Note
QST, May 1946, p. 159.
Lafayette catalog number 88 (1947, copyright 1946), p. 98.
QST, Mar 1947, p. 143.
QST, May 1951, p. 117.
The RME-84 is an eight-tube superheterodyne communications receiver manufactured by Radio Mfg. Engineers, Inc. of Peoria, Illinois. Designed for amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners, it is capable of both AC and portable battery-powered operation. It uses not-so-common locatal tubes.
The receiver features a high-quality tuning mechanism designed to eliminate backlash using a spring-loaded gear engaged by a planetary driven pinion.
Logging and fine tuning are managed via a unique dual-scale setup:
– The Main Dial: Shows the megacycle pointer.
– The Bandspread Dial: An illuminated translucent dial visible through a center window. It features 200 divisions (calibrated 0 to 100) and makes 5 complete revolutions as the main pointer travels across any given band, providing 1,000 arbitrary bandspread divisions per range for precise station logging.
Features
A 3-position rotary switch offering CW (enables the BFO for Morse code and disables AVC), STBY (disables the RF and IF stages to keep the receiver warm during transmission), and PH (for standard phone/AM voice reception).
B.O. Pitch Control: Adjusts the pitch of the Beat Frequency Oscillator for CW reception and locating weak phone carriers.
Automatic Noise Limiter (ANL): An automatic noise-limiting circuit controlled by a slide switch located just below the control panel. Because it can introduce slight audio distortion, it can be switched completely out of the circuit.
Automatic Volume Control (AVC): Fully effective when the R.F. Gain control is turned completely clockwise.
Tone & Power Control: A combined knob that serves as the AC line switch and a high-frequency response adjustment.
Headphone Jack: Located on the front panel; inserting a pair of headphones (50 to 30,000 ohms impedance) automatically mutes the internal speaker.
Optional Carrier Level ("R") Meter: A matching gray wrinkle-finish external S-meter, model CM-1 calibrated in dB and R-units (where R-9 is set to equal a 100-microvolt input). It plugs into a designated 4-prong socket on the rear apron.
Specifications
– Frequency Coverage: Continuous tuning from 540 KC to 44 MC across four overlapping bands.
– Audio Output: 1.1 watts.
– Audio Frequency Response: 100 to 3,500 cycles $\pm$ 3 dB.
– Intermediate Frequency (I.F.): 455 KC.
Power Requirements:
Standard AC: 115 volts, 50–60 cycles AC (drawing 62 watts).
Universal AC (Special Order): 115 or 230 volts, 25 to 60 cycles.
Battery Operation: Can run off a 6V "A" battery (1.5 amperes drain, reducible to 1.2 amperes by removing dial lamps) and a 135V "B" battery tapped at 90V (32 milliamperes drain) using an octal battery plug interface.
Vibrator Supply: Supports an optional 6-volt DC vibrator power supply.
Tube Complement
The RME-84 utilizes an 8-tube lineup:
– V1 7B7 R.F. Amplifier
– V2 7B7 Mixer and Oscillator
– V3 7B7 1st I.F. Amplifier
– V4 7B7 2nd I.F. Amplifier
– V5 7K7 Detector, AVC, and 1st Audio
– V6 7K7 Noise Limiter and Beat Frequency Oscillator (BFO)
– V7 6G6G Output Amplifier
– V8 5Y3G Rectifier
