This is a thorough review which is much appreciated. I’ve got a Roberts Retro iStream 3L ordered. Primarily for the looks but also for Internet Radio. DAB is useless in the USA, but anything there will probably have a streaming channel as well.
I agree about the high price of Roberts. You can often find exactly the same products under the manufacturers of the products. Sangean springs to mind. They make rebranded Roberts radios.
Excellent presentation. With a voice like yours you should be on the radio ! I've got the 93i and It's okay. No bluetooth receiver, although I would be happy to buy a third party aac/aptx capable one, to just plug into the line-in socket. I found the Roberts remote to be ghastly and uncomfortable to use. I have since manually copied (ie: button by button) all the functions into a One-4-All Essence 4 RC7140 learning remote control . This is a beautiful quality, 4 device remote, which is very nice to hold with comfortable soft touch buttons. And it can use 4 AAA rechargeable (or not) batteries. I agree about the Undock app too. I find that great.
Great video Neil. Much appreciated. I've aroberts rd60 which lights up, but nothing. Do you have a video on these? IC 11 seems faulty. I'd like to get it going again. Any clues?
I haven't done one of these but had a quick look around. It appears it is possible to bypass that chip if it's hard to source - see here www.radios-tv.co.uk/community/service-data-wanted/roberts-rd-60-circuit-ic11/
Thanks for the video. As a matter of interest, of you enter the IP address of the radio in a browser, can you see the internet station presets and does it show you to edit and add new ones? I use lots of custom URLs that have to be entered manually in order to use them. Also, does the Undok app allow you to edit the internet presets too? A lot of these newer Frontier based radios have that functionality, hence my questions. I have the 94i but the online favourites portal (which I have to use to enter my custom URLs) is either going to be charged for or closed down from March 2024. I'm therefore assessing my options in case the worst happens!
You can edit the radio's presets via a browser. However the 94L doesn't support the online favourites portal (which as you say has an uncertain future).
It has been superseded by the 95i, which has mostly the same functionality, but also has Amazon smart speaker functionality. I think this is a hedge against providers like the BBC moving against internet radio streams, and the limited quality and availability of DAB. If the future of radio is just smart speakers then this seems a rather expensive way of buying an Echo, but it has a more conventional radio package and it is less likely to be bricked by format changes. I can't really recommend it as I haven't tried one, but that seems to be what Roberts are offering.
Just bought the 94L one, it looks you cannot favorite a podcast as such, only specific podcast episodes? Or have I missed something? Thanks for the review BTW !
Thank you for the video. The lack of NAS suuport kills it for me. No doubt tthey will say everyone streams from the phone. Wonder if it is a DNLA endpoint instead for media rendering?
Hi there I can’t find a radio station now it was playing on the internet and I can play it on other devices! A women’s voice comes on and said either this station is missing or your device can’t play it! Really weird
Roberts radio are usually great value for money. I have the stream 94i as well as older versions. I pay for Spotify which I can stream to the 94i but the improvements in the 94L are slight. I'm not going to pay a sub for amazon or tidal as well so the fact that the newer version has faster processing is not a big deal. If I was new to internet radio,by all means!
If you put your music &/or other audio into a folder/directory on the USB stick rather than directly in root, it will scroll in the way you were hoping for as it should. I had the same problem with the istream3 until I read the manual. 😊 If you just dump them directly on the USB stick it won't scroll & end up sticking. ***Might be worth me adding my iStream3 required the USB stick formatting to FAT32.
