DZ-2 CRV-46152 Aircraft Direction Finding Equipment

General Description

The DZ-2 was built by RCA , Camden NJ, for the U.S. Navy for use in naval aircraft as a Radio Direction Finder. With a contract date of June 30 1939, the receiver is an interesting example of pre-war design.

The sets are relatively rare, with only a few thousand having been manufactured. The example is serial number 5.

The receiver features 6 tuning ranges:
1. 15 - 32.5kc
2. 32.5 - 70kc
3. 100 - 200kc
4. 200 - 400kc
5. 400 - 800kc
6. 800 - 1750kc

Note: IF Frequencies:   Ranges 1/2/3 89kc        Ranges 4/5/6 88kc

As the dial is not directly calibrated in frequency, a calibration chart is provided on the receiver front panel.

The receiver was powered by the aircraft's 24v DC power system, with the HT being provided by a separate dynamotor. The receiver can be used without the direction finding loop and covers the NDB's and the whole AM Broadcast Band.

The tube line up is as follows:
RF Amp   6D6
Mixer       6C6
Oscillator 76
IF1          6D6
IF2          6D6
Detector   6C6
BFO        76
Output     41

The display receiver had suffered, firstly by some enthusiast's modifications and secondly by being poorly stored and pressure cooked in a shipping container for 6 years. Aluminium does not like these conditions and the set needed quite a lot of restoration work.

As the dynamotor was not available and the filaments had been rewired for 6.3v AC in a previous life, an external mains supply was used to provide power. HT of 250 volts is satisfactory. The output transformer had been removed as it provided headphone output only. This was subsequently replaced with one capable of speaker and headphone output along with balanced 600 line for use in the museum.

Illustrations of the set

Interior views, top and bottom.

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View of tuning capacitor and side view.

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Dial and DF section ID plate.

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Receiver ID plate and frequency chart.