[HomeBrew] BC453 info wanted

[N2EY@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/11/2003 6:54:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time, solo22@sbcglobal.net writes:

> Many years ago, *many*, we novices being very broke,  built a very 
> special converter.  It appeared in  QST or CQ magazine.  It used a 
> broadcast variable capacitor and various crystals to convert novice ham 
> band segments to 200-550 kc.  A 6800kc crystal would convert the whole 
> 40 mtr band down to a frequency that a Command Set (BC453)  could tune.  
> This was one "damn good!" receiver, and for CW,  would run along with 
> any commercial ham receiver of the day.  My question is...can anyone 
> provide me information on what issue of what magazine, this was in?  I 
> still have  a like new  BC453 and would love  to rebuild my 
>  old  novice 
> receiver.  Thanks, Ron

There were several articles on this basic idea. The one in CQ was about 1956, and was by Don Stoner, W6TNS. It used a 12BA6 and 12BE6, plus the B-320 series Miller coils. Whole thing in a minibox, power supply on the rear deck of the '453. 

There was one in QST about 1948 that used just a 12BE6, as I recall. November 1965 QST had an elaborate one with 6BZ6 RF, 6U8 mix/osc, switched xtals, and coverage of 160, 80 and 40.

First one I ever built was about 1970 and it was so good I sold my SX-99. Built it on an old AC-DC BC rx chassis with pill-bottle coils.

I still have a '453 - converter setup. 12SA7 with dual-tuned input (XR-50 coils and HFD-140 cap). AC supply or DM-34 dynamotor for portable. You should see the looks at a club FD when I use it to copy the W1AW CW bulletin at 10 AM EDST Saturday for the first 100 points of FD, while the riceboxes sit useless. 

I suggest at least two tuned circuits before the mixer, and the use of xtals that give the best image rejection. Since I'm a CW op, that has always meant 4050 and 7550 kc. 

Probably the best rx for the money ever done, back in the days when Q5ers were $10, out of band xtals were $1 and old BC rxs were free.

73 de Jim, N2EY