[Boatanchors] BC-348H Recap

[WQ9E at btsnetworks.net]

I side with Dave on this issue. Modifications are like pharmaceuticals, they have an intended effect which is usually positive but generally also have multiple side effects, most of which are undesirable, and these side effect issues and the interactions thereof are often unforeseen (and unforeseeable unless you are an excellent design engineer).  Far too many ham modifications are either short-sighted in design and implementation or even worse are used to mask failure or degradation of a component instead of addressing the root cause of the shortcoming.

For me the main enjoyment of using vintage gear is experiencing it as it performed originally.  I will make safety modifications where necessary but all of these are reversible back to original without added holes.  I don't like gear without fuses (many 1930s era receivers) or gear with 1,600 volts exposed on uncovered binding posts (i.e. my Hallicrafters HT-19). If the selectivity is too poor an external Autek QF-1A or similar filter works wonders and if the sensitivity is too low then a better antenna or addition of a preselector/preamp will address the issue.

Restoring modified and/or abused gear back to near original condition can be challenging but the result should be a source of pride to the owner. Significantly modified gear usually ends up in the "neither fish nor fowl" category and the resources (both time and funds) would have been better spent starting with a clean sheet homebrew design. My other hobby is woodworking and if I used the ham radio approach when building a walnut corner china cabinet I would have tried to modify a dining room table into dish storage instead of starting with new walnut lumber :)

Rodger WQ9E

-------- Original Message --------
> From: "David Stinson" <arc5 at ix.netcom.com>
> Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 6:01 AM
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] BC-348H Recap
> 
> Subject: [Boatanchors] BC-348H Recap
> 
> 
> I have recapped and resurrected several BC-348s, at least 
> one of every usual design.  While the Micamolds are a problem,
> I have had to replace *two* of the oil-filled caps, which were leaking,
> and never the large metal one.  Several of those sets are used daily and,
> to the best of my knowledge, none of the remaining oil caps have died.
> 
> As for the circuit changes you propose- 
> I respectfully recommend against it.   The original design engineers
> were talented, competent men.  When properly restored to 
> original design and carefully aligned, they perform well.
> In the long run, the circuit changes proposed will only add
> one more "hacked" BC-348 to the hamfest junk pile.
> 
> 73 DE Dave AB5S
> 
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