Serial number 84796
Portable Transistor radio Made by Hacker Radio Ltd, Maidenhead UK. The radio is housed in a black leatherette covered wooden case. It has three Wavebands (AM 185 - 560 metres Medium Wave, 1000 - 1850 metres Long Wave and FM 87 - 101 MHz) This radio is normally powered by two 9 volt PP9 batteries in series. This is one of six transistor radios that I purchased for £20 on Ebay. now working Maidenhead, UK 1969 approx.
Top view, note the four adjustable markers for favourite FM stations
View of interior. Note the substantial loudspeaker and separate audio amplifier and the connectors for two 9 volt batteries. The rear mounted socket is a later modification.
When I first energised this radio I found that although it seemed to work fine on medium and long waves the VHF band was completely silent although the VHF circuitry (on the left on the above view) was energised. I noted that someone had previously replaced one transistor and by a injecting RF signals to various stages discovered that one of the transistors in the VHF tuning module was open circuit. This proved very difficult to access and in the end I cut away part of the support bracket to get to the underside of the printed circuit board. I did have a working BF195 which when I soldered it in place which brought the set to life.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Hacker 'Sovereign' is a 17 transistor (plus 7 diodes) portable radio receiver, designed for the highest possible quality reception of both AM and FM VHF broadcasting from a portable receiver. It features two separate tuners, one for AM reception and the other for FM, with common controls and amplifier. This dual receiver arrangement has many advantages in design and eliminates many disadvantages of combined receivers using common transistors and components. High sensitivity is essential for good FM reception and this is ensured by four I. F. stages.
Transistor lineup: BF195 BF195 BF194 BF194 BF194 BC108 BF194 AF117 AF117 AF117 AF117 BC108 BC108 OC71 AC128 AC128 AC176
Click here for an interesting light upon the manufacture of some Hacker radios.
