[Milsurplus] RCA Radios

[Mike Morrow]

Hi Dave,

I think we both like the AVR-20/AVT-112.  The AVA-126 seems a bit hard to find, but I've finally found a good one within the last year.  Regarding the caps, I haven't operated an AVR-20 since 1973.  I used to operate it in the mid-1960s from a 12v battery and a DM-21 dynamotor assembly like that found in BC-312 receivers.  I never popped any caps, but that AVR-20 was still young and only about 25 years old then!  That house fire got it, but I finally got a replacement off ebay a few years ago.  Several replacements, actually.

I didn't know the Signal Corps had purchased AVR-100/101 and AVT-111 units.  Maybe some of the similar AVT-110 units too??  In fact, I wasn't sure that these sets were available before the end of WWII.  I like that little Beacon and BC Band AVR-100, and the AVT-111 isn't too bad either, as long as 3105 or 6210 kc ops was all that was needed.  I suspect that when 3105 kc activity went to 3023.5 kc a few years after the war that the utility of these sets diminished a little, since doubling 3023.5 didn't get the owner a useful aviation frequency.

How do you tell if they have WASP provenance?

Mike / KK5F