[ARC5] BC-342-N

Dennis DuVall duvallddennis at gmail.com
Tue Nov 10 11:50:44 EST 2015


Yes, good receiver.  For much more here see my article on the BC-342 & BC-312 in ER #95, March 1997 and the follow-up note in ER #103 (Nov.).  

Dennis D.  W7QHO
Glendale, CA

********************

> On Nov 10, 2015, at 4:52 AM, DSP3 <jeepp at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> There's nothing wrong with the BC-342( ) receiver. Yes.. they are very heavy for their size, arguably twice that of a BC-348.  I have both and find that the BC-342 has a much nicer tuning setup.  Its very smooth and feels solid.  There are a couple of items to be considered regarding the BC-342.  Its now pushing 75 years old and it will need a certain amount of re-capping.  Yes, you may very well get one that's functioning well but... in time you will need to do the deed.  Unlike the BC-348, the '342 and '312 utilize bathtub capacitors.  In one place, they're stacked up like the stern of a container ship.  It takes some engineering to remove and replace them with modern types.  Oh, it absolutely can be done.  It just takes some thought and doing.  Although not quite as troublesome as the variable trimmer tuning capacitors in the BC-348, the ones in the BC-342 and '312 are showing up defective.  Replacing them is also a chore, more difficult than the BC-348.  Obviously, though, it can be done.  Another item is the dial cursor.  The plastic versions are generally pretty warped as the materials in the 1940's are not what they are today.  Its a good idea to check that item out as they are not (generally) replaceable in the field.  Ebay pictures are not sufficient to make some critical judgements! But, once you have a stable receiver and have addressed the above items, the BC-342 or '312 are great receivers for a MIL vintage station. They represent some fine engineering that came out of Monmouth.
> 
> Jeep - K3HVG
> 
> 
> 
> On 11/9/2015 10:33 PM, kg4kgl at gmail.com wrote:
>> Hello all,
>> 
>> I was wondering what the common wisdom is regarding this particular receiver? There is one for sale. My use for it would be copying CW on the 80and 40m bands.
>> 
>> I see it was powered from 115v mains, so no hacking should be needed for amateur use.
>> 
>> 
>> Tnx,
>> 
>> Robert
>> KG4KGL
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
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> 
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