Racal TRA-921 reviews

Racal TRA-921
Mobile Shortwave Transceiver

Price History Chart

pls i need ur quotation for this part

Performance
Build quality
Features
User friendliness
Value for money
Aquired
Good condition in 2015

Nice back-up rig

caglarakgungor

When you open the case and take a look on the boards, you instantly understand why these units were sold so expensive in their good days. The components are of very good quality, with quiet tight tolerances even for today and delicious mechanical filters!
The 921 is limited to 2-8 MHz, as opposed to his brother 931 which covers all the HFs. It also lacks the fine tuning for playing inside 1 KHz steps. But it has everyting else you may need: LSB/USB/AM/CW modes, antenna tuner, BNC connectors for dipole antennas etc., a separate connector for whips and an antenna tuner, with tuning indicator meter.
I remember having measured its output power in lab. The rig gives a very adequate 12 to 20 W depending on the modulation type, and 5 Watts if you want less.
From İzmir, Turkey, I have worked Balkans, Ukraine, and to my surprise, U.K. with this radio. Its sensitivity is also very good.
However: Beware! This is synthesized rig. You have to turn, turn, tuurnn the 4 (or 5, in the case of 931) for checking activity on the bands. And they are hard to turn, very stiff (tock-tock-tock...). It is not like having a big black wheel you can continuously turn... Also, the receiver part can work with 12V DC but you have to give 18V DC if you want everything perfoms correctly.
If you got this radio for under 100 dollars (like me), get one as a spare unit, or a muscled QRP radio. It has merit.
73, TA2UH

Performance
Build quality
Features
User friendliness
Value for money
Aquired
Good condition in 2000
USD 100.00

Review the Racal TRA-921