The North American model RA17C12 has different tubes and various changes to component values when compared to the RA17L. The basic architecture remains the same. There are 22 tubes of 9 types -
There is no V20 or V24.
The audio output stage is a considerable inprovement over the
British version. It uses a 'real' output pentode and a double
triode, instead of the gross abuse of an RF pentode as the output
stage which is the British version. Audio quality is still not
great if the tiny (tinny) built-in speaker is used.
There are two distinct series of RA17 receivers, the British
Military versions, which uses CV numbered tubes and the North
American versions, which uses U.S. commercial tubes. The tube
sets for these different series are not identical. Several tubes,
while similar in function, have a different pin-out. Inserting
the tube from the other set could result in thedestruction of
the tube and might cause damage to other components. In
particular, many substitution guides give 6AS6 or its variants
as equivalents for the S6F33 (special 6F33). In fact the connections
to G2 and G3 are reversed and the connections to the base must
be changed to do this substitution.
Where CV numbered equivalents are shown for U.S. tubes below,
they may be safely substituted.
Complement | Type | Racal Original Equipment | CV equivalents | Pro-Electron | Industrial | Mullard | Other Manufs |
8 | High slope RF pentode |
6AU6 6AU6W* 6AU6WB* |
CV2524 | EF94 | 6136* | _ | _ |
2 | Dual diode |
6AL5 6AL5W* |
CV283 | EB91 |
6058* 5726 |
M8079* | _ |
4 | Vari-mu RF pentode | 6BA6 | CV454 | EF93 |
6660 7496 |
_ | _ |
1 | Dual control pentode |
6AS6 6AS6W* |
CV2622 CV4011* |
_ | 5725 | M8196* | _ |
2 | RF pentode | 6688* | CV3998 | E180F* | 6688 | _ |
5A/170K EF861 |
2 | Heptode frequency changer |
6BE6 6BE6W* |
CV453 CV4012* |
EK90 | 5750* | _ | _ |
1 | Dual triode | 6ES8 | CV5331 | ECC189 | _ | _ | _ |
1 | Output Pentode |
6AQ5 6AQ5W* |
CV453 CV4019* |
EL90 |
6005 6095 6609 |
M8245* | _ |
1 | Dual Triode |
12AT7 12AT7WA* |
CV455 CV4024* |
ECC81 | 6060 | M8162* | _ |
* this is a special quality type
Andy Cowley 2002