[ARC5] On Hacking

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 17 Oct 2012 at 23:41, Todd, KA1KAQ wrote:

> Thinking back to the first time I heard a signal coming out of the
> BC-455B I mauled (power & audio only) in '79-80 with the help of one
> of my college profs, I'm still in awe of the amount of performance put
> forth by that little pile of next-to-nothing in a shoebox amount of
> space.

I can still remember the total awe that hit me when I first heard one in 
operation, and then was able to use it.

> The clarity of signals and ease of tuning was/is outstanding.
> Pound for pound, and time frame adjusted, it has to be one of the best
> basic receivers of all time. Was discussing this recently I think with
> you, Ken, or someone on here.

Yes. We did. I said at the time what I still insist is true: those were and still 
are the finest single-band receivers ever built.

As Robert Downs and I were chatting about, the ARC build and design 
quality were fully equal to Collins'.

> Can't wait to fire up one of the RAX-1 receivers and see what it
> produces. They' just look cool.

I agree. When I first saw those, I was not particularly impressed. It was only 
after I found schematics and a write on them that I began to appreciate 
them.

vy 73,

Ken W7EKB