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Old Polish radio - Unitra Sudety R-208 - interior, gallery, diagram

p.kaczmarek2 3225 15
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  • Vintage monophonic radio Unitra Sudety R-208 from 1987-1990 on a table. .

    Today another short presentation of an old Polish monophonic radio, this time Unitra Sudety R-208 produced by Dior from the years ca. 1987-1990. This radio offers AM and FM reception and sound recording to an external tape recorder, supports the ranges of long wave (148.5-283.5 kHz), medium wave (526.5-1606.5 kHz), short wave (5.95-9.9 MHz and 11.65-21.85 MHz) and FM (65.5-74 MHz). Detailed sensitivity, power and power supply parameters can be found in the original manual attached to the subject.

    Top view of Unitra Sudety R-208 radio from 1987-1990. .

    First, let's take a look at the front end, which houses the bare minimum of functionality, namely the on/off switch, D, S, K1, K2, U band selection, tuning and volume control.

    Vintage Unitra Sudety R-208 monophonic radio receiver from 1987-1990. .

    In addition, when tuning, we have red illumination of the ranges:

    Unitra Sudety R-208 radio display showing frequency ranges and illumination. Frequency scale of Unitra Sudety R-208 radio with AM and FM bands. Close-up of the front panel of a Unitra Sudety R-208 radio with visible scales and band selection buttons. .

    Small video, impressive for the time:





    A glimpse of the rear, connector for aerial, cassette slot, for recording only:

    Back of the Unitra Sudety R-208 radio with visible connectors. .

    Looking inside:

    View of the interior of the Unitra Sudety R-208 radio receiver from 1987-1990. .

    Doesn't look too bad, but there is a broken tuning string:

    Interior of Unitra Sudety R-208 radio with visible electronic components and speaker. .

    You can then release the catches and slide out the front panel including the PCB:

    View of the interior of the Unitra Sudety R-208 radio receiver with electronic components. .

    Let's take a look at the PCB. This design is characterised by the presence of a switch on the secondary side only. Here in the picture the fuses.

    Close-up of fuses on the printed circuit board of an old Polish radio receiver. .

    UL1481, audio amplifier:

    Close-up of the internal circuit board of the Unitra Sudety R-208 radio receiver. .

    UL1211, audio amplifier including two AM/FM amplifiers with AM detector, FM amplifier with limiter and voltage stabiliser:

    Close-up of the interior of a Polish Unitra Sudety R-208 radio receiver with visible electronic components. .

    Ferrite antenna, BF194, BF195 transistors:

    Close-up of the internal components of the Unitra Sudety R-208 radio receiver with a visible ferrite antenna. .

    Tuning capacitor, isostats:

    Interior of Unitra Sudety R-208 radio with visible PCB and components.

    Tonsil loudspeaker 1,5 W, 8 Ω, Made In Poland:

    Interior of Unitra Sudety R-208 radio with visible Tonsil speaker. .

    Elwa electrolytic capacitors:

    Close-up of a circuit board with Elwa electrolytic capacitors in the Unitra Sudety R-208 radio receiver. .

    A few more pics of the PCB:

    Image of the interior of a radio showing the circuit board with various electronic components. Close-up of the radio's interior showing a circuit board and components.

    Schematic:

    Circuit diagram of the Unitra Sudety R-208 radio receiver.

    Instructions with specifications:

    User manual of the Unitra Sudety R-208 radio receiver with illustrations. User manual of the Unitra Sudety R-208 radio with technical specifications. Insert for the user manual of the Unitra Diora Sudety R-208 radio receiver. Electrical schematic of the Unitra Sudety R-208 radio. .

    Summary .
    Another short gallery, perhaps of interest to someone. The receiver itself electrically almost identical to previous versions of the R-206 and R-207, at least one of which has also already been featured on the forum. To listen more in our time it requires tuning, although the cabinet will decorate even without that.
    That's it from my side, feel free to share photos of your receivers, maybe someone will show his collection? .

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    About Author
    p.kaczmarek2
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    p.kaczmarek2 wrote 11832 posts with rating 9930, helped 566 times. Been with us since 2014 year.
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  • #2 20761060
    CHOPIN66
    Level 14  
    Once when I was at the DW Syrena green school in Mielno (this was around 2006) there were Sudeten radios in the rooms, but with a dual band UKF head. Upper UKF full up to 108 MHz. Maybe it was an export version to the DDR (they had both UKF standards there after all)? By the way, the director of this centre must have had some pretty good connections in the 1980s if he managed to get receivers in export versions and in such numbers. :)

    I'm looking at the schematic and I don't understand why the m.cz signal is routed to the secondary winding of the head unit p.cz filter?
  • #3 20761754
    zpasjadounitry
    Level 8  
    >>20760488 .
    A very interesting presentation. I hope that there will be more of them.
    And maybe I will be tempted to make a presentation of my collections too. :)
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  • #5 20762525
    keseszel
    Level 26  
    I have such a radio. The condition is, shall we say, sufficient. I was getting ready to have it tuned and restored. Then selling it.
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  • #6 20762597
    zpasjadounitry
    Level 8  
    Such de-tuned and tuned how much might it be worth?
  • #7 20763376
    prosiak_wej
    Level 39  
    p.kaczmarek2 wrote:
    Additionally, when tuning, we have red highlighting of the ranges:
    .

