623
Item nr.
| Production | The Netherlands, 1962. |
|---|---|
| Bands | LW (1154-2000m), MW (185-580m), Tropical band (59-187m), Shortwave (16.6-50.5m); IF is 452kHz. |
| Tubes | ECH81, EF89, EBC81, EL84, EZ80, DM71 (tuning eye), 8024N-71 (dial light). |
| Cabinet | Wood. Size 44x25.5x18cm. |
| Power | AC (90/115/127/145/190/220V), 40W. |
| Documents | Schema (B3X91A). |
It tunes the frequencies between Medium Wave and Shortwave, sometimes referred to as Tropical band and sometimes as Fishery bands. The same set (including the wood cabinet) was sold as Sierra RA3133A. The type sticker confirms the Aristona brand for this one, but appearently was glued over another type sticker. 
Because the dial lists a lot of exotic places in Africa and the Middle East, I think that Tropical Bands was the intended use of this radio. Most of the stations on the dial can be matched well with the list in the Radiokompas 1950. The Radiokompas does not mention stations in the Middle East, though, like those in Irak and Iran. The stations F.2 and F.3 turn out to be stations in France. 
The radio has two built in antenna's, a 20.5cm ferrite rod for Long and Medium wave, and a 10x10cm plate antenna for Tropical and Short wave. 
The ferrite rod is, of course, directional, but the plate antenna is not. The tube line-up has two surprises. The detector is the EBC81 tube, not a very common one because in Europe, FM was already very common and many radio's used the EABC80. The the tuning eye is the very cute DM71, actually intended for use in battery radio's.
| Obtained | 2/2026 from Kringloop Hoevelaken; sn=PL15807. |
|---|---|
| Condition | 8. |
| Value (est.) | 22€. |
| Sound sample | PLAY SOUND Many transmissions in the tropical band are Single Side Band. To overhear the weather forecast for Luxemburg Airport from Shannon Volmet, you'll need an external BFO. |
The radio was offered with the tuning dial completely stuck, so it was impossible to check its operation. I managed to grease this and get it running again. Also I replaced one capacitor, C35 on the output transformer.