RFT AWE Typ 188

 

 
General Coverage Communications Receiver
Double Conversion Superheterodyne
16 Tubes + Semiconductors
Made in East Germany 1957 - Sixties

 
Specifications
Coverage: 30 kHz - 30 MHz in ten ranges
Modes: AM/CW/MCW
Antenna Input: 60 Ohms unbalanced, 240 Ohms balanced
Sensitivity: CW: 0.15 µV 6 dB S/N, AM: 3 µV 10 dB S/N
Setting & Read out: <5 kHz at 30 MHz, better if marks on micro scale are registered in a logbook
Selectivity: Variable 0.2 - 6 kHz -6 dB, formfactor -6/-60 dB: 1:2.8 at 6 kHz bandwidth
IF: 1st IF: 1875 kHz in the HF ranges, 468 kHz in the LF ranges, 2nd IF: 352 kHz
IF Rejection: >75 dB
Image Rejection: >75 dB at 1 MHz, >50 dB at 18 MHz, >35 dB at 30 MHz
Audio Output: 1.5 W speaker, 600 Ohms line
Voltages: 110/125/150/220 V AC +/-10% 40-60 Hz, 130 W
Physical: Cabinet Version: 550x402x405 mm, 50 kg
Accessories: Attachment for diversity and FSK

 
Features
- Headphone Jack (2) - Speaker - Speaker Switch - AF In Jack
- Line Out 600 Ohms - IF Out Jack - BFO +/- 2.5 kHz - Noise Blanker
- Phasing - RF Meter - AGC/MGC - AGC 0.1 - 3 sec.
- Diversity Mode - RF Gain - Calibrator 1 MHz - Dial Lamps
- Motor Tuning - Fine Tuning - Rack Handles  

 
Circuit Complement
Tubes + Semiconductors: 4x EF 80 (=6 BX 6), 3x EF 85 (=6 BY 7), 2x EBF 80 (=6 N 8), 1x ECC 81 (= 12 AT 7), 2x ECH 81 (=6 AJ 8), 1x EAA 91 (=6 AL 5), 1x EL 84 (6 BQ 5), 1x EYY 113 (equivalent to 5 V 3), StR 150/40 Z (equivalent to 0 D 3)
Tuning: 3x2 ganged capacitors in RF circuits, coarse tuning by a motor, fine tuning by a spinner knob
Crystals: 1x MHz for calibration, 1x 1875 kHz in 1st IF, 1x 820 kHz and 1x 2227 kHz in second converter, 1x 352 kHz in 2nd IF filter 
Dials: Coarse tuning dial on a drum, fine tuning scale for interpolation and log

 
Comments
Used by East German official authorities for monitoring, point to point transmissions and on shore in the fifties and sixties. A standard receiver in the East German NVA (National Peoples Army) in the fifties and sixties. Could often be found in amateurs radio clubs afterwards. 2nd IF strip is very similar to German WWII receiver MW.E.c. Fair performance for SSB reception in CW mode as the BFO gives a strong signal to a product detector. Bandwidth variable for an optimal filter shape.

 
Additional Information

 
 

  Top view of the AWE Type 188

 

  A detail of the front panel: fine tuning dial and knob


 

  Another detail: the motor used for coarse tuning

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