[600MRG] RAKs and such - ballast tube.

[Bill Cromwell]

Hi Sandy,

I have a different view about those logging scales. I took some time to 
carefully measure the frequency of a modest series of points along the 
dial(s) and put them into a spread sheet. The spread sheet then printed 
me a very nice, slightly curved line chart with frequency on one axis 
and the dial numbers on the other. You mentioned being able to set it 
for a frequency and it's right there. I screwed up a few times and set 
it for exact zero beat! I didn't hear the station until I moved off from 
zero beat <grin>.

The dials that work exactly the same way as our logging dials but have 
operating frequencies where the logging scales should be (like the ones 
on the command receivers) are exactly no different. When parts in your 
radio age so that the "frequency" scales are off you're screwed. If you 
have a logging scale just whiz up a new tuning chart! Life is good 
<grin>. My charts are in nice, colored plastic folders and are kept 
beside the radios. Often used frequencies (sub-band end markers) are on 
something similar to the cards that were in the holders on the front 
panel. Using the logging scales is so easy that even *I* can do it. You 
can also just keep the spread sheet running on the computer and when you 
find a new station just plug in the logging scale numbers and it 
presents you with the frequency. Or vice verse.  Just I don't like 
having the computer there.

Pristine? My RAK happens to be pretty but I have never seen "pristine" 
on a schematic or a block diagram. Apparently that contributes nothing 
to receiving (or transmitting). I'm not pristine any more either but I 
still work pretty good.

73,

Bill  KU8H


On 11/03/2014 04:24 PM, Sandy Blaize wrote:
> I have  an RAL-7, but it is far from pristine!  The RAL is a very 
> unusual receiver.  Probably the finest TRF/Regen receiver I have EVER 
> used!
> As a teen ager I thought it was "clunky", old and obsolete.  Who wants 
> a receiver that isn't even calibrated and has only a logging scale for 
> reference!!!  I WAS stupid in my teen age years as I could have 
> probably bought a brand new RAL-7 in the crate for $30 or less.  
> People used to bring them to hamfests for sale and dumped them in the 
> dumpsters rather than lug them back home again!
> I have NEVER seen any other receiver that you could rely on to find a 
> frequency that you needed to find and exactly!  Even on SSB!  The old 
> Navy CPO's LOVED them.  It took me YEARS to find out why when I 
> finally got one!
>
> Are there any guys with "junkers-parts units" around?  I need one coil 
> (RF amplifier coil) for mine that is in the 2 Mhz region. Need to get 
> the info again for a search to find a replacement one.  Also looking 
> for a regeneration control.  Mine is almost getting ready to crap out.  I
> plan it to eventually be in a new ham shack in the main house with a 
> Collins TCS transmitter which I like very much for CW on 160-30 meters.
>
> Take care all.
>
> 73,
>
> Sandy W5TVW
>