RCA RAL-7 Regenerative Receiver

[@captlarry-3525]

Steve Thanks So Much For This Video. What a trip down memory lane ! This was my first receiver, and it taught me everything you need to know about operating . I have a giant warm spot in my heart for this radio, which I carried across town when I was 11. The power supply was as much as I could lift. I think it weighs 68 lbs !. I listen to a LOT of AM and later SSB with this radio.. right in the period when there were "wars" between am and ssb on 3885. At that time.. there were lots of AM mobiles operating on the commute into SF in the morning..radios which I collect and operate myself today. I would really love to have an RAL-7 again. They are so pleasant to listen to because there is no drift, no possibility of distortion due to mis-alignment or poor mixers, or unstable oscillators. I think I paid $50 in paper route money to get mine in 1957. When I heard Radio Moscow, or Voice of America, or Radio Havana.. boy it was a thrill. When I finally got licensed in 1961 I still had the RAL-7.

[@KB4QAA]

Great demonstration. It is obvious why these radios have such a good reputation for clean signals and ease of operation. Thanks 73, bill

[@fflynnful]

This is proof that a regen can be a very good radio. Thanks for the demonstration.

[@1947dodgewf32]

I have a RAL-7 and its a simple wonderful old receiver to use! Thank You for this video on its operation!

[@captlarry-3525]

I SEE YOU COVERED EVERY ASPECT OF THE RAL-7, AND VERY WELL. THIS WAS MY BOYHOOD RECIEVER, AND I SPENT YEARS LISTENING TO IT FROM THE AGE OF 11 TO 15. THE RAL-7 WAS THE FIRST RX I HEARD HAMS ON.. LISTENED TO THE AM MOBILES IN THE LATE 50'S COMMUTING TO WORK, AND THEN THE SIDEBAND WARS, AND THEN THE GUYS USING SIDE BAND ADAPTORS ON THE DX-100;S AND VALIANTS. EXPLORED ALL THE SHORTWAVE BROADCASTING STATIONS, NETHERLANDS, MOSCOW, HAVANA, BBC, RADIO FREE EUROPE. THIS RADIO TAUGHT ME HOW TO USE A RECIEVER TO BEST ADVANTAGE. THE POWER SUPPLY IS ABOUT 80 LBS.. WHICH MY 11 OR 12 YEAR OLD BODY CARRIED HOME A COUPLE OF MILES ON FOOT. THE INTERNAL MECHANISM IS A MASSIVE WORM GEAR RIGHT ANGLE DRIVE, WHICH TUNES THE TRF CAPACITORS. THE TUBES ARE 41'S, 42'S AND I FORGET THE 3RD TYPE. WISH I HAD ONE AGAIN ! THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.. THIS ONE OPERATES EXACTLY LIKE MINE DID IN 1958-63,. W6WUH 73 !

[@nobodyyouknow222]

6D6's and 41's. PS is 41 lbs.. felt like 80 !

[@gunnarisaksson8677]

Thanks for the demonstration. It is a wonderful receiver. I wish I had a similar.

[@nobodyyouknow222]

This is a TRF reciever. The detector Can be made to regenerate for copying CW/SSB, but for AM it is NOT regenerating. RCA, and many others made Tuned RF sets ( multiple tuned High Selectivity RF Amplifiers, followed by a detector, before the invention of the Super Heterodyne Reciever by Armstrong in the late 20's.) Which were sold as home entertainment sets... and could produce very high quality sound.. This was employed by the Navy.. particularly on submarines - because there is no oscillator to leak back though the antenna.. and thus allow the ship or sub to be detected and tracked by (enemy) vessels. This was my boyhood RX... which I used for many years.. beginning at age 11 in 1958.

[@vacuumfireradio253]

Keep returning to this video for another watch. Utterly gorgeous radio. I'm going to place an ad for one here in the UK. Well done Steve. 73 de M0IDF

[@ScooterCR500]

A family friend gave me one of these. Her Dad was stationed in the Navy as a radioman in Hawaii during the Pearl harbor attacks. He used this at home during his retirement. Dunno if it was one he actually used there. I know he used it at his home. It's pretty heavy! and definitely built to with stand some punishment. Model RAL -6 , Type CRV - 46156.

[@vacuumfireradio253]

wow! what a terrific sounding receiver.

[@gerardballon3923]

Qualité exceptionnelle

[@MickLBrad]

Nice demonstration of a fine receiver. Thanks for sharing it.

[@g4vuxqrp210]

Very interesting, thank you for an excellent demonstration.

