[Milsurplus] BC 191 info needed

[David Stinson]

mike kelly wrote:

> Hello from Down under ,
> As I mention the BC 191 I can hear people cringing in
> pain and running for cover .
> I wonder if anyone has experience of using the BC 191 on the air, 
> is it a useable set ? e.g. is it stable enough 
> for the lower ham bands 80/40 .

The bad reputation of the BC-375 / BC-191 is entirely undeserved.
It was born from people attempting to use them in ways not intended,
without adequate documentation and little knowledge of even basic
tube radio fundimentals.  These people then wrote magazine articles
which hams have parroted without personal investigation for decades.
The 375/191 is a fine radio for 160 CW, 80 CW and 75 AM if tuned
and neutralized correctly.  I ran mine with the original dynamotor.
There is too much thermal drift from key-down to key-up on 40, 
at least in my tuning drawers.  I intend to try a bit lower B+
to see if that will settle it down.
I have plans to investigate this should I ever in this lifetime
be able to buy another house.  At $100 a square foot and 
an average of $5000 in yearly taxes around here, 
prospects are grim.  
73 Dave S.