[Hammarlund] Early BC-779 experience.

[Guido]

My experience with the similar SP210SX is the same. This is a very sensitive
receiver with a very low noise figure. I restored mine about 3 years ago
from the ground up. BFO injection is not too good even with all circuit
related components replaced.

73s
Guido Santacana KP4FAR
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kenneth G. Gordon" <kgordon at moscow.com>
To: <Hammarlund at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2005 1:51 PM
Subject: [Hammarlund] Early BC-779 experience.


> 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
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