Roberts Expression User manual

DAB / DAB+ / FM RDS Stereo Digital Radio with built-in battery charger
Please read this manual before use
ROBERTS

Controls .......................................................................2-3
Battery operation using alkaline batteries.......................4
Battery operation using rechargeable batteries..............5
Using the AC adaptor .....................................................6
Operating your radio - DAB ............................................7
Selecting a station - DAB................................................8
Display modes - DAB .....................................................9
Finding new stations - DAB ..........................................10
Secondary services - DAB............................................10
Manual tuning - DAB .................................................... 11
Signal strength display - DAB....................................... 11
Dynamic range control (DRC) settings - DAB ..............12
Prune stations - DAB....................................................13
Operating your radio - Search tuning - FM...................14
Manual tuning - FM.......................................................15
Display modes - FM......................................................16
Favourite button............................................................17
Recalling your favourite station ....................................17
Preset stations DAB and FM ........................................18
Stereo / Mono setting - FM...........................................19
Contents
Scan sensitivity setting - FM.........................................20
Language function........................................................21
Software version...........................................................22
System reset.................................................................23
Headphone socket........................................................24
Auxiliary input socket....................................................24
A few words about batteries ....................................25-26
Display backlight...........................................................27
USB socket for software upgrades...............................27
General.........................................................................28
Specifications ...............................................................29
Circuit features .............................................................29
Guarantee.....................................................................30
1

2
Controls
1. Speaker x 2
2. Volume control
3. DAB / FM button
4. Auto Tune button
(Top)
5. Favourite button
6. Info button
7. Preset button
8. On / Off button
9. Tuning / Select control
10. Charge / Low battery indicator
11. Telescopic aerial
11
3 4 5 6 7 82 9 1 1
10

3
12. Headphone socket
13. Auxiliary input socket
14. Battery compartment
15. USB socket (for service use only)
16. DC input socket
17. Battery compartment screw
Controls
(Rear)
12 13 15 1614 17

Battery operation using alkaline batteries
(also see page 25)
1. Ensure your radio is disconnected from the mains supply and the
aerial is fully retracted.
2. Open the battery cover on the base of the unit by using a flat bladed
screwdriver to loosen the screw securing the battery cover.
3. Slide the switch inside the battery compartment to the Alkaline
position.
4. Insert four LR20 (D size) Alkaline batteries into the spaces in the
compartment. Take care to ensure all batteries are inserted with the
correct polarity as shown inside the battery compartment.
5. Close the battery cover and gently tighten the screw using a flat bladed
screwdriver. Do not overtighten.
• Important: when using Alkaline batteries the battery switch must
be placed in the Alkaline position. Failure to do so could result
in serious damage to the batteries or radio.
• When the batteries are exhausted, the charge/low battery indicator
will show red for a short while. The radio will then switch itself off. It
may not be possible to switch the radio back on until the batteries are
replaced, or until the radio is connected to the mains adaptor.
• If the radio is not to be used for any extended period of time it is
recommended that the batteries are removed from the radio.
• We would recommend for economy that the Expression is used via
theAC adaptor whenever possible with battery operation for occasional
use only. If extended listening using batteries is anticipated, then the
use of rechargeable batteries is recommended.
IMPORTANT: The batteries should not be exposed to excessive heat
such as sunshine, fire or the like. After use, disposable batteries should
if possible be taken to a suitable recycling centre. On no account
should batteries be disposed of by incineration.
2
4
3

