G4NSJ – Communications Receivers

Communications receivers:

Owning a proper communications receiver is what turned me into a real shortwave listener. My first was a Marconi CR100, bought from GWM Radio in Worthing in my early teens. Once it was connected to the aerial, I don't think I switched it off for several days.

On these pages I describe the receivers I have owned and used, from wartime valve sets to modern solid state receivers. Pick a heading below, or see the Site Directory for everything on the site.

Military and wartime receivers

These valve receivers were built for the armed forces, and many came onto the surplus market after the war. There is more about them on my Military radio page.

Marconi CR100. My CR100/2, rebuilt to a very high standard, with a product detector for SSB. Includes an audio message.
Marconi R1155 receiver. The RAF receiver from the Lancaster bomber, which also provided direction finding. Includes a video.
National HRO 5TA1, 5A1 communications receiver. Restoring my HRO and trying to work out exactly which model it is. Manuals and articles are at the bottom of the page. Includes a video.
RCA AR88D receiver. Made by RCA in America from 1941 to 1945, with two RF stages and three IF stages. Includes two videos.
Eddystone 358X communications receiver. Made in Birmingham from around 1940, with a plug-in coil pack for each band. Includes a video.
Pye PCR receivers. The Portable Communications Receiver, designed by Pye of Cambridge in 1944. Includes a video.
Reception Set R209/2/B. A 1950s army receiver covering 1 to 20MHz, which I'm still getting to know. Includes a video and an audio message.

Professional and marine receivers

Racal RA-1772 receiver. Honestly the best receiver I have ever owned. It covers 15kHz to 30MHz and actually tunes down to about 12kHz, which is great for VLF. Includes two videos.
Eddystone 910/1. A rare 1960s professional receiver, intended mainly for maritime communications. Includes a video.
Sailor R105 HF marine receiver. Removed from a boat many years ago and kindly given to me. It covers long wave, the navigation band, medium wave and short wave up to 4.2MHz. Includes a video.

Amateur and listener receivers

Lafayette KT340 receiver. I had one of these back in the 1960s. It was my best piece of HF kit for many years. Includes a video.
Lafayette HA600A receiver. It looks like a valve receiver, but this 1970s set is fully transistorised. Includes a video.
Yaesu FRG-7 and FRT-7700 ATU. The receiver with the Wadley loop, and a simple change that greatly improves medium wave reception. Includes a video.
Lowe HF150. Compact, with very few controls, but amazing. It covers 30kHz to 30MHz and is ideal for medium wave DXing. Includes a video.

Small and portable receivers

Tecsun S-2000. A desktop receiver covering long wave, medium wave, HF with SSB, VHF FM and the air band. Includes a video.
ATS-20+ receiver. A £30 all band receiver with AM, FM and SSB. Not a serious communications receiver, but brilliant fun. Includes a video.