[ARC5] [Milsurplus] Vintage LF/MF Fun with my BC-453B

[Dennis Monticelli]

Hey, that's a great idea, Thomas.  Conducted line RFI plagues that radio.
That's why I used batteries.

Dennis AE6C

On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 11:01 AM Thomas Adams <quixote2 at ix.netcom.com>
wrote:

> *One modification to the BC-453 that I'd highly recommend...*
>
>
>
> *The tapped antenna input coil is a problem; in many situations it allows
> unwanted ground loops*
>
> *that greatly increase noise sneaking in from the AC power line.*
>
>
>
> *On one set I had, I pulled out the antenna coil and disconnected the tap.
> I then replaced it with a*
>
> *link coil of maybe 20 turns wound over the coil. The plug in terminals
> can be configured to allow*
>
> *the new link coil to be connected to the antenna input.*
>
>
>
> *The noise level went down dramatically, and after some realignment the
> set became a first class *
>
> *NDB hunter. *
>
>
>
>
>
> *Mr. T.*
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dennis Monticelli <dennis.monticelli at gmail.com>
> Sent: Nov 19, 2025 3:15 PM
> To: Mark K3MSB <mark.k3msb at gmail.com>
> Cc: ARC5 <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>, Military Radio Collectors Association (
> mrca at mailman.qth.net) <mrca at mailman.qth.net>, List Milsurplus <
> milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] [ARC5] Vintage LF/MF Fun with my BC-453B
>
>
> Mark,
>
> That is a fun thing to do.  10 yrs ago I did the same thing with a rebuilt
> BC-453B.  One tip I will pass along is to use batteries if you can,
> especially the B+.  I ran eight 9V batteries for B+.   Divorcing the
> receiver from the AC line reduces noise pickup from all the crud that
> modern electronics dump into the line.  It was a significant difference in
> my situation.  Also if you haven't already, adjust the IF transformers for
> looser coupling by pulling up on the tabs.  This will reduce the noise BW.
>
> Dennis AE6C
>
> On Wed, Nov 19, 2025 at 12:25 PM Mark K3MSB <mark.k3msb at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Everyone
>>
>> For the past 2 years I've been using my RBA receiver for vintage LF/MF
>> fun, and have logged over 200 NDBs each year.   This year I decided to use
>> my BC-453B receiver.   It's been recapped, and all out of tolerance
>> resistors (sans one....) have been replaced.
>>
>> [image: image.png]
>>
>> Since early November,  I've logged 52 NDBs.   I'm hoping to log 100 this
>> listening season (which runs through March).
>>
>> 73 Mark K3MSB
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>
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