[Premium-Rx] Racal 6217

[Geoff Fors]

The Racal 6217 series was their first solid state receiver, and the Wadley
Loop RF design is basically that of the original vacuum tube RA-17.  The 6-
in the prefix denotes it is a product of Racal Maryland as opposed to the
U.K., where the receiver was known as the RA1217.

There are all sorts of variations of this set and quite a few accessories.
A couple of models were designed for use in a master oscillator
multiple-operator station, and do not have both tuning knobs. There is even
one without any tuning knobs!  Those were used where a particular operator
was only permitted to scan up and down a small swath of spectrum (e.g. CIA.)
Those are almost useless and a couple of friends were stung paying good
money for them without knowing what they were doing.

The front end of the 6217 is relatively poor.  In the later models there is
a blue AMP connector on the rear which is to be cabled to the 6397 accessory
preselector module, in which there are L-C filters 1 MHz wide for each of
the bands the set covers.  Performance is about what you would expect from a
first-generation solid state receiver from 1966.

Some of the 6217's were used by the FCC in the late 1960's for off-the-air
frequency measurement; there was an accessory comparator scope and frequency
standard made for that purpose.  You will notice all sorts of little
connectors on the rear panel which provide tapped outputs from the various
oscillators and stages inside.

Most 6217's have just the 600 ohm low-level audio output module which is
something like 10mw maximum.  There was an output module which gave speaker
audio, but none of the 6217's I had came with one.  This looks like an ideal
task for a couple of cheap computer amplified speakers.

Alignment of the 6217 is not trivial, requires a sweep generator and scope,
and is best avoided whenever possible.  I was never able to get the AGC to
my liking.

It's a matter of personal opinion but I found it unpleasant to operate
because of the control ergonomics.  I guess for a collector of receivers,
it's a must-have, but I have yet to hear that it's anybody's favorite.

Geoff
WB6NVH
Monterey CA