Battery operation using rechargeable batteries
(also see page 25)
1. Ensure your radio is disconnected from the mains supply and the
aerial is fully retracted.
2. Open the battery cover on the base of the unit by using a flat bladed
screwdriver to loosen the screw securing the battery cover.
3. Slide the switch inside the battery compartment to the NiMH
position.
4. Insert four Rechargeable LR20 (D size) batteries into the spaces in the
compartment. Take care to ensure all batteries are inserted with the
correct polarity as shown inside the battery compartment. The radio is
designed to be used with Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) rechargeable
batteries.
5. Close the battery cover and gently tighten the screw using a flat bladed
screwdriver. Do not overtighten.
6. Plug the mains adaptor into your radio and then plug the adaptor into
the mains.
7. The Charge light will flash green indicating that the batteries are
charging. Batteries will be fully charged in around 3 - 7 hours depending
on their capacity. The charge light shows a steady green light when
the battery charging is complete.
8. Under some conditions the charging indicator light may switch off after
flashing only briefly. This may happen if the batteries are already freshly
charged, or if the radio detects that you may be attempting to recharge
alkaline batteries. In these cases the charging will be stopped.
Note: You should never attempt deliberately to recharge alkaline
batteries in the radio. Attempted recharging of alkaline batteries can
be dangerous.
• Important: when using rechargeable batteries the battery switch
must be placed in the NiMH position. Batteries will only be charged
when the radio is switched off and connected to the AC adaptor.
5
IMPORTANT: The batteries should not be exposed to excessive heat
such as sunshine, fire or the like. After use, disposable batteries should
if possible be taken to a suitable recycling centre. On no account
should batteries be disposed of by incineration.
2
3
• When the batteries are exhausted, the charge/low battery indicator
light will show red for a short while. The radio will then switch itself off.
It may not be possible to switch the radio back on until the batteries
are recharged, or until the radio is connected to the mains adaptor.
• If the radio is not to be used for any extended period of time it is
recommended that the batteries are removed from the radio.

Using the AC adaptor
1. Insert the adaptor plug into the DC in socket on the rear of your
radio.
2. Plug the adaptor into a standard mains socket outlet. Whenever the
adaptor is plugged in to the radio and switched on at the mains the
batteries are automatically disconnected. If the adaptor is plugged in to
the radio but not switched on then the radio will run from the batteries
if fitted.
The AC adaptor should be disconnected from the mains supply and
the radio when not in use.
• IMPORTANT: The mains adaptor is used as the means of connecting
the radio to the mains supply. The mains socket used
for the radio must remain accessible during normal use. In order
to disconnect the radio from the mains completely, the mains
adaptor should be removed from the mains socket outlet
completely.
6

2
Operating your radio - DAB
1. Carefully extend the telescopic aerial.
2. Press and release the On/Off button to switch on your radio. The
display will show 'Welcome to DAB'.
3. If this is the first time the radio is used a scan of the Band III DAB
channels will be carried out. If the radio has been used before the last
used station will be selected.
4. During the scanning process, the lower line of the display shows a
bar-graph indicating progress of the scan.
5. When the scanning is completed the first station (in numeric-alpha
order 0...9...A....Z) will be selected.
6. If the station list is still empty after the scan your radio will display 'No
DAB Station'. It will then display the manual tune option in the menu.
7. Press the Auto Tune button to repeat the scan. Alternatively if you
wish to use the manual tune facility see page 11. If no signals are
found it may be necessary to relocate your radio to a position giving
better reception.
7
7

8
Selecting a station - DAB
1. The top line of the display shows the name of the station currently
selected.
2. Rotate the Tuning control to scroll through the list of available stations
on the lower line of the display. Stop rotating the Tuning control when
you find the station that you wish to hear.
3. Press and release the Tuning control to select the station. The display
may show 'Now tuning...' while your radio finds the new station.
4. Adjust the Volume control to the required setting.
Note: If after selecting a station the display shows 'Service not available' it
may be necessary to relocate your radio to a position giving better reception.
The use of radio station presets for selecting your preferred radio stations
is described on page 18.
2,3
4

1
Display modes - DAB
Your radio has a range of display modes:-
1. Press and release the Info button to cycle through the various modes.
a. Scrolling text Displays scrolling text messages such as
artist/track name, phone in number etc.
b. Program Type Displays the type of station being listened
to e.g. Pop, Classic, News etc.
c. Multiplex Name Displays the name of DAB multiplex to
which the current station belongs.
d. Time and date Displays the current time and date.
e. Channel & Frequency Displays the channel number and
frequency for the DAB multiplex for the
station listened to.
f. Bit rate & audio type Displays the digital bit rate & audio type
for the station being listened to.
g. Signal Strength Displays a graph showing the signal
strength for the station being received.
The large unfilled rectangle indicates
minimum signal level required for
satisfactory DAB reception.
a
b
c
d
f
e
g
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10
1
Secondary services - DAB
1. Certain radio stations have one or more secondary services associated
with them. If a radio station has a secondary service associated with
it the display will show '>>' next to the station name on the station list.
The secondary service will then appear immediately after the primary
service as you rotate the tuning control clockwise.
2. Press and release the Tuning control to select the station.
3. When the secondary service shuts down, your radio will automatically
switch back to the main radio station (or primary service) if it is
available.
1,2
Finding new radio stations - DAB
As time passes new stations may become available. To find new stations
proceed as follows:-
1. Press and release the Auto Tune button. The display will show
'Scanning...' and your radio will perform a scan of the Band III DAB
channels. As new radio stations are found the station counter on the
right-hand side of the display will increase and the radio stations will
be added to the list stored in the radio.

