi Mostafa, I'm fine thank you, hope you are too. I think you're right, the Roberts is probably built by Sangean - they seem to have built the majority of shortwave radios over the years, for many manufacturers! I agree with you that the cheap and simple analogue radios are a lot of fun to tune around with. Some of the vintage models are awesome. Thanks again and 73! Clint

[@Mungomytube]

This Tesco worldband radio for such a low price works surprisingly well and is good fun to play with . My following comments are all in the light of the vey low price, its a very cheap radio, don't expect too much . It has clear sound well suited to speech. Very good sensitivity and selectivity is extremely good . It is far from perfect (but at £8 you really can not complain) a little prone to overloading and ghost stations if signals are too strong, but closing down the telescopic aerial a little to reduce the sensitivity can help. There are a few strange self generated noises near the ends of the long wave band. The tuning does take a little getting used to. Although a fairly smooth analogue tuning mechanism, the electronic side of the tuning appears to go in small steps , you must not tune to quickly as you will miss stations. Short wave listening has become almost impossible no matter how good your radio because of the noise from modern electronics, there is a good chance that you will not be able to hear anything unless you get away from man made noise, Switching all your gadgets off , video recorders , phone chargers, TV's (even on stand by ,unplug it), modems , wifi routers, suspect any electronic equipment or charger as a noise source . If you have neigbours most likely their equipment will wipe out shortwave for you. I have to go outside our village to get away from noise radiated by telephone wires (broadband internet) it is not just noise inside the home. Tesco appears to be discontinuing these radios.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Thanks for the information Daniel. Indeed, for what is a very modest sum, the Tesco worldband radio is very good indeed. 73! Clint

[@philireland1678]

G'day Clint, Playing with very cheap shortwave radios can be rewarding and fun. They are surprisingly good performers sometimes for program listening, good luck DXing though but hey just tuning around is relaxing in itself. Have fun with it. Cheers. . . . . . Phil

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Hi Phil, hope you're having a great day. I agree completely - that Roberts cost £30 and it's actually pretty sensitive. I have some other videos on here with a shortwave portable bought in Tescos for £8 and I recorded Voice of Korea with it! Amazing and as you say, a lot of fun! 73! Clint

[@philireland1678]

Oxford Shortwave Log Hi Clint, Very hot here today, might get to 40 deg. Too hot in the shack! Have you tried the great little Tecsun R 9012? Outstanding performer for a pocket radio. Some limitations on the shortwave coverage and FM will overload unless you collapse the antenna but a surprising performer on shortwave. I enjoy squeezing the enth degree out of standard consumer radios as well. Enjoy the DX Cheers...... Phil

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Hi Phil, wow that is hot! I was in Brazil in November and it was around 40 degrees during the day (and a chilly 34 degrees at 1:30 am lol). Very draining if you can't be at the beach! I haven't tried the R-9012, but I've read that it's a very good performer. I have a soft spot for analogue radios, so definitely worth a look. Thanks again and 73! Clint

[@andrewhowden3887]

thanks for reply,I'm a radio ham and cheat by using my big Kenwood 😍!! but I'd like a tuscon as well as they are advertised in all radio mags.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

My pleasure! I cheat using an SDR.....it's like fishing with a trawler net instead of a hook and line! 73! Clint

[@andrewhowden3887]

hi,I have the Roberts and the tesco and for me it's the Roberts hands down but I will definitely keep the tesco. same for d.a..b.roberts but they will always be a tesco radio in the house !!!! cannot beat the price.i liked the 2 dab from there budget range,so I bought both !!!!!🙌

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Hi Andrew, thank you very much for your comments! I agree that the Roberts is the better performing radio, but for £8 the Tesco radio is superb! I copied North Korea on mine with a decent signal - if you search on my channel you will find the reception video. Thanks for watching! 73! Clint

[@dilligaf700]

Just found my old Roberts radio the very same one.who would of thought that a cheap radio is now £35 I should of bought lots could of made some good money.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Exactly!

