[Milsurplus] BC-611 Mics

[David Stinson]

All but one of my original BC-611 microphone elements
either sounds bad or has low output and sounds bad.
Even the "good" one sounds like a tin can with a string
tied to it.
I've been trying to get two nickels to rub together to
buy a few BC-611 mic elements from Robert, but one wolf
or another seems to get them before I can.
Recently, I found some small 32-ohm speakers for 99 cents each
at a local parts house.  I took the mic transformers off
a couple of dead mic elements and connected the 32
ohm speakers in place of the original inductive
element, then "hot glued" the whole thing, including
the rubber gasket to hold it all in place, into a
reasonable "element" that fit back in the mic
compartment.  These work very well, modulating near
100% and they sound good.  I also tried small 8-ohm
speakers, but they don't have the voltage output
needed.  16 ohms will probably work, but I haven't
found one lately to try.
Just a suggestion for other "po-folks" like me.
One of these days I'll get those original elements
from Robert, but this will do for now.

73 Dave S.

P.S. Ever notice the antenna tuning on a BC-611
is quite critical?  On mine you can "tune" the
antenna length up and down a quarter inch at a time
to increase the sensitivity when you aren't actually
holding the radio.
If you don't get the alignment right, you can actually
reduce sensitivity when you pick it up.