[Milsurplus] Q5er & BC348

[WF2U]

In my younger an stupider days, in the mid 60's when there were s**tloads of
surplus still available and I didn't think of preservation, I did my share
of surplus hacking.

I modified  a few BC-348's into  double-conversion receivers thusly:

 I took out all the 915 KHz IF cans, except for the first one. I substituted
the 85KHz IF transformers from the BC-453.
I yanked out all the octal sockets and substituted miniature sockets, with
the appropriate circuit changes for optimum operating conditions for the new
tubes. I built a 6BE6 converter stage where the original BFO tube was,
changed the BFO coil frequency to 1000KHZ to convert the 915 KHz first IF to
85 KHz. I built an audio-derived AGC, a product detector for CW/SSB and a
diode detector for AM feeding the audio chain, with a 6AQ5 audio output.
I built the power supply into the stripped BC-453 chassis, utilizing the
covers to keep it safe.
After a few of my friends heard my first "masterpiece", I got 3 more orders
for similar receivers. My buddies (and myself) were very satisfied with the
performance, until we got "real" receivers... Frankly, these Frankensteins
worked great!
I'm still a little ashamed of the massacre of perfectly good surplus
equipment...

Now, don't do this at home ;-))

73, Meir WF2U
Landrum, SC

> -----Original Message-----
> From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Unserviceable
> but Repairable
> Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006 9:59 AM
> To: Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Q5er & BC348
>
>
> A pal, a GW3 sed he used a BC-453 as a tail-piece on a '348.  '348 had
> 915 kc IF.  So by using triode sec'n of '453 12K8 as 1000kc osc w.
> LM/'221 xtal pugged into 12SK7 RFA socketn - VOILA, you had the
> adaptation.
>
> 915 pulled right from 6R7 socket on '348 & audio on '453 retained.
>
> Brilliantly simple & non-invasive or...
>
> You cud bandsaw away the '453 tuning cap, etc.  Then stove-bolt
> it to a piece of 19" masonite.  Put LM/'221 remains to work as trot-line
> fishing anchor.  That'd make for a real nize job.
>
> Heard this 1st-hand 10 yrs back & was surprised @ the elegance.  Bet
> this is 1st time for many here.
>
> You know gifted stories like this make me think non-solder-challenged
> ham-hackers had much more goin' than the community today that knows
> the exact right lockwasher family for a AN/APT-69 nitro drum.
>
>    Marty
>