[ARC5] Transistorized ARC-5 Receiver

[Bill Cromwell]

Hi Dennis,

I run my BC-453 stock from a pair of "slab"s in series for the heaters 
and 10 of the 9-volt batteries in series. The 9 volts batteries last me 
for months of casual operation and the heater supply might last a 
weekend - but is rechargeable. I have considered mounting FETs and/or 
bipolar transistors in tube bases. So far I am satisfied running the 
original tubes from batteries. I was pleasantly surprised how long those 
last.

Dual gate mosfets are available in a tiny package with fairly long leads 
laid out in a cross pattern. Those could be bent to fit through-hole 
patterns in a circuit board or in a tube base for plug-in.

Happy New Year and...

73,

Bill  KU8H

On 01/01/2017 12:44 PM, Dennis Monticelli wrote:
> JFETs are readily available.  I have seen dual gate MOSFETs NOS from 
> Dan's Small Parts.  I'm sure there are other sources.  You can make a 
> dual gate JFET by stacking a higher Vp part in cascode over a lower Vp 
> part.  Biasing would be different that the MOSFET version but similar 
> function.
>
> I will close with reporting that the BC-453 works fine as-is battery 
> operated.  The filaments are not so hungry as to prevent a night of 
> listening in the field via a gel cell (12V conversion).  B+ is a stack 
> of seven 9V batteries in my case. I have taken such a config to the 
> field and it works great. Alternatively you can stack two gels for 
> filament and run the B+ off the 28V too.  Gain would be lower and the 
> osc may or may not reliably start (try different tubes).  There is a 
> simple reversible screen divider mod that helps with B+ that low.
>
> Dennis AE6C
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 1, 2017 at 9:26 AM, MICHAEL ST ANGELO 
> <mstangelo at comcast.net <mailto:mstangelo at comcast.net>> wrote:
>
>     Actually it is a good way to resurrect a gutted receive or a set
>     missing tubes. Since you have to replace the capacitors you may
>     explore the solid state option.
>
>     I am a longtime LF listener. In the 1970's I was looking for a
>     battery powered receiver to listen to the LF band. I rebuilt a
>     BC-453 with solid state devices.
>
>     I used JFETS's in the RF, oscillator and BFO stages and Dual Gate
>     MOSFET's in the mixer and IF stages. I forgot what I used in the
>     detector and audio stages. It was an excellent receiver with very
>     low power consumption. I operated it form 12 volts.
>
>     I was going to built solid state converters for the ham bands but
>     college, employment got in the way.
>
>     I referenced an article in QST or Ham Radio about a solid state
>     conversion in a BC-348 for my design. If I find the article I will
>     post the information.
>
>     JFETS are still available but it may be difficult to find Dual
>     Gate MOSFETS. I believe some Dual GAte devices are available in
>     SMT packages.
>
>     Happy New Year,
>
>     Mike N2MS
>
>     > On December 31, 2016 at 8:50 PM Phillip Carpenter
>     <carpenterpa at tds.net <mailto:carpenterpa at tds.net>> wrote:
>     >
>     >
>     > I just want to read the article...
>     >
>     > Phillip
>     >
>     > Sent from my iPhone
>     >
>     > > On Dec 31, 2016, at 8:22 PM, Bob Moody <bob at vanirmail.com
>     <mailto:bob at vanirmail.com>> wrote:
>     > >
>     > > Isn't that like putting a smog pump on a Model A?
>     > >
>     > > K7IRK
>     > >
>     > >
>     > >
>     > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phillip Carpenter"
>     <carpenterpa at tds.net <mailto:carpenterpa at tds.net>>
>     > > To: <arc5 at mailman.qth.net <mailto:arc5 at mailman.qth.net>>
>     > > Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2016 3:48 PM
>     > > Subject: [ARC5] Transistorized ARC-5 Receiver
>     > >
>     > >
>     > >> Does anyone on the Forum know the correct citation for an
>     article that describes how to transistorize the Command BC-45x
>     series receivers?
>     > >>
>     > >> It is thought that the article appeared in Short Wave or
>     RadCom magazines or perhaps one of the other radio journals back
>     in the late 1960s or 1970s.
>     > >>
>     > >> Thank you in advance to all who reply!
>     > >>
>     > >> Respectfully,
>     > >>
>     > >> Phillip W4RTX
>     > >>
>     > >> Sent from my iPhone
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