[ARC5] BC-AN-229 Follies, part 5A - the 229 receives again on HF!

[Ben Hall]

Earlier yesterday, I got the BC-AN-229 working happily on LF via some of 
the nearer aircraft NDB's.  But...my two coil sets being approximately 
2500 to 4700 kHz on high, I was getting nothing during the day on HF.

After sundown last night, that changed.  ;)  Easily received CHU and 
even some AM ham activity.  As other have noted...selectivity is not a 
strong point of the -229, so there were several AM QSO's pretty close in 
frequency both coming thru the speaker.

Things left to do:

1)  Coil Sets.  I would like to get my hands on a couple more BC-xx-229 
receive coil sets.  I need to check my past e-mails, I want to say I was 
offered some a while back but was going to hold off until I got the 
receiver working.

2)  Voltage Readings.  I did run the set on reduced B+ rather 
successfully last night.  My control box surrogate does duplicate the 
power resistors present in the dynamotor supply, so I'm curious how much 
voltage is actually making it to the set via both the "filtered" and 
"unfiltered" B+ lines.

3)  More Voltage Readings.  I don't recall if the -229 manual has a 
table of voltage readings under known operating conditions.  If it does, 
I probably should make those before I put the set back together, even 
though I think I've got it working right.

4)  Binding-Head Screws / Reassembly.  When I got the -229, most of the 
binding-head screws that attach the outer case were missing.  I've got a 
ton of stainless round-head screws I can use, but being being Phillips, 
they won't look quite right.  On the other hand, this set will never be 
a beauty queen, so perhaps I should just use them and be happy.  ;)

5)  Coil Set De-oxit.  The band-change switches in the one coil set are 
dirty.  Good contact is only made after some "switch-fiddling." 
Disassembly and cleaning/de-oxit should fix that.  Taking the coil sets 
apart to do this is labor intensive, as there is a lot of screws to 
remove and keep track of, but it is not difficult.

After this set is finished...I need to give the 4-pin to 7/9 pin adapter 
project some love.  (more on this in another e-mail)

thanks much and 73,
ben, kd5byb