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" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> 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) > > ---- [email protected] 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
