[Milsurplus] Ham mods using the scientific method (longish)

[Hue Miller]

Mac, the ARB is more sensitive and stable than the S-38
- and probably cost 10x as much to make. I suspect the
selectivity is about the same: ARB with 2 IF at 915 kHz,
S-38 with 1 IF at 455. 
However - the ARB requires a control box. Even if you 
want to use all the controls right at the receiver, not some
where else in your house, you have to wire up the control
box and its connectors. The ARB has no bandspread tuning,
the local tuning adaptor to tune it from the front instead of
via a flex cable, is not so comfortable to use, and to see the
actual frequency you are near, you have to put your head
down by the little window in the lower left corner. This is not
a comfortable receiver for the beginning ham, or the SWL, to
use. 
I wonder if a Q-5er, BC-453, would have worked well if coupled
to the S-38, or if the S-38 front end was too unstable anyway.
With simple receivers like that, i read that you could just connect
the BC-453 (or other LF receiver) antenna right to the antenna
connection on the s.w. receiver, and get enuff IF voltage for it
to work fine. I should try that.  -Hue