    In my opinion, these are rather meaningless next letters from the alphabet. Such a fiddly thing, like the mass-mounted blue LEDs in mini-towers twenty years later.
  • #8 20763487
    pierkwadrat
    Level 14  
    Very cool presentation. But I would call the tuning string the scale drive cable :) .
  • #9 20763690
    pawelr98
    Level 39  
    zpasjadounitry wrote:
    Such de-tuned and tuned how much might it be worth?


    Leaguer pads are generally not worth much.
    ~£100 after a quick browse through the auctions.

    And they are unlikely to ever shoot up in price, because they were made a lot of them and they don't stand out in any special way, there is no cult around them, like for example around Radmors.
    A simple chipboard with veneer, average quality plastics and poor electronics inside. There's nothing to boast about, apart from the fact that it fits into period furniture.
    People repair it on the basis that it's a cool retro toy/weekend project and it just stands there.
    Electrically, a radio from the end of the communist era is almost no different from a radio from the late 1970s, except perhaps for the further "rationalisation" of functionality and components used.

    On the subject of tuning, nothing difficult. Three capacitors to be reduced by about half and the head will tune quietly, provided tuning trimmers are used at C14 and C2. C17 at 12-15pF stiff and the subject is settled.
  • #10 20763750
    zpasjadounitry
    Level 8  
    The subject of tuning is familiar to me, whereas more work needs to be done to do it right.
    After years the p.cz. needs correcting and also recaping small electrolytes required.
    And I guess the value of the service exceeds the value of the unit.
  • #11 20763906
    James596
    Level 28  
    All in all, the most interesting thing about this radio is the nice scale with a drawn map and the red letters indicating the location. Quite an impressive gadget for such an archaic receiver. It looks good especially when illuminated with a white led. All the rest of the technology is secondary and popular to a fault.

    Unfortunately, acoustically this radio is poor for its size.
    It's OK for playing in the background and nothing else, and I don't think any of the Leżonian pieces played satisfactorily.
    When compared, for example, with the transistorised Schaub Lorenz portables or the Telefunken from the late 1960s/early 1970s, our inventions don't have the slightest approach.
  • #12 20763965
    szeryf3
    Level 29  
    These and similar radios are so far plentiful on the market. Maybe one day they will be worth some reasonable price.
    I myself have one tuned up on the kitchen cupboard. I switch it on from time to time.
  • #13 20763975
    zpasjadounitry
    Level 8  
    And how tuned? According to the art, or just the head.
    As I mentioned earlier, to do it correctly the time investment is quite considerable.
    The question is whether it is worth it. Obviously it is not worth throwing away even though there was a lot of it. As time goes by, there will be less and, like the first ebonite PIONIER, the value will probably increase. Sentimental value it already has.
  • #14 20764115
    acctr
    Level 38  
    Restoring the brilliance of such receivers is extremely satisfying. The disadvantage, however, is their size and weight. The collection takes up a lot of space.
    I myself own several pieces, playing, in quite good condition.

    However, one thing puzzles me - several times I have seen tuned heads, in which the previous capacitors were destroyed by cutting the ceramic disk, while the new ones were soldered on the printing side. Who, and why, did not solder these capacitors in the "god's way", but used such crap? This must have been a well-known method, once spread in certain circles.
    Helpful post? Buy me a coffee.
  • #15 20764175
    zpasjadounitry
    Level 8  
    I haven't seen anything like this, while breaking out (cutting out) is one of the suggested methods. I personally don't like it somehow, so I gouge the head out and replace what I need. Sometimes several times :) .
    And restoration - fact it's quite nice and relaxing.
  • #16 20764178
    Pan.Kropa
    Level 34  
    p.kaczmarek2 wrote:
    Another short gallery, maybe of interest to someone.
    I always enjoy looking at good old analogue electronics. I'm always reminded of my youth when I used to mess around with such equipment.
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Topic summary

The discussion centers on the Unitra Sudety R-208, a Polish monophonic radio produced by Dior circa 1987-1990, featuring AM and FM reception with support for long wave, medium wave, short wave, and FM bands. The radio includes basic front-end controls such as band selection (D, S, K1, K2, U), tuning, volume, and an on/off switch, with red illumination indicating tuning ranges. Participants note similarities in electronics with the Snowbird R-207 model and mention export variants with extended FM bands up to 108 MHz, possibly for DDR markets. Restoration and tuning challenges are discussed, including the need to adjust intermediate frequency (p.cz.) circuits, replace electrolytic capacitors, and correct tuning trimmers (C14, C2, C17) to improve performance. The radio's acoustic quality is considered modest, suitable mainly for background listening, and its construction is described as average with chipboard and veneer casing. The scale with a drawn map and red location letters is highlighted as a distinctive aesthetic feature, especially when illuminated by white LEDs. The market value is generally low (~£100), reflecting mass production and lack of cult status, though sentimental and potential future collector value is acknowledged. Repair techniques such as cutting ceramic disk capacitors in tuned heads are debated, with some preferring to replace entire heads for reliability. Overall, the Unitra Sudety R-208 is appreciated as a retro electronic device with historical significance but limited technical distinction compared to Western contemporaries.
Summary generated by the language model.
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