[Hammarlund] Early BC-779 experience.

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

When I got my first BC-779, in 1963 or so, although it was in 
excellent condition, and worked quite well, on CW it suffered 
from severely reduced BFO injection. In hindsight, that was 
probably due to some bad component somewhere, but at the 
time I didn't know any better.

In any case, I replaced the detector with a Heathkit triode 
product detector, using one-half of the 6N7 that is normally 
used for the noise limiter, which, at that time in Montana I had 
no use for.

I was (and still am) totally amazed at the difference! Signals I 
could just barely hear on any other receiver I had at the time, 
were completely clear and easy to copy on the BC-779, although 
not particularly loud. 

Furthermore, probably due to its two RF amp stages, it was 
singularly the most sensitive, and totally QUIET, receiver I had 
used up to that time. In fact, even today, I can't think of another 
receiver I used since, that I remember being as quiet and 
sensitive.

It had one characteristic that although I thoroughly enjoyed it, 
and thought it was really neat, some people today wouldn't like: 
on 20 meters, where I used it for RTTY, it drifted slowly back 
and forth a few cycles. It had a very far-away and almost 
lonesome sound to it. I really enjoyed that aspect of it, and have 
never forgotten it.

BTW, the Heathkit version of the triode "product detector" also 
demodulates AM extremely well. At one time, I thought it was a 
version of the "Infinite Impedance" detector, but now I think it 
is a version of the "Grid-leak" detector.

In any case, it has always worked in every receiver I have ever 
used it with.

Ken W7EKB
-- 
Ken Gordon W7EKB
Moscow, Idaho 83843