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Superette (radio)

Superette (radio) is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Superette (radio) rather than just read about it. In short: In 1931 RCA introduced a new line of Superette radio receivers. These used the superheterodyne principle but were lower cost than earlier products, in an attempt to maintain sales during the onset of the Great Depression.

Superette (radio) — main illustration
Superette (radio) — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Superette (radio) belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Superette (radio) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Superette (radio) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In 1931 RCA introduced a new line of Superette radio receivers. These used the superheterodyne principle but were lower cost than earlier products, in an attempt to maintain sales during the onset of the Great Depression.

Background Edwin Howard Armstrong invented the superheterodyne receiver in 1918. Armstrong and RCA (under David Sarnoff) had a business and technical relationship, that would last into the 1940s. Funded by RCA, Armstrong designed a radio that can receive stations easily without complex tuning or interference from other stations. Early radio designs by Armstrong and others produced radios that were very sensitive but hard to keep under control due to the nature of radio waves operating at higher frequencies. Armstrong's superheterodyne receiver converted these high frequencies into one lower frequency. This allow the radio to be more stable or easier to tune, with less interference. The result was the RCA Radiola AR-812 and Radiola VIII Superheterodynes in 1924, the world's first consumer superheterodyne receivers. In 1924, these cost $224 and $475 respectively. Up to 1930, RCA controlled the superheterodyne patent, and any radio manufacturer that wanted to build one had to pay royalties to RCA. In 1928 RCA launched their first AC operated superheterodyne radio, the Radiola 60 ($147 in 1928 dollars). All these superhets were large and expensive. In the 1930s the depression was in full force. The trend in radios were smaller, more compact and lower cost. RCA introduced the Superette line in 1931 with the R7 table and R9 console.

Models From 1931 RCA produced a range of small mantel radios called the Superette, which at introduction sold for $57.50 not including the vacuum tubes. "Super" was derived from superheterodyne. Probably the most well known is the Model R-7, which was produced in several versions. RCA also produced a console version, the model R-9. The R-7 and R-9 share identical chassis (using RCA tubes 280, 227, 235, 245 and 224). There were several versions of the R7 table (mantel) version: the R-7A using pentode output tubes (RCA 247), R-7DC and R-9DC for 110 VDC power, and the R-7 LW for long wave listening. These early superheterodynes had no AVC so stronger stations were louder than weaker ones.

Spinoffs RCA produced spinoffs of the Superette during the 1931-32 model year. These models are based on the R-7 design but are not called Superette in RCA's literature. "Superette" was reserved for the R-7 and R-9 models.

R-4 TABLE version- Similar to R-7A R-6 CONSOLE version of R4- Similar to R-7A R-8 and R-8DC TABLE version- Similar to R-7A (has Automatic Volume Control or AVC) R-10 Console- Similar to R-7 and R-9 circuit design R-10DC Console- Similar to R-9DC R-12 Console version of R-8- to R-7A (has Automatic Volume Control or AVC) RE-16A Phonograph-Radio Combination Console- Similar to R-7A

References

Illustrations

Superette (radio): RCA Superette Console R-9 (Bottom) and RCA Superette Table Radio R-7 (Above)
RCA Superette Console R-9 (Bottom) and RCA Superette Table Radio R-7 (Above)
Superette (radio): 1931 RCA Superette R-7 Table Radio- the most common version
1931 RCA Superette R-7 Table Radio- the most common version

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Superette (radio)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Superette (radio) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Superette (radio) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Superette (radio) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Superette (radio)

In research
Superette (radio) appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Superette (radio) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Superette (radio) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics History of radio in the United States, Models of radios, Radio electronics, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Superette (radio) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Superette (radio) in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Superette (radio) means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Superette (radio) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Superette (radio) in simple terms?

In 1931 RCA introduced a new line of Superette radio receivers. These used the superheterodyne principle but were lower cost than earlier products, in an attempt to maintain sales during the onset of the Great Depression.

Why does Superette (radio) matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Superette (radio)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Superette (radio).

Tags

  • History of radio in the United States
  • Models of radios
  • Radio electronics

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