[rjm]

Have a RP3. Recapped, replaced resistors, and installed a new crystal cartridge. Still will only broadcast about 2ft. no more. Checked tubes, strong. am I missing something?

[Phlogiston]

I would suspect that many people have no idea what an RP3 is (I once worked on a Sonora RP3). Maybe if you told us a little more about it - picture?

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philco_rp3.html

[rjm]

It's a Philco wireless 1939 record player.

[David]

What kind of ant. are you using?

[rjm]

one used in the original factory design.

[Radioroslyn]

https://philcoradio.com/library/download...20Book.pdf

[rjm]

Really bro???

[Radioroslyn]

So how much ac voltage do you have from pin 2 of the 84 to chassis and pin 3 to the chassis?

[Phlogiston]

So you have a 6A7 doing its thing ( it is normally a osc/mixer in a receiver).

What is your plate voltage? Have you looked at it with a scope, how about a signal sniffer. I would suspect that a really good 6A7 might be required to get good range, not my favorite tube - still trying to get the Strat to osc. on band 5, reliably.

[rjm]

105.1 v pin 2 and 105.4 pin 3

[rjm]

plate on the 6A7 is 101.5v

[Phlogiston]

Is that 1 meg variable resistor good? What happens when you adjust it?

[rjm]

yes. it shuts down the transmitting when turned be it on a little over 2 ft.

[Phlogiston]

I would think that it would vary the RF output considerably through the range, 0 to 1meg. So if you measure from the high side (xtal) to ground you get 1 meg.? I have to ask - again, because these Philco controls are often the problem, especially if they have been "cleaned".

It may also vary the output freq. a little. What is you output freq?

[morzh]

6A7 tubes are often weak. The Mixing part.
Maybe it just needs replacement.