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Reviews For: RCA Institutes RF signal generator

Category: Tools & Test Equipment for the amateur radio work bench

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Review Summary For : RCA Institutes RF signal generator
Reviews: 2MSRP: Unknown
Description:
Inexpensive kit signal generator offered in the late 50's o to early 60's for
the hobbiest and radio repairman. Offered as a kit separately or as a part
of the RCA Institutes electronics training kit.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0021.5
N1YD Rating: 2021-02-28
Interesting, historic, inaccurate,and ungrounded Time Owned: more than 12 months.
According to the other review, I overpaid by about nine dollars. :-) These were sold by RCA Institutes, Inc. as part of a correspondence course in the 1960's, and you can see this exact device pictured in an advertisement in an old issue of Popular Mechanics. It is interesting to think that mine must have been built by an eager young man who was trying to learn electronics and improve himself.

It doesn't work all that well.

The device is described in great detail at http://nt9k.com/rcasignalgenkit.html

This device gives me a funny feeling. That is because C13 and C14 couple one half of the AC line voltage to the metal case! I recommend removing those two caps, and then replace the old cracking non-polarized two conductor power cord with one that ends in a decent three prong plug.

If you want to connect the device to anything, you will need an Amphenol 2501F connector, or you can use a regular PL-259 and cut down its center pin as described at https://www.instructables.com/CDV-700-headphone-repair-and-adapters/
AB9GO Rating: 2017-07-05
Not even good for a beginner. There are better out there. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
These show up at hamfests from time to time. They are built down to a low price and it shows. There is only one trimmer adjustment to align the dial to the correct frequency. Get one band correct and the other bands are off sometimes by several MHz on the higher bands. The audio oscillator does not modulate the oscillator well nor is it adjustable in amplitude. If you can get one for a couple of dollars and it still works it is useable with a frequency counter. If you can find a better unit for a few more $$ pass this one by. It will frustrate an experienced user and could turn off a new ham.

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Earlier 1-star review posted by KB8ASO on 2017-07-04

These show up at handsets from time to time. They are built down to a price and it shows. There is only one trimmer adjustment to align the dial to the correct frequency. Get one band correct and the other bands are off sometimes by several MHz on the higher bands. The audio oscillator does not modulate the oscillator well nor is it adjustable in amplitude. If you can get one for a couple of dollars and it still works it is useable with a frequency counter. If you can find a better unit for a few more $$ pass this one by. It will frustrate an experienced user and could turn off a new ham.