[ARC5] BC-453 or R-23(*)/ARC-5 on 600 meters...

Kenneth G. Gordon kgordon2006 at frontier.com
Sun Aug 3 18:16:44 EDT 2014


On 4 Aug 2014 at 6:16, Leslie Smith wrote:

>   Hi Ken,
>   I'm surprised to read your words "they lack the necessary stability
>   for 'extreme accuracy' modes".

Yes, but it is true.

>   What degree of stability do you require?

**I** don't require any greater stability than that which the incredible 
ARC-5s already exhibit.

 I categorically refuse to use those "overly fussy" modes, like WSPR, but 
THOSE do require long-term stabilities of +/- 2.5 HZ when receiving and 
around +/- 1 Hz, preferably LESS, for transmitting.

Bill Cromwell explained this pretty well.

>   I'm going to attach my old-fashioned frequency counter to the L.O. to
>   measure drift in my ATA beacon band receiver.
>   My set "settles down" very quickly after it's switched on - SSB is a
>   breeze with a simple converter in front of the "R-23".  (It's an ATA
>   not R23!)

Good on ya. Please report your results.

>   I'm particularly interested because I run my set from a 60V regulated
>   B+ supply, and (at that voltage) the 'tubes' run cool.
>   (Cooler than Bob Dylan)

Cooler than John Carter, Prince of Helium, in fact. ;-)

>   The limit to sensitivity for the beacon band receivers lies in (a)
>   atmospheric noise.

True, yet the inherent sensitivity of the beacon band receivers is sub-
microvolt.

Have you seen my youtube video of a refurbished BC-453B?

Take a gander at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlz83QXM66A

and I have others up there, and more planned.

>   If it's "there" an ATA set will hear it on MF/HF.  
>   The designers from the mid-30's knew their stuff (and all done with a
>   slide-rule too!)

Yes.

>   They were really "hot".

I will repeat what I have said here before this: as far as I am 
concerned, the designers of the "ARC-5" receivers were sheer geniuses.

Ken W7EKB


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