[Milsurplus] RE2/ARC5

[Mike Feher]

Mark – 

 

I must have misunderstood what you said. The way I read it is that when the meter read 5 ma you measured 0.033 ohms. That comes out to 165 microvolts for full scale. Just does not seem right. 73 – Mike 

 

Mike B. Feher, N4FS

89 Arnold Blvd.

Howell NJ 07731

908-902-3831

 

From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net <milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Mark K3MSB
Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2025 7:25 PM
To: Charlie L. <mjcal79 at gmail.com>
Cc: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] RE2/ARC5

 

Hi Charlie

 

I have a new, probably never used,  BC-442-A Relay unit.

 

I measure 5 mA FS meter deflection with an internal meter resistance of 0.033 ohms.

 

These were measured by the usual means of a series resistance to give FS deflection then a shunt to give half-scale deflection.

 

Across the meter leads of the thermocouple, I measure 1 ohm (meter disconnected).

Across the other leads I measure about 0.7 ohms (wires also disconnected).

There lead resistances were subtracted out to give the above two measurements.

 

Remember, the meter face reads Antenna Current Indicator -- there are no units given.  

 

As mentioned in other posts, at home I go through a 4:1 UNUN then through an air variable series capacitor (an old HT-37 cap with some rotors removed...) to get to 50 ohms to feed my home antennas.

 

Sometimes I see my BC-442 hit '2", other times it just budges a little, yet my wattmeter shows 40 to 50 W out.  I think the current distribution depends upon what antenna you are using and the matching network.

 

LIke others have said, one can ignore the relay meter reading when you have a wattmeter in line further downstream.   

 

As posted a few weeks ago, I experimented with a 45 foot random wire antenna as that is what the B-24 used, but I did not have a counterpoise (I didn't think about the fuselage being the counterpoise.....).

I plan to recreate that later this month with an insulated counterpoise and see if that has any impact on the relay meter movement.

 

I hope this helps.

 

73 Mark K3MSB

 

 

 



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