11
Manual tuning - DAB
Manual tuning allows you to tune directly to the various DAB Band III
channels. UK DAB stations are currently located in the range 11B to
12D.
1. Press and hold the Info button until the display shows 'Manual tune'.
Press and release the Tuning control to select this function.
2. Rotate the Tuning control to select the required DAB channel.
3. Press and release the Tuning control. The large unfilled rectangle
in the signal strength graph shows you the minimum signal strength
needed for good DAB reception. The signal blocks will go up and down
showing the changing signal strength as you adjust the telescopic
aerial or the radio position. Any new radio stations found on the tuned
DAB multiplex will be added to the list stored in the radio.
4. Press and release the Tuning control to return to the normal tuning
mode.
Signal strength display - DAB
1. Repeatedly press and release the Info button until the lower line of
the display shows signal strength.
2. Position your radio and try adjusting the aerial so as to give maximum
number of black rectangles on signal strength display. Normally, the
best reception will be found with the aerial fully extended.
3. The large unfilled rectangle indicates minimum signal level required
for satisfactory reception.
1-4
1
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12
Dynamic Range Control settings - DAB
Dynamic Range Control (also known as DRC) can make quieter sounds
easier to hear when your radio is used in a noisy environment.
1. Press and release the On/Off button to switch on your radio.
2. Press and hold the Info button. The display will show 'Manual tune.'
3. Rotate the Tuning control until the display shows 'DRC'.
4. Press and release the Tuning control to enter the adjustment
mode.
5. Rotate the Tuning control to select the required DRC setting (the
default is 0).
DRC 0 - DRC is switched off, Broadcast DRC will be ignored.
DRC 1/2 - DRC level is set to 1/2 that sent by broadcaster.
DRC 1 - DRC level is used as sent by broadcaster.
6. Press and release the Tuning control to confirm the setting.
Note: Not all DAB broadcasts are able to use the DRC function. If the
broadcast does not support DRC, then the DRC setting in the radio will
have no effect.
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13
Prune stations - DAB
Over time, some DAB services may stop broadcasting, or may change
location and then not be able to receive a station. In order to remove such
stations from the DAB station list, the Prune stations function will delete
the DAB stations from your station list that can no longer be received.
1. Press and release the On/Off button to switch on your radio.
2. Press and release the DAB/FM button until the DAB mode is selected.
3. Press and hold the Info button. The display will show 'Manual tune'.
4. Rotate the Tuning control until the display shows 'Prune'.
5. Press and release the Tuning control.
6. Rotate the Tuning control to highlight 'Yes'. Press and release the
Tuning control to cause the stations list to be pruned, eliminating
unavailable stations.
7. If you do not wish to prune stations highlight 'No' in step 6 and then
press and release the Tuning control. The display will revert back to
the previous display.
?
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14
Operating your radio - Search tuning - FM
1. Carefully extend the telescopic aerial fully.
2. Press and release the On/Off button to switch on your radio.
3. Press and release the DAB/FM button until the FM mode is selected.
4. Press and immediately release the Auto tune button, your radio will
scan in an upwards direction (low frequency to high frequency) and
stop automatically when it finds a station of sufficient strength.
5. After a few seconds the display will update. The display will show the
frequency of the signal found. If the signal is strong enough and there
is RDS data present then the radio will display the station name.
6. To find other stations, press and release the Auto tune button as
before.
7. To scan the FM band in a downwards direction (high frequency to low
frequency) press and hold down the Auto tune button for 2 seconds
and then release.
8. When the waveband end is reached your radio will recommence tuning
from the opposite waveband end.
9. Adjust the Volume control to the required setting.
The use of radio station presets for selecting your preferred radio stations
is described on page 18.
3
2
4-7
9
If you find that an FM broadcast has a lot of background hiss, this may
often be reduced by setting the radio into Mono reception mode for the
current FM station. Please refer to the section 'Stereo / Mono setting - FM'
on page 19 for further details.

