Re: Topband: staying up with the latest technology, receiver evaluation
On Sun, 2012-05-20 at 18:46 -0400, ZR wrote: > Yeah, I meant the current regulator. Shipboard power in the 30's wasnt > exactly stable. > > A simple converter to take 160 and 80 down to the RAK's best tuning ratio > band would be an interesting experiment. > > Carl > KM1H > > Hi Carl, I gathered that from some of the RAL/RAL items I have read regarding less than the best power. When you mentioned the regulator I was a little confused so I looked again. Some of the articles I read called the current regulator a "ballast" tube. I have fooled around with a "converter" ahead of the RAK. It wasn't serious, just some haywired, temporary, experiment stuff. But it worked. One of these days I will build something a little sturdier and more permanent. Can you spell Q5er? 73, Bill KU8H ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: staying up with the latest technology, receiver evaluation
Yeah, I meant the current regulator. Shipboard power in the 30's wasnt exactly stable. A simple converter to take 160 and 80 down to the RAK's best tuning ratio band would be an interesting experiment. Carl KM1H - Original Message - From: "Bill Cromwell" To: "ZR" Cc: "Thomas" ; ; Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2012 10:01 AM Subject: Re: Topband: staying up with the latest technology, receiver evaluation > On Sun, 2012-05-20 at 08:46 -0400, ZR wrote: >> The RAK and RAL are arguably the best regen ever manufactured. There was >> a >> pair of them in Emergency Radio aboard a USN tanker I spent a few years >> on >> in the 60's and I used them often to keep my code speed up by copying >> numbers groups. >> >> Ive a RAK-7/RAL-7 pair here the past few years and have been using the >> RAL >> more often with the pre WW2 QRP station with the TX being a Meissner >> Signal >> Shifter VFO with plug in coils. >> >> While the RAK is a better CW radio due to a sharper audio filter its only >> goes to 600KHz. I havent made any mods to the RAL yet but I might add an >> outboard brick wall audio filter. >> >> The audio AVC, actually a limiter, works wonders in T storm static. >> >> These are not light, the radio is 74# and the outboard PS 41#. Remove the >> regulator tube from the PS for a big power savings and heat drop. Its not >> needed on a home mains. >> >> Carl >> KM1H > > Hi, > > The RAK 7 that I have certainly changed my mind about regens! I got it > in the 80s to look at LORAN signals not knowing it was a regen until I > got it home. Then that big "Regeneration" control became a clue . > I was amazed. I did get to examine the LORAN signals on an old, slow > o'scope. I have been looking for a RAL lately to put together the "RCA > Twins". I have been thinking of trying to clone a RAK/RAL set. Not to > make any improvements. Just to see if I can even get close to the real > deal in performance. A lot went into those. > > I looked in the manual to be sure but there is a voltage regulator and a > current regulator in the power supply. It's the current regulator that > is the big power hog. The radio needs 60 watts without it and 200 watts > with it. Mine has been without the current hog..er... regulator since > some time before I got it. Mine will never see naval service again! > > 73, > > Bill KU8H > > > > - > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2425/5011 - Release Date: 05/20/12 > ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: staying up with the latest technology, receiver evaluation.......oops
Bob, W7LR commented that in my original missive I left a dit off of W7EKD's call it should have been W7EKB sorry mike w7dra 53 Year Old Mom Looks 33 The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4fb91745904a114cc963st04vuc ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: staying up with the latest technology, receiver evaluation
On Sun, 2012-05-20 at 08:46 -0400, ZR wrote: > The RAK and RAL are arguably the best regen ever manufactured. There was a > pair of them in Emergency Radio aboard a USN tanker I spent a few years on > in the 60's and I used them often to keep my code speed up by copying > numbers groups. > > Ive a RAK-7/RAL-7 pair here the past few years and have been using the RAL > more often with the pre WW2 QRP station with the TX being a Meissner Signal > Shifter VFO with plug in coils. > > While the RAK is a better CW radio due to a sharper audio filter its only > goes to 600KHz. I havent made any mods to the RAL yet but I might add an > outboard brick wall audio filter. > > The audio AVC, actually a limiter, works wonders in T storm static. > > These are not light, the radio is 74# and the outboard PS 41#. Remove the > regulator tube from the PS for a big power savings and heat drop. Its not > needed on a home mains. > > Carl > KM1H Hi, The RAK 7 that I have certainly changed my mind about regens! I got it in the 80s to look at LORAN signals not knowing it was a regen until I got it home. Then that big "Regeneration" control became a clue . I was amazed. I did get to examine the LORAN signals on an old, slow o'scope. I have been looking for a RAL lately to put together the "RCA Twins". I have been thinking of trying to clone a RAK/RAL set. Not to make any improvements. Just to see if I can even get close to the real deal in performance. A lot went into those. I looked in the manual to be sure but there is a voltage regulator and a current regulator in the power supply. It's the current regulator that is the big power hog. The radio needs 60 watts without it and 200 watts with it. Mine has been without the current hog..er... regulator since some time before I got it. Mine will never see naval service again! 73, Bill KU8H ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: staying up with the latest technology, receiver evaluation