[@lio90991]

hi.. i compared my roberts 9962 to Panasonic rf562.. as Roberts showed no crispy sound..but i can say that it was equal to Panasonic in terms of sensitivity. thanks

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

+lio90991 Hi there, thanks for taking the time to comment. The Roberts is a nice little travel radio, thanks for confirming the sensitivity to your Panasonic. It's a good quality analogue receiver. 73s! Clint

[@vanillacoffee]

Did you ever post up the other comparisons? I just got a 9962 and it’s an admirable performer for the price. Best wishes to you. New subscriber from Thame :-)

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Hi there! I don't think I did post other comparisons of the Roberts - definitely a great radio for the price though. 73! Clint

[@vanillacoffee]

Oxford Shortwave Log I’ve just got a PL310ET too. The Roberts in my experience has equally good reception compared to the Tecsun. Disadvantage is, with no frequency display - you don’t always know what you’re listening too ! Best wishes to you - great channel.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Ah yes, the PL-310ET is a wonderful little radio. I bought mine in Maplins (Botley Road, Oxford) and there are many reception videos on my channel demonstrating how great it performs. You're right about the Roberts, a sensitive radio for sure, but difficult to DX on an analogue display. Thanks and 73! Clint

[@dieterfischer535]

roberts 9962 ses kalitesi iyi ,ayrıca çok düşük güç tüketimi var,yaklaşık 40mAh.markasız alkaline pille 2 gün boyunca aralıksız çalıştı

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Thanks for your comments

[@TMxtt]

Looking to buy a little portable radio, but not sure whether to get this Roberts radio or the TECSUN PL-380. Which would you recommend? The TECSUN appears to have way more features, but its quality and quantity of SW stations im primarilly interested in. Not sure which device offers the best in this regard. Any advice?

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Hi there, I would actually recommend you buy a Tecsun PL-310ET. It's very similar to the Pl-380, except it has an external antenna socket - which with a few meters of wire attached will bring in a lot more SW stations. It also as the ETM - Easy Tune Mode which will scan the entire HF band and save all signals into a temporary memory for reviewing. Super sensitive and with 5 audio bandwidth filters from 6 to 1 kHz, it's excellent value for money and capable of proper DX. The Roberts is a nice radio, but the analogue tuning scale is very innacurate and most of the time you won't be certain of what you're listening to until you hear an ID. Hope that helps. 73! Clint

[@TMxtt]

It does, thanks a lot Clint!

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

My pleasure! Happy New Year! 73! Clint

[@alexblue6991]

Thinking about getting back into sw radio been about 30yr something to do due 2 lockdown I'm also retired had a old Robertson radio couldn't get much on it thinking about getting a new one I seen one in tesco but at such a cheap price I thought it wouldn't be any good looking for advice as Christmas President for myself

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Hi Alex, I think a good first radio would be something like the Tecsun PL-365 or 310ET - or even an XHDATA D-808. Any of these will perform much better than a cheap analogue radio. 73s, Clint

[@alexblue6991]

Just bought one for tesco £9 try it out tonight

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

How about Tivdio V-111 or Happy CS-106? I have 10 kHz version of CS-106, LW tuning step is 9 kHz and AM is 10.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Hi Francis, I don't have any experience with the Tivdio or Happy CS unfortunately so I can't comment. 73! Clint

[@Jesusandbible]

So does Tesco do LW MW SW FM? If not..... why compare apples and pears?

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Yes it does, but I'm not sure I understand the point you are making?

[@ehababdulburalfakhory801]

I want to buy a radio of 12 bands for my father. My father likes solid build and very sensitive but he can not deal with radios such radiowow R108 or XHDATA .....I want something similar to those ones in your vedio. Could you please tell me which is the best or do you know other good ones ? Thanks so much.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

It depends on your geographical location. An analogue Sony radio would be a good choice, or a Tecsun. Hope that helps. 73!

[@ehababdulburalfakhory801]

@@OxfordShortwaveLog Thank you.

[@dave03085]

The queen has a roberts

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

+dave03085 Yes I think they are by Royal Appointment....or at least they were. I think even Samsung are now also. 73s! Clint

[@TheProms]

Did I hear someone say Albania?

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

I don't know, did you?! 73s

[@Heylo695]

Channel that you listening was turkish.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Thanks for the info. 73!

[@Heylo695]

Youre welcome. Channel is awesome!!!

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Thanks!

[@nor4277]

I wish they woukd sell Roberts radios over here.

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Amazon? Ebay? Import duty? Nightmare Ron. 73! Clint

[@nor4277]

@@OxfordShortwaveLog thanks for the info ,I seem to love the old roberts too like the 600 ,one that been restored at a price I can afford they have such a cool look to them .

[@nor4277]

@@OxfordShortwaveLog its a shame we cant buy english stuff easyer ,and its easy to buy stuff from china ,our family at some point came from there.

[@KandiKlover]

:3

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

Hey you, not bad for £8!!! 73! Clint

[@user-cz9ip7gw5y]

،

[@OxfordShortwaveLog]

+‫محمد اسماعيل‬‎ Thank you for taking the time to comment. 73s! Clint

[@user-cz9ip7gw5y]

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