[Milsurplus] BC-221-xx v. LM-xx Questions

[Mike Morrow]

>First, what is the family tree of the units? Specifically I was
>surprised at how early the LM-18 design and components (especially the
>tubes) appeared compared to the BC-221. Was this Navy conservatism or
>what? Was the BC-221 a re-engineered LM-xx?

What do you find superior about the BC-221?  

Most LM-* units have a signal tone modulator, a very useful feature that none of the BC-221 variants have.  The LM-* units are smaller, not having that big heavy wooden or metal box wrapped around it like the BC-221 has.  The calibration book fits more compactly to the LM-*, without the heavy panel-door mounted contraption that the BC-221 uses.  [Sure, I know that the LM-20 has a pretty good-sized water-tight box around the electroniccs, but even that is preferable to the BC-221.]

I prefer the LM-* as a CFI over the SCR-211.  It's one of the few pieces of WWII US Navy gear that is better than the USAAF equivalent, IMHO.

Mike / KK5F
ex-USN