[@klingonbaronessprincesskar5519]

Great radios

[@fourfortyroadrunner6701]

Heh!!! I knew these were TRF but did not realize they could be put into oscillation. I always assumed that to avoid detection they had to "not" oscillate, and assumed that MCW was used instead. Thanks!! for the overview. I am 75, first licensed in 65, USN, 68-74, ETR-2, and maintained GCA RADAR and TACAN at NAS Miramar, 70-74. If you look up K6NCG, was the Treasure Is. CA ham club, I was there, in school, 68-69. We had I think? and RBC? as the downwind side of a 2M converter, AM

[@n4lq]

It is the detector that does the oscillating. It has to in order to produce the beat note for CW. The multiple stages of TRF serve to isolate the detector from the antenna along with the robust shielding which helps prevent enemy detection. Well to detect CW, something has to oscillate so this is the best it gets I suppose.

[@xe1zlgg]

Excellent demonstration

[@syfr]

Great demo, and insanely overengineered radios. Thanks for the great tour.

[@jonbos2876]

Thank you I have one of these receivers you gave me so much good information

[@lamap45]

Uau, I thought my dsp had nice CW sound. The only thing preventing tremendous huge envy is the rig size. Thank you for the FB demo. 73 Luis, CU2IJ

[@smallenginedude71]

what an excellent radio.

[@AlteSchutze]

Beautiful machine ! 73!

[@todduk5074]

Very nice regen indeed!

[@w8au]

Very nice condition RAL, Steve. I just restored one that was in terrible shape, Also redid the black wrinkle finish. I also have my regular one in the shack. I'll look you up on 40 CW and get your opinion on using it on the air. Of course it is not a contester's radio.. :-)

[@fernando_k5257]

Really great show!

[@riottaba]

That's a heck of a good trf!

[@ingussilins6330]

Great military regen! Whats bandwidh ( at khz to khz?) Regens with TRF preamp gives great sensitivity, selectivity...

[@TheGmr140]

Very nice radio 😊

[@andrzejpl9897]

You changed my idea about that type of receivers . Thanx for the video .

[@captlarry-3525]

THANKS A MILLION STEVE ! W6WUH

[@caulktel]

Great audio.

[@charlieb.4273]

Steve, I am considering getting one of these rigs. Understanding it is 70 years old and will probably needs new capacitors and other stuff to get working, what was your experience getting it on the air? Did it need a lot of work? Charlie KM4ZZ

[@Tocsin-Bang]

I had one of these in the 1970s, superb receiver, sadly it got stolen.

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

👍Nice receiver and nice demo, thanks Steve. The audio sounds absolutely amazing. I was going to say it has impressively low drift for and old set and then realised (doh!) it's not a superhet - no LO drift to worry about 😄. I wondered if you had tried a side by side comparison with a modern rig?

[@TheDavidnewkirk]

The RAL _does_ have a local oscillator: the oscillating detector (for CW or SSB). The difference between the RAL and a superhet is that the LO in a superhet is offset from the received signal by the intermediate frequency (IF). -- W9BRD

[@user-cn5kv5ey4c]

Современный аппарат с такими характеристиками легко умещается на ладони, - и это при том, что он имеет симметричный вход, раздельные регулировки усиления по тракту, способность выводить на экран "текущий спектр" и текст rtty. Но нет в нём души, сенсорной радости, литцендратов, варимю, вариометров и запахов шеллака... И молодёжь, увы, уже не ощущает эстетику Радиотехники... Москва, Александр, ua3kbd... (да и эстетика эфира деградировала от вершин Ф. Синатра и А. Пахмутовой - к современному обыдлению...)

[@philmonitor9145]

WHat TUBEs types are Used OCTAL as it was available in the 1930's period. What plate voltage .

[@duanestatler6338]

Great video, I just purchased the RAL /RAK 7 receivers. I didn't get a power supply. Is there any place I may be able to find the original power supplies for the pair. I may consider selling the pair. Both my units look to be in about the same condition as yours in the video. Your video definitely makes me rethink selling them. Duane KE7NUB

[@riottaba]

I'd love one of those in my shack!

[@georgegonzalez2476]

I was about to say bad things about TRF receivers but then I was surprised by this one's stability. Long ago I had a Knight-Kit 3-tube regen. It was OK on the broadcast band but pretty deaf on shortwave. Surprised I didn't kill myself with it as it was without a case and ran right off the AC line.

[@michaelbrenner3202]

I have a Type CND-46156 with power supply. What kind of speaker and microphone should i buy? and where? Thanks.

[@n4lq]

Look for an LS3 like this fairradio.com/product/ls3-smooth/

[@n4lq]

Also, this a receiver so you don't need a microphone.