Hello Magnum:

The RDF (Radio Direction Finding radio) was a blessed tool in the days
before GPS in small boats.

My Dad use to chase after the Albacore Tuna, in the 60's and 70's in a
small 22 foot boat. Many times where several miles off the coast. And
many times I would see him take bearings off his Bendix RDF to check his
position, and figure fuel quantity vs range stuff.

Yeah we had a compass all right but the RDF was used the most. One could
take a bearing off the noise that a city like San diego or Los Angles
would generate. The neat thing about taking a RDF bearing during the
night is that many times we where close enough to shore to see the light
reflecting off the atmosphere, or the light bending over the horizon,
verifying the RFD bearing was a good.

I have the old Bendix RDF today, that I use to RDF noise down from our
local power company noise generating power grid system. I use to have
the kid drive around in the truck and me setting on the tail gate taking
RDF cuts. Usually took a few circles around the neighborhood to find the
offending power pole.

Jay in the Mojave




The Magnum wrote:

It says its handy for being lost at sea. Hmmm. A compass would also be good
;o) at least the batteries wouldn't go flat. Nice collectors antique
though...

Regards,
Graham