[Milsurplus] RAK/RAL usage

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

Robert Goff wrote:

> I was wondering if anyone could confirm some particulars on the usage and 
> distribution of RAK/RAL sets.  I've been told they were used in all 
> submarines through the end of the war, rather than being replaced with 
> RBA/B/C sets in '45 as was done in many other ships.  The impression I got was
> that this was done because of concerns over reradiation by superheterodyne LO's
> but, are there other factors as well that played into this as well? 
> Availability? Thanks, Robert W7MKA

Robert. I have several RAL/RAK receivers which I like very much. Some 
were surplused from various Navy ships. One, at least, came from the 
submarine Pintado.

I was informed by an old ship radio op that they preferred the RAL/RAK 
combo over the RBA/B/C combo since the later receivers were more easily 
overloaded by nearby transmitters.

Of course, the RBA is a TRF of somewhat unconventional design, while the 
RBB/RBC are superhets.

The RAL/RAK models were especially shielded against both internal 
oscillator radiation AND ingress by signals by other paths than by the 
antenna jack. Nearly every lead into or out of the thing, including the phone 
jack, had fancy capacitor/inductor filters in a shielded box.

I had an RBB/RBC set once and thoroughly enjoyed using them, but my 
main station receiver was the RAL-7 and I preferred it.

Ken W7EKB