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I am pretty handy with a soldering iron and a schematic
diagram, but I hate painting etc. so I try to stick with
equipment that doesn't require much more than cleaning to
become aesthetically acceptable. I try to restore
everything I have to working condition, with the rare
exception of something so historically significant that it
should be left untouched. This is part of the living
history concept, that things must do, not just be.
Receivers
RAL
RCA-built CRV-46156, the first of the line was contracted
for in 1935. Though largely replaced by the later RBA,
RBB, and RBC receivers, the RAL and its LF mate the RAK were
still put to use on many vessels during WWII. They were
used extensively on submarines. MASSACHUSETTS has a
RAK/RAL pair in Radio Central and another pair in Radio
III. Most of the other LF/MF/HF
receivers are the RBA, RBB, and RBCs.
The RAL covers 300Kc to 23Mc. It has 2 RF stages
and a regenerative detector. I find it to be plenty
sensitive, at least on 7Mc where I have used it most, but it
is lacking in selectivity. The lack of RF selectivity is
somewhat compensated for by a narrow audio
filter. The RAL is quite stable, and I have
been able to make contacts on single sideband on 14Mc using
it.
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| RAL-5 serial
number 500 |
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| Bottom of
RAL-6 |
RAL-6 with shield open to clean
bandswitch. The uppermost shaft in the picture above
drives the bandswitch shaft through a right-angle drive.
The lower frequency coils are in the round cans on the right,
the topmost one being removed.
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