DC-3 Radio panel - question about tuner

[Stuntie 0]

On the DC-3 Radio stack there is a signal strength meter or something situated between the ADF tuning handles. You can set it to ADF 1 pr 2.What is that for?Does signal strength relate to distance - thus working like a simple DME?Or is for fine tuning or something?Answers on a postcard...P.S.I also found out that the NDB for my local airport (Leeds Bradford) appears to be in one of the gaps on the tuner :(

[Guest Calb]

Unfortunately they did not accurately (realistically) model how an AM receiver with analog tuning sounds. In reality, if the NDB is within range, you should be able to hear it as you tune into it -- at about 1 or 2 kHz away it will be faint (buried in the static)and quickly becomes louder as you center on it's frequency. As you know, that does not happen. The meter was an aid in "centering" the tuning. As you tuned into it, you would rock the crank back and forth a little to center it audibly and then look up at the tuning meter and repeat the rocking action to verify it on the meter. The meter will indicate higher when you are closer to the station but can't be used for even guess-timating the distance.And there's another shortcoming. When you tune the Beacon's frequency, there is a short delay before it becomes audible - it just suddenly snaps to life. Moreover, you have to use the mouse's window to set the frequency exactly or it won't receive the signal at all whereas, as I've mentioned above, you should be able to hear it when tuned slightly above or below.Maybe next time they'll have time to fix it.Cheers,CalChief InstructorHoverSafe Academyhttp://members.shaw.ca/hoversafe/Hoversafe.htm