Keiths Vintage RACAL Enthusiasts Site

Please click on this link to visit the HMS Collingwood Museum of Communications and Radar Website.

This is now a new website designed and hosted by the museum staff.

Before we get to the main site please read the following

A Warning of things to come ?

All of the equipment listed on this site, plus all of the equipments made by other fine manufacturers throughout the world, no matter how well made, will be of little use on the HF bands if manufactures get their way and flood the world with 'Powerline Ethernet', Shortwave Radio will be wiped out.

It is getting increasingly difficult to use any type of sensitive radio equipment in built up areas today, and as long as manufactures are allowed to make this junk then the problem will get worse as each month goes by.

This is a very real threat to the existence of Amateur Radio, Utility Listening, and Short Wave Listening in general. Don't think it won't happen to you, the general public won't give two hoots about you and your radio, if they can buy these things at PC World or wherever, then that will be good enough for them, and who cares about radio anyway. I know because I had just this conversation recently, "When I get mine will it interfere with my TV ?", "No", "Will it interfere with my DAB radio?", "No", "Well then, I've got nothing to worry about have I ?"

OFCOM can and do, find every excuse, to take no action over PLT QRM despite the wording of the 2006 Wireless Telegraphy Act. Plasma TV QRM they happily side step quoting EU Trading Laws. The UK TV License has a clause that prohibits TV sets causing "undue interference" but you won't get OFCOM taking any action when your neighbours plasma wipes out HF (and LF). The fact is, you won't get OFCOM to do anything.

Once the Olympics are over and OFCOM have realised how useful it was to 'borrow' some amateur frequencies (yes, that is what they are proposing) I wonder how long before our VHF/UHF bands will be given away.

My view is that OFCOM are being spineless in not having the guts to stand up and do what they should be doing, that of enforcing the law and banning these devices.

So, this is what we are going to be up against, what you decide to do about it is up to you.

There is now an on line "E Petition" calling for the UK government to scrap OFCOM. Please sign up to this by clicking http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/14459

Before reading through these pages it might be worth taking a look at these websites

http://www.mikeandsniffy.co.uk/UKQRM/

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/UKQRM/

http://www.ban-plt.co.uk/

The Radio Society of Great Britain is setting up a "Spectrum Defence Fund" in order that it may fight OFCOM in the courts to force them to carry out their obligations under current EMC laws.

Needles to say it is vital for amateur radio in the UK that this challenge is successful, indeed a failure here could have implications for other countries, especially those in the EEC.

Obviously this will be a costly venture and so donations are being requested, therefore a fund has been set up to to support any legal action. So even if you are not an RSGB member it is very important that we support this fund.

Please click on the logo below which will take you to the RSGB donations page

(Don't forget to come back !)

The sad fact is that if amateur radio is to survive then it is down to us, this particular generation of radio amateurs, to save it. If we don't then all the work that has been done over the last 100 years or more to give us worldwide amateur radio could be lost forever.

And DON'T underestimate the problems caused by Plasma TV. There are one or two manufacturers who seem to be more problematic than others. A visit to UKQRM will enlighten.

Ok.There is just one more thing, please bear with me !

One of my other passions, other than radio, is aviation. As a child I remember being absolutely amazed at the sight of two particular aircraft. At airshows I remember the Handley Page Victor and in the skies over Lincolnshire, the Avro Vulcan.

The passage of time, naturally, has seen the demise of both aircraft in service, although a single Vulcan enjoyed a few years as a pure airhow attraction, until she too, was grounded.

From that day there was a dream and desire from so many people that a Vulcan should fly again. After many years of hope, hardwork, sweat and more than just a few tears this dream was realized on Saturday the 5th July at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, when Vulcan XH558 made her first public display in civilian hands to a capacity crowd.

It was never going to be easy to fund a Vulcan in civilian hands, with sponsorship it would be possible, but sadly, this sponsorship has not been forthcoming. The Trust which operates the Vulcan on behalf of the public has reached the point where it may no longer be possible to carry on and desperately needs financial help.

Please visit here http://www.tvoc.co.uk/ and lend your support.

Thank you.

Hi..... welcome to my vintage RACAL pages.

I have dedicated it to some of the superb equipment made by this company into the 1970's and 1980's.I have aimed this site at those who would like to know more about the many variations of equipment the RACAL have made during this period.The list is by no means complete and never will be,but I will do my best to update it as and when I can.You may need to be patient while the pictures download, but I think you will find it worth the wait. I have not "Thumbnailed" the images as I know that many of you like to save the pages as they are, with full size images.I have also reduced the resolution of some of the images to save space on the server and reduce download time.

All the information on this site is offered in good faith. I cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies. All the equipment featured on this site is from part of my own collection, nothing is listed that I do not own, If I don't have it it won't be on here. All photographs are also from my own collection except where indicated.

I have no connection with the RACAL/THALES company whatsoever.

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Last updated 04/01/2010

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