DAB was another defunct duck that the Beeb sold us on. I made the mistake of buying a PURE tuner for £149.99 and an Acoustic Solutions £69.99 DAB radio before I found out from Radio Netherlands Media Network programme that it was using a format MP2 invented in the 80s, hardly "tomorrow's wireless", eh, BBC! Might've been tomorrow's wireless if they'd brought out radios in the mid 80s maybe! So, I waited for DAB+ to come along before I started buying radios or tuners again. One day the Beeb might own up and tell us mugs that DAB+ is the format that should have been the standard! Most of Europe realised that! 🤔😡
There's always a problem being first to do something, you end up entrenching old technology. We have it with railways where we originally led the world and now ... well ... suboptimal I think would be the kindest way to put it. Had the BBC waited another 5 years or so AAC+ they would have chosen AAC+, but I suspect that "funding available now" was a big driver to get it over the line with existing technology. Interestingly the BBC are sticking with DAB not DAB+, presumably because they would rather competitors (like Classic FM who have moved to DAB+) will get the blame for making everyone buy new sets :-)
@@neilsradios I think there plan is to stay with it possibly while either the DAB+ coverage or the number of folk buying the compatible equipment might eventually give them cause to go for the switch maybe?
Roberts are like any other company, just like Apple, update new appliances and soon, they stop updates etc for older stuff so the people have to buy new items at overpriced prices. Iphones and ipodscant be updated after a time, so new ones have to be bought. Roberts make good sounding radios. but are they made in UK or places like India and China for miniml payout, but sell for as much profit as possible. I collect Roberts dab radio's but will never buy a new one as used ones are a lot cheaper. Same as Pure. Overpriced, but they can still be updated. One day, I will buy a Roberts 83i as I think it looks a nice radio and better looking than the 94L.
I notice that the BBC are now going to restrict access even to the new streams; they really are doing their best to drive everyone either to Sounds or smart speakers. I hope this doesn't mean this radio is going to be bricked on the internet side as well :-( www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/recent-changes-to-bbc-sounds/radio-changes
This is a thorough review which is much appreciated. I’ve got a Roberts Retro iStream 3L ordered. Primarily for the looks but also for Internet Radio. DAB is useless in the USA, but anything there will probably have a streaming channel as well.
I agree about the high price of Roberts. You can often find exactly the same products under the manufacturers of the products. Sangean springs to mind. They make rebranded Roberts radios.
Very interesting mate 😂😂😂
Excellent presentation.
With a voice like yours you should be on the radio !
I've got the 93i and It's okay. No bluetooth receiver, although I would be happy to buy a third party aac/aptx capable one, to just plug into the line-in socket.
I found the Roberts remote to be ghastly and uncomfortable to use. I have since manually copied (ie: button by button) all the functions into a One-4-All Essence 4 RC7140 learning remote control . This is a beautiful quality, 4 device remote, which is very nice to hold with comfortable soft touch buttons. And it can use 4 AAA rechargeable (or not) batteries.
I agree about the Undock app too. I find that great.
Great video Neil. Much appreciated. I've aroberts rd60 which lights up, but nothing. Do you have a video on these? IC 11 seems faulty. I'd like to get it going again. Any clues?
I haven't done one of these but had a quick look around. It appears it is possible to bypass that chip if it's hard to source - see here www.radios-tv.co.uk/community/service-data-wanted/roberts-rd-60-circuit-ic11/
Many thanks Neil. Very much appreciated. Contacted Roberts and they actually sell the ICs around £1.50 + postage
Thanks for the video. As a matter of interest, of you enter the IP address of the radio in a browser, can you see the internet station presets and does it show you to edit and add new ones? I use lots of custom URLs that have to be entered manually in order to use them. Also, does the Undok app allow you to edit the internet presets too?
A lot of these newer Frontier based radios have that functionality, hence my questions.
I have the 94i but the online favourites portal (which I have to use to enter my custom URLs) is either going to be charged for or closed down from March 2024. I'm therefore assessing my options in case the worst happens!
You can edit the radio's presets via a browser. However the 94L doesn't support the online favourites portal (which as you say has an uncertain future).
Still did not see how to set up to 10 presets. on dab internet radio etc.
Very interesting thanks. I was thinking of buying a 94L. What do you recommend instead of the 94L?
