Agreed with Ken on the RAL. I used one at the USS Ling for some 10 years. An amazing receiver for one designed in the 30s, and even SSB is easy to copy on it. CW is a snap. Crisp, clean, and pretty easy to separate signals. My impression is you “drive” an RAL. How you drive it says a lot.

Howie WB2AWQ Reno NV

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From: Ken
Sent: Friday, October 20, 2023 9:11 AM
To: David Stinson; Hubert Miller; 'ARC-5'; [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ARC5] [Milsurplus] RU receiver question

Well, although I have never, yet, used an RU, I DID use an RAL-7 as my main and only station receiver for some 12 years.

I believe the circuitry is very similar: a 6 tube TRF: 2 RF amp stages, a regenerative detector, 2 stages of audio, and an "AVC" (a limiter).

The RAL-7 was designed by RCA. It covers from 300 kHz through 23 MHz.

I never had any trouble separating AM, CW, or SSB stations with it. The user simply has to learn how to use the regeneration control.

I really liked the receiver. For one thing, it has this "transparent" sound: there didn't seem like there was much between you and the signals on the band. 

Ken W7EKB

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