  The aim of this study is to investigate the nature of radio sources
associated with young stellar objects (YSOs) belonging to the R CrA cluster. By
combining the centimetre radio data with the wealth of shorter wavelength data
accumulated recently we wish to refine estimates of the evolutionary stages of
the YSOs. Fluxes and spectral indices for the brightest radio sources were
derived from the observations at 3, 6, and 20 cm using the ATCA. Seven of
detected sources can be assigned to YSOs, which have counterparts in the
X-rays, infrared or submm. One of the YSOs, Radio Source 9, is a Class 0
candidate, and another, IRS 7B, is suggested to be in the Class 0/I transition
stage. IRS 7B is associated with extended radio lobes at 6 and 20 cm. The lobes
may have a gyrosynchrotron emission component, which could be understood in
terms of Fermi accleration in shocks. The Class I objects detected here seem to
be a mixed lot. One of these, the wide binary IRS 5, shows a negative spectral
index, rapid variability, and a high degree of circular polarisation with
$V/I\approx33$ % on one of the days of observation. These signs of magnetic
activity suggest that at least one of the binary components has advanced beyond
the Class I stage. The radio source without YSO assigment, Radio Source 5, has
been suggested to be a brown dwarf. The radio properties, in particular its
persistent strong emission, do not support this classification. The radio
characteristics of the detected YSOs roughly agree with the scheme where the
dominant emission mechanism changes with age. The heterogeneity of the Class I
group can possibly be explained by a drastic decline in the jet activity during
this stage, which also changes the efficiency of free-free absorption around
the protostar.