It has been superseded by the 95i, which has mostly the same functionality, but also has Amazon smart speaker functionality. I think this is a hedge against providers like the BBC moving against internet radio streams, and the limited quality and availability of DAB. If the future of radio is just smart speakers then this seems a rather expensive way of buying an Echo, but it has a more conventional radio package and it is less likely to be bricked by format changes. I can't really recommend it as I haven't tried one, but that seems to be what Roberts are offering.
Just bought the 94L one, it looks you cannot favorite a podcast as such, only specific podcast episodes? Or have I missed something? Thanks for the review BTW !
I think you’re right- I tried it once but kept getting the same episode back.
Thank you for the video. The lack of NAS suuport kills it for me. No doubt tthey will say everyone streams from the phone. Wonder if it is a DNLA endpoint instead for media rendering?
No it doesn’t work as a destination, sadly. The old 83i used to appear in “cast to” but this doesn’t.
Hi there I can’t find a radio station now it was playing on the internet and I can play it on other devices! A women’s voice comes on and said either this station is missing or your device can’t play it! Really weird
Roberts radio are usually great value for money. I have the stream 94i as well as older versions. I pay for Spotify which I can stream to the 94i but the improvements in the 94L are slight. I'm not going to pay a sub for amazon or tidal as well so the fact that the newer version has faster processing is not a big deal. If I was new to internet radio,by all means!
If you put your music &/or other audio into a folder/directory on the USB stick rather than directly in root, it will scroll in the way you were hoping for as it should.
I had the same problem with the istream3 until I read the manual. 😊
If you just dump them directly on the USB stick it won't scroll & end up sticking.
***Might be worth me adding my iStream3 required the USB stick formatting to FAT32.
Thanks, I’ll try that out.
I have a media server on the network
DAB was another defunct duck that the Beeb sold us on. I made the mistake of buying a PURE tuner for £149.99 and an Acoustic Solutions £69.99 DAB radio before I found out from Radio Netherlands Media Network programme that it was using a format MP2 invented in the 80s, hardly "tomorrow's wireless", eh, BBC! Might've been tomorrow's wireless if they'd brought out radios in the mid 80s maybe!
So, I waited for DAB+ to come along before I started buying radios or tuners again.
One day the Beeb might own up and tell us mugs that DAB+ is the format that should have been the standard! Most of Europe realised that! 🤔😡
There's always a problem being first to do something, you end up entrenching old technology. We have it with railways where we originally led the world and now ... well ... suboptimal I think would be the kindest way to put it. Had the BBC waited another 5 years or so AAC+ they would have chosen AAC+, but I suspect that "funding available now" was a big driver to get it over the line with existing technology. Interestingly the BBC are sticking with DAB not DAB+, presumably because they would rather competitors (like Classic FM who have moved to DAB+) will get the blame for making everyone buy new sets :-)
@@neilsradios I think there plan is to stay with it possibly while either the DAB+ coverage or the number of folk buying the compatible equipment might eventually give them cause to go for the switch maybe?
Junkyard dog 🐕 😂😂😂
Roberts are like any other company, just like Apple, update new appliances and soon, they stop updates etc for older stuff so the people have to buy new items at overpriced prices. Iphones and ipodscant be updated after a time, so new ones have to be bought. Roberts make good sounding radios. but are they made in UK or places like India and China for miniml payout, but sell for as much profit as possible.
I collect Roberts dab radio's but will never buy a new one as used ones are a lot cheaper. Same as Pure. Overpriced, but they can still be updated. One day, I will buy a Roberts 83i as I think it looks a nice radio and better looking than the 94L.
I notice that the BBC are now going to restrict access even to the new streams; they really are doing their best to drive everyone either to Sounds or smart speakers. I hope this doesn't mean this radio is going to be bricked on the internet side as well :-(
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/recent-changes-to-bbc-sounds/radio-changes
Blimmese 😅😅😅😅
30:00 of bla, bla, bla, without music and voice demonstration, is a big mistake.
24.30? You didn’t listen very carefully!