Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => Electrical and Instruments => Topic started by: paulr on December 16, 2007, 10:53:44

Title: New radio
Post by: paulr on December 16, 2007, 10:53:44

what do you think of this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/70s-Becker-Europa-Stero-Radio-NEW-w-speakers_W0QQitemZ170178769395QQihZ007QQcategoryZ80741QQcmdZViewItem

I am after a stereo Europa 2 for my 1970 280. Any comments? Also, does the US FM work in Europe as there are some nice US versions for sale here. I understand that the US uses odd numbers and the UK uses even numbers in it's frequency selection or the other way around. Does this matter if the radio has a manual tuning knob?

http://www.oldautoradio.com/NWdetail.php?LL=0&id=6290&year=60&brand=MERCEDES

paulr
lovely 1970 280 SL

Title: Re: New radio
Post by: Paddy_Crow on December 16, 2007, 12:51:18

An old analog tuner should work in the UK. A newer digital tuner may not.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

Title: Re: New radio
Post by: Peter van Es on December 16, 2007, 16:53:04

I can confirm what Paddy says. Old analogue Becker radio's do not differ between US and European versions.

Peter

1970 280SL. Also known as 'admin@sl113.org' and organiser of the Technical Manual (http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php).

Title: Re: New radio
Post by: paulr on December 17, 2007, 00:16:38

Thanks guys, that's great news. Have a happy Christmas.

paulr
lovely 1970 280 SL

Title: Re: New radio
Post by: 114015 on January 02, 2008, 13:39:05

Hello Paul,

Can only <<partly>> confirm what Peter mentioned...
Old Becker radios differ very well between US and European versions ...
However, the US units work fine in Europa. We've had 2 Europa Stereos and one Grand Prix Stereo, all US versions. They work great on the old continent.
So, where's the difference? US appliances of the sixties have mostly only FM and AM ... and that's enough ! You don't need short wave and long wave anymore nowadays ... that's what the European delivery radios commonly had.
More important is that the frequency bandwidth of the US devices is always (mostly ?) 88 - 108 Megahertz, the old European devices go only up to 104 Mhz, which means you are nowadays missing a lot of radio stations.
Eventually, European stereo units of the Europa and Grand Prix are pretty rare and in the States those were much more common.
In summary: Three good reasons to go for the US Beckers!!

Happy New Year to all of you.

Best,

Achim
(Becker radio collector ...)