Re-built Repanco One-Valver with Reaction - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

johnlees · 21st Oct 2004, 10:35 pm

Many thanks to the several people who sent me bits to re-construct this boyhood radio which is now up-and-running and which seems to operate almost as I remember it except that the reaction control seems rather fierce. The only real problem is that Radio Luxembourg is not there and Classic Gold seems a poor substitute. Cheers to all, John.

SPCh · 17th Nov 2004, 10:11 pm

(a) The demise of Radio Luxemburg was an international tragedy.

(b) Reaction controls are always more fierce than you remember them.

jim_beacon · 18th Nov 2004, 12:17 am

John,

you may find that the reaction can be tamed......

A lot of these sets (especially those designed by F.G. Rayer), were designed to run with a HT supply of between 150V and 250V - a massive variation! I have found the reaction to be smooth at the lower voltage, but fierce at higher HT voltages, the simple solution is to put a series resistor between the HT line and the HT end of the reaction poteniometer, such that the reaction control always has the lower HT voltage across it.

Jim.

Aerodyne · 20th Nov 2004, 4:09 pm

Just picked this topic up.
Wow - F.G. Rayer. Now there WAS a prolific builder. Lots of stuff in Practical Wireless during the '50s, most of which seemed to have been built with great haste from cobbled-together odds and ends out of his scrap box. Can't deny the part he played in my youthful radio experimenting, though! Is he still with us, I wonder?
-Tony

Paul Stenning · 20th Nov 2004, 10:31 pm

No he isn't. I remember reading an obituary in Everyday Electronics back in the late 70s or early 80s.

wireless_paul · 21st Nov 2004, 1:22 am

For anyone interested in F.G. Rayer I would recommend the article in the October 2002 issue of Practical Wireless. " Mr Project-The F.G. Rayer G3OGR Story ' over the years many PW readers have wondered just who was the man behind the anonymous initials, F.G. Rayer G3OGR? As an enigmatic and prolific author whose name appeared in many radio, Amateur Radio and electronics magazines, F.G. remained virtually anonymous. Here his son William Rayer unravels the mysteries surrounding Mr Project' ".

In my own personal opinion, I do not think that F.G. has ever been surpassed in his project writing. Even after all these years I still look out for any articles he wrote.
Paul E

Sideband · 26th Nov 2004, 10:10 pm

At the risk of going off-topic, F G Rayer and F J Camm where probably the two main influences during my early years of radio building back in the mid sixties and early seventies before I took all the formal exams.

Rich.

AC/HL · 26th Nov 2004, 10:20 pm

For those who didn't know, FJ Camm's brother was Sidney Camm, the designer of the Hawker Hurricane.

21st Oct 2004, 10:35 pm	#1
johnlees Hexode Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 283	Re-built Repanco One-Valver with Reaction Many thanks to the several people who sent me bits to re-construct this boyhood radio which is now up-and-running and which seems to operate almost as I remember it except that the reaction control seems rather fierce. The only real problem is that Radio Luxembourg is not there and Classic Gold seems a poor substitute. Cheers to all, John. __________________ Now that's the kind of Long Wave I like ! (Severn Bore near Gloucester)

17th Nov 2004, 10:11 pm	#2
SPCh Rest in Peace Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Posts: 345	Re: Re-built Repanco One-Valver with Reaction (a) The demise of Radio Luxemburg was an international tragedy. (b) Reaction controls are always more fierce than you remember them.

18th Nov 2004, 12:17 am	#3
jim_beacon Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bishop's Waltham, Hants, UK. Posts: 939	Re: Re-built Repanco One-Valver with Reaction John, you may find that the reaction can be tamed...... A lot of these sets (especially those designed by F.G. Rayer), were designed to run with a HT supply of between 150V and 250V - a massive variation! I have found the reaction to be smooth at the lower voltage, but fierce at higher HT voltages, the simple solution is to put a series resistor between the HT line and the HT end of the reaction poteniometer, such that the reaction control always has the lower HT voltage across it. Jim.

20th Nov 2004, 4:09 pm	#4
Aerodyne Octode Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hampton Vale, Peterborough, UK. Posts: 1,698	Re: Re-built Repanco One-Valver with Reaction Just picked this topic up. Wow - F.G. Rayer. Now there WAS a prolific builder. Lots of stuff in Practical Wireless during the '50s, most of which seemed to have been built with great haste from cobbled-together odds and ends out of his scrap box. Can't deny the part he played in my youthful radio experimenting, though! Is he still with us, I wonder? -Tony

20th Nov 2004, 10:31 pm	#5
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,072	Re: Re-built Repanco One-Valver with Reaction No he isn't. I remember reading an obituary in Everyday Electronics back in the late 70s or early 80s. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster Last edited by Jeremy M0RVB; 28th Dec 2004 at 11:54 pm.

21st Nov 2004, 1:22 am	#6
wireless_paul Hexode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: World Heritage Village of Saltaire, Shipley, West Riding of Yorkshire. Posts: 324	Re: Re-built Repanco One-Valver with Reaction For anyone interested in F.G. Rayer I would recommend the article in the October 2002 issue of Practical Wireless. " Mr Project-The F.G. Rayer G3OGR Story ' over the years many PW readers have wondered just who was the man behind the anonymous initials, F.G. Rayer G3OGR? As an enigmatic and prolific author whose name appeared in many radio, Amateur Radio and electronics magazines, F.G. remained virtually anonymous. Here his son William Rayer unravels the mysteries surrounding Mr Project' ". In my own personal opinion, I do not think that F.G. has ever been surpassed in his project writing. Even after all these years I still look out for any articles he wrote. Paul E Last edited by Jeremy M0RVB; 28th Dec 2004 at 11:54 pm.

26th Nov 2004, 10:10 pm	#7
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,577	Re: Re-built Repanco One-Valver with Reaction At the risk of going off-topic, F G Rayer and F J Camm where probably the two main influences during my early years of radio building back in the mid sixties and early seventies before I took all the formal exams. Rich. __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

26th Nov 2004, 10:20 pm	#8
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: Re-built Repanco One-Valver with Reaction For those who didn't know, FJ Camm's brother was Sidney Camm, the designer of the Hawker Hurricane.