15
Manual tuning - FM
1. Press and release the On/Off button to switch on your radio.
2. Press and release the DAB/FM button until the FM mode is selected.
Carefully extend the telescopic aerial fully for FM reception.
3. Rotate the Tuning control to tune to a station. With each click of the
control the frequency will change up or down by 50 kHz.
4. When the waveband end is reached the radio will recommence tuning
from the opposite waveband end.
5. Set the Volume control to the desired settings.
6. To switch off your radio press and release the On/Off button.
2
1,6
3
5
If you find that an FM broadcast has a lot of background hiss, this may
often be reduced by setting the radio into Mono reception mode for the
current FM station. Please refer to the section 'Stereo / Mono setting - FM'
on page 19 for further details.

16
Display modes - FM
The Radio Data System (RDS) is a system in which inaudible digital
information is transmitted in addition to the normal FM radio programme.
RDS offers several useful features. In FM mode the bottom line of the
display can be set to any of the following display options:-
1. Press and release the Info button to cycle through each of the options.
a. Scrolling text Displays scrolling text messages such
as artist/track name, phone in number
etc.
b. Program type Displays type of station being listened to
e.g. Pop, Classic, News, etc.
c. Time and date Displays the current time and date.
d. Frequency Displays frequency of the station being
listened to.
e. Audio mode Display shows Auto (stereo) or Mono.
Note: Your radio will display 'No Radio Text' on the lower line of the display
if there is no scrolling text available and 'No PTY' if there is no programme
type information.
a
b
c
d
e
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17
Favourite button
Your radio is fitted with a button which when pressed will automatically
select the required waveband and tune to your Favourite radio station.
With this button you can store one favourite station from either the DAB
or FM wavebands.
To set up your favourite station, follow these steps:
1. Carefully extend the telescopic aerial and switch on your radio.
2. Select the desired waveband (DAB or FM) and tune into the required
radio station as described on the preceding pages.
3. Press and hold down the Favourite button (for 5 seconds) until the
display shows 'My Fav. Saved'.
Recalling your favourite station
1. Carefully extend the telescopic aerial and switch on your radio.
If your radio is in Auxiliary Input mode, press and release the DAB/FM
button to select normal radio operation.
2. Momentarily press the Favourite button, your radio will automatically
select the DAB or FM waveband as needed and then tune to the radio
station stored in the favourite memory.
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2

18
Preset stations - DAB and FM
To make it easier for you to tune your radio to the stations that you prefer,
you may store selected radio stations as presets. Your radio holds presets
separately for DAB and FM radio modes.
You may set as many or as few presets as you like in each mode.
You can easily switch between displaying all DAB stations (or all FM
frequencies) and displaying only those that you have set as presets.
Any station or frequency which has been marked as a preset can easily
have the mark cancelled should your preferences or needs change.
Presets are retained when your radio is switched off.
1. To setup your preset stations, tune into the required station.
2. Press and hold down the Preset button until the displays shows a tick
symbol next to the radio station name or frequency. This indicates that
the radio station is marked as a preset. To cancel the preset mark,
press and hold the Preset button again.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 as needed for any other stations that you want
as presets.
4. To view only the preset stations for the currently selected waveband
when tuning, press and release the Preset button so that the heart
symbol shows in the display.
5. To listen to one of the preset radio stations, rotate the Tuning control
until the required radio station is displayed. Press and release the
Tuning control to select and tune to that station.
6. To cancel the preset stations view, press and release the Preset button
so that the heart symbol disappears from the display. Your radio will
then be able to access the full station list using the Tuning control.
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19
3-4
Stereo / Mono setting - FM
Your radio will play stereo FM broadcasts in stereo provided that the
received signal is of adequate strength. However, as a stereo signal
becomes weaker the audio signal will become poorer. It may be preferable
to force the radio to play the station in mono in order to reduce the level
of background hiss.
1. Press and release the On/Off button to switch on your radio.
2. Tune to the required FM radio station as previously described (see
pages 14, 15).
3. Press and release the Tuning control so that the display shows 'Switch
to Mono'. The radio will play the station in mono.
4. If you wish to cancel the Mono override while listening to the currently
tuned radio station, press and release the Tuning control so that the
display shows 'Switch to Auto'. The radio will play the current station
in stereo if the signal is sufficiently strong.
1