The RAK and RAL are arguably the best regen ever manufactured. There was a pair of them in Emergency Radio aboard a USN tanker I spent a few years on in the 60's and I used them often to keep my code speed up by copying numbers groups. Ive a RAK-7/RAL-7 pair here the past few years and have been using the RAL more often with the pre WW2 QRP station with the TX being a Meissner Signal Shifter VFO with plug in coils. While the RAK is a better CW radio due to a sharper audio filter its only goes to 600KHz. I havent made any mods to the RAL yet but I might add an outboard brick wall audio filter. The audio AVC, actually a limiter, works wonders in T storm static. These are not light, the radio is 74# and the outboard PS 41#. Remove the regulator tube from the PS for a big power savings and heat drop. Its not needed on a home mains. Carl KM1H - Original Message - From: "Thomas" To: ; Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2012 4:04 AM Subject: Re: Topband: staying up with the latest technology, receiver evaluation > Mike, > > I had no idea what a RAL-7 receiver is so I did a Google search. I found > that it was built by RCA in 1930s, has 3-stage TRF front-end, and a > regenerative detector. There is a neat video on YouTube of a fellow > administration of RAL-6 which I presume isn't terribly different than the > RAL-7: > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s95N6boQ4bs > > I am astounded how good the receiver sounds on CW. It is unlike both in > sound and behavior any regenerative receiver I have laid hands upon. > Shoule you actually fire the RAL-7 up, it would be interesting to hear > your impressions of this 75-year old technology in light of what we are > typically using today. > > '73, Thomas - ac7a (in Tokyo) > > w7...@juno.com wrote: >> >> Barry Kirkwood's (ex ZL1DD, now XU7AEL) latest receiver acquisition from >> Ken, W7EKD ended up in my storage shed. I have been interested in >> possibly updating my topband receiving capability and thought while it >> was here waiting for shipment to give it an evaluation. >> >> Upon careful observation I see a RIT function along with digitally >> selectable band pass filtering, and less than a 10 watt power >> consumption, making it feasible for portable field operation and >> dxpiditions. >> >> I don't know how many of the top performers have arguably one of the best >> receivers ever built complementing their receiver stable. >> >> Now if I can get my son to help me carry Barry's RAL-7 out to the 160 >> Meter Contest Station, I will give it a thorough evaluation this WPX. >> >> Mike W7DRA >> >> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > > - > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2425/5010 - Release Date: 05/19/12 > ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: staying up with the latest technology, receiver evaluation
Mike, I had no idea what a RAL-7 receiver is so I did a Google search. I found that it was built by RCA in 1930s, has 3-stage TRF front-end, and a regenerative detector. There is a neat video on YouTube of a fellow administration of RAL-6 which I presume isn't terribly different than the RAL-7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s95N6boQ4bs I am astounded how good the receiver sounds on CW. It is unlike both in sound and behavior any regenerative receiver I have laid hands upon. Shoule you actually fire the RAL-7 up, it would be interesting to hear your impressions of this 75-year old technology in light of what we are typically using today. '73, Thomas - ac7a (in Tokyo) w7...@juno.com wrote: > > Barry Kirkwood's (ex ZL1DD, now XU7AEL) latest receiver acquisition from > Ken, W7EKD ended up in my storage shed. I have been interested in > possibly updating my topband receiving capability and thought while it > was here waiting for shipment to give it an evaluation. > > Upon careful observation I see a RIT function along with digitally > selectable band pass filtering, and less than a 10 watt power > consumption, making it feasible for portable field operation and > dxpiditions. > > I don't know how many of the top performers have arguably one of the best > receivers ever built complementing their receiver stable. > > Now if I can get my son to help me carry Barry's RAL-7 out to the 160 > Meter Contest Station, I will give it a thorough evaluation this WPX. > > Mike W7DRA > > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Topband: staying up with the latest technology, receiver evaluation
Barry Kirkwood's (ex ZL1DD, now XU7AEL) latest receiver acquisition from Ken, W7EKD ended up in my storage shed. I have been interested in possibly updating my topband receiving capability and thought while it was here waiting for shipment to give it an evaluation. Upon careful observation I see a RIT function along with digitally selectable band pass filtering, and less than a 10 watt power consumption, making it feasible for portable field operation and dxpiditions. I don't know how many of the top performers have arguably one of the best receivers ever built complementing their receiver stable. Now if I can get my son to help me carry Barry's RAL-7 out to the 160 Meter Contest Station, I will give it a thorough evaluation this WPX. Mike W7DRA 53 Year Old Mom Looks 33 The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4fb87a038beb914a1cfest06vuc ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
