[ARC5] [Milsurplus] RAL, RBA, RBC Manuals and info needed

[Roy Morgan]

On May 24, 2016, at 4:24 PM, Kenneth G. Gordon <kgordon2006 at frontier.com> wrote:
>> Headline says it all I guess. I need manuals and info on the RBA, RBC and RAL 
>> receivers.
> 
> These might help:
> 
> http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/rca/ral/

Yes, BAMA is your friend. Note that many or all RBB and RBC radios are the same or very similar even though the suffix number is different, that number being related to the order/contract they were made under.  So if you have an RBC-5 radio, and an RBC-7 manual, you will be just fine.

>> Quick question: It seems like the RBA/RBB/RBC power supplies have 2 receiver outlets. 
>> Can one supply safely run 2 receivers simultaneously?
> 
> According to the manual, the answer is "yes" but should only be done in an "emergency" 
> since the PS will be slightly overloaded.

I agree, but the robustness of the transformers would indicate that you can indeed run two radios from one supply and not worry about it. If you do want to worry, measure the operating temperature of the transformer under long use (some hours).  The greater difficulty is finding the correct cables with connectors or even just the connectors to make up your own cables.

>> Also, what is that weird antenna connector called? Is that a General Radio connector?

The  RAL and RAK were equipped with “the Navy Concentric Connector” which was actually the General Radio 500-series connector (if I remember correctly).
I can provide some more certain info and photographs if someone needs/wants it.

These are not all that common nowadays, and it’s much more common to find these radios have been changed by hams to the SO-239 connector.  

In my humble estimation changing to the “UHF” SO-239 connectors is not a travesty.  (I personally prefer BNC connectors for all receiving signals and transmitting connections below about 200 watts.)

if I remember correctly the RBA, RBB and RBC radios were equipped with SO-239 connectors, though I would not be surprised to find the “Concentric Connector” on any of them, especially the earlier ones.
 
Roy

Roy Morgan
k1lky68 at gmail.com
K1LKY Since 1958