[Milsurplus] BC-221

[Cletus W Whitaker]

de WB2CPN South Central Pennsylvania  2003.12.18

I used the BC-221 regularly for every thinkable
application while in USAF communications.  Used
as hetrodyne oscillator with RBP-2 Navy receivers
in order to copy freq shift Fax.  Audio quality
was better than when using the BFO in the RPB-2.
Freq stability of the BC-221 was never an issue.
The real issue is the stability of the Xtal in
the BC-221.  The BC-221 VFO is calabrated from
the Xtal.  Setting the Xtal to WWV involved
aiming a non-metalic screwdriver at the adjustment
capacitor in the BC-221, then wrapping the BC-221
in blankets while it got up to its normal(?)
temperature.  Meanwhile, keep the screwdriver in
place while the blanket is put into place.  Then,
zero the Xtal with WWV in some cooperating HF
receiver.  The books were made up by zeroing on
a long series of harmonic related marker freqs
which were made for that purpose.

73  Clete