[Milsurplus] RAK / RAL Receivers: Couple of tips.

[David Stinson]

-----Original Message-----
From: Kenneth G. Gordon 
Subject: RAK / RAL Receivers

>I used my RAL-7 for my traffic handling net work,
both CW and, first AM, then SSB, quite 
>effectively for a long time.
I used an RAL with an HT-37 for a couple of years.
Impressive.  Traded it off before a big move.

>I used a new RAK-7 to work my code speed up to
around 30 WPM by copying the 5-letter 
>code groups being sent by the U.S. Navy VLF
stations of the time...
I remember NSS sending a repeating message on VLF
back in about 1974 or 75:

"NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD MEN TO COME TO THE
AID OF THEIR COUNTRY.  DE NSS NSS NSS BT"
The odd thing was that each time the message
repeated, a random error would be introduced, i.e.
"...COME TO THE AID OF THEER COUNTRY"  or "NOG IS
THE TIME..."  Perhaps this was how they determined
who was actually copying?  No idea.  I know I
deeply miss Navy and Maritime CW.  Even the
much-loved old LF-MF aero NDBs are fading away.
There are very few left here in North Texas.  The
Mighty VLY in Mesquite recently went dark.  Maybe
20% of the NDBs one could log just 5 years ago
remain.  Another proven and effective system
abandoned for no other reason than to force the
production and sale of "new solutions" which cost
more than they come-to.

>Mechanical means of producing RF always
interested me.
And receiving.  Have you heard of Marconi Magnetic
detectors?  Working on building one.  

GL OM DE Dave AB5S