[Racal] Hips and tints

[Pete Williams]

 Re RA-117 alignment.

 The 117 I have had been got at-- still need the band change  switch... but
in the interim did a  spot of  alignment-- so I thought .
Following the manual proceedure for the 100kHz  L/C filter in the IF module
, I was unhappy with the resultant overall gain of the rx .-- nowhere near
spec.I believe I did it  correctly too.
With nothing to lose, I switched to the 100Hz bandwidth and  adjusted the
variable trimmers  for what became maximum output using stable  sig. gen
input at the  antenna socket and tuning  for maximum output on the meter in
manual position. .....overall gain came up remarkably.
Would  anyone  care to comment on this  or  any other alternative method.

The front end alignment a real PITA too especially having to remove the
front panel to get to the  screws fastening the shielding  cover over the RF
tune  control.
Although once in a lifetime adjustment, I figured that a lot of us believe
in immortality, so  I measured up the position of the stators with respect
to the cover when installed  and drilled a couple of small holes directly
over where the  stators lie. The  1K loading  resistor when aligning  can
now be held  down thru' the  hole  while  adjustments are made.A length of
insulating tubing over the end of the  resistor is necessary of course.
Any comments  and/or  admonitions  appreciated.
Cheers


 Pete D.Williams
jupete at bigpond.net.au
METUNG 3904 AUSTRALIA