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Racal RA117E Communications Receiver
General Notes
The Racal RA17/117 series were probably the best H/F Communications receivers produced in the UK in the 1960 period. They were mainly used by the services and government agencies. The RA117 is very similar to the RA17, with the same basic specification and differing only in small ways. The 117E variant was produced for the RN and had a very slow transistorised AGC to allow receipt of data signals.
This set is still an excellent receiver where the dial strip requires 6" to cover 100khz. It is fitted with 24 miniature valves, has numerous filters and 4 IF stages at different frequencies. I managed to find a copy of the manual for downloading, but sites tend to change so there is little point in giving a link.
Current Condition
The unit is exactly as bought. It seems to work well and its appearance is good, though whether it performs to specifiation is not known. Although the frequency coverage of these sets is defined as 1 - 30mhz, they can access 0 - 1 mhz and will pick up broadcast stations and air beacons in this range.
This example was built in January 1965 since its serial number starts with WA (the first letter defines the year and the second the month). The picture shows the view from the rear with the cover removed.
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Simon Buxton VK2UA
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Created: 10/02/02 Updated: 20/08/2007